Forbidden Love...To Love A Vampire

Chapter 2

Permission

~What are you doing here Raven?~ Remus asked, in his mind.

~What? I can't come to see you?~ Raven answered, stepping off the desk and transforming into her animagus form, a black cat with small raven wings.

~ No it's just that, well I haven't seen you in... well, since my sixth year of school.~ he replied.

~Yes, it has been a long time, but I heard something of a job here teaching defense against the dark arts, but of course you have the job already, but then I thought, who could be better than two dark creatures like us teaching defense against ourselves. I might actually be able to fix the image of vampires in some of the kid's minds.~ Raven said, mentally grinning.

Remus put his muzzle on his paws and thought.

Yes it would be much more tolerable with her here, but would he be able to control his feelings, at which the last year of Hogwarts had gone out of control?

~Remus~, she thought to him, placing a paw on his, ~ Don't let our...former...relationship, get in the way, we are friends Remus, come on.~

~Okay Raven, but Albus will have to be alright with it.~ he said, warningly, after thinking about it for a few minutes.

~I know.~

~Okay~

~Remus?~ she thought.

~Yeah, Rave?~ he thought back, using his school name for her.

~I missed you.~

Raven didn't hear him reply and as she walked out of the office, back in human form, her fangs growing again and hair shortening, she thought how she could ever have left him.

*******

Raven crept down the stairs and through the corridors, heading for Albus Dumbledore's office.

A cat dashed across her path, Raven caught it and, obeying her vampire instinct, she sunk her teeth into its skin, feeling it go limp in her fingers.

When she had drunk enough blood to keep her going strong, but making sure not to kill the cat, she healed the marks with her spit and set the cat down, knowing it would wake later and not know anything had happened.

Reaching the gargoyle a few minutes later, Raven touched her hand to it's stone heart.

She grinned as she felt the password.

"Bloodpop."

"I'll have to get some of those," she whispered aloud to herself.

The gargoyle sprung to life and said, "You cheated."

"So? That's what I'm supposed to do," Raven replied, still grinning, her fangs retreating and hair growing.

She walked past the gargoyle to the curvilinear stair. As she put a foot onto the first step it began to move upward.

Raven flitted up the stair.

Flitting is what vampires call running. To a normal human being it looks as though they just disappear and appear, but really they are running very fast, though it's not fast to them.

Once at the door Raven brought her hand up to knock, but the door opened before she could bring her fist to the wood.

Albus Dumbledore sat at his desk, his silvery head bent over rolls and rolls of parchment.

"Hello Albus," she said, grinning a regular toothed grin.

He looked up, startled.

"Well, I never thought I'd see the day when Albus Dumbledore would b e surprised," she said, amusement in her eyes as Dumbledore's widened.

"Well," he said, looking at her through his half moon spectacles, " I never expected to see you again Lady Raven."

"Ugh, Albus, don't call me Lady Raven, it's so annoying," she said, waving a hand.

"I have never ceased to be amazed that you kept such a secret from me, and as I have always called my Vampire companions by their titles, I have something of a habit." he said, his eyes twinkling.

"Yes, but, Albus, the secret was easy to keep until due time and I'm sure you will get over the embarrassment of calling me a student. But Albus, just because I am maybe one hundred years older than does not mean you can't stop teaching me. I've always thought of you as a mentor. And," she grinned again, "I bet that's the reason you won't call me by name."

"Yes," he coughed, distressed, "Well, you will be here for more than a chat, I dare say."

"Yes, Albus. I was wondering if, as I heard you have the job open, I could teach here, I am well qualified, I hope. Plus I know the castle well, very well," Raven said, smirking.

"Yes, but I'm sorry My Lady, we already have a teacher for the blank position," Dumbledore said.

"Oh, I know Albus, but I was hoping myself and Remus could work together, we were best friends in school and our knowledge..."

"Yes, your knowledge of Dark creatures and curses is not my doubt but Lady, Remus did not want to come back for fear his...condition would anger students and parents. Plus the risk of students being bitten..."

"All the more reason, Albus, for my being here, as you know I am an animagus, and a Vampire, so I can control Remus if he, for any reason, does not get his potion, should the Potions Master not be able to procure it," Raven said.

"But you, Raven, blood will be needed to keep you going. Animals can only keep you at bay for so long. The students..." Dumbledore argued.

"Albus, I can acquire human blood by flitting to the nearest muggle town. I know it's miles, but I can be there and back in seconds, you know this Albus, I don't appreciate the act that you know nothing. Plus Albus you know I never kill anything I feed from. I'm not like Dasine!"

"I know Raven, but if any one finds out, plus," he paused, "There is the remaining fact that Voldemort is still after you..."

"Albus, who could find out? I kept it from you. And Tom is not after me, he's forgotten me by now," Raven said, putting her hands on her hips.

Dumbledore looked down at his desk, his eyes pensive.

He sighed, "You will need to be disguised, as it may be that he is after you, and you will need an office and rooms."

"Thank You Albus, what should I look like then, I already know what my name will be," Raven said, grinning.

Dumbledore chuckled.

"Ask Remus."

Raven blushed and hurried from the room after a muttered thank you.

Dumbledore looked back at the parchment, his lips upturned in a small smile.