Blood and Magic

Chapter Two: Vampires Are Real

Only two nights after that last phone-call with Hermione, Harry was forced to concede that she really did always know what she was talking about. He really should have put up the wards she had wanted him to as well. A vampire had come to visit him.

Harry was just finishing his evening chores-- putting the animals away and carving up dinner for the thestrals-- when he heard a rustling sound from outside. He felt the wards humming as something passed through. When he walked out of the barn, wiping pig's blood on a towel, he saw a tall, leggy woman strutting across the yard toward the house. As soon as she saw him, she angled herself toward the barn instead.

"Can I help you?" Harry asked uncertainly as the woman stopped only an arm's length away.

"You are the master of this house, yes?" the woman asked, a smile stretching her lips. Harry imagined he could just see fangs still safely hidden in her mouth. Why didn't he listen to Hermione more often?

"Yeah..."

"Then, you are a witch, are you not?" Harry's eyes narrowed and he lowered his arms so his wand could fall out of the holster on his forearm more easily. Even if he hadn't put up more wards, Harry had always made sure he could protect himself. The woman grinned wider at his reaction, and sharp fangs glinted at the corners of her mouth.

"So what if I am?" Harry asked tersely.

"I have been sent to by the Master of the City," the vampire woman cooed at him. She sidled closer and leaned down to whisper in his ear. At the same time, Harry jerked his wrist so the catch on the wand holster released and the wand was suddenly in his hand. "I am a gift to you."

Harry froze. "What?"

The woman leaned into him and all but rubbed herself against his front, making Harry horribly aware that she was very full-figured and, being taller than him, the 'full' part of that figure was at about nose level. She was also wearing a very tight, very skimpy leather dress, which, when she was a possible threat walking across his yard, hadn't seemed terribly important. Now, it was more of a problem.

Harry pulled back, out of the vampire's reach and stared at her. She looked somewhat startled that he'd moved away, but covered it quickly and tried to look more temptuous.

"What do you mean, you're a gift?" Harry asked sharply.

"My master sent me to gain your loyalty to her," the vampire said seductively, leaving no doubt as to how she would "gain" Harry's loyalty.

"No." Harry said simply.

"No?" the vampire's eyes widened in shock.

"I'm not going to be loyal to some vampire I don't know just because I can have sex with you," Harry shrugged. "So, my answer is no. Go away now."

Her mouth gaped in a silent 'oh.' Harry didn't think he could have gotten a better reaction from her if he'd hit her in the head with a rock. Unfortunately, she didn't seem inclined to leave yet. He'd have to take care of that before she became violent or something. So, without even waiting for the voluptuous vampire to collect herself, Harry flicked his wand at her and sent her flying off toward the edge of his property. Once she was over them, he activated the wards to keep all unwelcome guests out. Then, he went back into the barn so he could finish butchering the pig for the thestrals.

Who hadn't bothered to wait for him and dragged the carcass into the middle of the floor to tear apart themselves. Well, bugger.

- - -

The next day, Harry spent the time doing his chores, contemplating what the vampire woman had said. How had she known that he was a magic-user? Well, actually, she'd said "the master of the house", so really he had to wonder how she had known a magic-user lived in the area. Maybe Hermione was right. Maybe he did smell.

She'd also said she was sent by a master... the "master of the city"... what in the world was that? The wizarding world kept better track of "wizard vampires" than it did of muggle ones. About the only thing he knew about non-magical vampires was to use crosses and fire against them. Of course, magic in general worked against them just as well, but letting them know you even had magic was like hanging a sign around your neck saying "Eat me."

Harry had thought he'd done a good job hiding his magic here, but that vampire had still known-- worse, another vampire that was in charge of her had known. It was disturbing to think that no matter how well he hid, his magic could still somehow be sensed by people nowhere near him. Was it like the Trace? Or could muggle vampires really just... smell magic? Would living in a wizard community have hidden him better? Was that why wizards in general didn't know how muggle vampires singled magical people out?

Along with this, was the problem of wondering what exactly a vampire would want with his "loyalty." He hadn't been asked for by name, and the only thing about him mentioned was that he had magic. In fact, the vampire who visited him had called him a "witch," so that meant... they didn't know he was a wizard. They just wanted a magic-user. The only reason a vampire would want a "witch", so far as Harry could figure, was for food.

So, did that mean vampires were willing to trade sex for food? Harry had never heard of such a thing before. Vampires just attacked people and took their blood. But maybe this was how they were dealing with being "legal"? Instead of attacking people, they were bartering... uh... themselves?

Harry reached the end of that line of thought as he was washing the kitchen table for the third time that day. He decided to give up trying to distract himself and got his wand out to flick towards the yard. Let his spells do the chores for the day, he needed to go lie down and figure out what to do.

There was no way he was trading anything with a vampire, not blood and not... uh... sex. Right. No trading. Harry shook his head while he flopped backward on the couch in the sitting room. Start over.

No deals with vampires. There, that sounded good. Covered all the bases. Next... Harry blinked as he stared at the ceiling. The vampire that visited had been sent by another vampire that wanted a deal.

He needed to find out what a "master of the city" was. Before more vampires were "sent as gifts"... or something worse.

- - -

The best place to find vampires in St. Louis, according to the tourist guide books, was to head to the District, once known as the Riverfront. Harry spent about an hour before dusk simply walking up and down along the river trying to figure out which area that was. He probably would have found it more easily if he had taken a taxi or asked for directions, but Harry wanted to avoid connections to muggles who might become targets if the vampires' interest in him turned more violent.

He also may have been expecting the area to be neatly labeled. They had polite signs like that back in London, after all. Why not make certain there were adequate warnings for visitors? Something like "Vampires beyond this point" would be nice. At least then he would know if he was going in the right direction.

When twilight fell, Harry simply gave up and sent a light brush of magic out, trying to find where the most dark creatures in the city were. This ended up giving him the impression that the city was simply filled with dark creatures, but it seemed as though there were more cold dark creatures congregating in a certain part of the city, so that was the direction Harry headed. This eventually paid off as Harry turned from one run down street and walked into an area of neon lights and crowds.

Some of the venues along the street had posters of vampire movies, or catch-phrases from vampire novels. Tourists were wandering in groups and couples and whispering excitedly as they pointed out dark windows and bright signs. This had to be the right place. Harry set out as confidently as he could and looked about, wondering if what he needed would just pop up somewhere or if he would have to go inside one of the crowded businesses to find it.

After two blocks of hopeful glancing about, Harry sighed and gave into the inevitable. He approached a group of giggling tourists and politely asked them if they knew where he could find a vampire. This didn't get exactly the reaction he'd hoped. They all stared at him before blushing and giggling and peering at him, and Harry had been quite sure he would need to find someone else to ask, before they pointed him across the street, to a building with a garish pink neon sign.

Harry didn't really look at the building or the sign though, no, what caught his attention was the man standing in front of the building, watching over a line of people waiting to go inside. A vampire. At last.

After crossing the street, Harry marched right up to the vampire, an unfortunately large man with far more muscles than he could possibly use, Harry thought sourly. The vampire watched him come with a trace of amusement and the moment Harry stepped up to him, he said "End of the line," and pointed down the sidewalk.

Harry glanced at the people at the front of the line, some glaring at him for attempting to cut, and smiled apologetically. He turned back to the muscular vampire.

"No, you see, actually I'm looking for a vampire," Harry said pleasantly. This only garnered a smirk from the vampire and he again pointed down the sidewalk.

"Right. End of the line."

"No, I don't want in," Harry said exasperatedly. "I just want to talk to a vampire!"

The vampire snorted and jerked his thumb down the street. "Sure, but either way, I'm on the job right now. Another time, huh?" He grinned widely and Harry heard a few of the people in line gasp as his fangs glinted in the neon light.

"No, I really need to do this now-" Harry tried saying.

"Maybe you should go find somewhere else to go, then?" the vampire placed his hands on Harry's shoulders to start herding him down the stairs, away from the door.

"But I already found you, why would I need to go somewhere else?" Harry demanded as he brushed the large man's hands off him and stood his ground. The vampire blinked in startlement.

"I'm flattered, really, but I do have a job to do, and if you're that hard up, you can find someone available a few blocks down."

"What?" Harry gasped. "I-you- wait a moment! What do you think I want?"

"To be tasted by a vampire?" the man was smirking at him now, definitely amused by Harry's embarrassment, and giving the word 'tasted' an almost vulgar stress.

"What! No!" Harry shouted. He could feel his face turning red and was suddenly very aware of the people standing in line watching him. If the vampire thought that was what he wanted, did all of them think so too? Did those girls who pointed him here think that was what he wanted?

"Look!" he glared angrily at the vampire. "I need to speak to a vampire about the master of the city. Okay? Nothing weird!"

The vampire stared at Harry in open shock then, and he was reminded of the look the female vampire from last night had given him. He hadn't thought vampires were this easy to surprise. The wizard kind certainly weren't, so maybe it was just a muggle vampire thing.

"You some kinda reporter?" the vampire said as he flexed his muscles.

"What?" Harry asked, thrown off for a moment. "Why would I be a reporter? I just want the master of the city to leave me alone!" He glared. This was turning into more trouble than he'd thought it would be.

The vampire frowned as he studied Harry's face intently.

"Hold on a sec," was all the vampire told him before turning and going inside. Harry hoped he wasn't just running away. He hoped there wasn't more than one "master of the city" and he hadn't just drawn more attention to himself than he already had. As soon as this issue was cleared up, Harry would be placing a ward on his home for every magical creature under the sun and moon.

A minute or so later, the vampire came back out. "You can go in, Robert'll take you back," the vampire jerked his thumb at the door and took up his post again. Harry walked up the steps and entered, the angry cries of the crowd behind him fading once the door closed.

Inside the lighting was dim and the walls were covered with heavy cloth. A tall blond vampire, Robert probably, was waiting for him before a fall of cloth that swung. Harry supposed there must not be a wall behind that one.

"Are you wearing any crosses or holy items?" the vampire asked, tilting his head down to look Harry in the eyes. Harry blinked in confusion. That seemed like a mean thing to do, to search out vampires while wearing a cross. It wasn't as though he was a vampire hunter after all.

"No, I'm not terribly religious," Harry said frankly. The vampire blinked at him, as if surprised and then turned and led the way past the billowing cloth. Harry ducked through it and found himself in a larger room with empty tables and a long stage running through the room. Vampires and humans wandered around, lighting candles on the tables and arranging the bar. Many of them glanced his way while the tall vampire led him across the room to a hallway.

Halfway down, Harry was gestured into an office. The door closed softly behind him and Harry was left to look around a fairly boring room with a white couch, a white carpet, black walls and a black desk. Sitting behind the desk was another vampire, with a white shirt and black hair, he matched the room. He arrogantly gestured Harry to one of the black chairs in front of the desk and said "Please, sit."

Harry looked at the chairs dubiously but sat. He'd wanted to speak to a vampire after all.

"So, what business do you have with the Master that is so very urgent?" the vampire leaned back in his chair, propping his head on a raised hand.

"I want the master of the city to leave me alone," Harry said flatly. "Do you know how I can tell her that?"

The vampire blinked slowly at him. "And why do you believe the Master of the City is... after you?"

"A vampire came to my home last night, saying she was a gift from the master of the city. I told her to go away, but she never responded, so I'm not sure the message got through clearly."

The vampire's eyes were boring into him now and it was starting to make Harry uncomfortable. "What message would that be, monsieur?"

Harry glared at him and crossed his arms. "That I'm not trading sex for anything with vampires-- or anyone! I want to be left alone!"

The vampire regarded him silently for a moment before leaning forward. "This vampire who came to you, what was her name?"

"I don't know," Harry frowned. "She never introduced herself."

"But she told you she was a gift from the Master?"

"Yeah," Harry nodded. "Right before she started feeling me up." He shuddered just remembering that part. It had been half enticing and half terrifying and altogether creepy. "Look, I just want to make sure nothing like that happens again."

Across the desk, the vampire burst out laughing. Harry stared at him until his mirth settled somewhat and he looked up with glowing bright blue eyes. Harry was startled he hadn't noticed how blue the vampire's eyes were until just then.

The vampire smirked and those too blue eyes were partially hidden by drooping lashes. "May I ask where you live, Monsieur...?"

"No, you may not," Harry glared at him. "I have enough problems without adding more to them."

"May I guess then?" the vampire seemed to be purring his words. Harry was starting to get a bad feeling about coming here. Maybe it wasn't too late to move back to England?

"Why?" Harry asked suspiciously, leaning as far back as his seat allowed him.

"You live to the south and west of here, on a mountain, on a farm, in a forest." As he spoke, the vampire stood and began walking around the desk toward Harry. Instinct had Harry getting out of the chair to put it between them. The vampire stalked around it and headed for the couch while Harry moved to the other side of the chair. Watching the vampire settle down to lounge on the white couch, Harry realized he must look like an idiot, jumping around chairs to avoid someone moving to another seat.

"So what if I do?" Harry said defiantly, taking a stance beside the chair. "Why does that matter?"

"Why because, monsieur, it tells me who you are," the vampire was really making an effort to roll his voice. It was staring to bother Harry because, if he didn't know any better, he'd have thought the vampire was trying to sound seductive.

"It does?" Harry asked worriedly. The vampire leaned back on the couch, lifting a leg to lie along its length and stretching out on it.

"Why yes, you are the witch whom Theresa failed to woo last night," he stroked a hand down the outstretched leg as he said 'woo' and Harry's eyes followed its movement nervously. What in the world was going on? "Our Master was most disappointed with her."

"Your master..." Harry's eyes widened and a sick feeling started building in his stomach. He should have set up the new wards and then never set foot off the farm again. The vampire on the couch smiled languidly up at him as if he knew what Harry was thinking.

"After Theresa came back, I was ordered to seek you out to... make amends. How lovely that you have come to see me instead," the vampire's blue gaze drooped half-lidded again and his voice went lower. "I am most honored."

"You're not going to help me tell the master of the city to leave me alone, are you?" Harry asked tiredly. The vampire pouted. Actually pouted. Harry was getting a headache.

"I am afraid I already have my orders, monsieur."

"And what are those exactly?"

"To see to your every need, in order to ensure my Master has not offended you in any way."

Harry sat heavily in the chair next to him and held his head in his hands.

"Monsieur? Have I distressed you?" came the vampire's voice again, and Harry could tell now, it was seductive and suggestive and sultry and a whole lot of other s-words that Harry didn't want anyone directing at him.

"Yeah, you have," Harry said while his palms pressed into his eyes under his glasses. Maybe if he tried really hard, he could wake up and everything that happened will have been a dream brought on by Hermione's phone call. Then Harry could set up more wards and go on living as if nothing like this had ever, or could ever, happen to him.

A touch on Harry's thigh had his head jerking up with a surprised cry, while his glasses went flying off to a corner. The vampire was kneeling in front of him, a hand on his leg.

"What can I do to make up for it, monsieur?" the vampire asked lowly, his eyes focused on Harry's face.

Harry blinked. The vampire's face was all blurry... his glasses were gone. Damn. "You could start by getting away from me." Harry cocked his head in thought. That was a little rude. "Please."

The vampire moved away until his back was resting against the base of the couch and looked placidly up at Harry. "Anything you like, monsieur."

"Stop calling me that," Harry said in annoyance. "Did you happen to see which way my glasses went?"

"Over there," the vampire was looking toward a corner behind the desk. Harry got up to look for his glasses before the vampire had finished speaking. "I sadly know nothing else to call you-- no one knows your name, mon emeraude sorcier."

Harry jerked and paused in his search. That probably didn't mean what he thought it sounded like it meant. More importantly, the office was dimly lit and he was searching blind. Where were his glasses? After the fourth pass around the corner, feeling all along the carpet and behind the cabinet by the wall, the vampire called out to him again.

"Do you need help mon emeraude sorcier?"

Harry sat back on his heels and glanced back at him. "You know I have magic, right?"

The vampire gave him a blank stare. "Of course."

"Cock it then," Harry mumbled, turning back to the dark corner and holding his hand out. "Accio!" His glasses zoomed out from under the desk and smacked into his hand. He put them back on as he got up and returned to the chair. The vampire was staring at him from the floor, but Harry couldn't tell what he thought of that little display. Maybe it hadn't been such a good idea to use a spell in front of him. The vampires knew he had magic, yes, but they thought it was the hit-and-miss type of magic the occultist groups had. Controlled magic probably looked too impressive, no matter how simple the spell was.

Harry sat down awkwardly. The vampire continued to stare up at him from the floor. Eventually, Harry coughed and asked, "You going to stay on the floor or what?"

The vampire smiled before sweeping gracefully to his feet and falling lightly back onto the couch to cross his legs. Once he was suggestively arranged, he returned to staring at Harry.

Merlin's balls, he moves like a veela! Harry thought in shock. He didn't know vampires could do that, just look beautiful no matter what they were doing, for no particular reason. Or rather, wizard vampires probably couldn't do things like that. But muggle vampires could.... Maybe not having any magic of their own allowed the curse to bond better? Gave them more magic that way? Except most magical governments classified them as ambient magical creatures, the magic was part of their nature, not under their control.

"Uh, so, uh, who are you exactly?" Harry tried, still flabbergasted over the subtle display of magic. Maybe it was because he'd done magic, so the vampire was trying to keep things even? He'd better keep his spells to himself from now on.

"I am honored you would ask, mon emeraude sorcier," the vampire smiled widely, his eyelids fluttering a bit. Harry felt his face flushing and fought not to glance away. "I am called Jean-Claude," the vampire said as he bowed his head.

"Uh, right, I'm Harry," Harry said glumly. The vampire-- Jean-Cluade-- was definitely flirting with him, he could see that pretty easily now. He'd figured out the female vampire was offering him sex in about two seconds flat, but throw a male vampire into the equation and he was about as quick as Bubber-Tubber pus. "So stop calling me names, or whatever it is you're doing."

Jean-Claude laughed and Harry flinched as he felt the vampire's voice tickling his skin. Why hadn't he noticed this before? Was the vampire not using any magic until after Harry did, or had Harry just been that oblivious? He glared at the vampire uncomfortably.

"As you like Monsieur Harry," Jean-Claude smiled indulgently at him. Harry felt a shiver run down his spine. This had to be the most awkward conversation of his life-- including trying to ask Cho to the dance.

"Just 'Harry' please," Harry said while he rubbed his eyes again. What he wouldn't give to be somewhere else right now. But, he was already here, and if what Jean-Claude said was true, then Harry was right to think things needed straightening out.

"Very well, 'just Harry.'" Jean-Claude's voice made that sound somehow indecent and Harry suddenly wished he'd go back to calling him 'monsieur'. Who knew only using someone's name could make a person feel naked?

"Okay, look," Harry huffed, trying to shake off the uncomfortable feelings Jean-Claude's voice was giving him. He glared into the vampire's too blue eyes to force him to listen. "Just knock it off, okay! I just want to be left alone, so go tell your master or whoever to leave off!"

Jean-Claude blinked at him as if startled. Harry seemed to be doing that to every vampire he met but he was getting tired of it now. "Just stay away from me!" he yelled as he got up to leave the office. He should get back, wards took a long time to set up and attach to a large area, he needed to start sooner rather than later. Why hadn't he listened to Hermione?

"Wait! Monsieur-- Harry, please wait!" Jean-Claude was standing before the door before Harry had gotten more than three steps away from his chair. Were vampires really that fast? A worrying thought, considering how close he'd been letting them get to him.

"Why?" Harry asked sharply. He was feeling too angry now to worry about being polite, angry at himself mostly, for being stupid enough to come here.

"The Master of the City wishes your favor-" Jean-Claude said soothingly before Harry interrupted him.

"Why does she want that?"

"You are a witch, yes?"

"Yeah..." Harry hedged. He had a bad feeling he knew what they wanted and he wasn't interested in being someone's hors d'oeuvre.

"Yet you are not affiliated with any groups in St. Louis." This was said as a fact, no doubts about it. Maybe just being anti-social wasn't enough to avoid attention.

"I don't like being bothered," Harry said defiantly. "So what?"

Jean-Claude gave a small smile, as if he were explaining something to a particularly precocious child. "So, my Master would like you to affiliate yourself with her. Your power added to hers would ensure her place at the top of St. Louis' political structure."

Harry stared at him. They didn't want to eat him...?

"So... this 'master whatever' made that other vampire, what was her name-- Theresa... offer herself so that she could use me in some weird political game with vampires?" This might be a step up from being eaten, but it sounded all too horribly familiar to Harry.

"That is, how you say, the 'gist' of it." Jean-Claude was smirking again, leaning against the door with his arms crossed and... Harry couldn't quite believe it, but he was posing. So, they were back to flirting now? But why.... Oh no.

"Uh, why were you told to come to me, after I turned Theresa down?" Harry asked in dread.

"As I said, my Master wished to ensure you were not... offended by her previous offer," Jean-Claude's voice drew the syllables out in a way that made Harry think he was discussing something more intimate than they actually were. "Theresa told us you were not pleased with her advances, so my Master hoped you would find me more, appealing." His voice deepened as he leaned back on the door so his spine curved his body outward and his hands moved to his sides, allowing his shirt to gape open.

Harry felt his headache coming back full force and... oh dear Merlin, he couldn't stop staring at the vampire's chest! Jean-Claude's shirt was fluffy, lacy, white and didn't close all the way. Who wears a shirt that doesn't close? More importantly, why was Harry deciding that now was the best time to notice the pale view of Jean-Claude's chest between the folds of cloth? He really needed to get back home.

"Right, well," Harry said quickly. "Not offended, definitely not! So, no worries then, alright? Glad we straightened that out, I'll just be going now."

Jean-Claude didn't move away from the door, and Harry found himself rooted to the spot, staring at the ground so he wouldn't have to look up at the vampire's inappropriate clothing. He could just see, from under his lashes, that Jean-Claude was wearing skin-tight boots that went all the way up to his thighs. How on earth does he fit pants under those? Harry wondered dazedly. Isn't that uncomfortable?

"Ah, but 'just Harry'," Jean-Claude's voice floated around him and Harry flinched when he realized the vampire was actually walking toward him. "I am to make amends with you, as well as to secure the alliance our fair Theresa failed to gain. I do not think a simple 'chat' will suffice for that."

When a pale hand came into view, about to touch Harry's face, he lost it a bit and apparated behind the desk with a loud crack. He just barely managed not to collide with the large chair behind the desk as he whirled around to make sure Jean-Claude was where he'd left him. The vampire was staring at him with blatant shock, his arm still held out where Harry had once stood. Oh, bugger....

"Okay, now," Harry tried to gloss over his instantaneous movement across the room as best he could. "Why do you think someone would move out to the middle of nowhere?"

Jean-Claude was regarding him closely, his face no longer showing the shock he'd felt-- or the pleasant flirting. "To be alone, I suppose."

"That's right!" Harry said triumphantly. "I want to be alone, so, just leave me alone, okay?"

"Then why live so close to a city?" Jean-Claude asked blankly. "You live in a forest, true, but not a very large one. Surely someone of your power could make a home in a more isolated location?"

Harry stared at him for a moment, at a lose of what to say. Muggle-anythings didn't know about the wizarding world, of course, so the fact that Harry had chosen a location that was as far on all sides from the nearest truly magical communities wouldn't be obvious to them.

"Uh... it was cheaper?" Harry tried. Jean-Claude blinked as if he didn't know what to say now. Harry ran with it. "You know, just because I can do magic doesn't mean I can build a house by myself-" never mind the fact that he practically had when fixing the farm up "- and raising enough food for the th-horses-" Harry winced and continued quickly. "-is a lot of work! I couldn't really afford to do that if I wasn't near other people! Besides, being close to people means being close to food stores, and it isn't as though I grow everything I might want to eat at home! Visiting town once in a while can be nice too! There are food stores and book stores and the telephone company-- all perfectly useful!"

By the end of his impromptu defense, Harry was feeling pretty good about it. Those were all legitimate reasons to live in solitude, but not so far away that he was truly alone. He had even managed to avoid mentioning other wizards as his primary reason for moving here.

Jean-Claude blinked slowly again and Harry had the sudden thought that maybe he was in shock even if his face didn't show it. Could vampires go into shock?

"You 'grow' food for horses, not 'raise' food."

It took a moment for Harry to process what Jean-Claude was talking about. Once he figured it out, all the blood drained from his face. Oh bugger, had he really said that? He knew he'd stopped himself from saying 'thestrals' but had he really implied that he was feeding meat to horses?

Well, fuck.

Jean-Claude seemed to have regained his flirtatious mask and was watching Harry's nervousness with growing amusement. "So, you live close to a city for the phone lines?" he asked teasingly. Harry stared at him blankly before bringing a hand up to rub his eyes again. Jean-Claude started laughing once more.

- - -

A/N: I'm so glad people like this! So, since I had some time, I decided to put up the next chapter. They won't always be this quick though.

By now, everyone who reads AB has probably figured out I'm making things AU. What can I say? The early books were my favorite- things happened that didn't revolve around sex. Like people dying. That was so much more fun... and now, Harry gets to join in that fun! It'll be interesting to see him interact with Anita. I actually liked her during the early books, I wonder if Harry will too?