As promised- another chapter in less than a day! Well, a little more than a day, BUT STILL!

Thank you Asteroth1 and aPondInTime for reviewing AND answering my pressing question about Cursed Child... So far... no one was impressed. lol.

I made this one a touch longer!

Alright... Enjoy!

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I stop moving and simply stare at him. His hair in extra disarray, his shirt untucked and unbuttoned… when did I even do that… and a smile plastered on his face. Not a shit-eating grin or some absurd smirk. An actual smile.

"You want me to what?"

"You heard me, but because I know how much of a distraction I can be, I'll repeat myself. Come home with me for winter holiday."

"Earth to Draco, your dad hates me." I remind him.

"Well, he may not be your biggest fan, but my mom likes you."

"The one time we met she was unconscious."

"I want you there. Besides, your brother and mother might be there too. And Beth."

Cheap shot Draco, but touché. Everyone I love would be at his place. Of course, there would also be a bunch of people I absolutely do not love.

"Isn't your lunatic Aunt there?"

"I need you with me." He says confidently, holding out his hand for me to take.

I interlace my fingers with his, feeling an overwhelming sense of hope surge through me.

"It could be disastrous," I argue. My secret is still safe and going to his home may tempt fate. And deep down a blooming hesitation begins to grow. Draco is human. My human, but still, just a human.

"Perhaps." He brings my hand to his lips kissing each of my fingers delicately.

"I need some time… to decide." I say quietly.

"I'll wait," he begins to kiss down the length of my wrist to my arm. It tickles; I have too much on my mind to let him tickle me.

"Um, speaking of your family," I pull my hand away and lift his chin up so he's looking at me again, "Snape might have mentioned you're missing a memory of your childhood."

The warmth in his eyes darkens to something much harder. He stands up straight.

"And why would he have mentioned that?"

"Because I'm missing one too."

"That's… peculiar."

"I know. And…"

"Why did Malachi show up today?" He interrupts, not so subtly changing the subject.

"Because he thought we had had sex. I think."

That gets a very skeptical raised eyebrow.

"He can feel me too remember? Because he made me and all that jazz. He thought what I felt this morning was … you and I… getting busy- not you and Pansy." And here we come again, full circle- back to the shit that went down only a few hours ago.

"Seems a stupid reason to try and forcefully pull you out of Hogwarts."

"Nothing Malachi does makes much sense to me." I sit on the desk, putting a small amount of distance between us. I still haven't fed, and it looks like I'm going to have to wait a bit longer, even as the insides of my throat become painfully more aware of every single one of his heartbeats.

"And you're just going to leave it at that?"

"What would you have me do Draco? Write him a strongly worded letter?"

"I would expect you to dig a little deeper. He didn't want you coming back home after you almost bleed to death, then you get back here and he manipulates you AND me into staying away from each other, and now he comes raging in on a whim that we had sex?"

"Sure? He doesn't want us bonding remember?" I shrug my shoulders.

"I've made you feel pleasure a handful of other times and he's kept his distance."

I picture the night he got extra magical with his hands. He made me feel more than pleasure… it feels like forever ago.

"What is your point? Besides changing the subject from your family, obviously," I growl, letting my annoyance shine through.

"You act all ignorant when it comes to Malachi, but he's bad news."

I gawk at him. "I know full well what he is. I'm still here aren't I? I didn't run off with him!"

"Yet." He scoffs, leaning back against the cabinet.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"You're a vampire. He's a vampire. I assume it's only time until you give in to your urges."

"Whoa. What is wrong with you? Are you that petrified to talk about your family or your past that you'd manipulate the conversation into some twisted vampire solidarity thing?"

"I've been very clear about not discussing certain things."

"This is unbelievable," I shout, desperately trying to control my temper. "I wasn't asking for you to share your deepest and darkest family secrets. We both have a missing memory around the same time in our lives… I found it interesting is all."

"I can't. I can't just open up Delilah. Not to you, not to anyone." He looks at me pained, the anger dissipating into something else. "I'm not ready. I don't think I ever will be."

"Is this about the memory?"

"It's about everything. I don't know what the memory is; I doubt it's even related to whatever is missing inside your head."

"Draco." I scoot off the desk and approach him, "Next time you don't want to talk about something simply tell me that; instead of picking a fight with me."

"I wasn't picking a fight."

I laugh, "That's exactly what you were doing." I stop mere inches from him. I rest my hand on the side of his face. My fangs lengthen involuntarily. Damn, I'm thirsty. I push through my hunger and look him in his eyes. His gorgeous silver eyes are full of so much regret and shame.

"This girlfriend thing is new to me, but I'm here for you. In whatever way you are willing to need me."

"Weren't you the one having the awful day? Wasn't I supposed to be helping you?" He chuckles sadly, reaching up to hold my hand against his cheek. "Damn, I'm such a dick. You're in pain aren't you?"

"You can feel that?" I look at him in wonder. I'm so used to feeling his emotions through our touch; I can't imagine what it's like for him.

"Yes."

"Can you hear my thoughts too?"

"You're definitely wondering how I get my hair so soft and shiny."

"Hah!"

"I've made you wait long enough. You may have your way with me." He lowers my hand and angles his head exposing his delicately soft neck. He really is one of my favorite humans, as infuriating as he can be.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Shockingly the rest of the day went by pretty smoothly. I actually went to the rest of my classes and paid attention. I guess I should at least try and pass my NEWTS? I mean, maybe after the end of this year vampires will be able to live out and about in common society. Or we could all be dead and/or slaves to the dark lord... who really knows?

Draco didn't leave my side until after dinner. Well, dinner for him. Though I did eat a little bit to keep up appearances, as usual. You wouldn't think we had a pretty big fight earlier either- he was flirty and attentive, without a care in the world. Maybe he was riding off my blood high- drinking Draco's blood always puts me in high spirits. I didn't even smash Pansy's face in when I saw her next. I think that was pretty adult of me if I do say so myself.

The rumor mill was not very creative today either- first I was the victim in a dueling challenge during one of Carrow's absurd classes – not false - and then a rogue vampire attacks me because I'm Damon Kane's little sister and I saved a third-year Hufflepuff from death in the process. As far as rumors go… they were extremely mediocre, but got me a mixture of pity looks and high-fives from students in all four houses.

"Hey Delilah, you want to go study in the library?" Daphne asks politely, Astoria in tow. I look up at them both. Astoria, surprisingly, didn't say anything condescending.

"I can't tonight, I actually have plans. Thanks for the invite though." I add, not wanting to sound bitchy.

Astoria rolls her eyes, but Daphne gives me a small smile and walks out of the common room with her little sister. I wasn't lying to them either- Draco and I both discussed that I should probably try and visit Xerxes tonight. Get my visit this week out of the way while trying to dig deeper about all that's going on. I have got to a) find out more about our bond and b) still figure out how to sever the connection between Malachi and I. Cause I'm over that song and dance for sure.

Draco suggested I used the room of requirement. As long as no one else is using it I should be able to make a room that is suitable for brewing the damn potion and projecting my soul or whatever off to Xerxes. It sounds like a great way to top off this sucktastic kind of day. I hope Draco has a good night; he was going to go hang out with Nott and a few others.

I make sure to gather everything I need for the potion and head out. As I walk down the quiet hallways I think back to last year. As boring as it may have been, things were calm and steady. I didn't know what I wanted to do after finishing Hogwarts… not really. I have all my classes lined up so I'd be able to work at the Ministry of Magic like my Dad did, well before he died that is. But all this seems so superfluous now.

I'm grateful the room of requirement opens up to me without hesitation. I get right to work. I've set the room up like a kitchen. Nothing fancy.

I make quick work of the potion and sit down on the ground as I steady myself for the pain I know it about to come. Okay, I can do this. Here goes nothing, I tell myself as I chug the glass. I wanted more time to discuss things so I'm drinking way more than what I usually do- don't know if this spell works like that but we shall see.

I set aside the cup and lie down completely- no need to pass out and hit my head on the floor.

Deep breaths.

And yep, there's the pain. I think I'm screaming? It's fire this time. It feels like I'm being consumed from the inside out.

As quickly as it begins it's gone.

I sigh with relief. I don't think I will ever get used to that.

Taking a deep breath I'm surprised by the dampness in the air. Like I'm in a steam room. And is that a shower? I open my eyes and sit up.

I'm not in the basement like normal… well, I assume it was a basement somewhere.

Am I sitting on the floor in a bathroom?

In front of me is a white clawfoot tub with a vanity set up to the left of it. It's gorgeous and regal. I turn to look around the whole room and find myself staring at the biggest shower I have ever seen. It runs the length of the wall, and has no door on it. The glass stops two-thirds of the way and it's just open to the world.

And that's when I see two bodies in the shower. And I hear the moaning. Oh my God. Oh my God. What do I do? It's super foggy, but I can still see an entire backside pressed up against the glass. A very naked taut backside. I scramble to stand up. Look anywhere but the shower-don't look at the shower.

"I think we have a visitor." I hear.

Definitely not a voice I've heard before. Whoever he is- he doesn't sound angry that I'm interrupting his 'shower' time.

"Who is it this time?" Xerxes voice rings out. Now he sounds annoyed.

Wait, Xerxes is in that shower with a guy?

"Hell, if I know. She looks cute though. Maybe she'll want to join?"

"Sorry. Don't mind me. I can wait outside." I say hurriedly, looking around for the damn door to escape.

"Delilah?" The water stops immediately and I hear wet footsteps.

"Yep, that would be me," I say covering my eyes with my hand, while waving the other one. I know my face is brick red right now.

"Your brother's plaything?" the other guy asks.

"I am NOT a plaything!" I growl, still keeping my eyes firmly shut.

"Well, that's obviously debatable." Xerxes laughs.

"No. It's not. Can I look now?"

"Sure."

I lower my hand and open my eyes. Only to close them tightly shut once more.

"YOU ARE BOTH COMPLETELY NAKED!" I scream.

"We were taking a shower."

"I KNOW THAT XERXES!" I turn around facing the tub again, keeping my back to them.

"I don't know why you'd be so surprised that we're naked then."

"I figured you'd grab a towel and cover up." I declare.

"I'm not ashamed of my body. Are you Zane?"

"Not a bit." The other guy adds. I can hear the chuckle in his voice.

"Xerxes, please. I have limited time."

"And you're disrupting one of my favorite hobbies."

"Give the poor girl a break. Though, and I know you don't know me, but you do look stressed. We could all de-stress in the shower together?"

My mouth drops open.

"She's currently taken and is young enough to care about that sort of thing. Loyalty and all that." Xerxes says. I could feel his eye-roll.

"Perhaps next time then. I'll leave you two be. Nice to meet you, Delilah."

I hear a light kiss and a smack, which I will assume was a high five and not one of them hitting the other's ass.

A few moments later a door opens and shuts and I take another chance at turning around and opening my eyes.

Xerxes is fixing the towel around his waist, water droplets still clinging to his skin. His very bare skin. A lot of bare skin.

"You're staring."

"Yes, well, you're wet."

"Astute observation. Now, what do you want?"

"I didn't know you were into guys." I blurt out.

He takes a deep breath. "What I'm into is hardly any of your concern, but since you're a child I'll explain it to you."

"I'm not a child." I fold my arms in front of me, very much like a child.

"You're a baby vampire. Time has a way of opening a handful of doors you might not have originally walked through. I happen to love the company of all genders."

"Ah, well, good to know," I say finally looking away from his glistening abs. Geesh. Was he made of granite?

"Back to the point at hand, what do you need?"

"Why did I show up here instead of my usual spot?"

"Probably a side-effect of my visiting you. I've connected us further and now you're not confined to the one room. You're connected to me. So wherever I am, so you will be."

"And I can see you making sweet love to another vampire? I assume Zane was a vampire?"

"So interested in my sexual exploits Delilah."

And there goes my face again… back to beet red.

"I didn't think you'd be making a visit quite so soon. It's been less than a day." He adds.

"Well, a crap ton went down and you did threaten to punish me if I didn't show up, so here I am."

"Here you are." He smirks.

"Can you please put on more than just that towel?"

"As you wish. Meet me in the bedroom; I'll be there shortly." He advises, gesturing to the very clear door that I had missed seconds ago.

"Right." I head out, hoping Zane wasn't waiting for him on the bed or something like that. The room is absolutely huge. One wall is covered entirely in books, and it looks like he has his own potion brewing station set up across the way under a large window. Next to it is a glass cabinet filled with odd-shaped bottles and vials. Lots of red vials. Probably my blood.

I would have pictured some ornate four-poster bed with a canopy and Victorian gold filigree everywhere, but this room is so modern. Nothing how I pictured a demented vampire's bedroom.

"Okay Delilah, what happened?"

I turn around and watch him saunter on over to his bed, drying his hair off with a towel. He's wearing a simple black t-shirt and jeans. Much better.

"First, your brother is psychotic."

"Oh goodie, what did he do now?"

"He showed up and tried to kidnap me. He started ranting about not being able to trust me because of Damon and how he needs me and I had to go with him and leave Hogwarts."

"That seems… dramatic. Well, for Malachi that seems dramatic. Though, you and your brother do seem to be adding a myriad of complications to his perfectly planned life. Truly, I should thank you. I'm usually the only one with that innate skill."

"I need to know how to break Malachi's bond with me. The sire bond. I need it gone."

"Oh, so he felt something he shouldn't have again? And here you were acting all naïve to the desires of the body."

"Not that it's any of your business, but it wasn't real. A classmate planted a memory in my head of her having sex and he felt that. So he flipped out over nothing anyway!"

"You're sure Hogwarts is a school for higher education and not rampant sex deviants?"

"Xerxes," I say exasperated.

"Right, well the easiest way is to complete the bond you have with your human. Once that's solidified any prior bonds, will be erased."

"How do we complete the bond? He's already feeling my emotions and hearing my thoughts."

"That's actually quite impressive.

"Have we bonded?"

"No, definitely not. There is more than a little bit of magic involved in a vampire/human bond, and a ton of side effects. If you were to stop feeding from him and leave him be… the connections you currently have would eventually dissipate. But the more you feed and the more you interact, the more the bond will grow, even if it's not finalized."

"How do you know so much about all of this?"

"That story is for another day. For now, you need to be careful. Bond magic is powered by blood magic." He says gravely.

"Um… what?" I look at him like he's insane. I've never heard of such a thing. Blood magic?

"Blood magic. It's completely banned and not well known, and it is the main reason us vampires have been allowed to stay off the ministry's radar for so long. Vampire's promised to destroy all knowledge of blood magic in exchange for our freedom."

"And yet here you are talking about it." I say, very slowly.

"Do you think vampires are remotely free? We live in the shadows, unable to share what we are in any capacity. If we stray into the Wizarding world we have to keep what we are a secret. We are feared, but not respected, and expected to stay out of sight and out of mind."

"So you've kept the knowledge of this blood magic because you think you got the short end of the stick?" I question.

"Yes." He answers simply.

"Well, no thank you. I do not want to get mixed up in all of that."

"Too late my dear ignorant baby vampire."

"So many insults at once. Thanks for that. But seriously, no."

"How do you think you got here? You've been practicing blood magic since the moment you contacted me. It's why that potion causes so much pain."

I stare at him wide-eyed. "I thought I was doing NORMAL magic." I squeal angrily.

"And besides, the growing bond feeds off of your blood and the blood you crave from your human. In a way Vampire's are walking talking blood magic- it was stupid to try and make it all just go away."

"Can we pause for half a second? You keep evading my main question- how is a bond completed? Do we have to have sex?" I ask hesitantly. I really didn't want THAT to be the key, but I've been wondering if it was the case.

"No. Though I'm sure having sex with that boy toy of yours would help usher the process along. A bond is more than physical."

"Then how?"

"Can you stop your pacing? Come sit down." He suggests gesturing next to him on his bed. As wary of him as I should be, I'm too in my head to question his order, and I take a seat next to him.

"I'm assuming Malachi didn't teach you much of our history? Vampire history? He probably focused more on the rules."

"He was definitely all about the rules, but he did tell me we were created as killing machines for a war or army or something to that effect."

He rolls his eyes, "That's a very brutish way of putting it. We were made using blood magic. It was in hopes to save countless of lives. You send in super magic soldiers to win the battles. Then the blood magic turned on us and the humans became dependant on the same blood they shed. Well, years later, vampires were still being used and created for war. The problem arose when there started being too many vampires- they all needed blood- all the time. But the wars still needed to be fought, and vampires had more strength, magic, and durability than normal wizards. So bonds were created; using even more blood magic. It worked best when the bond was set into place when both participants were still human. Then, when the vampire turned, and the bond slowly solidified, the human would show all the same abilities as the vampire without the need for blood. And the vampire could feed on the human without letting their bloodlust overwhelm them."

"That's a lot to take in."

"And there's more. You have so much to learn. And not just about bonds, but about blood magic too."

"But…"

"If you are not willing to let go of Drake."

"Draco," I correct.

He gives me a look that clearly states he doesn't care what Draco's name is.

"If you're not willing to let him go, then you're going to need all the help you can get. And that means learning blood magic."

"This all seems like a lot of trouble for some vampire you left bleeding out on a table under a club."

"Didn't you ever wonder why I wasn't there that night?"

"At the time I was a tad busy being tortured, but afterward I assumed you had another poor soul to maim and murder."

"Your hyperbole is always so appreciated. I wasn't there because I needed to see if you were worth saving."

"What does that even mean?"

"I had no intention of fighting with my brother over just some girl. So when he showed up, with a human in tow no less, one that saves your life, I knew you were the one."

I shake my head, not understanding, "The one for what?"

"The prophecy. There's been a handful about my brother and me, but if you survived what I had done to you, I knew you'd be the one to help me end it."

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