A/N: An important character is introduced in this chapter and Cho will undergo a little bit of a transformation that might affect her relationship with Harry.

Chapter 5- Defender of Men

Nathan Prince walked the long country road from his house to the local pub. The road went through the center of town. It's was Friday night and usually the town center would be bursting with life, local people enjoying a meal or a pint at the local pub and restaurants. Tourists milling around taking pictures and enjoying the picturesque little town that he called home. But since the mysterious attacks, the town seemed deserted. People were afraid to venture out after dark, churches were filled to capacity during Sunday service and people started hanging garlic and little charms on their doors that they believe will chase away evil spirits. Nathan was local farmer, who never believed in all these supernatural mumbo-jumbo. As he entered the local pub, he was greeted by the barkeep.

"Hi Joe," Nathan greeted back.

"The usual?" asked Joe.

"Yes. The place seems deserted tonight," said Nathan, scanning the pub.

"Since the so-called attacks, people are just to scared to leave their homes at night," replied Joe as he handed Nathan a tall glass of lager. "It's just you and that young lady over there and she has been nursing that glass of water for over an hour. If she doesn't order anything soon, I'll throw her out."

Nathan caught a glimpse of a young lady sitting alone at the corner table. He couldn't believe he missed her earlier; she was probably the most beautiful woman he has ever seen. Long dark hair flowing pass her shoulders, her white skin accenting her red lips. She looked distraught, as she turned the glass of water on the table.

"I might score tonight," said Nathan as took a swig of his lager.

He walked over to her and said, "Excuse me. May I join you?"

The young lady simply nodded between her sniffles.

"Is everything alright?" asked Nathan, trying to make his voice sound sincere.

"No," replied the young lady in a melodic voice, tinged in an eastern European accent.

"What's your name?" he asked, as he handed her his handkerchief.

"Lamia."

"That's a beautiful name. What's the matter?"

"I ran away from my father. He brought me to this country to marry a man I didn't love. I wish to be free…. I have no place to stay," replied the woman named Lamia.

"There, there. You can stay with me. I have an extra room in my house. You can stay there for as long as you like," said Nathan, as he eyes surveyed the woman's ample breasts.

"Really, thank you," said Lamia, giving him a hug. Nathan shuddered at her cold touch, but dismissed this little abnormality.

"You're freezing. We better head home," Nathan suggested.

"Ok," came the Lamia's soft reply.

Nathan put his arms around her and led her to the door. Before leaving, he gave Joe a mischievous glance. Joe was too busy to notice the pair, because he was too busy wiping down his bar. Nathan and Lamia walked up the country road that led to small, but quaint house that Nathan owned.

"You're so kind," said the young woman.

"Don't mention it."

"I don't know how to repay you. I don't have any money."

"I'm sure you'll think of something."

"I'll do anything."

"Anything?" smirked Nathan.

"Anything," replied Lamia as she began to caress his arm and chest in a rather seductive manner.

"She's easier than I expected," Nathan thought quietly to himself.

He turned to face her and he began to kiss her on the lips, his hands finding their way on to her breasts. He began fondling them. He felt his arousal going stronger with each passing second. "Baby, you taste and smell so good, but you're freezing," he said between kisses.

"I'm pretty sure you taste good too," answered a harsh voice from behind him.

Nathan turned around and saw a tall man with fair hair, white skin and broad shoulders. His eyes were blazing red.

"Enjoying my mate," said the man.

"Your mate?"

Nathan turned to face the woman. He saw her eyes were now blood red. Her hair wild and a thick liquid was flowing down the side of her mouth.

"What are you?"

"Your worst nightmare," answered the vampire queen.

Without further delay the 2 vampires descended on him and feasted on his blood.

Cho descended the grand staircase around noon. She was in her room all morning finishing a paper for Muggle Studies. Le-ann has stepped out with Mrs. Weasley and Ginny last she heard they were heading to Diagon Alley to do some grocery shopping. She heard Harry, Ron and Hermione passed by her room hours ago. Ron and Hermione were arguing about hinkypucks, with Harry playing the referee. As she made her way to the kitchen, she bumped into someone she has been trying to avoid for the past 2 days.

"Hello," he said.

"Hi," she replied.

"Have you been hiding these past few days?"

"No, I've been very busy with schoolwork," she answered.

"You go to Hogwarts?"

"Yes."

"What year are you in?"

"I'm in my last year."

"I bet you can't wait to leave. Do you have any plans for the future?" he asked with great interest.

"The thought of me being Hogwarts, makes me sad. I've had a wonderful time in school. As for my plans, I might take a year off and head to China to visit my grandparents."

"Do you think you might need an escort?"

Before Cho could answer Edward's question, the trio came walking into the entrance hall. Edward saw Cho staring at Harry, who was talking rather animatedly to Ron.

"I need to go," said Cho to Edward.

"I'll see you around," Edward replied, smiling at her.

Cho rushed to the kitchen without looking at Harry. Edward gave the trio a small nod and headed out to the wet London streets, his long cloak billowing behind him.

Joe and his wife Ellen were on their way to the next village, when they saw human legs sticking out of a bush.

"Joe, can you see what wrong. Maybe that person needs help?" said Ellen.

"I'm not stopping this car. We are late for the Sullivan wedding already."

"Have a heart."

Joe pulled the car over and stepped. As he crossed the road he realized that he was at the Old Prince farm.

"Hey," he called out.

But no answer came.

"You can't sleep out here. People might think you're trespassing. You don't want to cross the owner of this land," Joe continued as he approached the unidentified person.

"Hey," repeated Joe as he pushed away the branches of the bush.

His face turned white and he felt an uneasy sickening feeling in the pit of his stomach. Joe started vomiting. The horror he saw made him sick. Ellen saw her husband bent over being sick. She got out of the car and ran to his side.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

"Go back to the car," Joe instructed his wife.

"Tell me what's wrong, Joseph?"

Ellen glanced at the bush and saw the mangled corpse of Nathan Prince, she let out a whimper before fainting.

Cho headed to the library of No. 12 Grimmauld Place holding a piping hot cup of tea in her hands, taking gentle small steps so that she won't spill any of it on the carpet. She pursed her lips gently as she blew the smoke that was emanating from the hot beverage, before taking a sip. The tea trickled down her throat and relaxed her. "I need to finish that paper for Ancient Runes," she thought to herself as she turned the door knob of the library. The door was partially ajar when Cho heard Harry, Ron and Hermione deep in conversation.

"I hoping that Cho does not entertain his advances," said Hermione as she scribbled something on a piece of parchment.

"whose advances?" asked Ron.

"Edward's," replied Hermione.

"We all know that Cho has a thing for Harry," said Ron, sounding rather amuse.

Harry smirked without glancing up from his parchment.

"Are you concerned that he might bite Cho and change her into a vampire?" added Ron.

"Dhampirs can't change humans into vampires," answered Hermione.

"Then what's your problem Hermione?" Ron asked as he was unpacking his wizard chess.

"Isn't it obvious, Ron? Edward is attracted to Cho and that in itself is dangerous. Dhampirs are fierce suitors and they are extremely possessive. There are some reports of dhampirs killing the object of their affection or their rivals," explained Hermione, who glanced at Harry. "And if one falls for a dhampir, they are putting themselves at great risk of being exposed to vampires," she added.

"Harry can rip apart the competition," said Ron as he patted Harry on the shoulder.

"Ron, why do you keep teasing me about Cho? I don't even like her anymore. Edward can have her for all I care. He could take her away right now and maybe since his half-vampire, he'll have a higher tolerance for all her crying and her treachery" said an irritated Harry.

Cho felt her heart being ripped apart. Harry saw her as a traitor, the boy who caught her attention in their first quidditch match in her fourth year. The boy she spent the last few months trying to forget. Cho felt the cup slipping from her fingers. The cup shattered as it hit the floor, spilling its' content onto the carpet. The sound of the shattering cup caught the attention of the 3 young Gryffindors, as they turned around they caught a glimpse of Cho with tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Cho," began Hermione, but before she could reach her Cho bolted towards the main door of the house. Cho ran onto the London streets that were drenched in rain. She ran as fast as her legs could carry her. She wanted to get far away from No. 12 Grimmauld Place, far away from Harry Potter. After about 10 minutes, she came to rest on a wooden bench located in one of London's many picturesque squares. Cho felt herself shiver as the breeze hit her rain-soaked clothes. She sat there watching the scenes of London past her by. All the beauty and chaos of the city that once fascinated her, gave her no joy. She just felt an overwhelming pain that emanated from her chest. A pain that was caused by Harry Potter.

The mood was somber at the grave yard of small country chapel. Only a few people gathered to pay their respect to Nathan Prince, whose mutilated body was found a few yards from his house. One of the attendees was Joe, the local pub owner who found the remains. As the minister gave the final blessing, funeral workers lowered the casket into the awaiting grave and started to shovel dirt to cover it. The few who gathered there started to disperse and head back to their homes, but a young man stood quietly over the grave with his head lowered.

"It's time to go Alexander," said Joe putting a sympathetic hand on the man's shoulder. "C'mon the missus made some tea and pastries back home."

"I expected more people to come," said Alexander holding back tears.

"People are just scared to leave their homes. Some parents even pulled out their kids from school. Now c'mon, we don't want those pastries to go to waste," replied Joe in a kind voice.

With that he led the young man to an awaiting car.

Alexander Prince was Nathan's younger brother (10 years younger to be exact). Their parents always considered Alexander to be their miracle baby, because doctors told them that they were unable to have another child. The boys grew up to become the best of friends even though they were exact opposites. Nathan was rough, always getting into trouble and barely finished school while Alexander was a quieter soul with who loved to hit the books. When their parents passed away, Nathan took over the family farm while Alexander headed to Glasgow to attend university. The younger Prince got a degree in history and it was at university that Alexander realized his gift of speech. He was working on his doctorate degree when he heard the news of his brother's gruesome death.

"I have not been back in eight years," Alexander said to Joe.

"It's a long time to be gone, but Nathan was sure proud of you. Many people thought that he was an abrasive person, but when it came to you he was all heart" answered the old man.

"I wished that I didn't stay away too long," replied Alexander. "I guess I wanted so bad to succeed for my family."

"Do the police know who did this?" Alexander asked.

"Last I've heard they're not sure. No witnesses. They found some saliva on Nathan, but they said it was not human," answered Joe.

"Not human?"

"Yes."

"Do they think it's related to what happen in Beckford?" inquired Alexander.

"I guess they're looking into it, but the police are not sure what really happened in Beckford and the government does not know either. But I tell you its witches!"

"Then we have to find the answers on our own," Alexander concluded as they arrived at Joe's house.

"I wonder where she could be?" asked a frantic Mrs. Weasley.

"Don't worry Molly. We'll find her," reassured her husband as he put on a muggle coat.

"Please find her Arthur," she pleaded.

"Tell Shen that we're looking for Cho when he arrives," was Arthur Weasley's instructions to his wife as he and the twins went out to search for Cho Chang.

"Mum, it's going to be alright," comforted Ginny as she placed 1 hand on her mother's shoulder.

"I hope so," replied Molly, exiting to the kitchen.

"Harry, I think we should all apologize to Cho when she gets back," said Hermione, her statement directed to her 2 bestfriends.

"Apologize! I didn't mean for her to hear everything," spat Harry.

"I'm with Harry," agreed Ron.

"It would not kill the both of you if you apologized," said Ginny as she glared at Harry and Ron.

"There is nothing to apologize for Ginny," said Harry, meeting Ginny's bright brown eyes.

"Just apologize, Harry." said Ginny. Harry felt Ginny's eyes boring into his soul.

A/N: Please read and review.