"To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly be broken… The only place outside of Heaven where you can be safe from the dangers and perturbations of love is Hell." - C.S. Lewis "The Four Loves"
Chapter 6: The Choice
Time passes slowly when you actually want something to happen. Now that Severus knew that Harry wasn't dead, it took all of his restraint to keep him from searching the entirety of the British Isles from one corner to the other. Instead, he sat at the Staff Table, poking at the food on his plate, as Minerva eyed him warily.
"Is there something wrong, Severus?" she asked, pausing with her water goblet mere centimeters from her lips.
Snape looked up, shaking his head tightly before he tried to eat again. "Both of my First Year classes today decided to have a bit of fun within their cauldrons. Nearly 13 people out of both classes ended up in the Hospital Wing. Longbottom may be gone from this school, but his contemporaries have more than compensated for his… deficiencies," he hissed.
A single owl landed at the head table and stopped in front of Severus. The black bird gently offered the message on its leg, and the Potions Master removed it obligingly. "Thank you," he murmured, as the bird moved to sit on the back of his chair.
He offered it a piece of meat as he unrolled the missive, noting the precise handwriting… it was Draco's.
"Severus. I have returned from my errand to the north. Indeed, we have discovered the location of Xanatos' coven. Lord Demius has instructed me that we are to approach him first and has ordered me not to disclose the location to you. Xanatos' dislike of humans is legendary, and quite formidable. You will not help our cause by your presence. If we are able to return with any good news, we will contact you immediately.
"Yours,
"Draconis."
The Potions Master was upset. This wasn't what he was waiting to hear. Silently, he allowed the bird to move to his arm, and strode confidently from the room, to the whispers of the other occupants of the hall, followed the entire way by the gaze of Minerva McGonagall.
***
Draco was wreathed as always in dark clothing. This time, it was dark dragons hide, simply because it was easier to get the blood out than some of the other fabrics in the world. But everything he wore was of the dark material, without a hint of light or warmth.
Demius came up behind his childe and turned him around, examining him and then turning up the collar of his duster, before lifting the head of Draco's cloak. "Do you know what I expect of you, my dragon?"
Draco nodded to his sire. "Of course, sire. You and the other Lords shall do the talking, I will identify the boy if it is indeed him," he said quietly. "To stand behind you, and be the reserved person you want me to be."
"He will hurt you, if he knows how dear to me you are," Demius continued. "I could not bear that. He is jealous and knows that he fell from my grace a long time ago." He trailed a hand down Draco's pale cheek and then possessed the younger vampire's lips, before biting gently on the lower one.
"Yes, Demius." He looked into the eyes of his sire and smirked. "You know how we are. Things will go off without a hitch, I promise."
Demius nodded sharply, eyeing the other. "You sent the missive to your godfather?"
The blonde nodded in response. "Of course, Demius."
The vampire Lord smiled. "Well, we should be off." He took Draco's hand, squeezing it again, before letting go and Apparating to the coven where he was gathering with the others.
***
It was just after the New Year when they had that discussion.
"And I'm saying that I don't think that we should have to wait, Sev. It's not that big of a deal, and you should stop being a prude!" Harry spat, eyes greener than envy itself.
Severus bristled, standing every inch of his height and looking down on Harry. "You are not sleeping in bed with me, Harry! For one thing, it is improper!" he rejoined, hoping that the younger boy would drop the subject.
"You want the reasons why it's smart?" Harry hissed, sounding very much a Parseltongue in his speech.
Severus crossed his arms and narrowed obsidian eyes at the persistent whelp. "By all means," he said in a dangerously quiet voice.
"One, I have night mares quite frequently. I need someone to wake me up, and there is no one else in Gryffindor Tower to wake me up!" Harry explained, ticking off the numbers on his finger.
That much was true, and afterwards…
"And afterwards, I usually need an After-Cruciatus Potion, and Dreamless Sleep, and often, self-medication is impractical," he replied. "So it saves you all the stairs between here and my bed."
Well, that was true as well.
"And number three," Harry continued, undaunted like the Gryffindor that he was. "It's fucking cold in these dungeons. And you don't have enough body fat to insulate you. We should conserve body heat… right?"
Now that was stretching it. "Right. Next, you'll be suggesting we actually share one skin, so that we can be even warmer. If you are cold, put on a jumper, Harry."
Harry placed both hands on his slender hips. "I'm not right now! And another thing. I'm not leaving you, Severus. I plan to stick around for a bloody long time. So get used to the fact that someday, I will want us to share quarters permanently."
Severus had to admit that was not exactly a bad idea. Harry was still shy of the average male height, but fit perfectly in his arms, and would be wonderful in bed. Especially with that seeker's physique that everyone seemed to swoon over. But it was too rushed, and against the rules…
"No, Potter."
That slip of the tongue made Harry narrow his verdant eyes at Severus and stalk past him into the taller wizard's bedroom. He removed his shirt and trousers, before pulling the covers back.
"What are you doing?"
Harry smirked. "I don't know what you're doing, but I want to sleep in a bed. This one in particular. Either you can join me, or you will be sleeping on the couch. That's final."
Severus' eyes roamed over the teen's body as Harry climbed into bed. Finely toned legs, well defined shoulders and a six-pack to kill for: not bad at all.
Harry glanced up, waiting for a response to the ultimatum.
"You're on my side of the bed, Harry."
Harry beamed as the Potions Master likewise disrobed, and he shifted over to the other side.
Severus paused for a moment. "You do know that this is only for tonight, correct?"
The teen nodded. "For now, I'll take tonight."
***
Xanatos was pissed. That much every one of his childes knew with absolute certainty. The waves of rage coming off their sire were unmistakable, and when Harry was summoned by two of the elder childes, who were sires in they're own right, he was a bit… cautious.
Luckily, Harry was already dressed and walked to the throne room, making a bee-line for his sire, not minding any of the others.
Draco gritted his teeth.
"Here he is, Demius. Now tell me that he has been harmed. He is clothed, and fed and has been taught the ways of our kind," Xanatos spat at his sire.
Demius approached Harry, who nearly tried to run. If he was anything like Xanatos, there was no way that he wanted to be here for this. But two more vampire lords flanked him and kept him there.
Lord Demius lifted Harry's chin gently, examining his eyes for something, some trace of Harry's mistreatment. Satisfied with what he found, he stroked Harry's porcelain cheek. "He controls you, doesn't he?" he whispered gently.
Harry looked away, ashamed that he wasn't strong enough to have saved Erebus.
Another lord examined him and nodded to Demius. "I concur."
With that, Demius motioned for another figure to come forward, and the newcomer took Harry by the arm and led him away. "Best you just stay quiet for this. It won't be pretty, Potter."
Harry's head jerked to look underneath the cloak's hood. "Malfoy?"
The blonde gave a trademark smirk. "Now watch, and learn."
Demius strode forward even as Draco dragged Harry back. "Xanatos, why have you enslaved this childe?"
Xanatos glared daggers at Harry. "That is a lie…"
"We have confirmed it," the second vampiric lord to examine Harry said. "You know that it is a crime to do such, to anyone not unruly or dangerous…"
"He killed Voldemort! That wasn't dangerous enough for the council?" Xanatos said, standing up.
"And how many others among your company would we find this treatment in? You are too selfish, Xanatos. And it is no longer your right to have these childes." Demius strode forward. "I will claim the one known as Harry."
Each lord went around and selected another of the offspring, before the process started again.
Demius stepped forward and chanted lowly in a dialect that Harry had never heard, before placing his hand on Xanatos' forehead.
"What is he doing?" Harry whispered.
"Lord Demius is removing your sire's telepathic abilities," Draco explained.
It hurt as the connection snapped and Draco had to move quickly to catch Harry as he sunk to the floor in agony. Draco cradled the other vampire and looked to his sire. "It is he, my lord."
Demius walked over and nodded. "Disapparate and return to our coven. I shall return to claim him later, Draconis."
Draco nodded and clutched Harry into his arms, before returning to the catacombs where he… lived.
Demius whirled and faced Xanatos down. "And now, to be certain that you never claim another again."
***
Draco laid the other vampire on a stone bier, awaiting the return of his sire, as Harry still lived in blissful unconsciousness. He lay still as death, but that was to be expected, as Draco moved Harry onto his back and tenderly brushed back his hair from his face. He reached behind Harry's neck, removing the leather choker and laying it aside.
And so, he waited. Draco sat beside the other and held his hand, even as Harry's face evened out, when the pain seemed to subside.
"He is positively angelic, is he not?" Demius asked from behind him.
"Is Xanatos dead?" Draco queried hopefully.
The vampire lord shook his head. "No more so than you or I. But he shall not take a childe again. If this one wishes vengeance on him, we shall not stand in his way," Demius amended, walking closer. "Do you wish to watch, Draconis?"
Draco nodded. "I'll stay."
Demius nodded and moved to Harry's side, lifting the younger vampire up by his shoulders and holding him like a limp rag doll.
He found the first claim mark and decided that, rather than giving the young one another bite, he would bite in the exact same spot. He opened his mouth, baring his canines and bit down.
Harry stirred in pain as the blood was taken from him, and woke to see Draco watching quietly. It hurt, but not that badly, and Demius then offered his own wrist to sate Harry's hunger.
Demius sat on the bier and pulled Harry into his lap as the younger vampire recovered. "This much I promise each of my children. That I will care for them until we cease to exist, and that they never need fear me. You have had a grave wrong done to you, and for that we are sorry. Never again shall he hurt you, my childe. I swear this to you."
Harry looked up at him and smiled. "Thank you, my sire."
"You are welcome, Leonidas. My little lion. Day approaches. Now sleep, dearest." Demius smiled at Draco. "You too, my carus."
Draco smiled and headed for his casket. "Of course, Demius."
Demius stroked Harry's hair and the Lion fell asleep again.
***
It was well after midnight, before Severus awoke one night, to a person shaking his shoulder slightly. "Severus. It's me," Draco said, silver eyes gleaming in the moonlight.
Severus started, reaching for his wand to light the room. "Draco? What is it?" he rasped, more tired than anything else.
The blonde handed him a robe and a pair of boots. "There's something that I have to show you in Hogsmeade. Get dressed."
At the gentle command, Snape got up from the bed, throwing back the covers before he dressed quickly in one of his sets of black robes and a pair of his usual boots.
Draco said no more and Severus wisely did not press the issue as they left his quarters, setting off to the village of Hogsmeade.
Draco strode as a vampire with purpose, and was silent on the way, and Severus wanted nothing more than to stop him and ask what they had found in Xanatos' coven.
The blonde stopped outside the Shrieking Shack and turned to him, smiling. "He's all yours," he said, and Severus thought that he was talking to him until another voice answered.
"Thank you, Draco."
Severus whirled. There, behind him, was a single figure all dressed in black, with his hood up. The hood was lowered, and a single name was whispered in that moment. "Harry…"
A brilliant smile lit up the newcomer's face as he saw Severus approach. As though a fire had been lit in the vampire's once frozen heart, everything fell into place again… everything was complete.
"Don't forget. Our sire wants you home on time and in one piece. Understand?" Draco asked.
Harry nodded, walking closer to the human. "Sure, Draco. Whatever. Have a nice evening, and thank you."
Draco took the hint and left.
"I thought I'd lost you," Severus said. "Why didn't you come find me?"
Harry crossed to the elder man and wrapped his arms around his lover. "I was… delayed. Picked up by the wrong sire. But everything's fine, now. And I'm back. That's all that matters to me," he admitted, pressing himself against Severus so that his head was at the man's collarbone and he had never felt safer in his existence than at that moment. "Lord Demius took me as his childe, and Draco and I are as brothers. All is as it should be."
Severus returned the embrace, tears running down his cheeks as he was confronted with the one man he thought he'd never see again. "I've missed you so. My life hasn't been the same since you left… I…"
Harry comforted the other man as one would a child. "It's alright… I'm here now, and I'm not leaving again."
With that, Harry captured the other man's lips in a gentle kiss and visibly restrained himself from the instinct to feed, even on his own lover. It was tame, but even that was enough to bring the other man to speechlessness.
"Come, Severus. We have a new world to explore."
"Yes," said a venomous voice from behind them. "A new world indeed."
The two were torn apart from each other, and Harry came face to face with an old foe.
"Xanatos," he spat.
Severus' eyes shot to the elder vampire's face as two held him and two others held Harry.
"Yes, dear pet. You should know better than to wander alone, when you lost me my children…" The vampire's words were like poison and chilled both Harry and Severus to the bone.
Harry snarled. "You didn't deserve any of us. You should have died for what you did to them."
"I'm already dead, pet. As are you. You're returning with me to our home. And as for your food there," the elder vampire said, looking through Severus. "You should know better than to play with your food. Kill him," he instructed one of the vampires holding Severus back.
Before either person knew it, twin fangs pierced Severus' jugular and he gasped.
Harry's eyes hardened with cold fury, and he broke away from those holding him, snapping their necks easily. He wandlessly set them on fire and watched as they burned. The others holding Severus backed away, leaving only Harry, Xanatos and the one who bit Severus.
The one who bit Severus was one of Harry's old foes anyways. He was torn away from Severus and flung to the ground, where Harry dealt with him harshly.
Xanatos was next, and Harry ferally advanced on his former sire. "You know why you even lived to see this night?" he demanded. "Because Demius thought that I should decide either mercy or revenge."
Xanatos smiled. "You cannot kill me, pet." He swung at Harry' who took the brunt of the force, before kicking at the other's knee, breaking it instantly. He added a kick to the face, and then continued to fight the other until Xanatos lay on the ground, even as Harry was bleeding from cuts on his face and arms.
Harry summoned a piece of wood and stabbed it into the other harshly, twisting it through his heart. "Indeed," he said, as the other turned to dust.
With that, he rushed over to Severus, who lay bleeding to death. "No, I just found you again. I'm not ready to lose you… not now," he muttered, ripping open his own vein and offering it to Severus. "Please, love… stay with me, my carus." He paused, a lump forming in his throat. Yet, he would not force it of the one he loved. He couldn't. "It is your choice, Severus. Choose life, or choose death. I will love you either way…"
After a few minutes cradling Severus in his arms, he disapparated, headed for the crypt of his sire.
***
The search began the next morning, when Severus Snape was determined to have disappeared from the castle in the middle of the night. A substitute was called in to cover the classes, and Minerva McGonagall searched high and low for the Potions Master before the search was finally called off a few weeks later. Life settled down again, and went on as before.
The memorial service held at Hogwarts was poignant and bittersweet for those who knew the Potions Master well. His rooms were sealed, his things dusted, and prepared for storage, and his sacrifices to all were honored.
Minerva sighed, evaluating the resumes of some replacement Potions Masters and Mistresses, but was having an unsuccessful time of it. Instead, she walked to the place where a single black volume was kept… Severus diary. She had just opened it up and begun reading again.
"It's been far too long since he contacted me. I'm beginning to fear that they saw bad things at the coven that my godson was sent to. Why else would they not have told me what happened?
"Can they not tell how much I loved him? How much I still do? And yet, I sense that my days of waiting are coming to an end. I know that it will be over soon and I cannot wait until they are passed. For one way or another, I will be with him again, living or dead. I know what my choice will be now. I would go to the ends of the earth and against the highest heaven and the deepest hell to be with my love again."
That was the last entry: dated the night before he was discovered to be missing. Minerva closed the book and looked up when she heard a familiar voice.
"May I suggest Kristian Nicols, from Koeln? He's far better than the rest," the voice commented, and Minerva whirled, looking at the desk where she had left the parchments.
"Severus?"
Straightening up from over her desk was the Potions Master's slender form, followed by another, shorter, coming from the shadows in the corner. "Good evening, Minerva."
"Severus, we'd been so worried!" she lectured, preparing to unload all of her frustration and anxiety on him.
"I found him, Minerva. Or rather, another found him for me," he said, gesturing to the other.
"Hello, Professor McGonagall," Harry said, smiling.
The woman's jaw dropped. "Potter?"
"In a previous life, yes. This is my sire and lover, Leonidas, formerly Harry Potter. He came back for me that night, Minerva. And I promised never to leave his side again," Severus replied. "I came to say goodbye and to wish you luck… in case you see Albus again, tell him where I am."
She was agape. "But… how…"
Harry moved forward and placed a hand on her arm. "It doesn't matter, wise one. It just matters that we are as we are, and together. Soul mates can ask no more of one another. Thank you for helping him to find his way, and me to find mine."
She nodded, not saying anything, and with that, Harry took Severus by the hand and led him from the castle. "We'll be going now. If you ever have need of us, we are merely an owl away, Minerva."
***
Somewhere in the Scottish highlands, legend has it that there live a coven of vampires, unafraid of wizard or Muggle, of ageless beauty and devotion to one another. And of the coven, the four most kind and beautiful are the raven, the lion, the dragon, and the lord.
Of these four, two often roam the countryside, always together, and always of one mind. Both are always wreathed in black, but one has green eyes and the other obsidian.
In the hills, you can still see them, as they are now, and always shall be, age after age. And if you could hear either of them speak, likely, you would hear, "Te amo, Severus."
"If I'd have known the way that this would end…
If I'd have read the last page first.
If I'd have had the strength to walk away…
If I'd have known how this would hurt.
I would have loved you anyway… I'd do it all the same
Not a second I would change
Not a touch that I would trade.
Had I known my heart would break,
I'd have loved you anyway…
It's bittersweet to look back now
And memories withered on the vine
Just to hold you close to me, for a moment in time.
I would have loved you anyway… I'd do it all the same,
Not a second I would change,
Not a touch that I would trade,
Had I known my heart would break,
I'd have loved you anyway.
And even if I'd seen it coming,
You'd' still have seen me running,
Straight into your arms.
Just to hold you close to me, for a moment in time.
I would have loved you anyway… I'd do it all the same,
Not a second I would change,
Not a touch that I would trade,
Had I known my heart would break,
I'd have loved you anyway
I would have loved you anyway."
****************************
Well, that's all folks. I knew that this one was waiting to be finished, and now it has… onward to my other fics, I suppose, if I can keep the rabid plot bunnies away from me for a bit.
Thanks first of all to all of my reviewers:
The Shadow Bandit, lynntownsend (Thanks for reviewing from start to finish *glomps you for good measure*), selua, Caster, sev1970, Lilie, Sugar-Coated2, Logan (Working on it… working on it… I swear!)
Okay, so quick update then.
This is done.
So is the Silver Serpent.
Working on Fire and Ice, and the Serpent's Redemption (sequel to SS) Unfortunately, have hit a roadblock on both… called Senior year at Uni. Yeah, stress and angst, and fighting with parents. Life sucks.
Anyways, I have next weekend free. Will work on SR & F&I then. Promise.
And hugs to all.
Especially Piri.
S
RHF
10-12-03