Chapter 5: Ruby Red

Octavia was still in Draco's closet when he returned from the interrogation. She was sleeping still, but when he opened the door to the closet, she moaned and rubbed her eyes.

"What is it that ails thee enough to disturb me as I sleep?"

"My dad and the headmaster know that you're here," Draco whispered harshly.

Octavia blinked. "Dad?"

"My father," Draco clarified. "Did you know that when a vampire drinks human blood that they're bound to them for eternity?"

"Only when it was willing," Octavia said, righting herself and sitting on the bed.

"Does that mean that you're bound to Augustan?"

She blinked, tapped her chin and nodded. "If he liveth still, then I presume it does mean so. Why dost thou ask?"

"Because apparently, when I let you drink my blood, I bound myself to you."

Octavia's eyes widened. "I thought that was only if I drank from thy neck!"

"Not according to my father and the headmaster," Draco snapped. "They wanted to kill you, but I told them to wait and see what happens. You owe me now, so you better behave."

"Thou hast my word and my thanks as a daughter of Godric Gryffendor," Octavia said. "Not one thing will be reported to your father and the headmaster that will reflect negatively against me."

That was reassuring slightly, Draco thought. He sat on the bed next to her. He looked at his hands, unsure what else to say. He glanced at Octavia and wondered how much she actually knew about being a vampire. Despite being locked away for so many years, she seemed so…human.

"Other than drinking blood, do you know anything else about vampires or being a vampire?" he asked.

Octavia shook her head. "I learned some things on my own, but I know nothing beyond that."

"What can you do?"

"I can sleep upside down, catch prey easily, and turn into a wolf. Beyond that, I know nothing," Octavia said. "Do you think I can learn?"

Draco nodded. "Maybe, but I don't think they have classes for vampires. At least, I don't know if they do."

Octavia stood, clutching at the folds of her dress. "Whatever shall I do?" She muttered. "As far as I am concerned, I am at a loss!" She turned to Draco, her eyes glinting. "Maybe it'd be better if I did die. It's not as though I've to live for anything on this earth."

Draco shook his head. "Not yet. Just see how well your Father's school is holding up at least and see how different the times have changed. At least do that."

Octavia sighed. "Very well. If thou wish me to see what the future is, than I shall see it. But after that, my life is mine to control."

Draco shrugged. "Whatever," he said.

"May I partake in thy blood?"

Draco blinked. He was more reluctant now that he knew that he was bound to her. But he held out his wrist any way, knowing that it was too late to take it back.

Octavia cradled his hand gently and placed her jaw along the marks she made the night before.

Draco was once again hit with a resonance.

The farming village glared at the man that hid him. Draco clutched at his robes.

"Take her, then," one man said. "If you want her than take her. I shan't have my house sullied by thy kind."

"Than if thou renounceth thy claim on her, I shall." The man turned to Draco and took his hand. "Hold on tightly now, child."

They apparated. Draco was out of breath and urged himself to breath, bending over and clutching his stomach. He retched.

"There now, child," the man said, patting his back. "Thou shalt be accustomed to it sooner or later. Now tell me," he bent down to Draco's eye level and smiled kindly at him. "Hast thou a name?"

Draco nodded. A child's voice came from his throat. "Octavia," he answered.

"Hast thou a surname?"

Draco shook his head.

The man patted his head. "I request that thou call me Father now, Octavia. Thy name is Octavia Gryffendor."

"Gryffendor?"

"Yes. I am your father now, Godric Gryffendor."

"Father…"

Draco woke to someone shoving him. "Draco, get up!" Blaise shouted. Draco shouted and bonked his head against Blaise's.

"Merlin's Pointy Hat, Blaise! Did you have to yell?"

"Best not to have a repeat of yesterday. You were knocked out. Well, whatever, you can sleep in tomorrow all you want: Friday today."

"Nice…" Draco said sardonically. He was anything but thrilled. He got out of bed and carefully opened the closet. Octavia was asleep.

Draco felt a wave of emotion wash over him. He shook his head in hopes of clearing it and grabbed a fresh uniform.

She's a vampire. It's dangerous to get mixed up with them. She's proof of that.

Draco joined his classmates for breakfast. Nothing really happened as far as the resonance, which he was grateful for.

Draco had trouble eating his food again around lunch. He transformed his food into something that tasted somewhat better and refused to have the juice, turning the water into wine again with a wave of his wand.

Classes were a bore and only got worse when Draco—as well as everyone in his classes—realized that another side effect was that he was now speaking in old English mixed with modern English.

None the less, the day was rather dull. He returned to his dorm after dinner (which he transfigured into something that would better suit his—or was it Octavia's—taste.

After dinner, Draco walked with his classmates back to the room. He headed to his dorm, intending to get any books he needed for research and return to the common room to do homework.

Once upstairs, however, Draco couldn't help but peak into his closet to see if Octavia was still there. She wasn't.

Draco glanced around and noticed that the window was open. He looked outside. It was too dark to see. He began to close the door when someone stuck their hand inside from the outside.

"Argh!" he screamed, jumping back. Octavia came inside. She looked at him once, blinking.

"Why dost thou cry so?"

"You scared me!" Draco snapped.

"My apologies," Octavia said simply. "I was hungry, so I went hunting. I had a stag and for desert, I caught a rabbit." She held up the squirming, grey bunny. "I was wondering if I could have it in the wardrobe."

"No, you can't have it in the wardrobe," Draco snapped. He was still frightened from her entrance, "as if I want rabbit's blood on my clothes."

Octavia pouted, but sat outside and bit the rabbit. It made one choked sound then died. Draco felt queasy and averted his gaze.

He heard a thunk and looked at Octavia. She reentered the room and closed the window. She looked at Draco and his heart skipped a beat. Vampires weren't known as the Spiders of the Human Race for no reason. Even the drop of rabbit's blood that trickled down Octavia's neck seemed to be enticing.

Draco sighed and climbed onto his bed. "I've homework to do," he said, grabbing his potions text book. "Don't cause too much trouble."

"Then give me something to do," Octavia snapped.

Draco glanced up at Octavia. "Like what?"

"Something to read would be nice."

Draco sighed, set his text book down, and looked for a book. He pulled out his copy of Hogwarts a History and handed it to her. "Read this then. You'll probably be amazed."

Octavia blinked and nodded. "I thank ye." She sat at the other end of Draco's bed and opened the book…Upside down. "This is strange writing," she mumbled. Draco looked up and righted the book.

"You were holding it upside down. It's just the same writing as it's always been."

"That's where thou speaketh false," Octavia said. "T'is much different than what I used to get my hands on in my father's study."

"Well, I guess. Muggles came up with books, but since we get Mudbloods coming to school, they brought books with them and eventually Wizards adopted many Muggle devices: books, clothes, learning style."

"But thou dost not approve," Octavia said. "Thy face tells all."

"Of course I bloody well 'don't approve'! I'm a Pureblood, Mudbloods and Muggles are inferior to me."

Octavia stared at him. Draco silenced, feeling as though he crossed the line. "I was a Muggleborn, Draco, adopted by a pureblood. Dost thou not understand thy history? Without Muggles, the Wizard Race could have died out years ago. Muggles were first to be created, and little by little, magic came to them and some of these Muggles became wizards and witches. What kind of History Teacher do you have?"

Draco bit his tongue lightly. Binns wasn't much of a teacher…

"His name is Binns? Professor Binns?"

"Er…"

"A ghost? And he isn't a proper teacher I see. Draco, take me to him."

"Uh, I don't think that'd be a good idea…"

"As daughter of Godric Gryffindor, Founder of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, I demand that thou takest me to this Binns."

"You promised not to cause trouble!" Draco snapped.

Her eyes flashed. Draco stepped back and averted his gaze. "I can't do that. I'm in enough trouble as it is with Binns. Octavia, just stay here, if you're that upset by it than why not teach me what Binns isn't."

Octavia kept glaring. "Just thou? I promised not to cause reason for trouble, not to stay hidden."

Draco opened his mouth to try and convince her, but the door opened. Blaise blinked. "Who's she?"

"No one!" Draco shouted. Octavia glared at him.

"Thou will stand down, Draco Malfoy," Octavia snapped. She turned to Blaise. "Blessed be, I am Octavia Gryffindor, daughter of Godric Gryffindor."

Blaise blinked, looking from Draco, who looked irate, to Octavia, who wore a regal smile. "As in his legendary vampire daughter?"

"You know that story?" Draco asked.

"Yeah, Mate. It's in the earlier chapters of Hogwarts: A History." Blaise set his bags beside his bed. He extended his hand towards Octavia. "Nice to meet you. I'm Blaise Zabini," Octavia stared at the hand. "You grasp it." Octavia grabbed his hand uneasily. Blaise released her hand and Octavia let her hand drop to her side.

"What do you want, Blaise?"

"Oh, I was gonna ask for some ink, but if you don't mind, I'll just talk to your guest instead."

Draco rolled his eyes. "Why me?"

"Were you really locked in a coffin? How'd you get out?"

"Yes I was; Draco's blood broke the seal on my coffin back in his first year."

"Drake, you've been hiding a vampire since first year!"

"NO!"

"I didn't approach him then because he was frightened. I didn't want to provoke any traumatic stress for him then. He's only known for two days."

"Ah, you're the reason he skipped yesterday, right?"

"I guess thou couldst say so."

Draco opened his desk and pulled out an ink bottle. He shoved it into Blaise's hands. "Go do your homework."

"Don't want to," Blaise said. "Octavia, maybe you'd like to join us downstairs? It can't be good being cooped up all day."

"Oh, I'm not cooped up at all. However, I shall take upon your invitation."

Blaise turned to leave. Octavia didn't follow.

"I think you're expected to lead her down there, Blaise," Draco said. Blaise turned and looked at Octavia's confused glance.

Blaise gave a sheepish smile and offered his arm. Octavia laughed. "How the times really have changed." She took Blaise's arm and showed him the way to escort a lady medieval style. Blaise smirked at Draco, who glowered, and walked down the stairs.

"I bloody hate you both right now," Draco murmured. He followed them downstairs.

"Everyone! Meet Octavia Gryffindor—the Octavia Gryffindor—daughter of one of the school founders," Blaise shouted. The Slytherins stopped murmuring and stared.

"Why should we want to meet her?"

"Yeah, she's a Gryffindor."

"Which is true in many a sense," Octavia agreed. "I'm aware that my father and Salazar never really cooperated with each other as much as they should have but…maybe it shall be noted that Salazar was my Godfather."

"Salazar Slytherin," Pansy said, "was your Godfather."

"And Rowena and Helga were my Godmothers," Octavia said.

"How'd you get in here anyway?" Gregory asked.

"Yes, Drake," Blaise laughed. "How'd a one thousand year old legend sneak her way into Hogwarts?"

"Uh…" Draco glanced at Octavia.

"I just walked in," Octavia said. The students laughed. Even Draco snickered.

"Really?" he asked. "That's it? You just skipped on in like you own the place?"

Octavia smirked. "I do own the place." Everyone stopped laughing. "Honestly, how couldst thou not realize that? My surname really is Gryffindor."

"I think we've been had," Blaise muttered.

"No duh," Draco murmured. Instantly, the students began asking Octavia many questions, some that Draco found unfathomable. Half of the room went into an uproar learning the Muggles were first to appear, not Wizards and that every Pure blood family has at least one or ten Muggle or Muggleborn relative or relatives.

"It's how our race survived over the years and kept Squibs from coming up," Octavia explained. "Look at your family histories and I'll be shocked if every family here did not have at least one muggle relative."

"But what about blood purity?" a first year asked. "My parents are always going on about that."

"Bah!" Octavia snapped. "There is no such thing as a 'pure' bloodline. Absolutely none. I was Muggleborn and my father pure, but I was his daughter none the less."

"Didn't that cause trouble?"

"Nay, it did not," Octavia laughed. "In fact, my godfather, once he calmed down on my being of muggle descent, was rather accepting of me and always got away sneaking me sweets from the town."

"What's it like being a Vampire?"

Octavia took a moment to contemplate the question. "I guess it's strange at first, but one gets used to it after a while. But I'm still very much a child amongst Vampires as I was locked away in a stone prison."

"How'd you get out?" Millicent asked.

"Draco helped me," Octavia said. "He tripped over my coffin and his blood, being choice blood, broke the seal."

"What's that mean?"

Octavia took another moment to think. "I don't know. Many reasons maybe. Maybe it was because he was a child, or maybe it has to do with his lineage."

The questions kept coming until the sky began to lighten.

"Er, Octavia, I think you might want to get to bed," Draco said as the sun began to poke out. Octavia glanced out the window and stood.

"I enjoyed getting to know all of thee," she said to the room. "But Draco is right. I must excuse myself for the day." She turned to go to the boy's dormitory.

"No you don't," Pansy said. "You best stay in our dorm now. I don't trust the boys."

"What?! We're not that perverted!" Blaise snapped.

Pansy stuck her tongue out at him and led Octavia to the girl's dormitory. The rest of the students in the common room followed suit and went to bed.

And the plot thickens... :)