Dreaming Of You

Dreaming Of You

Part 16 - Once Upon A Dream

Chapter 26

You were heaven-sent to me,
But it wasn't meant to be.
Now you're just a dream.

Could we begin again
Once upon a dream?

"It isn't a question of whether I can make it," Severus said, meeting Remus's eyes with what Remus would have called pity, if he hadn't known that Severus Snape did not pity people. "It's a question of whether you think she would want me to."

And then Remus understood.

"You want to make her a vampire," he said slowly. His eyes moved to where Prissy's body had been. "But - the vampire who sired her is dead."

"I know," Severus said impassively. "That doesn't mean it can't be done - it just means it's more difficult." He looked down at Erin's body. "I don't think you have much time to decide, Lupin," he added. "There's only a window of about twenty minutes to turn a bitten victim into a vampire. I suggest you choose quickly - you or Lianne Black. You are the only two who might know what this girl would want."

Instinctively, Remus searched the crowd for Lianne. He spotted her, backing away from a knot of very upset wolves. "Li - " His voice was too rough. He coughed, and tried again. "Lianne!"

She turned, realized who was calling, and sprinted to Remus's side. "Is she ok?" Remus hated to kill the hope in Lianne's eyes, but he had no time to be gentle.

"No." At the word, Lianne made a sound like a sob going backwards down her throat. "But Severus says he might - he might be able to - "

"To make 'er a vampire," Miache finished impatiently. "And ze pair of you 'ave to decide if she'd vant zhat, or if she'd razzer be dead."

Lianne paled. "Can't you save her as a human?"

"No," Severus said, leaving no question.

Lianne turned to Remus pleadingly. "What do you think?"

Remus could only shake his head. "I don't know."

"Well, hurry up and figure it out," Severus told them impatiently. "I need time to make this potion, if you decide you want it. Or would you rather just condemn her to death by dithering around without deciding anything?"

Remus swallowed hard. "I - "

"I don't want her to die," Lianne interrupted, possibly not noticing he'd begun to speak. "Not like this."

"She's dead already," Remus said quietly. "Maybe it would be better to let her rest."

Lianne stared up at him, hurt. "You told her you love her. Hera told me you did. And you just want to let her go?"

"Better that than to bring her back to a life she hates," Remus said shortly.

"How could she hate it?" Lianne asked softly. "She'd have you."

Remus drew away. "She doesn't want me. Even if she thinks she does, in ten years she'll have changed her mind. And she'll be stuck here, as a vampire. She doesn't belong here, Lianne. She belongs back in America."

"She can't get back to America!" Lianne protested. "We tried, and it didn't work."

"That's the point I'm trying to make," Remus said. "There is nothing for her here, Li. Would you want to live in a place where everything you know is gone?"

"In case you've forgotten," Lianne said icily, "I did. My world disappeared, the same as Erin's has. I didn't have anywhere to go except to England, but you, Sirius, and your friends gave me a new world and another chance at life. If you could do that for a girl you'd never met, why can't you do the same for the girl you love?"

"This is entirely different!" Remus snapped. "You don't know what it's like being a Dark creature. I wouldn't wish that on anyone."
"You don't, either," Lianne said. "At least, you don't know about being a vampire." She turned to Miache. "Is it dreadful?"

Miache shrugged. "I 'ave never been anyzhing but a vampire, so I might not be ze one to ask. But I vould say, no, it is not particularly dreadful." She smiled, her fangs bared. "For some reason, vampires are not snubbed, as ozzer Dark creatures are."

"Because everyone hates you," Remus said bluntly. "And they're scared of you. No one dares be rude to a vampire."

Miache raised an eyebrow. "You're managing nicely," she commented.

"If you plan on making a decision in time to have any effect," Severus spoke up, "you might want to do so within the next sixty seconds. After that, I won't be able to make the potion quickly enough."

Remus looked at Lianne soberly. "If it were you," he said, "what would you want her to say?"

Lianne's gaze fell to Erin's body. She considered silently for five heartbeats. Then she met Remus's eyes again. "Bring her back."

Remus blinked in surprise. "You really think so? I mean, really?"

Lianne nodded. "If it were me, I'd rather be a vampire than dead. Would you rather be dead than be a werewolf?"

Remus thought about it - the transformations, the Wolfsbane, the disgust he met everywhere. Then he thought about death, and suicide, and murder. He remembered Lane, who had hated what his people stood for, and Priscilla, who was everything a vampire was expected to be. And he thought of Alacra, and when he'd learned of her death as he was brought to the vampire's stronghold.

"Lupin." Severus actually sounded like he was trying to be gentle - probably a first for him. "Do I make the potion or don't I?"

Remus closed his eyes. "I can't - we can't let her die." He sighed. "Make the potion."

"Good. Look at me, then, because I'll need your help."

Remus opened his eyes, confused. "Is it difficult? You know I'm hopeless at - "

"Not with the brewing." Severus unhooked a black bag from the side of his robes, where it had blended with the material of his clothing, and he removed a knife and a medium sized phial. "I need blood. Fill this."

Remus started to protest, then changed his mind. "How much does this hold?" he said instead, taking the tools.

"More than it looks like," Severus told him grimly. "I hope you're committed to this girl, Lupin, because you're going to be giving her a lot more of yourself than you planned."

~*~

Miache watched with interest as Severus took from his bag another phial about twice as big as the one the wolf had, and then a series of powders. "Do you alvays carry potion ingredients to revive ze dead?"

"Only when called on emergency visits to vampire battle grounds," Severus snapped. "Be quiet and let me work."

Surprisingly, Miache did so. She moved to gather Priscilla's ashes, but -

"Don't touch those!" Severus raised his head with a violent glare. She shrugged and drew away again.

The wolf was busy bleeding into his phial, and Lianne was attempting to help him, which he didn't need, and not to be sick on him, which he really didn't need. The situation was under control, from what Miache could see, but she didn't like leaving the group of humans.

Miache didn't often feel guilt, even when she admitted she was at fault, but she felt guilty at that moment. She hadn't even suspected that Priscilla was anything other than what she appeared to be. Of course, the princess - she didn't deserve the title "queen" - had also been a Phoenix, but that didn't change the fact that Miache should have at least noticed.

If she had, the Connor girl might still be human. Not that Miache disliked being a vampire, but she had known many mortal-born vampires who hadn't been able to cope with the switch. It had been too traumatic, and they had hated their new existence too much.

Of course, she - or others like her - had dealt with those vampires. It had been a mercy to the poor creatures. So if the Connor girl ended up too affected by the transformation... Well, it couldn't be reversed. But she could be dealt with, too.

~*~

"How much do you need to bleed?" Lianne deliberately stared at Remus's face, his hair, his feet - anywhere but the arm with the cut bleeding away into the phial. "That's got to be more than enough to fill that thing up."

"You heard Severus," Remus reminded her. "It's magical." He glanced down, grimaced, and looked away again. "You're right, though - it's a lot."

"Remus?" Lianne hesitated. "Can I ask you something?"

"About why I changed my mind?" He smiled bitterly. "I'd rather you didn't, if you don't mind. Let's say I love her, and leave it at that."

"Well, I'm glad you've admitted that, then." Lianne looked down at her hands. "She was really miserable, you know. When she thought you didn't love her."

Remus nodded. "I know." He was starting to look pale - not because of their conversation, Lianne realized, but because of the blood he was losing.

"Are you sure you're not giving too much blood?" she asked, concerned. "You don't look too good."

That got Snape's attention. He looked up from mixing tiny white flower petals into the concoction in the other phial, glaring intently at the container attached to Remus's arm. "He's nearly done," Snape pronounced. "Stop worrying about him."

"So it's ok to lose that much blood?" Lianne asked in surprise.

"I don't know." Snape shrugged indifferently. "That's how much she needs. Hopefully it won't take Lupin out in the process."

Remus cut off Lianne's yelp of horror. "Done." He set the phial, now glimmering with liquid red, beside Snape. That delivered, he sat down heavily, far enough away from the potion in progress that he shouldn't disturb it. Lianne offered him a section she'd managed to tear from the bottom of her robes, to staunch the bleeding.

Snape, concentrating all his attention on the potion, poured about half of Remus's donation of blood into the larger phial containing the powdered ingredients. He stirred it with looked like a stick of incense. Yes, it was a stick of incense. Snape lit it, releasing the scent of sandalwood into the room.

Then he reached over and took a pinch of Prissy's ashes.

"Vhat are you doing?" Xavier's screech would have been amusingly feminine if it hadn't been for the murderous look in his eyes. "Don't touch 'er!"

The vampire prince dove for Snape, but Miache blocked him. "Leave 'im alone," she said coldly.

"'E is defiling my sister's remains!" Xavier howled, struggling to get at Snape, who, trusting Miache, was going calmly on with his brewing.

"'E's doing vhat 'e must in order to lessen ze evil she did," Miache snapped. "A victim 'as to drink some of 'er sire's blood to become a vampire, doesn't she?"

"Zhat's not blood," Xavier snapped. "Zhose are Prizzilla's ashes, and I von't 'ave zhem used like zhat."

"No?" Miache raised her eyebrows. "You'll 'ave to get past me to stop it."

Xavier stopped moving to consider - and lunged, hoping to catch Miache with her guard down.

He failed abysmally. Miache's fist met Xavier's face with the resounding crack of knuckle connecting with cheekbone, and he fell backwards. The Lady Phoenix conveniently arranged to have her foot right next to his head as he hit the ground, and a well-placed kick ensured that he wouldn't interfere with the potion again.

"That was... impressive," Lianne said uneasily.

"Zhat's vun vord for it," Miache agreed, rubbing her hand. "I might 'ave reconsidered if I'd remembered zhat 'e is so 'ard'eaded."

"The potion's ready."

Snape's words ended the awkward, silence-filling conversation. Miache and Lianne turned to the Potions master, as if drawn by magnets. He held the larger phial, which now contained the rest of the blood Remus had given, as well as some of Prissy's ashes.

With no ceremony, his manner capable but distant, Snape raised Erin's head and poured the potion between her lips. Lianne shuddered, but she didn't look away. She felt she owed it to Erin to see this through.

It took the better part of a minute to get whole the potion down Erin's throat. Lianne suspected Remus didn't breathe the entire time. She knew she didn't.

"Well?" Remus asked, as soon as the potion was gone. "Now what happens?"

"Now?" Snape began gathering his potion-making supplies. "Now we wait to see if it worked. What did you expect?"

~*~

Remus and Lianne reached an unspoken agreement that someone should keep watch over Erin until she woke. Despite his cryptic words, Snape was sure of his potion's success, and predicted that it would take effect any time between one hour and six.

In fact, it was four hours later when something happened. Lianne was consulting Dumbledore on the Glacialispeculum, so Remus was sitting with Erin in the room where Lianne and Erin had originally been meant to stay.

Her head moved.

Remus immediately stopped all motion, even breathing, as he watched Erin for some other sign.

She groaned.

He bit his lip, wondering whether to urge her awake. Snape hadn't said anything beyond "let her rest." Did that still apply if she was nearly awake?

The problem was solved for him. Erin opened her eyes. She spotted him immediately, since he was sitting directly next to her, and still dazed from sleep, she smiled wholeheartedly to see him there. Remus, seeing the fangs in her mouth, couldn't bring himself to smile back.

She noticed this, of course. "Remus? Why - " She stopped, gasping in unexpected pain, as the fangs got in the way of her mouth. "What - " The fangs bit into her lip again, and she had to stop, bewilderment plain on her face.

"Don't use any 'w' words," Remus advised her. "Or, if you must, pronounce them as v's. It makes speaking easier."

Erin opened her mouth - paused - and said, "Vhy? Vhat happened?" She shook her head slightly, to clear it. "Prissy - is she - "

"She's dead, Erin," Remus said gently. "Lane killed her. I'm sorry."

"Oh." Erin shuddered a little. "I trusted her."

Remus nodded. "I know. It's hard when someone you care for betrays you."

"She said - " Erin stopped, a stunned expression crossing her face as she began to remember exactly what had happened before she lost consciousness. Remus thought that he should probably look away - her face was so open in that moment, her thoughts and feelings so exposed - but he couldn't bring himself to do it. He needed to see her reaction to this - to see if his final decision had been a blessing or a curse.

Erin didn't say anything, but she reached up to touch her neck. The wounds where Prissy's teeth had penetrated were still there. Then she felt her teeth - the ones that were now sharp fangs. She raised her eyes to meet Remus's.

"I'm a vampire..." It wasn't a statement, but it wasn't a question. It was, if anything, a plea for him to deny it and tell her it wasn't true.

Remus dropped his gaze. "I'm sorry. I tried to help you."

"I know. I remember. You - " Erin stopped short. Remus looked up again to see why. She was staring at him with wonder. "You said you love me."

"Yes." Remus shifted uncomfortably in his chair. "I didn't realize it until I thought the wolves were going to kill me." He took a deep breath, steeling himself for what had to come next. "But I don't know if you should be too happy about it."

A frown creased Erin's face. "Not happy? Wh- " She winced. "Vhy not?"

"Erin, I have to confess something. I haven't been completely honest with you." Remus wanted to reach out to touch her hand, but stopped himself. "You see, the reason I was sent to talk to the wolves wasn't just because I'm a part of the Circle. I'm only part of the outer Circle, really, not that group you met. They sent me because I'm a werewolf."

There was a brief silence.

"Yes?" Erin prompted finally. "And?"

Remus looked up sharply. "What do you mean, and?" he demanded. "Aren't you shocked and horrified?"

"Vell..." Erin thought a moment, "considering that you've also just told me that I'm now a vampire... no, not really. I already knew that you're a w- a verewo- " She grimaced. "Anyhow, I know already."

Remus stared. "Lianne - "

"No, she didn't have to tell me," Erin cut him off. "I... I guessed. I've known for a vhile."

"And it doesn't bother you?" Remus asked incredulously.

"It bothers me a lot more that I'm now a vampire," Erin said. "How did that happen, if Prissy got killed? Doesn't it take the blood of the sire?"

Remus hesitated. "Well... yes. But Severus made a potion for you, using Priscilla's ashes."

Erin's face twisted in disgust. "I drank something with Prissy's ashes in it? Yuck!"

"Well, it brought you back." Remus shrugged, watching her apprehensively. This was it - now she would either be pleased or angry. Now she'd decide for herself if being a vampire was better than dying.

"I guess it did." Erin smiled weakly. "Thanks, then."

"Thanks? You're glad we brought you back?"

"As opposed to letting me die?" Erin stared at him blankly. "Of course I'm glad."

"But you're a vampire," Remus reminded her.

"Yes, I noticed that already," Erin said, giving him a withering look. "Better than being dead, isn't it?"

"Is it?" Remus nodded slightly, to himself. For now, at least, she thought they'd made the right choice. But of course, he wouldn't have expected her to be angry about it till later.

"Remus, what's going on?" Lianne, hearing voices, entered the room. Her face lit up. "Erin! You're ok!"

Erin smiled. "Looks like it." The smile faded. "Except for the vampire part."

"Are you upset about it?" Lianne shook her head. "What am I talking about? Of course you're upset. Will you be all right?"

Erin nodded. "I think so. Though I'm still a little sick about drinking stuff with Prissy's ashes in it."

Lianne frowned. "The part about Remus's blood doesn't bother you, then?"

"Vhat?" Erin blinked.

Remus glared at her. "Li!"

Lianne winced. "Oops. You hadn't told her yet?"

"I wasn't going to, either," Remus said.

"Tell me vhat?" Erin said, louder. She did not look happy. "I drank your blood?"

Remus sighed in resignation. "Thank you so much, Li. Why don't you stay and tell her even more upsetting things before she's been awake an hour?"

"Sorry..." Lianne ducked back out hastily. A muffled argument about whether or not Lianne had unduly distressed Erin could be heard faintly through the door.

"Vhen did I drink your blood?" Erin asked, not noticing Lianne's exit as she started to panic. "I don't remember! Did I hurt you?"

"No," Remus said soothingly, mentally cursing Lianne for making him tell this. "Calm down, Erin - come on, calm. I'm all right, it's you I'm worried about."

"But your blood!" Erin reached out and pulled his collar away from his neck. "You don't have teeth marks - "

"You didn't bite me!" Remus interrupted, quickly readjusting the collar of his shirt. One of the vampire men had given it to him, since it was too cold underground to dress as the wolves did.

"Then vhat happened?" Erin asked, nervously twisting the top of the bed sheet.

"It was the potion Severus made for you," Remus said quietly. "It required blood, and I gave mine."

Erin looked down at her hands, which were paler than they had been before she'd been changed. "How much blood?"

"Well..." Remus hesitated. "Quite a lot, actually. I'm not sure exactly how much. Enough to bring you back."

"Your blood is in my veins."

"That's one way to look at it," Remus admitted, getting worried. "It bothers you?"

Erin traced the lines on the palm of her left hand. "Does that mean I belong to you?"

"Er." Remus hadn't been prepared for that. "No, not really. No."

"But you saved my life." Erin looked up at him. "Thank you. I'm glad you're the one who did this. I don't think I'd like it if it vere somevun else, but since it's you - it's ok."

"Oh." Remus swallowed hard. He wasn't sure he was prepared for this conversation. "That's very flattering, Erin, but I'm sure Lianne - "

"Don't change the subject." Erin smiled a little. "Look, Remus, even though I've never actually said this, I think you know already. But I'm going to tell you anyvay. I love you. And considering that letter experience, I think I can actually say that I did love you before I ever met you."

Remus was startled to find that he could still laugh, if unsteadily. "One for the love ballads," he said. Then he sobered. "You really don't mind that I'm a werewolf?"

"If you don't mind that I'm a vampire." Erin reached up to finger the marks on her neck again.

Remus reached out and pulled her hand away. "Don't do that," he said quietly. "Erin, you know that it won't be easy, right? Being a Dark creature. There will probably come a time when you'll wish we'd let you die."

"Then vhy didn't you?" Erin asked. "If you think I'd rather be dead?"

Remus looked at his hand, still holding hers, while he considered his answer. It had been one thing to tell Lianne he didn't want to explain. She didn't need to understand his reasons. But it was Erin's right to know, if she wanted him to tell her. And he wanted to get this right.

"Because," he said finally. "There's been death today - a lot of stupid, pointless death. And if I could bring any of them back - Lane, Alacra, the vampire queen, or any of the others who died in the battles outside the council room - I'd want to do it. Even though they'd be vampires, or werewolves. They could all feel things just as deeply as humans do. They were all still people, Dark or not. And then, something Lianne said made me think - if I'd do it for them, shouldn't I be able to do it for you?"

He hung his head, suddenly ashamed. "Maybe I did the wrong thing. I don't know. I hope you never think so, though you probably will. I just knew, overwhelmingly, that I wanted you with me. I wanted to know that you will be in this world for at least a little longer. I admit it - I was selfish. I tried to be noble and self-sacrificing, but at the last second I couldn't manage. Erin, I need you with me. Can you forgive me for acting on that?"

"Remus." Her voice was warm, though trembling, but he didn't dare look at her face. Not yet. "Of course I forgive you - no - there's nothing to forgive. I love you. It feels so good to be able to tell you at last. I'm glad you vanted me here with you - I'm terribly happy about it - and I'd much rather be alive than dead. I'd rather be undead than dead. Especially now that I know that you - how you feel."

Remus met her eyes, calmed for the moment. She smiled shakily. "That's supposed to be your cue," she hinted shyly.

He frowned. "For what?"

"Er..." Erin blushed a little. "I vas actually hoping you'd kiss me. You don't have to, really, but I thought the timing might be right. I'd try to kiss you, but... I'm kind of not up to pouncing yet."

Remus couldn't help smiling. "If that's what you want." She nodded. "All right, then."

Feeling a little embarrassed, and not at all sure how to go about kissing a girl who couldn't do much more than lie on her back, Remus got out of his chair and sat beside her on the bed. After some consideration, he lifted her to a sitting position, supporting her against her pillows with his arm.

"Comfortable?" he asked, inwardly wincing at how awkward he must sound.

But Erin smiled contentedly, leaning into his arm. "Very."

And when he kissed her, he realized that the way he sounded hadn't mattered very much, after all.

~*~

"You're sure she'll be all right?"

"Really, Lupin, do you think you've asked often enough?" Severus snapped irritably. "They've only told you twenty times so far."

"Ze answer 'as not changed yet, either," Miache said, equally annoyed. "Your young lady vill be fine crossing the ocean as long as she 'as ze amulet I gave 'er. It 'olds earth zhat vas enchanted - "

"To act as a coffin would in allowing her to cross water," Severus interrupted. "I know. We all know. Lupin knows, too, he's just being paranoid."

"I am being prepared," Remus said coldly. "Because I want to make sure Erin completes the trip back home safely."

"Are you talking about me?" Erin asked, interested, as she and Lianne entered the last corridor of the vampires' stronghold.

"Lupin thinks the crossing will kill you," Severus told her. "He has no faith in either my potions or the Lady Phoenix's spells."

"No, I do," Remus protested. "I just want to make sure."

Erin grinned. "I'll be fine, Remus," she assured him. "Look, I've got my amulet." She tugged lightly on the chain around her neck. "And I've got sunscreen on and everything."

"Not zhat you really need sunscreen yet," Miache said. "You're still in ze Order of ze Mouse. You aren't too powerful yet, but you don't 'ave to be concerned wiz sunshine. 'Owever, please let me know vhen your power increases. You'll know vhen it 'appens." She surveyed the group of four. "You're ready to leave?"

"Vun moment, please."

The five of them turned around. Hera stood there, accompanied by the royal guards.

"Your Majesty." Miache bowed. "Vhat is your command?"

"I vould like to make a request of our messengers." Hera looked from Lianne to Remus. "I 'ave not been crowned officially yet, but zhat is only a formality, particularly now zhat ze volf clan 'as disappeared. So please, bear a message from the Queen of the Cruentes to the leader of your Circle."

"Um... we'd be honored," Lianne said, when it was clear no one else was going to answer.

Hera nodded in acknowledgement. "Tell 'im zhat ze Cruentes recognize Britain's battle, and zhat ve shall be proud to ally ourselves wiz so brave a force."

"I'll let him know." When Miache prodded her in the back, Lianne remembered to bow. "Thank you very much, your Majesty. Dumbledore will be happy about that."

Hera smiled. "I expect so. Tell 'im I shall be in touch wiz 'im in ozzer vays." She glanced at the luggage they had around them. "You are leaving? Zhen do not let me detain you further. May your path 'ome be easier zhan ze vun you 'ad vhile 'ere." She swept regally back into the vampire tribe's sanctuary.

Erin watched her go, frowning. "I vonder vhat made her chance her mind. The other queen didn't vant to help us."

"Zhat vas before the Ganrou vere known to be Death Eaters," Miache said grimly. "Our battle wiz zhem is not yet over, but the only vay it can continue is as an aspect of yours." She smiled cheerlessly. "I expect zhat you vill see far more of the vampires and volves in your fights before your battle is done."

~*~

"Lianne!"

As soon as the group of four got to Dumbledore's house, their point of return from France, Sirius tackled them in an attempt to get at his wife.

"Li, are you ok?" Sirius kissed her before she could answer. When he pulled away, he continued speaking as if he hadn't left off. "Did they hurt you?"

"She is probably the most 'ok' of any of us, Black," Severus said acidly. "Lupin was captured, I was attacked - while out of my mind, as I was for some reason defending your wife - and I'm sure you know what happened to Miss Connor. Your wife can't even complain of bruises."

"I was worried," Sirius said defensively. "Dumbledore didn't see fit to tell me what had happened until about an hour ago."

"Because you would have come haring out after us," Remus pointed out reasonably.

"Yes, and I didn't get the chance. Instead, Snape," Sirius shot him a nasty look, "had to protect Lianne for me."

"You all sound like I can't take care of myself," Lianne objected.

"Can you?" Erin asked skeptically.

"I could if I wanted to," Lianne said indignantly.

"Which is why you hid behind me in the council room," Severus said sourly.

"Why don't we sit down to discuss this?" Dumbledore suggested, watching the conversation with amusement. "I'm sure you four are exhausted."

As they moved into Dumbledore's living room, he caught Erin's arm. "Miss Connor, may I speak with you?"

"They're vaiting for us in there," Erin said. Then she saw the look in his eyes. "But they probably von't notice if ve take a few extra minutes."

Dumbledore nodded somberly. "Miss Connor, I want to apologize for your... predicament."

"You mean becoming a vampire." Erin smiled wryly. "I don't mind hearing it. Anyvay, it isn't your fault. You had nothing to do with it."

"I allowed you to go," Dumbledore said. "I shouldn't have done that. You are, from what I've seen, a very intelligent girl, but you were still a Muggle. I should have arranged for you to stay elsewhere while Lianne and Remus went alone."

"Don't vorry about it," Erin said uncomfortably. "It's done, and thinking about vhat you should have done von't change anything."

Dumbledore smiled. "You are a most sensible young lady," he told her. "You and Remus should get along well." Erin's eyes widened at this, but he didn't let her interrupt. "Miss Connor, I know you do not want to hear about this, but I do hold myself responsible for your fate. If the time should ever come when you are in need - of anything - I give you my word to help you in any way that I can."

Erin looked at him for a moment. "I'd say that you don't need to do that," she said finally, "but I don't think you'd make that kind of offer unless you thought the time might come vhen I vould need it. So I'll just say thank you, and leave it at that."

"Very wise." Dumbledore patted her on the shoulder. "Now why don't we make sure that Sirius and Severus don't blow up the house, hmm?"

Erin followed him, considering the entire conversation. It had been somewhat odd. One phrase in particular stuck in her mind - you were a Muggle. That implied she was no longer one.

But I guess I'm not, she thought in surprise. She was a part of this world now. Maybe not a particularly well-liked part, but she had a place here.

She entered the living room, and smiled to see Remus's face light up when he spotted her.

This was a nice world to be in, after all.

~*~

Author's Note: Ok, I know that sounds like the fic's ending, but really it isn't. This is just the end of a chunk. Besides, I figured no one really needed another cliffhanger. A gentle ending once in a while isn't that bad. Besides, you got a lovely cryptic conversation to entertain you, if you want to muse on what comes next.

Incidentally, this was the last vampire/werewolf part. For those of you interested, we will now be moving back to Autumn and Hazel. Interesting things are happening there...

Disclaimer: Potter and Company belong to JK Rowling. The various original characters are mine. The song lyrics are, again, from "Once Upon A Dream" from Jekyll and Hyde.

Thank you to everyone who reviewed!

AquilisRose - Thank you! Yeah, Erin's been waiting a while to hear those words, too.

Constantly confused - Hazel and Autumn will be back in the next part to answer all your questions about them.

Bertie Bott - Thank you!

Kiki - Yeah, Prissy's evilness was meant to catch everyone off guard. At least it got Remus to tell Erin how he feels. ^_^

Angel in disguise - Snape's reaction to Lianne was actually more a result of her hiding behind him. It was kind of a stupid place to hide, you have to admit, plus it put him in more danger.

Mione Anne Potter - Er... Remus never had any intention of dying for Erin. Though I suppose he did give her quite a lot of blood...

Nightleo - Yes, my vampires do have blood. However, it all dries up when they turn to dust, which is why Snape had to brew a potion in the first place.

Elf queen - Thank you!

Azriona - Yep, Prissy was evil the whole time. She was too innocent to be for real. As for Remus, he is now officially attached. (God help him. ^_^) I suppose it would have been nice for them if Erin became a wolf... but I prefer the vampire storyline.

Salmissra - Eep! Please don't bite me, I don't think Snape would agree to brew me an antidote. Or aren't you poisonous? ^_^ Thanks for the two reviews!

BlueDragon - Thank you!

Thank you again! I love you all!

Zhai'helleva!

- Mystica