A Vampire, an Ex-Demon, and the Power of Voodoo

A Vampire, an Ex-Demon, and the Power of Voodoo

Chapter One: Journey to King's Cross

"Hurry up you four!" shouted Mrs. Weasley. "Come along or you're sure to miss the train!"

"Ginny! Stop playing with Crookshanks and hand him over to Hermione," Ron called over his shoulder irritably.

"It's not my fault," Ginny countered. "We wouldn't be late if it wasn't for you waiting until this morning to pack."

"Oh for heaven's sake! Can you two stop fighting for just a minute and help me load our trunks?" Hermione shouted over the pair, having a great deal of difficulty hoisting the heavy school trunks into the back of a rented Ministry car.

Once they were all in the car and the engine had started, Mrs. Weasley let out a sigh.

"Ah. I remember my sixth year at Hogwarts. What a fine year that was. Your father and I had many memorable times together. Oh he was the finest looking man in our year."

Harry and Ron exchanged looks of annoyance. Mrs. Weasley had done nothing but talk about Ron's father since he had left on official Ministry business. Arthur Weasley had been promoted into Dolores Umbridge's position at the Ministry of Magic. Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny, all thought that Cornelius Fudge had just done this because he felt guilty about how he had treated the Weasleys the previous year. Percy, who had been treating his family just as badly as Fudge had, had come to be accepted as a member of the family once again, which was very much to Fred and George's displeasing. No one knew where Mr. Weasley had been sent to, but no one had much time to sit around and ponder the answer to the mysterious question. The Order was busier now than ever and everyone was doing their best to pull their weight.

Harry had been extremely quiet over the summer due to the loss of his godfather Sirius. Harry had locked himself up in his room for hours, reading all sorts of books to figure out the mystery of the veil. He had cracked and told Hermione and Ron what Luna Lovegood had told him at the end of their fifth year and so now, they too had spent endless hours pouring over books.

"Here we are," said Mrs. Weasley, breaking into his thoughts.

Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny all clambered out of the car, tugging along their trunks, with Mrs. Weasley following closely behind.

Once inside King's Cross Station, the five of them walked over to the barrier between platforms nine and ten. In turns, they leaned against the barrier and slowly walked through. First Ginny and Hermione, then Harry and Ron, and last Mrs. Weasley. Once they were all successfully on platform nine and three-quarters, Mrs. Weasley started to get teary-eyed.

"Now you lot be careful this year. Behave yourselves, and look out for each other. Especially you Ron; look after Ginny."

"I know mum," said Ron, rolling his eyes towards the ceiling.

"I've packed you all sandwiches, so you should be all set," Mrs. Weasley told the four, hugging them all.

"Well, see you next summer mum," said Ron, boarding the train.

"Bye mum," Ginny waved.

"Thanks for letting us stay the summer with you Mrs. Weasley," Hermione said, hugging her one last time.

"You and Harry are always welcome at the Burrow Hermione," Mrs. Weasley waved as Hermione boarded the train.

She turned to Harry, "I'll write to Dumbledore and ask if he'll let you come strait home with us when the term is over. Look out for the others Harry; and don't go looking for trouble!" Mrs. Weasley shouted as Harry jumped on the train.

"Bye Mrs. Weasley!" Hermione shouted out the window over the roar of the train. The four of them waved until she was out of sight.

Chapter Two: Aboard the Hogwarts Express Once Again

Harry, Ron, and Hermione had found a compartment all to themselves, for Ginny had decided to sit with Dean Thomas and his friends.

"I can't believe she's going out with Dean!" Ron suddenly exclaimed.

"Oh come off it Ron. He's better than that Michael Corner, you said so yourself."

"Hermione's right you know," Harry said through a mouthful of ham sandwich.

"Oh Ron, you're just being a little overprotective. You've got to let her have a life," said Hermione taking a bite of her corn beef sandwich.

"Yeah well... she's too young to be involved with a sixth year," Ron said in a pouty voice.

"Ron," Hermione laughed, "Have you really forgotten about Fleur? You were only a fourth year and she was already in her seventh year."

"And are you forgetting about dear Vicky?" Ron snapped.

"Don't call him that!"

"Come off each other," Harry said in an irritated tone. The compartment door suddenly opened.

"Look what we have here Goyle, Potty and Weasel. I'm surprised you came back Potter. Thought you'd be upset about your pathetic little Sirius. Too bad he's"- Draco was suddenly on the ground with a look of complete shock on his face. Crabbe and Goyle were cracking their fingers menacingly when the door burst open again. A tall, muscular man with pale skin and bleached blonde hair was standing at the door, wearing a black tee-shirt with a long, black trench coat and tight pants.

Hermione gasped, "Oh my god."

Draco sat up, "Who the heck are you?"

The tall man looked at him, sizing him up, "I happen to be your new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. And who might you be?"

Draco attitude suddenly changed, "I'm Draco Malfoy sir. I just came in here to have a chat with Potter sir, and he hit me."

The man now turned to Harry, "Mr. Potter, do you care to explain why you hit Mr. Malfoy?"

"He was trying to aggravate me."

The man crossed his arms, "How so?"

"I'd rather not explain sir," Harry said, avoiding the man's eyes.

"Well Mr. Potter, you'd best explain unless you and Mr. Malfoy want to serve detention together."

"It was one of our friends sir," Ron suddenly piped up, "He's more like family to us, and he died at the end of our term last year. Malfoy came in here trying to egg Harry on to fight him."

The man was silent for a long moment and then, "Alright, Mr. Malfoy, you and your two... gorilla friends, will spend tomorrow night together in detention." He turned to Harry, Ron, and Hermione, "And as for you three, I'd like to see you in my office tonight after dinner."

He turned to walk out, "After you Mr. Malfoy."

Malfoy gave him a look of pure disgust, motioned for Crabbe and Goyle to follow him, and walked out.

Just as the new Professor was about to leave, he turned to Harry, Ron, and Hermione, "You three had better change into your school robes, we'll be arriving at Hogsmeade in about fifteen minutes." And with that, he walked out and closed the compartment door.