Disclaimer: I don't own anything form the Harry Potter universe, as everything belongs to J.K. Rowling! She's great!! I'm so happy she exists! laughs

A/N: My lovely readers!! I'm so amazed. You're all so great. I loved all reviews I got and I'm so happy that there were so many! Thank you all, keep it up! I write -you review. ) Anyway, this chapter is dedicated to Morganzola, a great friend of mine, who had motivated me a lot! She's the reason you all get this chapter right on time! Thanks!

Now, I don't want to withhold the story anymore-

read on and ENJOY!!

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After the welcoming feast, Harry told his friends to go ahead to Gryffindor tower without him. The way Snape had looked had scared him and even though Dumbledore hadn't said the man was all better, Harry had expected to see Snape in a semblance of his usual, bad mood.

But that hadn't been the case. Snape's eyes had been empty and without their usual glare, they looked dead. Harry shivered and made his way to the headmaster's office.

Arriving in front of the gargoyle, he realized that he had no idea what the password was. He resigned himself to guessing, which didn't get him very far.

After almost twenty guesses, the gargoyle still blocked the moving staircase, making Harry give up and leave. He needed to know what was up with Snape. It was his fault, after all, that the man was in this situation. A twinge of guilt made Harry quicken his steps.

The door to his DADA teacher's quarters was closed as Harry arrived, but he was sure the werewolf was there. He was absolutely convinced he was. Why he knew that with such certainty, Harry didn't know. And he didn't much care, for his mind was focused on the haunting image of his Potions Professor staring emotionlessly at him.

Harry knocked.

Remus opened the door, looking surprised for a moment and was about to say something, when Harry interrupted him.

'Remus, can I come in? It's about Snape. It's important.' He bit his lip in concern.

The man nodded, 'Professor Snape', he distractedly corrected Harry.

Remus stepped aside and ushered Harry over to a comfortable looking sofa. They sat down and Remus asked, 'Why do you want to talk about Severus?'

Surprised, Harry looked up from his fidgeting hands. 'You didn't notice?', he asked.

How couldn't he have noticed? Remus had been sitting at the head table, too. Someone must have told him about Snape's... condition.

Seeing the werewolf's confused expression, Harry concluded that no, no one had told the man.

'It's... In the summer holidays Snape came over to the Dursleys' house to test my Occlumency. I somehow sucked his mind and soul into my mind and something happened and then I returned his mind and soul to him, but they weren't the same as before- now he acts really strange- like he's not himself.' Harry said in a rush. He glanced at the werewolf, who seemed a little overwhelmed.

'No, I haven't been informed about that.' He said slowly. 'Why didn't you tell me when we were at Grimmauld Place?'

Harry tried to remember why he hadn't told the man, but couldn't seem to find a reason why he hadn't.

'I don't know. I guess I forgot. Dumbledore had told me that he was better, so I wasn't as worried... and I think I didn't talk about Snape because of all this...', he gestured at himself, referring to his being a vampire.

Remus nodded. 'So, he's changed? How?' He seemed oddly concerned, Harry thought. Well, they were colleagues, after all.

Harry remembered the serene look in Snape's eyes. 'He seems like a different person. Right after I sucked out his soul, he was unconscious, so I wouldn't know how he would have acted then. But now... he looks so odd. Like he... doesn't recognize me. He didn't glare and his eyes... were so dead, somehow.' Harry trailed off.

'Do you believe he has some kind of amnesia? That he looks like that because he can't remember?' Remus asked softly.

Harry mind latched onto the amnesia theory. 'Yes! That would make sense. He did seem lost, somehow.'

Harry felt relieved at having found a plausible explanation.

But Remus frowned. 'You know, he won't be able to teach if he indeed has amnesia.'

Harry watched the man as he seemed to loose himself in thought.

Suddenly, Remus sat up and glanced at Harry.

'Harry, I'm sorry to dimiss you like this, but I have to speak to the headmaster about this.'

Harry nodded, a little disappointed. 'Thanks for your time, anyway.' He made to walk out, but Remus stopped him. 'I nearly forgot- I have an idea why you felt so restless and more aggressive. It's strange that I didn't think of it immediately, when you had that seizure in Grimmauld Place. It's something all vampires experience. And a submissive vampire like you is bound to feel even more restless than a dominant one would...' He looked thoughtful for a moment.

Harry had no idea what the man was saying. He was submissive? How would the werewolf know? And what exactly did that mean for him, being submissive?

'Um. What? I'm submissive? Why?' Harry asked in confusion.

Remus seemed genuinely surprised that Harry didn't know what he was talking about.

'You're a submissive vampire, Harry. You are feeling restless because you need to find your mate soon.'

Harry gaped, flabbergasted. 'What? Oh Merlin, a MATE?'

He didn't want to have a mate... that was so animalistic. He wanted to have a choice in whom he was going to be with. Harry was annoyed with himself for not paying attention when they had learned about vampires in DADA. He would have a mate? What if he didn't want to? What if he refused?

'What if I refuse to have a mate?' Harry asked, belligerent.

'You cannot choose to not have a mate. You are meant for your mate and vice versa. He or she will need you as much as you will need them.' Remus tried to explain.

'He or she?' Harry asked, clearly unbelieving. 'My mate could be... a man?!' Harry's face contorted into a disgusted grimace. 'No way. That's just so... ew!'

Remus looked a little sad. 'Harry, it's not unusual for men to be together in the wizarding world. Your family may have told you that being with someone of the same sex is bad and unnormal, but that's not true. That's the muggle way of thinking about same-sex relationships. Wizards have no such concerns. I wish you could accept that.' He looked at Harry intently.

Harry suddenly felt bad for being so ignorant and apologized, realizing he had somehow hurt the man with his reaction.

'I'm sorry. I shouldn't have reacted like that. It's just... you're right. The Dursleys did tell me that gay men were unnormal people- I guess it's become a habit of mine to think that gay people are... disgusting.' Harry flinched at the last word.

Appeased, Remus waved his hand. 'It's okay, Harry. You understand that your mate might very well be male. And as soon as you get to know your mate, you will never want to be parted again. Really.' Remus smiled encouragingly.

Harry returned the smile, still feeling a little numb due to shock. He would have a mate...

'Um... When will I find my mate?', Harry asked hesitantly, not sure if he wanted to hear the answer.

'That depends. If your mate is in England, chances are that you will find him or her, soon. But if your mate is in some other part of the world...', Remus gazed out of the window, into the distance, '-it might take a lot longer.', he finished.

'How will I know? I mean, if I see my mate, will I recognize her?', Harry asked and was quick to add, '-or him?'

Harry's mind was working quickly, going over all Hogwarts students, to see if his mate could be one of them. Maybe he had liked Cho so much, because she was going to be his mate?

But merely thinking about her in that way made him a little nauseaous, it felt so wrong.

'Of course,', Remus answered, 'you will recognize your mate on sight. It feels like... all pieces seem to fall into place, suddenly...' His eyes wandered out of the window again, a wistful look crossing the werewolf's face for a split second.

Harry caught the expression and was suddenly struck by the thought, that maybe Remus had a mate, too, somewhere. He was a werewolf, after all- a fellow dark creature.

A little hesitant to ask because of the pained look on Remus' face, Harry asked, 'You seem so... Well, you seem to know so much about this. Do werewolves have mates, too?'

Remus focused his eyes on him sharply, though the pain in them stayed. 'Yes, we have.' He merely said.

'So... um... why don't you -um- find your mate?' Harry felt so awkward asking this, concerned that he might hurt the man's feelings without intending to.

A subtle longing replaced the pain in the amber eyes. 'I... have already found her.', he confessed, finally. From his tone of voice, Harry gathered it wasn't easy for the werewolf to talk about this.

'Can you- can you tell me?', he asked carefully.

Something inside of Remus – maybe it was resolve- seemed to loosen, because he slumped down on the sofa a moment later.

'My mate... it's- Tonks.', Remus whispered, casting his eyes downwards.

'Oh.' Harry had no idea what to say. He had noticed that Remus seemed to be interested in Tonks, but it had never occured to him that she was his mate.

And suddenly, Harry knew why the werewolf had looked so wistful, before. He and Tonks weren't together. Harry was even sure that she didn't really notice his interest in her.

He seated himself next to Remus and squeezed his hand in comfort. 'And she doesn't know, right?'

The man next to him swallowed thickly and nodded.

'Then tell her!' Harry said eagerly. 'Tell her you're her mate! Tell her you love her.'

Remus shook his head vehemently. 'I can't, Harry. It's not that easy. I'm a werewolf. She won't have me...', he bowed his head on defeat.

'Nonsense.' Harry said fiercely, unable to explain what he was feeling, but what he knew was that he didn't wan t Remus to suffer. 'She likes you a lot, already. It's obvious. You just have to...'

Harry had no idea what Remus was supposed to do. He realized that he, himself, wouldn't know what to do if his mate didn't want him.

'It's difficult.'

Harry sighed in agreement and then turned to face the werewolf. 'You should try, though. She's worth it.'

Remus smiled sadly and got up. 'I have to go now, Harry. You can come here anytime you want. Tell me immediately if you find your mate.'

Harry nodded numbly and exited the DADA professor's rooms.

Up in the Gryffindor common room, Ron and Hermione asked where he had been, but Harry didn't answer.

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Harry closed the curtains around his bed, allowing Isis to curl around his left leg.

What happened? She asked, concern evident in her voice.

I was going to going to ask Remus about Snape, but that's not important right now. Harry sighed. Remus told me that I am a submissive vampire and... I have a mate, Isis.

The snake lifted her head to look right into Harry's green eyes. A mate? Who?

I don't know, yet. Remus said how soon I'll find it depends on my distance to him or her. Harry stretched out his hand to scratch Isis' triangular head, finding the contact of skin to scales oddly comforting.

Are you happy? Isis asked, leaning into his caress.

Harry shrugged- he really didn't know what to think. He told Isis so.

I think it's good. She said immediately after his confession. Someone to make you happy and someone to be with forever- normal humans don't get such a chance.

Harry sighed- if only it was that easy. It's difficult. Harry said, echoing Remus earlier words. I don't really need a mate! I don't even want one, now.

Maybe you will want your mate when you meet him or her. Isis mused.

Okay. But what about... what about Voldemort? It hadn't occured to Harry before but now he realized that if he were ever to have a mate, that that person would always be in danger of the Dark Lord.

I don't want to endanger any other people. I have to protect my friends and everyone I care about, I can't protect my mate of him, too.

Isis gave a snake-like laugh. Harry, think about it. I think you won't have to worry about your mate. If what Remus says is true and you are a submissive vampire, then your mate will obviously be the dominant one. He or she will be able to look after themselves.

Harry doubted it. Voldemort was no normal threat, he was an extremely powerful Dark Lord.

He resolved to not actively try looking for his mate and hoped for his mate's sake that he or she wasn't at Hogwarts.

I will just ignore it. I won't find my mate. Harry said with fierceness.

Isis looked at him sadly.

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But, as he lay awake in bed, midnight already gone by, Harry realized that ignoring his mate wasn't going to be easy.

He hadn't been able to sleep and on top of that, the restlessness he had felt before had worsened, as if responding to his denial of his mate.

Harry tossed and turned, unable to find a comfortable position. His mind wouldn't shut down, showing him the faces of everyone he knew -as possible mates.

Harry didn't know then, though he suspected it, that he wouldn't sleep all night.

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The next morning dawned slowly and early. Harry watched tiredly and impatiently as the rays of sunlight grew stronger and lightened the room.

A quick Tempus! showed that his house mates wouldn't get up any time soon.

Harry groaned.

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Harry was glad that it was Saturday. He wouldn't have had the necessary concentration for classes. His eyelids felt so heavy and blinking was a dangerous thing to do, as he was tempted to keep his eyes closed and never open them again.

His friends worried and Harry felt bad about ignoring them the day before. It wasn't like they had done anything wrong. It was Harry's fault alone. He was distancing himself, not the other way around- as much as it felt that way.

Harry felt like they couldn't understand, but that was his fault, too. He hadn't told Ron and Hermione about his transformation. But could he? How would they react?

Not caring to find out at the moment, Harry started up a conversation, and, even though he was so tired, he tried to sound cheerful. And a part of him really was happy to be back at Hogwarts.

Entering the Great Hall for breakfast, Harry couldn't help glancing to the staff table. Snape looked just like he had the day before. Dark eyes slid over the house tables, his expression never wavering in its serene calm.

And his gaze settled on Harry, frozen as he stood in the double doors. Harry held his breath.

Snape's eyes wavered a little, not quite recognition, but a confused sort of look. A frown passed over his features, as though he was trying to unravel a mystery. An intense look stole into his eyes and left them as quickly as it had appeared.

Snape's eyes left Harry's to roam uninterestedly over the Ravenclaw table, the spark Harry had seen, extinguished.

Shaken, Harry sat down at the Gryffindor table. Ron and Hermione who had noticed how Snape had stared at Harry for a moment, looked at him in askance.

Harry decided then, that even if he hadn't told them about himself, he should at least tell them what he had done. He couldn't just keep everything for himself.

And so he told them about his summer, editing his birthday and the following weeks heavily.

Finishing his report of his holidays, Ron stared at him. 'Wow, mate, you're really scary, you know?' He shook his head. 'Sucking out Snape's soul... wow. You won't hear me complaining, though.' Ron grinned.

Harry forced himself to laugh along, even though he felt really bad for Snape.

Hermione didn't find it all that funny as she sat opposite of the boys, seeming to be deep in thought.

Harry was glad that she, at least, was taking this seriously and was trying to find an answer. Harry was sure that with Hermione's help he'd find out sooner than without.

Harry looked at Snape again, trying to catch his gaze, but the man was busy staring at his food.

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Half an hour ago, Lord Voldemort had given up on trying to sit still.

Now, he was pacing his chambers, unable to think of his plans and machinations for the time being.

He would have been annoyed at his mate to-be, if he weren't so sure that his mate was going to make him even more powerful than he already was and- immortal.

Excitement coursed through his body like a drug, appeasing his restlessness a little.

He needed to find his mate soon. He needed his powers to finish Potter off as soon as possible. The humiliation he had felt after the battle in the Department of Mysteries was still easily recalled.

He, Lord Voldemort, wouldn't be mocked anymore. It was time for Potter to die.

Voldemort didn't notice the twinge of pain in his soul at the thought of killing Harry Potter-

he was too busy thinking about a possible way how he could get his mate out of the way and still get his full powers.

After all, its mate was a vampire's most precious possession and Voldemort wasn't going to take chances. He would be vulnerable if he indulged in the pleasure of having a mate.

And he couldn't afford to be.

The problem was, to get his powers, he would need to bond with his mate, to find it and mate with it. And from the books he had read about the subject, he had learned that a vampire would never want to leave its mate. No matter what.

But Lord Voldemort was confident. He had a strong will, amazing powers and he had time on his side. He was technically 70 years old – the age, where wizards were in the prime of their life - and he knew how to control himself. Mentally and physically.

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It was already dark, when, clad in a long black robe, with a hood concealing his face, Voldemort apparated away, following the ache in his chest.

A sudden pressure against his metaphysical body made him aware of the fact that he was unable to apparate to the destination his soul tried to take him to.

Annoyed, Voldemort summoned his power, pushing against the barrier keeping him at bay.

It refused to budge. He let his power flow and push against the magic, wondering why his mate had such strong wards around their house.

But he didn't manage to break them. That annoyed him, as he never failed. Knowing a lost cause when he saw one, he pulled back and decided to apparate outside of the wards.

Darkness surrounded him, when he appeared again. Voldemort saw a forest, dark and forbidding, inf ront of him. He didn't recognize it on first glance.

Confused, although he would never admit it, he turned around.

And took a step back at what he saw on the crest of the hill before him.

Beyond huge double gates and a vast expanse of grassy hills, a castle towered.

Voldemort was very familiar with this castle.

It was Hogwarts.

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Okay, Voldemort has just arrived at Hogwarts. Imagine his surprise at learning that this is where his mate lives! Poor him. Haha

What do you think? More Voldemort? And what about Remus? And Harry? And Snape? Tell me your opinion.

Review, please! )