Chapter 5
The next couple months were fairly uneventful for me. I led a fairly social life now during the day, and at night Dumbledore had given me special permission to roam the ground in one of my various animal forms. Since vampires are, in a sense, part man and part beast, the beast has to be allowed to manifest itself sometimes so it doesn't get out of hand. I needed to let my animalistic side vent its emotion so I could deal with the stresses of everyday life. Without this, there is no doubt that I would go off on someone and literally tear them in half.
Along with many other girls, I eventually discovered that I had a crush on Harry. Although I daresay this was all we had in common. While they were interested in his fame, I was more interested in his kindness and the fact that he was the first human to show me any kind of compassion. And I didn't need to attack a troll to win his liking.
No, I didn't really consider all of the people that talked to me my friends. They were just people I talked to. The only people I called friends were Harry, Ron, Hermione and Hagrid. Hagrid was the only human – technically, the only not-vampire - that had ever seen me transform. When I'd pass by his hut at night, he would be sitting outside to watch me and make sure no one bothered me. He was surprisingly unfazed by my transformations. I could trot by as a wolf, lion, or even in my "vamped out" form, as I always call it, where I have wings, long claws, sharp fangs, and deathly pale skin, and he'd just smile and say hello. When we had the chance, we had long talks that lasted well into the nights. In my opinion, he had a very simplistic way about him, but in his own way, he was incredibly wise. I respected all that he said.
Soon Christmas came around and I went home for a while. The train ride back was very lonely without Harry, but I was so excited to be going home, I barely noticed.
Gran and Gramps were waiting for me at the station and grabbed me in an embrace the moment I stepped off. From there we disapparated home.
"Well?" Gran asked, heading into the kitchen.
I hesitated, not wanting to say it, but I knew that I had no choice. "You were right, Gran."
"Like always. How goes it with Harry?" Gramps asked, taking his seat.
"Alright I guess. He's my best friend after all. We have a lot in common."
"More than you know." Gramps said. Gran shot him a hard look.
"What do you mean?" I pressed.
"He meant nothing by it." Gran growled.
"She should know." Gramps said.
"She's still too young. She couldn't handle it."
"Harry Potter handled it. He's just fine."
Gran sighed. "Fine." She went upstairs and came back down with a long black box. She sat down on the sofa next to me and handed me the box.
"Your parents were not killed by Hunters." She said. I lifted the lid gently off of the box. Inside, wrapped in black silk, was a katana. It was stained with dried blood. "That sword was your mother's. She used it to fight her attackers the night she was killed. That blood belongs to the ones who ended their lives."
She didn't need to explain the significance of the sword. It was vampire tradition that, if one knew the battle was lost, they would stain their blade with the blood of their enemies and preserve it so that their allies could hunt them down and kill them. As their daughter, I was supposed to be the one to avenge my parent's deaths.
"Your parents knew Voldemort would be coming for them. They were much too powerful for him to ignore. They left you with us, not wanting any harm to come to you. One night, Voldemort paid them a visit. He tried to bring them to his side, but they refused. He was prepared for this and had brought one of his servants, a werewolf, to kill them. In the end, your parents fell, but your mother got the blood of both Voldemort and the werewolf on the sword. It now belongs to you. You know what you must do."
"I have to kill them." I said heartlessly.
"Even if you do not do so directly. It has been said that it is Harry's destiny to kill Voldemort. You must help him in any way you can and make sure that no matter what, Voldemort dies. But this werewolf, you must kill. Drive this sword through his heart and take revenge for your parent's murders."
"Why haven't you done this all yourselves?" I asked, curious.
"You should know. Whoever the sword is passed to carries the burden of the Vow of Blood. Your mother wished for you to have it. We have simply kept it for when you were old enough to understand. Personally, I think that you are still too young and innocent to even think of such things, but now is as good a time as any. Should Voldemort manage to come back, you must be ready to stand by Harry and fight him. Don't get me wrong, I don't want you to use him. I know that look on your face, Lenora. You can walk away at any time. The Vow of Blood is but a tradition. We cannot force you to uphold it. You have no obligations. Your parents would understand. And this doesn't have to affect your relationship with the boy. If you still want to remain close to Harry, you will inevitably end up fighting Voldemort."
I stared at the sword for a while. Deep inside, I knew I didn't have to do it, but I could see no other option. "On my blood, I swear to uphold the ancient vampire code and avenge the deaths of those I hold dear. Those whose blood stains my blade shall die." I whispered. I shivered as the magic took effect.
"It is done then." Gran sighed. "Now let us not speak of this again until the time comes."
"Gran, what if Voldemort doesn't come back?" I asked.
"Child, evil like that can never be vanquished with such ease. He'd spent too much time preparing eternal life to have it taken away like that. He may be temporarily weakened, but he will return. And when he does, he'll be coming for Harry, and he'll be coming for you. Perhaps he'll try to convert you like he did your parents. Perhaps he'll simply try to kill you. I don't know. All we can do is hope for the best and prepare for the worst. Just know that whatever happens, we will always be here for you."