The Engagement:

The desk was covered with heavy stacks of books and parchments,the wood stained with old dust,I was sitting in front of my latest homework assignment.

Warm laughter eluded through the thin door of the Gryffindor dorm as the day drew to a close. Another day passed by in a welcoming fashion of the warm and familiar scents of the castle. I was becoming used to the comfort it offered so innocently, I almost remembered it used to be my only home.

Tomorrow,was the signing of the Blood contract in the presence of Dumbeldore and the minister himself,I was to sign my fate.

Any vampire who signed was to live the rest of his immortal life without blood,even animal blood was forbidden in fear in will trigger a greater passion for the original. In return the vampire would gain protection from the ministry and the same rights as any wizard.

Luckily tonight held a different kind of signing,or so I hoped. When the night came down and students reached for their warm beds,still laughing but yawning all the same,I set in a big comfortable arm chair in the corner of the common room and waited.

When midnight came I wasn't surprised at the sound of wind rushing through the fire place. The flames died down and a small black feather landed beneath my feet.

I gently picked it up,running my fingers through the gentle curve and spine of the crow feather. As soon as my hand closed around it I felt the world disappear and a strong pressure hit my head and shoulders.

When the world stopped spinning in vivid colors and shapes I could see I was in a wide space,enclosed with stone columns and arches. The high openings like the openings of a cave or a hungry monster. The air was chilly and I automatically hugged my arms before remembering I didn't need to fear the cold.

I found myself in a wide space with curving stone walls almost similar to the cave Dmitri lived in,only much larger.

The high ceilings had small shelfs build into them that held burning wax candles. My shadow stretched along the ceiling appearing giant and all powerful.

"Welcome Harry" the deep voice was soothing in the unfamiliar place and I rushed into Dmitri's arms before I could think better of it.

But he only held me tight but not close to his body and let out small breaths of cold air on my cheek,a sign of life vampires rarely showed. "you have so much to learn Harry... just make me proud' his deep voice broke on that last word and I realized we weren't alone anymore.

Quickly i straighted up and held my gaze in as neutral expression as possible. In the entrance stood three shadowed figures,there faces hidden behind heavy cloaks but there presence visible to my every sense.

"So you seem self aware enough" the middle figure spoke,his voice sharp and stingy but definitely male. " Isn't that wonderful cousin?"he drawled on reminding me of Snape. The figure to his left shifted but remained silent,I noticed the cousin was taller and probably stronger then this vampire version of Snape.

Dmitri held his hand up and slowly approached the shadows and then to my surprise knelled, before raising his hand above his head and holding it there. "I swear before you my lord and sir that no harm is in this blood before you and all truth in red contained". After this dramatic admission the sharp voiced man touched a hand that I noticed was white and delicate to Dmitri's and let him rise.

I was astonished by how clam and elegant my maker made this humiliation seem. "Harry come here" the voice was commanding and as usual I could not refuse him.

I moved closer keeping eyes on the figures in case they decided to hurt Dmitri,who I respected but knew to be impulsive and not very careful.

I felt the air grow even colder around me as I approached but I made sure not to shiver.

The leader let his hood drop and I could finally see his face and it was revealed to me like a whole new world. It was handsome yes but beyond that it was ancient as if all the years the world contained never touched it and yet were made of it.

The skin,the eyes and the hair brown and pure around the perfect features,only then I noticed him as he turned all his attention on me,and I did shiver.

" I hope he is ready" he said it but his eyes were locked on mine. "He is" I turned to the right where the tall figure stepped out of the shadows.

"Ready for what?" I couldn't stay silent,they were circling me now like wolves only Dmitri stayed still and I knew my choices now had everything to do with making him proud. "You are a new vampire and usually we wont reveal ourselves before bloods like you,but you are also Harry Potter and we want to claim you" the beautiful one spoke and his sharp voice seemed in contrast to the soft lines of his mouth and large eyes. " How do I concern you? You always sided with Voldemort!"

I felt rage rise in my chest at the thought of them claiming me, I wanted to stay free. The only silent vampire made to grab me but the sharp one stopped him with a small motion of his finger.

"you are one of us now and we find that important enough to offer you to tie yourself to us,you would receive protection and learn all you need to survive and without the blood potion of course" he finished with a smile. " And as you will learn Harry all promises and spoken words by vampires are lies" Dmitri spoke in the coolest of tones and I glanced to find him frowning."Unless spoken in blood?" I said and within second all the vampires were focused on me. Finally as the ringing surprise died down the sharp one smiled again and held out his hand " You will learn" he whispered. was

I was glad Ive done some reading on vampire customs or at least on the ones known to wizards. Vampires had no rules or order of their own unless they signed contracts or ties in blood ,and those were the only ones binding enough to call fro punishment.

As my eyed were tied with a heavy black scarf that smelled almost human I followed the vampires through the stone tunnel. The whole time Dmitri whispered urgently in my ear all sorts of nonsense and i was trying to collect a bit of trust to keep my feet moving along.

Soon we arrived and the scarf removed. My eyes adjusted to the the heavy lit room also stone made but furnished with sofas and a table with chairs. The four vampires stood around the table and for a moment I let myself enjoy their glory even if it was the last thing ill ever do.

And yes. they were beautiful but so above time in the way their eyes could not match the youthful skin and shiny hair. Only their clothes seemed to be like the eyes,old garments,something of the past made of expensive silks and velvet.

The sharp one stepped aside to let a new figure appear and a magnificent creature he was! Broad shouldered and bearded the most human of all of them,and yet with burning eyes that held a promise of wisdom.

" I'm Happy you could come Harry, why don't you sit?" I tried not to laugh and sat myself pretending this was ordinary enough.

He sat beside me and held out a silver goblet-it was empty. "If you make the right choice this would be filled with the blood of all this room" I felt the air shift in the room almost as soon as he said that. "What choices?" I said with the anxiety creeping into my voice.

"you simply choose to be who you are and to stay loyal to our clan and become one of us "The sharp one spoke and i found him looming over my shoulder ( I didn't hear him move). " You will tie to one of us as your guardian and you would pledge loyalty to him first". "But I have Dmitri why cant i just pledge to him?"

" Dmitri isnt part of our clan anymore" The bearded leader spoke.' He mad his choice long ago to be on his own and we repect that. You on the other hand have alot to prove before you can be free as you would so very much like"."You read my mind! " I lipped out of the chair but Dmitri grabbed me "Listen to him Harry he is offering you the only freedom a vampire can have in this world! They are only asking for you to stay loyal and keep them safe".

" We want more then that Dmitri,we want him to be tied to us for life" At that Dmitri froze "No you can mean that!"

The sharp one sat down before exclaiming: "He is a special case and a risk we cant take and only marriage would work!" wait whoa was he talking about.."marriage?"

the leader stood up his eyes intense and walked towards me " Its just a tie that is strong enough to make sure your bonded to us by magic" I stayed silent until my emotions were in control and then I said " But it wont work! by wizarding law you are outcasts".

At that all the vampired seemed to shift and though they stayed silent I could feel a ripple of laughter come through them somehow. " Its binding for us and it uses vampire magic which wizards cant break". At that mys shoulders tensed as I realized the reality of this ridiculous situation. I turned to Dmitri as my last hope and met his sad eyes that looked almost ashamed " I failed you Harry I wasn't prepared for this offer" he hanged his head of brown curls down and I almost felt sorry for him,almost.

"Never mind that just tell me all you can,what do i get?" I looked up to find an appreciating gaze from the sharp one but maybe I imagined it.

"you would be admitted to the clan like i planned and you would gain the protection and guidance you need,in return you pledge yourself to one of the clans choice in a blood bond". Dmitri finaly looked up his eyes returning to their usual burning flame of power. " I would loose you but I deserve too after today".

"Don't be so dramatic Dmitri! you would still have the boy,and you Harry would still have to prove yourself to us a great deal'"said the sharp one with a smirk that reminded me of Snape again.

"Alright, i said so who am I going to marry then?" I said it in spite just to take the smirk of his perfect face but the answer left me cold and him laughing.

"Well... me of course!"

Hey there! Thank you for reading pleas review with hate or love as you want.Sorry for the late update and the dramatic fashion and feel free to make suggestions and ask anything

See you soon!

Vinal