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Fun fact Number 6:Severus keeps the head of Lucius Malfoy's cane as a paperweight on his desk and once cursed an elf until they were permanently blue for dropping it by mistake whilst cleaning. Harry Potter has been known to call the elf 'smurf' on occasion.

Chapter 12

Damian was unsurprised when his Grandmother had been declared not guilty; he'd had the magic of Arbutus and Hogwarts whispering in his ear the entire time telling him the wisest path. He hadn't even known half of the archaic laws the magic had implanted in his mind, but his understanding was thorough now. He offered his grandmother a chilly look as she was released which she returned with a cold look of her own before lifting her chin and making her way home. They would have to discuss this later he knew, but he was tired now, the stress of the day was finally wearing on him and he still had to make his way past the press.

Yet he stood firm and resolute as he was greeted and they were congratulated and thanked. More and more offers of debts were made and cogs were whirring as eyes darted from him to Severus' tall unforgiving stature. They were powerful Damian knew, he and Severus together filled the room with a miasma of magic that brushed against the others judging them and feeling them out. He knew without a doubt that people would think twice about attacking his family again, yet at the same time Voldemort would undoubtedly be made aware of this. Damian felt a shiver as he wondered what Severus would do if he was called again. Voldemort hadn't called in a long time and Damian thanked his lucky stars every time he glanced at the inky black mark. He didn't know if he could stand watching Severus get hurt any more.

"Ah Severus you must be famished." Lucius Malfoy said his grey eyes sharp and unforgiving. His greetings had been practiced if not unoriginal but Severus had accepted them anyway. "I do so hate it when these trials go on, my office is just down the hall, would you like to step in for tea before facing the press?" He said a smile curling across his lips. Damian felt sure that Severus would blow him off, but surprisingly he felt dark eyes linger on him for a moment before Severus agreed.

"Yes of course, I could use a bit of port." He said causing Damian to break his false smile and glance up at him. Severus' gaze was concerned and protective; Damian felt a true smile tilt across his lips as he allowed himself to be guided out of the courtroom.

"I'm hurt Severus." Lucius drawled dangerously as the walked down the quiet hall. "You've been so distant lately and now I find that you're finally settling down as though I didn't matter at all to you." He said as he opened the door to a large warm office and ushered them in. "Have I done something to upset you old friend?" Lucius said pouring himself and Severus port. Severus narrowed his eyes silently seething as he handed the glass to Damian before pouring himself a glass.

"You would snub my intended Lucius?" Severus said his voice low and cool.

"Ah, no I simply assumed that since he was still too young to drink that you wouldn't appreciate me making the offer. Damian felt a smirk slip across his lips.

"I do so love it when people speak as though I'm not in the room." He said casually before taking a sip of his drink. Severus frowned before realizing that Damian wasn't really mad at him but Lucius whose eyes had narrowed.

"Tell me Arbutus, why is it that you rejected my request?" He demanded. Damian could feel Severus' fury and decided that he'd had enough of this man's disrespect. His glass hit the wooden desk forcefully and his magic changed into something darker.

Malice, hatred, anger-

The scent of cedar surrounded him and he felt more than saw Lucius cringe in memory

"Because lord Malfoy, I do hope you understand, I don't cater to wizards who would use them on say…a massacre." He said his eyes narrowing. Malfoy actually flinched at that and Damian felt a smile curl across his lips.

"You've insulted me one too many times sir." He said calmly. "Severus?" He said glancing up at his betrothed. "If you don't mind I would like to return to Hogwarts." He stated calmly.

"Of course." Severus said softly. "I will accompany you; there is much work to be done." He said settling a hand on the base of his spine before turning to Malfoy. "Oh and Lucius, you can tell our old friend that I won't be able to make it to his next party. I fear I'm getting too old for his games, its time for me to settle down." He said causing Damian to stare up at him with wide eyes. Malfoy stared at them with wide eyes and trembling limbs as they slipped out of the room.

"Are you sure?" Damian said not daring to hope that Severus meant it. Severus nodded slowly.

"I have found something to live for in you Damian, I won't watch you suffer for my selfishness again. Besides, I won't risk Hogwarts' safety the way Albus did, the school needs stability and it won't have that if I'm abusing its power and using its magic in war. Hogwarts should be a safe haven not a battle ground." He said firmly. Damian felt a well of pride surge up inside him causing him to smile just as they rounded the corner and flashes went off- it was time to face the press.

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Albus panted weakly as he struggled to stand.

Trap.

It had been a trap.

His legs gave out from under him as he struggled and tears slipped from his eyes a whimper escaping his lips. He had wondered how it was that Voldemort had used Julius and Katrina as conduits; it really shouldn't have been possible. He should have known when Aberforth didn't come back that something was really wrong.

Pain rippled through him as his body was lifted up and thrown across the dingy cell.

"Stay put old man." The voice was Julius' but the words…the words were Voldemorts' there was doubt about that. Voldemort had possessed Julius as a last ditch effort to gain a human body.

"Does it not bother you that you are no longer human?" Albus wheezed when he found the strength to. Julius' lips twisted into a sneer.

"Does it not bother you that I killed your beloved brother? It only took a few words really, a whisper in the wind to find his weakness and then he came running to me positively thrumming with powerful blood." Albus felt his rage overtake him, but without the power from the wards he wouldn't be able to stand up to Voldemort the way he once would have.

"Are you going to kill me at last then Tom?" He demanded quietly. In truth death would be a release to him now; he wouldn't have to live with the memory of Aberforth's twisted expression as he died.

"Of course not, why would I waste a perfectly good meal?" Voldemort said reaching up to slide his fingers through rich chestnut hair. "I must say, I never thought myself vain, but it does me good to be so beautiful again." He preened primping himself. "And this body is positively brimming with magic-"

"Yet it is bound by the laws of old Tom, Julius was raised on traditions you've never thought important, someone is bound to figure you out." Albus said clenching his fists.

"You're grasping at straws old man, I'll be claiming amnesia." Voldemort said easily.

"And what of Katrina? You are bound to her you know." Dumbledore said through grit teeth. He watched as Voldemort turned his head automatically seeking out the seated form. Beautiful Katrina, cold, vicious and intelligent, Albus had only ever had three meetings with the witch and three was enough to leave a lasting impression on him. He had scars that bore her name.

"She will stay by my side." Voldemort said his voice cool and almost wistful. Albus felt his breath catch in his throat.

Could it be?

He could only hope, there was only the slightest possibility, but if Voldemort was drawn in by the curse…

Albus could only hope.

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It was late, very late into the night when Damian awoke with a jump startling Severus who had fallen asleep on the divan beside him.

"Damian?" Severus said his expression growing alarmed. Damian's face was pale his eyes wide and the magic around him whirring restlessly.

"We must go to Arbutus at once." He said sharply. Severus nodded and followed Damian who was already half way across the room pulling out the port key that would take them to the edge of the woods. Severus reached out and wound his arms around Damian offering what comfort he could while he could. Damian shuddered visibly and reached up grasping his hand tightly before whispering the key word causing them to whirl away.

Severus shivered when they landed and immediately conjured cloaks for himself and Damian only to halt upon seeing the look on Damian's face. Frowning he lifted his head and felt himself gasp the cloak slipping from his fingers.

There in the pathway stood Damian's father looking bewildered while he clutched a bundled form to his chest.

"The wards won't let me in…" He said softly. "Who are you?" He added cocking his head to the side. Severus felt Damian tremble.

"My son…" Severus whipped around to see Baldwin Vermont standing in the pathway eyes wide as he held out his hand. Several things fell into place at once as Severus turned his gaze to the man before him- one was the fact that he'd been missing for more than a decade, two was that the wards were shifting uneasily around his form when they should have been accepting him immediately.

"You are a-" Damian started only to stumble as his grandfather rushed forward pushing him out of the way in order to grasp his son and pull him close in an embrace.

"I never gave up hope! I knew you would come back home some day!" He was weeping Severus realized with a lurch. He was weeping and holding his son the way he'd never bothered to hold Damian. He glanced down at his betrothed whose chin was tucked into his chest as though he were fighting himself. Eventually though he looked up and Severus grit his teeth to see Damian's eyes wet and flashing.

"I will not allow you into Arbutus." He said with a strength Severus had not thought he could possess. Baldwin let out a wounded sound before lifting his head eyes glittering in betrayal.

"What do you mean you won't let him in? This is your father Damian- and look, your mother too- oh Merlin what's happened to her? Why is she so pale? Let's get her inside-"

"He cannot enter Arbutrus." Damian repeated his fists clenched so tightly at his sides that the knuckles were turning white. The man blinked at Damian with the same almond shaped eyes though they were a deep sherry color and his expression shifted into one of pain.

"My…son?" Damian visibly flinched at that.

"Damian cease this foolishness and allow your father to enter the wards!" Baldwin said sharply.

"No." Damian said gritting his teeth. Before Severus could react Damian was moving rushing to close the distance only to settle a hand on the bundle in his father's arms. Severus gasped as the bundle simply ceased to exist leaving Damian's father to stare blankly into the space where his wife had been.

Something in the air changed.

"She's inside, safe in bed, but you can not enter." Damian said stiffly.

Severus felt it and recognized it before it happened- the itch, the strings pulling on his dark mark, and then the burn.

"Damian get away!" He cried out before the pain reached into him. The magic from Hogwarts rebelled to the pull of his dark mark and lashed out sending wild flames through him. He cried out, screamed as the magic battled within him.

He caught a flash of reality brief as it was and saw that Damian's father now had red eyes- Voldemort's eyes.

He fell to his knees unable to stand as black crossed his vision and pain enveloped him-

Voldemort was rushing forward, eyes wild fangs barred-

Fangs.

His vision flashed again and he fought with Hogwarts, fought for his freedom like he'd never fought before.

Damian needed him!

He swore he'd protect him!

Damian.

Smiling, frowning, smirking, laughing-

Grey eyes that bore a look that belonged only to him-

He felt his blood boil, heard his heart thudding in his ears.

In the distance he could hear the tinkling of a bell, the laughter of a woman.

His mother, he could hear her-

She was telling him something…

"Listen to me my son and know who you are."

She was showing him a book, old faded with time but preserved with care, yellow pages rustled as she held him in her lap.

"A Prince is more than meets the eye; a Prince is as dark as he is sly."

Ah yes, he remembered now…

"But the true power of a Prince is bound until love awakens it and his match is met."

Severus felt his heart thunder to a halt.

Of course, how could he have forgotten?

Damian…who had a way of getting what he wanted from Severus.

Damian…who had only look at him in a certain way to let him know he was displeased.

Damian…who had made him feel real again.

Damian…who had broken past barriers Severus hadn't known existed.

"And true darkness is endless, a circle, a tie that is bound through devotion-"

Severus felt himself reach out his hand, reach for that feeling that had been growing.

"-an unbreakable chain."

He felt them click around his wrists, heard them tinkle and shake.

There was a great rush of air cool and dark blocking everything.

And then he fell, an endless pit of electricity surging forward and through him like a circuit catching hold of something-

Damian

His eyes snapped open.

"Severus?" Damian's voice was strangled and as he turned he felt something inside of him shatter. Daman was held to the ground by inhuman strength his arms pinned beside his head which had been tilted. Severus had a moment of vertigo as things fell into place.

Vampire

A vampire- the dark lord was drinking from his beloved.

Beloved

Severus didn't give the thought time to settle, he doubted he could have if he wanted to- no he was already leaping magic rushing through him endless icy, cold, a pit of shadows that longed to be used. He reached out a hand and Voldemort flew. Severus pulled Damian to his chest with a vicious snarl and wrapped his frail body into his cloak tugging him closer still as he bared his teeth at Voldemort.

"I see you have finally awoken Lord of the Prince household." A rasping voice said. Severus tilted his head to the side and his eyes widened at the sight of Baldwin. A massive hole was torn through his chest and blood was surrounding him quickly. He wouldn't live Severus realized. Baldwin gave him a faint smile. "Take care of my grandson Severus Snape, give him what I couldn't. He shuddered and twitched his eyes flickering, but with his last breath he offered Severus a gift. Severus read his lips and felt the magic crackle and wind around him pulsing and writhing, alive. And then Baldwin went still, dead, leaving Severus stunned.

"Ssssssseverusssss…" Voldemort hissed breaking his shock. Red eyes were zeroed in on him and Voldemort's body which had been twisted into odd angles in his landing began to click back into place with horrific crunching noises. Severus wanted to fight- wanted to tear Voldemort limb from limb for touching what was his, but even now he could feel the way Damian was shuddering and knew that he needed to get him inside.

He'd made a promise to keep him safe, to protect him.

With a curse he moved towards Baldwin's still body and gripped the arm before sliding them all back beyond the ward lines before Voldemort could react. He fell to his knees once he felt the wards accept him and Voldemort let out a snarl flinging himself at the wards only to be shot back with a yowl of agony. Severus clutched Damian close and pulled out his wand as cracks of apparition sounded and he was suddenly surrounded by Vermont family members all of which had their wands out. Some gasped upon seeing him but Natalie Vermont was enraged and Severus could see it.

"Julius?" One of the Vermon's said taking a step forward.

"Don't!" Severus snapped. "He's been possessed." He added. "And turned." He said gritting his teeth. Severus felt more than saw their collective rage and anguish.

"Who?" Natalie hissed her eyes narrowed as Voldemorts spells splashed harmlessly against the wards.

"The dark lord." Damian rasped. Severus pulled him tighter and felt himself make an odd wounded sound as he brushed Damian's hair away from his face.

"Take care of your betrothed Severus." Natalie said her gaze fixed on Voldemort. Severus hesitated briefly before nodding sharply. Natalie let out a familiar shrill whistle and Severus gently lifted Damian up as the Pegasus that Damian preferred flew to them with a nervous whinny.

"To the house quickly." Severus muttered feeling the magic lift him onto the horses back. Damian blinked sleepily his face twisting into a frown and Severus grit his teeth as the Pegasus took off. Severus knew that Damian might be upset that his family was fighting the dark lord instead of staying behind the wards, but even as he knew that he could feel the metal around his wrists the chains that couldn't be seen or heard yet he knew they were there.

And he glorified in them.

He wasn't afraid of them like he'd always thought he would be as a child, instead he felt free with them. Damian…his beloved. He let out a quiet sigh as he leaned forward and pressed a kiss to cool lips. Damian stirred and a smile slid across his lips.

"Sev'rus." Damian muttered against his lips before responding with ease. Severus shivered but pulled away.

"You're injured, we must get you inside."

"Severus- feels like ice, nd' fire…every thing hurts."

Severus froze.

No…

He felt himself swallow against the pain.

"I'm here Damian, I'm always here." He whispered even as the tears slid down his cheeks. "No matter what it takes." He whispered as they soared through the air.

Even this, he could bear.