Her thoughts were interrupted by the intentional sound of scuffing feet, whoever was coming, did not want to take her by surprise. Hearing the noise growing closer to her, she turned and smiled as Raul smirked knowingly at her, his eye flashing with an intensity she had not seen in him before. He too adored the advancing sun, and the potential danger it posed to them. It reminded him that their lives weren’t as immortal as they told themselves they were, and that everyday should still be lived to its fullest, and that included taking chances.

Standing directly behind Desiree, Raul slowly slipped his arm around her waist, hoping she would accept his advances. He felt her pause for the briefest of moments before lowering her arm and placing her hand on his outer thigh. He sighed silently as he pulled her tight against his chest, pressing his lips against her neck as her other hand reached up and wove itself through his thick, dark hair. “Primogens need to stick together“ he whispered in her ear as she pressed her backside firmly against his sex.

Turning his head towards her arm, he gently kissed and nipped at the delicate flesh of her inner wrist and forearm, delighting as he felt her squirm and grind against him. “You are part Toreador, aren’t you?” he growled as her hand, that had been on his thigh, found his manhood and wrapped itself around it. “Only Toreador Clan could raise such a passion so quickly.” he insisted, his knees going weak as she pulled her hand away from his face and slowly undid the buttons of her blouse.

“Not here” Raul sighed, turning her in his arms and kissing her deeply, “The sun is rising, and I have no intentions of rushing anything as wondrous as this.” he explained as he led her down the stairs, the flames of passion showing in his eyes as the sun slowly continued its rise over the horizon …….

“We can’t, there is no possible way Mum will allow it.“ Percy insisted as the twins continued pestering him.

“Don’t’ be such a goody-goody” Fred griped, “you want to meet Diana, don’t you?”

“Well, yes…..but that is quite besides the point. The Ministry also has laws against traveling to quarantined areas, and for very good reasons I assure you.” he stated, puffing himself up as he attempted to appear very knowledgeable on the topic.

“Well if it’s quarantined, and Cat and Harry have already been here” George grinned, “Then we’re all bound to be infected too, right?” Fred chimed in. “So we have no problems.” they said together, smiling widely as they saw Percy was finally wavering on his convictions.

“That’s not the point” Percy insisted, running his hands through his curly red hair. “I mean…..well,….

“Well nothing” Fred insisted, “Listen, Ginny was there with her, she’s fine, we’re fine…”

“Not to mention our little sis has remarked ‘several’ times how ‘lovely’ and ’stunning’ everyone there looks.” George grinned as his eyes flashed brightly. “She says they all look like Harry and Miss MacLeod, now I know MacLeod’s a bit old for us, but she’s a looker.” he added, winking as Percy blushed deeply, apparently he had been thinking along the same lines.

“Come on Percy, you know you want to meet Meg’s sister, she’s all you’ve talked about since they visited. And we see you cornering Meg each and every time she’s visited us since.”

“And every time Mum and Dad have said no.” Percy reminded them.

“Dad only said that because Mum gave him ‘that’ look. He wants to go as bad as we do.” George sulked. “And if Meg is really so interested in meeting Charlie, Mum really can’t refuse to have the families meet, now can she?”

“Hey, that’s a good point” Percy admitted, a small grin slowly creeping across his face. “So we can say we were only doing this to help Charlie out, make sure they were good enough for him.” Percy felt another deep blush rise to his cheeks as he imagined what meeting Diana would be like.

“Now you’re thinking like a Minister” Fred chortled, “Next problem, how to we get there without Mum finding out.”…………

Saralonde sighed deeply as she tossed and turned, trying to get used to sleeping alone. This had been the first time since she was embraced that she had ever been left alone through the entire day. She knew it was time, but it still made her feel uneasy, she felt so out of place here in this empty school, at least at Fernglennis, she had the company of the MacLeod’s to keep her mind occupied, but here in the dark confines of her private haven, it was just her and her thoughts. She hated being so young and so weak, the sun was only just skimming the horizon, and she found herself unable to stand. Hamish had caught her and rushed her back to the haven, placing her inside the dark cupboard, smiling warmly at her as he ‘tucked her in’.

She angrily wiped away at the tears she felt rolling down her cheeks. She didn’t want to be weak, she wanted her clan to be proud of her, she wanted and needed their love and support. Taking a deep breath, she thought back to the conversation she and Cash had had earlier that night. How could one so ancient and powerful be so kind and caring to someone as insignificant as herself. He had both the power and the influence to challenge even the highest of princes and win, yet none of that seemed to matter to him.

Hearing the sound of scratching at the door to the cupboard, Saralonde slowly opened the door ever so slightly and gasped as a pair of bright blue eyes stared back at her. She gasped softly as she felt the soft fur of the small cougar brush against her as the feline stretched and curled up next to her, offering her company and warmth. Smirking to herself, Saralonde whispered, “So, who sent you? Cash or Hamish?”….

Rick shook his head sadly as he watched Severus stare out of the window. Try as he might, he could not convince Sev to return to Angel’s room, and he flat out refused to allow the wizard to stay in his own. So here they were, in the charms classroom of all places, a rather uncomfortable silence between them. It hurt Rick deeply to see the professor hurting so badly and being completely unable to do anything to help him or ease his pain. At least he wouldn’t have to worry about Hamish doing anything to make it worse, although he was surprised that his clansman had suddenly decided to go home to Fernglennis, claiming homesickness.

“Severus, you should sleep” Rick suggested softly, “this isn’t doing you any good. She will come back to the school, you can talk to her and explain everything to her then.”

“It will be too late by then, Black will have turned her against me. She never could resist his charms, it is her only weakness.” Snape responded, his voice cold and flat. “Go away Rick, join your vampyre friends…”

“No need” a cheery voice called from the doorway “his friends have come to visit him.” Roel smiled widely, crossing the room and hugging Rick tightly. “I’ve missed you man, its not the same without you to trying to be my conscience, getting into trouble has simply lost its appeal.”

“Had I known that was all it would take” Rick winked, clapping Roel on his back “and I see you’re not alone either.”

“As if I would trust this one alone anywhere,” Angus teased, a bright smile on his face and a twinkle in his eyes. “Actually we’ve been wondering what you’ve been up to. Cash has been filling us in with bits and pieces, mostly telling us to keep Hamish away and such. So, seeing as how my hot-headed brother has taken a short trip home, I thought we’d take advantage of the quiet to come see you.”

“I’m very glad you did” Rick answered sincerely, hugging Angus tightly, “I’ve missed you both. Although Severus and I have had some truly inspiring conversations.”

“Ah yes, Rick, our great conversationalist.” Roel teased, rolling his eyes dramatically, ”So wizard, what about it? Has he driven you mad with his talk of philosophy yet? Or has he simply bored you to tears?” Roel raised and eyebrow as he waited patiently for the wizard to respond, but he never so much as turned around to look at them.

Seeing the strained look on Rick’s face, both Angus and Roel went to his side, “I though Cash said he was doing better, accepting us and what have you.” Angus whispered.

“He was, he was truly opening up” Rick sighed, a look of defeat creeping onto his handsome face, “but we found a letter from Angel this morning. It seems she had come looking for him and when she couldn’t find him she must have thought his feelings had changed towards her.”

“Come on Rick, I know Angel can be a bit impulsive in the romance department, but there is no way not being able to find him would make her think that. Either you two are misunderstanding something, or there is much more to it than that.” Angus insisted.

“There’s more,” Rick admitted, “it seems Severus hasn’t been able to contact her since she left to take Harry to Fernglennis, and if I’m understanding our professor over there, she left right after a rather….uhm… intimate moment, or several of them as the case may be.”

“Oiy, I’m gonna be sick” Roel joke, “put that down under the too much information list for me, please.”

“Stop it Roel, this is serious. I know we all decided as a group that Sirius was a better match for her, and I will stick by that decision, I swear I will.” Rick said adamantly, “But I can’t see him lose her like this, it isn’t fair to anyone. He ‘does’ love her, and for him to think he has lost her because she believes he only wanted to get her into bed…..” he shook his head as his eyes pleaded with his clanmates. “Please, you two have got to help me, this will eat him alive and destroy what is left of his heart. I can’t bear to see that happen to him, not now that I’ve found the man that hides underneath all that anger and indifference.”

Angus placed his hand on Rick’s shoulder. “Shame on you Rick, you know if you need help all you ‘ever’ need to do is ask. You should have come to us sooner.” his voice was soft and mild as he pressed his forehead against Rick’s. “You place too much of yourself in other people brother, one day that will destroy you. Roel and I will do everything we can to help you, and I think we should start by pulling him out of that shell of his…… Will he leave if we start to play?”

“I’m honestly not sure. I know he won’t join in, but I think part of him enjoys watching, as much as he insists otherwise.” …………….

“Why didn’t anyone tell me Luke?!” Duncan roared as he threw bales of hay against the barn walls. “She’s my sister too! I should have been told, she NEVER should have had to go through that alone…. Its no wonder she left us.”

“Duncan, please, calm down.” Luke pleaded, doing his best to avoid being caught in the middle of Duncan’s outbursts. “I didn’t know for sure myself, it was a guess on my part, and as it turns out, an accurate one.”

“YOU should have told me,…SOMEONE should have told me….” Duncan sat down on an overturned bale, his face in his hands. “I should have been there for her, I should have known…” his shoulders began to shake as he tried to hide his tears. “she’s our little sister, our baby sister. I swore to father I would protect her with every breath in my body, but I can’t do that if she doesn’t….”

Luke sat next to him and placed his arm around his brother’s shoulder. “Shhhhh… Duncan, none of us knew for certain, even father doesn’t know. And if Kitty wanted us to know, she would have told us…..from what I’ve gathered, she refuses to discuss it with anyone.”

“Has anyone even tried to…”

“Duncan, let it be! It tore her heart out, that much I’m certain of, and I know she doesn’t need to relive it.” Luke sighed deeply as he felt the tension and tears still flowing through his brother. “Think about it Duncan, she tells Cash and Siobhan everything, …..yet never once has she mentioned this, the only reason Tris knew was because she was the one who finally found her, and in Australia of all places.”……..

Severus raised an eyebrow as he watched the vampyres out of the corner of his eye. They were surrounding Rick, who for his part looked nearly despondent over something. Sev felt a tugging on his heart as he saw the barely contained tears in Rick’s eyes, but his own heart was too full of pain and dread to even think to offer advise or consolation to anyone.

He became even more concerned when he saw the dark-haired one, Roel, look in his direction and wink at him. They knew he was watching them, more to the point, he was now coming over to him.

“So, not very talkative today it seems” Roel continued to tease as he approached Snape. “Too bad, Rick tells us you’re actually quite brilliant, but I’m willing to bet I can beat you in a game of words. Care to take me on?”

“Roel, please, this isn’t the best time…” Rick began.

“Pshahh, its always time…” Roel grinned, “besides, so far Cash is the only one who has ever been able to beat me. I need a new challenge.”

“I think not” Severus replied unenthusiastically, “I am not in the mood for playing games.”

“Ok, I guess I’ll just have to settle for whipping these two then.” Roel sing-songed as he headed back to Angus and Rick. “Hmmmm, lets see, I ‘always’ win charades and Rumplstilskin , what about the fortune cookie game? That’s always a hoot.”

“No” Angus groaned, “we can’t play that, we don’t have any girls, and I’m sure as hell not playing it with you three. Isn’t enough money or booze in the world to convince me otherwise.” he added as Rick laughed deeply, nodding his head in agreement.

“I’m with him on this one Roel.” Rick stated. Seeing the confused look on Sev’s face, Rick tried to draw him into the conversation by explaining exactly what the game was. “it’s a game you play with fortune cookies, you have to read the fortune and then add the words ‘in bed’ to the end of it.” he explained, only to have Roel interrupt.

“Then you have to do your best to make the fortune come true” he grinned widely, only to have his smile falter moments later. “Oh… yeah… we would need girls for that, wouldn’t we?”

“Yea, kind of” Angus laughed as Rick groaned and rolled his eyes. Hearing a quiet ‘snorting’ sound coming from Sev’s direction, Rick walked to the wizard. “You’ll have to forgive Roel, he doesn’t always think things all the way through” he explained softly. “But he’s a good friend, and lots of fun.”

Sev nodded noncommittally and returned to staring out the window, his mind still working on how he could contact Catri. Even with Rick and the others standing so near to him, he felt utterly alone and completely empty of any emotions, save despair. His mind drifted back over the past several weeks, latching onto any memory of Catri, her smile, her laughter, the way her eyes lit up when he would smile at her. He found himself replaying two memories over and over again, that day in Hogmeade when she permitted him to kiss her by their well, and the way she had looked sleeping in his arms their first night together.

He wondered what she was doing at this very moment. Was Black plying her with sweet talk and lies as he always had, was she thinking of him at all, or was she too busy being a mother to Potter to even have time for Black at all? He cringed as he thought of Catri being with Black the way she had been with him, he shook his head as he tried to clear the image from his mind. She would never do that, it simply wasn’t in her nature, even if she was angry with him for not contacting her, he found it unbelievable that she would simply give up on him without speaking to him first. She was the sort of woman who needed to understand ‘why’, and considering the way he had exposed his deepest emotions and fears to her, confessing everything but his wish to make her his wife, she must realize he would be incapable of simply walking away from her, from ‘them’.

Seeing the pained look in Severus’s eyes, Rick slowly reached out for the wizard’s hand, squeezing it firmly as Sev turned to stare at him. “Don’t lose faith in her Severus” Rick whispered, “you just need the chance to speak with her, once she knows what has happened.”

“By the time she finds out, I have the distinct feeling it will be far too late for me to undo the damage.” Sev replied softly. He was torn between wanting to pull his hand away from Rick, and throwing himself into Rick’s arms, knowing the Gangrel would understand and comfort him as he had since the night Gustavas attacked him.

Once again, Sev felt the strange shuddering in his soul, how could he find this man, this vampyre so attractive? Had he suddenly decided to change his orientation this late in life? No, that couldn’t be, he still ached and longed for Catri, who was every bit a woman. But still, he couldn’t deny the delicious shiver that ran up his spine every time Rick touched him.

Sev closed his eyes and sighed as Rick stood behind him and wrapped his strong arms around him, crossing them over his chest, it was at once both protective and strangely comforting. Leaning back against Rick’s muscular chest, Sev thought back to the discussion they had had earlier, ‘would he consider Rick’s actions as brotherly?’, the more he thought about it, the more unsure he became. But then again, Rick had never made any advances towards him, never an inappropriate comment, and never had the vampyre taken advantage of him, even though his current state of health had given him ample opportunity.

“Are you two alright” a soft voice spoke from Sev’s other side. “Do you need anything?” It was Angus, the one that reminded Sev so much of James Potter, always smiling, always friendly, always so damnably helpful Severus shook his head as he realized they looked for all the world like an older version of the infamous Marauders, only instead of Black he had Rick, and in Potter‘s place was Angus.

“It’s nothing Angus, no worries.” Rick replied for both of them, knowing the last thing Sev needed or wanted was an audience for his pain.

“You’re a lousy liar Rick,” Angus said, a lop-sided grin shining on his face. “But I know you, and I know what it will take to cheer you up, it may even help to cheer our professor here.” he added, winking playfully at them. Turning to Roel, Angus called out happily, “I know what its going to take to cheer him up. Did you bring the instruments with you?”

Seeing Rick’s sad face, Roel nodded to Angus, and pulled out a small leather package, approximately the size of a tea cup, from the inside of his shirt, “As if I go anywhere without them.” Opening the flap of the carryall, Roel reached deeply inside of it, his arm disappearing up to his shoulder. Pulling with all of his might, he turned to Angus, “uh… seems to be stuck, can you pull back the sides a bit?” Now reaching into the small package with both arms, Roel grunted as he slowly lifted out a complete drum kit, to be followed quickly by a guitar and bass.

“Got to love Aunt Orpha, that carry all was the best gift I’ve ever gotten.” Roel grinned as Angus tuned up his bass. “Come on Rick, you know you want to.” he grinned, fangs flashing as he pulled up a chair and sat behind the kit.

Rick gave Sev’s hand a final squeeze as he walked towards his friends, taking the guitar Angus was holding out to him. “So, is Hamish coming back and joining us? Or is he staying home for the duration?” he asked as he tuned his guitar.

“Only for a few days, he says he needs to ‘feel the love’, as it were.” Angus replied, rolling his eyes as Rick and Roel laughed. “So you know what that means.”

“Yeah, he misses the kids and we just aren’t warm enough for him” Rick smiled, understanding exactly what Hamish was feeling, he too missed the warmth of their clan. He missed knowing that when he felt truly tired, lonely, or worse; the dreadful cold that sometimes settled on them threatening to drown them in icy despair, all he needed to do was to knock on the door of one of his clan members, knowing that they would willingly, happily allow him to join them in slumber. He missed that more than he could explain at the moment, there were many times when he had been tempted to slip under the covers next to Sev, but knew the wizard would take it the wrong way. And with Angel being away, he felt as if he and his clan had no where to turn for warmth anymore. But music was the next best thing to him, he could lose his worries and free his soul when he allowed the music inside himself to come out.

Severus paused as he heard them play, they really were quite good, although the deepness of Rick’s voice surprised him. He vaguely remembered hearing it before, at the impromptu dance that Catri and Lupin had set up after their first joint lecture earlier in the year, but needless to say, his thoughts were elsewhere that night. He thought back to that night, of the way Lupin and that vampyre had danced with her, the way ‘he’ had wanted to dance with her, the way he ‘should’ have danced with her.

Sighing softly, Sev listened as Rick continued to strum his guitar, humming softly as Angus sang a soothing tune, one about a lost love reclaimed. Out of the corner of his eye, he watched as Roel waited impatiently, it was obvious that he wanted to play something faster, and it looked as though he was NOT the sort to wait quietly. Turning away from the window, he walked silently to one of the student’s seats across from Rick and his friends, they really were quite amazing when he thought about it. How many centuries had their friendship endured? He racked his brain, trying to remember everything he had learned when Rick offered his blood to him. Cash had been ancient even then, Hamish recently made, Angus still mortal, and Roel not even born yet. As lonely as it made him feel, it also gave Sev a strange sort of comfort to know that some relationships never ended, but continued to grow and bloom year after endless year.

Looking at Rick once more, Severus was taken aback by the look of pure rapture on his face. The way he held the guitar was bordering on erotic, he seemed to caress it more than play it, his eyes closed as he allowed the music to invade him, seemingly becoming one with both the tones and rhythm. Sev could honestly say he had never seen anyone play with such a passion, but then, it seemed Rick did everything with the same sort of intensity. …….