Chapter 10:

Professor Dumbledore was sat in his office drinking a fresh cup of tea and thinking about the way the war was going, even with Severus' surprising defection and Voldemort's obsession with the Potters and the prophecy, it was not going well. Even with their Dark Lord mostly occupied the Death Eaters were maybe months away from taking control of the ministry completely, still, there was some positive news he had just persuaded Lily and James to use the Fidelus charm which should all but ensure their safety, then he would need to arrange similar security for the Longbottoms in case Voldemort decided to try to take out both of the possible prophecy candidates, thankfully he did not have the full prophecy.

With Severus' help, Dumbledore had been able to compile a strong list of Voldemort's highest-ranking Death Eaters that he was poised to relay to the Auror office, this would deprive the self-titled Dark Lord of his most loyal soldiers but even without his fanatics a plan towards his permeant defeat still alluded Dumbledore, for the moment anyhow.

A loud knock on his door interrupted his thoughts "Enter" Dumbledore called just before the door opened and Alastor Moody came striding into the office. The Auror came to a stop just before Dumbledore "So Alastor is it done?"

"Aye they've named Black as the secret keeper, he'd not have been my first choice too brash and showy for my liking," Alastor said.

"James would trust no other, I tried to convince him to name me to no avail" Dumbledore said softly

"Well then on to other news the vampire killings have stopped or its smart enough to keep off the Ministry's radar, still at least they have not yet openly declared for the enemy" Alastor said. "Yes, although my information says that Voldemort has in fact met with a powerful vampire and is confident of an alliance," Dumbledore said

"That's not good news Albus, it seems every day he brings more forces to bare against us, soon I fear darkness will consume us all"

"Where there is hope old friend there is light"

Remus walked towards the towards the door with as much confidence as he could muster, when he had gone to Gringrotts to withdraw some money he was shocked to see the amount that now resided in his vault it seemed the vampire had been generous, more than generous. It was enough for him to buy tutoring supplies and the expensive ingredients for the new wolfsbane potion. Still, he had avoided telling his friends the nature of the family that was his employers. He knocked on the door firmly and stood waiting until it was opened by the foulest-smelling man he had ever encountered, one of the side effects of his furry little problem as James and Sirius liked to say was that even outside of the full moon his senses were better than a regular person's. "You the tutor Master Vlad said was coming".

Trying to calm his nerves at walking into a vampire's home "Yes" the man who Remus assumed was a butler or servant of some kind instructed Remus to follow him inside. He led Remus inside the home and the werewolf couldn't help but notice the gothic styling along with a feeling as if the house was watching him.

Remus followed the man into a large room were the vampire he had met at the café was waiting, Vladimir Dracula echoed in his head, just thinking of that surname sent shivers down his spine.

"Ah Mr Lupin" Vladimir called to him as he strode over to him and shook his hand "I'm so glad you're here, your charge is waiting for you in training room" he then turned to face the servant "Renfield can you take Mr Lupin here to the training room to were Wolfie is waiting please"

"Yes Master Vlad" Renfield nodded and ushered to Remus to follow.

Once they were out of earshot the Count said from his throne "why have you brought another werewolf into my home Vladimir?"

"You told me to find Wolfie a tutor and who better to teach him than another of his kind" Vlad said.

"Well, I hope your right Vlady" the Count said with clear doubt in is voice.

Vlad sensing the sort of mood his father was going to be in for the night decided that he was going to go for a fly.

Vlad was enjoying the feeling of the wind on his wings and was thinking about how his younger self would be horrified if he could see him now, but then past him didn't know how freeing it felt just to let go and indulge the darker impulses and to feed that terrible hunger. While flying over the area of London that he had recently discovered to be a hot bed of crime and where most of the fresh blood he had tasted originated he caught sight of a man running from the flashing blue lights of the police. He followed the man and watched as he evaded the police by hiding in a dark alley. When the police had long since passed and the man was looking confident Vlad, in human form, came up behind him and before he new what was happening Vlad had his fangs in his throat was savouring his rich, warm blood when there was not much left and deciding to do something that he knew would annoy the wizards dipped his hand the now dead man's blood and preceded to write on the wall the Dracula Clans variation of the 3 V's, Veni Vidi Voro. Stepping back and allowing his darker side to come closer to the surface he flashed across the street ripped a spiked iron railing from the ground and flashed back to the alleyway he thrust it into the ground with the now bloodless corpse impaled through the heart halfway down the spike. Vlad left the alley with his darker side laughing that impalement was the Dracula way.

Vlad was several streets away and was coming down from the blood high when a voice spoke out next to him "Well that was entertaining"

Vlad turned snarling, bearing fangs. The Dark Lord merely chuckled "I hear you talked to poor Lucius"

"That's one way of looking at" Vlad said before getting to the point "What can I do for you my lord" Vlad internally winced not meaning for the sarcasm to be so clear in his voice.

It seemed the Dark Lord chose to let that disrespect pass. "Come Dracula we have much to discuss you and I" Lord Voldemort said, an air of menace about his person.

Tobias Fletcher walked through the temporary muggle-repelling charms that had been placed around the alley where the latest vampire victim was to be found. He walked past the obliviators currently modifying the memories of the muggle policemen who found the body originally. He was examining the scene before him when a voice said in what almost sounded like a growl "Well what do think?" Fletcher turned around so fast he almost lost his balance to find Alastor Moody standing before him "Careful lad"

"Yyes Mr Moody Sir" Fletcher stuttered

"Speak plainly man" Moody growled

"Yes, sir sorry sir"

"What's the meaning of this nonsense" he gestured to the symbol written in blood"

"Oh, that sir" Fletcher said

"Well spit out man if you know"

"It's an old vampire symbol a way of marking territory, claiming a kill and inspiring fear and such" Fletcher rambled

"So similar to the Dark Mark"

"In a way yes sir"

"What's it's mean?" Moody asked

"Well, its 3 V's"

"I can see that laddie" annoyance creeping into voice

"Its Latin sir Veni Vidi Voro, I came, I saw, I consumed," Fletcher said quietly shuddering.

Moody nodded and began walking away leaving Fletcher awestruck at meeting the famous auror so much so that he didn't think to wonder what he was doing at a different department's crime scene, interdepartmental relations at the ministry were at an all-time low, with Death Eater infiltration and people being placed under the imperious curse, suspicion was rife.