Blood and Bondage

A cold air waved through her chestnut brown hair against the dark walls against the background. Blood had been strained against her forehead dried up despite the constant running of ants that had been biting her against

Blood had been strained against her forehead, dried up despite the constant line of ants that had been biting it. Hair was far from neat but pale skin was certainly not because of her heritage. Tears had dried up on her underneath her closed eyes as the clothes she had worn had been torn apart in various parts. Shivering thanks to the cold around her, the tinkling of water was a distant sound but somehow it felt closer! Light seemed like a distant memory it was very dim but she was accustomed to it enough to see the creatures that passed her. Enough to get a little aid of food and venom from stray snakes – yet none so strong enough to make the journey back for help. He was too watchful for that!

Somehow she wished there was a way out of all this! Someone to call for help but there was nothing she could do about it. Who would she call there were only two people who could have helped at this point of time? One was the man she betrayed and the other who could have possibly betrayed her. She had a third option – Croshakes – but he was beyond contract.

Croshakes – the very feline that had crawled into the Griffindor common room were Ron Weasely sat playing a game of chess with Dean Thomas. Dean Thomas, a muggle born from a poor background just like him. He was a bridge between them, the source of many possibility and resources. He was the source of deep strength and also the power behind many bridges between magic n muggle. He was the one guy they could rely on – but prodigies were being built up. Snickering he lightly added, "Why don't you move over and allow Elf-man to play Dean, you can then watch your little Lilac."

"Laiza – it's Laiza. I liked you better before the mating." He snapped, Ron laughed only to be interrupted by Croshakes hissing and in front of their very eyes changing shape into a Elvan man. "I am not an elf Ron get your facts right General it could cost you a lot in battle."

In front of them stood a man with long ears that tipped off at the end and inhumanly long fingers, yet he had a handsome face with smooth features and sharp green eyes! He wore a large tunic made in light cream with a checked shirt made of brown both dark and light. He wore his hair very short but it was the same reddish shade of the kindle. "You are right, I am sorry."

"I need to speak to you about something important." He looked on as the Kensal took a seat, pulling out a parchment from inside, "Have any of you ever seen this lady?"

Both of them looked at the picture before rolling with laughter (literally) on the ground, "When did Hermione dress up like this? Wow she looks so ancient Merlin I thought it was someone else for a second. Who painted this? Did she do a self-portrait?"

Dean too continued to laugh, "When did she get her mane to get into such a style? Wow elf man when did this take place?"

"I found this in the chamber when I was clearing the muggle books Slithering had hid away. The picture was there inside a book of fairy tales that's why we never found it before, but the resemblance is very unlikely. I never thought it was actually possible but I would have to speak to the ghosts and the portraits. Maybe there could be someone who would help me out, maybe a little extra help could be used or maybe something that links them together. A connector, Dean can you get me a portrait of Maya?"

"Why not? I did make a few portraits of them, I will go get them." he replied getting up leaving a free seat allowing the two of them to sit and chat, "Ron please tell me something and tell me honestly have you ever sensed that she might be possessed? Ever?"

"I am going to need time Croshakes, it's a serious matter." Croshakes nodded getting up, "You think I am going to go question Blinds upon this matter."

Ron thought deeply going back to the very morning when he found out about Hermione being Maya Riddle, accidentally. He was back home in his mouldy bed and dull bed spreads his parents once again worried about their child. Once again he was pushed aside thanks to – this was not the time to think about it. He wiped his eyes and got up the maroon pyjamas was as usual short and uncomfortable but what could he do NOTHING NOTHING AT ALL EVERYTHING I OWN IS RUBBISH FULLY RUBBISH MY THROAT IS DRY BUT IT'S GINNY WHO GETS THE PICHER OF WATER IN HER ROOM. Those thoughts running in his mind he went to the kitchen at the early hours of the morning, only to find a gust there along with his parents and his best friend Hermione Granger. His mother was dressed in her nightie so was his father, they were not expecting them but why are they – what is Hermione doing with Dumbledore and Snipe?

"Molly I am sure that this is a shock to you. I had no other choice she needs protection and I cannot do anything more. The girl needs a mother!" Ron flinched at the words of his potions master, it felt terrible for him,

Ron flinched at the worlds of his potions master – one more for completion this time his best friend? Wait, she needs a mother? She has one? What did that old bat mean by I cannot do anything more she has parents he asked himself watching (hidden from sight) as the answers unfolded in front of him. First via his father, "So the muggles we met as her parents?"

"Actors! She has no family, rather the one who is alive happens to be nearly dead." Severnus replied when the big bomb was finally broken upon them, it dawned to Author first who whispered the word, "Nearly?"

Albus Dumbledore took it from there, "Yes Author, nearly I am here to call upon a favour. An old favour on behalf of someone else. Author Weasely, I would like to revoke the vow of loyalty that had been made to –"

"She can't be!" Molly replied reality finally dawning upon her, "She cannot be you-know-whose daughter, it means she is the real hair of Slytherine but it was Ginny who opened the chambers. You said you-know-who possessed her!"

"It was Ginny who opened it, Ms. Riddle, actually Meya had no idea about about till that night when Harry spoke to that snake. When she did learn about it she confronted me and Saira Yashmine had arrived in time to explain everything. That is why I implore you Author complete the vow of loyalty that had been placed. What had been the mothers let it go to the daughter, allow her to have the safety she deserves. It is your only chance to remove the curse that had placed upon your family."

Vow? What were they talking about? It sickened him but he was silent from his hiding place, "I cannot say anything headmaster, it may have been my brother who broke the vow but it was Molly who suffered most when the curse had come upon the family. She had nothing to do with it… she is innocent. It was thanks to her we found out about the snake and it was she who had ended up risking her life trying to help us…"

"I understand Author, it would not be a simple tas-" Molly interrupted the men her face under a clear firmness, "Hermo- no Meya Riddle shall stay with us but as our child and Ron's friend. If the vow is to be revoked it shall be done only after we speak to all the six boys. It shall be a joint decision unlike last time… besides I can't make Ron have his loyalty forced when the time comes."

"It won't Mrs. Weasely, my loyalties have always been with Harry and the light, it shall always be that way even if I am forced into pretending otherwise. Nothing in the world is more important for me than Harry winning." That was the first time she spoke ever since they had come there and she did so with so much intensity that tears flowed down her voice that she was (instantly) rewarded with Molly hugging her tightly allowing her a good cry that was highly required, "I am sorry child, I cannot allow Author to take the vow again without consulting everyone but I can assure one thing you will always be our daughter."

"T-thank you Mrs. Weasely. Thank you so much!' Molly corrected her, "It's mum honey, it's mum."

Pulling away slightly she smiled with happiness whispering the word, "Mum!"

A gentle touch brought him back to the real world, "What happened master?"

"Nothing Colin!" he replied pushing the vellas hand away, ignoring the pain that flashed across the eyes of the poor vella, "You were thinking about her were you not master? You still love her don't you master?"

"Colin – I have told you a thousand times, it's you I am attached to." The poor vella gave a sad smile, "It's me who is attached to you master, you have a freedom of choice I don't have at all not that I would have anyone except for you."

Ron laughed sadly before pulling the vella into his lap sidewise making the younger boy giggle uncontrollably, the master took it from there by tickling him like crazy, "Really that's not the Colin I remember in his first year, it was always Harry, Harry and more Harry was it not."

"M-master I had no-hh idea what- aaw- wa-a-happen-aaah-ing! S-soooh aaw, sorry aaw bbuuh buuht iiiee iiit waahhaa waahs yyouhh- you aah aaa aalways y-ooh you!" he tried to stamer out, "Don't lie to me sweet heart you know what I would do to you if you try lie to me."

Ron's hand began going up the this of the younger boy whose smile went rather shy as the tickling (finally) stopped, sighing and leaning back Ron gently rubbed upon Collins head allowing his hands to go through the golden hair. The younger boy simply leaned into the touch and against his shoulder as the master finally placed a kiss on his forehead, "Colin, wish I could explain it away in a few words."

"Or you can explain it away in detail once you explain the cause of

"Or you can explain it away in detail after you tell me who had placed the idea of me and Colin being too gentle minded to see her." Demanded Ginny walking in demanding, a shaken up Harry running in right behind her, "Just me and Harry, Dumbledore too seemed to be convinced why?"

"I meant who put the idea into your heads in the first place. There must be a source." Harry was the one to answer, "The book we read up the one which told us all about Vellas."

"Who gave it to you?" Ginny asked, Harry pointed at Ron who began thinking deeply, "Oh that one, I found it in the Black library why? Are there any more books? Maybe something there that can help us, there must be something!"

"Actually there are an alarmingly large number of books regarding vampires and half-breeds there. Few rare and every expensive volumes regarding vampires too it cannot be a simple to get them until he sold a few asserts." Colin piped in having cleared the library when they were tree, it took a minute of silence before Harry finally spoke, "Vampires, half-breeds, dark creatures! Ron I think it's high time Remus Lupin opens up a little. This seems to be deeper than what meets the eye."