Dan nearly jumped a foot into the air when he heard the familiar voice coming from under him.

". . . Phil?"

"Dan."

Phil's voice was scratchy and sore-sounding. Dan didn't care. He was just happy to hear him talk, which was a miracle in itself, having that, that monster bite him on his throat.

"Phil, how do you feel? Are you alright? Pete is on his way with McGonagall and Longbottom, they'll help you, alright? Do you want water? Aguamenti," Dan said, pointing his wand into Phil's mouth, which he had pried open moments prior.

"Oh, Phil, I'm so sorry this happened to you. I'm so glad Pete killed her. I'm so glad she's dead. If anyone else so much as lays a finger on you, I swear to god I will fucking rip them to shr-"

"Dan," Phil said, a little bit more firmly this time. "Please. Thank you for the water, but I'm exhausted. It's not your fault this happened. I didn't know Harley was . . . What even happened to Harley? Never mind. I'm just glad I have you here." He sighed, and closed his eyes, motionless. He couldn't really get up. Blood was starting to pool around him, like a small lagoon of misery. Dan almost started crying at the sight of the boy there, flooding in his own liquid, and there was nothing he could have done to prevent it.

"I don't care it's not my fault directly. I told 'Harley' about our . . . Date?" Phil nodded, blushing. "And so . . . Even if I'm not responsible . . . I still kind of am."

"Dan, please, not right now. Seriously. Don't feel -" Phil was cut off by his own spasmic flailing. His eyes seemed to be bulging out of their sockets, his arms trying to disconnect from his chest and his legs shaking violently. Dan gasped, momentarily shocked. Fuck, he's having a seizure. What do I do now? Wait. Maybe he's . . . Turning into a vampire. Oh god. Oh fuck. Why didn't I fucking pay attention to Twilight?! Oh my god, okay, calm down. What do you do to someone while they're having a seizure? Dan had a medical camp when he was twelve during the summer for a month. They mad mentioned something about flipping the person over.

Suddenly, Phil stopped jerking. His skin turned even paler, if that was possible. Instead of being just silky, it turned a deathly white, which made Dan want to throw up. He imagined seeing Phil in a coffin, with that same ghoulish look, bags under his eyes, no longer breathing. He couldn't bear to think about it.

Phil took a deep breath, eyes still closed. When he did open his eyes, Dan literally jumped back. Instead of being the beautiful mix of blue, green and yellow Dan so adored, they were completely black, even the part around the pupil that was supposed to be white.

Dan gasped, and he felt his heart drop.

Oh my god.

What.

Have.

I.

Done.

He felt completely numb. What was this creature, standing before him? This was not his best friend - okay, fine, boyfriend - before him. His significant other was the adorable, funny, quirky boy who always saw the bright side in a situation, who was innocent and hated hearing, god forbid saying, any curse word. This was not Phil. This was definitely not Phil. Dan kept telling himself this, because, what was the alternative? That this was Phil? This monster? Never.

". . . Dan." The boy had tears in his eyes, seeing Dan back away slowly.

"Don't."

"What? What do you mean 'don't'? Dan! Look at me!" His hoarse voice shouted, straining all he could to make himself heard. He probably shouldn't have been whispering, let alone screaming, but he was so tired and confused and broken. He felt disgusted with himself, for some reason. He had blacked out for a long while, and when he had woken up, Dan had been staring at him look he was something at the bottom of his shoe. God, what had happened? Phil was overwhelmed by how loud everything had become. He could hear the rustling of the leaves of the trees surrounding him, the chirping of forest animals a fair distance away from them and he most definitely heard when Dan breathed, "You are not the person I am in love with."

Phil's eyes filled with tears, blood rushing to his cheeks hearing Dan confess his (apparently, past) love to him. "What - Dan - please, what do you mean? Please, Dan," Phil finally broke down, loud sobs echoing through the grand forest.

"I just got bitten by a vampire and you're telling me you don't love me like you used to? What is this, Screw With Phil Day? I'm so tired of all this - all this . . . Bullshit."

He almost covered his mouth as he whispered the profanity, but he was too tired to even lift his hand to his mouth. Dan gasped, out of sheer surprise, but Phil continued with tears streaming out of his eyes.

"I'm so tired, Dan, and so broken. I feel so dirty. I want to die. I am useless. I am numb. Dan, please, don't leave."

Just then, a panting Longbottom and McGonagall entered the forest, followed by a worried-looking centaur.

"Phil! How long has it been since the vampire bit you?" asked the Herbology professor nervously.

When Phil turned to look at them, the Headmistress covered her mouth with her wrinkled hand and Professor Longbottom looked away. Phil sighed in defeat, smiling slightly.

"I'm sorry I'm so horrendously hideous. This is what I look like in the mornings."

Dan wondered how Phil could joke, literally in a pool of his own blood. But he chuckled anyway.

This was the Phil he knew. Trying to see the light in everything, instead of the dark, even if the lights were out.

Dan felt terrible all at once. How dare he victimize his poor boy? He just got bit by a fucking vampire! Count on Dan to make the victim of a supernatural creature feel like the perpetrator.

"Phil, I'm sorry," Dan said suddenly. "I didn't mean what I said. Let's . . . We can talk about it later. I'm sorry I made you upset after what just happened. I'm sorry."

Phil smiled gratefully and accepted his apology. Of course he did, thought Dan. I can't think of a time where he didn't accept an apology. The two smiled at each other, and professor Longbottom (finally) began tending to Phil's injuries, muttering incantation after incantation, until finally he was only left with the two teeth marks on Phil's neck, the dots still leaking with blood, staining the pure whiteness of his skin.

"Phil, slight pop quiz on class today," said Professor Longbottom quickly. Now is not the time, or place, thought Dan, but he didn't voice this.

"Do you remember what plant you extract juice from then mix with a variety of other ingredients, the event you are attacked by a vampire?"

Phil nodded, feeling a bit stronger - strong enough to prop himself up with his elbows at least - and said, "Gradorellie Grass. It looks quite like regular grass to Muggles, until inspected closely or casting a Revealing Charm. Then it turns a deep violet colour and is thicker than regular grass. It's juice is useful in many medical areas, like hospitals or, in this case, Herbology classes."

Dan was surprised at how well Phil had retained the information. He, himself, hadn't paid the class much attention - most of it was directed at Phil. As it was most of the time.

"You're absolutely correct," congratulated Longbottom. "So, that is exactly what we will do. You're so lucky that this potion only requires 12 hours to make, or else . . . I wouldn't want to worry about that. In the meantime, Daniel, will you escort Phil to the infirmary while I make his potion?"

Dan nodded and helped Phil up, supporting the limping boy. Together, they made their way up four flights of stairs, (Dan muttering, wondering about why wizards didn't have elevators) until they finally reached the nurse's wing. At once, Madam Pomfrey attended to Phil, taking him and placing him in a cot near the end of the hallway, leaving Dan alone. When Madam Pomfrey left Phil to himself "to rest," Dan tip toed over to his cot and sat on the bed, grabbing both of Phil's hands in one of his.

What a beautiful sight, thought Dan, Phil's snow-white fingers interlaced with Dan's tanner ones. They looked like they belonged together, the colours mixing with each other.

"Hey," said Phil.

"Hey," said Dan.

"Why so talkative?" Phil joked.

Dan chuckled, squeezing his boyfriend's hands. He couldn't get used to seeing Phil's completely black eyes. He looked like a demon. Well, thought Dan. Technically, he sort of is.

But he's an angel to me.

They sat there like that for a while, looking at eachother, until finally Phil broke the silence. "So . . . What was that you said about me in the Forest earlier?" Dan blushed, remembering what he hadn't meant to say out loud, but did anyway. Phil could hear Dan's racing heartbeat. That's pretty cool, he thought. I could get used to being a vampire. It's pretty rad, now that I think about it. Other than the bloodsucking demon part -

Phil had gone off into space, forgetting about the question he had asked Dan, but was snapped back into reality when Dan answered. "I don't know what you're talking about," he lied.

"Perhaps I can enlighten you then. I remember something about you . . . Loving me. Or at least you used to. I don't know how you feel about me currently, or even if that was true."

Dan reddened, his gaze shifting to his suddenly-interesting Converse.

"Phil . . . It was true. I did love you. For a long time. I," Dan cleared his throat, blushing completely furiously,

"I do love you."