Harry sat in the window as the morning sun slid its way through the branches of the tall hedges that hid the front of the house. His head was in his hands as he played the night's events over and again in his mind. Such a mixture of feeling had sped through him last night, he mused, he'd quite got used to his life with Edward. Now it seemed his talent for turmoil had caught up with them both. Too soon, thought Harry and he sighed.

Edward came down into the room; his jeans slung low on his hips and his chest bare and glistening from his bath. The house was silent but for the gush of water from upstairs as the bath emptied. His hair hung, dark golden, on his neck and he stopped to take in the sight of Harry in the window. The young wizard looked pale in the soft morning sunshine and he had taken off his glasses. They dangled from one hand while the other rubbed between his dark brows. They were creased in thought.

'What're you thinking?' asked Edward as he stood in front of Harry's bent frame. Harry looked up, his green eyes weary.

'Just that I was really enjoying being a normal boy,' he smiled wanly at Edward's raised eyebrow, 'and that now I've gone and brought all this trouble to our door. Again,' he added sighing and shaking his head. 'I'm sorry.'

Edward knelt down and took Harry's head in his hands, turning it so he could look into Harry's eyes.

'I've just been upstairs thinking just the same thing.' He smiled, 'I'm sorry I've brought you into this Harry. Maybe you'd be better off without me?'

Harry looked up sharply at that. His voice was serious.

'Never say that again Edward. I've been so happy these last few days and that's all because of you. You didn't bring this trouble down on us. I'm good at doing that myself,' Harry smiled.' With your past and mine this sort of trouble was bound to find us someday. We've just got to deal with this and then people will leave us alone. We'll just show them that it's not worth it. That we're not going to have anything to do with their power struggles.' He kissed Edward lightly and put his arms around him. They stayed there on the floor and just hugged each other. Harry buried his face in Edward's hair and breathed the scent of him in. Even in all this drama, this was where he felt safest. Edward held Harry's warm body in his arms and wished that they were a million miles from Dracula and Ruthven and their ancient feud.

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Harry felt tired as he left the house for his hotel. He didn't really have the energy to talk to Hermione and Ron but he knew they'd be worrying and it made sense for him to let them know about the threat from Dracula. He hadn't wanted to leave Edward, he was doing too much brooding and , although he'd agreed with Harry about trouble finding them whether they were together of apart so they might as well be together, Harry could tell Edward still felt responsible. A vampire with guilt issues. Harry smiled and turned down the alley to take the short cut, he didn't want to be gone too long. As he passed a doorway shaded with roses a white arm snaked out and a voice hissed.

'Master Potter.'

Harry looked into the shadows and saw that the person accosting him was Mina Harker. He shrugged off her hand and was about to walk quickly away when he saw the look of pain on her face and the fact that the hand on his arm was smouldering, about to set on fire.

'What the hell?' he allowed himself to be dragged into the doorway, into the shade. No matter what he'd thought about the woman it was clear she was desperate to speak to him. She was looking down at her hand which had stopped smoking and was now scarred with red welts where the sun had caught her skin. 'Are you ok?' asked Harry.

'I will be.' She took a deep breath,' what I have to say to you Harry you may not believe and I understand if you choose not to listen to me but I assure you I am in earnest.' Her face was not the haughty mask of last night and she looked like a frightened young woman. She spoke quickly and Harry searched with his magic for her feelings. This time there was no glamour to cloud his perceptions. She was serious and worried and scared. Something about the change in her expression and demeanour made Harry want to know what she had to say. He nodded.

'Harry you are in great danger. The Count will not brook any refusal of his offer to you and he is at this moment poised to strike against you.' She looked nervously out into the street. 'Edward is not with you?' she frowned.

'No, he's at the house. What's going on Mina? Why are you telling me this now? I thought you and Dracula were on the same side?' Mina shook her head furiously.

'No, I am bound to do his will. I am his creature but...' she stopped and bit her lip. Bright red blood welled there and Harry felt himself stare as her tongue licked the wound clean and it healed before his eyes.

'I don't understand.' Harry shook his head.' Why didn't you say this last night? Why didn't you come to the house?' Mina shook her head again.

'I can't go out in the sun Harry. You saw what just happened to my hand when I reached out to you. I don't know what the difference is between Edward's kind and my own,' she went on seeing Harry's question before he got chance to voice it,' maybe we're different species all together. I don't know. Edward doesn't have these either does he?' she bared her teeth to reveal sharp wicked looking fangs. Harry shook his head astonished.

'No, his family have venom, they don't have...' he trailed off. His mind was racing. Different vampires, with different strengths and weaknesses. It would account for all the varying mythology around them, he decided. Edward said crosses didn't bother him and daylight didn't kill him but Mina's arm was proof that she was different. He gathered himself together. 'Mina. What is Dracula going to do? How can you talk to me now? Last night you seemed... different?'

'Dracula made me Harry. He took away my mortal life and made me immortal. That gives him great power over me. He has control over me from sundown until dawn. During the day I am more... myself although I can't do very much because of the sunlight. It's why he's kept us here in Italy so long, it means he has more control over us all.' A blood red tear began to form in her eye. She sniffed and swept it away with her hand which was already beginning to heal. 'Harry, I can't bear to watch as you and Edward are used as he has used Jonathan and I. I had to warn you. He knows where you live and he will find some way to make you do what he wants. He always does. When I told him of your answer I was fearful but he merely shrugged. I fear he is planning to force your hand.'

'How could he do that?' asked Harry a little arrogantly, ' how could he make me...' his voice trailed off and his face went pale as he realised exactly how Dracula could force his arm. 'Edward! My god Mina he'll hurt Edward!' He let go of her arm, spinning on the cobbles and sped back the way he had come, hoping he wasn't too late.

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Edward was looking at his arm in the bright sunshine from the window. He would never get used to the sight of his skin, satin, mortal. He felt again the surge of love inside him for this amazing boy. He would never cease to be astonished at how happy Harry had made him. He almost felt guilty for being able to feel so happy. Even though his human victims had been themselves killers and abusers he still felt guilt that he had taken their lives. How could such a one as he deserve this joy? And to have his love returned was too much to even have hoped for. He smiled and shook his head. Harry would chastise him if he heard these thoughts. Wonderful, forgiving boy Edward thought to himself. 'Come home soon,' he whispered to the empty room.

He heard Harry's approach down the path; even though the brambles had been cleared they still managed to snag and tear clothes sometimes. Then Edward felt the magic spiralling towards him. The silver and golden fingers waved over the parquet floor of the room until they touched the hem of his jeans. As though bending to stroke a friendly cat Edward bent and felt the magic nuzzle his fingers. It rolled like a gentle sea against his legs and twined and twirled up his legs, caressing his body and thrilling him with desire. It played over his chest and stroked his lips and cheeks. Edward sighed and closed his eyes, letting the magic wash over him and through him, surrendering himself to it. He yearned for Harry to come and touch him, love him. His body was taut with longing. He began to open his eyes, was about to speak but then the world around him gently faded away and his limp body fell to the floor.