Chapter One – Grandmother Figg

Later, at dinner in the Great Hall, Dumbledore glided over and spoke in a low voice to Harry, Hermione, and Ron.  “Alias Swift has made me aware of the threat that this Lila Ivenova - this vampire, poses to you.  For your protection, I am allowing Alias to stay on the grounds tonight.  He and Hagrid will patrol the outside of the Castle, while Sirius and some of the teachers monitor the inside of the Castle.  Special attention will be given to Remus in the hospital wing, and to you in Gryffindor tower,” he said, eyeing Harry over his half-moon spectacles, “therefore, I submit to you that the safest place for all you is in the tower, not out and about trying to find a vampire. Do I make myself clear?” 

“Yes, sir” said Harry, who had truly never considered going out looking for Lila.  “Why should I?” he thought to himself, “Better to wait for her in the exact spot she hopes to find me.  

Hermione overheard his silent thought process and nodded.  “I agree - let Lila do all the foot work.  Let her find you.  We’ll be ready and waiting.”  

Dumbledore seem to have some inkling of the silent conversation that flashed between Harry and Hermione, for he smiled at them both, saying, “Good then, I see you’re prepared, but don’t try to handle her alone.  Remember, help will always be given at Hogwarts, to those who seek it.”  With that, Dumbledore drifted out of the Great Hall, and presumably to his office.

Back in the Common Room, Harry, Ron and Hermione tried without much success to work on their homework.  Harry found himself looking at the “Sirius” hand on his watch obsessively, fearing each time he looked that it would have spun to “mortal peril”.  To his immense relief, it continued to read “Hogwarts”.  

At length, the Common Room began to empty, Harry and Hermione moved from the table where they had been doing their homework to some chairs by the massive stone fireplace.  Harry had the photograph album Hagrid had given him of his parents.  He and Hermione were looking at pictures of Lily, comparing them to the photographs of Lila.  Eventually, like Remus, they were able to discern the subtle differences in the two faces.   “The resemblance is still remarkable, though” Harry said. 

“No doubt achieved with the aid of a wand…” said Hermione. 

Harry began stroking Hermione’s hair absentmindedly, thinking about his mother.  Ron took this as a cue to leave, and eased quietly upstairs to the boys’ dormitory.  Harry dozed off for a moment and the album slipped from his hand to the floor, waking him. 

“You dropped this…” said a small voice at his elbow.  He turned to see Morgan Tremastyn, a first-year, holding out his album. 

“Thanks,” he said, and as he reached for the album, her fingers brushed against his hand.  Just as before, it was as though she had received an electric shock. 

Words that meant nothing to her filled her brain.  Trance-like she repeated them out loud. 

“She’ll not trouble you tonight…”  Harry stared.  Morgan Tremastyn was behaving just like Professor Trelawney did the afternoon she made her second real prediction.

“What did you say?” asked Harry. 

Harry remembered the first time he had encountered her.  “It happened before didn’t it?  That thing with the hands.”  She nodded, becoming even more mortified.  “What did you see or hear, the first time you touched my hand.”  She looked fixedly at the floor.  “I’m not upset or anything” Harry said, “just curious.” 

She sighed and muttered under her breath, “a phoenix”.   

Harry smiled.  “You have a remarkable gift Morgan.” 

“Thank you.” she said shyly.  “Most people think it’s freakish; that’s why I never tell anyone.” She smiled, “But I’m glad that you know.  You of all people aren’t likely to judge…” 

Harry beamed at her.  “I take that as a compliment.  Now, off to bed with you.” 

She crossed to the stairs, but before she started up, she said, “It’s okay if you tell Hermione, but please don’t tell anyone else.  You won’t will you?” 

“I promise” said Harry.  Relieved to have shared her secret, Morgan climbed the stairs to bed.   

“She’ll not trouble you tonight…” Harry repeated to himself.  “I hope you’re right, Morgan.”  Hermione stirred in her sleep and lifted her head.  Harry told her about his brief encounters with Morgan.  She was fascinated.  They sat chatting before the fire ‘til well after midnight before deciding to go up to their rooms. 

They were climbing the stairs when they heard one of the dormitory doors open and the sound of running feet coming toward them.  In moments, the slender figure of Tara O’Rourke came bounding down the stairs nearly knocking them over.   “Watch it!” Harry called. 

Tara regained her balance and said breathlessly, “I was looking for you!  You’ve got to bring them back.” 

“Bring who back?” said Hermione warily. 

“Nicole and Lucy.” Tara replied. “They never came back to the Common Room tonight.” She looked from Hermione to Harry and rattled on, “I think they were planning to meet that Slytherin Prefect, Draco Malfoy somewhere in the Castle.  He promised Nicole and Lucy that he and his friends would show them a good time.” 

Hermione gasped.  “Why didn’t you tell us sooner?”

Tara looked like she might cry.  “I didn’t think they’d really do it, and then, I didn’t want to get them in trouble…” 

Harry shook his head.  “They’ll be in real trouble if Filch finds them before we do...”  Harry attempted to slide past Tara and to the boys dorm room for the Invisibility Cloak and the Marauder’s Map when Tara called, “Wait, there’s more…”

Harry paused and raised one eyebrow at Tara.  She looked away and said quietly, “Robert Ferris overheard them talking at dinner and he…..he said he was going to go after them, to try to stop them from making fools of themselves.  He hasn’t come back tonight either.”  Tara broke down completely and started to cry.  “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you before, I just kept hoping that somehow, it would all work itself out.” 

Hermione patted her arm gently.  “At least you’ve told us now.  Don’t worry, it may still work itself out.”  Tara hugged Hermione. 

“Can I do anything to help?” Tara asked uncertainly. 

“I think three Gryffindor students out of bed are enough for one night.” said Harry firmly. 

“Why don’t you try to get some sleep?’ said Hermione.  “Everything will be fine in the morning, you’ll see.”  Tara went reluctantly back to her room.  Harry dashed upstairs for the Map and the Cloak.  He returned to the Common Room and spread out the Marauder’s Map on a nearby table.  He tapped it lightly with his wand, and instantly, all of Hogwarts was laid out before them.

They scanned the Map in silent haste, looking anxiously for Robert, Lucy and Nicole.  Harry pointed suddenly to corridor near the Slytherin Common Room.   “There they are,” he hissed.

“and they’re not alone.”  Hermione moaned.  Robert, Nicole, and Lucy appeared to be hugging the wall at the edge of the corridor.  On one side, Slytherins fanned out around them, and lurking nearby on the other side was Mrs. Norris, Filches’ four-footed spy. 

“We’ve got to get them out of there…” Harry said urgently, “or Gryffindor stands to lose upwards of 150 points.” 

Hermione bit her lip, “What about what Dumbledore said?” 

Harry grinned.  “He said not to go looking for vampires, and we aren’t.  We’re just carrying out our duties as Prefects…”

“Okay then,” said Hermione, answering the call to duty, “what’s the plan?”

“Dunno” said Harry, “we’ll have to make it up as we go.”  She nodded and he pulled the Invisibility Cloak over them both.  Concentrating on the corridor near the trapped first years, they apparated together from the Common Room.

Harry and Hermione reappeared instantly in the corridor, but were unseen by those present because of the Invisibility Cloak.   From under the cloak, Hermione could see that Nicole had been crying and that Robert had a cut above one eye.  The Slytherins were advancing on them – ten or twelve perhaps. 

“Hermione,” Harry whispered, “you take care of Mrs. Norris and then lead them,” he jerked his thumb at Robert, Lucy, and Nicole, “back to the Common Room.  Here’s the Map.”  He handed her the Marauder’s Map. 

“What about you?’ she whispered back. 

He grinned.  “I’ll take care of this lot, then join you as soon as I can.”  She nodded.  Harry could see her working out her next moves.  She closed her eyes and concentrated hard for a moment.  With a “pop”, she assumed her falcon form.  Talons swept out from under the cloak and directly at Mrs. Norris who yowled in fright and began to run.  But the aged Mrs. Norris was no match for Talons.  Effortlessly, Talons caught the sinister cat, zooming around the corner and out of sight. 

Near the Charms corridor was a particularly large suit of armor with the helmet open a bit in front – an opening just large enough for a cat.  Talons dropped Mrs. Norris neatly into the suit of armor, then sped back to the stranded first-years.

The falcon flew silently in the dark and landed discreetly behind a statue of Boris the Bewildered.  She was just a few yards from Lucy and Nicole, but they hadn’t seen her at all.  With a “pop”, Talons became, Hermione Granger, Gryffindor Prefect.  Hermione drew out her wand and stepped boldly from behind the statue of Boris the Bewildered.   She was now in full view of the Slytherins.   “You three” she looked at the wayward first-years, “follow me now, quickly and silently.”  They broke from the wall and ran immediately to her side.  She turned to lead them away. 

“Not so fast,” came the drawling voice of Draco Malfoy.  “These three are my guests and the party isn’t over yet.  The guest of honor, Professor Snape, has yet to arrive!  He’ll be terribly disappointed if he doesn’t get to take a few hundred points from Gryffindor tonight.”  Hermione’s eyes narrowed to slits.  “So” Malfoy continued, “I’m afraid you’re not going anywhere.”  Crabbe, Goyle, and the other Slytherin’s laughed menacingly behind him.  

Hermione ignored him and turning to Robert said firmly, “We’re leaving now” They had barely taken three steps down the corridor, when Malfoy advanced toward them, wand drawn.  He was just about to send a hex whizzing at them when he stumbled hard over Harry’s outstretched, invisible leg.  Malfoy was still fighting for his balance when he received a sharp blow to his backside from what felt like the flat of a sword.

Harry’s sides ached with barely contained laughter.  While Malfoy had been occupied with Hermione, Harry had managed to ease a sword from a nearby suit of armor and hide it under the Cloak.  He had timed his movement perfectly.  Just as Malfoy started after Hermione, Harry had managed to trip him and then deliver a sharp blow to his arrogant backside.  While Malfoy was still stumbling, Harry thought quickly to Hermione, “Run!” 

She got the message made a mad dash down the corridor with the first-years pelting along behind.  “Get them!” Malfoy shouted from the floor.  Crabbe lurched forward. 

“I don’t think so…” said Harry to himself and with a sweeping kick, took Crabbe’s legs out from underneath him.  Crabbe yelled and hit the floor.  Goyle was looking confused and scared. 

“It’s Potter!” shouted Malfoy, “he must be here somewhere!”  At the mention of Harry’s name, some of the Slytherins (the smarter ones) retreated for their Common Room. 

Just as they had at the Shrieking Shack, Crabbe and Goyle waved their arms about in front of them feeling for Harry.  He avoided them easily.   Malfoy was growing frustrated and began to fire hexes in a sort of search-pattern around the room.  One ricocheted and hit Goyle, who had had enough.  He departed for the Slytherin Common Room with Crabbe at his heels.

Harry slipped up behind Malfoy and tapped him on the shoulder.  “Looking for me?” he hissed into one of Malfoy’s pale pointed ears.  Malfoy whirled, but before he could curse Harry, Harry raised his own wand and shouted “Expelliarmus!”  Malfoy’s wand soared into Harry’s outstretched hand.

Harry drew the Cloak aside with a flourish, then shoved Malfoy hard against the wall.   “You are getting away with nothing this year Malfoy, and I mean, NOTHING.” Harry said, fiercely.  He took a step back and twirled Malfoy’s wand through his fingers.  For a minute, Malfoy thought Harry was going to snap the wand in half, or maybe curse him.   Harry gave Malfoy a twisted half-smile – remembering something Malfoy had said to him the day of their first flying lesson.  “Think I’ll leave this somewhere for Malfoy to find…” Harry said with a bitter laugh.  In a flash, he drew the cloak over his head and apparated to McGonnagall’s office where he placed Malfoy’s wand neatly in the center of her desk.   

Harry concentrated hard on Hermione and felt the Cadeau Du Mer give off its now familiar warmth.  He appeared at her side with a little “pop”.  Only Hermione sensed his presence.  The others were unaware of the wizard walking invisibly at their side. 

They reached Gryffindor tower without further incident.  Just as they neared the portrait of the Fat Lady, Harry slid into a shadow, drew off the Invisibility Cloak and stuffed it into his robes.  He ran lightly up behind Hermione and said with a wink, “Been looking for you everywhere!  Everyone okay?”  Robert, Lucy and Nicole stared wide-eyed.  Now not one, but two Prefects knew they had been out of bounds. 

Harry ushered them all through the portrait hole and into the Common Room.  Hermione faced the first years with her hands on her hips, her voice stern.  She sounded vaguely like McGonnagal, “Nothing, absolutely nothing gives you the right to walk around school at night, especially these days.  In case you’ve all forgotten, Hogwarts is being visited by a vampire on a regular basis.”

“But Malfoy said…” Nicole began in an urgent tone. 

Hermione cut her off, “I don’t care what stupid story Malfoy told you to lure you out tonight.  Nothing justifies your behavior.  I thought you had more regard for Gryffindor than to risk having upwards of 150 points taken from your own House.”

Lucy gasped, “150 points?”

“That’s right Miss Steele,” said Harry, “The going rate for students out of bounds is 50 points a piece and detention.” 

Robert looked fixedly at the floor.  “Are you going to turn us in?” he said quietly.

Hermione looked at Harry, remembering a night in their first year when they had stood with before Professor McGonnagal in a similar predicament.  She thought silently to Harry, “They’ve had a good fright, let’s let them off…”  He smiled slightly and nodded.

Hermione turned back to the trio of dejected first years and said, “No, on one condition…”

They looked up sharply at her “never let yourselves be manipulated by Draco Malfoy again.”  Robert, Lucy, and Nicole were suddenly able to breathe again.  Hermione continued, “Understood?” 

They gave a mumbled “Yes” and Hermione found that she couldn’t keep from smiling at them.  It was only there for a second, but Lucy had seen it.  Unexpectedly, Lucy threw her arms around Hermione and whispered, “Thanks…” 

Hermione gave her a quick hug, then said briskly, “Now, off to bed with you….go on….off you trot.”

Harry stood watching Hermione.  Her hands were still on her hips, her dark robes flared out behind her.  Her cheeks were flushed with the sweet success of having once again, thwarted some plan of Malfoy’s.  Harry’s heart beat quickened.  Sometimes it was still hard to believe that this girl – this bold, quick-thinking girl with the devastating smile actually loved him. 

He sighed and checked his watch.  It was a little after 2:00 in the morning.  “Four hours to sunrise” he thought to himself, “Four more hours to spend wondering if Lila is about to make her move.”     Somehow, Harry didn’t think she would.  At some level, he was sure that Morgan Tremastyn’s prediction was legitimate.  It would probably be alright to just go to bed, but he wasn’t sleepy.  He gazed at Hermione, who had been reading his thoughts. 

“I’m not sleepy either” she whispered.  He raised his eyebrows at her and stretched out a hand to touch her cheek.  She shivered slightly and he folded her into his arms. 

“You make an exceptional Prefect” he whispered, smiling into her hair. 

“Not bad yourself, Potter.” she said, her eyes filled with mischief.  He kissed her lightly and was pleased to hear her moan softly.  The kiss swiftly became more urgent, more demanding.  He felt her lips part slightly and then he was lost in a world that was filled only with her – her scent, her taste, her touch.   Not surprisingly, the four hours until sunrise passed with amazing swiftness.   From a window in the Common Room, still tangled in each other’s arms, they watched a blazing sun streak the sky over the lake with yellow and gold. 

Chapter 32 – The Girl Who Could Fly

The next day, Hogwarts was nearly back to normal – as normal as it was possible for Hogwarts, anyway.  Students who were cringing and cowering at the thought of a vampire in the Castle just twenty-four hours earlier, were now boasting among themselves that she was gone for good.  “Yeah, she’ll never get back in again now, not with that Unspeakable hanging about” seemed to be a common sentiment.  But Harry wasn’t so sure. 

Admittedly, Alias Swift was impressive.  Harry, Ron and Hermione had breakfasted with him in the Great Hall and had found his “war stories” from years in Ministry service highly entertaining.  But, it was clear to all of them that Lila wouldn’t give up without a fight.

Ron was particularly intrigued by Alias and was still talking about him over lunch in the Great Hall.  He was just about to say how cool Alias was for perhaps the tenth time, when a tall Ravenclaw sixth-year leaned over their table, saying in a low voice.  “Party in the Prefect’s Bathroom tonight!” He winked at Harry, Ron, and Hermione, then breezed away, stopping every so often to whisper an invitation to other groups of students in the Great Hall.

“Awesome,” said Ron.  “I’ve always wanted to see that bathroom - ever since you took your egg for a bath” he grinned at Harry. 

“I don’t know….” Harry said slowly.  The thought of Lila lurking somewhere outside the Castle hadn’t exactly put him in a party mood. 

“C’mon mate,” Ron urged, “it’s just what you need to take your mind off things.  It’s not like you can do anything anyway!  Alias, Sirius and Dumbledore have it all sewn up.”  Ron turned to Hermione for support.  “You want to go don’t you?” 

In truth, she felt exactly as Harry did, preferring to be miles away from any party at which Cho might be present, but said with a shrug, “whatever Harry likes…”  Harry looked at her for a moment.  He knew instinctively that Hermione wasn’t keenly interested in going to the party, but he hated to disappoint Ron. 

“Alright” Harry said, “but let’s just put in an appearance, okay?” 

Ron’s face was split with a smile.  “You won’t regret it! I’m telling you – the perfect thing to take your mind off vampires.” 

Harry just shook his head and flashed a grin at Hermione.  He already knew the perfect way to take his mind off vampires….  Hermione couldn’t help but overhear his thought and blushed furiously.  She rolled her eyes and cuffed him on the shoulder. 

From the Ravenclaw table, Cho watched them in disgust.  But her eyes lit up when she saw Vor Namor approaching.  “Did you do it?” she asked him. 

He sighed, “Yes, I made sure I invited them to the party…”  Cho smiled.  Her plans had been carefully laid.  With any luck, tomorrow at lunch, Harry would be whispering in her ear instead of Hermione’s.

As so often happens when you are dreading something, time seemed to run at twice its normal speed.  Before Harry knew it, classes were over for the day.  His first week back at Hogwarts was drawing to a close.  And the sun would be setting soon.

Harry and Ron had finished Divination early.  After all, predicting your own death for the hundredth time wasn’t especially time-consuming.  And so, they left North tower and made their way to door of Hermione’s Arithmancy classroom.  Professor Vector was just drawing the lecture to a close when they arrived.  Hermione was delighted to see them, and used their appearance as an excuse to escape Seamus Finnegan, who was trying to lure her into studying with him. 

Harry swung her heavy book bag to one shoulder and stuck out his other arm playfully.  She looped her arm through his and they made their way to Gryffindor Tower to drop off their things and freshen up for dinner and the party.

Ron plowed through his dinner at top speed, anxious to get to the Prefect’s bathroom.  He knew that Fred and George were planning to let off a whole barrage of Fillibuster’s Wet-Start No-heat Fireworks – a sure way to inspire a Professor like McGonnagal or Snape to cut the party short, and Ron wanted to have a chance to enjoy himself thoroughly on the off chance that his brother’s antics caused the party to grind to an unexpected halt. 

As if on cue, Fred and George streaked past the Gryffindor table on their way out of the Great Hall, presumably to the fifth floor for the party.  Hermione was just getting to her feet when Fred bumped her slightly in his haste.  She lost her balance and leaned hard against the table.  A bit of pumpkin juice spilled on her robes.  She sighed.  “I’m going to have to go change this…” she said, looking down at her stained robe. 

Ron moaned. “You can hardly see it!  Let’s just go.”

But Hermione shook her head firmly.  “You go on, I’ll meet you there.” 

Harry eyed her and thought “Are you sure, ‘cause I’d rather wait for you…”

Hermione smiled and wiped at her robes impatiently, then thought to him, “No, really Harry, go on.  Ron’s dying to go and he’ll feel better with you there…” 

She said aloud, “I won’t be a moment.  See you there!” and dashed away to Gryffindor Tower to change. 

“Shall we?” said Ron happily.  Harry turned reluctantly and headed in the direction of the Prefects’ Bathroom.

As they reached the fifth floor landing, they could hear music thumping in the distance.  It grew louder as they approached the impressive oak door to the bath.  A large brass knocker with a head like a fish burbled “Password?” at them.

“Diggory” said Harry, pushing the door open.  It was crowded inside and music throbbed from a wireless in one corner. 

It looked like everyone from fifth-year and up had been invited.  Students stood in tight clusters around the huge marble bath.  A few brave couples were dancing on the diving board.  The gold taps that lined the bath were shooting jets of foamy bubbles into the rapidly filling tub.  On the wall was behind the tub was the painting of the mermaid Harry remembered from his previous visit during the tri-wizard tournament.  That night, she had been asleep, but tonight, she was flashing her fins and smiling.  She mouthed the words to the music on the wireless - it was Cochava Shachar, the newest magical singing sensation from Israel.  Harry and Ron eased to one side of the door looking around for Fred and George.

Cho had spotted Ron and Harry the instant they walked in.  She caught Vor’s eye and hissed. “They’re here.  Are you ready?” 

He shook his head, “Are you sure about this Cho?” 

“Of course,” she said smoothly, “it’s just a bit of harmless fun.  Now, where’s Vanessa?”  Vor eyed her across the room, and jerked his head towards the door.  Vanessa followed Vor’s gaze and registered the presence of Harry and Ron with a swift shake of the head. 

Cho walked to the edge of the tub and said with a small smile, “That should be full enough…”

Here and there students in bathing suits had begun diving and splashing into the tub.  Vanessa eased through the crowd until she was within a few feet of Harry and Ron.  She paused, seeming to waver in her commitment to carry out Cho’s plan.  “Go on!” Cho mouthed at her from across the tub. 

Meanwhile, Hermione had changed quickly and was nearing the Prefect’s bathroom.  She could hear the music thumping. 

Vanessa sighed, and went into reluctantly into action.  She took careful aim at Harry and then pretending to lose her balance, gave him a hard shove into the steamy water. 

Somehow, Harry had managed not to plunge completely under water.  He was standing, temporarily shocked and fully dressed in waist deep bathwater.  He raised his arms to shoulder height and looked in annoyance at the sopping wet sleeves of his robes.

“Diggory” Hermione said to the fish-head knocker and pushed the door open.  She slid inside and was taken aback to see Harry fully dressed, standing in what had now become chest deep water and foam.  “What happened to you?” she thought with a smile as he began wading toward her.

“Now” Cho hissed to Vor, who, although clearly unhappy, did as he was told. 

He faked a big grin and said loudly, “Your turn now Miss!” Cho squealed with laughter as Vor shoved her directly at Harry.  Instinctively, Harry caught her, just as she splashed into the pool. 

Cho laced her arms around his neck and smiled seductively at him.  “Thanks, Harry” she whispered, and leaned forward to kiss him. 

With reflexes born from hours of Quidditch training, Harry turned his head with remarkable swiftness.  Cho’s kiss landed in his tousled hair, far from the destination she’d intended.

“Cho!” Harry said sharply, forcibly pulling her hands from his neck and pinning them to her sides.  “That’s enough.” he said coldly, and turned to the edge of the tub, where he took Hermione’s outstretched hand and climbed, soapy and wet to her side.

Still standing in bathwater, Cho’s eyes blazed furiously.  “He must be enchanted.  He has to be!” she repeated to herself.   As Hermione helped Harry from the water, Cho distinctly heard Hermione mutter, “pathetic”.

Harry ran a hand through his hair.  “Sorry about that.” he said quietly to Hermione. 

“Not your fault, Harry.  She’s really quite pathetic.” 

He nodded.  “Let’s go okay? I want to get changed.”  Without waiting for Ron, and assuming that Hermione was right behind him, Harry took off for Gryffindor Tower, dripping as he went. 

Hermione had her hand on the door to follow, when Cho shouted from the tub.  “Pathetic? You think I’m pathetic! At least I don’t use magic to force people into relationships with me.”  Hermione froze.  Her eyes flashed and Ron saw her knuckles go white on the door knob.  Slowly, she turned to face Cho, who had scrambled from the tub and was stalking in her direction.  Cho continued in a too-loud sing-song type voice.  “What’s the matter, Granger?  Didn’t think we’d find out why the famous Harry Potter was suddenly willing to date an encyclopedia in a skirt when he could have had a real woman?”   Hermione could feel the blood beginning to pound in her ears.

The bathroom had gone deadly silent.  Cho and Hermione were facing each other, a few feet apart.  In a steely voice, Hermione said, “Harry had the chance to date you, and didn’t.  Since then, you’ve given him ample opportunities to “sample” whatever it is you think you have to offer, but he hasn’t taken you up on it, not once.  And he isn’t going to.  Not now, not ever.  If I were you Cho, I’d cut my losses and get out of the game.” 

There were red splotches on Cho’s cheeks and she shrieked, “You’re controlling him with that amulet you wear!  I know it!  Parvati Patil has seen you do it!  That’s why he never takes off the matching ring – because you won’t let him…”

Ron shook his head in disgust.  “You don’t know what you’re talking about Cho.”  Ron put a hand on Hermione’s back and whispered, “Let’s get out of here…” 

“What’s the matter, Granger can’t stand hearing the truth?  Why else would Potter go around with a bushy-haired freak who doesn’t even know which end of a broomstick is up?” 

Ron snorted, remembering Hermione’s unbelievable skill riding broomsticks at Paravel over the summer.  “Hermione could fly circles around you Cho!” He sneered at the sopping wet girl – the girl who happened to be Ravenclaw’s Seeker.

“You’re kidding,” came a drawling voice from the side of the tub, “This mudblood thinks she can out fly Cho Chang?  I’d like to see that!” Draco Malfoy spat, edging through the crowd to stand beside Cho.

“Don’t be stupid, Malfoy, of course she can” Ron said loudly. 

“Put your money where your mouth is, Weasely.” Malfoy called, “that is, if you have any…”

Hermione hissed at Ron, “What are you doing?’

Ron ignored her.  “What did you have in mind?” 

Malfoy fired back instantly, “They race, right now, through the Forbidden Forest, around the Quidditch Pitch and back…twice,” He leered at Hermione, then added, “On broomsticks of course…” 

“Done!” Ron shouted back, before thinking clearly about the task he had just laid out for Hermione. 

Hermione was dumbfounded.  How could Ron be so loyal and loveable, and simultaneously, so stupid?  She sighed.  There was no getting out of it now.  Her honor, Harry’s honor and, to a lesser extent, Gryffindor’s honor were at stake.  She walked from the bathroom into the hall, knowing what she had to do. 

Malfoy and Cho trailed after her, “Scared Granger?” he hissed. 

“You wish…” she said.  And she began to concentrate - to center her mind forcibly on the object she needed.  She closed her eyes.  Power seemed to emanate from her.   Her hair blew from her face and her robes flared behind her as though she had been hit by a gust of wind, but the corridor was still.  Cho and Malfoy, backed away, uncertain. 

Without opening her eyes, and without remembering to use her wand, Hermione cried ‘Accio Firebolt…”   Ron’s jaw dropped.

~~~

Cold, wet, and completely annoyed by all the funny looks he was getting, Harry had nearly reached the portrait hole, when it burst open suddenly.  Something zoomed out of the Common Room and hurtled past him, nearly knocking him over.  He gasped in shock.  It was his own Firebolt!  He wheeled on the spot, and sped after it… 

What he saw instead, was Harry, freefalling for a moment, then curling into a tight ball.  There was a flash of gold light and then, Harry was gone.  In his place, a sleek phoenix was streaking in the direction of the rogue Firebolt. 

Hermione heard the Firebolt coming before she saw it.  There was a slight buzzing in the air.  “There it is!” Ron pointed as the racing broom swept toward them from around a dark corner.  It came to a sudden stop in mid-air at Hermione’s side. 

She grasped it smoothly and slung it over her shoulder, Potter-style, and raising one eyebrow at Cho and Malfoy said, “I’ll be outside whenever you think you’re ready…”  Hermione strode past Cho and Malfoy, who were wearing identical stunned expressions, and through the gaggle of students who had spilled from the Prefect’s bathroom, hoping to see hair pulling on a grand scale.

Hermione had reached the Entrance Hall by the time Ron caught up to her.  He was breathing hard.  “Listen, I really wasn’t thinking too clearly back there.  You don’t have to do this you know…” 

“A bit late now isn’t it?” she said icily.  “Look!” she snapped.  “I just want to get this over with.” 

“Maybe I should go get Harry…”  Ron began

“No!” Hermione shouted, “not yet.  I’ll tell him about it afterwards, but not now.” 

Ron looked confused.  “This can’t be about Harry!” Hermione said sharply, “If he knows, if he’s present, everyone will think that Cho and I are dueling over him like some kind of prize.  That’s degrading.”  Ron goggled at her again.  She pressed her point, “This has to be about Cho and me. It has to be about what she implied.  I’ll race her just to settle the score, NOT to see who wins Harry.”

Ron nodded.  “Okay,” he said, “but…you will summon him if you need him, won’t you?” 

Hermione ruffled Ron’s mop of red hair and said in a voice lighter than she really felt, “Don’t be stupid.  Of course I will.”  Ron sighed in resignation, desperately wishing he had the power to summon Harry himself, in spite of Hermione’s orders to the contrary.

Ron and Hermione had reached the Quidditch Pitch just as the sun was flaming the tops of the trees in the Forbidden Forest.  A horrible realization struck them both….Lila was still out there somewhere and the sun was setting.   Ron pulled Hermione by one arm.  “We’re going back inside, now.” 

“Nothing doing, Ron,” said Hermione with an eerily calm smile.

“Look,” Ron said desperately trying to reason with her.  “Malfoy and Cho aren’t even here.  They’ve backed out….THEY’RE NOT COMING!” Ron was practically shouting at her as the sun dipped ever lower.  He was about to say more, when they heard a rush of wings.  A phoenix was sweeping over the grass toward them.

When it was within ten feet of them, there was a small flash of light and a “pop”.  Harry appeared instantly between them.  “What’s going on?” he said, looking at Hermione who was still holding the Firebolt.  She looked away as Ron gulped hard and started to explain.

Harry was dumbstruck as he listened to Ron’s account of what had happened.  Moreover, he was terrified for Hermione.  Harry cupped her face in his hands.  “You don’t have to do this.  You’ve got nothing to prove…”  His eyes were troubled.  But Hermione was resolved. 

“Like I told Ron, I just want to get this over with.  I’ll do this, and then she’ll leave us alone.”  Her voice fell to a whisper, “Please Harry, don’t try to stop me, and don’t be mad.” 

He shook his head in disbelief, “I’m not mad!  I’m just all to familiar with what’s in that Forest.” he said, pointing at the trees that were now harder to see in the dim light that lingered, even though the sun had set.

“How touching,” Malfoy said loudly from behind them.  “Potter’s come to watch his girlfriend get whipped soundly…” 

Harry whirled to face him and said with barely controlled rage.  “Don’t think for a moment that I don’t know who engineered this stupid match!” 

“Is that you talking Potter, or does Granger still have her hand up your back?” Malfoy sneered, making a deliberate reference to the rumor Padma had spread about Hermione controlling Harry’s every thought.

Harry made a fierce move toward Malfoy, but Ron grabbed him by one arm and held him back.  Cho arrived, wearing her blue quidditch robes and carrying an impressive new racing broom.  A small crowd of students followed in her wake, cheering her on.

Cho walked directly to Hermione, not looking at anyone else, not even Harry.  “Do you really think you stand a chance?” she said, looking at Hermione coldly. 

Hermione ignored her and said, “Through the Dark Forest and around the Quidditch Pitch…twice.  Are you ready?”  Hermione mounted the Firebolt and kicked off hard.  She soared up twenty-five feet or so into the air and hovering, shouted down to Cho, “Coming?” 

Cho sped up to meet her and as she did, Malfoy shouted “Go!”  They blurred out of sight, racing toward the forest at top speed. 

Cho had a slight head start because she had been in motion when Malfoy called “Go!” But Hermione quickly caught up, and they were shoulder to shoulder as the first line of trees in the dark forest whipped past.  They were flying just a little below tree-top height and Hermione was concentrating hard on avoiding branches in the fading light.  As they shot through a clearing, Hermione glanced briefly at Cho.  Her face was a mask of concentration.  The next second, Hermione felt Cho bump her shoulders, hard.  But the weeks of training at Paravel were paying off.  Hermione rocketed on, completely unfazed.

This seemed to madden Cho utterly.  Enraged, she put on a burst of speed, and was in danger of pulling in front, but had to slow down in order to make the first turn over the Quidditch Pitch.

Hermione laid herself flat out against the Firebolt and it responded beautifully.  She rounded the Quidditch Pitch at top speed, then soared back over the dark forest in the direction of the castle – Cho was right on her heels.

Harry and Ron squinted frantically into the semi-darkness, trying to pick out Hermione or Cho.  Harry’s magically modified eyes saw them first.  “There they are!” he shouted “Hermione’s out front!” 

“Go Hermione!” Ron roared as she streaked overhead, making a dizzying loop that brought her around sharply, perfectly positioned for her second trip through the forest.  There were gasps from even Cho’s entourage at this amazing bit of flying.  Cho made a similar turn, but not as neatly.  She swung wide, taking up too much time and giving Hermione a chance to lengthen her lead.

“No…way…she’s...gonna win” thought Cho angrily as she began gaining on Hermione.  As they approached the clearing in the forest for a second time, Hermione felt a sharp wrench at the back of her head.  She looked back.  Cho had actually taken both hands off her broomstick and seized a double handful of Hermione’s bushy hair.  Hermione yelped in pain.  Her eyes flashed and she felt a scorching heat course through her veins – even to the tips of her hair. 

Cho evidently felt it too, because Hermione heard her yell “Ouch!” and felt Cho’s hands drop back to her broom…

Cho was pulling level with Hermione now.  She swung sideways hard, intending to slam Hermione into an approaching tree.  Cho’s eyes were slits.  She saw Hermione through a veil of red rage.  What she didn’t see, however, was a tree limb in her own path.  With a resounding “thwack”, Cho hit the limb hard.  It scraped her neatly off her broom.  Hermione heard her scream as she plummeted the twenty-five feet to the ground.  Cho’s broom, now riderless, was spinning out of control, nearly unseating Hermione before disappearing into the Forest.

“Ha!” Hermione thought, and was about to speed away to victory (and Harry), when she realized that she couldn’t leave Cho stranded in the Forest, possibly hurt.  With a sigh, Hermione turned the Firebolt around and glided back to the place where Cho and her broomstick had parted company.

Hermione peered through branches to the forest floor, trying to make out Cho’s form, but it was nearly impossible to see anything in the growing darkness.  Drawing out her wand, Hermione whispered, “Lumos”.  There, in the flickering wandlight, was Cho, sitting on the ground, holding one ankle and rocking from side to side in pain. 

 Cho’s face was pale and streaked with dirt.  There was a cut on her bottom lip and a few scratches on her face and hands.  Hermione maneuvered the Firebolt carefully through the trees and landed beside Cho at the edge of the clearing.  “Are you hurt?” Hermione asked flatly.

“Here, let me see,” said Hermione, dropping to her knees beside a battered and bruised Cho.  The ankle was already swelling and Cho was unable even to stand, much less put any weight on it.  “I think I can fly you out of here on the Firebolt,” Hermione said, uncertainly.  She had flown double dozens of times, but that was always with Harry in control.  She wasn’t sure if she could manage the Firebolt and an injured passenger, but there didn’t seem to be any alternative. 

Hermione looped an arm under Cho’s shoulder and staggered, trying to pull Cho to her feet and on to the broom.  From across the clearing, Hermione heard the sound of twigs snapping underfoot.  Something, or someone was headed their way.  “C’mon Cho!” Hermione hissed urgently, “I’ve got to get you out of here...”

~~~~

Through the day she slept, and in her dreams, re-lived bits and pieces of her evening with Remus Lupin.  She had nearly gone too far.  She had nearly taken too much blood.  She needed him to survive, so that he could receive the Dark Gift.  She would be more careful next time, and she thought, she only needed access to him one more time.

As the sun slid below the horizon, she emerged from her temporary grave and began to walk the Forest.  She considered going directly to the castle, but decided to lay low.  She was not anxious to run into Alias Swift and she felt sure he would be hanging about somewhere.   Alias Swift had been a thorn in her side for months now, tracking her wherever she went.  He was forever peering at her from shadowy corners.    Once, in frustration, she had given up all pretence and approached him.  “Good evening, Alias” she hissed at him.  He stared at her levelly, but didn’t answer.  “Tired of following me yet?”  He shook his head and under the table, fumbled in his robes for his wand.  She saw the movement, and laughed. “Give up, Alias, you aren’t clever enough for this…” and vanished in a puff of smoke. 

Lila shook her head at the memory.  “No,” she decided firmly.  She wouldn’t go up to the castle.  She’d let them wait in dread for her return.  So she hunted the Forest.  A small deer provided the nourishment she needed, and a damp cave with a concealed entrance became her crypt. 

And so, as the sun set on Friday evening, Lila Ivenova rose and departed her makeshift crypt.  She was unaware of the race taking place on broomsticks over head.  She was unaware that in a crowd of onlookers at the edge of the Forest was her next target….Harry Potter.  She was only aware of her own hunger, the desperate need to feed on something or someone.  Lila made her way through the Forest, her keen senses sweeping the surroundings for any sign of prey.  At the edge of a dark clearing, she heard voices, the urgent whispering of human voices.  “C’mon Cho, I’ve got to get you out of here…”

~~~

The footfalls were nearer now and picking up speed.  Hermione felt the hair on the back of her neck stand up.  She turned slowly, wand drawn to face whatever was coming. 

Lila’s hunger was overwhelming her.  She sped faster and faster toward the figures in the clearing – towards their salty skin and frantically beating hearts. 

Hermione saw her face fleetingly for a moment before she attacked them.  “Lila!” Hermione thought desperately.  And with only seconds to spare before Lila hurled her to the ground, she uttered an incantation and raised her wand high overhead.  An enormous fiery form ripped from the end of Hermione’s wand and shot straight upward, unfurling itself above the trees, high overhead.  “Now, they'll find us…” was the last clear thought Hermione had before Lila sent her toppling backward over Cho and to the ground. 

The ring on Harry’s finger began to emit a piercing hum.  The glow from it washed over his face in a blue-green haze.  “Hermione!” Harry shouted to Ron.  “She’s in trouble! Get Dumbledore…”  Harry closed his eyes in concentration, and vanished.  Excited whispers broke out among the small group of students who had been watching the race.  Ignoring them, Ron broke into a run and headed in the direction of the Castle.  He hadn’t gone ten steps when a Ravenclaw girl screamed and, clapping a hand over her mouth, pointed at a huge bird of prey – composed entirely of flames, hovering over the Forbidden Forest.   Ron gasped.  It was the Mark of the Phoenix.

There was pandemonium.  Students yelled and pushed, desperate to get back to the Castle.  From his office, Dumbledore saw the Firebird erupt over the Forest.  He stood up so abruptly that he turned over his desk chair.

From their patrol on the far shore of the lake, Sirius and Alias saw the Mark.  Sirius’s blood turned to ice in his veins.  He couldn’t apparate to the Mark.  He was on the Hogwarts grounds.  He grabbed Alias roughly and shouted “C’mon! It’s Harry’s Mark…” Alias needed no further explanation.  The two of them bolted toward the Castle and the Firebird.

Lila’s abnormally white fingers closed, vice-like, over Hermione’s shoulders.  Hermione struggled, but was no match for the preternatural strength of a vampire.   Lila’s lips curled back in a snarl to reveal cruel fangs.  Desperate to get away, but determined not to leave Cho, Hermione concentrated hard on a spot in the clearing a few feet away.   Lila had just lunged at Hermione’s throat when she managed to apparate from her grasp with a small “pop”.   Lila roared in frustration as Hermione re-appeared a few feet away, strategically placing herself between Cho and Lila. 

Hermione was breathing in great gasps and her heart was pounding.  She had felt the Cadeau Du Mer warm around her neck and knew that Harry was coming…

There was a flash of gold light and Harry appeared in the space exactly between Hermione and Lila.  He had hardly gotten his feet on the ground, when he became aware of a rushing noise behind him.  Something or someone hit him hard, knocking him to his knees.  He could just make out Hermione’s face.  It was a picture of terror.  She screamed “No!”

Lila had recognized Harry immediately as he had arrived.  She wasted not a second, but lunged at him, knocking him to his knees.  Seizing him from behind, she pulled him tightly against her with arms that might as well have been made of steel.  Harry couldn’t move.

“Come to Mommy…” Lila hissed malevolently, baring her fangs.  Before Hermione could move, or even utter the first spell, Lila clamped down savagely on Harry’s throat. 

Hermione screamed as Harry grimaced in pain.  Hermione raised her wand, preparing to stun Lila, but Lila kept Harry in front of her, like a human shield.  Hermione couldn’t risk hitting Harry.  But she had to do something.  She concentrated her entire being on Harry.  “I’m going to summon you to me…” she thought fiercely to him.  She saw his head jerk slightly, his eyes opening wide.  They flashed hotly for a moment – weirdly iridescent.  Hermione closed her eyes, “Now!” she yelled and then cried, “Accio Harry!”

Lila stumbled forward, overbalanced against the weight of a victim that was suddenly, unbelievably no longer there.  Harry appeared instantly at Hermione’s side, but staggered slightly.  Even in the few seconds Lila had held him, she had drained a great deal of blood.  He felt light headed.  Shoulder to shoulder, Harry and Hermione raised their wands directly at Lila. 

Hermione could hear Harry’s voice in her head.  “Stun her!  Now!” and simultaneously they cried “Stupefy”.  Red and gold blasts issued from Harry and Hermione’s wands.  The force of their combined spells was tremendous.  Lila was hurled backwards into the air for some distance before collapsing into a heap on the ground. 

Harry walked unsteadily forward to her prone form.  She was face down.  He nudged her with one foot, rolling her onto her back.  Lila was unconscious, but Harry couldn’t be sure how long she would stay that way.  “She’s out cold,” Harry said hoarsely.  Just to be safe, Harry raised his wand again.  With a snap, cords bound and twisted themselves tightly around the limp form.

Blood was coursing down his neck and throat, soaking into his robes.  Hermione was at his side in an instant, using the light from her wand to examine the wound at his throat.  She mumbled an incantation, and the bleeding seemed to stop, the pain lessening.  “What did you do?” he asked, putting a hand to the jagged wound. 

“Nothing really, just something to hold you until we can get you to the hospital wing,” She said in a low voice. There were tears in her eyes.  She flung her arms tightly around him.  He held her close.  In an instant, Hermione had regained her composure, drawing the strength from Harry, and giving some in return.

“Cho?” Hermione called.  “You okay?”  Cho was still reeling with shock, and didn’t really answer.  Hermione crouched by her side.  “It’s over now, it’s all over.  You’re going to be fine. 

Cho looked from Hermione to Harry, and then covered her face in her hands.  “I’m so sorry…” she whispered.  Harry watched in awe as Hermione hugged Cho tightly. 

“It’s alright Cho, forget about it.  Forget any of this ever happened.” 

Harry heard a “pop” behind him and spun around to see Dumbledore - his wand was drawn, blue eyes flashing.  From the glow of the firebird overhead, Dumbledore quickly took in the scene.  Cho, sobbing on Hermione’s shoulder, Lila unconscious, bound and gagged, and Harry, covered in blood. 

He asked no questions.  The Forbidden Forest was no place for any sort of interview.  “Harry, Hermione”, he said sharply, “Are you strong enough to apparate?”  They nodded, “Then do so at once - back to the Castle.  I’ll take care of Miss Chang and that…” he said, pointing to the form of Lila Ivenova.  Hermione picked up Harry’s Firebolt where it had fallen, and with a guilty grin, handed it back to him.  “Yours, I believe…” He squeezed her tightly and they vanished together in a swirl of dry leaves.