Departure:

Little by little, the changes in me had become more pronounced.

The hours of twilight stretched into wonderful wake ups, accompanied by the divine scents of sweet forest leaves rotting in the moist earth.

And slowly morphed into pleasant nights- that were devoted to hunting, feeding and relishing in my new found strength.

I felt a little less human every night. Sometimes when the first thing I saw when awake was the cave ceiling, the images of my friends came up, Hermione's accusing gaze that send guilt burning in my chest and Ron's betrayed and disgusted face, red with anger.

And I would sit up, and answer Dmitri's questing look with nothing but a shoulder shrug. And we would go and feed.

And I wouldn't think of anyone and of nothing for a short time.

And yet I wasn't surprised, when I started to dream again, though vampires did not dream.

At first all I dreamed of were wide green landscapes and that I was flying above, touching the clouds with my fingers.

But then I started to land, and hear voices come from below.

Soft chuckles or delighted cries and sometimes angry shouts, familiar voices that I could not reach: for I was too far above.

And I missed the voices when awake; my vampire thoughts weren't enough to fill my mind.

Instead I thought about my friends and about all I left behind.

An entire life… and so many people, who cared.

Even though I didn't deserve to be missed, I let myself long for them.

And so, one night, I think it was the thirteenth night, me and the vampire Dmitri had moved

Deeper into the wilderness, where the trees were so tall they concealed the starry night sky.

''So, how old are you Dmitri?' I asked Dmitri's back. It was hard to keep up with his speed.

'Old enough to tell you what to do' he chuckled and I rolled my eyes.

'You don't look old, really how old are you?'I tried again.

'Quite!' suddenly he was crouching behind the nearest bush and pushing me to the ground 'ouch!' I glared at him but he had that far away look staring at something unseen to my right, 'what is it?' I whispered but he raised his hand as if to stop me, and then slowly turned around;

'there's someone there, listen!' I tried to pierce the darkness with my gaze, but the

Dimness was too complete even for me, 'I don't hear anything…And then I heard voices! Human voices here in the forest!

I stared with amazement. As I saw what I thought to be fireflies move our way- With a slight sway.

And then I realized what they were, but it's impossible!

With a swift motion he picked me up, as if I was nothing more than a package-to be delivered as fast as possible, and with vamp speed he run while I clung to his shoulders in growing panic.

The wind blew in my eyes, washing away the last of my senses, this was faster than the only flying I have experienced: on a broom.

As abruptly as he took off, Dmitri threw me not too gently on the ground, and disappeared from my sight-not before shouting; 'stay here- and wait!'

I stood in the dark, lightheaded and unsteady. I waited for my head to clear before trying to cast my mind around myself, the way I was taught.

I located the spot in which I stood as north from the cave but I couldn't locate the vampire.

Instead I got what sounded very much like a bee hum, a growing murmur not far away.

When I centered my hearing on the buzz, it seemed to grow vibrating, voicing a shared concern.

I started walking fast towards the sound, and the closer I went, the more distinct the mummers became until finally they turned into words:

'Albus said the boy should be here' the first voice said.

'Locating spells can be wrong, they don't always work, this doesn't make any sense why would Harry be here in this forest!'A second tired voice cried.

'I do not know, Lupin. Whatever this foolish brat has gotten himself into now…all I know is we've been here all day in this bloody Russian forest'.

Lupin! My heart almost jumped at his name, and I scrambled closer to the voices hoping to see him.

He was looking for me! I gathered from the conversation that Dumbledore has cast some spell to find me, and I wasn't sure I liked it.

This familiar voices, even that of professor Snape had brought up the longing I felt the past nights, and the memory of my life- back.

And yet I felt like I wanted to hide, ashamed to be seen as I was now-a beast.

'Well, maybe we should try again, the spell pointed at Hogsmead first, his probably there, run off or…' Lupine's voice trailed with unspoken suspicions.

'Or dead, Snape briskly replied.

'Though I assure you not by the dark lord, it wouldn't surprise me at all his own foolishness'…I almost laughed; trust Snape to show no concern.

'You sound sure of it, but you don't know Harry- he would never disappear like that without a good reason.'

Snape huffed in response, probably unconvinced.

And I shook my head at Remus's faith if you only knew I thought.

Both man, held wands- to light their way, just the two of them here in the middle of the night.

Suddenly, fear took me; what if Dmitri was going to hurt them? Where was the vampire anyway? I couldn't let that happen.

I searched the sky and sighed with relief when I spotted the new moon, at list I hadn't needed worry about Remus turning into a werewolf.

I caught the cold scent of anxiety from the figure to the left-so this must be Remus Lupin.

The figure to his right smelled of potions as I expected, but I noticed with surprise that underneath lurked the faint scent of worry, as well.

I assessed the situation; if I stayed hidden, they would eventually leave, never to come searching again, and I would be free to go on as I had, alone with Dmitri.

Or the vampire would attack, for some obscure primitive reason, or maybe simply because he was hungry enough, and humans were welcome pray comparing to animals.

That wasn't I chance I could take, so I made my decision quickly.

But I couldn't resist the human motion of running my finger through my hair in order to flatten it, and trying to desperately remember whether I was wearing any clothes at all!

But there wasn't any time! So with a few swift steps I made my way towards the men.

'Remus'…my voice was raspy from lack of use. Without warning I had wands pointed my way. I raised my hands above my head, and slowly stepped into the moonlight.

If I wasn't so anxious by the developments of the last hour.

I would have enjoyed the expressions on Snape's face; alarm and then complete disbelief with awe turning his sharp black eyes into vast orbs of fascination, that's the most I ever saw Snape show.

I almost fled, when Remus tried to take me in his arms, thankfully Snape stopped him, his eyes never leaving my face his wand steadily pointing at me.

'His right, you shouldn't come closer to me, and you wouldn't want to.' I said, with my arms still raised upwards.

Lupin was completely oblivious; 'Harry! We've been so worried about you, what happened?'

His voice was so full of joy- I felt bad, and started to regret my hasty decision to come out.

'indeed Potter, I'm sure the whole wizarding world would be happy to know, their little saviors …state.'

He said it with is usual composer, but I felt no malice beneath his words.

'I know, that's why I stayed here.' I stared into his eyes, unflinching.

I was about to try and explain the situation to Lupin who appeared about to explode.

When a loud crack! Came from above my head, and all hell broke loose;

A swift motion of a body flying from the sky, and Dmitri was charging with all his inhuman might at remus and snape.

I felt the air blow from the force of his moves, as his first strike hit Remus on the chin, making him top over.

'No! Dmitri stop!' but he either didn't hear me or ignored my cry.

I managed to catch the falling body, and gently laid Remus on the grass covered ground, while in front of me Snape was doing his best to attack and shield himself simultaneously.

The attacking part wasn't going well; Dmitri Easley moved the force of the hexes directed at him with a carless move of his hand.

His expression was dark and determined, his eyes clouded by some hidden vengeance-I hadn't know he possessed.

But Snapes was just as dark; in fact he radiated no fear-only control. And I could see this battle would a long one. But eventually the strength of the vampire would win.

One of Snapes hexes managed to hit Dmitri on the shoulder, and I watched in fascination as the wound bled for a moment and then started to close on its own.

Strange furry flared in me-no one was allowed to hurt Dmitri! And I almost joined in the attack, willing to protect my teacher and friend.

But as I launched myself forward to battle, my foot caught on something-and I fell -face forward, on the body below.

This was what I needed-a reminder of what was really happening, I couldn't let my vampire take over!

I gently stood back up, and seized the dark eyes of Snape, watching them widen and then warn me not to do a thing.

But I was beyond that; with all my strength I leaped from behind on Dmitri's back yelling 'run!' as me and the vampire fell to the ground,

I watched Snape cast:' Mobilicorpus' over at Lupin, while I sat on Dmitri's struggling body while he cursed but avoided hurting me.

'Enough, Potter your coming with us.' Snapes voice was tired but sure.

I looked down into those sapphire eyes, pleading silently.

And Dmitri searched my eyes and then though still furious just nodded and sent me his message; 'go for now, I'll find you later.'

'Thank you'. He just stayed still, while I got of him, and cautiously approached Snape.

He looked at me strangely, but I just stood there watching while Dmitri- disappeared as swiftly as he appeared.

I felt tired and confused. The whole event as surreal to me as my dreams.

It was almost dawn when Lupin regained consciousness and Snape gripped my arm, everything went black.

And the resulting tightness of apparition engulfed me.

I remember standing, in a room full of people, their scents and emotions overwhelming.

Those dear faces from my dreams-come to life.

And then as the first rays of sun blinded me, a different kind of blackness came over me:

That of no dreams and no life, that of surrender to the shade within.

A vampire's sleep.

'