Unofficial Portkey Archive

Disclaimer: The characters of this fiction are borrowed and used as a tribute to the wonderful world created by J.K. Rowling. They're not mine, never were and never will be. No money is being made on this either.

Author's notes:

Well, life is full of miseries… I caught a nasty sickness a week after the last update, so I didn't have the strength to do any writing. But that wasn't the worst:
Just like someone else here on Portkey, I also lost my Grandfather during this time - so naturally I had to be with my family between the passing away and the funeral, so there hasn't been opportunity to continue with this.

Anyway, this chapter is finally finished. Now be warned: this is actually the chapter I built the entire story around - that means horror! It also means that I tried to put in a little extra effort in this one - and I'm still not entirely happy with the final result, but it's the best I can do.

Enjoy - I hope.

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Hermione had discovered something new about herself - she had since a few hours back come to realise that she hated to wait! Usually, waiting was not a problem for her - whenever she needed to wait for something, she always would bring a book with her in which she could pass the time. She always did that in her younger years before she attended Hogwarts - on her way to school she would read a book while she travelled on the bus - between classes she read a book or did her homework - she even did that the very few times she had to go to a doctor and had to wait in the Waiting room. She could always pass the time like that, since she always had been eager to fill her head with new things. Other kids in her age used to taunt her for her love for books, they always called her a bookworm behind her back - but she had ignored it. After all: she was the one who always got the best grades thanks to that.
This time she didn't have that luxury - this time there was no book around in which she could pass her time, and that made her feel miserable and restless. This wait would maybe not have been so bad either, if it weren't for the fact that she was experiencing the possibly worst kind of wait there is: she was waiting for her death.

Her environment wasn't making things easier either. The Vampire had left her in a cold cave somewhere on the other side of the Forbidden Forest - high up in a large mountain crest. The cave's high position made it unable for her to attempt an escape, but it wasn't like she could even try - the Vampire had put a mental neural-block in her central nervous system, making her temporarily immobilised. She was lying on her left side on a large natural formed stone-ledge in the back of the cave; a position the vampire had left her in an attempt to make it comfortable for her. That compassionate act felt like a mockery to her since Vampires did not harbour such feelings - another false calming gesture before the coming of the horrible fate.
And it wasn't comfortable either. Her left arm, on which her head was resting on, had long since gone numb, and the remaining left side of her body felt quite sore after having lying on the rocky surface for a whole day. Hermione was also freezing, since she was only wearing the same nightdress she'd put on the night she was attacked the second time - she had not been out of it since.

The cave wasn't big - maybe around fourteen meters deep, so she could see outside as she was facing the entrance - but it wasn't much to look at. The only thing visible was the big sea of treetops of the Forbidden Forest, and the murky sky. It had not been a beautiful day - it had been grey and dull, and that had been a perfect match to her mode. But she didn't have to see it for long, the days of this time of year were always short - now it was dark and gloomy, it would probably snow again soon. It was probably the only consolation she would get in her final hours - she had always found a calm snowfall to be peaceful. She mourned though that the cave was facing the wrong point of the compass - it would have been nice to see the sunset one final time before she died. She wondered yet again when Vladislav Malfoy would came back to finish the job. She didn't want to die - but the suspense was grand torture. That was why this day had probably been one of the worst in her life.

As on cue, Hermione spotted movement out there. An irregularly shaped form seemed to be approaching her position - it looked too bulky to be a regular bird, but she couldn't really match the dark silhouette to the Vampire either. But it was definitely approaching 'her' cave.
It wasn't long before she understood why the shape looked so odd - it was the Vampire all right, carrying another bundle with him. The identity of the bundle wasn't expected, but she wasn't surprised either - Vlad was hauling Victor Krum with him. Vladislav Malfoy flew inside the opening of the cave and simply dropped Krum to the stone-floor - Krum rolled into the wall from the momentum with a groan, Vlad wasn't giving him a second glance. Hermione actually found herself wishing that Krum had not been brought along, not after their last 'separation' at the Valentine's ball. It wasn't for the punch she'd given him, but because she felt exposed with her being only clad in a nightdress.
She also found herself thinking of the situation matching a cliché-moment from a horror-movie. Here she was: a damsel in distress dressed only in a thin night-clothing, with a Dracula hovering over her preparing to suck her blood, and his slave Renfield lurking around in the dark corners. The problem for her was that there was no Van Helsing or Jonathan Harker around to save her.

Vlad touched down just in front of ledge she lay on - and to her discomfort, he smiled at her.
'I do hope that you have not been too uncomfortable, my dear?' Vlad said to her. 'Once you've become my Cleanser - my Vampire bride - such things will not be of any bother to you anymore. No, as a Creature of the Night, you will find new means of comfortability where ever we will go.'
Hermione shuddered, but did not answer him. She wasn't exactly sure if she even could talk for the moment. Yet, even if her fate were unavoidable, she would resist him to her end. But to her annoyance, Vlad took no offence by her silence.
'Do sit up, my dear. We're expecting company.' Vlad put her up into a sitting position, using that same annoying gentleness that was like a mockery to her. 'It's good manners to greet the guests properly, don't you think?' Vlad rested Hermione against the back wall of the cave - then he smoothed her hair out of its disorder and made it fall naturally down around her head.
'Now you look presentable my dear. I'm certain our arriving guest will appreciate that.'
Who will? Hermione wondered silently.

'Master, vot do you mean?' Krum who had come up behind his master asked nervously. 'Are we going to vait for him?'
Vladislav's smile had dropped into a half-scowl. 'Yes. He is a persistent obstacle who needs to be dealt with.'
'B-but Master… vot if he bring others?'
'He is coming alone.' Vlad said simply. He had not turned around from Hermione. 'And even if he did bring others it wouldn't matter. Four Auror's couldn't beat me, how would others manage?'
'Yes Master, you are invincible… but I no longer haff a vand. He vill kill me vhen he see me… I beg you Master, take me avay from here, protect me! I vill be no good to you vithout a vand…'
Vlad snorted. 'A snivelling coward as always, aren't you Victor?'
'P-please don't say that Master. You knov that I…'

'Why shouldn't I?' Vlad roared and spun towards Krum. The Bulgarian took a step backwards in fright - Vlad's face was creased with rage. 'It was your cowardice and arrogance that ruined everything! Had you just done what I told you and had not taken on your own schemes, none of this would have happened! Not only did you have me to make Cho Chang into a Vampire, but you also threw that Agitation-hex on Potter to break his friendship with Granger! Had you not done that, everything would still be under my control!! But no, everything you did was just so that you could have Granger for yourself, and that personal scheme of yours ruined my plans!!'
An Agitation-hex? On Harry?? Hermione felt her stomach twist in puzzlement. Wasn't it his choice to shout at me that day?
'You have failed me dearly and now you dare to ask me for even more protection? Why should I give that to you? Why should I even let you live?'
Krum paled by those words. He suddenly dropped to his knees and grabbed the hem of Vlad's robes while he wept: 'DON'T KILL ME!! Don't kill me!! I'm loyal to you Master! I promise I do anything you ask… punish me even, but please - let me li* - AARK!'

Victor Krum's whimpering pleading was cut of as Vlad's hand shot downwards faster than a movement a man could follow, snatched Krum around his neck and lifted him off the floor. Had Vlad still been alive, his face would have blossomed red with fury, but his facial appearance made up for the lack of change in his skin-tone, presenting his true emotion. Holding Krum in a straight arm-grip, not betraying any hint of any physical strain, he spat through gritted teeth the last words the Bulgarian would ever hear:
'Please, meet your end with dignity! I despise whiners!!'
Even though Vlad's voice was the primal sound in the cave, Hermione could to her horror hear the background sound above any other - the sound of a neck breaking. To her it sounded like somebody was slowly biting off a large chunk of an apple - she couldn't help but to violently tense up and gasp as Krum's final breath came out as a low rasp - and then he was still.
Vlad walked to the entrance of the cave where the outside dropped in an almost vertical slope - he simply tossed the body out and let it fall to the ground far below. Making a show of dusting off his hands, Vlad turned around and said simply: 'Wish I'd done that from the start actually. Well, better late than never, don't you think?'

Hermione couldn't believe it. Victor Krum had been in his service for over a year and Vlad had just killed him as if he had been nothing - and now she could perfectly see that Vladislav Malfoy had already dismissed the whole matter! The nonchalance of the Vampire scared her more than anything else and she found herself again wishing that she would just be killed rather than becoming that kind of monster herself.
'Aha!' Vladislav suddenly let out, jerking Hermione out of her thoughts. He was once again gazing out into the night. 'He's almost here!'
Who's almost here? Hermione could not see anything out there, but of course: a vampire's eyesight was much more advanced than an ordinary human being's. He could see more than she could.
'You will excuse me while I step out of sight for a while, won't you my dear?' Vlad said with a grin. 'Wouldn't want to give our guest the impression of me exactly waiting for him, would we? Might otherwise instantly throw him out of any confidence he might have managed to build up, and then this wouldn't be a fun challenge.' And then he stepped into a dark corner of the cave.

Hermione must've blinked - he was gone! The Vampire had totally blended in with the shadows of the cave and was invisible. She felt a cold sweat run down her back - the knowledge of having a dangerous hidden Creature lurking inside a cave was not comforting, and whoever was approaching was going to be at a total disadvantage.
Panic was starting to build up inside her. She couldn't move, and she couldn't talk either - there was no way she could warn whoever it was of the danger he was coming into. She gazed out - she could see a growing spot now. It was too dark to make out an identity of the person, but…
NO! OH NO!!
There was no way she could explain how she knew it, but even before she could make out the silhouette, she knew exactly who it was that was approaching his certain doom.
No! You idiot!!
There was no mistake in the flying-technique - she'd know it anywhere. And she should have known that that boy would be foolish enough to disregard common sense and come after her.
Harry, you crazy fool! You'll be killed!!

Hermione grasped on the tiny hope of that Harry would miss the cave and instead flies pass it. But that hope vanished as he came straight towards her - and as he finally flew inside the cave she could see why: her wand was in his hand, and it was pointing towards her. Ginny must've told him about the tracking spell that came with the Wand-link Charm - it had led him straight to her.
'Hermione!' Harry gasped out as he spotted her; the relief was evident in his voice since he'd found her still alive. But he became confused when he saw that Hermione obviously was not relieved to see him. She looked terrified - her eyes darted repeatedly towards the side of the cave. She panted heavily as she struggled to shake her head - as if she was trying to tell him something.
'I'm going to get you out of here.' He told her as he was flying deeper into the cave towards the ledge Hermione had been placed on.
No, get out of here! She desperately wanted to tell him. Get out and save yourself. It's too dangerous here!

'Oh, I'm afraid that I won't let you do that, Mr. Potter.' Vlad's voice suddenly said. Harry stopped in midair with his broom and looked back. But there was no one there. Harry couldn't help but to feel a bit nervous - the voice had sounded like it had come from everywhere around him, but the owner was nowhere to be seen.
Harry swung his broom back to where Hermione was sitting motionless - and suddenly there was a shrilly hiss combined with a searing pain in Harry's right hand. Hermione's wand that he'd been holding the whole time flew away into one of the dark crevices of the cave - he hadn't even seen what had attacked him, but his bleeding hand clearly said that it had occurred.
'You're not losing your wits now are you, Mr. Potter?' Vlad's voice taunted him.
'Why don't you come out where I can see you?' Harry asked, but his voice was filled with more confidence than Harry actually felt.
'Oh, but I like it in the shadows.' Vlad's voice came back, but Harry could not make out where it came from. 'Vampires are Creatures of the Dark after all.'

'Does that make up for cowardice?'
'You cannot sway me with mere insults, Mr. Potter. I'm beyond to take hurt from such childish games.'
Harry now realised what the Vampire's intention were: he was psyching him, just like Cho had done when he and Lupin had been inside her crypt! The worst of it was that it was working. You can't fight an enemy that you can't see, and it didn't make it any better that the enemy was close to immortal. Harry would never admit it loudly, but he was scared. Firenze's words once again made themselves heard in his mind, the warning of not confronting the Vampire: You will not win!
'To be frank Mr. Potter, you are beginning to bore me. You have been spoken of in such high esteem, isn't it about time you did something now? Or is it like that you are too impulsive that you came here without a battle-plan? Ah well, if you won't take action, then I will.'

Harry, still mounted on his Firebolt, pulled out his own wand in reflex at those words - he had momentarily forgotten that he had it, that's how nervous he had been. With a tight grip on it, he prepared himself for Vlad's attack, waiting for him to charge out from the shadows to attack him.
He heard a small sound - a tiny squeak, and some quiet movement. Harry gazed over at where Hermione was sitting to see if it had been her that had made the sound - the girl looked as scared as he felt, but somehow he knew that it hadn't been her. She seemed only be able to move her eyes properly, and those were sweeping quickly back and forth over the cave, scanning for danger. Suddenly her eyes stopped, and glanced - upwards, over Harry's head. The memory of Cho Chang attacking him from the top in the crypt back in her hometown immediately came to his mind and Harry instantly pointed his wand upwards, saying the first hex that came to mind.

'Reducto!'
To shoot the Reductor-curse above your head inside a cave was stupid - really stupid! There was a large sound that sounded like an explosion and chunks of rock and dust suddenly rained down over The-Boy-Who-Lived… but not only rocks. Holding his arms over his head, Harry glided out from underneath the blast-zone on his broomstick - but several some things was still hitting him over his face and torso, and they were clawing and biting while making screeching sounds.
Bats!
Harry had not noticed it, but the roof of the cave was full of bats - and they were now attacking him fiercely after Harry had disturbed them with his curse. He briefly wondered if they shouldn't have escaped in fear rather than attacking him, until he realised what was going on. Vladislav Malfoy was controlling them, suppressing their natural instinct of seeking shelter and boosting their hunter-instincts instead.

Harry waved and lashed out with his arm to wave the creatures away but it wasn't easy. Under the Vampire's influence, the bats were concentrating on Harry's face so he had to use his other arm to protect it - and doing that while sitting on a broom was extremely difficult, he was close to fall off it several times since he could not spare an arm to hold on.
Hermione could do nothing but to sit where she was and only watch in anguish - her inability to move thanks to the Vampire's neural-block was extremely frustrating, as she was unable to help Harry. The bats wasn't even coming close to her, so all she could do was to analyse the situation - for all the good that did. She wasn't even able to talk, so she couldn't shout instructions to him.
Damn it Harry, why did you come here? She thought desperately. Oh, light your wand! Bats are night-creatures; they shy away from bright light. Please, light your wand!
To her great relief, Harry seemed to have finally got the same idea. He made a flicking motion with his wand and yelled: 'Lumos Maxima!'

The cave was suddenly filled with an intensive bright light that illuminated every dark corner inside. Hermione had shut her eyes as hard as she could as soon as Harry had spoken the words, but it was so bright that she was semi-blinded anyway. But it was worth it since it had done its purpose: the bats screeched and fled the cave as their natural instincts took charge again - Harry had also avoided temporary blindness as he had been the one who had done the spell. That only left one more being:
'Aaarrgh!!' For the second time of the day, Vlad's sensitive Vampire-eyes caught the full force of a bright flare, which was painful for him. It also gave him the disadvantage of being exposed, as the dark crevice he was hiding in was totally illuminated - now Harry saw where Vladislav was lurking.
'I've got you now!!' Harry exclaimed with malice-filled voice to the Dark Creature. The bats had left him bruised and with torn clothes, but Harry thought nothing of it as he took a firm grip on his Broomstick and kicked off straight at the vampire, intending to run him over or maybe even stabbing him with it. It was as good opportunity as it could get, now while the undead being stood trying to regain his eyesight.

The tip of a Broomstick was enchanted with an anti-collision spell, the rider would never be able to hit an obstacle unless he really wanted to - and Harry really wanted to hit Vladislav Malfoy.
Unfortunately, either it took less time than Harry had thought it would take for Vlad to see again, or he had other Vampire-senses that made up for the lack of vision. Just before the tip of his broom came in contact with the Vampire's chest, the other's arm suddenly shot out from nowhere with inhuman speed as well as inhuman strength - Vlad's blow broke off the tip of the Firebolt, knocking it violently off course. Harry was thrown off and landed painfully hard on the rocky floor of the cave - the Firebolt also clattered to the floor, broken and seemingly useless.
'Close Mr. Potter, but close achieves you nothing.' Vlad taunted the boy. Harry didn't answer, mainly because he couldn't. It wasn't just the pain from the fall that made him unable him to form any words, but also the nauseating feeling he had while he fought Krum down in the dungeons under the third floor. Harry was barely conscious anymore.

'What's this?' Vlad asked as he watched the unmoving student. 'You have already been weakened somehow! Mr. Potter, you really disappoint me. I had hoped for a bit of challenge from the boy who defeated the Dark Lord Voldemort - I have heard rumours that you should wield some sort of power. But as it seems, you're in no shape to match it against me.'
Vlad turned away from Harry as if dismissing his presence - instead he turned to Hermione who was fearfully looking at Harry, then at the Vampire and back.
'Well my dear, I think it is time to try again for you to take the final step to be my Cleanser, don't you think?' Vlad grinned at her and she started to shiver. He was going to bite her again, and this time he was going to kill her - and she had no power whatsoever to escape! Vlad walked over to her, gently tilted her head to the side to expose her neck and he brought his teeth downwards… Hermione squeezed her eyes shut in hope to block out the horrifying moment.

But Vlad was suddenly interrupted as a piece of rock hit him in the back - he turned away from the girl and saw Harry, still sprawled on the floor sending loose rocks at him with the help of the Banishing-Charm.
'Get away from her!' Harry croaked. He was in pain - his back protested loudly as he tried to move and his right wrist - his Wand-arm - felt sprained. He had to use his left hand as he sent another rock flying towards his enemy. Vlad simply deflected it with his arm and grinned.
'So there's still some fight in you?' he said with satisfaction. 'Yet, surely you can do better than this? To throw rocks at me is nothing but a childish desperation!'
What Vlad said made sense to Harry. He needed something special if he would have any hope to subdue the Vampire enough to make an attempt to escape - but four Aurors were unable to defeat him, and that was because they used spells that could affect a normal human-being. But Harry needed to remember that Vladislav Malfoy was not a normal human being - he was a Vampire, an undead! Spells that were meant for living matter were useless against him. But what if… what if he tried spells that were meant for dead matter?

Excited by this new idea, Harry managed to summon strength to get up on his knees, and he pointed the wand at the undead. 'Liquefacio Glaeba.' He called as he rotated his wand at Vlad's direction. The Vampire actually staggered and groaned in discomfort as if he suddenly had got a stomachache.
'The Decomposing-Charm!' Vlad croaked. 'I have to admit, that's - uurgh - brilliant thinking.'
Harry couldn't help but to glee. It was Vladislav Malfoy himself who had taught Harry that Vampires was under a constant decomposing, and with the help of the charm he'd learned from his Elements-lessons at the beginning of his Sixth-year, he could increase the process and make Vlad weaker. Finally he had found a way to keep the Vampire at his mercy.
'However - I'm still too renewed to be - nrrck - critically weakened by it immediately, you need plenty of time to fully destroy me - time I am not willing to give you!'
Harry did not glee anymore, because Vlad was right. Once the spell had been cast, it had to be kept active by rotating the wand at the decomposing properties - and Harry had to use his left hand to do it. Already his left wrist was tiring, protesting against the work it usually didn't have to do…
'Already you're beginning to fail…' Vlad said, moving away from Hermione and approaching him again. 'Can you think of something to keep it up until - nnrrgh - I reach you?'

It was obvious that Harry needed to think of something else and that needed to be done quickly - he knew that if Vlad got a hold of him now, Harry would be put out of action - permanently.
What Harry needed for the moment was more time to come up with something before Vlad reached him - and he had already covered half the distance. The Decomposing-Charm would not hold him back so Harry needed something more effective - something that would keep him occupied if only for a moment. But what hexes would affect non-living matter?
Are you a Wizard or not? A voice in his mind suddenly spoke up. This is not the time to try and think logically - when there is no time to come up with any advanced specific Hexes for the specific areas - then act on the basic over-all kind of hexes!!
Harry abandoned the Decomposing-Charm and immediately threw another hex at the Vampire - a hex based on a basic element:
'Inflammare!'

Vlad who had been released from Harry's jinx now found himself with a new problem - his cape was on fire! Roaring in rage he spun around in the cave like a giant moving torch trying to get the fire under control or at least struggling with discarding his burning cloth.
Harry had now got a short breather to come up with another idea to defeat his adversary. What he really needed was a piece of wood to try and drive through Vlad's heart - and he was surprised when he actually saw one. Harry quickly stretched out with his right hand and took it up - it was then he realised that it was the front tip of his Firebolt that the Vampire had broken off. Harry would feel despair of that later, but not now! Now he had the required weapon, what he needed now was some kind of opening to do the necessary impaling…
Harry gasped in surprise and pain as Vlad's fingers suddenly closed around his neck. The Vampire stood in front of him with smoking clothes - but no visible fire.
'Foolish boy! Did you forget what I have taught you? Fire is an Element of nature that Vampires can tap into and control - especially while I am at my prime condition!'
Vlad lifted Harry off the stone-floor in a one-hand grip. The boy gurgled, barely able to breathe - his left hand that held his wand came upwards towards the other's face, but the menacing creature's free hand shot up and gripped tightly around his wrist, squeezing it painfully. Some more twists caused Harry to drop his wand.

'No more spells, Mr. Potter.' The Vampire said. 'I have let you be more trouble for me than you were worth - but that ends now. You Mr. Potter have now reached the end of your pitiful li…'
The Vampire's left hand was gripping Harry's throat and his other was clenched around Harry's left wrist. That left Harry's right hand that was holding the broken tip of his broom free to move. Although it was painful to use his sprained wrist, Harry summoned all his might into one blow. He raised the sharpened piece of wood high and jabbed it down onto the Vampire's face - it buried itself deep inside the other's eye-socket!
The Vampire's scream filled the whole cave - he dropped Harry and clasped his hands over his ruined eye from where the wooden piece was still sticking out.
Harry now did the mistake that would come to cost him - instead of taking advantage of the Vampire's agony; he stopped a second to gloat.
'Drinking blood to regenerate some tissue is one thing, but I sincerely doubt that drinking blood will regrow certain body-parts, will it…?'

Harry never saw it coming. The blow from the Vampire knocked his glasses off and sent him flying hard into the wall, doing more damage to his already aching bones. Harry had no sense of bearings as he lay sprawled on the floor afterwards - he wasn't so sure if he even could feel his legs. The only thing he was completely aware off was Hermione's fast and frightened breathing and Vladislav Malfoy's voice that now sounded more angry and menacing than ever.
'You shall suffer for this, Potter! You shall suffer for this unimaginably!!' he growled as he pulled out the wooden piece with a sickening squelching sound, leaving behind only a meaty hole that used to be his left eyeball.
'I had been willing to let you go painlessly, but that kind of mercy has now been revoked!' Vlad yanked him up again, with no kind of gentleness. And Harry wasn't in condition to defend himself anymore.
'I'm not even willing to kill you anymore; your death would be too kind!' Vlad rumbled. 'No Mr. Potter, now I'm going to drink your blood and make you into a half-living creature - just enough to make you balance on the thin line between life and death for all eternity! An eternity of pain for what you did to me!! I will have you to beg me for the liberation of death, something that will not be granted you for a thousand years!!'

With a roar, Vlad jerked Harry's head aside and bit down into the boy's neck with his elongated teeth, giving no care for subtlety. Harry wasn't sure, but he was certain that he let out a scream - the rupture of his throat was enough to start begging for mercy - mercy that would not be granted.
But suddenly, as the Vampire started to suck out Harry's blood, he jerked away as if he'd burned his face on something, just like it had happened when he last attempted to bite Hermione.
'Puh-waa!!' he spat out the little amount of blood he had extracted from his victim. 'What? (P-tui.) It's that spell? Again?? And it's a stronger variant of it too? But how can it be in you also, I thought…?'
Then it dawned on him - he looked over at Hermione who was watching the whole thing with fear and interest, and then he looked back again at Harry who was hanging limb from his grip.
'It was you - you made that Blood transfusion with her! You gave her your blood!'
Harry? Harry made a Blood transfusion with me? Hermione thought to herself in surprise.
'The spell that prevented me from drinking her blood originated from you - but what kind of a spell is it? Why do I react on it? Your blood boy, what's so special about your blood?' Vlad demanded.
'None of your business…' Harry croaked weakly.

'You will not defy me, you shall answer my question!' Vlad growled. Holding Harry face to face to himself, totally ignoring the sticky blood that slipped between his fingers that clutched to Harry's ruptured throat, Vlad poured his mind into the other's sub consciousness… ever since Harry had broken free of his former mind-control, Vlad had not bothered to re-establish it because Harry's strong mind and Occlumency-training would've overcome it again… but now Harry was weakened and tired, he should have no strength to resist completely. Harry grimaced as he felt Vlad push away his free-will - the other's remaining eye bore into his… it gave Harry a nasty headache.
'Now answer me, boy…' Vlad said. 'What is it for spell that resides within your blood?'
'It's a protection ward left to me by my mother.' Harry choked, surrendering. He had nothing to gain really by withholding that piece of information. In truth: even though people did not know about it, it wasn't actually a secret. 'She died to save me from Voldemort when he attempted to kill me as a baby - her love for me has left a mark in my very skin, and obviously also in my blood…'

'Your mother died to save you?' Vlad questioned, not taking his glare off Harry. But after about two seconds, he did. He lowered Harry slightly away from him and looked up - Vlad seemed to stare into the wall without really seeing it, so deep in thought that his face had lost all traces of rage. All that was left was an expression of deep wonderment.
'No wonder I can't drink your blood!' he said very softly - he was talking mostly to himself. 'A protection of love - a force that has existed from the beginning of time itself, so mysterious that no one can understand its true power… it's the one ancient force that actually can affect a Vampire… And since it resides within your blood, you passed it to Ms. Granger's after you shared your blood with her… but is it still active? It should wear off as soon as the new blood has been adapted to her, but what if…?'
Again he pulled Harry up to come face to face with him. Harry groaned and tried to pry the steel-like fingers away from his aching neck - but they would not budge.
'Potter! What are your feelings for that girl?' Vlad demanded, indicating to Hermione. 'Did you feel strong emotions for her when you surrendered your blood to her?'
'Go fuck yourself…' Harry growled.

'Bad language will not escape you my demands - you shall answer my question!' Vlad growled back and drilled his mind more deeply into Harry's will. Hermione still sat were she was, watching and analysing with anticipation and anxiety. Was it her imagination, or did the mental neural block within her own mind diminish slightly when the Vampire diverted his powers into Harry?
'Now let's try it again Potter, do you feel love for that girl?' Vlad demanded again, squeezing Harry's throat more tightly, causing more blood to gush out from the holes in Harry's neck where Vlad had bitten him. 'Answer me!'
'Never…' Harry rasped. 'I… (gasp) I'll never tell… y-you…'
'Your mind is stronger than I had thought… but you will break before my will!' Again Vlad locked his remaining eye with Harry's, and now he poured about everything he had in mental-control ability into Harry's defenceless mind, replacing the boy's will with his own and totally suppressing the last ounce of free-will that Harry had left.

The effect did not go unnoticed by Hermione. Even a Vampire's abilities were limited - and as Vladislav Malfoy poured about everything he had into Harry, she felt the control he had over her drain away. Some of her body-parts were now finally starting to respond to her brain-impulses - not much, she would still not be able to rise and stand, but she definitely had some movements again. She just didn't know how it would help her for the moment.
'Now Mr. Potter…' The Vampire's voice was strangely enough now very soft, as if he was a teacher again speaking to a student. 'My mental powers have over-powered yours, so let's refrain from this silly game… be a good boy and answer my question: Do you love her?'
When Harry answered, it was his voice that now had taken on a monotonous character rather than Vlad originally had. His free will was completely gone, as if he was in a trance - so he could only give the direct answer that resided within his sub consciousness.

'Yes. I love her.' Harry answered with a flat tone. 'But it wasn't until recently when she was lying in her deathbed that I realised that I have always loved her. She has been so close to me over the years, always stood by my side when no one else would - yet I took no notice of how I felt for her. I had always thought that those were only feelings that was of my friendship with her, that's why I failed to identify them…'
'But what about Cho Chang?' Vlad asked, his temper rising again. 'When I came to Hogwarts, you were dating her!'
'A distraction.' Harry answered monotonously. 'When Ron first claimed that he was dating Hermione, it was like I had been stabbed in the back, which led to my first collapse from my illness. I took Cho as a girlfriend to cope with their relationship and to keep my own health in check. When it turned out that all had been a fluke from Ron, I lost interest with Cho again - but by then your mind-control had taken over and I unwillingly continued with…'

A squeeze from Vlad's fingers around Harry's neck cut of his ramblings and the Vampire let out a loud cry of rage. As impossible as one might have thought, Vlad now looked even angrier than he ever had.
'Chaos take you, Potter!!' Vlad roared in his face. 'By sharing your blood with that protection spell with her, and have it powered by your own love for her, it has enabled that protection ward to root itself to her soul, attaching itself permanently to her body… preventing me from ever drinking her blood again!! You… you… you-lost-me-my-bride!!'
On her spot on the stone ledge, Hermione sat completely still from the revelation. The fact was: she had been so hurt by Harry's outburst that she had decided to distance herself completely from him, certain that he never would return her feelings. She had been so convinced about it that under any normal circumstances; Hermione would not believe those words Harry had said.
But this circumstance was not normal. Because of the Vampire's mind-control, Harry was not speaking out of free will. He was in a trance-like state, only able to give answers that lay cored within his own mind. What else would the words be, if they weren't the truth?
H-he loves me?? Harry loves me!!

But what did that matter now, when it was all too late? The fact that she knows now that Harry share her feelings would not help the current situation. The vampire was still in control - and now that it turns out that he can't make any of them into a servant of his, there was only one fate left in store for them: death!
'Your meddling affairs has cost me more than any other mortals that has crossed my path has…' Vlad growled. '…and now I can't even satisfy myself with giving you eternal pain - I suppose I going to have to settle with your imminent death… but don't expect it to be painless!'
Holding Harry in a one-hand grip again, he took Harry's left hand in his other - and squeezed, causing Harry to cry out in pain. Vlad had crushed every bone in his fingers.
'I shall break every bone in your body…' Harry screamed again as Vlad crunched the remaining bones in his left hand. '…piece-by-piece. You may beg for mercy…' Vlad snapped the lower bones in Harry's arm close to the wrist. '…it will make it more pleasurable for me! But don't expect to be granted any.' Again Vlad snapped the lower bones, this time in the middle. Harry anguished cries echoed through the cave. And Hermione was witnessing it all.

No! Oh Merlin, No. This can't be happening, he can't do this! I must do something! Oh, Harry…
Hermione desperately wanted to jump up and tackle the Vampire - but her motor-responses was still way to slow.
'Painful, isn't it Mr. Potter?' Vlad asked as he twisted Harry's left elbow backwards. 'Enough to make you faint, shouldn't it? Sadly for you, I won't allow that. I want you to be awake to feel everything!' he said as he continued to twist the elbow.
I can't just sit here! If only I had my… WAND!! Harry had come to the cave using her wand to track her! It was in there somewhere after he had lost it from the vampire's first attack. And she recalled that it had flown somewhere into a corner to the right from her position. And thanks to the Wand-link Charm, she shouldn't have to get up to retrieve it!
Summoning all her regained strength, and trying to shut out the cries from the torture, Hermione managed - with some difficult - to raise her arm towards the dark area where her wand should be, and then she concentrated vastly on the magical energies residing within her body in an attempt to call the wand into her outstretched hand.

'And when I'm done with your bones, I'm going to rip your heart out of your chest - using my bare hand!' Vlad continues to speak maliciously as he broke Harry's upper arm in two. 'Only then will you be granted death, not before!'
No! I wont let you do that! Hermione thought desperately. But now she was beginning to panic. Why wasn't the wand coming to her?
Oh no! Harry's blood! It's different from my own DNA, the wand doesn't recognise me!
Tears of frustration and concern streamed down her face - she couldn't give up now. Squinting her eyes, Hermione concentrated harder, drawing sweat from the effort.
C'mon, please!! There must be enough left of me for the wand to recognise… it should recognise the magic I'm summoning it with! Please come to me… Please!!
And then to her massive relief and rejoice, her wand flew out from the dark corner as if drawn by a magnet and settled itself in her hand. Wasting no time, she pointed the wand towards the Creature of the Night who was just about to pull Harry's ruined arm out of its socket.

'STOP!!' she called. She was actually surprised that her voice had come back. 'L-let go of him! Right now!!'
If the Vampire was even the slightest surprised that Hermione had regained some of her movements and had even got hold of a wand, he hid it well. Instead, he only looked up at her - and let out his horrible hollow and high-pitched, yet low-volume laughter - and that threw her a bit off guard.
'Ha-ha-ha… And just what do you think that you can do, Ms. Granger?' Vlad asked her. 'At the moment you are just as weak as Potter, if not weaker… where would you find the required strength to battle me?'
Vlad stopped for a moment to look more closely at her, thinking of something - for the moment it seemed that he had forgotten that he was holding a hurting Harry in his hands.
'However… indeed you are powerful, but your skills does not come from strength - it comes from your wits! You are a resourceful young witch who fights with logic, not raw power… you might actually have some other means to confront me with, but would you dare to believe that those would be enough?'

Vlad's words caused her to feel some self-doubt, she felt so small before the immortal - but her aim did not falter.
And then Vlad surprised her - dragging Harry with him but holding him down, he turned towards her, standing himself in a position that clearly invited her to take a shot.
'I dare you, Ms Granger! Can you do it?' he asked with a grin. 'Can you cast a certain spell that would defeat me and save yourself and Potter? I'll give you a free shot, but remember - do nothing and I will let you die painlessly as I had originally intended - strike me and fail, your death will be more unpleasant. Take your choice!'
Hermione started to shake. Was it this it had all suddenly come to now? She had to take the one decision that could either turn the tide or make them loose everything? The fact was that she had found a solution for the situation - but it would go against everything she believed in, and she wasn't even sure it would work.
Yet Hermione knew… she knew that in some situations you had to put your principles aside - and this situation was a gamble that could only end with either a win or a lose, no matter what.

'M-may whatever after-world that is in store for me… forgive me for what I'm about to do.' She whispered to herself, shaking all over. But her wand-arm was steady as a rock, as was her voice when she spoke the incantation that would serve her purpose:
'Accio Firebolt!'
'Hah-ha-ha-h… - UKH?!!'
Vlad's mocking laughter at Hermione's foolish choice of spell was cut of abruptly as he felt something slam into his back - the impact was so violent that he dropped the semi-conscious Harry to the ground. And as he looked down, his remaining eye widened in surprise as he saw a wooden stick protrude from his chest-area.

The tip of a broomstick was enchanted with an anti-collision spell - when called for with for example a Summoning charm, the spell would make sure that the broomstick would not collide with an obstacle on its way, it would always go around. The only way to bypass the spell was if a rider really wanted to fly into an obstacle, something that was highly unlikely. But the tip of the Firebolt had been broken off - no anti-collision spell would stop the broom to go straight to its caller, no matter what obstacles that was in the way.
And the obstacle that stood in the path between the Firebolt and Hermione, was Vladislav Malfoy.
Without its safety-enchanted tip, the broomstick had gone straight through Vlad's torso, impaling him. Realising how gravely he had underestimated the girl's intellect, Vlad took hold of the protruding stick in an attempt to pull it out from his body. It came out about a foot - until the bundle of straws that made the end of the broomstick came in contact with his back - the tiny entering-hole in his back was too narrow to allow the rest of the Firebolt to come through.

Vlad groaned as he dropped on his knees, feeling his body trying to suck life-force from material that no longer had any - instead it backfired, draining his body of the life-energy he had accumulated over hundreds of years.
Almost petrified by what she had done, Hermione watched the Vampire drop to the floor - a jolt of fear surged through her weakened body as the vampire's head rose up again at her direction. She was expecting a hateful glare from him, and an accusing tone that would condemn her for her actions - but to her surprise, there was no anger in that one eye that looked up at her… it looked more like an admiration, and the tone of his voice as he spoke was far from accusation…
'…Clever girl…' he whispered with a smile - the most human-like smile she had ever seen coming from him.

The eye rolled up - and Vlad dropped heavily to the stone-floor again, this time not getting up. Before Hermione's astonished eyes, the skin of the fallen body dried, withered into dust that fell away from greying bones as the man's true age caught up with him now that the life force residing within him had disappeared. And then even the bones turned to dust, the skull fell apart like a crumpling sand-castle… shortly afterwards all that remained was a bundle of clothes covered with a kind of innocent-looking pile of ash - the only proof of that a violent act had even occurred was the broken Broomstick that was sticking through the now empty cape.

The Dark Menace - Professor Vladislav Malfoy, the Vampire… was no more.

********************************************

For a pair of minutes Hermione didn't move, even though she now knew that she had regained all her motor-responses - she was very shocked of what she had done, and she was working on collecting her bearings after suddenly feeling extremely light-headed. She had felt it at the exact moment the Vampire was destroyed - it was like a huge pressure she hadn't even been aware of that she had had simply vanished from inside her head.
Finally letting out an anguished cry, she threw her wand away, mourning her lost humanity - her belief of life being precious made her feel like she had just committed a murder. She was trembling all over and felt like crying - but there were other concerns that required her attention first-hand. Harry had not moved since Vlad had dropped him.
Still being weak after suffering from an almost complete blood-loss, Hermione had no strength to stand on her own legs. Crawling on all four limbs, she made her way down from the ledge and pulled herself towards the spot where Harry was laying motionless.

'Harry?' she called his name. There was no response.
'Harry?' she tried again more forcefully. She finally reached the boy's side and she let out a gasp over the sight. His left arm lay in an unnatural angle, and there was no colour in his face. His manhandled throat was discoloured and smeared with blood that had escaped through the holes Vlad's Vampire-teeth had made. Neither did it look like he was breathing.
'Harry?' she cried out. Tears were starting to flow out of her eyes and her stomach knotted itself painfully. She feared the worst.
'Harry! Wake up!' She started to shake him carefully. 'Harry, don't do this to me! Don't you dare die on me now - not now when I know the truth!'
There was still no response - all Hermione could do was to shake him harder. Her eyesight was now all blurry.
'I know you love me!' she cried. 'That's what saved me! You saved me, you always do! Your love for me is what saved me - now give me a chance to love you back! I love you! Did you hear what I said, Harry? I - (sob) - I love you!' Hermione's voice was now cracking and she buried her face into his chest. 'Don't - (sob) - don't leave me Harry! Not now… (sob) - not now when you saved me… (sob)'

'But I didn't…' the voice was barely audible - but it was enough.
'Harry?' Hermione's head shot up from his chest. 'You're alive!!'
'I didn't save you… Firenze told me… not to confront the Vampire… because I wouldn't win. And I didn't… You did.' Harry slowly raised his right arm and cupped her chin while he struggled to form the words. 'You defeated him… you won, not me. You're the one… who saved me.'
'That's just stupid technicalities Harry, never mind those.' Hermione said, still crying, but now it was from relief. She covered Harry's hand that was placed on her cheek with her own. 'The important thing is that you came for me… (sniff) - even though I had turned my back on you… You - (sob) - you never stopped being my friend - even though I… (sob)… Oh Harry, I feel so horrible!'
'No… don't say that.' Harry tried to sit up but failed. Hermione helped him to. 'The fault was mine, I don't know what came over me that day…'
'I do. Krum cast an Agitation Charm on you… you weren't responsible…'
'That does not… make me feel better…'

'Stop it!' Hermione said. She started to tremble violently. 'N-never mind that… You… you're h-here now, w-with me… l-let's just p-p-put it b-behind… us…'
'Are… are you all right?' Harry asked very worried.
'N-no. I… I think I'm g-going into s-shock… T-the Vampire's m-mind-control… held it back, but now… it's coming o-over me… I… I think I'm going t-to faint… Oh H-Harry, hold me. P-please hold me…'
And Harry did, the best he could even with only one functioning arm - and even though he himself felt unconsciousness slipping over him. They both clung on to each other spasmodically, crying in each other's arms after the horror they had experienced - and finally they both lost consciousness, never letting go of the other - laying totally defenceless in the dark and cold cave.

Neither teenager heard the eerie unearthly, yet beautiful music filling the air outside in the night - or saw the crimson shape gliding smoothly inside the cave, letting out a saddened squawk over the crippled children.

********************************************************************************************************************

Something didn't correspond with Harry's last memory. He was certain that he should be lying on some uncomfortable ground, being in pain - perhaps even dying. But maybe he had died - and he was resting in heaven on comfortable warm clouds that covered him from toes to his chest. But if he was in heaven, should he really have that itching pressure around his neck that prevented him from moving his neck? And his left arm didn't feel so good either - it was strangely numb.
He decided to open his eyes: his facial muscles actually protested against it as his eyelids reluctantly curled up and exposed his sensitive eyes to some uncomfortable light. It stung his eyes so painfully that Harry moaned from the pain - and that was when he heard the sound of somebody moving.
'Rest easy, Harry - you've had a rough time.' An aged, calm voice said.
That voice? Could it be…? A blurry shape put something around Harry's face - and suddenly everything came into focus. His glasses had been put on him, and now he clearly saw the figure.
'Professor Dumbledore!' he blurted out. 'You're back!'
'Yes, I am.' The Headmaster smiled - but it was not a smile that could cover the evident sadness that was in the old Wizard's face. 'I wish I had come sooner though… but when I received word that Ms. Granger had been attacked, I… whoa, take it easy Harry.' He said, because Harry had suddenly jerked up from his pillow looking anxious and concerned.

'Hermione! W-where is she? Is she all right…?'
'Relax, my boy. Look to your left.' Harry did, but found it difficult. He discovered that there was a neck-supporting collar around his throat. Instead he twisted his entire upper body to the left - which also was hard, because his left arm was bandaged stiff from shoulder to hand. But as he turned, a relaxing feeling instantly washed over him. Hermione was in the bed next to him, peacefully asleep. He also noted the blood-bag that was attached to her arm.
'It was quite a close call, but Madam Pomfrey is assures me that she is out of danger.' Dumbledore explained. 'And that blood should help her make a full recovery - it was donated by her own father.'
'Her father?' Harry asked, turning back to the Headmaster. 'But I thought Umbridge had set up a rule that no Muggle would be able to enter our world without seeking permission from the Ministry?'
'She did.' Harry could swear that Dumbledore had sneered. 'But no rule says anything about not permitting a Wizard to enter the Muggle-world. Poppy and I went to Mr. And Mrs. Granger personally and explained the situation - naturally there wasn't any hesitation of any kind from them to give the necessary blood required, but they were quite put out that they weren't allowed to come along and see their daughter.

'However…' Dumbledore continued, and finally a twinkle came to his eye. 'I was to give you a warm-hearted 'thank you' from them for what you did for Hermione. It was a very noble thing you did, sharing your blood with her to save her life. They're very grateful.'
Harry blushed a bit. 'I hope that Madam Pomfrey's license isn't to be revoked just because I'm underage and not really allowed to do any blood-transfusions?'
'Actually, I had to make a visit to Mr. and Mrs. Dursley as well - I needed them to sign a form that they have been informed and have accepted that you took the decision with full sense of mind despite your young age… thankfully you have reached the age of Sixteen and a half, which here in the Wizard-world is considered as an age that matches the sense impression of early adulthood. No charges will be brought up as long as the legal guardian gives his understanding and acceptance of your actions.'

'I can't imagine my Uncle Vernon give his acceptance for that?' Harry said. 'Especially with you showing up there, he must have been going out of his mind?'
'Between you and me, I admit that it required a bit of… persuasion from my part before he agreed to sign the paper… and no, he wasn't the least happy about it. But your Aunt Petunia was a lot more forthcoming of your actions than he was - therefore I do think that Vernon Dursley will think twice before he voices any doubts of your judgements again.'
'You've been busy.' Harry said awestruck. 'It must have taken a while, how long have we been here? When did you come back? In fact, how did you even find us? And we're in Hogwarts infirmary, wasn't the school closed? Are the others all right, the Vampire's mind-control…?'
'Please Harry, one question at the time.' Dumbledore chuckled and held up a hand. 'I came back to Hogwarts three days ago - in fact I came in only a couple of minutes after you had flown out the window chasing after Professor Malfoy. I don't think I ever entered a crowd who was so overjoyed to see me.' Dumbledore chuckled again. But it was instantly replaced with a grim expression.

'It was after I received word that Ms. Granger had been attacked that I finally decided to drop this silly chase after Voldemort. I didn't like it one bit that Remus Lupin and I had to leave it in your hands to look for the Vampire - it was a burden I did not want to place on your shoulders. But I was stuck with searching for Voldemort and Remus had no legal business in Hogwarts. You were the only one who could do it since you had broken free of the Vampire's control earlier - but we left you strict instructions only to find him, not confront him.'
'I'm sorry…' Harry started to say, but Dumbledore held up his hand to cut him off.
'I knew that you wouldn't stick to your instructions after Hermione became a victim - I had no doubt of that. That's when I knew that everything had gone totally out of hand so I said to Cornelius Fudge and the team I commanded: Sod this, my school needs me! So I returned. It was only too bad that since I was constantly on the move, the message the trusted House-elves living in this school sent me reached me a little late. That was why I didn't arrive until everything had gone catastrophic here. Auror's Dawlish and Berger are dead, Kingsley Shacklebolt and Nymphadora Tonks will be hospitalized for a while - as will Professor Snape. He's lying in the other end of this room, recovering from the stab-wound he received.

'As for your question on how I found the two of you; actually I didn't. It was Fawkes that did. Fascinating creatures, Phoenixes - not even I understand the full extent of their instincts. But it was a good thing he found the two of you so quickly and brought me to that cave. A couple of well-placed healing powered tears saved your arm from being totally lost and amputated, but I had to remove all the shattered bones within it. Your arm is simply bandaged to prevent any further possible damage in case you'd twist in your sleep. But now that you've regained consciousness again, Madam Pomfrey can give you a dose of Skele-Gro.'
Harry shuddered at having to take that foul-tasting potion again.
'I took both of you here, where you've been since. No one's been allowed to see you. And no, the school is no longer closed, now that the threat from the Vampire is gone. We are still not certain how the students are after Professor Malfoy's mind-manipulations, but the staff is keeping a close watch on everybody.

'Now Harry, I have told you my story. I certainly hope that you feel up to telling me everything that has happened here while I've been gone. Don't leave out anything.'
Harry didn't know where he found the strength, but he told the Headmaster everything: from Daniel Cody's death to Cho's death, and how he and Lupin fought the Vampire-variant of Cho Chang and how he had first thought that Victor Krum was the culprit. His hunch was slightly correct though, since Victor Krum was the one who'd picked the victims for his Master. He also included his last visit to Firenze and the sneaking in inside Slytherin House.
'…and that's when we found the Almanacs containing the names.' Harry explained. 'We also found Cho's wand and Lucas Pamir's Prefect badge. It was during that time that Hermione…' Harry swallowed, shivering. 'Vlad attacked Hermione that night…'
'It was his second attack.' A low voice cut in.
'Hermione!' Harry gasped and turned to his left. 'You're supposed to be asleep!' he said concerned, but was smiling.
'Look who's talking! It's actually hard to sleep with you chattering beside me.' She mock scolded, smiling back weakly. 'Glad to have you back, Professor.'
'Thank you, my dear.' Dumbledore said with a twinkle in his eye. 'How are you feeling?'
'I've been better… but obviously I'm recovering. Hard to believe after what I've been through…' Involuntarily she touched her neck at the spot where she had been bitten.

'Madam Pomfrey has worked overtime to remove the marks from your skin.' Dumbledore explained soothingly. 'You have no visible reminder left of the occurrences…'
'Thank heavens for that…' Hermione let out a sigh.
'I will let you get back to sleep if you want to Ms. Granger - but if there's something you can add to everything that has happened here, I will listen.'
Hermione told Dumbledore her part: how the Vampire had attacked her the night before without her noticing it at first, but tried to resist the second time and failed. Harry filled in with how she was found by Ginny that morning, (somehow he failed to include the events involving Crookshanks,) and how he talked Madam Pomfrey into giving Hermione his blood to save her life. Dumbledore seemed very interested in that part.
Hermione then retold everything Vladislav Malfoy had told her in the infirmary before she was abducted, insisting on that Hagrid's half-brother Grawp was innocent of Lucas Pamir's death. The story was finished with how Harry had used the killing Curse to expose the Vampire, (Hermione glared at him in shock), and the last battle in the cave. Dumbledore nodded in understanding.

'Thank you.' Dumbledore said. 'This has filled the blanks with what I got so far. But now I'm afraid we have to discuss consequences.' Harry and Hermione looked at him bewildered.
'It was a very dangerous thing you did Harry, using the Killing Curse… unfortunately that was what started the battle that resulted in the Auror's deaths - and if word would get out, some people would demand that you'd be thrown into Azkaban for it.
'However I've spoken to Shacklebolt and Tonks, as well as the remaining school: they all agree not to utter a word about it - we all feel that it was necessary to learn the identity of the Dark Creature that lurked among us. And adding the other brave things you did, I have decided to wipe the differences slate clean. No rewards, no punishments. Are you okay with this, Harry?'
'Yes, but… No offence Professor, but Draco Malfoy will never keep quiet about it if he sees the chance to get to me?' Harry said.
'Quite the contrary Harry, Mr. Draco Malfoy has the biggest reason to keep quiet. I have also spoken to Mrs. Narcissa Malfoy: she assured me that none of them save for Lucius Malfoy had any idea that the distant relative of theirs was in fact a Vampire. It was the one biggest secret Malfoy Senior kept to himself until it was time to pass all the family business down to the next relative in line.

'The name Malfoy has already got a nasty thorn in its side now that it has been revealed that Lucius is a Death-Eater - it would be a death-stroke to their affairs if word got out that a relative of theirs was a Vampire. We agreed on that as long as the name of the vampire is not revealed, Mrs. Malfoy is going to make sure that her son stays quiet.'
Harry nodded in understanding.
'Ms. Granger.' Dumbledore then said cheerfully. 'Once again you have proved your ability to use cool logic in the face of fire - thanks to that a dangerous menace to the Wizard-world and to this school was destroyed. You will receive the Special Award for Services to the School and… yes, Two Hundred points to Gryffindor should be adequate.'
Hermione gaped at Dumbledore in disbelief. 'But Professor? I can't be awarded! I have killed another being - that makes me a murderer! I've committed one of the foulest crimes in the world; I should be thrown into prison for… Professor, why are you laughing?'

'You're not up to your usual standards at the moment, Hermione.' Dumbledore chuckled. 'You can't exactly murder somebody who was already dead, can you?'
'But I still destroyed him…' Hermione said sadly.
'My dear Ms. Granger…' Dumbledore stood up and rounded Harry's bed to pat the girl's hand. 'What you did was to destroy the evil force that resided within the body of the man he once was when he was alive - a man that he were not, no matter how alike he looked. Although Vladislav Malfoy was immortal, the life of a Vampire is a cursed one - the only thing that drives a Creature of the Night is the lust for lifeblood, which really gives a Vampire nothing but a short moment without hunger - never anything else.
'You didn't kill him my dear - you liberated him. You freed him from a terrible curse - now the man known as Vladislav Malfoy can finally rest in peace.'
'He… he actually did smile at me after I made the broomstick go through him…' Hermione said carefully. 'It did kind of look like some kind of… gratefulness.'

'Then there you have it. Forget about your guilt Ms. Granger, because you have done nothing wrong.' The Headmaster patted her hand again before he straightened up and went to the door. Before he went out, he turned to them again. 'Now I want the two of you to resume your rest… I will speak to Poppy about you two being awake, so I will let her take over now. And… please try to put this behind you - the nightmare is over now. Good day Mr. Potter, Ms. Granger…' and then he was gone.
'Put it behind us?' Hermione commented. She actually shivered again. 'That wont be easy… I can still feel his breath on my neck - a-and I can still hear your screams as he r-ruined your arm.'
Harry shrugged. 'I've been through the Cruciatus Curse… not much different… funny how fast I seem to get used to it…'
'Don't - say - things - like - that! Ever!!' Hermione's eyes were brimmed with tears. 'No one should have to go through that kind of pain! Not you - not anyone!' She was shivering so much now that she put her arms around her body. Although partly immobile because of a useless arm and the collar around his neck, Harry got out of his bed and went over to hers.

'What are you doing?' Hermione protested. 'You should be in your bed, resting.'
'I'm sorry. It didn't come put right. Naturally I'd prefer never having to go through it.' Harry leaned in to give her a hug. She met him halfway; throwing both of her arms around him, but was careful not to squeeze anything to tightly. 'Could have been much worse though… Had you not stopped him, Madam Pomfrey would be beyond her ability to completely patch me up again.'
'It's nothing to joke about…' Hermione said.
'Hermione, I'm trying to say 'thank you' here… for once I'm not the hero, it was you who saved me.'
'Not a hero?' Hermione retorted with a smile. 'You're calling the blood-transfusion that saved my life not an act of heroism?'
'No. I call it an act of loyalty and duty for my best friend.'
'Well, I call it heroism…' she said moving out of the embrace, but she did not remove her arms from around the other. 'And even thought it was stupid of you to go after the Vampire to the cave, I can't deny that it saved my life again.'

'So what we really did, was to save each other. Didn't we?' Harry said. She nodded.
'The only thing I'm not so sure about anymore is the 'best friend' thing…' Hermione then said a little uncertain. 'Your blood runs in my veins… what does that make us now?'
'Technically… I think we're half-siblings now…' Harry said. 'But I don't want that.'
'Me neither… but then what?'
'You know… it's not just my blood - Vlad said it's also my… love for you that runs in your system?'
'Do you love me?' Hermione asked in a whisper.
'I think… No, I don't think. I know now - I know that I love you. I wish I'd figured it out sooner though.'
'Better late than never…' Hermione smiled widely, feeling tears staring to fall again.
'Then perhaps…' Harry hesitated.
'What? Please say it.'
'With our blood-connection… we could always say that we're… betrothed?'
Hermione could barely speak. 'W-would you really… be willing to go that far… with me?'

Harry didn't answer verbally. Instead he leaned closer again towards Hermione's face - and carefully put his lips to hers…

Author's notes:

The horror has passed, and I finally got to kill Victor Krum. The part of where he was killed was actually inspired from Star Wars: A new Hope when Darth Vader killed the Captain in the beginning. To me it sounded like somebody was slowly biting off a large chunk of an apple when his neck broke.

Harry and Hermione are finally together. I hope the betrothal-thing didn't seem too fast, but this blood-connection is meant to go quite deep, as you will see in the next chapter. Yes, at least one more chapter followed by an epilogue - then this story is finished.

Next up we will learn of some after-effects - I hope I will surprise some of you. :-)