Chapter 11
To Be or Not to Be
Disclaimer: Well, last time I looked neither Harry nor Snape were mine. I think I own my brain, but I think someone might have put a claim on that, too. My computer, at least, is definitely mine, at least I hope so. Hmmm….
Author's Note: Sorry it took so long, but finals are Hell. And I just haven't had any time. So yeah, here is chapter eleven. I hope that you enjoy it because I stayed up until 2:19 AM writing this. As always, a special thanks to Pointblank1 who corrects my mistakes. Oh, I have a poll on my profile. If you care about this story, you will go there. I think that's all… as always, enjoy and please review.
"The Headmaster is looking, as we speak, into it and for you sake there better be a cure. Or you will find this life short lived. I still have not forgotten what you did to Draco." replied Snape darkly.
The Brat hung his head, but glared from beneath his bangs.
Snape sneered at him, "Now come Potter, you must hunt before we return to the castle."
With that, Snape disappeared into the forest, closely followed by Harry.
Snape walked swiftly and silently ahead of the Potter boy, not even glancing back to see if the boy was following or not. Being careful not to step on any twigs, Snape listened for any sign of movement. Though he couldn't hear a sound, Snape saw that there was a slight brightness ahead, and headed towards the light.
Snape stood at the edge of a large clearing and waited for Potter to join him. Snape rolled his eyes with impatience. The boy was taking forever. Snape almost starting tapping his foot, but thought better of it. He waited silently, and finally, the boy stood next to him, ready.
Without glancing down, Snape spoke in no more than a whisper. "If you can see or smell anything, Potter, you've realized that there are deer in the clearing up ahead. You may try to use your wand, but don't be surprised if it doesn't work. Most of the wild animals in this forest aren't affected by magic. Note that I said animals, not creatures. There is a difference," said Snape snappily, for Harry had been just about to argue.
"So what am I supposed to do, Sir?" said Harry, emphasizing the "Sir" so it would have almost been audible to the human ear.
"Use your head, boy. What do you think you are supposed to do?" Snape turned down to look at the boy with on eyebrow slightly raised.
"Well, it seems the only choice I have is to hunt it down… as if I were a lion or something," said Harry, the last bit sarcastically.
"That's exactly what you have to do," said Snape, looking back up to gaze at the deer.
"Oh, well, that's simple, isn't it? I'll just try and remember what it was like being a lion in my former life and I'll have no problem."
"Ten points from Gryffindor, Potter, for your cheek," said Snape as he glared down at the boy.
Harry muttered under his breath. It was something about all of this being unfair, but Snape decided to ignore it. Snape looked back up at the deer and glanced at each one in turn, trying to find the weakest one in the herd. After watching for a bit, he noticed that there was a doe in the center of the group with a bit of a limp.
Snape looked back down at the boy, who was now eyeing the herd hungrily, despite himself. "Now Potter, will you listen and do as I say?" asked Snape in a silky yet dangerous voice.
The boy gave a quick nod, not taking his eyes off the deer. Even Snape was having a hard time focusing, his mouth to started to water at the sight.
"Alright, Potter, from what little I have read on the subject, vampires' instincts are stronger than those of any other predator alive. It is said that these instincts will take over if the vampire has need for them. This would be a good time to let those instincts take over. In addition to gaining food, it will let us know the extent to which you are in control of these instincts," said Snape slowly to make sure Potter absorbed every word. "Now, you see that deer in the middle with a limp? I would say that that one is your best hope of a meal. When I give the word, I want you to walk as quietly as you can into the clearing and let your instincts take over. It might sound strange, but I assure you that it will come quite naturally."
The boy nodded, practically drooling with hunger and anticipation. The boy's eyes began to change as he gave over to the predator within.
Snape watched in a trance as the boy's eyes changed from entirely green to green with red rims. They looked like Christmas tree ornaments. "Now," said Snape smoothly, "Let's see what you can do."
Potter turned to look up at him. Almost at once, the boy's eyes changed to red. The boy moved silently from the shelter of the trees to stand in the meadow. Lifting their heads, the deer stared at the boy and flicked their ears in his direction. When the boy froze, they went back to eating.
Harry moved silently forward, trying to get as close as he could before he had no other choice but to spring.
Slowly, he shrank into a crouching position, making himself as small as possible and maneuvered into the shadows of the nearby trees.
Snape watched from afar as the boy readied himself to strike. He could see the boy's eyes darting here and there, looking for the perfect opportunity to strike. Snape silently urged the boy on, but he felt himself growing slightly impatient due to how long the Potter boy was taking.
Then Snape saw the boy tense, leap, and grab hold of the lame deer. It only took a second for the boy to sink his fangs into the deer's neck. By the time the rest of the herd had noticed and galloped away, the lame doe lay dead.
Snape stepped from the shadows of the trees and slowly made his way towards the boy. Potter was bent over the deer's neck, sucking greedily at the blood that flowed from the wound.
Snape moved to the other side of the deer and knelt down, watching the boy as he drank as if his life depended on it. Snape supposed it did.
When Potter had finally had his fill, he sat back and licked his lips while cleaning off every bit of what remained on his face. Snape watched as the boy blushed when he noticed that he was being watched.
"Sorry," muttered Potter as he turned away to wipe his hands clean with his robes.
"What are you apologizing for- your table manners or the fact that you didn't wait for me?" Snape asked in a mocking sneer. "Go over to the stream and wash up properly. What would the other professors say if I brought you back from the Forbidden Forest covered in blood?"
"You could tell them that I tripped over a stump and fell on a dead deer," replied Harry.
Snape refrained (with difficulty) from rolling his eyes as he leaned down and took a bite from the animal. The warm blood filled his mouth and he swallowed gratefully, taking away the small bit of hunger that gnawed at his stomach.
Snape licked his teeth as he slowly got to his feet. He then turned around to see the Potter boy sitting on a rock looking into the stream.
The boy looked around at the slight sound that was made by Snape's robes as he stood up.
"What would the other professors say if I returned from the Forbidden Forest with a Potions Teacher who had blood dripping from his lips?"
"You could tell them that I bit my tongue when I snapped at you for not washing up properly."
Potter rolled his eyes and looked back into the stream, "Well, I did my best, but I can't get the stain off my tie. It just won't wash off completely."
"Are you a Wizard or not? Use you head, Potter. Is there or is there not a spell that can clean up messes?"
"Oh, right!" Harry pulled off his tie, tapped it with his wand, and said, "Scourgify!" "Well, it worked."
Snape came close to saying something along the lines of 'I wonder why', but decided that it would be childish. Instead, he ignored the boy and walked over to the stream to judge his own reflection. It wasn't too bad, just a little blood in the corners of his mouth, which he quickly thumbed away.
Turning from the stream, Snape stared at the dead deer, trying to decide what to do with it. It seemed an awful waste to just burry it or vanish it, and there were only a few potions ingredients that could be obtained from a deer (all of which he didn't need any more of). They could just leave the deer there and hope that some other creature would smell it and finish it off, but that couldn't be guaranteed.
"What do you think we should do with the deer, Sir?"
"I don't know, Potter, what would you suggest we do?"
Harry was kind of taken aback by Snape's answer, but replied all the same, "Well, we could vanish it, but that would be a terrible waste. Or we could leave it and hope that some creature will come along and finish it, but that really isn't the best solution either because it might bring more predators to this part of the forest… We could cut it up and give it to Hagrid for one of his magical creatures."
"I'm sure Hagrid will appreciate something to attract thestrals for his next lesson."
"Er, what are thestrals?"
"You'll find out. I would hate to ruin the surprise," Snape smirked. "Come on, Mr. Potter. Let's start back to the castle. You will follow me to the Headmaster's office."
"The Headmaster's office, Sir?"
"Yes, for not only did you curse Draco, but you ran into the Forbidden Forest. It's forbidden for a reason, Mr. Potter. On top of that, you caused an incident in which yourself and a Hogwarts instructor were bitten by a vampire. I don't think even you can avoid expulsion this time, Mr. Potter," sneered Snape.
"But, Professor…" Harry stammered. He had no idea what to say. Harry couldn't argue that he didn't deserve to be expelled. In fact, upon looking back he felt that no amount of detentions would make up for what had happened tonight.
Snape raised an eyebrow, daring the brat to finish his sentence. When he was satisfied Potter was done speaking, Snape strolled away from the gaping brat, "Come, Mr. Potter. You have wasted much of my night and if you don't hurry up, I'll curse you as soon as you can say 'expelled.'"
Without looking back, Snape walked into the forest and out of the meadow.
The boy hurried to catch up and followed a short distance behind Snape. "What about the deer, Sir?"
"I will come back for it later. I need to fabricate some explanation as to why there is so little blood in the deer."
"Right, Sir."
They walked silently from the forest and in no time they were back in the moon-lit grounds. The lake sparkled as it reflected the moon and the innumerable stars. If it hadn't been for his current situation, Snape would have strolled around the edge of the lake, but there was no way he would get to do so tonight.
They made their way quietly up the castle steps and into the Main Hall. Meeting no one on their way, the pair quickly approached the gargoyle that guarded the Headmaster's office.
"Blood Pops," said Snape with disdain.
The gargoyle slid quietly aside, and Snape and Harry stepped onto the moving staircase. Snape rapped twice upon the door before opening it without waiting for permission to enter.
Dumbledore looked up as the two entered the room. He looked from one to the other, a grave look on his face. That never boded well with Snape.
"Severus, Harry, please sit down. I have some grave news."
While the boy sat down, Snape remained standing. He preferred to take bad news standing up. The Headmaster offered them both lemon drops and hot chocolate as if that would solve everything.
Potter accepted his hot chocolate with a small nod, but after one sip he grimaced and pushed it away.
"Well, don't leave us in suspense, Headmaster. What is it?" snapped Snape.
"Right you are, Severus. This is worse news for you than for Harry, I'm afraid. You see, according to the only two books that go into detail, the cure to vampirism is limited. It often doesn't work properly if a person has taken, or even tasted, the blood of another. I'm so sorry Severus, but there is no known cure for you. You, Harry, on the other hand, can be cured as long as you don't partake of any human blood," The Headmaster's eyes twinkled sadly as they gazed at the pair, one doomed and the other saved.
Snape's mind reeled. A million curse words were flying through his head, and the first out of his mouth was, "Fuck!"
Dumbledore stepped in before Snape could work himself into a rage that was obviously on its way, "Now, Severus, that was uncalled for. This doesn't mean that there isn't a cure; it just means that one hasn't been found yet. The potion to cure Harry is going to be extremely difficult to make. I have no doubt that you could make it, but it involves some very rare ingredients and must stew for two months. In addition, the vampire in question must drink the potion while kneeling above a bleeding witch or wizard, and while on an empty stomach."
"You're trying to tell me that Potter's cure is just as difficult, if not more so, than my nonexistent one!" Snape spat. "Sorry, Headmaster, but that's like comparing Potter to a dog. At least a dog has brains."
"Severus! Be reasonable."
"Reasonable, reasonable, I am past reasonable, Headmaster, light-years away! It's all because of Potter that I'm stuck as a vampire, while all HE needs is a potion to return to normal. I'm sorry Headmaster, but I just don't see how any sane person could remain reasonable under these conditions."
"We'll find a cure for you, Severus," replied Dumbledore calmly. "But Harry is the top priority. I need you to start on this potion as soon as possible."
"Why is it, Headmaster, that saint Potter is top priority?" growled Snape, "Is it because he's the chosen one, or is it because you prefer Potter over…"
"Severus," Dumbledore stood up, "That is enough! The only reason, and I mean the only reason, that Harry is the top priority is because currently he is at the most risk. Sit down and think, Severus. Stop speaking and think."
Dumbledore waited, his eyes as hard as ice, as Snape slowly lowered himself into a chair.
"Severus, you are more removed from the students than Harry is. Yes, you have to teach classes, but you don't have to interact with them on the level that Harry does. Harry is also in constant close contact with Miss Granger and Mr. Weasley, and he sleeps in a room with four other boys. Also, if he so much as attempted as attack a student, it would be in theDaily Prophet before you could say 'Lemon drops.' Finally, Severus, Harry will have a much harder time resisting the urge to bite than you will."
"And pray tell, why is that, Headmaster?"
"Because he is a teenager, and young vampires have less control than adults. Not to mention, teenager blood is sweeter smelling than that of adults, especially to other teenagers. It has to do with hormones," said Dumbledore solemnly. "As we speak, Harry is fighting the urge to bite me."
Snape looked and, sure enough, Potter had his arms crossed and his eyes closed. He would have looked like he was in a trance except for the fact that he was biting down on his forefinger. He was indeed having a hard time, while Snape barely felt anything at all.
"If I gave him a potion to dull his sense of smell, would it help?"
"It wouldn't hurt. This book here has some other suggestions, but I don't think that any would go unnoticed…For example, they suggest that a vampire wear garlic around their neck and rub other really potent stuff on one's body. Nothing usable," sighed Dumbledore.
"Well, let's call a house elf and I'll have it fetch a bottle of liquid rhino. We will see if that works."
"Dobby," said Dumbledore.
With a crack, Dobby the house elf appeared in the Headmaster's study. "Yes, Master Dumbledore, Sir? Is there anything I can get you? Some more tea? Some lemon drops?" asked the house elf with a huge grin.
"None of that tonight, but thank you, Dobby. I would like you to please go down to Professor Snape's stores and bring us a bottle of Liquid Rhino. Everything is alphabetized, so it shouldn't be too difficult to find. Please get it and bring it right back," said Dumbledore kindly.
"Yes, Sir," squeaked Dobby. With a snap, he disappeared.
They waited in silence. Snape looked over to where Potter was sitting and noticed that the boy had drawn blood from his hand. The Headmaster, on the other hand, was staring out the window watching the sunrise. They didn't have to wait long before there was a "Crack" and Dobby reappeared.
Dobby handed a greenish bottle to the Dumbledore. "Is this it, Sir?"
"Yes, Dobby, thank you. Kindly don't tell anybody about this, if you please," replied Dumbledore.
"Dobby won't say a word if Master Dumbledore says not to," squeaked Dobby, and he was gone.
"Right," sighed Dumbledore tiredly, "here, Severus. I'll let you pour it out. You know more than I do about how much Harry should take."
Snape took the dusty green bottle and, taking out his wand, he summoned a shot glass. Using a stopper, Snape measured out thirty drops of the green potion. After he had replaced the cap of the bottle, Snape picked up the glass and swirled the potion three times clockwise and five times counterclockwise.
Snape set the glass gown and waited. When the potion had stopped swirling, it had turned acid green and started to emit a slight glow.
Picking it up again, he turned and held it out to the boy. "Potter, open your eyes. I want you to drink this. It should dampen your sense of smell and make things easier for you."
The boy slowly opened his eyes and barely looked at the glass in his professor's hand before taking it, using his free hand. He looked down at it and, deciding that it wasn't going to kill him, he swallowed the potion in one gulp.
The boy shuddered at the taste, scraping his tongue on his front teeth in a desperate attempt to rid his mouth of it.
Snape waited for the potion to kick in as Harry continued to shudder.
After about five minutes, the boy became still. For a moment, all was quiet.
"Feel any better, Mr. Potter?" asked Snape, breaking the silence.
"A little bit. I can't smell Professor Dumbledore, and the hunger has died almost completely… but it almost feels like I have a head cold without having the snuffles," replied Potter in a slightly more nasal voice than usual.
"Well, that's the least of our worries," smirked Snape.
Harry looked down at his bleeding hand and watched in amazement as his finger slowly healed itself, a pleasant side effect of being a vampire.
"Headmaster, now that Mr. Potter is taken care of for the time being, I think that we should make a decision about his punishment. As you well know, he not only cursed Mr. Malfoy, but he ran into the Forbidden Forest and endangered both himself and a certain professor, not to mention that he got said people turned into vampires," whispered Snape in a deadly voice. "I think that he deserves nothing less than expulsion, of course."
"Now really, Severus! You know as well as I do that we can't just expel him. There are far too many reasons not to, most of which are for Harry's own safety. No, it's completely out of the question. I do agree, however, that he has been extremely foolish and his actions cannot go without punishment." Dumbledore looked at Harry seriously over his half-moon spectacles.
Snape noticed that Harry didn't look nearly as guilty as he usually did when Dumbledore was upset. In fact, Snape would've guessed that Harry was relieved to be getting off so easily, the little brat.
Snape glared at the headmaster, "Then what do you suggest, Headmaster- detention for the rest of his life at Hogwarts, and perhaps removal from the Quidditch team?"
"Actually, if it's alright with you, Severus, I think Harry's punishment shall be this: Harry, you will have detention with Severus for as long as either of you remains in this condition. You will also help him with anything he sees fit. Professor Snape will set your detention dates and make them as often as likes."
Harry stared at the Headmaster, mouth gaping, for a few moments before he found his voice. "What? Snape will have me in there every night, Professor! Please, I mean… he bit me! He turned me into…into this… a vampire. It can't be entirely my fault…"
"You are delusional, Potter," snapped Snape as he stood up. "This is entirely your fault. You are a vampire because I had no other choice. You could either have died or changed into what you are now, an arrogant teenage vampire with a big head and a small brain-"
"Severus, I have had enough of this talk. You will stop insulting a Hogwarts student in this manner or you will leave my office," interrupted Dumbledore, his eyes deadly.
"Now is as good a time as any," replied Snape icily. With that, he strolled over to the door and wrenched it open. Snape paused. "Mr. Potter, I expect you in my office tomorrow at 6 AM. Do not be late. Also, the potion must be taken every ten hours- thirty drops, swirled as I did, then let it settle and drink." He swept out of the room, black robes billowing out behind him.
Arthur's Note: Please visit my poll, leave me a review, and have a safe and happy holiday!
Oh! I almost forgot, or i did and now I'm telling you. I started a new story and it should be up so go check it out. I think it's a really good story, so I would like to know what you think it so far.
