Nine in the evening


Tristan Vaillancourt, a shadowy little bat beating leathery wings down Diagon Alley, kept his ears open and his nose alert - he would be able to smell another of his kind in this form even if his eyesight was weak. Almost every night since their meeting with Terrence in April[1], he had spared an hour of each evening to keep a lookout for Matty Amherst. Sometimes alone, sometimes with Andromeda or Cepheus whose schedules were less flexible. This was easier said than done - for if he chose the wrong hour and the wrong part of the Alley then they would find nothing of use. Luckily for the humans it was nearing summer and daylight hours grew long.

Less time for a vampire to spend in the dark, then.

This is how he finally found the vampire in question: wandering down Diagon Alley not far from the entrance to Knockturn, where the Demon's Head was a good place for one to get a bit of blood syrup in one's drink. Maybe Amherst was doing just that; something Tristan often practiced on his nights off.

Either way, as he had fed yesterday - which was the New Moon - he was in a good mood and waited until the other vampire was in Knockturn proper, before transforming into his regular form. He turned around briefly, catching sight of Andromeda who had been searching further back - he waved urgently to indicate she join him. Cepheus was nowhere in sight. In a shop, perhaps? But Tristan didn't wait for either of them to make their way through the crowd, and quickly followed Amherst, reaching forward to lay a hand on his shoulder from behind.

"Looking for a bite to eat, friend?" he asked softly.

1.	This is Our Playground

Matty had managed to find a nice secluded area to rest during the day. The previous night's excursion left him . . . Rattled? No, that wasn't quite the right word. Unsettled was perhaps more accurate. He had been feeling a draw to the wizarding community for weeks and now he knew why. Seeing his fiance was a vital tether to his previous life but he couldn't ask her to help him get acclimated to his new life. It wouldn't be fair. However there was perhaps someone else who could help, if he could find her.

Matty was in Diagon once again to see if he could find his sister's bar. He was able to obtain small bits of information about the haunt. Though none seemed to make sense. Most of his memory was still fuzzy and inaccessible. He was able to discern from Addie that he had been gone for a few years now at the very least but Margo owning a bar? What had happened to the dragons?

Matty licked his lips as his iced eyes read the signs of each shop he passed. Each one seemed to hold a secret, a tingling sensation in the back of his mind. Every where he looked, places and even people felt like he should know them but he simply couldn't remember. He hadn't anticipated coming back here being this . . . Frustrating.

He swirled at the touch of a hand on his shoulder. With a tilt of his head he regarded the stranger. There was no tingling, no flicker of inaccessible recognition. This was certainly someone he had never met while alive, "Not tonight." He gave a toothy grin, unafraid of the fangs he'd be showing.

"Though I imagine it'd be no problem for you to find me a menu that would meet my unique tastes." Matty didn't need it however. He had fed not long ago and had enjoyed a surprising amount of Blood Pops since his visit to Honeydukes.

"However if you could point me in the direction of Death & Co. I'd greatly appreciate it. I'm seem to keep getting all turned around."

Andie approached stealthily. She had wondered if she should disguise herself as someone in Matty's family. It might not have worked well. She did not know if Matty remembered his family. The Amherst had not heard from Matty. It was difficult to ask them. He was meant to be dead! Andie did not want to ask his fiancee until they were sure Matty was back and a vampire. It would be a disaster!

Andie had made her hair long dark and shaggy. She would not look out of place in Knockturn. She had changed her face. Just enough so she was not recognisable. Her nose was longer. She aged her face. Tristan could recognise her. Andie made sure. He could smell her she thought too. But she did not ask that. Awkward.

Cepheus was recognisable. Andie had sent him away. And given him a hat. His fault for putting his face in the newspaper lots and being nice to people! She loved him for that even so.

Andie recognised Matty. Even though he was a vampire he did not look very very different. That was lucky.
"Death & Co?" Andie asked. She had not shown Tristan. She had changed her teeth to look like a vampire. "There are better places to drink." She nearly bit her lip.

Tristan made no show of his appraisal, staring searchingly at their new acquaintance as he asked for the way to Death & Co. That wouldn't do. The bar was owned by Amhersts and it was better if they could question Matty without him having the support of those who might mistake their relative for the same person he had been before turning.

He sensed Andromeda drawing up next to him. Her words suggested that their thoughts were running in the same direction.

"And I think we can more than simply point you in the direction of a better place," Tristan followed up smoothly and gestured at something past Matty's shoulder: the entrance to the Demon's Head. "That is, if you would not mind the company." His smile remained cordial but something in his eye lent the older vampire a serious quality.

They had to be careful. Matty was newly turned and overpowering him was not out of the question - but it would also mean making a scene in a public area, and implicating the Ministry. Tristan held his hands behind his back and glanced at Andromeda; he noted her fangs with amusement.

"My friend and I will be happy to... how do you say?" he played up his accent, "Foot the bill?"

Matty smirked a bit as the woman joined them. He tilted his head to the side and purposely examined her. The fangs were noticeable and their was a pallor to her skin but he could hear her heart beat, the sound of fresh ripe blood rushing through her veins. He wondered if she was perhaps a groupie? He had heard tale of humans who identified with Vampires, stuck with them, offered themselves as snacks. It was easier for Vampires to get things done, move through towns without incident when they had Human Companions. He figured it was safe to assume that was what she was to the other Stranger.

His ruby red lips split in a smile that was friendly though also had the tendency to make humans uneasy. He kept his eyes on Andromeda as he spoke, "I suppose a drink couldn't hurt. Besides how rude would it be for me to turn down such a  . . . generous offer."

While he didn't suspect anything foul of the pair he was slightly miffed that he was being derailed. He made note to himself not to get caught up in the company. He still had a purpose to the night and the sooner he could make contact with his sister, the sooner . . . well he wasn't entirely sure what he needed out of it, or how she'd even react but he simply knew he had to try. His family thought he was dead. He wasn't so sure he wanted them to keep thinking that. Then again, it wasn't exactly like he was alive anymore either . . .

He offered his arm to Andromeda, "Lead the way."

"My pleasure." Andromeda said. It was hard to talk with her fangs. She shrank them a little. She wrapped her arm snuggly with Amherst. He had been turned young. He would be a handsome vampire for centuries. Tristan had competition. She walked towards the Demon's Head. She kept hold. "Andromeda." She said. "Tristan. You are?"

Matty gave another toothy grin as she accepted his arm. It went a long way to helping him feel a little more comfortable about his unexpected companions. She was certainly still human. That was even easier to tell at such a close range. If it wasn't a trick of the eye her fangs became slightly smaller as well. Which meant she was rather adept at using her magic. Something Matty made special note of. As a vampire he was pretty safe from most spells and curses, at least the more lethal kind but if this witch suddenly decided to duel there wasn't much he could do about it. A sensation ran down his spine, one he was becoming more familiar with lately as a fuzzy memory tried to surface. Unfortunately it was fleeting and passed before he could figure out what had triggered it.

He gave a curt nod as their current position didn't allow a proper bow, "Mateo Paulo Amherst." He turned to eye Tristan as they made their way towards their destination, "From what I can tell, most people call me Matty though."

He looked over at Tristan again, "So are you two? Like a couple?" It wasn't completely unheard of, though even those that do enter a relationship with a human, it's usually more of an advantageous arrangement than anything else.

Tristan was happy for Andromeda to take on a bit of socialisation with their suspect. He used the opportunity to observe Amherst instead, ascertaining how young of a vampire they were dealing with and weather or not he was likely to turn violent on them. The trio approached the Demon's Head pub - Auror on one side of Matty, Tristan casually on the other.

            "From what I can tell, most people call me Matty though."

Ah. Tristan caught Andie's eye pointedly. It was likely that this vampire was still experiencing memory issues as a result of his turning. But that wouldn't stop him from remembering things he'd done as a vampire. Such as murder two muggles for their blood.

"A couple?" the oldest of them laughed lightly, shaking his head. "Friends, non Andromeda? Good friends."


It was not especially late, and so finding space at the bar was a simple task once they'd entered the pub. Tristan hoped that Cepheus would be able to track them here at some point. He slipped on to a barstool and, being familiar with the bartender across the counter, made specific requests: two glass of blood sirop, and a deaf ear to their conversation.

"Tell me, Mateo.... Matty, that is. How long have you been in London now?" he looked at Andromeda, inviting her to pose her own queries for their new acquaintance.

He confirmed he was Matty! Andie felt excited. She played it cool.
"Good friends." Andie said. She nodded. They sat either side of Matty at the bar. Andie came in here sometimes. She always changed her face. She did not want to be recognised. "How are you finding things?" Andie asked. She did not want to scare him off. She wanted to ask him lots of questions though. But she had to be patient. She kept looking for her brother.

As they entered the bar Matty took the time to take in the atmosphere. It certainly wasn't the Leaky Cauldron or even the Three Broomsticks. If he had to compare it to something, it was definitely closer to the Hogs Head. He remembered one of his clan mates had mentioned being able to get served well in the Hogsmeade bar. He supposed the comparison was fair as Tristan ordered them 'drinks'.

He let his mind wander with a ray of hope at the idea that Tristan and Andromeda were good friends. There was no telling if they didn't still have the sort of arrangement he initially thought but it made him sort of happy to see a human and a vampire together. Perhaps he could find something like that for himself. Certainly not with Addie but there were sure to be others.

To Tristan's question he simply shrugged, "Not long. About a week." He thanked the bartender as their drinks arrived and took a polite sip, "It's been pleasant enough. Ran into an ex, which wasn't as pleasant. Especially since she thinks I'm dead, or I suppose, thought? Undead is still considered dead though, isn't it?"

Cepheus[1] slipped into the Demon’s Head. He wasn’t sure if this was out of the fire and into the fire, or if the Demon’s Head was a better place to be than Knockturn Alley proper. He wasn’t keen on anything, especially as there were some suitably unsavoury types who thought he might be pretty enough to convince to join them for more than a drink. It was definitely somewhere that seemed slightly more welcoming for a pint or two of courage and the company of family and friends seeking out some of the more exotic venues to socialise in.

Across the room at the bar his sister and Tristan flanked another figure with tousled hair and a young figure. He made eye contact with his sister, watching for a sign as he scanned the room as if meeting someone. He took a seat at the bar the other side of Andromeda, but not too close. There was only one reflection of the group in the glass behind the bar.

“… into an ex, which wasn’t as pleasant. Especially since she thinks I’m dead, or I suppose, thought? Undead is still considered dead though, isn’t it?”

Adelia Delacroix then? Cepheus had read up on Matty’s Ministry file from Level 5, which mentioned his engagement to his former classmate, who was quite beside herself when he disappeared. That must not have been the lovely reunion she’d hoped for, and if it was her, as Amherst said, she was an ex. She’d moved on.

He would listen, allow his colleagues to befriend. It wasn’t as if he would boast about drinking muggles dry if it was Amherst. But as the Ministry didn’t have him registered, and he’d gone missing and been turned on a Ministry trip, they would need to encourage him in, willingly, or unwillingly, eventually.

1.	dressed by Nuri

Amherst appeared, as far as he could tell, wary but not very suspicious of their intentions. He was happy to talk about being back in town and running into his ex. Tristan listened quietly, stopping himself from turning when a certain aroma wafted into the Demon's Head pub - Cepheus Gamp had joined them. It was easy to tell without looking. He knew most of his Ministry peers by their scent (if their blood held an especially alluring fragrance).

            "Undead is still considered dead though, isn't it?"

"That is a slippery slop to assigning us the rights of the dead." Tristan picked up his drink delicately and tasted it without shifting his gaze from the much younger vampire. "I am sorry to hear of the unpleasantness. Love is never easy, and our condition does not make it easier."

A humorous smile. Amherst claimed to have been in town for only a week. The murders, they took place in March. But of course... he could be lying. Tristan exchanged a look with Andromeda, cautioning her of his following line of enquiry.

"Can you prove you were not in London earlier?" he placed a friendly hand on Matty's shoulder, feigning concern. "Coven friends, perhaps?"

Something didn't feel right.

He wasn't sure if it was his heightened senses, intuition or just a general unease about the entire situation but He suddenly tensed under the hand on his shoulder. He rolled Tristan's question around in his head. The phrasing was off. Why would he need to prove anything? Who were these two and why would they ask such questions?

"Prove I wasn't here?" It wasn't a stretch to feign confusion, "I'm not sure I understand." He looked from Tristan to Andromeda taking a fleeting note of the wizard newly sat on her other side (another patron of the establishment no doubt)

"My coven is - was from the Black Forest. I never left." He looked down into his drink, "Not until . . . Not until I had to."

Andromeda may have seen Tristan's look. But she did not expect him to say prove.
"You are a long way from home." Andromeda said. She stayed calm. She smiled. Tried to be kind. "I am sorry to hear you had to leave." She looked sympathetic. "What my friend means is when did you arrive? Do you need help?" She looked at Tristan. "There are places vampires can go." Andie said and looked to Matty. "People who can help." She put her hand on his cold arm.

Matty gave Andromeda a small smile, though it was hard to take his dead blue eyes from Tristan's expressionless features. She sounded kinder and whatever their deal was she seemed to be trying to straighten out her companion's misstep. Still there was something not right about it and Matty' s fight or flight instincts were kicking in.

He let out a soft chuckle, "I suppose. It was a long trek from Germany." He turned to look at Andi, "I'm originally from here though. My family's here . . . I uh," His brow furrowed as he fought through the heavy fog that surrounded his former life and how he became a vampire, "I used to work for the Ministry. That's why I went to Germany, I think." He looked down into his glass again, speaking softly he was barely aware he was speaking aloud, "Where did they go?"

He shook himself and looked back up at her offer for help, "I'd like that. I don't know any other Vampires anymore." He looked to Tristan, "except you of course."