Under The Midnight Sky

“I can’t believe he split us up like that.” Ron complained to Hermione. Harry rolled his eyes as he slowly followed the two. They had seemed to have forgotten as he fell behind. Harry was just thinking about how much they had changed when he was pulled into a nearby classroom. Ron and Hermione just kept walking not knowing that their friend had disappeared. Harry looked around in a panic before he caught sight of how pulled him into the room.
“Don’t do that. You scared me Draco.” Harry said relaxing.
“Sorry, but I wanted to talk to you.” Draco replied sitting in a nearby chair.
“What about?”
“Why did Uncle Sev change everyone’s seating arrangement? Usually he doesn’t do that unless it is a project.”
“I asked him to. That way we could talk in at least one class without having to keep it quiet.”
“That’s not half bad. Here is another idea. We develop a better friendship and let it be known. Save us the trouble.”
“We could but not right now.”
“Your call, I still say everyone has changed. Even your two so called friends did not realize you were not following them. Let me tell you this before you go. Be on your guard.” Draco said before he left the room. Harry stood there for a few minutes longer before heading out to his next class.

The rest of the day passed by uneventful, until dinner came about. Harry had been sneaking notes to Draco the whole day as they decided to help each other in their homework during the year. It was the perfect way to spend time together without everyone wondering why. Harry had stopped paying attention to the conversation going on around him but no one really noticed. He wanted to find a way to tell Dumbledore about his dreams but he still wasn’t listening to a word he said. Harry knew that even though it was just the first day of classes, he still had a bad feeling about the year. He glanced over to where Draco was sitting. He watched as Draco stood up and left the hall. Harry soon followed.
He wanted to ask Draco about one of the chapters in the book but hadn’t found the way to ask just yet. He followed Draco, trying to catch up with him, into the dungeons. He at first thought he was headed to the common room but was soon led to believe differently. He followed Draco all the way to Snape’s office. Draco entered the room and closed the door behind him. Unfortunately, the door did not close all the way. Harry hesitated; he did not want to interrupt them but was curious to know what they were talking about. He quietly edged closer to the door and listened in.
“Draco you should have knocked.” Snape said sounding angry.
“Well, you should have known to keep them hidden for just a while longer.” Draco replied. Harry was stunned, he pushed the door open just a little to peek inside. No one noticed to door opening a little. His mouth fell open when he saw not only Snape and Draco, but two other people as well. One looked about his age, if not younger, while the other looked to be in 7th year or graduated. For some reason, Harry felt as if he had seen the black haired girl before.
“No one comes in here after dinner, so they are safe.” Snape replied.
“You were lucky it was just me.” Draco said.
“I couldn’t leave them with your father and I haven’t heard from hers yet. It shouldn’t be too long.” Snape said.
“I for one am all ready to go back home.” The girl with black hair replied. Harry noticed that she didn’t look too happy to be there. It was then that Harry realized who she was. He had seen her with Draco in Diagon Alley.
“You do realize that this goes against everything her father wanted.” The red haired girl spoke up. The minute Harry saw her, he couldn’t stop staring. He felt as if he had seen her before. To him, she was mesmerizing. He began to grin as he watched her move around the room.
“I know that he didn’t want her here. It was an order not to bring her but how else was I going to watch her? Lucius could not keep her with him; the ministry has been searching his home every week. We were lucky that they didn’t find her.”
“So what if someone sees her?” Draco asked.
“It’s not as if she goes out in the sunlight.” Snape replied.
“But she could, couldn’t she?” Draco asked not sure.
“Not for very long. At least in direct sunlight.” The black haired girl replied.
“What do you mean?” Draco asked.
“Hyacintha is still young among our kind. She is not as sensitive as the adults. Normally, the young can stand sunlight, as they grow, they become more sensitive. Usually by the age of thirteen, the young become highly sensitive to direct sunlight. However, because of Hyacintha’s parents, she is able to enter into the sun for a brief time, but shade would be safer.” The red head said. Harry wanted a better look at the occupants, namely the red haired girl he was becoming attracted to. He slipped into the room a little more but still out of sight. He moved one inch when he froze in place. The girl called Hyacintha had looked up as if she was sniffing the air. Harry froze when she quickly hissed and looked his way. He was scared when he saw her fangs extend and her eyes change colors.
“Someone followed you.” Hyacintha said as she stood up from her seat. She slowly headed in Harry’s way. Harry noticed that she looked like she was hunting prey. He gulped as he stood rooted to his hiding place.
“Are you sure? Maybe it is the feel of one of the other students from before. After all, you are in a place full of wizards.” Draco said nervously.
“Don’t remind me!” Hyacintha said as she turned her attention to Draco. Harry used the distraction to move back towards the door. Just as he was about to make it, he felt someone land on his back and he crashed to the floor. He was just inches away from the door.
“Do I know you?” someone from behind him asked.
“I think I met you in Diagon Alley.” Harry replied. A pair of feet stepped in front of him. Harry looked up as best as he could. It was the redhead girl.
“What?” The girl asked. Harry was about to answer but was saved from Draco.
“Harry! Why were you following me?” Draco asked the minute he recognized who it was that intruded.
“I’m sorry. I just wanted to ask you something but I couldn’t catch up with you. When I saw you come in here, I was going to wait for you to come out.” Harry began.
“Your curiosity took hold, didn’t it Potter?” Snape smirked.
Harry turned red, “Yes.” He replied. “Can I get up now?”
“Let him up.” Snape said. Harry felt the person on his back hit him once before getting up.

Harry quickly stood up as he looked around the room. He didn’t know what else to say as all eyes were on him. Hyacintha’s eyes were still on him. The look in her eyes scared him and he took a step back. He wanted to leave the room but he was blocked by his redhead beauty. Harry shook his head at his last thought about the redhead.
“What do we do now?” Draco asked Snape.
“I do not know. No one in this school was supposed to see them.” Snape replied.
“I won’t tell anyone. It’s not as if anyone will listen anyway.” Harry said.
“Liar! Your kind never keeps a promise!” Hyacintha said stepping closer to Harry, her eyes burning with hatred.
The redhead moved so fast that Harry did not even see her leave. All he knew was, one minute the redhead was behind him, the next she was holding Hyacintha back. Draco pulled Harry over to Snape out of harms way. Harry was too scared to move and allowed himself to be moved.
“You trust Uncle Sev, and my father. Why can’t you see that you can trust us. Maybe not everyone, but there are some you can count on.” Draco said.
“I had no choice! My father trusted them I still don’t!” Hyacintha replied.
“Yet you have been listening to them.” The redhead said.
“Auaraya, let us take this to my courters and away from here where anyone could walk in again.” Snape said.
“Agreed, led the way and I will follow with Hyacintha.” The redhead replied. Harry smiled, he now had his beauty’s name.
Snape led the group quickly to his courters. He kept his eyes out for anyone wondering back down from dinner. Once he made it to the portrait, he gave the password and stepped aside to let the others in first. Draco entered first followed by Harry. Snape smirked when he saw Auaraya forcing Hyacintha through the door. She had her firmly by the arms and forcing her to walk with them. Hyacintha looked as if she was ready to kill. Snape knew that she had it in her and only hoped they could get her to calm down enough to talk. Snape followed behind the two and shut the door behind him.
Everyone was sitting around the living room. Harry and Draco were sitting in the two chairs as Auaraya sat beside of Hyacintha, still tightly in her grabs. Snape sat on the other side of Hyacintha helping to keep her in place. Everyone remind quiet as no one knew what to say. As minutes ticked by, it was Draco who finally broke the silence.
“You never told me why you were following me, Harry.” Draco said.
“I wanted to ask you about something I read in that book.” Harry replied.
“What book?” Auaraya asked.
“It was a book Draco let me borrow over the summer. I was reading it today but there was something that I couldn’t figure out.”
“I remember you now. You haven’t told or let anyone see it, have you?” Hyacintha asked finally calming down.
“No, I haven’t. I have kept my word just like you asked me.” Harry replied.
“Wait a minute. What are you talking about?” Auaraya asked looking lost.
“Remember the day Lucius and Severus were showing us around Diagon Alley?” Hyacintha said.
“Yes, I remember.”
“It was when we were coming out of one of the shops when he came across us.”
“Ah, I was in the shadows keeping an eye on things. I remember him now. I didn’t pay him much attention when it seemed as if Draco knew him. I kept an eye on the others.” Auaraya replied thoughtfully.
“You were the figure I saw? I say someone but could not make out the person.” Harry said.
“Yes.”
“So now everyone knows one another. I’m surprised Potter that you did not tell your friends all about that meeting.” Snape piped in.
“Well, we are not on the best speaking terms right now.” Harry replied.
“I see.” Was all Snape said. He glanced around at the teens before him. He needed a plan to keep the girls safe but he also knew that they were growing bored and restless. It was then he began to formulate a plan.
“Why do they not attend, Sir?” Harry questioned after the long silence. He did not see why they were kept from the school and not feel like a prisoner.
“He was not supposed to bring them here. If word got back, there will be trouble.” Draco replied.
“If you heard everything from before then you should already know why.” Snape added as he raised an eyebrow at Harry.
“I know that, it’s just that if you allowed them to enter the school as transfer students then you would still protect them but at the same time hide them among the students. Who are you hiding them from anyway, Voldemort?” Harry asked.
Draco snorted as Hyacintha rolled her eyes. Snape smirked and Auaraya started to laugh. Harry looked around in confusion. Not knowing what it was he said that made them all laugh. He thought they had all lost their minds. Auaraya was finally able to stop laughing but she could not stop grinning.
“Potter, there are some things that are far more darker than the Dark Lord.” Snape said.
“Like who?” Harry asked still not sure what they were getting at.
“My father.” Hyacintha said causally. Everyone but Harry winced as they pictured a very powerful and angry vampire.
“I am sure that it is safe here. There is no place that is safer.” Harry continued. He wanted them to feel comfortable at the school and not afraid.
“Yes there is.” Hyacintha said as she stood up and left the room. She headed down a small hall and went into one of the rooms. Auaraya frowned as she watched her friend leave.
“Potter, there is something you have to understand. Not everything is as it appears.” Snape said.
“Don’t say anymore.” Auaraya said giving both Draco and Snape a cold stare. Both winced but wisely did not say anymore on the subject. Auaraya stood up and headed for the same room as Hyacintha. Harry felt the tension in the room rise. Once Auaraya left, he quickly changed the subject.
“Anyway, Draco can I ask my question now?” Harry asked.
“I forgot about it. Ask away.” Draco replied glade for the subject change.
“I will remind you that it is getting late. When you have finished up here, you need to head back to your dormitories. In the mean time, I have a letter to write.” Snape said as he head off to his room.
Draco and Harry were left alone. The two boys looked at each other before laughing. It was ironic how last year they could not be trusted by themselves in each others’ company. It just showed how much had changed in the course of the summer.
“I still don’t see how that book is going to help me with the strange dreams.” Harry said.
“It will, keep reading. Now the question you had.”
“Yea, I wanted to know how can there be different breeds of vampires?”
“How far into the book are you?”
“I just about finished reading the first chapter.”
“All I’ll say is to keep reading. Everything in the book will explain itself. It’s late, we better get going.” Draco said as he stood up. The boys headed out the door quietly and snuck down the hall. They said their goodbyes and headed off to their own dorm rooms.

Severus had listened in to the boys’ conversation and smirked to himself when he heard them leave. If anyone would have ever told him that they would have become fast friends, Snape would have laughed in their faces. As it turned out, the boys would make great allies of one another. He left his door and headed for the small desk in his room. He began to write his letter to Lord Marquis explaining his position and reason for not following direct orders. He knew there would be trouble later but at least his charges were safe. When he finished the letter, he blew out the lamps before crawling into bed. He slept peacefully not knowing the trouble he had gotten himself into that would take place.