Warning: Vampire, blood, darkness, angst, slash,
AU, OOC, necromancy, beast, incest, BDSM, chan. Rated R-NC17. You've
been warned!
Pairing: as of now confirmed LMxHPxSS and RLxHG
Thank you for my beta: Maxim
Disclaimer: Harry Potter belonged
to J.K Rowling or otherwise stated.
Trinity Blood: Crimson
Stigmata
By IncubusSuccubus
Excerpt from the CARNIVAL: The Tale of Lillith. Introduction (Continued)
I was once a human. A normal girl with an ordinary dream: a beautiful wedding, a husband, children, and a family.
A life.
Such a dream for a young girl in the cups of adulthood.
Such a fairytale dream … long forgotten now, but before…
I was twenty years old. Twenty springs had passed by without so much of a thrill. I studied at home with the best tutors in the country. I had everything a little spoiled princess could have; riches, beauty, kindness, and my loving father.
My father was the little town minister. He was strict but kind, strong-headed but gentle. We were one happy family. My mother, on the other hand, died giving life to me. She named me before her last breath. I was named after the flowers she loved, Lilies. My father added my second name, Ederlina.
Then, I fell in love.
I was young and foolish. And I was in love with that man, the one and only, my Enrique.
My Beloved.
My cousin.
Crimson II: Somnia Memorias. – Dream Memories
The air was colder and biting in the dungeon. Really, the blonde thought, to pick living quarters in such an environment was not good for someone's health, no matter what his or her nature was. The blonde boy with silver blue eyes was amused. Discarding his outer robes, he was now comfortably seated on the dark green settee.
The fireplace was lit and soon the chamber warmed. The fire flickered playfully, enchanting the blonde boy. He couldn't help but be fascinated by it – deadly to his kind, yes, but almost too beautiful to resist and to touch.
Even his friend sometimes wondered about his sanity. He loved to play with fire, his friend once said. He smiled inwardly and breathed in deeply. The chamber and the fireplace smelled of sandalwood, herbs and spice, just like the owner.
Said owner just walked in with two cups and a teapot with hot water. He'd had time to observe his blonde companion. He admitted the young and innocent teenager look that the blonde sported was disconcerting, as he knew the blonde was anything but these.
The now young boy was so young, dressed in his Hogwarts white shirt (stretched fittingly over broad chest and shoulders) and dark brown trousers (to suit his well-toned body). His green and silver tie and the top two buttons of his shirt were undone, revealing a glimpse of white milky skin.
"Tea, Luce?" he asked as he set the tea on the coffee tables between the two settees. His black robes pooled around him as he sat down before the fireplace, opposite to Lucifier.
"Yes, please," said the blonde. "Thank you, Severus."
Severus prepared the tea for the two of them. Elegant white bony hands unfolded two thin paper wrappers and poured their content into the teapot. They waited for a while for the tea to sit in before Severus poured for the two of them.
They sat there in silence. Lucifier's eyes looked around, taking in the changes in the chamber. It had been so long. The walls were still dark green and blackened grey. Severus maintained the minimal lighting and only true elves firelight lit the chamber.
Severus caught the blonde's eyes. "I'd rather you dropped your glamour, Luce. It was compromising to host a 'student' after curfew, in my private chamber," he said, dryly.
Lucifier smirked. "Afraid I would ruin your reputation, Severus?"
The Dark Wizard scowled darkly. "I'm not one of your toys. Save it for Potter."
The blonde blinked. "I did," he said blankly. "But you've always been my favourite…to tease."
Severus sighed. "Lucifier Draconis Malfoy…"
"Okay, fine," pouted the persona of the young child. His silver blue eyes glinted playfully. A bit of his blood and a spell later, the blonde boy unlocked his glamour, releasing the tie of magic from his core. The changes were quick; his body was taller, heavier, his blonde hair was longer. Lucifier's face became angular, with a strong jaw and an older, aristocrat face. His uniform altered to fit his new height and body.
Severus watched his friend transformed. Gone the youth, he'd been replaced by an older, more experienced man. Lucifier and he went a long way. He was older by several centuries and was there when Severus was reborn. He frowned. "You shouldn't use your 'fake' family to wander in the castle, Luce. What if someone sees you? Or Heaven forbid, the Headmaster?"
"Relax, Severus. Even as powerful as Albus Dumbledore is, he can't see pass blood magic," said Lucifier, relaxing on the settee. "Besides, this 'Draco Malfoy', my /son/, is a Prefect. And in the Slytherin tradition, he has his own room."
"I don't like it, Luce. The Headmaster is suspicious at best. Not to mention he and the others are partial to the other side of the war."
"I'll be careful, Severus," pacified the blonde. "I'm rather worried about our mutual friends." He sneered. "Rumour has it the Dark Lord was not as dead as the Headmaster said."
"Yes," agreed Severus. "The Headmaster called an Order meeting a week before. There were evil activities' sightings in Romania. What about your side?"
"The Rat contacted me." Lucifier took the cup from the table and sipped the tea before continuing. "The snivelling creature has the gal to give me orders from the Dark Lord." Dark Lord my pale aristocrat ass, thought Lucifier. The half-blood moron couldn't even resurrect himself properly. Even so…"I'm concerned for the new restored form of You Know Who."
"So does Albus," sighed Severus. It was going to be a long year. Their kind has already its own problems, now they had to clean other messes as well.
"Yes, the Headmaster should be worried. He didn't get the 'Saviour' he wanted. The Longbottom boy is pathetic, and I'm not going to hand over Potter."
The Potions Master scowled. "Aside from the brat, we should focus on the Dark Lord. We don't know where he's been since the brat blasted him out of this plane."
"The Princeps has some ideas."
"Lord Cain has contacted you?"
"Yes. He asked me to come back. I prefer to stay at Hogwarts. Potter is young still, and the bond is weak."
"You did bond him even when you knew he has another name."
"I know." Lucifier sighed. "But I have to return."
"And Potter? What if something happens to the boy?"
"Ah, you can protect him, right Sevvie?"
Severus glowered. "Don't. Call. Me. THAT. Name."
"Why not? Severus is rather long and you did shorten my name."
"Yours is proper. Sevvie, however, is not."
"Aw, but Sevvie…"
The man glared.
Lucifier chuckled. "Fine, fine." He finished his tea and stood up. "I leave the day after tomorrow. Give the Headmaster an excuse, will you?"
"That shouldn't be a problem. I can tell him your fake family has a small gathering. Your 'wife' should be pleased to see his prodigal son home." Honestly, disguising as Draco Malfoy. Granted, the boy and the mother were not in London or anywhere in England at the moment. They were someone else's toys, which Lucius had borrowed for his sick game.
"Sarcasm doesn't suit you, Severus."
"Just go away, Luce."
Lucifier laughed as he leaved under the disguise of the young Slytherin Prefect.
After the blonde left, the exhausted Potions Master leaned and relaxed under the warm glow of the fireplace. Yes, he would protect the boy, and Lucifier knew it and Severus hated it.
Somnia Memorias
Lucifier Draconis Malfoy, born Lucian D' (Dragoon) Mal Foi was having fun between his duty to spy for the Princeps, Cain, to be the current Dark Lord's fake follower and to be the Malfoy patriarch, Lucius Malfoy. In his spare time, he disguised as his 'son', Draco Malfoy, who currently was non-existent. A French Noble descendant, Malfoy was a branch of the Mal Foi lineage, rumoured to have a connection with the Royal French blood.
Severus Solvanus Snape, born Septimus Severe Prince, preferred a quiet time, a good book and tea. Rumoured to be a Slytherin half-blood Prince who changed his name to Snape, grumbling between his teaching job and spying for the Princeps, also a fake member of the Order of the Phoenix under the Headmaster of Hogwarts and a fake Death Eater for the current Dark Lord, Severus was originally Romany, famous for their dark hair, dark eyes and Dark Magic.
Together, they'd infiltrate the Wizarding World since the middle 70's, slipping unnoticed by the [ Watchers , under the Ministry's eyes and the Headmaster's beard.
They started easily enough: magical students entering their first year at Hogwarts, establishing the life of normal wizards (albeit dark, but not evil).
Under the orders of Cain, Lucius worked in the Ministry as a Hogwarts School Governor upon graduation. The Pure-blooded Malfoy was ripe enough to be recruited by the Dark Lord by then. Cain was counting on it to plant his spy within the Dark Lord's ranks. Sure enough, the name and Lucifier's talent as a politician gained enough trust and his inclusion in the Inner circle.
While Lucius was busy, Severus Snape accepted the apprenticeship for the position of Potions Master, with the Headmaster's recommendation, to one Nicholas Flamel. With his Potions skill, Severus was also accepted in the Death Eater circle, despite his half-blood status. Being friends with Lucius was a sure guarantee. The Dark Lord encouraged Severus to accept the Potions Master job in Hogwarts, wanting a spy in Dumbledore's staff and the Order of the Phoenix.
Then Severus admitted to Dumbledore that the Dark Lord sent him, and he wanted out. Dumbledore agreed to have Severus in return for spying for the Death Eater, not knowing the double spy was thrice a spy for the Princeps.
Cain's calculation was set surrounding Hogwarts, the Dark Lord and the Headmaster. Hogwarts as the prime battleground, rich with old magic and wards strong enough.
His black chess pieces were placed. The other factions may have the first move, but he has countered it. Now he was waiting for his enemy to make the next.
Ah, so much to do in so little time.
Somnia Memorias
Harry remembered when he was little. He was an odd boy, too skinny, too small for a boy of his age. His family often called him a freak. They hated him, but had no choice but take him in. He was, though barely, fed and clothed. Even the cupboard under the stair was bearable, but no seven-year-old boy he knew shared the same living place.
They also called him a monster, although only children believed in monsters under the stairs (or in the closet, or under the bed). His uncle and aunt were silly like that, or so he thought.
Nah.
They just really, really hated him.
The verbal abuse could go on as long as they wanted, not physically damaging but screwing his head somewhat. No. Never. He got a smack there perhaps, or a hit on his arm for being a no-good freak. The Dursleys were afraid. Fear for the unknown often made people hurt the thing they feared.
Harry supposed it was no different in the Wizarding World. They might be strong magically, purebloods even, powerful among the people, more than the Muggles. But they were not invincible. Other creatures, the ones they hated, were more powerful. They made the law then, to repress the non-human creatures and the Halfbreeds. They hid themselves behind the law. The Muggles they so detested and looked down upon were larger than life, with their technology to compensate the lack of magic and by sheer numbers. And yet, they were too proud.
Truly. Stupid.
Somnia Memorias
Hermione couldn't even remember normal. What was normal? A normal girl was going to school: learning different languages, math, chemistry, biology, social sciences, etc. A normal girl surely was not a witch.
Hermione always thought her family was normal. Even if she was a witch in training. A dentist father, a workingwoman mother. They had a decent house, two storages, complete with electronic kitchen, a living room with a television and an entertainment set and a wonderful garden in the upper scale London.
She was wrong.
Gahh. She nearly tore his bushy hair apart. How many more secrets did her parents have anyway? They were not magical, but they did give birth to her. Even without magic, their talents, their intelligence was higher than the average. Heck. They gave birth to the smartest witch in the sixth year.
Hermione was not a patient young woman. She mailed her request to her parents. Their reply was to wait for their family friend to come and explain it to her.
Hermione really hated waiting.
Somnia Memorias
Ron Weasley couldn't remember ever not being normal. He was a wizard. He was magical, and it was ordinary in his world.
He wasn't special. Anything he would do, his older brothers had already done (Head boy, Quiddicth, Prefect, Pranksters). Sure, he was Harry's friend. He envied him. It was petty. But now he didn't want it anymore. The fame, the fans, the publicity. The Danger. Death.
He was glad, oh he was, having an ordinary life, and his family (father, mother, brothers and sister) together with him. Because Harry was not.
Then he felt ashamed.
He didn't understand before, but now he did.
He could be proud. He matured.
And when he thought he would lead an ordinary life, the reality of Hogwarts and its fate came into his life.
The Headmaster had given him the [ Chronicle . The particular key event he needed to scribe. A responsibility. He was special, they said.
And he didn't want it so much anymore.
Somnia Memorias
Dinner was somewhat quiet. The students were generally tired on Mondays. They saved their energies for homework for the rest of the week. Or for any other activities.
On the Gryffindor table, the talk went on and on for the upcoming Quiddicth game. It was the first game of the season, Slytherin versus Gryffindor.
Harry had to admit, under the leadership of the newly reformed Draco Malfoy, their tactics were (dare he say it to his friends?) cleaner, but trickier. Ron would probably maim him for even suggesting Malfoy had a brain to think of such clever moves.
They. Were. In. Denial. In Harry's honest opinion.
He, on the other hand, appreciated a worthy rival. Winning against weak opponents became a bore after a time. Harry discussed his plan with Angelina, their Quiddicth Captain. Ron still mourned for the fact Harry was not taking the captaincy and the Prefect duty for their year. He'd left the Prefect duty for the male dorm for Neville. It was about time to boost his Gryffindor moral.
Harry laughed at something Hermione'd said. She'd never understand the game. 'Boys,' she always said, 'have eyes only for sport, sex, and booze; for everything else, there's a woman.' Most of the boys denied it, some grinned and all the girls gave catcalls for the smart witch.
Somnia Memorias
Laughter exploded once again from the rowdiest house in Hogwarts. Draco Malfoy found himself envious of the House of the Lion. When he was Lucius and still a student, he had companionship like that; those were the darker days when they were rebels. The generation now, on the other hand, lacked lustre.
Under the real Draco, they were dull and lifeless. He supposed Draco being a controllable puppet had its uses, being pretty like a doll, Nefertiti's exotic pet he'd borrowed just for show.
But now he was here again. Within weeks, he brought back all of the Slytherin glory. Taking back the hierarchy of command within the Snake House, he ruled supreme. Being a charismatic and noble Malfoy helped.
He watched the Lion's table again and almost snarled as he watched the Granger chit touching /his/ Harry, again, and sitting a tad too close. It took his whole centuries of control not to storm his way there and separate the two.
No. He was not jealous. He was possessive.
He swore; he would have to make a move soon.
Somnia Memorias
Severus Snape looked up from his meal. He was rightly worried for his friend. They were shadows underneath their lives. They were spies. Lucifier surprised him. To be obsessed with his prey was not their kind's way. The boy could be distracting. His kind was not supposed to fall under the prey's charm. Potter was an exception. Severus could understand the beauty of the Potter spawn. He had hated the father with every fibre of his being. He'd prepared himself before the boy's entry into the Wizarding World with so much hate.
He. Hated. The boy.
But now his blonde companion was head over heels with the Gryffindor brat. Severus sighed heavily. He truly believe the boy was useless brat but…
"What do you think, Severus?" The sound of the old man broke his musing.
"Hm? Oh what is it again, Headmaster?"
"This year's Defence Against the Dark Arts," said Albus Dumbledore. His blue eyes glimmered under the light. Sometimes Severus wondered if the old man was on crack. "You know him, Severus." Really, he hated other people calling him intimately aside from his closest friends. With Dumbledore going around and around before dropping the bomb, eyes twinkling, grandfatherly smile, atrocious robes (tonight was neon purple, with a yellow moon and stars)… "Remus Lupin was delighted to accept the vacancy."
Severus almost spluttered, "What? Headmaster…"
"Now, now, dear boy, I know you weren't friends before but surely after these years you can bury your, ah, misunderstandings…" smiled the Headmaster.
The Potions Master suddenly felt a headache coming. They were right down /sworn/ enemies. Here and outside Hogwarts. Especially outside of Hogwarts.
Speak of the Devil. The rouge creature just entered from the side door and greeted the staff, not looking at Severus Snape. Yet. And when he did, the temperature dropped several degrees; frozen fire cracking, imaginary snake and lion appeared behind them oblivious to the rest except the young blonde at the Slytherin table.
Ignoring the sparks shooting between the two men, Professor McGonagall and the Headmaster greeted the man. "Remus, my boy. Welcome, welcome. Have a seat then."
Lupin and he managed to break their staring. The Wizard nodded and quirked a smile.
The level of noise rose up as more curious students watched the head table and wondered about the newcomer. Lupin was dressed like a rouge hunter, a little wild thing, even with tattered, faded, white robes.
After the customary introduction to the rest of the staff and the students, the Potions Master excused himself from the table, claiming he needed to prepare for tomorrow's class.
He was just turning his way to the hallway to his chamber when his enchanted senses tingled some sort of danger. Severus knew he was being followed, but he thought the other man wouldn't foolishly attack him in Hogwarts, known to be neutral ground.
The enraged creature almost landed the first blow. Luckily, Severus had enough training to turn around and sidestepped his attacker. He returned the blow in kind. The air crackled around them.
Severus saw a glint of steel aiming for his side. He crouched almost immediately, but it managed to gash his cheek, drawing a thin line of blood. He hissed between his clenched teeth.
Again, his attacker swept his foot under Severus and tackled the Potions Master onto the ground. Severus snarled, landing on his back. A hand gripped his neck and pinned him with sheer brute strength. The other hand raised the steel object, a dagger, and it plunged. The other man's brown eyes gleamed predatory in gold.
Somnia Memorias
The air shifted once again as Severus knocked the dagger from his opponent's hand. Before he could throw him off, another hand, with sharp pointed claws, descended to end his life for good this time. The Potions Master only had a few seconds to think something to save his ass.
"/stupefy/," cried another voice, successfully rendering the attacker bounded and gagged. The golden-eyed enemy went rigid; his claws dropped an inch from Severus' neck, barely cutting a few strands of hair.
Severus pushed the body off of him. Black eyes momentarily stared at golden brown full with hate. Really, they were /supposed/ to bury their misunderstandings, forgive and forget. Was the Headmaster kidding? Sometimes Dumbledore was just that, an insane old coot.
He sat down with a sudden, splitting headache. His brow knitted together, his skin was paler and his hands trembled slightly. Luckily they were deep in the dungeons; no one ever ventured this way, not even his Slytherin students.
He glanced at his rescuer. Lucifier, in his Draco form, was leaning against the stoned walls, out of breath, with his black mahogany wand raised. The boyish blonde always had a knack for good timing, which often saved them from trouble in the past.
He hated to admit it, but he'd have to thank the bastard later.
Now back to the problem at hand.
"Alright?" asked Lucifier, without looking at his companion. Instead, he trained his eyes at the petrified lump. Now, you have got to admire the man. Without even breaking a sweat or creasing his meticulous robes, he was able to catch up with them, rescue Severus and capture the other man.
"I'm fine," replied Severus, standing up and dusting his black robes. Straightened, he was also looking at their prisoner. He knew his back was sore and his ankle sprained, but nothing too serious. He took his wand and levitated the lump into his private workroom.
Lucifier put up a series of locking, silencing and private spells behind them as he closed the door.
"What should we do with him, Severus?"
"Dissect him and make him my next potion experiment?" asked Severus, dryly. He went to his liquor collection and poured two glasses of scotch, then offered one to Lucius.
Lucius twitched as he accepted the glass. Turning back, the both of them stared into a pair of glaring, menacing golden eyes, and sighed. "What should we do with Lupin, Severus?" asked the blonde.
The Potions Master shrugged, his eyes trailing along their petrified captive warily. "Any reason why you attacked me?" he asked the new DADA professor with interest. Lupin gave out a muffled sound with an angry tone. "Right, sorry. /Enervate!/"
When Lupin was released from the full body bind, Lupin swore out loud but didn't attack them. At this point, it was to his disadvantage to engage in a fight, with two against one. And they knew it, seeing the blonde's and the Dark Master's smug faces.
"It's against the magical law to attack the enemy in sacred ground," said Severus after a long silence.
"Oh? Isn't the point of the game eliminating potential players?" Lupin reverted to a kind, lovely looking persona, smile and all that.
Lucius sneered. "The players aren't complete yet; as the rules state, no fighting should occur in sacred ground."
Lupin just shrugged. True to his nature, he just wanted to scratch the itch of having to put up with the two dark creatures he was now facing.
Severus and Lucius knew Lupin knew the consequences of fighting to kill. All Lupin wanted was to scare the older man. Severus scoffed at that, as if the man could scare the centuries old Undead.
"So, the Vatican has sent its hounds, eh?"
Lupin glared at the blonde student. "At least, I'm not /Voldemort's/ pet." Then he smiled again, "You lot seem to kiss his ass a lot. Does grovelling to the mad man turn you on?"
"Why you-!!"
Severus grabbed his friend's arm in a tight grip. "Lucius, calm down. He was just pushing your button."
The DADA Professor chuckled lightly and stared at them challengingly.
"The Watcher might favour the Hounds, but Vatican dogs should just keep to yourselves. You are in our soil; as such, you'd better abide by the rules, or England will be your death, my /friend/," said Severus, stressing his point. "Sacred ground or not, we are still under the Black Knights' jurisdiction. We are no more a pet than you are."
"Of course/Severus/," agreed Lupin, much too quickly to their liking.
Severus also loathed people calling his name intimately like that. Oh, they'd known each other for so long, since they were back at school. Lupin always nudged his friends, moving behind the screen, to urge the fighting between two rival houses, Gryffindor and Slytherin. Without his strength as the Undead (such power in the Sacred ground was rendered useless, unless He or She participated in /the/ game), Lupin's friends used to go 'Snivellus hunting', until Lucius had taken Severus under his wings. Oh, how he hated Lupin's Marauders. The dark man glared at Lupin.
Lupin smirked easily. "Can you let me go now? I promise I'll behave. Until the game starts, of course," he said as he walked toward the door. "I'll see you later, Black Knights."
Lucius and Severus watched Lupin leave disdainfully.
As the door closed, Lucius turned to Severus. "I have to report this to Cain; the Brotherhood has made the next move."
"So you'll leave sooner then?"
"I have to. Tonight. Tell that to Dumbledore, using the emergency family excuse," said Lucius, distracted. "And, Severus, please watch over Potter. I'm worried the boy will be involved in the Game."
"Are you sure, Lucius?"Severus wanted to ask about Harry. No. Bad tought. Potter. Yes. What about him then?
"I have to see Cain, and make sure of it. Remember whose son Harry is. I have a feeling Lupin also came here to see the boy. So please?" Lucius looked really worried and restless. On one side he needed to report to Cain but on the other side he couldn't, didn't want, to leave his blood mate.
"You don't have to ask, Lucius." Severus sighed. What ever happened happens.
Somnia Memorias
Remus Jacob Lupin strolled down the hall to his chamber. After making sure his chamber was secure, he penned a letter that looked like a report. He quickly finished it up with his clan imago and his name. Calling his white eagle, he attached the letter on his pet messenger. "Be a good girl, Nifelheim, and send this to Abel." The eagle purred under his fingers, then cawed once before taking off into the sky.
Remus's eyes turned golden once more as he watched it until Nifelheim disappeared into the night.
Somnia Memorias
Two hooded men walked slowly in the darkness, passing the protection ward to the other side.
"Be careful, Lucius," said the Head of Slytherin.
The blonde smiled softly. "Don't worry, Severus. I will be back soon."
A crack of Apparition later, he was gone. Severus waited a few moments before he returned back to the castle.
Somnia Memorias
Harry stopped at the empty hall, leaning against the walls. Suddenly he was out of breath and his chest throbbed with pain. He clenched his hand into a fist, feeling the sudden tightness suffocate him. He took a couple of deep breaths before it eased into a dull ache.
He looked outside the window with a frown. His whole being felt like it lost something.
Somnia Memorias
Two weeks. Two bloody weeks had passed in sheer pain. Harry had escaped from his friends into the Room of Requirement to seek a quiet, undisturbed sleep. But he turned and turned restlessly on the makeshift bed.
His skin was irritated and his head was in constant pain. It was hard to breathe and his throat felt dry. He was feverish and sweating.
It was hard to hide his condition from Ron and Hermione. Luckily they were busy all of a sudden and found excuses to do their own business. Normally, he would be curious. But now he was glad to avoid questions.
He didn't like to check on Madam Pomfrey. Harry hated the hospital wing and its constraining walls. No doubt the Medi-witch witch would alert his Head of House and the Headmaster, and that was the last thing he wanted.
/It is probably only a cough/, thought Harry. He would get well soon if he slept it off. Yeah. He would.
He coughed heavily.
/Heartbeat/
"Wha…"
/Heartbeat/
Echoes inside his head.
/Heartbeat/
"Stop…" Agony.
/Heartbeat/
"Anyone…"
/Heartbeat/
"Help….?"
/Heartbeat/
Somnia Memorias fin
TBC
to Lacrimosa Dies Illa
G
