Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, but I do own anything you don't recognize.

A/N: Thankies to all my reviewers. You all get cupcakes! Yayyyyy! I'm glad people liked my first chapter. Ummmm, in case you haven't figured it out yet (If you haven't I pity you greatly) Tevelle is a vampire. I thought it was very obvious, but I also wrote it, so I can't really judge. I'm sure you've had enough of my rambling by now, so on with the story!

Of Blood and Magic

Chapter 2: Night Wanderings

She didn't sleep like normal humans did. Instead she fell into something akin to a trance, only deeper and lighter at the same time. She did dream, however, but not tonight. Tevelle was restless, memories of the start of term feast kept flashing through her mind.

There had been much outcry from the students when Dumbledore announced that the Quidditch Cup would not be occurring. Tevelle didn't really care for the flying sport, unlike the students sharing the hall. When the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher barged in, one man called Mad-eye Moody, she had found herself hungrily contemplating how much blood had been spilled for each of those scars. She had had to take a hasty gulp from her goblet. Everyone had become excited and forgot about Quidditch when Dumbledore announced Hogwarts would be hosting the Triwizard Tournament. Everyone instantly began whispering about it, and how they would win, but Tevelle remained coolly distant. Once again she did not care for the Tournament. All she really wanted was to get through her schooling at Hogwarts as quickly as possible so she could rejoin Xeven and the rest of their small Coven. The only thing that had disturbed her was how Malfoy's eyes had returned to her throughout the entire meal again and again.

Tevelle sat up suddenly, still angry at the Sorting hat and tore aside the hanging curtains that surrounded her bed. She would get no rest this night. It was unnatural for her to be moving about by day anyway.

Hastily,but quietly so as not to wake anyone, she stuffed her feet into the first shoes she could find which happened to be slippers and wrapped a cloak about her.

Silent and swift as a specter of the night, in a way she was, Tevelle slipped out of he silent dormitory and into the equally silent and deserted castle. Unsure of where to go, Tevelle wandered aimlessly down corridors and up and down flights of stairs. She needed no lantern or to light her wand that she had left back in her trunk. Her eyes had adjusted to the darkness and her night vision was as good, if not better than, her vision during the day.

At one point she almost ran into a disgruntled Mr. Filch. Without thinking she melted seamlessly into the shadows. The caretaker passed, oblivious to her presence, but the cat stopped and studied her with luminescent eyes. After a few seconds Mrs. Norris followed after her master as if Tevelle were merely another suit of armor. The cat would not betray a fellow creature of the night.

Tevelle resumed her wanderings and found herself in the vast entrance hall. The great doors stood slightly open, the stormy night beckoning to her. Making up her mind, Tevelle allowed her feet to carry her out into the crisp night air. She would go see the thestrals, she had promised after all.

A black shadow against the even darker night, Tevelle ran swiftly and tirelessly towards the forest. Mist clung to the ground once she was inside the trees, but it did not worry her. She could see fine, and if she fell in danger the creatures of the forest would come to her aid, even the ones not directly associated with death like unicorns or centaurs. There was no reason for her to fear.

After only minutes of walking, the thestrals found her. They swarmed about her, a flurry of black wings and fur. They whickered and nudged her until each had greeted her in their own personal way. Tevelle returned their greetings affectionately. Several presented their backs for her to ride, but no matter how tempting it was she had to decline.

"I'm sorry, but I can't fly with you. I have to go to class tomorrow."

The thestrals snorted and rustled their wings restlessly.

"I know it's a perfect night for flying, I feel it too,"Tevelle argued, afraid that despite her protests she really would fly with them. "But I really am expected to go to class tomorrow morning. Maybe some other night when I'm not expected anywhere the next day."

The tehstrals whickered softly, but realized she told them the truth and eventually subsided, albeit unhappily. Tevelle stroked their silky fur to show that she was just as unhappy about it as they were.

"Wise choice, Miss Nightshade." A voice behind her remarked calmly.

The thestrals bolted and in a second it was as if they were never there. Tevelle turned to face the one who had spoken.

"Professor Dumbledore?" She inquired politely, unsure of what exactly he spoke of.

"Wise of you not to go flying. You are expected in class in the morning no matter how contrary it is to your nature. Is there a reason you are on grounds after hours?"

"I was restless and couldn't waste a perfect night such as this."

Dumbledore nodded. "That is not all, is it? Something else is bothering you."

Tevelle shifted uncomfortably. "I don't want to be in Slytherin!"She blurted. "The Sorting hat was just being prejudiced because I'm a vampire. It didn't even listen when I asked not to be in Slytherin."

"And what is it you expect me to do?" Dumbledore responded calmly.

"Can't you transfer me to a different house or something? I don't care which one. Before I died I was in Hufflepuff."

"I am sorry. It is neither my responsibility nor my place to dictate which house you are in. The Sorting hat made a decision, prejudiced or not, that was its decision. I cannot change it."

Tevelle nodded glumly. She had never really expected to be changed to another house, but it had been worth a try.

"Now go back to your dormitory, and in the future try and confine your night wanderings to the castle." The headmaster admonished, and glumly, Tevelle obeyed.

By the time she returned to her dormitory, the sun had already colored the sky the pink of dawn. Several of her roommates were already up, and looked at her questioningly when she entered. Tevelle shook her head to forestall questions and quickly changed into her school robes. Without a single word spoken to any of her fellow Slytherins, the vampire made her way down to breakfast and the goblet of blood that awaited her. Maybe it would be type B-, always a good way to start a night, or day rather. It was probably a good thing that none of the students were adept enough at reading minds to break through her natural barriers. Tevelle wondered if any wizard was.

Tevele reached the dining hall and found it nearly deserted. Most of the students would still be waking up and getting ready. She never understood why it took so long for humans to prepare for the day. She sat down, heaping sausage and any other meat she could find on her plate. That was followed by muffins and eggs. Porridge and toast finished off her meal along with a goblet of thick red blood. Now all she had to do was wait to see it she had any mail, and for her schedule. Tevelle buttered a biscuit and settled down for what seemed to be a long wait.

Only halfway through her first biscuit, a tattered black feathered owl swooped down and knocked several plates over. It presented its leg and Tevelle excitedly untied the parchment attached to it. After being rewarded with a tidbit of toast, the owl flew away. Immediately, Tevelle knew who had sent the letter. Only Xeven tied ti with a black ribbon embroidered with wilted roses. Perhaps he had decided she could come home.

It read...

"Tevelle,

I hope you are enjoying your time at Hogwarts. Dumbledore notified me of the Sorting hat's prejudice and of your request. I apologize for the inconvenience, but that is what our kind has to deal with. If it were not for the age limit I would urge you to tryout for the Triwizard Tournament, but then it would not exactly be fair and the judges would most likely treat you with the same prejudice as the hat. You must complete your schooling, however, no matter how bad it gets. That is imperative not only for our Coven, but for all of our kind.

-Xeven"

Tevelle crumpled up the letter, her hand clenching tight with anger until her fingernails dug bloody furrows into her palm. Absentmindedly, she licked away the dark liquid. That was so like Xeven! Tell her that no matter how awful it go for her, her pain was needed for all vampires, and then not even tell her what was so important and what they expected her to do with that schooling.

Unaware that Malfoy and his cronies had taken their seats, Tevelle threw the crumpled parchment on the table. The ribbon stuck mockingly twined about her fingers as she strode furiously away, the confused stares and speculative glances of Malfoy and his gang following her out.

Tevelle made her way to her first class of the day. She reached it earlier than any of her classmates and sat alone in the chamber surrounded by empty tables and desks. The silence lengthened and the vampire felt herself drifting into sleep. It was perfectly normal for her to sleep during the day. Staying awake the day before of the train was what had been strange and unnatural. Sleep took her.

He leaned in close enough for her to feel the heat rise from his skin. He was mere inches from her, dark disarrayed hair nearly touching her own. His hand lifted to touch her face, tracing a line down to the hollow of her throat and across her collarbone.

She began to speak his name, a warning, a caution, a request, she did not know. His hand quickly flitted up and he rested a single long finger on her lips.

"Shhhh," He hissed as if they were hiding from someone. Perhaps they were.

She closed her eyes and kissed his finger lightly to let him know she understood. He smiled and pulled her hand. HE lead her sown the hallway, but she was to busy drowning in his bright eyes to truly notice where they went. At one point it felt like the ground had dropped off from beneath her feet, but that was impossible. Wasn't it? When she finally managed to haul herself from the depths of his gem-like eyes, she noticed they were in a large chamber. Statues of snakes half cloaked in shadow liked the walls, tunnels leading off between them. At the far end of the vast hall there seemed to be a lake or moat. In the center was a statue of a man's head with a snaking beard that framed an open mouth. As they got closer, she noticed that the water was not deep at all, shallow enough to wade through. They, however, did not enter the water.

He stepped forward, still holding her hand and pulled her slightly behind him protectively. Hissing words in a language she did not recognize issued from his mouth. She could feel them vibrate through her bones and into the very core of her self. The vibrations did not dissipate, however, but grew stronger, like a great serpent's scales rubbing as it slithered over rough stone. Withing the shadow of the statue's mouth a deeper shadow moved. Red, jewel-like eyes glinted, a fleck of color in the blackness. Even before the creature emerged, she knew what it was. A basilisk, the great serpent slithered to the floor, landing with an impact that jarred her bones. A low hissing escaped it as if in greeting.

Unafraid, she stepped out from behind his back. She had no fear of this creature. It would not harm her. He gasped in surprise, and perhaps fear, his hand grasping at her arm and gripping only air. She was already standing mere feet from the fearsome serpent, staring directly into its great red eye.

Obviously, he had expected her to fall down dead, for a loud sigh of relief escaped him. She had known she was in no danger. The basilisk's gaze did not kill on its own, but instilled enough fear in the victim that they dies of frat itself. She had learned long ago to embrace that fear, and then it would not kill her, cripple her maybe, but not kill. The basilisk venom was still lethal, but she had a connection with animals, and no creature other than humans would harm her unless given no choice. In return she would only kill when needed, like for food, and even then she would use every part of the animal.

"Well met," She spoke aloud to the basilisk, smiling as she gently stroked one of the huge scales above the creature's eye. The serpent hissed its pleasure and one of its filmy eyelids closed halfway over its eye. A hand yanked her back roughly and she spun around to face her attacker. The basilisk caught her abrupt anger and reared its head back threateningly, preparing to defend her with deadly force.

"Never do that again. Are you crazy? Don't just yank me back like that without saying anything!" The basilisk roared to emphasize her words.

His face hardened into an arrogant mask. "I thought only Slytherin's heir could tame the monster."

"Well apparently you thought wrong. I am not Salazar Slytherin's heir, we don't even share blood. I assume you are this heir else we would not be here?" she snapped at him, calming down slightly. "And this creature is not a monster."

He nodded as if he understood, yet it was clear to her that he did not.

"what is it you plan to achieve with the power of this serpent?" She asked, drawing close enough to him that they were nearly touching. He relaxed slightly.

"I plan to fulfill my ancestor's dream and purge this school of all those whose blood is not pure." He whispered in her ear, pulling her into an embrace so that her body molded against his.

"Oh," She breathed drowsily, yet her mind was already thinking up plans to stop this.

"Isn't it wonderful," He said, but before she could respond he sealed her lips with a strong kill. When he stepped back, his expression was sad.

She looked down to see if something was amiss and found a knife hilt protruding from her abdomen. A piece of ruby so red it looked like a drop of blood capped the hilt that was covered with silver snakes that twined and slithered up it.

Her hands clasped at the knife convulsively. There was pain, intense pain, but it was somehow distant as if it belonged to another so she paid it no mind.

Blood gushed from the wound as she carefully slid the knife free. The basilisk reared in anger, but could not attack the one it was bound to serve. She looked up at him in confusion. How could he do this?Didn't he lover her as he said?

"Please understand, I couldn't take the risk of anyone knowing what you do. I truly am sorry, but there was no other way." With that he dashed out of sight.

"Tom," she gurgled, blood sprayed her lips, tasting bitter on her tongue. Whether is was a curse or a prayer she had no way of knowing.

Seconds passed like hours as she knelt there in a steadily growing puddle of her own blood, unable to move or stop the bleeding. The world faded to gray, yet several colors like the red of the ruby and her blood stood out brightly casting an air of unreality to the scene. The basilisk had long since gone back into its hiding place. It knew nothing could be done to save her now and there had been nothing the great serpent could do, and so it had left. She did not, could not, begrudge it that.

She happened to agree with the serpent. She could feel her life slipping away with the blood that seeped through her fingers of the hand she had pressed into the wound. Slowly all feeling faded until she was numb to everything. Fear, pain, joy, everything.

A shadow detached itself from the wall and approached her. She looked up at the slim black clothed figure. His black hair and eyes made his waxy skin look almost white. He knelt down to look her in the eye and smiled, revealing slightly pointed teeth.

"Do you wish to live?"

Did she? What would death be like? Was she ready for it? Or did she still wish to cling to life? How could this man save her? Did she care? Could she even make herself care?

"Do you wish to live?" He asked again, pressuring her into an answer.

She found herself nodding, but even that small gesture was to much for her and she lost herself.

Tevelle came out of her trance breathing heavily. The clatter of students taking their seats seemed to belong to another world as she lay her head on her arms. God, she hated remembering her death. Xeven had never explained exactly how he knew to find her there and then or how he had turned her. It was probably coming back to Hogwarts after so long that made her think of her old life. She had thought she had let that all go years ago. That thought lead her to the boy who had meant the most to her in that life and the one who had ended it.

"Tom." she whispered. The name she had not spoken in years cam easily to her lips. "Tom Marvolo Riddle. Why?"

When she lifted her head she barely noticed a single tear that left a shining track down her cheek and landed with a wet splat on the desk.

A/N: Ah, the plot thickens. Please do not get mad at me if you don't like it, I have absolutely no control over what I write! PLEASE review, I need to know what is going on inside your head or I'll go sane, yes I said sane because I am already out of my mind and proud of it. Sane seems really boring to me so it is really scary. REVIEW!