"I'm in every kind of trouble
Can't you tell, just look at me
Half ecstatic,half dejected
All in all I'm all at sea
Easy terms I thought I wanted
Fill me now with chilling dread
You could never know the chaos
Of a life turned on it's head
Of a life turned on it's head
-- "A
Step Too Far" From Aida
Chapter 5: A Life Turned On It's Head
Draco sighed. "If you are committed to this, do exactly as I say. Don't look anyone in the eyes; it will be seen as a challenge. Keep your hands at your sides and don't speak until I give you a cue. Oh, and whatever you do, don't fight. They're stronger that you are, fiercer than I am, and we're strictly speaking on their turf." He turned, examining the dark Potions Master.
Severus was dressed in his customary black, looking as washed out as most vampires do, but with less red in his lips. His hair was once again greasy, and he looked ill.
Draco hated seeing him like this. "I'm sorry," he said. Without further warning, he grabbed his godfather's arms and thrust him against a crypt. Pinning the taller wizard with one arm, he seized upon the man's jugular, drinking quickly.
It was painful and Severus gasped, feeling the sharp eyeteeth cutting into his throat. He fought, but Draco was stronger, and the professor could do nothing until the blonde decided to let him go.
The man's blood was warm, and tangy, tasting more smoky than most humans. He was so thirsty, but this wasn't about him. He broke away, steadying Severus with one hand, and wiping the blood from his lips with the other.
"What the hell was that???" Severus shouted angrily.
"You're mine. The others won't bother you if you're someone else's meal." He gave a trademark smirk. "I did apologize, didn't I? Come on, we're nearly there."
Draco raised his eyes up a slope to a mausoleum near a set of trees. "It's just there. That crypt leads to a series of underground catacombs. My sire, Lord Demius is there."
They made a rapid ascent, with Severus holding a hand to the bite. Draco pushed the door open and gestured his godfather inside.
It was dusty and nearly unused. Severus looked around for the passageway, but found it too dark to see.
Draco walked to a corner, pulled a torch from the wall and then took a lighter from his pocket. The torch was quickly lit and handed to Severus. "You'll need this far more than I would, Sev. Excellent night-vision you know?" He walked to a wall in the darkness and pushed in the grey stone, revealing a doorway.
They walked down a series of ancient stone steps in silence; the only sounds were the clicking of bootheels and the gentle roar of the torch's flames. They reached the bottom and Draco led the elder wizard through a verifiable labyrinth of corridors before reaching another doorway, this time, blocked by an oak door.
The blonde turned to his godfather, silver eyes reflecting in the darkness. "Wait by the door. I have to greet my sire and make the introductions." His tone brooked no disagreement, and Severus gave a curt nod.
Draco strode forward, his cloak flaring in a very familiar fashion. He passed several other vampires who all seemed to glare at the blonde. If anything, he seemed to raise his chin higher, angering them more. He paused before a throne in the far end of the room and said, "Good morning, my sire."
"Draconis, you have returned early," said a warm voice, which caused Severus to shiver more than Voldemort's voice ever had.
"Yes, Master. I… that is to say, we seek your help," Draco said, keeping his head bent.
A gentle hand caressed Draco's soft white-blonde hair. "You know I would do anything for my children," he replied silkily. "But I must know the reason why you have brought a mortal to our sanctuary."
Severus froze, his heart was pounding, and every vampire in the area seemed to know it.
"My lord, I disobeyed you. I went to the castle known as Hogwarts to speak with my godfather, who is the human I now bring. He asks me for a favor, a favor that you could grant, milord. The favor of knowledge."
The one known as Demius leaned forward into the light, examining Severus with cold eyes. "Step forward, mortal. Draco, what does he seek?"
"He shares a soul with another, one who rose at the same time that I did," he said softly. "He was claimed by another clan, having no sire of his own." Draco stayed in that kneeling position, saying nothing more than was asked of him.
"You believe it to be Xanatos, do you not?" Demius asked curiously.
Draco nodded. "Yes, Master."
"You seek one of our kind?" Demius asked.
Snape found his voice. "Yes, I do."
"Who?"
"A man of my godson's age. Of dark hair and green eyes, but shorter than either of us," he explained, seeing Harry in his mind's eye.
"And scars upon his neck and forehead," Demius commented, remembering as well.
Severus nodded, closing his eyes against the vivid memories, now nightmares.
"Indeed, I do remember this childe. He is with Xanatos," he said, spitting the name, even as he caressed Draco's shoulder.
"What can you tell me, Lord Demius?" Severus nearly begged.
"Xanatos was my childe, mortal. He was exactly as this one here. Perfect, unchanging, beautiful, but ultimately, he was unfeeling and brutal. He killed without guilt or remorse, but also without restraint." He stood, pacing. "He never listened to me. And approximately forty years ago, we parted ways. He left this coven, killing two as he went, and formed his own. If your friend hasn't been destroyed by Xanatos' cruelty, he is either a willing accomplice to the slaughter, an unwilling servant or worse."
Draco frowned. "Excuse me, but there is worse, my Master?" he asked uncertainly.
Demius sighed. "But of course, my dear dragon. As a childe, he could be forced into a mind-link, and that could break him," he replied. "Draconis, stand. I have an errand for you. Escort your guest home, and then take this missive," he said, scratching out a brief message. "To the head of the coven in Lockerbie."
Draco stood and nodded. "Of course, my Sire," he confirmed.
"And if you must, stay with them until you receive a decision. Be… persuasive, my childe," Demius purred.
The blonde vampire smiled. "Yes, Master."
"Mortal, Draconis will return to contact you when we have news from the North."
"Thank you, Lord Demius."
"Draconis, you need not have bitten him. He would not have been touched," the Master said, his laughter echoing as he left.
Draco placed the dispatch in his pocket and shook his head. "Lord Demius. Come on, Severus."
A tendril invaded his mind once again, and the young vampire fell into the drug-like stupor that had became a familiar companion these past six months. Filled with the bloodlust of both his own body and that of his sire's, the childe pulled the door from its hinges and stalked off.
Dark hair fell into his eyes as he approached the throne room and his green eyes gleamed predatorially. As he entered, he cast his gaze toward the man sitting in the center of the room.
"Kill him."
He turned to see a vampire bound just in front of the other. His wrists were chained, as well as his ankles. A low growl erupted from his throat as he walked to the victim and jerked it to its feet.
The victim had light brown hair and blue eyes, but he was still unfamiliar, at least so the younger vampire's mind told him. There was fear in his expression, but he did not struggle.
Fangs bared and the entranced one drained his prey, then stopped.
This was Erebus, his friend.
*No, he is a traitor. Your Master commands his death!* A heavy sword was pressed into his hand and he dropped other vampire to the ground. *End it.*
The blade swung of its own accord, and two solid things hit the floor as the remaining blood splattered on the stones.
As immediate as the possession had been, it dropped away and the sword clattered to the floor. Two vampires came from behind him and grabbed him harshly.
The sound of a person clapping slowly was the only sound in the chamber.
Harry Potter hung his head. He had just beheaded Erebus. Bile rose in his throat and he was forced to swallow hard.
"Well done, my wizard childe, well done. Bind him and return him to his casket," Xanatos commanded the others.
Harry struggled as his Master's hand caressed his hair, then as his hand were cuffed behind his back, he let himself be dragged away, eyes fixed on the body and severed head of his once friend.
Severus lounged in his armchair, once again in front of the fire, a bottle of port in one hand, and a wine glass in the other. He had needed a drink after Draco's little feeding. Between the bloodloss and the alcohol, he slipped into a restful sleep and dreamed.
Harry bloody Potter. Why was it always that that brat managed to invade his life, his thoughts. It wasn't as though he hadn't had enough of the elder Potter, a spoiled, self serving brat. But no, now Dumbledore was insisting on Severus teaching the boy the Dark Arts and Dueling as well as the Occlumency lessons?
Those green eyes pierced through the Potions Master's stern façade. "Look you greasy git, if you have a problem with me or the way that I'm hexing you, then deal with it," Harry spat, his green eyes filled with fire. "Or if you're just going to stand there and nag me to death, it just might work!" He threw another hex, one that Severus barely had the time to dodge.
He moved to the side and retaliated, throwing a crushing hex Harry's way. "If you either insulted me or dueled, perhaps you could put your full effort into both," he commented, lazily.
Harry's jaw set, and involuntarily clicked. "Your mother was a hamster, and your father smelt of elderberries," he retorted, throwing a Disarming hex.
"How original. Did you sprain yourself?"
Harry moved closer, dodging hexes. "I'll sprain something of yours." He caught the edge of a slashing hex, and nearly dropped his wand. "Damn."
Severus smiled smugly. "All talk like your father, Potter?"
Emerald orbs of fire blazed. "Always picking on people shorter than you to hide your own insecurities and mistakes?" he spat.
"Mind your tongue, Potter!" Severus commanded sharply.
"Mind yours, sir!" Harry retorted, firing one more hex.
Severus's obsidian eyes narrowed, as he blocked Harry's latest spell, forcing another in reply.
Harry had never seen it before, and was knocked unconscious to the mat. He fell in a heap of overlarge Muggle clothing, and did not get up.
"Exactly like Potter. Congratulations, Potter. You're dead," he whispered, moving to the boy's side.
Two gentle hands grasped Harry's shoulders and lifted the boy to a seated position. "Wake up, Potter," a familiar voice replied.
Harry opened his eyes. "Damn, it's you again.
Snape was unamused, from the looks of things. "Who the hell were you expecting? Father Christmas?"
The teen narrowed his eyes, trying to clear up his double vision. "It would definitely have been a step up," he spat, pushing the man away.
"Just like a Potter to not accept help when he needs it."
"Just like a greasy git to keep bringing up the past when he can find no other fault in his pupils!" Harry yelled. "What the hell is your problem with me, anwyays? Me, not James Potter, not Sirius! Just me! Why do you hate me?"
Severus stopped. "What?"
"You bloody well heard me, you obnoxious greasemonkey! What the hell did I ever do to you? I existed? I breathed?" he asked, getting to his feet. "I'm so confused by what the hell everyone thinks of me and expects of me that I'd rather let Voldemort kill the lot of you just so that I won't have anyone left to bug me!" Harry's head was swimming from the curse, and his eyesight was a bit blurry, but his pride wouldn't let him sit down.
"I die, you will shortly follow, Potter." Severus' voice was a forced calm.
"And what the hell do you care? What do you see when you look at me anyways?" he asked. "A bad student? A juvenile delinquent? A carbon copy of my father? The boy who's supposed to save the world? What!!!???" he demanded.
Severus looked at him, head to toe. The boy's dark hair fell into his eyes, almost disguising the fact that the boy was crying. His clothing was humongous, his shoes were old, his wrists far too thin. His physique was far too slender for a boy his age.
"I see someone who has the strength to be anything and do anything, should he choose to apply himself," Severus found himself saying quietly. "I see someone of great potential, who has seen the bad parts of the very world he is called to defend and must make a conscious decision some day, not be a tool for others to maintain the status quo. I see someone who feels very much alone, but is surrounded by fame and doesn't seek it. I see a humble teen, and that is what I would ask you for. But I am not the ugliest or cruelest person out there, Potter. And you had better get used to that idea."
With that, Harry sank against the grey stone wall, collapsing and drawing his knees to his chest. Wrapping his arms tightly around him, he muttered a response. "I don't even know what's supposed to happen to me when I finally do face Voldemort. If I beat him, what happens when they don't need me anymore? I don't know how the hell to live," he whispered. "I can't see that far ahead in my mind."
Severus sat down beside him. "Then perhaps it is time for you to start living in the moment, Potter. I hear it's all the rage for teens your age," he replied. "Find yourself a young woman, or young man, who you are attracted to, and date someone, for gods sakes. Get drunk at least once in your life."
Without warning, Harry slid his arms around his professor's chest and hugged him tight. "I don't like any of the students in that way, and I don't know how to live, just to survive."
Severus, shocked, did the one thing he could think of, he stroked Harry's hair, and slid an arm around the vulnerable Gryffindor's shoulders. "Then I suppose we shall have to schedule more time in our lessons, shan't we?"
--00--
Well, time again for the author's note!
Thanks to my reviewers!
sev1970, amidalla95, Lady Maria, frizzy, lynntownsend, ficfan, SpiderGoat.
I think that's all from chapter four, and those of you who cried, I totally enjoyed making you do it! I'm sorry the posts have been so far in between, but I got wrapped up in finishing Silver Serpent and continuing TOTW.
Well, next time will bring more Harry/Sev moments, enough angst for everyone, and another hunt.
Sorry if it's kind of short, but it was the best thing I could think of.