-1AN: I don't own anything except the general ideas but nothing originating from Harry Potter belongs to me in any way shape or form. A few characters you don't recognize are mine, but not much.

A/N : I made some grammatical fixes in chapter two, plus I put archon in there…he's not in this story, I meant to put Virtyr. Sorry for any confusion.

Chapter Two

Severus gazed through his mask, watching the man who he was not allowed to kill, walk around like some sort of god. He could feel his power tingling in his fingertips. It would be so easy to strike him down once and for all.

And, yet, he could not do it. The fact that he was not capable of protecting those he cared about burned him to his core. Rajen, the leader of all the vampires in Europe, had created a noose and placed it oh so gingerly over Severus neck, or rather, his humans' necks which meant even more to him than his own.

It was no longer only about his friendship to Horatio and his vow, although that was a big part of it. No, now it was something more. He cared about his humans, about Lily-now Potter- and even to some extent her husband James, although he still couldn't stand being in the presence of the brat. He would protect them and their son. As long as he stayed diligent, he knew he could keep all of them from harm, after all, not even this psychopath Voldemort had the power to defeat a vampire from one of the most powerful vampiric lines in existence.

Severus noticed the room starting to empty and turned to leave when the man named Voldemort called his name.

"Yes, my lord?" he asked bowing slightly as he approached him.

"Come closer, Severus, you need not bow," Severus regarded the other man. He was older, but still attractive. He reminded Severus of an insane version of the vampire Virtyr, only without the wisdom either…maybe they didn't resemble each other at all.

"Severus, you were an excellent student in school and have since become the youngest potion master in Europe."

"Yes, my lord," Severus responded out of habit. He had a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach; when Voldemort complimented anyone it wasn't for their benefit but instead he was more like thinking his plan through.

"I want you to obtain a position at Hogwarts; that nuisance Dumbledore is forever snooping around my affairs and doing his best to discredit me, I want someone in his camp. Obtain his trust, and report back to me," Voldemort wore a smile that quite frankly unsettled Severus. Without the smile, Voldemort didn't seem so insane, but with it…Severus was reminded of Alice in Wonderland.

"You are dismissed."

VOVOVOVOVOVOVOVOVOVOVOVOVOVOVOVOVOVOVOVOVO

Severus arrived at his London flat around two o clock in the morning. He didn't understand why Voldemort made his meetings last so long, there were much better things to do at night.

One of which happened to be sleeping occasionally. He sighed as he looked down at his watch. There would be no rest for him tonight. He had just enough time to take a shower to wash off the scent obtained by being around wizards too long and go to the council meeting as Virtyr requested.

Normally he didn't care to attend the meetings. Vampire politics were complicated and everyone wanted to prove they were the "alpha" in the group. Severus' demon was ultra dominant and hard to control when it thought someone was challenging it as other vampires often do. But he'd go, for nothing else but to appease Julian and Virtyr.

Stepping out of the shower, he donned a pair of black slacks and a rich button down. With his coat he was off to the meeting.

VOVOVOVOVOVOVOVOVOVOVOVOVOVOVOVOVOVOVOVOVO

"Your complaining is incessant, Randie. When will you learn to stop shoving your problems on others?" Virtyr asked, tired of Furie's noise making.

"You all told me to wait for him to be present, but he never is! Do you wish me to start a hunt, take it directly to him? I am doing the correct thing by coming to you all first."

"A hunt would not be the best choice for you or your clan, Randie. After all, Severus may be estranged from his father, but I doubt Lord Draug would appreciate you killing his eldest son and heir."

"I don't give a damn what that anarchist prat appreciates! Severus needs to-"

"I need to what exactly?" Severus asked smoothly as he walked into the room and over to greet Julian who sat at the head of the table.

"Severus, I-" Furie started in a pitch noticeably higher than normal.

"Randie, here was just talking about how much he cares for you. He says you worry him a great deal," interrupted Lily with a smirk on her face.

"Lily, always a pleasure," Severus bent to kiss her hand while flashing a charming smile.

Seemingly having rediscovered his manhood, "Severus, your actions endanger us all!" Furie all but shouted.

"Do they really, and here I thought, as a vampire of no clan, as you bring to my attention at every meeting, had no bearing at all on the great leaders of this sector."

"Julian, you see this. He mocks us and our organization," complained Furie to Julian.

Julian smirked, "I must have missed that part. How do-"

"Julian, you know-"

Virtyr swiftly rose from his seat, "How dare you interrupt him! This has gone on far too long; you have no respect for the traditions of this council or for our leader. He's already said his views on the matter and told you if you have a problem talk about it with Severus and yet the minute he says something to you, you run back to Julian like some petulant two year old."

"I'm sick of this," Furie declared, Severus expected him to stomp his foot. "All of you bypass the laws for each other and I will no longer stand for it!" He stormed his way out of the room.

"Think he'll do something stupid?" Lily asked.

"Undoubtedly," responded Severus, "let's just hope it will not affect the rest of us."

VOVOVOVOVOVOVOVOVOVOVOVOVOVOVOVO

Furie practically ran into his private house. Severus was a cocky bastard who thought just because he was the son of some big shot that he could march his way through Europe bossing everyone around. He didn't get that in this territory, he was clanless and should behave as such.

Furie hated Severus ever since he killed Furie's brother and received no punishment. Severus said it was his right to kill him since he had claimed the human- Horatio- and Furie's brother had no right to touch him. Virtyr and now Julian always go along with whatever Severus decides, all because they want to make nice with the heir of the Draug Empire.

He had to figure out how to get him. One way or another Furie would make Severus and his little pet humans pay.

He heard the door swing open and spun around, gun pointing in the direction of the noise.

Rajen smiled at him, "Furie, I'm insulted, here I thought we were friends."

"We are, my lord," Furie said while smiling back.

"Good, because you know how I treat people who aren't my friends," Rajen said, all the while disturbingly staring at Furie, "I understand you have a problem with Severus…"

VOVOVOVOVOVOVOVOVOVOVOVOVOVOVOVOVO

Severus watched the moon disappear as night bowed to dawn. It had been eventful to say the least. He received a new mission from Voldemort and he learned he needed to watch out for Furie even more then he already had been. The man would never let go what happened between Severus and Furie's brother, even though Severus acted in self defense. He didn't want to kill the other vampire.

But now he needed to concentrate on Dumbledore. He could have predicted Dumbledore would be an important player in the dealings with Voldemort, but now that he knew, Severus couldn't decide if he should trust him or not.

Before starting Hogwarts all those years ago, Severus was nervous. He heard from all sorts of sources, what a powerful wizard Dumbledore was and how he always knew when someone was lying. Severus was let down by reality. Dumbledore was powerful and intelligent, but nowhere near the extremes people seemed to think. No, he wasn't a god…but he was a master manipulator, and , through that mastery, he had most of the wizarding world wrapped around his finger. Severus admired his skill.

VOVOVOVOVOVOVOVOVOVOVOVOVO

Severus penned a letter to the headmaster requesting an interview and mailed along with his resume. He wanted to find out some information on the Headmaster, so he stalked him to a pub one evening that was in fact owned by Albus' brother Aberforthe.

The room rank of wizard, a smell Severus was learning to detest. The human magic literally buzzed in the air around him. He followed Albus, accompanied by a strange bespectacled woman, into one of the back rooms.

"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches... born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies..."

Severus overhead a voice from the room say. He crept closer to the door trying to hear more clearly over the buzz in the walls.

"and the Dark Lord…"

"Hey you! What you think you're doing there?" Severus scrambled to rise from his, retrospectively, very suspicious position crouched on the floor.

"I dropped a galleon," he said, about to jumble the man's memories when he caught a flash of brown hair come around the corner and hop right back. Furie…Fuck.

He saw Furie smile from his hiding place at him. Meanwhile, Aberforthe was becoming increasingly annoyed with Severus and his dropped galleon story. Aberforthe knew he was lying.

Severus could not risk distracting Aberforthe with Furie standing right there.

Aberforthe yanked Severus upright and pulled him to the backdoor of the pub before shoving him through.

Severus stumbled out, spinning around to glare at the now closed, locked door. He needed to spy on Albus and Albus' idiot brother was not making it easy.

VOVOVOVOVOVOVOVOVOVOVOVOVO

Furie teleported and ran as fast as he could to Rajen's chambers.

"My lord, my lord!" he said as he stumbled in. Rajen looked at him with bored eyes, "I saw him spying on a human and then this other human threw him out of the place. It was hilarious, my lord. Severus was being treated like a common rag doll."

"Who was he spying on?"

"Some human named Albus Dumb old' Door or something like that," Rajen looked up as Furie said the name.

"Dumbledore?"

"Yes, that's it. Do you know him?"

Rajen smiled as he thought of a new way to torment, Severus. And it all fit into the laws of their kind, "Of him, yes. He's the headmaster of a school for magical children and the main opposing force to the Dark Wizard Voldemort."

"The one you wouldn't let Severus kill? Why would he spy on him?" Furie asked confusedly.

"Why indeed, what did Severus learn on his 'mission'?"

"Some odd, bug-looking lady started speaking oddly, talking about a child who will defeat Voldemort."

"What child?" Rajen asked quietly , ideas forming in his mind.

"Err- someone called Longbottem or Potter."

Rajen smirked evilly, "Does Severus know that?"

"I don't think so, why? Is it important?"

"Yes Randie, it is important. Very important," Rajen's smirk grew into an evil smile. This time, he'd get Severus, and all it would take were a few words.

VOVOVOVOVOVOVOVOVOVOVOVOVOVOVO

Severus returned to his apartment to try to get the sleep that's been avoiding him since he'd heard left Albus and the pub.. He didn't trust humans and the things they said behind closed doors, but something about the way that person spoke made him feel like it was important. Perhaps the one she was referring to would be essential in taking down Voldemort.

Casting off his robe, he set about preparing a drink. He entered his kitchen and immediately whipped out his knife upon sensing more than seeing the intruder.

"Relax, Severus, I'm just here for a friendly chat," stated Rajen.

"What do you want?" Severus asked, his voice filled with annoyance more than anything else.

"I heard you've taken up spying on old men as a hobby. See anything interesting?"

"Not really," Severus responded coolly.

"Really? Randie said both he and you were privileged to hear a prophecy of sorts. You will not interfere with the human's prophecy."

Severus regarded the vampire leader before him, "You're joking." Severus closely watched the lines of Rajen's face, his anger slowly building within. "There's no way you could not be joking. You came to me, ordered me not to kill Voldemort. I didn't. Instead, I found other ways to deal with the threat he posed, and while I am dealing with the charade you forced me to create, you come here and tell me not to interfere with some fucking prophecy, which by the way, I didn't even know was a prophecy until you just said so."

"You will not upset the balance, I will not allow it."

"Like you give a damn about the balance; your only concern is in making my life as difficult as possible."

"Believe me, they actually go hand in hand," Severus wanted to wipe the smug smirk off of Rajen's face with his fist. "I'll see you later Severus, you know me, I'm a busy, busy man."

Severus launched his knife into the wall behind where Rajen had been standing. He couldn't take it. He'd go mad if he had to obey Rajen's every command and thought. So Rajen didn't want him to tell Voldemort that prophecy, eh? Well, forget that; he'd show Rajen he didn't care what orders he doled out. Severus stormed out the kitchen, thoughts of a drink completely gone. Re-donning his robe, he set out to see his "master."

VOVOVOVOVOVOVOVOVOVOVO

"To what do I owe this pleasure, Severus?"

"My Lord, I overheard a prophecy which concerns you…"