Blood Reign

Michael grabbed Jessica's arm, and with a thought, disappeared. Any wizard would have assumed he had apparated, but he knew this girl understood enough about Vampires. His form of travel could not be blocked by any spells. Any legal spells anyway. He appeared just outside of Dumbledore's office and, as usual, the man called him in without even looking. He nodded to Dumbledore and took a seat in one of the Headmaster's squashy armchairs, motioning for Jessica to do the same. Once they were seated, Michael spoke up.

"Headmaster, I know you were concerned about the well being of Miss Lupin earlier. It is indeed true that her mother has been murdered, and, though I have no idea why, I found her inside New Haven." As always, Dumbledore did not seem surprised, and Michael had to keep his growing irritation in check. With all that was going on, how did the man remain so cool all the time? Was he simply stupid and unable to understand the importance of every action taken, or was he more level headed then most?

Dumbledore stood, and looked through an ancient file cabinet. He pulled out a thick folder labeled, Lupin, Jessica.

"How do you have my files?" she asked, incredulous. The old man chuckled softly.

"Forgive me for not introducing myself; I am Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. As to your question, I had a feeling you might be joining us soon, and decided to get the paperwork out of the way ahead of time."

Paperwork? she thought, and Michael smirked, noticing that she had forgotten her grudge against him, and he could now read her mind, clear as a book. Obviously, Dumbledore had planned for her to stay with the rest of the bloody Order, and finish off her education at Hogwarts so he could keep an eye on her. When Michael had been changed into a Vampire, he'd done the same thing. They watched as the Headmaster scanned through her files.

"Lets see." he muttered. "Basics, Basics...You were born in Ireland, moved to Germany when you were eight, went to Muggle school in Berlin until you were eleven, you know all of this already...your disciplinary record...I don't even want to know...ah! Here we are! Your O.W.L. scores...

"Let's see," Dumbledore continued, "Potions, Outstanding- Not that your mother would have tolerated any less. History of Magic, Outstanding. Herbology, Poor. Oh well, I never had much of a green thumb my self, so that is not really important. Charms, Acceptable, Transfiguration, Exceeds expectations, hmm, that could be better, Astronomy, Acceptable, Ancient Runes, Outstanding, Divination, poor. Defense against the Dark Arts, Exceeds expectations." When he paused, Jessica sighed, a little sadly, and Dumbledore smiled gently to reassure her. "Have you given any thought to what type of career you want to work in, Miss Lupin?"

***

What was this old man getting at? Jessica thought. She concentrated hard on a speck on her clothes, waiting to find out just how exactly he was supposed to help her. To answer his question, she shrugged in a non- committal way, not wanting to corner herself into one single career. She'd learned long ago that, when in doubt, keep your mouth shut. Screw it! She told herself after a moment. She'd been in here ten minutes, and already she was tired of these guessing games.

"What are you proposing, Headmaster?" This was Michael's idea of a safe place to stay? Dumbledore smiled, but it didn't quite seem sincere.

"Miss Lupin, I was curious to know, seeing as you don't seem to have a home at the moment, if you would consider my offer on a secure place to stay, as well as admission to my school until you graduate. It's up to you, but I think that it would be the safest thing for you." Having heard the words spoken so bluntly, Jessica had to agree that she would probably be safer wherever this man suggested. She didn't after all, have a place to go, and trusting a Vampire was just another sign of how trapped she was.

Jessica nodded.

"If you have a place for me to stay, then why not?"

***

Alana Malfoy slammed her door shut, panicking. Not tonight, there was no way. Why tonight? Because she would not be her Father's pawn, that's bloody well why not!

She angrily pushed her white blond hair out of her face and began to pack a light weight bag with some essentials; she was getting out of here, now..

Dumbledore. She should go to Dumbledore, he would help her; after all, he had warned her that this day would come. She couldn't believe what her father was asking of her, that she joined the Dark Lord. Draco would do it; he was way too ambitious for his own good, but Draco didn't matter. She hadn't kept her silence this long for things to get so screwed up.

She snuck into Lucius' office, thanking whatever deity that was listening for this one in a million chance that her father was not in his office. She Flooed over to Knockturn Alley, deciding not to go to Dumbledore just yet. She sped out of the office fire place, to Diagon Alley, and into the grate at the Leaky Cauldron pub.

"Ah! Miss Mal-" Tom, the bar keeper, began to greet her, but she cut him off hurriedly.

"Don't say my name, Tom! Please, just listen; I need a room, for as long as I can get it, and no one must know I am here! I swear, I will explain everything to you, just later." After taking a look at the urgent look on the pale girl's face, the kind innkeeper nodded slightly, and, taking a key from a draw, led the small girl to a private room.

Once there, Alana let out a long breath she hadn't realized that she had been holding.

"Thank you so much, Tom." She gushed, removing her black cloak.

"What's going on?" he asked, the concern that he had for the kindest of the Malfoy's evident.

"My father wants me to join the Dar... You-Know-Who," She said quickly, averting her eyes, "I need to hide until I can figure out what to do." The man nodded understandingly, knowing instinctively that she wouldn't explain further, and, as he left, warned her to be careful. Once alone and behind a closed door, Alana lit a small candle, praying she wouldn't be found. Being a Malfoy meant service to the Dark Lord or death, it was that simple. She really didn't want to choose death at the moment, so she hurriedly worked on doing what Malfoy's did best; finding a loophole in the rules.