"Cara!"

Cara turned around.

"What Dad?"

"Cara, as your father, I can't let you do this. It's too dangerous. You...you don't know what...my father's capable of..."

Draco took hold of Cara's arm, but was flung back by a powerful force. He landed on the ground with a hard smack. He stared, amazed, as Cara once again glowed and was lifted from the ground. Her mouth opened, and an erie tune was issued from her mouth.

"And it will come to pass,
That the One to truly defeat
The remnants of the Dark Lord,
Will be born from His own,
And of his enemy,
And she alone will have the power,
To truly vanquish His armies,
And His world..."

Cara's eyes slid in and out of focus, and she settled back to the ground. She drew her wand out again.

"Father...Mother...don't hold me back. This is something...I must do alone."

And she turned her back on her parents, and entered the deeper parts of the cave. Hermione rushed to Draco's side, and saw tears escape his eyes.

"...my little baby...my...little girl..." Hermione just held Draco, her eyes also dangerously close to tears.

*****

Cara explored the cave, using her newfound senses to track her prey. She found them in the far reaches of the cave. Closing her eyes, she performed a spell that blasted the wall in front of her.

They were ready. Lucius stood before her.

"Ahh...my niece...how are you my child?"

"Dont...you...call...me...THAT!" Cara screamed, and Lucius was thrown back violently into the back of the cave. He got up, blood running down his lips. He wiped it off, and looked at it.

"You're going to pay for that...tiny one." He flung a spell that binded Cara to the wall. Cara heard a chuckle. Snape materialized from the shadows...and he was not alone.

"Cara...I would like you to meet my friend. Girat...meet Cara Malfoy. Cara, meet Girat...your destiny."

Cara struggled to escape, but the spell was too strong. Girat's pale skin glittered in the darkness. His eyes stared at Cara's neck. His hands looked like claws. He smiled, and his fangs slid out over his bottom lip.

Cara screamed.

"VAMPIRE!"

****

Draco heard Cara cry out. And his anger returned. So did his fear. Vampire?

"Hermione...Girat! He's got Cara!"

"What?" Hermione sputtered.

Draco rushed into the depths of the cave, shrieking his head off, looking for Cara...before it was too late.

****

Girat closed in on Cara. The more she struggled, the more excited he became. He stroked her long hair, and gently pulled it from her neck. Her heart pumped wildly. Girat's fangs broke the skin, and Cara's hot blood poured out of her.

Cara swooned. The world was drifting away. Was that her father? She missed her father. Mommy? Where was she? Was this her mother? This Creature of Darkness that was clasping so frantically to her throat? Cara felt her blood drain from her.

Girat pulled away from Cara, her blood dripping down his coller.

"Finish it." Lucius snarled.

Snape hushed Lucius. Girat Turned his back on teh two men, and faced Cara. When he turned away, Cara's mouth was dripping with blood, and Girat's wrist was slashed.

"It is done then?" Snape asked.

"Yes. She will belong to my kind."

"Now-"

Lucius was cut off by Draco's roar. Draco pulled out his wand.

"Avada Kedavra"

Girat slid to the floor, his eyes blank. They soon regained their look, and he rose from the floor. Draco hesitated.

"Lacarnum Inflamare"

Girat screamed in pain, as the flames danced all over his body. He fell to the floor in ashes, and Draco kicked them, scattering the ashes across the floor.

"No!" Hermione rushed to Cara. Cara fell as the spell wore off. Hermione wiped the blood off Cara's face, and held her to herself.

"Cara...my Cara..." Hermione rocked back and forth. Draco ran to them. Cara's eyes opened. She realized what happened, but immedietly realized that her parents didn't. She sprang from them, wide-eyed with fear.

"Cara...what's the matter?" Hermioen reached out for her, but Cara moved back. Realization dawned on Draco.

"No..." He shook his head. Cara nodded hers, hot blood tears running from her eyes. Hermione gazed at their faces, wondering what was passing between them. She looked around.

"Draco...their gone!" Draco didn't move. He nodded to Cara.

"Go...my little nightfighter..." Cara nodded, and moved foward and hugged them both. She slipped into the darkness.

Hermione blundered around in the darkness, looking for her daughter.

"Draco...where is she?"

Draco took Hermione's hand.

"Darling...Hermione...Cara's hunting for my father and Snape. Alone. She's...a Child of the Night now. I don't think she's...coming back."

Hermione shook her head, wide-eyed. Draco nodded his, tears pouring from his eyes. He lead her out of the cave, sending silent wishes of luck to his daughter...who was lost to the mortal world...forever.

OK, That's the second to last chapter of this story. Should I do a sequel? Post on the poll peeps!

Katie