I grumbled to myself, children making me run errands for them in the middle of summer! Why I became a teacher, I never fully understood.
I was currently on my way to Flourish and Blotts to pick up some books for pleasure reading where I heard a moan of pain. Not knowing what I was getting myself into, I stepped hesitantly into the alley.
Hearing the noise again, I started snooping around. Walking around the dumpster, I stopped at what I saw.
I had happened upon a very weak and pale Harry Potter. I scooped the boy into my arms, he needed medical attention and fast. He didn't even stir as we Apparated to my home.
Rushing inside, I set him on the couch and cast a diagnostic charm on him, frowning at my discoveries. There was absolutely nothing wrong with him other than he was changing hormonally. But teenagers do that anyway, right?
I shook my head, pulling up a chair and putting my hand on his forehead only to yank it back, he was freezing.
"Bobbles!" I called loudly. Only a pop to my right told me of her presence. "Get some thick blankets."
"Yes Master!" She squeaked, popping back seconds later and handing me a stack of thick blankets. I laid one on Potter, using a heating charm to warm him up faster. I frowned as he wailed in agony again. I sat down and cast an extensive set of diagnostic charms to figure out what in the name of Merlin was wrong with him.
What I found left me shaking, Harry Potter was Changing into a vampire and there wasn't a blasted thing I could do.
Standing up, I strode across the room, letting out a string of curses that would do Peeves proud. What the bloody hell would I do with him now? I couldn't send him back to those muggles like this, nor could I call Dumbledore and have him deal with this. I growled at the wall and resisted the urge to punch it. Violently.
I sighed, resignedly pouring myself a drink and sat at the Golden Boy's side while I waited for it to end.
HPHPHP
I slowly became aware of my surroundings for the second time that night. Or was it day? It certainly felt like day by how bloody bright it was.
I felt my heart working painfully to pump thick blood through my veins. I let out an involuntary groan as I truly felt how sore I was...for absolutely no reason. Suddenly I remembered my reason and shot up only to be forced back down.
"Potter your idiocy never ceases to amaze me. Care to explain what happened this time?" I heard a very familiar, drawling voice say. Before the voice even full registered in my mind, I shot up, past the forceful hands, and went sprawling on my floor. The light was killing my eyes, but I ignored it.
I looked up to find probably the last person I wanted to see on Earth, Severus Snape.
I ignored the ache in my body, particularly my backside, and squinted to see my hated potions professor looming over me, a bored air about him. My brain was screaming at me to get away and get away now while my instincts told me to wait and trust him.
Before I had a chance to decide, I was hauled to my feet, my arm in the Professor's vice-like grip. He practically threw me onto the couch, "Mr. Potter, I will kindly ask you to stay put before you injure yourself further."
I couldn't stand it any more, the light was blinding. He must have noticed because he closed the curtains, lighting a candle. I blinked, my eyes quickly adjusting. Somehow I found my voice, "where am I and what's going on?"
"Potter if you expect your questions to be answered then you must remain calm and keep a level head," Snape said seriously. I made a show of breathing deeply and sitting with my hands folded in my lap.
"Alright Potter, I found you in an alley way unconscious, you are currently in my home. Now how did you get into the alley?" The older man asked.
I racked my brains, trying to remember the events of the previous night. "Um, I was alone, I had to get away from my relatives. Then somehow I had been ambushed, I didn't even hear the guy come up behind me. I couldn't see anything else because it was dark out. I'm pretty sure he was a vampire and he..." I trailed off, remembering what he did. I ripped my shirt off to find a nicely healed scar over my heart. It was thin and almost unnoticeable.
I frowned as I noticed how pale I was. Yesterday I had a dark tan that had been with me for the past few years. Now it looked as if I had been a hermit for the last six months. I looked up to Snape, while I still didn't trust him, I knew he had some very important answers, "what happened?" The other man sighed, "Potter you need to sit down and brace yourself."
I did so, wondering what could be that bad that Severus Snape told me to sit down. "You are becoming a vampire." I couldn't fully grasp what that meant, "could you explain? As I'm sure you know I have very limited knowledge of vampires and I would not like to learn through first hand experience," I snapped, my achy body making me irritable.
He sighed, like he was expecting this. He walked out of the room and came back with a very old and worn book. He handed it to me, "here, I'm sure this will help." For the first time in my entire life, I heard him speak without malice. Instead there was sympathy, which I did not want or need.
I glared at the book for a minute before turning it around to read the title; Your Guide to Becoming A Vampire.
It was obviously hand written and was probably at least a hundred years old, minimum. I opened the cover to find worn parchment. I flipped through to the first page. At first there was nothing, just a blank page, but then words started to appear. The handwriting was cramped and faded, but still legible.
To whomever holds this book, I can only assume you are a fledgling vampire as only true vampires and vampires-to-be can read this. I am very sorry for what happened, not many people choose to become a vampire, not that you can blame them.
As you Change, the book will reveal more and more of itself to you, giving you information as you need it. But for now, let's start off with the basics.
Vampires don't experience bloodlust until their first drastic change - you'll learn more about that later - so you don't need to worry about sucking out human's life force just yet. Most vampires are pale, it's the lack of blood flow.
For now, depending on when you were bitten, you only need to focus on two things. One, is getting past the pain. You will feel sore and achy for the next week or so as your body prepares itself. There are specialized potions for that, just talk with a trusted Potions Master and they should be able to assist you. Two, you must be careful. Sunlight doesn't hurt you, but your eyes will be sensitive to it. You must keep your vampirism to yourself, you are very vulnerable at the moment, and can easily be killed off. You will snap easily, especially if you are already prone to emotional outburts-
I snapped the book shut, "my life keeps getting better and better. I take it you are my trusted potions master that I am supposed to confide in," I practically sneered.
He sighed and pulled something from from his robes, pressing it into my hands, "drink this, Potter. It's a calming draught." He waited until I had downed it and was starting to feel the effects before continuing, "I'm afraid you're going to have to stay with me for the rest of the summer while we figure this out."
I gaped at him, "stay here with you? The rest of the summer? Why do I never get a say in this? Does Dumbledore know? He has to, he has to be the one who told you that. You would never willingly house me. And what am I going to do the rest of the summer? Can you even give me detention-" My ramblings were cut short.
"Potter, shut up, you're becoming hysterical. No, Dumbledore did not tell me that I have to house you. I haven't even talked to him about this. But I am the only one even slightly reliable whom you can be trusted with at the moment." I snorted, "yes, I trust you to not kill me, but that's about it." Snape sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose, "Potter, I will not beat, starve, maim, or torture you while your under my care. Despite the rumors, I do not turn children into potion ingredients. Now, if your done, kindly tell me, will your relatives be okay with you leaving for the rest of the summer?"
I let out a laugh, "okay with it? Hell, they'd probably pay you to take me off their hands. Though everything - books, clothes, wand, broom - is still at their house." Snape rolled his eyes, I could tell he thought my relatives spoiled me and would cry a river at my leaving. Oh well, whatever helps him sleep at night.
"Tonight we'll go to your house and pick up your things. Until then, I advise that you rest. The Change will take a toll on your body and you will find it's quite difficult to go to sleep at night," he lectured. I rolled my eyes and went to lay back down on the couch.
"Potter, you will have your own room. You cannot sleep on the sofa for the rest of the summer." I looked to see Snape standing impatiently beside a door. I forced myself to get up, the couch was much more pleasant than my bed back at Private Drive. He opened the door to reveal a spacious room that would be well lit when the curtains were open. A large, four poster kings sized bed was over on a wall. The walls themselves were a pale blue, making the room seem even more spacious. There was a small, modest desk in front of the window that I went and set my newly-acquired book on. I looked around, the room was bigger than any of the rooms back at Private Drive. I don't know why Snape gave me this room, when he could have just as easily given me a tiny closet-like room that I was used to, I'm sure he had a few that were empty.
I turned to the retreating figure and called out, "thank you, sir." He turned and gave me a jerky nod before walking away, to his private potions lab, I'd assume. He has to have a potions lab, considering he's a potions master. Either that or he's attending to whoevers in his torture chamber, since he has to have one of those too, since he's Snape.
I easily drifted off to sleep, no threat of immediate death hanging above my head. I was woken up quite rudely a few hours later when it was just getting dark out. I sat up and glared at Snape, who was glaring back, "are you always going to wake me up like this?"
"I was this close to just using a stinging hex! You sleep like a rock in a coma," Snape grumbled. I laughed at that and stood up, "never knew you had a sense of humor. So how are we traveling?" I asked, stretching. He arched an eyebrow, "we're apparating. Since you don't have your license yet, you'll be side Apparating with myself." I nodded, I figured as much.
I shoved my feet into my shoes and he led me outside of the wards that contained his house. It was the first time I got to see the outside. He had a small but decent yard surrounded by a plain fence. But the neighborhood, it was so quiet. There wasn't a child or adult in sight. The houses had cars in the driveway and there were signs of life, but it was almost deathly quiet. I could see why Snape lived here.
Before I took his arm, I felt the need to warn him, "I know you probably won't believe me, but just watch out for my relatives. They're muggles and hate magic. They won't take our arrival too well." I told the older wizard. He just nodded and I took his arm. The familiar and hated feeling of traveling by apparation overwhelmed me.
A/N: I don't know why, but I really like this chapter. The first time Harry and Snape get to interact without hexing each other stupid. Thanks to all those who added it to their stories and commented. And the vampire, while he will be a reoccuring character, he's totally OCC, just a product of my twisted imagination. And if you haven't already, remember to subscribe and comment. Those who do get a non-existent Christmas present! Or whatever holiday you happen to celebrate! I'm going to try to update like twice a week, haven't figured out which days yet, but I'm working on it.
