See the Light: Part I
By TheHedgehogLives
January 24 2009
Updated: August 5 2009
EXTENDED SUMMARY: Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy are polar opposites. Harry is the dark to Draco's light. Their blood is alluring to the vampire Sanguine, who wants to keep them for himself. However, his plan is foiled, and the boys survive, but not totally unscathed. Harry completes his duty, but it is still not enough to escape prejudice. When the secret is out, they have to escape Britain. Hermione finds them the perfect place to hide; a small town in Northern America.
Little do they know they are not the only vampires in Forks.
A/N: This will be quite long. My shorthand summary of chapters and etc is a thousand words long. Of those 1000 words, forty two make up this chapter.
A few things are out of the timeline of HP and Twilight. (FanFiction). Basically, Harry and Dumbledore, instead of sitting around chatting about Horcruxes, set out to destroy them. And what diadem? Ravenclaw who? In regards to the years, the Mario Reading interpretation of Nostradamus' final prophecy puts the end of the world in the year 7072. And the Battle scene… Les Toreadors started playing on my iTunes. I apologise.
05/08/09: I have been through and edited some parts of this chapter. Basically I fixed up a couple of typos, some plot problems and added in some dialogue. Not much has changed.
The Year: 7072
I run down the cobbled streets of the original London, faster than any human on the street. In their panic they fail to see me and they couldn't in any case. I am moving far too fast. Red crosses painted crudely on house doors do nothing to illustrate the death and illness behind the closed wood. I am cruelly reminded of the Black Plague I first witnessed on this very street, and images of young faces, forever screwed up in pain assault me. The smell of rotten flesh lingers in the humid summer air; the hottest summer ever recorded for England. For many places.
I push harder against the tantalizing lure of human bloodshed. I doubt it would matter anyway. These are not like the humans of my time. They call themselves Homo Sapien Praestans. The Superior Human. I hardly see any superiority; in fact, the human race seems to be descending back to Neanderthals. But enough. I side-step the wailing cowards, and they only feel a slight breeze.
I reach my door, my safe haven. The buildings around me were condemned weeks ago but I do not fear the disease, the violence, the war, the relentless heat. I know they cannot harm me. Hell, I know because I have tried myself, too many times.
I secure the door, a series of latches and bolts. Incredibly old fashioned and incredibly more secure than the 'technological advances' that have been made. Iris scanning went out of date millennia ago, now a prick of the finger to verify genetic signature is the standard house key. Ultimately, the downfall of humanity.
I breathe out deeply, and although it is unnecessary it is still calming. With determination and resignation I gather my belongings and sit down to write.
In my youth, I vehemently fought death and all her harbingers. Now though, as the ashes of Armageddon fall around me, I cannot bring myself to care. I have seen the human race at the height of its empire, and now I see it brought to its knees. People around me are dying by the minute, and I cannot help but wonder, hope even, that I shall finally be consumed by the all consuming flame of death.
My story begins over five thousand years ago. I admit, I am cautious of writing this down after so long, but none of my original fears remain. I doubt any will survive this final apocalypse, and if they do I will be long gone. This will be the final problem that I cannot solve.
I have gone by many names over the years. I am the Wanderer, the Lone Traveller, the man who never stays in one place; he who has so many places to be, so many problems to solve, never complaining, never doing anything for himself.
That is my penance.
As I said, my story begins over five thousand years ago. I was sixteen, almost seventeen. Darkness was coming, we all knew it, but it didn't stop the parties and the drinking and the inexperienced, awkward sex that came as part of adolescence. I myself was starting to come into my own as a young man. I had a beautiful girlfriend, two best friends who were more like siblings than mates, an interminable amount of money, political sway and influence.
Some of the senior students had organised a Finals Party following their last exams. Alcohol was smuggled into the school through secret passageways, food was ordered, rivalries temporarily abolished, music arranged and most importantly, all of the teachers were preoccupied.
The Year: 1997
"Go on! Truth or Dare?" shouted George from across the circle. I could feel my face burning as I eyed the bottle in the centre of the circle. I had already had too much to drink; I was feeling like I could do anything.
The truth or dare that we played is a bit different to the normal truth or dare. First, you have to say truth or dare. If you chose truth, you have to pull a question out of the 'Truth' hat and answer it truthfully. If you say dare, you have to spin the bottle. Then, the person it lands on pulls a dare out of the 'Dare' hat and then you get shoved in a broom cupboard for seven minutes to carry out the dare.
"Humm… Dare!"
Why oh why did I say dare. Boys guffawed, girls blushed in sync, hoping the bottle would land on them.
It landed on Malfoy. Fucking bottle. Fucking Fred and George for letting everybody in. Fucking Malfoy?! Knowing the twins, quite possibly.
"You have to take your 'partner', and without using your hands, make them blush. Use your imagination!" read Malfoy, "Potter, you are a total bastard."
I looked at him. I have to get Malfoy, the 'Ice Prince' of the dungeon, to blush and he's calling me a bastard. Whichever deity he believes in is the bastard. Fancy putting me and Malfoy together; it's not going to work. I stood up and glanced around the circle, Malfoy mimicking me.
"Prepare the Morgue." I deadpanned.
Hermione looked at me worried. "I'll be out to check on you in seven minutes okay?" she said. I nodded.
"Best get this over with then."
We left the common room and walked silently towards the designated broom cupboard. Both of us were too engrossed in ourselves to notice the dark shadow following us.
Likewise, we didn't notice when it slipped into the cramped broom cupboard as I locked it. We did notice, however, when it decided to join the conversation with its smooth, silky voice.
"I bet you I can get the pair of you to blush, and it will only take me thirty seconds."
And he pounced. He had Malfoy pinned up against the wall with his hands, and me pinned opposite with his body. The shadow was facing Malfoy, and I hardly heard his whispered exclamation over my thumping heart.
"Vampire." He breathed.
The vampire chuckled. "Correct Draco." We both shuddered. "I have been following you both since the party several months ago."
I looked at Malfoy confused over the shoulder of the vampire. Oh, Slughorn's Slug Club party. I knew this vampire's name as well.
"Correct Harry. My name is Sanguine, and you, both of you, are the two most alluring humans I have ever smelt. Draco, you are the epitome of innocence; I do love innocence." I raised an eyebrow. Malfoy was not innocent. "And you, Mr Potter. You are the darkness. Its everywhere, it surrounds you, it is in you, your blood is singing to me. You are the darkness to Mr Malfoy's light. But you do not know do you?" the vampire swivelled around to face me, and I was pinned by his hands and Malfoy by his body.
The quick reversal of positions scared me. "I don't…" I wasn't sure if to be embarrassed that my voice cracked. "I don't know what?" I asked hoarsely
Sanguine chuckled again. "You are a cursed object. Has Dumbledore told you yet? No? Horcrux." He breathed, his lips hovering over my neck, which I belatedly realised was tilted to allow him better access. I snapped my head up straight.
Malfoy gasped. "Horcrux?" he repeated faintly.
Sanguine hummed appreciatively. "A young man who knows the world. Yes, Mr Potter here knows of six of the Dark Lords Horcruxes. He knew of the existence of the seventh, but not what it is. Dumbledore feels he should be protected until the last minute. Never mind. Now Mr Potter, Mr Malfoy. Who would like to go first? We have only five minutes left, and we don't want that bushy haired girl finding us, do we. Or that pretty red head of yours Harry."
A surge of anger flowed through me. I was reeling in shock of his announcement, but it didn't really seem that surprising. But when he mentioned Ginny…
"You shut up about her. Leave her alone." I spat.
This seemed to amuse Sanguine. "I intend to. I am only after you." With that, he spun and sunk his teeth into Malfoy, letting out a sigh of contentment as he drank thirstily. I watched, frozen in panic, still pinned to the wall. Malfoy's face was rapidly loosing colour. He started convulsing, and his eyes closed. Sanguine pulled away, but he continued convulsing as he slid bonelessly to the floor.
When those blood red eyes zeroed in on my, I wouldn't have needed binding in place. I knew I was dead. Or worse than dead. Malfoy was being turned, a process that appeared painful and one that I would rather not go through. It never crossed my mind to fight; it would be pointless.
I decided to go out with dignity. I would not die screaming and pleading. I was brave, a Gryffindor. I let him. Or rather, I like to think I let Sanguine turn me.
"Mr Potter," he whispered huskily "I promised I would make you blush." He smirked wickedly and began ravishing my neck with kisses. His cold hands travelled down my torso, lingering in places where only Ginny had touched me before. I shuddered, unsure if it was in pleasure or disgust. He stopped at my left shoulder, and my face was flushed and glowing. I had just enough time to realise that the burning in my face was a result of my blushing before the pain.
Pain on top of pain, pulsing out from my shoulder where Sanguine's teeth had sunk in. I felt myself slipping, the pain became unbearable, and all of a sudden a bright light was flashed in my eyes and someone, Ginny I think, cried out my name. The teeth in my shoulder vanished and I slumped to the floor, my world now a haze of pain and darkness.
The Year: 7072
I found out later that it had been Ginny and Hermione who had interrupted Sanguine early. They were worried, and after five minuted decided to check up on us. The others were too involved in Neville being dared to snog Ron, full on, for the full seven minutes.
Ginny told me that Hermione had unleashed Feindfire and contained it to the cupboard to kill Sanguine while she dragged my body and Malfoy's out. They had not told anyone, just taken us to the Room of Requirement for us to ride out the pain of transforming.
They told anyone who asked that we had been talking strategy, and had been called away. It wasn't a totally unbelievable excuse; all through the year both Malfoy and I had been called out of classes, away for weekends. Me to plan Horcrux Hunting sessions, Malfoy to plan Dumbledore Killing sessions.
Getting past Dumbledore would have proven to be a problem, had I not woken up the morning after. Ginny had fallen asleep next to me. I wondered how, as I should have been throwing my limbs around everywhere in pain, but it didn't matter. She was laying there, her beautiful red hair fanned out on the pillow, her blood pumping through her gorgeous veins and arteries.
The Year: 1997
"Harry, don't." the soft voice from behind me shocked me. I spun around, and crouched into a defensive position. I wasn't sure where that came from, but when I saw that it was Hermione I relaxed. "You have to fight it. I have brought you something else to drink. I read that you would be hungry when you woke, but I didn't expect it to be this soon."
I took the offered cup. It was full of blood.
"It's animal blood." Hermione answered my unasked question.
"Oh." I said. My voice had changed. I drank it thirstily, and didn't leave a drop.
"So…" I began. "Can you, maybe, tell me… I mean, I hardly know what happened to me. Please explain to me Hermione! I'm supposed to be a vampire, undead. But I can hear my heartbeat!' I was beginning to get hysterical.
Hermione walked slowly over to me and fiercely gathered me into a hug.
"Aren't you afraid?" I whispered.
"Should I be?" she replied, just as softly. I thought about it. After nearly seven years of friendship, did I trust myself to keep her safe from myself? Yes.
"No," I answered her question "I don't think so."
She chuckled. "No, me either Harry." She let me go and we went to sit on sofas provided by the room.
"Basically Harry, I'm not sure what you are. Sanguine didn't fully inject venom into you. Normally, a small amount of venom would be enough to turn a person, but there seems to be something stopping it."
I knew what was stopping the venom. But was I ready to tell Hermione? She was being incredibly trusting, sitting next to a newly turned vampire and so it would only be fair.
"Do you know what a Horcrux is Hermione?" At her negative answer I continued. "It is considered to be the foulest kind of magic. The premeditated murder of another soul causes the murderers soul to be split in two. In an incredibly dark and dangerous ritual, the split soul can be stored in a container. One part of the soul always remains in the body, while the murderer chooses his container. Generally, inanimate objects are used, but real living people or animals can also be used are containers for these pieces of soul." I paused for a breath, to be shocked when I found it was unnecessary. Hermione was starting to catch on.
"Voldemort has a Horcrux. That's why he didn't die when the Killing Curse rebounded on him." She said in realisation.
I sighed, out of habit more than anything else. "Voldemort doesn't just have one Hermione. He has seven. Or he had seven."
Hermione gasped. "He would have had to murder seven times. And not just any murder, these would have to be planned, ruthless and cold blooded. How can anybody even consider…"
"Are we talking about the same bloke here Hermione?" I asked sagely. "You know, big, scary snake faced fella who kills a person if they so much as look at him funny?"
Hermione swatted my arm but pulled away with a hiss. Apparently hitting a vampire hurts.
"I know that. But it just seems slightly barbaric for him to have decided to do it. I can see the logic in having seven though. The most magically powerful number is considered to be seven. Or three. That's why three sevens or three nines are a sign of the devil. Power. People are afraid of power and the powerful."
"Yes. Voldemort believed that splitting his soul seven times would make him totally immortal. One piece of his soul resides within him; that's what Wormtail used to resurrect him. One was in the diary. Tom Riddle was seventeen when he made his first kill, and his first Horcrux. Another was in a ring that Dumbledore destroyed, killing his hand in the process. The curse that shielded the ring is slowly killing him as well. The third was in a necklace in Sirius' old house. He also had a piece in a cup of Helga Hufflepuff's, and in his snake Nagini. The last, well I wasn't sure where it was until last night. Dumbledore and I have destroyed all of the Horcruxes that I listed just then. But he claimed he didn't know where the last one was. He did though. He has always known."
Hermione's eyes lit up in understanding. "Oh Harry-"
"Don't. It has saved my life. The next time I meet him, he will try to kill me. I have his Horcrux inside of me, and I don't think he knows it. I think he would have tried harder to take me away from Dumbledore to 'protect' me, rather than just try to outright kill me. When he comes, I will be ready. I'm immortal, I think. I'm half vampire. I have his soul inside me. 'Neither can live while the other survives.' He can only survive while he is inside me!" I realised that I had started shouting. There was a breeze flowing through the room, and I took a calming breath to stop it.
Hermione was crying openly. "Harry…"
I stopped. It was my turn to comfort her. "Hermione, it will be okay. Just wait. He can't hurt me. But he can hurt you, and Ron and Ginny and everyone else I care about." I tentatively reached out to hug her, but pulled away when she gasped.
"No don't" she whispered, tears still flowing freely down her face. "Your hands are just a bit cold, that's all."
I hugged her again.
"I will be alright Hermione, I promise. Now, you have to tell me what I am, and how much you have read about this." I said, trying to lighten the mood.
She chuckled. "Well, I believe…"
The Year 7072
We decided that the Horcrux was stopping me from transforming fully. I had the diet of a vampire and I was strong, cold and pale. But my heart would still beat, I could still be hurt but not be killed, and I could taste food, but it would never satisfy my hunger like blood. I never went through the bloodlust like Malfoy did.
Draco woke up three days later. Snape had covered for him, as per Narcissa's Unbreakable Vow. Draco refused to tell Snape where he had been, and Snape asked no questions.
He had been confined to the Room of Requirement. When he woke, he nearly killed Ginny and Hermione, and probably would have succeeded had I not been there. We had all been to class, to avoid suspicion, but would constantly check on him.
He was understandably upset. He was a pureblood, and in one night had been turned into filth. He drank so much blood that Hermione ran out. I wasn't sure where she got it from but I never asked.
I didn't really want to know.
We survived. Draco and I went back to class, back to being enemies. But at night, we would hunt in the Forbidden Forest together. Our relationship was still strictly hate-hate, but now there was an undercurrent of understanding. We understood each other. It would be fairly hard not to; we saw each other at our most vulnerable.
I carried on.
The end of my sixth year was rather anti-climactic compared to other years. Giant puzzles, giant snakes, werewolves and conspiracies, an international tournament and the resurrection of one giant bastard, and a giant battle and the death of my godfather really don't compare to being turned into half a vampire. In fact, being half a vampire was slightly insulting. Ron liked to refer to me as 'the mutt', for reasons unknown to all outside our little group.
I found out on the train home that Draco had failed the Dark Lord. He never killed Dumbledore, though God knows it would have been incredibly easy for either of us. Snape had fulfilled his part of the Unbreakable Vow and arranged for him to stay at Grimmauld Place. I immediately saw the problem with that. Firstly, Remus, as a werewolf, would be able to smell us a mile off, and that was one hurdle I wanted to avoid for as long as possible. So I arranged with my Order guards for him to accompany me home. I hated the idea, he hated the idea, the Order hated the idea, my relatives hated the idea.
In fact, Dumbledore was the only one who thought it was a fantastic idea, and praised me on my compassion.
I did feel a bit guilty, as I was doing it more out of self preservation than anything else.
We rode home to Surrey in silence. When we arrived, Vernon ordered me to take the other freak to my room and stay there.
We did for two weeks. Draco proved to be somewhat amiable company. We were not friends, far from it. My final two weeks at Privet Drive passed almost too quickly, and before I knew it we were being whisked off to Grimmauld Place for the rest of the summer.
The Year: 1997
I wasn't sure if Remus blamed me for Sirius' death. After he heard the prophecy he would probably blame me for my parent's deaths as well. I did.
And if he was at headquarters, and figured me out, would it be the final straw? I should not be nervous. Malfoy wasn't. How could he not be nervous? He was heading to a house full of people that hated him and his face was still plastered with that arrogant smirk.
Bastard.
I slowly approached the front door after telling Malfoy the address. We had two guards with us, disguised as Muggles. Two more were watching from the park across the road, and two others were down the road a bit. Of course, I wasn't supposed to know, but they were making so much noise.
I took a deep breath and knocked. Tonks answered and ushered us in.
"Wotcher Harry, Draco! Come on, everybody has been hanging out to see you!" she squeezed both of us tight and bounced down the hallway towards the kitchen. If she noticed our cold, marble skin, she didn't say anything. Malfoy turned to me with one eyebrow raised.
I shrugged. "She's a bit… exuberant." There was a loud crash and a curse as she, undoubtedly ran into something or someone. "And clumsy" I said.
Malfoy gave me a look. "You don't say?" he drawled.
Surely enough, when we entered the kitchen, Remus was sprawled on the floor, covered by Tonks, with Mrs Weasley and Hermione trying to help them both up. The twins, Ron and Ginny were laughing and the scene, so full of life, almost brought tears to my eyes.
We stood at the door, both uncertain as to whether we should go in. Ginny looked up and saw me hovering at the door.
"Harry!" she squealed and ran over to me. I caught her in a hug and inhaled. She smelled fantastic, as usual. "I've missed you." She whispered when I set her down.
"Yeah, me too."
"Touching Potter, really." Malfoy smirked. I rolled my eyes; his insults weren't as sharp as usual.
"Hey Harry!" said Ron, coming over to clap me on the shoulder. "Malfoy." He said, neutrally.
Everybody had stopped to look at us now, and we were being ushered in. Mrs Weasley pushed us both into chairs and before I knew it, I had a plate of steaming food in front of me. Ron was gesturing for me to share but I knew Molly Weasley wouldn't let me. Hermione and Ginny shared a look. I gave them a quick, pleading glance and they both nodded imperceptibly. Malfoy and I both started 'eating' while Ginny and Hermione vanished little bits from our plate. Conversations started up; the twins were talking about their shop and when he had finished sulking, Ron wanted to know if they had any new products coming.
I was watching Remus out of the corner of my eye. His face was scrunched up in concentration, and he kept sniffling.
"Alright Remus?" I asked, stupidly. "You sound like you've got a cold."
He looked at me for a long moment. Thankfully nobody seemed to be paying any attention.
He smiled a bit, although it looked more like a grimace. "No, I'm fine Harry. Dust, you know, and sensitive sinuses." His smile was a bit more relaxed.
"Oh, okay then." I felt Malfoy relax at the side of me. We were out of the woods for now.
It was midnight, and Malfoy and I were in the library. We were both silently reading, trying to find a way to kill Voldemort without endangering me any more than necessary. I don't think Malfoy was doing it for me, I think he was just bored. Humans sleep for eight hours a day on average. Eight hours is a long time.
"The werewolf is at the door." Malfoy said without looking up from his book.
"Oh." I forced myself not to look up as well.
The door opened and Remus walked in. His amber eyes took in the two of us huddled in the corner and he walked purposefully over to us.
"I know what you are." He growled, slamming his hands down on the table. If he thought that would intimidate Malfoy he had another thing coming.
"I know what you are," drawled Malfoy "but do you see me slamming around? And if you thought that would intimidate either of us, you are sorely mistaken. Potter has escaped the Dark Lord four times now. And I've felt his anger directed at me countless times. Try again werewolf." Malfoy still had not looked up from his book. He hadn't denied or proven anything. Then again, Remus hadn't accused us of anything.
He seemed to give up on Malfoy. His attention turned to me.
"You stink. Did you think I wouldn't notice?" he asked, or rather, demanded.
I paused. "Erm… no?"
Being half-vampire and not really expecting Remus Lupin to slam me up against a wall, I promptly found myself in that exact position. Remus had slipped into a more animalistic frame of mind when he was confronted with two of the worst enemies a werewolf could have. The force he was using to pin me to the wall was crushing. If I had been fully human, the bones in my arms would be crushed and my neck broken. I knew that I would have fierce bruises in the morning.
"If you harm anybody in this house so help me. I won't care that you are Harry Potter, the Chosen One and the Boy-Who-Lived, Sirius' godson or James and Lily's son. I will tear you to pieces and scatter your ashes without blinking." He growled. He increased the pressure of my neck. Of course, I didn't strictly need oxygen, but it hurt like hell.
Malfoy moved when tears sprang to my eyes. "Let him go." He said softly.
Remus didn't even turn around, but pushed a little harder against my throat and dropped me to the ground. I lay there, gasping for air, purple bruises starting to form. A rattling crash came from the other side of the library, and I looked up to see Malfoy towering over Remus.
If it hadn't been for my heightened hearing, I would never have heard him tell Remus to stay away from me, and not tell anyone.
I couldn't do this. He hated me now. Ron had been skittish all evening and Hermione and Ginny giving me worried glances when they thought I wasn't looking. I leant back against the bookshelf I had been pinned to moments before and let out a shaky breath.
"Leave him alone Malfoy. I'll explain it to him, even if he doesn't want to listen." I whispered. Both heard me, but a human wouldn't have done.
Malfoy huffed. "I'll leave you to it then."
He slammed the library door on the way out.
Remus stood up, intending to follow him. I wasn't having that. I pulled my wand out and an invisible force pushed him into a vacant chair.
"Don't you dare, you monster."
Those words hurt me more than anything anyone could have said to me. I ducked my head in shame. It was true. I cheated death, Malfoy and I killed, and at anytime I could become so consumed with bloodlust that I could kill someone I love.
"I know." I replied hoarsely. "I am a monster. Every single fucking day. I can't say I wake up to it everyday because you can't wake up if you don't go to sleep. Instead, I spend my nights thinking about the years to come, when everyone I love has gone. That bitterness makes me more of a monster than this," I gestured vaguely to my body "than this could every make me. But don't you forget, you only found out about us because you yourself are a monster. You nearly killed me, if you care to remember. Three years ago, full moon, I'm sure you recollect. You found out that the friend you had judged, disregarding ten previous years of friendship, was in fact, innocent of everything you judged him of, and you forgot that you could get out of control, and you nearly killed me and the very people you so vehemently defended earlier. So don't tell me to watch it. You should. Because you got a hell of a lot closer to killing than I ever have." I was breathing heavily by now, and tears were threatening to fall. I blinked furiously.
Remus looked properly cowed. "You're right. I am-"
"-Remus, don't do it to yourself. Don't wallow in self-pity. I wasn't trying to have a go at you. But you just… you fucking walked in here, slammed me up against the fucking wall and told me to back off from the people I love. What the hell would you have done if someone told you to stay away from my dad and Sirius and Peter?"
He sighed. "Probably exactly what you are doing now."
Finally. "Thankyou. And strictly speaking, I'm not a vampire." Remus shuddered at the word.
"What do you mean? You absolutely reek of it." He said with his face screwed up.
"Ginny and Hermione saved me just in time. My mother's protection stopped the venom from spreading fully. At the moment, I don't sleep, I drink blood, but not as often as Malfoy. We were turned at the same time. But yes, I cannot be killed by normal means, my heart still beats, I can cry, I don't need to breathe, but it is more comfortable. I can also feel pain, and I can be hurt without dieing." I explained. Remus looked shocked and then realisation dawned.
"So earlier, when I… umm…" Remus was thoroughly abashed now. Serves him right though.
"When you had me pinned up against the wall with inhuman strength, yes?" I shouldn't torture him like that.
"Er… Yeah. I must have hurt you."
I just nodded shortly. "I'll be fine tomorrow. Don't worry."
My ears picked up Tonks upstairs. She had just woken up and wall calling out for Remus.
I chuckled, earning an odd look from my former professor. "You had better get upstairs. I think Tonks is waiting for you."
He blushed and left in a hurry. Malfoy came back in smirking.
One look and we both lost it to a fit of giggles. Manly giggles of course.
We may be the most beautiful creatures on the planet, but we were men, not girls.
The Year: 7072
Our summer passed quickly. Malfoy established a tentative relationship with me and my friends. It must have been hard for him. He couldn't return home for fear of being tortured and killed, which would have inevitably lead to him being found out, and either killed, or manipulated to killing.
It is incredibly easy to starve a vampire of what they need the most, and then unleash them onto an unsuspecting crowd.
I should know.
Before we knew it, we had been at school a term. Voldemort had been quiet. To sound clichéd, he had been too quiet.
It turned out he wasn't being quiet. He was preparing. Gathering his forces.
The Year: 1997
Malfoy and I were staying for the Easter break. Most Seventh Years were; we had to prepare for our NEWTS. I couldn't be sure if Hermione was more worried or excited about the upcoming exams.
We were studying together in the Room of Requirement. Malfoy often came here. His status as Prince of Slytherin was useless now. He might as well be a Mudblood. Luckily, depending on how you look at it, his vampiric nature repelled most, and he was, for the most part, left alone.
I had just reached the crucial part in my potions essay where I had to accurately describe the effect Essence of Sicestone would have when a loud cracking pierced our ears. The room provided a large window for us to see outside to the sweeping lawns of Hogwarts School.
A golden dome lit up the sky, surrounding the castle and grounds. On the other side of the dome wizards in black robes and silver masks were simultaneously casting spells and the golden light was dimming.
We realised what was happening together. The wards were falling.
Hermione and I had spoken of what to do when this happened. I stared her straight in the eyes and she nodded once. Before anyone knew what was happening, Malfoy and I were outside the Room, Hermione, Ron, and Neville locked inside.
I thought about Ginny. I hoped she would take my advice and stay out of it. I knew she wouldn't though. She was not one to sit about while others fought. She would be out there, doing her bit.
Malfoy seemed to know what I was thinking. "Don't worry Potter. She's a fantastic fighter. You've got to give her that."
I smiled crookedly. "Yeah, I suppose I do. Let's go."
We worked together, but alone. We covered each other, but brought down half the Death Eaters between us. The Order was there, Aurors, teachers and some of the older students. I kept an eye out for Ginny, but I didn't see her. I wasn't sure what to think. She could be one of the dead, or she could have gone to the Room, or she could still be fighting.
My momentary distraction caused a stray Avada Kedavra to hit my shoulder. My heart stopped and I was thrown backwards. I got back up, and my heart started again. I looked to see who had thrown the curse.
Bellatrix Lestrange.
Of course. Seven seconds later she was dead and I was holding her head in my hands. Her eyes were deranged, even in death and I swallowed momentary guilt.
"Serves you right bitch!" I dropped her head to lie beside her body.
Malfoy was holding up against at least six Death Eaters. He wasn't casting spells. He was quick, so when a spell came his way, he just moved and let it hit whichever Death Eater had decided to sneak up behind him.
I fought off another two. Not dead, but severely wounded. There was blood. Lots of blood. I was sure my eyes were starting to turn black through the contacts. I wondered how Malfoy was coping. He had it much harder than I did, being a proper vampire and all.
Then I saw her. Ginny and Colin Creevy were holding their own against Dolohov. I knew after the ministry how deranged that man was.
I decided to intervene, and at the right second it seemed. Dolohov had grown bored, and sent the purple curse he had gotten Hermione with at Ginny. I jumped in front of it, and a searing pain shot from my left hip to right shoulder. No blood came out of the wound, but it hurt like it would have done if it hit Ginny.
Dolohov looked shocked, as did Colin.
"Try that again." I dared. He didn't have chance to raise his wand. I stunned him. The man was pathetic. I would be much harder for him to deal with being stunned during a battle than for him to die. Oh for shame.
I turned to Ginny. "You okay?" she must have heard the concern in my voice, because she didn't answer with some fierce independent woman crap she normally gave me.
"Yeah, I'm okay. You?" her voice was soft. She had seen too much. But we all had.
"Of course I'm okay. I'm invincible!" I gave her a smile.
"But that's legendary Harry! You can't be invincible!" said Colin, somewhere between a shout and a squeak.
My grin grew wider. "Ahh, but didn't anyone ever tell you Colin. I'm the stuff of legend!"
Ginny giggled. Mission accomplished.
"Now, Colin, can you please make sure you and Ginny get up to the Room of Requirement and stay there. Neville, Hermione and Ron are there, and I've been sending kids up there all night. We shouldn't be out here." I didn't need to tell Ginny that I wasn't included in that we.
"Course Harry. See you up there."
Ginny turned to leave, but before she did, I grabbed her shoulders.
"Stay safe." I whispered. I crushed my lips to hers, and we kissed like it was the last time.
"I will." She said, and she was gone.
I turned back to the battle. Soon, Voldemort would arrive.
Let the fun begin!
Less than thirty minutes later Voldemort had arrived. And he was strutting up to the main doors of the castle. The only Death Eaters left had gathered behind their master. Their numbers were pathetic. There were less than fifty left. The Order had lost lives as well. Less than half of us remained. Dumbledore led us, flanked on either side by McGonagall and Snape. The way the confrontation was playing out, I half expected a tumbleweed to fly across the bloodied lawn.
Voldemort snorted when he met us. "I always knew you were a rotten traitor Snape. Your dirty blood should have been enough proof of that." He raised his wand, but the green light hit Malfoy instead. He swatted it away like a fly.
"Try again." He said lowly, threateningly. Several people shivered at the venom in his voice.
Voldemort disguised his shock by calling out his follower. "You should keep your son in line, Lucius. One would think you had no control over the boy."
Lucius Malfoy was silent but Voldemort's attention was back on Dumbledore.
"And where is young Harry. Last time we met, we parted on such bad terms." A few of his followers snickered quietly, the sycophantic cowards. "I have something, or rather, someone that I believe he would be interested in seeing."
I froze in horror. Who could he have? Remus, Tonks? No they were behind me. Ron, Hermione and Neville were definitely in the Room, and I sent Luna and Colin and Ginny up there.
I pushed my way to the front and stood in front of Dumbledore. His hand rested on my shoulder for a brief moment but I shrugged it off.
"Ah, Mr Potter. A pleasure to see you again." Drawled Voldemort. Why had everyone stopped? The Death Eaters behind him were vulnerable. Was this some odd kind of Wizarding truce? I knew the art of combat was messed up in this world.
"I can't say the same for you, I'm sorry." My biting remark was tinged with fear and he picked up on it.
"I see you are desperate to see who we have. I shan't keep it a surprise much longer. Nott!" he cried the last as an order and the elder Nott came forward, pushing none other than-
"Ginny!" I cried out, and tried, stupidly, to run to her. Her brown eyes were filled with pain, and I noticed the angle at which her arms were being held.
"Let her go." I growled.
"Now, now Mr Potter. Temper, temper. I have come to offer a trade. Your life for hers." He smirked wickedly.
I didn't give anyone behind me chance to speak.
"I'll do it. Let her go first, tell your followers" I spat out the word, implying quite clearly what I thought of them "to sod off and we can have your duel, as you like it. Kill me if you want. In fact, I won't even take a wand."
Cries of outrage came from behind me. Ginny was shaking her head desperately. For all my nonchalance, she knew I could still be hurt. And there are ways to kill a vampire.
Voldemort looked at me as if I was mad. "Hand over the girl Nott. I have a bigger prize."
Ginny was pushed forward and I rushed forward to catch her.
"You okay?" I asked, similarly to how I had earlier.
She responded differently this time. "No. You are a total pillock Harry Potter. I love you."
We kissed and I stepped forward.
"Touching Potter, really. But now, we fight like real men." Voldemort's smirk grew larger. "I believe you agreed to surrender your wand."
I handed it over. According to Malfoy, I just needed to let him hit me with the killing curse. He and only he could do it. The Horcrux would recognise the curse as having come from the matching part of its soul and accept it. We weren't sure what it would do to me; if I would be turned properly, or if I would remain part-part.
My turn to smile. A sad smile. We were going to do it in front of everyone. Arrogant bastard.
"Shall we get on with it then?"
"As you wish Mr Potter." Voldemort raised his wand.
"Call me Harry." I was only trying to delay the inevitable. I tried to prepare myself.
I had always thought about how I would die. When I was young, it was a case of, would I die from hunger. Then it became more of a, will my evil professor kill me? Will the giant Basilisk kill me? Will the mass murderer kill me? Will the dragon kill me? Will I die drowning? Will he kill me like he killed Cedric? Will I die from this pain? Will I ever die?
Now, I suppose, I was sacrificing my life to save Ginny's. And although it is not really dieing, I think this is how I would have wanted to go. My dieing was never a case of falling asleep and passing on.
"I shan't be calling you anything. You will be a cold, dead body. And I will be victorious." Voldemort cackled.
Did he not realise that he was being watched? Again, arrogant bastard.
He raised his wand properly. I took a deep breath and glanced at my family, gathered on the front steps of Hogwarts. A couple were missing, but they were safe.
A couple of things happened at once.
Voldemort cried out the two most used words in his vocabulary. "Avada KedavraI"
Someone screamed.
Blazing green light came rushing out of his wand.
I recognised the scream as Ginny's.
And I realised the curse wasn't aimed at me. It was heading straight for her.
I raced towards her, faster than any human. I was trying to race a curse, and I was losing.
Malfoy was moving faster than me.
I flung myself in front of her, but it was milliseconds too late. Her brown eyes opened wide in shock, time slowed.
Her beautiful red hair fanned out on a pillow beside me after the most painful night of my life… telling me to stay safe earlier tonight… spontaneously kissing her after that match… it seemed so long ago now… secret moments stolen between classes… my first time… her first time… sharing food before I was turned… we were going to have three kids and a dog… the last Christmas we spent together… we should have had more… so many memories…
My arms automatically went out to catch her as she began to slump forward.
I vaguely heard Mrs Weasley's anguished cries. I head Hermione's voice, trying to sooth the screaming Ron. Where had they come from? Malfoy was beside me. Dumbledore too. Her eyes were closed. Why? Why wouldn't she open them? Why won't she show me she's okay?
Just like Sirius, she wouldn't keep me waiting. She was gone, just like Sirius. Sanguine was right. I am a cursed object.
"C'mon Potter. You can do this later. Voldemort is not going to stop for you to grieve." Whispered Malfoy hoarsely in my ear. Only I could hear him. I let Ginny down slowly.
I nodded, and blinked back tears uselessly. I was suddenly overcome by a rage so powerful it was all consuming. I had never felt this out of control before. Not even when I hunted. I wanted to kill, so badly… I marched towards Voldemort and his followers. My wand flew into my hand.
"You coward!" I screamed "You fucking bastard. Kill me I said. I made a deal with you!" Hermione gasped, and Ron stopped shouting. "Fuck my deal! Avada Kedavra!" The green light hit a tree.
"Harry no! Don't become consumed!"
I nearly screamed. That was Ginny's voice. I snapped my head to glance at her but she wasn't moving. I moved so quickly nobody could have known I had even looked over.
"Ah, how lovely. Potter decided to fight back." Voldemort cackled. Hate bubbled again. "Never mind. I will hold my end of the deal. Goodbye Potter. Avada Kedavra!"
This time it was aimed at me. I could have moved. Moved and I could fight back. Kill him ruthlessly, like I so wanted to. The animal, the monster inside of me was screaming for revenge and I knew it would be so incredibly easy for me to do it. But he would never be truly dead unless I was hit with the curse first. In about the only level headed decision I have ever made, I let it hit me square in the chest, and both Voldemort and I were thrown back several metres. I was back on my feet in seconds. I felt cleansed when the curse washed over me. Like a huge weight had been lifted from my shoulders. I wondered how I had lived with it there.
I towered over Voldemort. He was sprawled on the ground. I wondered if I should take him out now, while he was vulnerable. But I would not sink so low. I would not become like him.
"Stand up coward." I spat. "Face me like a man! I want to see the light leave your eyes!" I quoted.
He looked afraid, as he should do.
Didn't stop him from having one last go at my life. Voldemort was nothing but persistent.
"Avada Kedavra!"
"Expelliarmus!"
Like that night, two and a half years ago, our curses collided, but this time mine forced his back. His seventh of a soul was consumed immediately. I set his body on fire and turned to his followers.
"If I were you, I would run. Run away. And don't come back with illusions of grandeur and power. Don't come back with bagfuls of money intent on bribing your way out. In fact, I'd rather you pissed off to some hole and never came out. Come back if you want to help clean up the mess you made." I hissed. They seemed to get the message.
I turned away from the blaze and walked back towards the steps. Wordlessly, I picked Ginny up and walked to the Hospital Wing where all the dead and wounded were going.
The Year: 7072
They say that time heals everything.
That cannot be any further form the truth.
I was dating Ginny for eight months, two weeks and three days. I could go to hours. It's seventeen. And fifteen minutes.
Nearly five thousand years later her needless death still haunts me.
The Year: 1997
Ginny's funeral was the worst day of my immortal existence thus far.
I was a coffin bearer. As if there weren't enough boys. Bill and Charlie, Fred and George, Mr Weasley and Percy, Ron and I placed along either side.
The Weasleys tried to refuse the money I gave them. I felt cheap all the while. A few thousand wasn't going to bring her back, nor was it going to be enough to sum up her life. Nothing could ever be enough to do that. But they accepted the money. I think it had something to do with Ron. He knew what my intentions were, even when I couldn't make them clear.
The ceremony was terrible. Charlie did the Eulogy. Luna led the Hymn. And lowering her into the ground was painful. The soft patter of dirt on the lid of the coffin disgusted me. That was Ginny in there. When it was over I wanted to run over and pull her out.
Denial.
Her mother and father, her whole family was inconsolable. She was always the special one, the only girl, the youngest.
She was a friend to everyone after the horrific events of her first year. She was beautiful, charismatic, and full of life and hope. She was intelligent, she was just Ginny.
She was dead.
And people could say it wasn't my fault until they were blue in the face. Nobody seemed to understand that it was my fault. If she had never been attached to me she would not be dead. The Weasley family would be complete. If I had just left everyone alone like Remus had said, she would be here. And I wouldn't. I could have done it. I could have defeated Voldemort without them.
I was lying to myself.
After the funeral was worse. Every room I walked into in Grimmauld Place reminded me of her. Her mum caught us on that sofa. We sat there, giggling and reading an article on the Hottest Bachelors of 1997 (I won) in Witch Weekly, cleverly disguised by an Ancient Runes book of Hermione's. She wrapped me in Christmas paper in this room, and made me wriggle like a worm down the hallway, before Sirius finally took mercy on me.
I had to leave.
Malfoy was, surprisingly right behind me. Ron and Hermione had each other. Ron was a good drinking buddy, and he understood, but it just wasn't enough. Malfoy wasn't my friend. He didn't try to cheer me up. He just was.
"I reckon it's changed us all. It'll change everything really." Ron said over Firewhiskey. Thankfully I could still get drunk enough to dull pain as a vampire.
"Yeah." I said my voice hoarse from misuse.
"I can't imagine what you're going through. I mean, Ginny was my sister. It fucking hurts you know. But you… it's un-fucking-believable."
I nodded. "I just keep expecting… I don't know. It's surreal. Where's the Ginny that stuck her elbow in the butter dish? Where's my Ginny? I've lost my Hermione."
The Year: 7072
I expected the world to discover mine and Malfoy's deep, dark secret. After some of the stunts we pulled in the last battle. But Malfoy had retreated into a nobody since we had been turned as his actions were ignored, much like he was.
And I was the Chosen One. The Stuff of Legend.
We lived in peace for several years.
The pain of losing Ginny dimmed. I hadn't forgotten, but I was l happier. Hermione told me that nobody had any idea of what we were.
Dumbledore had questioned her a few times, but she gave nothing away, feigning ignorance.
But the old man got curious. There was obviously something different, apart from grief. I never ate around people, unless it was with Ron and Hermione alone. I only touched them and Malfoy. I was always pale, and had shadows under my eyes although that could be because I never went out in the sun. Hermione always had some excuse ready for me if I ran out. I healed incredibly fast after the Final Battle. I never got hurt at work, never had a sick day, and worked at my desk on sunny days. I applied for Auror training and got in. I was now fully qualified, but I still looked like a seventeen year old. I was supposed to be twenty six.
Hermione came to me one night, her hair hung limp from the rain, her eyes were red; she had been crying.
I ushered her in, and she told me.
Dumbledore knew, and was organising the Order to kill Draco and myself.
The Year: 2006
"British Airways Flight 0049 to Seattle will commence boarding shortly. Passengers please make your way to Gate 53."
I picked up my carry-on bag and started walking swiftly toward the gate. I stopped several paces away from the steadily forming que to wait for Draco, who had been stood stock still.
"Aren't you coming Malfoy?" I called out to behind me.
Draco turned around, his face paler than usual.
"We aren't flying in one of them are we Potter?" he asked, pointing to a large jet taxing into the terminal. I noticed his hand was shaking.
"Surely you aren't scared Malfoy! Muggles do this all the time!" I said cheerfully grabbing the blonde's hand, dragging him away from the window and towards the gate. Oh I was going to have fun with this! The past few days had been nothing but fear. I made sure Hermione and Ron would be safe, packed everything I owned into one suitcase and convinced Malfoy to do the same. Hermione found a small town in America, where the forecast was always rain, and if it wasn't rain, it was fog. And, on the odd occasion when it wasn't foggy, it was snowing. It was surrounded by forest for us to hunt, the population was miniscule and the nearest magical community was several hundred miles away. She removed all tracing charms from our wands, and booked us on flights. She did all of this without talking to either of us first, claiming there was no time to worry about trivial details. She handed me a blue folder this morning, full of money, traveller's cheques, tickets, car hire information, our accommodation reservation and the details of a house we had apparently expressed interest in. All money had been transferred from my account to a Muggle bank. We were legally emancipated by the government of Great Britain and Ireland, and were enrolled at the local high school using fake birth certificates. We were keeping our own names to save confusion and unnecessary slip-ups. I planned to quiz Draco on our back story on the flight.
We boarded quickly, and were led to their seats with a charming, first class smile. Thankfully, Hermione had booked us First Class, where the seats were just that little bit further away from humans and their tantalizing blood.
We sat in relative silence while the other passengers boarded. By some twist of fate, the seats directly in front and behind of us were empty. I pulled out a newspaper and settled it over my knee, reading a ridiculous story about Gypsies eating Londoner's pets. Some of the points were valid; the gypsies could get rabies, but some like the gypsies are immune to rabies because they originated in Poland, were just ridiculous. Draco kept trying to glance at the headlines, but I flittered the newspaper out of his line of sight, knowing it would irritate him. When the captain announced that we would be away shortly, I calmly folded my paper up and put it back in my carry-on bag.
The plane hadn't even taken off and Malfoy was already a bundle of nerves. He had torn the in-flight magazine into several hundred small pieces, earning himself a mild glare from the Airhostess and an amused smirk from me.
The plane jerked into motion as it began to taxi towards the runway. Malfoy's hands gripped the seat just a little tighter. The plastic groaned under his grip.
"You know," I stated casually, "If I didn't know better, I'd think you were afraid of flying."
"M'not" The short, sharp answer proved that I was right.
"Why are you holding on so tight then?" I asked, feigning genuine confusion.
Malfoy froze. He turned his head very slowly to stare directly into my eyes.
"It's nothing. Just a bit of bloodlust is all. So many people. I don't know how you are doing it. Actually I take that back. Lucky bastard." The words came out very slowly and deliberately.
I shrugged and leant down to rummage in my carry-on. I resurfaced seconds later, triumphantly holding a brown paper bag. He offered the bag out to his travelling companion.
"Blood Pop?"
Draco was about to take one when the plane lurched forward suddenly and he was pulled back into his seat.
"What the fuck Potter?" he nearly screamed.
"So you are scared!" I raised an amused eyebrow. I wasn't affected at all by the steadily increasing speed of the plane. "Relax. We're just taking off. In a few minutes-ah- see now we're climbing, and soon we'll even out and you'll hardly know that you are thousands of feet above the world."
Malfoy nodded, some colour returning to his cheeks. He reached over and grabbed a Blood Pop out of the bag and sighed contentedly as he swirled his tongue over the sweet coppery taste.
"I do hope you have a lot of these Potter. They are fantastic!"
"Quite. Now shut up. We have several hours of flying left, and I am going to finish the crossword." I said pulling out my paper from before and flipping to the puzzle section. I was momentarily considering Sodoku over crossword…
"But Potter!" whined Draco "What am I going to do?"
I gave him a look that I hope said quite clearly 'It's not my problem and I don't care'.
"Watch a movie or something." I waved my hand dismissively. "Or get a kids entertainment pack and colour in the pretty planes. I don't care." I leant over my crossword and filled in one across. The Sodoku was rated Hard.
Draco sighed and resigned himself to not getting any more entertainment out of me, thank god. Perhaps he would watch one of the movies, or he could torment some Muggles; undoubtedly entertainment enough for him. I looked over inconspicuously. He was watching the safety demonstration with widening eyes.
"Potter, you bastard." He deadpanned when the hostess explained the brace position.
I just laughed and filled in two across.
A/N: Please let me know what you think. It's always fantastic to receive feedback!