Chapter 14

~*~

Albus wondered what made Voldemort let Minerva go so easily. She had informed him that she was able to get away un-noticed before Kingsley could arrive. He only raised a questionable brow but decided to let it slide, because when he tried enter her mind to get information from her capture. Minerva was able to draw up a false image for him to see thanks to what she learned from Tom years ago and from the lion pendant he had given her. When he thought he got enough information he dismissed his deputy.

Minerva walked down the corridor rather pleased with herself able to trick the old coot that had controlled her for so many years and felt good. She mentally chuckled at the image of his facial expression as she walked into her office to get some grading done.

~*~

Ron started to get suspicious why Ginny would snick down to the dungeons and hang around Draco Malfoy. Hermione would go missing around and during the full moon and what was with the glassy/sliver eyes?

He had also noticed that they would vanish for long periods of time. He knew it was time to find out what was with his two friends and his little sister.

Ron laid in his bed pretending to be asleep. He knew it was time to follow Harry. He rolled over to were he could watch his best friend. Harry sat up and got out of bed already fully dress. He slipped on his shoes. He grabbed his wand from under his pillow. He pulled a chain out with a stag pendent from under his shirt that Tom had given him so he could see his father at any time.

"Dad." whispered Harry and he vanished from the dorm.

Ron got up and walked over to Harry's bed and looked under his bed but he was gone. "Where hell did he go? No one can just vanish from Hogwarts. It's impossible." he mumbled and went back to bed rather pissed off at his best friend.

~*~

Harry landed hard on the stone floor in the kitchen at Malfoy Manor. James looked over the counter and found his son on the floor. He laughed and walked around the counter and help his son up off the floor. Harry rubbed right elbow.

"Alright there kid-o?" James asked, waving wand and two mugs of hot chocolate landed neatly on the table. "Oh I almost forgot the marshmallows," and he summoned the bag and it landed next to the cups.

Harry smiled and sat down at the table followed by his father. It had become a Saturday night treat for the Potter men. It allowed them to get to know one and another. Tom even joined them time to time and Lucius as well. But they mainly left them to have that time to themselves.

"What do want to do for Christmas?" James asked, since Christmas was only three weeks away.

"Well, want to spend it with you." Harry told him without a second thought.

He smiled and sat his elbows on the table. He knew that Harry normally spent Christmas at the school or at the Burrow. He would love to spend the holidays with his son. They would have to workout a plan. Because they couldn't afford to be questioned about the sudden change in Harry's Christmas plans.

James also knew that Hermione would be spending most of her Christmas at Hogwarts with Remus. It was their first Christmas as a couple, but they were also going to sneak away from the castle to spend it with their grandfather. They would all have to be careful. Severus and Ginny's plans were still unknown. They would have to be even more cautious than the others.

"We'll think of something. I promise." he told Harry with a bright smile. Harry nodded his head with his own smile. "I've already missed too many Christmas' away from you." James said with sad eyes.

Harry squeezed his dad's hand and said, "It's not your fault. I'm glad that Snape and Moony got you out of the house. So I can now spend time with you." James return the squeeze.

~*~

Ginny smiled to herself and left her room with a swirl of black smoke and appeared in her mate's chambers. Severus looked up from his book and smirked. He sat down his book on the coffee table and he pulled her into his lap.

"Well, hello my dear." Severus whispered in a slick voice that sent a shiver down Ginny's spine. "What's under that sexy black slick robe?" He asked and slowly pulled the tie from around waist. "Nothing. Just the way I like it." he held her close and they vanished in swirl of black smoke and appeared in his bed chambers. They could spend the night together as one.

~*~

Hermione stepped through the portrait and into Remus's chambers and removed Harry's invisibility cloak he had let her borrow. She sat it down the table along with the Marauder's Map. Remus walked into the room smiled. He took his mate/wife into his arms and removed the concealment charm over her stomach. He gently rubbed her growing stomach.

"I take it Harry's with Prongs like every Saturday night. Just like Ginny is with Severus." He whispered in her ear. Hermione nodded and smiled.

The weekends were truly the only time that they all could adventure in their separate ways to see their loved ones. They treasured every moment they could get. They didn't need anyone to catch onto their secrets they all carried.

Remus kissed Hermione removing clothes as they made their way to the bedroom. He gently pushed her onto the bed to spend the night in the heat of passion.

~*~

Minerva walked down the corridors of the castle. She looked around and saw the cost was clear and stepped outside into the cold winter night. She threw black travel cloak on and lowered the hood. So she wouldn't be noticed and concealed to match the night. Minerva tapped her wand on the gate and it unlocked and opened itself. She stepped off the grounds of the school removing any sign of her foot prints in the snow. She was closed the gate and was gone with silent pop.

Minerva appeared in front of gate of Malfoy Manor. Tom smiled at his childhood friend and opened the gate. She stepped through into the protective barrier of the grounds. He closed the gate behind her.

"I trust no one saw you leave the school." Tom said holding out his arm.

"No. I covered my tracks." Minerva told him taking his arm and they walked to the garden.

"That's my girl." he said and smiled.

Minerva had noticed that each time she visit Tom concealed his snakelike appearance. He was afraid it would scare her way and he really wanted to get know her again. She knew he loved her at one point during their friendship.

"Did Harry make it here ok?" she asked.

"Yes."

They turned down into the maze that would lead them to small pond that resided in the middle of the maze. The couple appeared in front of the pond and he helped onto the bench. He sat down next to her.

Minerva lowered her black hood and her long brown hair was down from her strict bun. Tom smiled touched the ends of her hair. He always liked it when she wore her hair down and face free of the small amount she normally wore.

"So many things have happened over the years." Minerva whispered. "Remus and Severus missed you for years. I know it had to hard on all of you."

"Yes, it has been hard. But things must run their course. Harry is slowly understanding the things that are going on with the war. I hope he will join the death eaters during the holidays. James has been talking with him."

"I remember you saying about fighting for Hogwarts. What did you mean, has someone taken over the school?"

Tom sigh heavily. He knew she would ask about Hogwarts sooner or later. He gently took her hand and drew lazy circles. "The reason behind fighting for Hogwarts is very simple. I am the heir of Slytherin. You are the heir of Ravenclaw. Harry's the heir of Gryffindor. Remus is the heir of Hufflepuff. The heirs must take back the school or it will no longer exist."

Minerva's eyes widened in shock at all the information he had just told her. It couldn't be true. The school had been there for over 1,000 years. "But how can we keep Hogwarts from vanishing?"

"The war must be fought and each heir must give blood to the school. No dear not be killed." He told her looking at their joined hands. "But in a blood ceremony must be given to the school." Minerva nodded her head. "This information will be discussed in the up coming death eater meeting. You are welcome to join the meeting if you wish."

She pulled back her hand from his hold and lifted her left sleeve and turned over showing her forearm. He looked at her arm and looked at her and smiled gently at the witch. "Mark me. I've done a lot of thinking ever since you took you from Hogwarts."

"Are you sure Minnie?" He asked making sure she wanted to join his ranks. She nodded her head. Tom pulled out his wand and said, "Do you, Minerva McGonagall swear to up hold the laws of the wizarding world and protect it from those that want to over throw and destroy our kind?

"I do." Minerva said.

He point his wand at her forearm and whispered a spell and a black line snaked into her skin forming the skull and snake. He pulled back his wand and looked at the tattoo and traced it gently with his finger and the shocks of pain stopped. Tom put away his wand and kissed her cheek.

He tucked a strain of hair behind her ear and let his hand trail down her neck. He traced her jaw and looked her in the eye and down at her lips. Tom slowly filled the gap between them. "You're more beautiful than I remember." he whispered and gently brushed his lips against hers so lightly that she barely felt it. He pulled back and watched her eyes slowly open.

Minerva smiled shyly at the man that sat next to her. Tom claimed her lips again with a little bit more force and her arms went around his neck. He deepened the kiss and buried his hands in her brown curls.

Tom pulled back and rested his forehead against hers and smiled. "I've missed you so. But it's dangerous to be together." he said reading her thoughts.

"You know you shouldn't read my mind." she whispered.

"It tells me all I need to know." Tom said with a smirk worthy of Severus. "And you must go my dear. Even if I wish you could stay, but the sun will rise soon." He kissed one last time and touched her lion. "Hogwarts," and she vanished from the grounds.

~*~

James smiled said, "Checkmate," and his piece check the queen. "You loose once more."

Harry growl out of frustration. It was the third time he lost. He just couldn't seem to beat his father at chest. It turned out he was even better than Ron. James chuckled at his son. They put the game away and said their goodbyes until next time.

Harry hugged father and touched his stag. "Hogwarts," and he vanished.

~*~

Ginny and Hermione laughed when they bumped into each other when they entered their room. Hermione removed the cloak and smiled. They both silently got dressed. Ginny put on a tie that matched her outfit to cover up the bite marks Severus had left on her neck.

"Now, thought you told Severus not to bite your neck?" Hermione asked with knowing smile.

Ginny smiled shyly and answered, "He kind of forgot."

"It's alright the tie looks cute with the black pants and green shirt."

Ginny smiled and they went down stairs to the great hall for breakfast.

~*~

Ron watched his sister and his two best friends carefully. He piled his plate with food. He looked at sister in the eye and saw them black like Snape's eyes. He wondered what made her eyes change. He brushed his hand across hers and he noticed it was cold as ice. Ron knew that vampires had cold blood. So it naturally made the skin cold as ice. He pulled Ginny up from her seat next to Hermione and took her outside and into the corridor. Hermione and Harry ran after the red heads.

"What is going on Ginny?" Ron hissed. "Why are so cold? Only vampires have black eyes and have skin cold as ice. Tell me or I'll tell mom."

"It's none of your business! It's my life!"

Ron's eyes widened in shock. He narrowed his eyes at his little sister. "Oh I see you asked be turned. You're so stupid!"

Harry and Hermione stood next to the red heads. Harry narrowed his eyes at his best friend. "Ginny isn't stupid! You can't live her life!"

Ron and snapped in Hermione's direction. He stalked up to her and forcefully grabbed her upper arms. "And you, what's with eyes? You vanish around the full moon. All of you sneak around." he shook her hard.

Remus pulled Ron off of his mate and gripped the front of his robes. Ron looked down and was inch off the floor. "You stupid boy. You've laid a hand on what's mine." he growled dangerously. "No one but me will touch her."

Minerva placed a gentle hand on Hermione's shoulder and whispered in her ear. She nodded and walked over to her mate. She laid a hand on her mate and said, "He's not worth it, Moony." Remus turned to his mate with pure amber eyes and growled. "Don't you growl at me. Now let him go this instant!"

Remus turned back to Ron and dropped him hard onto the stone floor. He looked down at the wizard dangerously. He growled "If you so much look or touch her you will regret the day you were born." He led Hermione away from the group.

Harry narrowed his eyes at his best friend and he and Ginny walked down the corridor. Minerva yanked the red head from the floor. She deduced ten points from Gryffindor and swept down hall to her office. Severus had seen the event near the great hall doors. He sneered at him and walked away from the red head.

Professor Dumbledore told Ron to follow him to his office. He had some questions to ask him. The headmaster hoped he had some answers he wanted to know that could help his cause.

~*~

"Now, Mr. Weasely if you can tell me all you know about your friends. I can make you an offer that you can't refuse." Albus told him the evil gleam in his blue eyes.

Ron smirked at the headmaster. He asked what was the offer before he told him what he knew. He sat back in his chair.

"I can give you all the money you want and the top ranking spot in the Wizgoment." He informed the red head. "You can be the most powerful of the Weaselys'."

Ron smirked at the idea of being first instead of being last in everything. He was the last son of the family. He couldn't do what his parents wanted right. He could control them. "What do want to know Professor?"

Albus sat back and listened to what he told him. Harry and group vanishing for long periods at a time. Ginny was vampire and about Hermione's eyes. Albus informed him that she was a werewolf. He nodded his head.

"This is what you must do to ensure you earn what you want. Follow them. Find out why the hang around Mr. Malfoy. Most of all where they all vanish to. Now go."

Ron nodded and left the headmaster's office. He was pleased with himself. He would get everything he wanted. A large mansion, money and power. It was worth his time. He smiled and walked into the Gryffindor tower to begin his job.

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