Blue Monday

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter; if I did you would know it. Story title is a song by H.I.M. Chapter title is song by Orgy.

Lucius Malfoy sat in his chair by the fireplace in the Slytherin common room and glared at the pair of first years sitting at the table in the darkest corner of the room. Narcissa Black sat lounging across his lap her head resting on his shoulder. "You should stop paying so much attention to them Lucius. They are useless to us and stubborn to a fault. They aren't worth the effort." The head boy shifted his arms around her, lowered his mouth to her forehead, and whispered. "That girl carries secrets; secrets that would carry value to the right people. It is unfortunate that she spends all her time with those useless Gryffindor's and her fellow first year is being easily corrupted as well. Stebbins is useless and barely an acceptable candidate. Those are the two we need. All that intellect and power would be a great boon to us." Narcissa shifted and kissed his chin. "Then find out what matters to them and use that."

Across the room, Mina and Severus sat with their heads together whispering over their divination. "I'm telling you Sev, that man is a fraud. Tealeaves do not carry the connotations of life secrets and it's a waste of our time. Remus said Potter and Black don't even keep a journal they just breeze through the essays. My concentration would be better-spent elsewise." Severus growled and snapped his book shut. "Fine, I will admit that the class is a waste of time but I don't think we should rest on our laurels like Black and Potter." Mina smiled and closed her book as well. "How about we work on our Transfiguration instead." Severus nodded and the two shuffled their work about and got back to it.

The winter holiday arrived and with it various dramas from those students that decided to stay at Hogwarts. Mina went home because Drago required it and as such she packed her bags slowly. Remus was staying as his parents were out of town and Severus stayed for similar reasons. Mina and Lily however, made their way onto the express and easily found a compartment of their own. Mina and Lily struggled to situate their bags above them when their compartment door whooshed open and Sirius and James slipped inside. Lily groaned and Mina fought to keep her expression blank.

"Black, Potter." Sirius smiled and slipped passed his counterpart and helped the girls push their trunks up onto the carrying racks. "Lily, Mina." Mina scowled. "What are you doing here?" Sirius grinned and leaned closer to her his eye holding hers. I have learned something interesting since I came to Hogwarts." Mina held his gaze defiantly and slowly stood forcing Sirius up and back from her. "Indeed." Sirius smirked "Indeed. It seems to me that precious commodities should never be left unguarded." Lily turned blazing green eyes from James to Sirius. "Commodities. What Commodities?" Sirius continued to hold Mina's gaze and raised an eyebrow as though daring her to say something. Mina crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes but refused to take the bait. "Flowers and Gems." Mina scoffed and shoved Sirius back from her.

"Get out Black and take your sidekick with you." Sirius laughed then and stepped outside the compartment. James didn't get the hint and started forward. "Now look here Jewels, I am no man's sidekick. I am James Charlus of the most ancient and noble house of Potter." He stood straighter then usual and puffed out his chest in indignation. Silence descended over the compartment and the train jerked into motion. Mina glanced at Lily who shrugged before green and purple eyes returned to the Potter Scion. Mina's lips twitched. "And?" James narrowed his eyes and looked vaguely uncomfortable. "Well… I am." Lily stifled an undignified snort, which set off a quickly stifled chuckle as both girls, attempted to contain their laughter. James huffed and crossed his arms.

Sirius sighed and reached out placing his hand on his friend's shoulder. "Come on mate, they will start chattering any minute. James swelled up again so much like an offended peacock that the girls burst out laughing no longer able to contain themselves. James, looking affronted, backed up several steps and the two boys stared thunderstruck as Mina raised her wand and the compartment door slammed shut. Sirius raised an eyebrow, sure that she had just silently cast a spell but the thought was quickly pushed to the side as James turned to him with large hazel eyes. "What was so funny?" Sirius' mouth twitched. "Come on let's get back to our compartment." He turned and led his friend away, peels of laughter following them down the corridor.

Mina's Christmas holiday was relatively tame when compared with other people's holidays. The twins were not at the London townhome where Gitana brought her and as such it was only the older vampire and her, much younger, mirror. Mina was unworried by this and the two spent the first few days of their holiday quietly. Four days in, and Gitana took Mina to visit her father. Mina had written to him several times when at Hogwarts and therefore the two had a relatively friendlier relationship by the time the holiday arrived.

His apartment looked the same and Gitana left her just inside the hunter's door after arranging to return for her in the evening. Once alone, Mina crossed to his couch and assumed a seat. Merikano sat across from her, his machete placed across his knees. "So a Slytherin, your mother was one." Mina smiled a bit and crossed her ankles, folding her hands in her lap. "It was that or Gryffindor and I couldn't go there because temptation would have been to close to me." He studied her, his dark eyes tracing over her face. "I did not think you would find your human vice so soon."

Mina raised an eyebrow and he obligingly continued. "All vampires have a human they can't avoid. As I understand it you will fight against your attraction until he dies or you turn him. Who is your vice?" Mina dropped her eyes to her hands and laced her fingers tightly. "Sirius Black." Merikano studied her for a long time. "Are you aware of your family tree?" Mina sighed and a dark blush suffused her cheeks. "It's not like I chose it. I know that potentially he could be my cousin but I am trying to place distance between us. I asked for the rival house after he was sorted and I try to keep my distance."

Merikano chuckled. "You sound as if you aren't succeeding." Mina lifted amethyst eyes to his dark ones. "He makes an effort to impede my plans." Merikano sighed and got to his feet. "There's a chance you would have been engaged to him anyway, had your grandfather not been a squib." Mina rolled her eyes and watched as he set up a tea service and added scones. "Tell me about life with the twins." Mina took the tea he offered her and sipped before answering. "Jessinia spends a lot of time with the vampire council as acting head of the family. Drago… well he doesn't really care for responsibility so he goes wherever he wants on a whim. I spend a fair amount of time with Gitana as she has put forth the most effort in raising me."

"Have they mentioned Orion?" Mina studied him. "No, who is that?" Merikano turned. "The head of the hunter association. You'll meet him eventually. He is, after all apart of your coven." Mina sipped more tea. "A vampire runs the hunter association?" Merikano laughed and resumed his seat, tea in hand. "A born vampire, he rebuilt the association when it was destroyed. If you haven't met him yet, you needn't worry, Drago won't be able to hide you for long." Mina's cup hit its saucer loudly. "That's who he fears loosing me to." Merikano nodded. "I should say so, Drago broke a lot of rules arranging for your birth, Orion will claim you as punishment for his seeking to out maneuver his sire." Mina studied him. "You know a lot about my coven." Merikano nodded. "It's my business to know, and Orion has left me in charge of watching your clan because of the wrong done to my family." Mina nodded and would have asked more but was interrupted by the return of Gitana. Mina gave her father a gentle hug before the two vampires returned to their townhome.

The twins returned the day before Mina was meant to return to school. Drago scooped her up and sat her in his lap before sinking his fangs into her neck none to gently. Mina, the dark lassitude that always gripped her when he was near permeating throughout her, yielded to him with a soft gasp and even softer purr. Drago lifted his mouth from her neck sometime later and sank his fangs into his palm offering it to her. Mina took his hand in hers and raised it to her mouth easily covering his self made wound. She suckled his blood slowly and realized that he was desperate to bind her to him, almost as if he knew his time was running out. When his self-inflicted wound healed Mina smiled up at him with hazy eyes.

"Orion has heard of me." Drago jerked as if slapped and glared down at her. "How do you know about him?" Mina raised a hand to her lips slowly and smiled. "You are worried about him, I can taste it. He was in my dreams before I went to school." Drago scowled and set her gently on the chaise before getting to his feet. "Forget his name Mina, he is no one." He turned abruptly and fled the room. Mina giggled when Jessinia entered soon after looking concerned. "You shouldn't ask about Orion pet, it upsets Drago." Mina smiled her hazy smile and raised a hand to the other twin commandingly. "I leave tomorrow, are we going to exchange too?"

Jessinia stood rooted to the floor as she watched the child of her twin mimic his commanding presence. This was not how it was supposed to be. She knelt before the eleven, soon-to-be twelve-year-old, and shuddered when she read the surety within the child's gaze. "Mina." Mina smirked much like her male sire and rose gracefully to her feet. "That is my name Jess, are you going to deny me?" Jessinia felt the same yielding quality that she always got when her brother was around and struggled to regain her control as the child's full-bodied voice washed over her. Jessinia shuddered as if nails were tracing down her spine. "This isn't how it is supposed to be dear-ling." Mina smiled as if she knew the battle the older vampire was fighting and cocked her head to the side. "Isn't it?"

Jessinia trembled and reached towards Mina's arm. Mina obliged her and offered the vampire her palm. Jessinia sank her teeth gently into the girl's hand and watched as the child's eyes closed in pleasure. Several seconds of silence and then Jessinia withdrew healing her bite. Mina's eyes opened and green met nearly white. The demand was there before the child's voice danced throughout the room. "Your neck." Jessinia complied and tilted her head to the side moving her hair out of the way; a flick of one sharp nail and blood welled. Mina smiled and lowered her mouth to the wound. "Did you think that giving me this power would allow you control?" Jessinia shivered and Mina smiled before lowering her mouth to the wound to take what she desired.

Pre-dawn the next morning Gitana entered Mina's room and paused at the foot of the child vampire's bed. Mina was still asleep and laid across the bed at and angle her mouth forming a soft pout and her mahogany hair fanned around her in riotous curls. The girl shifted and Gitana fought the instinct to claim the innocence offered before her. The older vampire reached out and grasped Mina's ankle firmly, and shook. "Mina wake up." Mina shifted before slowly stretching like a cat and then opening her eyes. "Hmm, what time is it?" her sleep roughened voice sounded and Gitana smirked. "I have to get you to the express." Mina pouted and slowly rolled over burying her face in her pillows. "Five more minutes."

Gitana laughed. "I would pet, but we have an exchange that needs doing and you have to be returned to a normal stated before I send you off to school." Mina lifted her sleep-hazed face and pouted. "That's not very fair, Tana, why didn't you do this last night?" Gitana sighed and sat on the edge of her diminutive mirror's bed. "When I got back you were lost to the haze and Jessinia was knelt on the floor staring as if she had seen a ghost. I don't know what you did but it took an angry Drago to get her to her feet and out of the room." Mina rolled over and sat up suddenly in panic. "Is she ok?" She made to dart from the bed but Gitana stopped her by grabbing her wrist.

"She will be fine now we have something to do and then you need to get ready for school." Mina growled and turned her eyes hazing silver. "You're sure she's ok?" Gitana nodded and raised the child's wrist to her mouth, fighting the animal within her that wanted to claim the child before her. "Yes." Her voice was husky her mind slowly hazing as she sank her fangs gently into the child's palm, her eyes flashing gold. Mina shivered and shifted closer her eyes flaring silver and her bottom lip finding anchorage between her teeth. The child fought a moan and dropped her head allowing her sleep-wild curls to frame her face.

Gitana allowed herself a few heartbeats before closing her wound and pulling Mina across her lap. She gripped the younger girls chin and forced it up seeking the silver rimmed amethyst eyes. "You don't have to fight this pet, its what we are." Mina nodded and raised her hands seeking purchase on Gitana's shoulders. Gitana raised a hand to her neck, pushing her hair out of the way and flicking on long nail against her skin. Mina needing no direction lowered her mouth to the wound. Gitana let her head fall back and took deep breaths in an effort to maintain control. "How did you find out about Orion?" Mina lifted her bloodstained mouth and met Gitana's silvery gold eyes. "Merikano." Gitana nodded and Mina returned to the nearly healed wound; lapping at the slowly trickling blood and speaking as she fed. "He seems to know a lot about our coven, says it's his job to know."

The wound closed and Mina slipped from Gitana's lap crossing to the pill bottle on her desk. "How long will it be like this?" Gitana followed her wondering if the child knew the power she possessed. "Forever, its what we are." Mina nodded and popped two pills. "I need to shower." Gitana sighed and got slowly from the bed. "I'll have an elf bring you breakfast and after you eat I will take you to the train." Mina nodded and slipped into her bathroom. Gitana took a deep breath and then left the room glad that she did not loose herself like her own female sire seemed to do.

The ride back to Hogwarts was calm and Mina was grateful that she did not cross paths with Sirius Black. Lily and she conversed about various things before pulling out books to read. The return to school was less exciting then the previous one and both girls hugged before going their separate ways to join their respective house tables. Mina paused upon reaching her table however, because Severus was sitting with Lucius. Immediately, Mina got suspicious and crossed slowly to her friend. She did not make it far before Narcissa liked arms with the younger girl.

"Mina. How was your holiday?" Mina immediately raised her guard. "It was passable, yours?" Narcissa smiled her blue eyes remaining blank. "I certainly can't complain. I realized over the holiday that perhaps we got off on the wrong foot." Mina reluctantly raised an eyebrow. "Indeed." Narcissa smiled and nodded. "Absolutely, I made the mistake of thinking you were subservient as most girls in Slytherin are. Clearly, you are set to play a different game and I was wrong to hinder that. My sister Bellatrix is cut from the same mold and she was very quick to tell me how wrong-footed I was." Somehow Mina found herself seated with the fifth year and engaged in conversation. " What do you want Narcissa?"

The blonde made a demur face. "Won't you call me Cissa? We are related after all." Mina frowned. "Are we?" She knew the answer but was little pleased to find that the older girl, and likely her fiancé, had been digging." Narcissa, heedless of the younger girls thoughts nodded. "Indeed, Your grandfather may have been blasted off the family tapestry because he was a squib but he had a pureblood daughter. Mira didn't care for house politics either and then she married that American and we heard nothing after that. It's a happy coincidence that you chose Hogwarts over Salem. else the family would never have heard of you." Mina narrowed her slowly paling eyes. "You have done your homework, I see."

Narcissa paused and realized the young girl was angry. "I was curious Mina and it's always nice to have another cousin." Mina glared then her eyes turning full silver. "I'm the granddaughter of a squib, apparently one blasted off the family tree. You and I are not cousins." Narcissa studied her. "Why are you so determined to avoid alliances? There is protection when you know the right people and you don't have to change who you are." Mina snatched Narcissa's wrist tightly her nails biting into the pale girls delicate skin, her voice slowly shifting to a croon. "No, I would just need to change who my friends are isn't that right?" She stood and pulled the older girl closer to her, her silver eyes level with the blondes, her voice older then it should be.

"Listen closely, Narcissa Black and make sure you pander this message to your master too. You know nothing about me. I am something you could never understand and I don't need weak alliances with two-faced vipers. I am a God compare to you all and you will leave me alone. My friends are mine, and I will not change them to appease you." By the end of her rant the majority of the table was staring at the two girls. Mina shoved Narcissa back into her seat and turned her pale glare on the other Slytherins as if daring them to object. She smiled her animal making its first appearance to the table at large and then turned gracefully, prowling from the room much as her male sire would have.

Mina was grateful to reach her room unmolested and believed that her actions had not been noted by anyone else. Unfortunately, this was not the truth. Lucius witnessed it and felt that his suspicions were confirmed. Now it was just a matter of getting her to own up to the truth. As such, he made it known before anyone else left the table that Mina should be given the courtesy due any scion of a great and noble house and that her space would be assured. Malfoy knew he had very little time to woo the first year girl before he left. As it stood he found the way to recruit her friend and therefore he set the task to fall to Rabstan Lestrange, the younger brother of Bellatrix's husband to continue the case should he fail before graduation.

Malfoy was not alone in his observations. While the conversation was unclear, a pair of Gryffindors knew that what ever had just happened Mina had not agreed with it. Sirius determined at that point that he would gain her trust. He turned to Remus to seek council on how to go about it. Remus on the other hand knew that he would be confronting his fairer friend sooner rather then later. When she had left he knew then that she was keeping secrets and that they were dangerous secrets. He knew she wasn't a werewolf like himself but she had always seemed to know what he was so he was determined to level the field between them.

The students were not alone in their observations; the headmaster had watched the scene play out from the teachers' table with no little interest. Due to his contacts with certain associations outside of the school he knew a fair bit more about the situation regarding the first year Slytherin girl. As such, he was not worried about what she was so much as what he could do to guarantee that she did not fall to the dark side. Vampires joining a wizard's war were rare, as they were regulated since the association had fallen centuries before. Born vampires, he knew, were even more rare then that. They had power over their created counterparts, and he knew that that power would draw the attraction of many. If she chose his side, he knew that most vampires would remain neutral as opposed to taking a side. This would tip the scales of war in his favor. If there was one thing that Albus Dumbledore knew, and knew well, it was tipping scales.

The rest of Mina's first year was a game of avoidance. Severus seemed to have cozied up to Lucius and Mina found that she didn't know why he suddenly changed his mind and took up a mentor. This did not stop their studying together but more often then not he cut their time short to return to the common room. Mina, still refusing to bend to the mold found herself often spending time with her first friend. Remus was happy to maintain his friendship with her but he spent a lot of time watching for clues as to what she was. Eventually, Mina confronted him as being watched always made her nervous. They were in an abandoned courtyard studying Transfiguration when she heaved a sigh in frustration.

"Why do you watch me so, Remus?" Remus met her gaze and offered a weak smile. "Mina, we have known each other going on five years now. Yet you have never once asked why I am always sick." Mina tilted her head to the side and studied him for a long moment. "I haven't asked because I know why." Remus nodded and leaned closer his voice dropping to a whisper. "Tell me why." Mina smiled and tried to put all of her acceptance into her voice. "Because you are a Lycan." Remus looked startled having expected a different word but continued on. "I am a Werewolf not a Lycan." Mina shook her head. "Werewolf is an offensive term used by wizards. Vampires say Lycan." She said this candidly and dropped her eyes back to her book.

"If you want to ask me what I am just ask Remus, I have no reason to lie to you and as you are as dear to me as family, I would not do you that disservice. I would only ask that you keep my secret as I have done yours." Remus closed his eyes briefly and leaned closer his lips ghosting over her ear. "Are you a Vampire?" Mina lifted pale eyes to his, her animal responding to his proximity. "Dampier." Remus leaned back. "Is there a difference?" Mina smiled softly and leaned closer to his ear, her voice turning sultry. "I am born not bitten. There hasn't been a Dampier in 400 years. Clans and Covens are warring, which is why I will need your silence. Vampires would kill each other for my favor."

Remus leaned back from her and raised his wand. "I swear by my magic and all that I am that I will not breathe a word about your status or condition to anyone until you give me leave to do so. In addition, I will bind myself in blood to your service when you are able to accept it." His magic swirled around them and Mina raised her wand placing her tip against his. "I accept." Her magic joined his and for several seconds their united energy danced around them in a gentle vortex before fading away. The friends shared a smile and returned to their homework, a newly reunited alliance.

Unbeknownst to them, they were being watched. Their entire conversation easily heard with the work of a mildly illegal spell. Lucius Malfoy smiled form the arch where he stood. He had her secret now, and the Lupin boy's secret as well. Slowly, he withdrew from the archway leading to their courtyard. He would pass this on to the others as well as his lord, but only when the time was right.

The year ended much as the way it began and Mina spent the ride home with Lily, Remus, and Severus. They reached Platform 9 ¾ with little difficulty and Mina hugged her trio of friends' good-bye with demands to be written too. Plans were made for the summer and Mina embraced Gitana eagerly when she stepped through the portal to find the Vampire hooded, cloaked, and waiting for her; the duo apparated home. Entering the foyer she took a deep breath and froze. Drago stood petulantly, with his arms crossed, glaring at his twin. Jessinia ignored her brother and glided forward to embrace Mina. Mina returned the hug but her eyes were on her father, questions dancing in her mind. Merikano smiled a bit and nodded a greeting before shifting to the right to reveal a man siting on the staircase several steps up. Mina's amethyst eyes locked on to the bright green ones watching her in amusement.

The tall, pale, green-eyed vampire slowly climbed to his feet. His long bright red hair fell in a single plat to his waist, the ends caressing the hilt of one of two daggers. Her eyes studied the daggers before returning to his. He smiled. "Hello little Mina Chakano, I have heard so very much about you." Mina shifted unknowingly in front of Gitana as though to protect her. She stiffened her spine and drew her negligible height to its fullest and glared at him. Her eyes paled then turned silver and her voice gained the cadences of out of tune bells. "Indeed. Funnily enough, the same can not be said about you." The vampire smiled. "I don't know how that could be, love." He held his hands open and out as his slightly accented voice danced over her. "My name is Orion."

A/N: Reviews warm my heart and hasten this version of shadowed dreams.

-DJR