I apologise for taking so long to update I am hanging my head in shame. Thank you to those who reviewed my last chapter:

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apothecary in training

Chapter Seventeen

Harry arrived at the headquarters with the sky black outside the windows. The new temporary headquarters were situated in an old manor house that looked previously derelict. Fires had been set at the aged hearths and rugs had been thrown across the cold flagstones, the ceilings were high and crumbling and lit candles were jammed into the holders. Cloaked figures were hurrying from side to side with more than a few flashing Alyssa relieved smiles. The twins that had been fighting the vampires rushed past waving daggers and bickering happily, when they spotted the four of them they waved cheerfully before carrying on.

'We'd better get Alyssa to the infirmary' Kay said striding forwards towards a staircase 'are you coming Harry?'

'Yeh' Harry muttered following the man

Harry followed the assassin towards the hospital section dragging his feet slightly as he thought of just how much he didn't want to be here

'Harry a word please' came a calm voice from the bottom of the stairs

Harry tuned halfway up the staircase and looked back down to see the woman in charge of the Vampire Assassins. Ivy, she was standing with her arms crossed over her black robes with her black hair tied in a severe knot on the top of her head

'Now?' he said

'Kay's told you I've called everyone back' she said calmly 'I know need to know where Lord Riyak is, then we can organise a full scale attack'

'I'm not actually sure' Harry said awkwardly 'I just jumped through the portal and arrived near the Keep, I was pretty focused on getting Alyssa back and there were no landmarks, just lots of trees'

'Well that's no good' Ivy said frowning 'we need to find a way to destroy Riyak, he's becoming more and more of a threat of late'

'Why did you call me back from Hogwarts?' Harry asked unable to keep some of the bitterness out of his voice

'We are all here to serve a purpose' she said without emotion 'family ties may be desirable but at the end of the day, they only get you killed'

'You get killed without family as well' Harry said coldly

'It doesn't hurt as much' she said 'and it doesn't hurt the ones you leave behind'

'So what' he said angrily 'we should just be alone in case we hurt somebody when we die? I thought the saying was 'that that doesn't kill me can only make me stronger''

'There is a saying for everything' she replied 'now follow me'

She walked towards a corridor off the entrance hall and Harry reluctantly hurried down the steps and after her. She led him down the stone corridor and into cold grey room, the only thing in the room two large maps of the world pinned one wall, one was covered in red and black dots and the second map was covered in purple dots and white dots with black writing on them

'What are these?' Harry asked curiously

'This map' she gestured to the red and black dotted map 'is the map that shows were all Assassins have been situated in red, the black dots are were Assassins have been killed'

'And the other one?'

'The purple dots are where vampires have been reported or killed at' she said shaking her head at the large number of dots 'and the white ones mark where Assassins are assigned'

'Why have you brought me here?' Harry said gazing at the map

'Trying to jog your memory' Ivy said staring at him 'does anything on this map look familiar?'

'No' Harry shook his head 'it was just a forest, I ran through a forest for hours it didn't seem to end'

'Densely wooded area' she said looking disappointed 'that could be any two thirds of the countries on this map'

'What is going to happen now?' Harry said beginning to get annoyed 'Riyak is still out there and he's still killing innocent people'

'What exactly would you like me to do about it?' she said frostily 'without the location of his Keep we are in the same position we were before Alyssa was kidnapped'

'There's nothing we can do?'

'That is why I have called everyone back' Ivy said 'then the other leaders and myself with delegate Assassins to new locations, we are hoping that if we rotate people we will get a new look on different countries'

'A different slant on the same picture' Harry said in understanding

'Precisely' she conceded 'we were thinking of sending you to Lithuania'

'LITHUNAIA!' Harry shouted in disgust 'what the hell am I going to do there?'

'Your job!' she snapped back 'what has come over you? You've never disagreed before now'

'I have a Godfather and friends in Britain' Harry said 'after all these years I've found out who my family were and found people that care about me because of who I am not just because I'm a half vampire!'

'You think Alyssa loves you just because of who you are!' Ivy said raising an eyebrow 'or Rhys loved you?'

'They both loved me' Harry admitted 'but if I wasn't a half vamp I'd probably still be on the streets, my Godfather has loved me since I was first born'

'This will be discussed' she said turning away from Harry 'though I can't promise you anything'

'This isn't fair' Harry said quietly

'Life isn't fair' she answered 'the sooner you learn that the better, emotional attachments lead to mistakes and bad judgement'

'Sometimes you can be a real bitch' Harry said

'I wouldn't be able to be in charge if I wasn't' she said stalking from the room

---------

There was a large table set downstairs but Harry chose to go to the temporary infirmary and talk to Alyssa instead, she was propped up in a single bed with a tray of food. She smiled when Harry entered the large room and gestured for him to come over

'What's up with you' she said perceptively tucking into a piece of her dinner

'The usual' Harry answered picking up a plastic sealed bag of blood that was on the side 'um yummy A-'

Alyssa smiled again as he tore the top off and took a gulp and swallow it after nearly chucking it back out

'Oh that is disgusting!' he said taking a swig of water 'how old is that blood'

'Couple months at least' she smirked 'and you usually moan if they're older than two weeks'

'It should be illegal to keep blood that long' Harry grumbled

'So are you going to tell me what the matter is?' she asked again

'Ivy's talking about moving me to Lithuania' Harry said thudding down on the bed next to hers

'And you don't want to go?'

'Would you?' he said seriously

'Not if I was in your position' she said quietly 'I saw the way you were at Hogwarts'

'What do you mean?' Harry asked confused

'I haven't seen you that happy in a long time' she replied seriously 'I've seen you happy, but it was when Rhys was alive that I last saw you that happy'

'You're not joking?' Harry said softly

'I would never joke about something like this' Alyssa answered 'you deserve to be happy'

'Ivy said emotional attachments lead to mistakes and bad judgement' he mimicked her sharp voice

'She's one to talk' scoffed Alyssa 'she never avoided emotional attachments when she was our age or even when she was older, why should we not get that experience?'

'So you think I shouldn't listen to her?' Harry said hesitantly

'She may be in charge' Alyssa said taking a mouthful of her meal 'and she may be good at that, but she doesn't have the right to send you away from what you want, it's not up to her'

'Seriously?' Harry asked amazed she was saying this

'She not all powerful' Alyssa continued 'and we're a democracy, so if you don't want to go to Lithuania tell her that'

'I can envision that conversation' Harry said mockingly 'she'd probably bite me to see if she could create a hybrid of vampire and werewolf and then use it as an excuse for me to go to Lithuania'

'Do whatever you want to do' Alyssa said seriously 'if you want to go back then you should go, there needs to be someone there and you've got just as much right if not more for that person to be you!'

'I don't want to leave you and the others though' Harry said miserably 'look what happened last time, the same could happen again to you or Kay or Joe or any of the others'

'Joe and Kay make a good team' Alyssa said dismissively 'and most of the time they're no where near headquarters and the same can be said for me once I'm well'

The door to the infirmary opened and Joe walked through looking as miserable as Harry felt

'Been talking to Ivy' he moaned 'she wants me to be the one to go back to the UK which also means that I won't be partnered with Kay he's going to get put with some newbie that's just graduating the training programme'

'She wants you to go back to the UK!' Harry said with disbelief bordering on anger 'I've had it!'

He jumped up from the bed and swept towards the door 'Ivy may be good in some cases but this time she's gone to far!'

'Harry's right' Joe said not looking at all perturbed with openly agreeing with Harry 'we should have some say in who we're partnered with and where we are sent'

'You'd better tell me what happens!' Alyssa called restricted to the hospital bed 'I want every detail'

--------

The two teenagers headed back down the stairs, in the now empty Entrance Hall the twins were messing around taking advantage of the lack of adults

'Oi!' Joe called making them jump 'where's Ivy and the rest of the Assassins?'

'Ivy called a meeting of the senior fighters' Atton (the boy) the replied 'said something about certain issues needing to be addressed'

'Where?' Harry asked his sister

'Opposite the map room' Anona answered looking curiously at the two older boys 'why do you need to talk to them?'

'Doesn't matter' Joe said dismissively as he jogged after Harry's retreating form 'probably doesn't affect you anyway'

'We'll find out!' Atton called at the their departing backs

'We always do!' Anona yelled

---------

Harry reached the meeting room first and after knocking abruptly on it not waiting for an answer he pushed the door open and went in with Joe behind him

'My partner is Joe!' Kay was saying loudly the palms of his hands were flat on the large table in the centre of the room and he had risen up from his chair in obvious frustration'

Everyone turned to look at Harry and Joe, the large table had ten of the higher-ranking Assassins dotted around it, most of them supporting scars

'What is the meaning of this interruption?' Ivy said dangerously glaring at both of them

'If you are discussing our futures' Harry said coldly 'we have every right to be included, we are not allowing others to decide what will happen to us'

'Harry's right' Ciaren Russell said to Harry's immense surprise, the second in command had never before done anything like he was doing now- other Assassins looked equally shocked but more than a few looked like they agreed with Ciaren

'We cannot dictate the Assassins, they must have input as to the future of our mission'

'We have always been equals' Drei another distinguished Assassin added her opinion 'we value you Ivy but after over a three hundred years we must adhere to the ruled set down by our founder, Each and Every Assassin has the unprecedented right to decide how they will fight in the war, and no other Assassin no matter what their rank can force them to do something they don't want to do'

'Joe is my partner' Kay said determinedly making the teen next to Harry glow with pride at the esteemed fighter's proclamation

'I'm going back to the UK' Harry said resolutely 'I'm not giving up on the opportunity of a Godfather, I'll still fight just as hard for the cause and will kill as many vampires as possible but I'll do it while living in the UK'

Ivy leant back in her chair looking considerably disgruntled at what was happening 'if that is what you truly want' she said looking at Harry 'though it will be a couple of months before you can return, I need to smooth things over with the Minister about you and your condition and your safety at Hogwarts and whether or not you are allowed to return'

'But I can go back?' Harry said unable to believe his ill thought out idea was actually working even though there was the chance that he wouldn't be allowed back

'If the Minister and headmaster consent to it' she nodded 'and Joe can stay partnered with Kay for the foreseeable future'

-----------

One month later

Joe, Harry and Alyssa were crouched outside an industrial site. It was a dark night with the clouds covering most of the stars in the sky, the site was filthy and the ground was covered in dirt. There was an abandoned factory building opposite them, it was a mass of corrugated metal with scattered windows at the top a few were broken and yellow light leaked out into the dark area outside illuminating slightly.

This was the reason why they were concealed behind a heap of forgotten rubbish bags and bins, they were ignoring the smell just about. Harry turned from his observations of the factory to look at his two companions.

Alyssa was recovered from her ordeal and she had a look of utter concentration on her face as she reviewed her first active mission back, she was wearing dark black trousers with black combat boots and a dark jacket, her hair was tied firmly behind her head a handle of a sword poked out from behind her back and her wand was grasped in her hand.

Joe was looking mildly interested in what was to come, he was also dressed in black and covered in knives, his wand was still in its holster along with his other weapons- he would always transform his arms into clawed weaponry and would only resort to using other methods if he was unable to fight as a part werewolf.

'How many?' he whispered

'Four guards at both doors' Harry replied 'all the other vamps are inside the building'

'Me and Llys can take the ones at the back if you take the ones at the front' Joe said thinking 'then we can trap them in there'

'Remember to be quiet' Alyssa said edging forwards 'if any of them try to get out they'll know something's happening'

'Meet at the west side in ten minutes' Harry murmured as he streaked off into the darkness making sure he skirted along other empty buildings and kept to the shadows

The four vampires were standing side by side and Harry smiled at their stupidity, it made them much easier to target than if they had kept close together. He couldn't fight them in close combat because it would alert the others, if there had been two of them they would have been able to as they could have quickly taken down two each, this was a method Alyssa and Joe were probably using.

Sighing Harry replaced his wand it's holster and pulled his bow out, he loaded two arrows and shot them quickly, milliseconds after they had left his arrow he loaded two more and aimed them at the other two vamps.

The four arrows hit dead on in the hearts and dusted them before they even registered the attack. Harry snuck forwards and pulling his wand back out ran to the doors and muttered a locking spells on the doors, they would hold out against a surge of vampires for a few minutes but hopefully that would be all that was needed. Loud voices were coming from within the factory and it had been enough to cover any excess sounds

Harry jogged to the meeting point as Alyssa and Joe appeared, Joe's claws were turning back to hands but there was obviously blood on them.

'Ready then?' Alyssa asked

Joe and Harry nodded and drew circular devices from the folds of their cloaks, they swirled with different colours and were made of a glass-like substance. Though they looked harmless they were anything but for vampires.

The three of them pulled on dark sunglasses and peered through the dark lenses to the windows at the top of the building

'After three' Joe whispered 'I'll aim for the middle, Harry you aim for the left and Llys has the right'

'Three…Two…One' Llys counted

As soon as she said one, the three of them threw the circular devices as hard as possible at the windows and almost as quickly threw another. The glowing vials smashed through the windows with a tinkling of glass and exploded.

It was a blast of an irradiated substance that mimicked sunlight, each bomb covered an area of at least thirty metres. Immediately screams of pain ripped through the night and hammering sounding at the doors, the three Assassins still squinting from the brightness of the blast pulled their wands out and yelled

'Fanatus!'

The wards on the doors broke down and vampires fell out, their skin was falling of their faces and their bodies were covered in burns, a lot of them were also on fire desperate to escape from the lit area.

They came upon the barrier if they managed to scramble past their fallen brethren, some still had the life force left to scream with frustration as the fake sunlight burn their bodies- not exactly humane but these creatures had killed thousands of humans between them.

Finally the screams halted and the last few vampires fell. The light dimmed down and the three of them pulled of their glasses and stalked to the open doors still wary, what greeted them was a floor covered in dust at least three inches thick

'They're all dead' Alyssa said calmly 'must have been at least a thousand in here'

'I wish they were all like that' Joe said kicking some of the dust

'Then again you never did like hard work did you' Harry said unable to resist the comeback

--

Movement came from behind them and they whipped around expectantly only to see Ivy, Kay and Ciaren walking into the factory

'Congratulations' Ivy said her voice stoic 'though there are still a few areas you need to improve on'

Alyssa rolled her eyes

'Why are you watching us?' she asked

'We needed to make sure all of you were still up to Assassin standard' Ciaren replied 'suffice to say you passed'

'Well obviously' Joe said earning a growl of warning from Kay

'Indeed' Ivy continued 'I need to speak with the three of you back at headquarters though, especially Harry, I have got some news about whether you are allowed back'

Again I am very sorry. Luv SpikyStar x x