A/N: blah, blah, blah, i know you don't want to hear excuses so i wont give them. Just wanna say sorry for the long wait and give props to my beta Cordi who is such a doll that i luv her and give her many many cookies to munch on with a large glass of creamy delicious milk! . Enjoy.
Draco paced his room, coincidently, over the same spot where his father - no - Lucius had died. Running his fingers through his long white-blond hair, he waited. Oh how he hated waiting; especially now when he was supposed to be having a very, very important conversation with his mum.
"Darling, sit down before you wear a hole in the carpet," Narcissa spoke sweetly as she strolled into the room and quickly conjured two seats that were comfortable and decorated in blood red colors. "Poky!" Narcissa spoke loudly; she never shouted.
A moment later, a house elf appeared with floppy ears and smaller than normal eyes. "Yes - mistress?"
"Bring us blood in my crystal glasses." The house elf bowed low and popped out of the room silently.
"Blood?" Draco flopped down on the comfortable seat and ran his fingers through his hair again. It was becoming a habit. "I thought we didn't drink blood - like that?"
Narcissa laughed lightly. "Really Dracolis." She sighed and shook her head. "You have so much to learn in so little time. But we must wait until your father arrives. He should be here soon, I just fire called him a few moments ago."
"Father? Merlin - I - this isn't a dream is it?" Draco asked in disbelief.
"I know it's a lot to take in," Narcissa spoke gently.
"That's an understatement. Do you know how disturbing it is to wake up in pain wondering if this was the end or father cursed me in my sleep again? No one bothered to mention that I was a vampire or that you were one."
"If you would calm yourself a moment, then maybe all will be explained," Severus spoke as he stood, leaning against the frame of the door.
"Darling! Finally, what took you so long?" Narcissa stretched out her arm and wiggled her fingers a little.
Severus smiled, his face softening as he made his way to his mate. He took her hand and placed a soft kiss on her knuckles before he leaned forward and placed a similar kiss on her lips. "Sorry to keep you waiting my Sweet, but Dumbledore decided to drop by. Even though he's a Brother Wizard, he's a right pain in the arse sometimes, especially on his timing. I swear that man does it deliberately."
"I think I've gone blind - and deaf," Draco muttered as he tried to bury himself deeper into the comfortable seat, covering his eyes with a hand. He wasn't, and didn't, want to see his mother being kissed by anyone; especially if that person was the Potions Master of Hogwarts, who also happened to be his father, it was just plain weird.
"Dracolis!" Narcissa scolded.
Draco flushed and he made a point to look somewhere other than at his parents, as his mother stood, and sat in her mate's lap with a blissful expression. She was happy and Draco couldn't, wouldn't, want to be the cause of making her unhappy. So, he came to a decision. As long as his mother was happy then so would he be to even if it made him uncomfortable and he had to work hard to accept; for his mother he was willing to do almost anything for her.
Willing the blush away, he made himself comfortable and smiled as he gazed at both his parents who were looking at him expectantly. "So -" the house elf appeared, interrupting him, but Draco didn't mind, because he was now preoccupied with the blood that filled three crystal glasses. The sweet aroma had him thirsty, but he was still hesitant.
Draco waited until his parents each picked up their own drinks before he grabbed his own; the house elf silently left. His parents took small sips as they watched their son, and Draco couldn't bring himself to do the same. The blood smelled delicious, it was just weird for him.
"Just drink it Draco," Severus said calmly.
"I don't think I can," Draco replied softly as he lowered the glass to his lap and stared at two pairs of understanding eyes.
"You drank blood before. Lucius's blood, remember?" Narcissa said, sipping at her own drink.
"Yes but - but I couldn't help it."
"Do you regret it?" Severus asked.
"No!" Draco's eyes widened at how easily he dismissed taking a life. "I mean, I don't regret drinking from him because he was a meal and was a bastard to begin with so I don't feel guilty, it's just that it's all real now." Draco sighed and continued, trying to explain. "Yesterday I was a normal Pureblood boy whose only worries were N.E.W.T.S and Voldemort and now I'm a newly turned Vampire who has to worry about not only the N.E.W.T.S and Voldemort but feeding on blood, retrieving my Second Half, worrying about sunlight, fearing garlic, and to top it all off I'm clueless in what my gifts are and that's if I even have them!" Draco ended up so frustrated that he had forgotten the crystal glass in his hand contained blood and downed several swallows.
"That wasn't so hard, now was it?" Narcissa teased as her son wiped his mouth with his hand and licked the remaining blood off.
"Stop teasing him, my Sweet." Severus was highly amused at how Draco was sucking on his fingers, one at a time.
"Can I have some more?" Draco asked completely forgetting his apprehension of drinking blood.
"No." Both adults rushed.
"Why the hell not?" Draco frowned. Okay, it wasn't all that bad but he was still quirked at how he craved the blood.
"Language." Severus raised an eyebrow at his son's lack of self control. "Your first lesson: Never drink more than a glass," he raised his own half filled one. "of foreign blood. Compare it to alcohol if it'll help to remember that too much of it can either kill you or give you a serious hangover. The withdrawal period is hard and can last for a week in most bad cases."
Narcissa lightly slapped Severus in the chest with her hand. "Don't scare our son like that. You might throw him off of blood." She scolded.
"I'm only stating the truth my Sweet." Severus murmured into his glass before he sipped.
With a brief glare at her Second Half she turned her attention to her son who was watching them with curious eyes. She smiled slightly, in a reassuring manner. "What your father forgot to mention was that foreign blood can be drank in moderation if you aren't starving, like a snack for example. But if you are starving and foreign blood is your only option then you can feed on it."
"Like from a real live person? I can actually just –" Draco frowned thinking of a word to express himself.
"You did it to Lucius, it was your first feeding and you were starving and a bit desperate, but it tasted good did it not?" asked Severus.
"Yes" Draco answered.
"The reason why I bluntly spoke to you was because I care for you. You are my only child and far too young to be able to hold your – blood. It's very easy for younger vampire to become addicted and no matter what we adults say it just goes through one ear out the other. It's like you children don't understand that foreign blood can actually kill you, it's like a forbidden fruit, but once someone says you can try a bit once in a while you automatically assume you're -"
Narcissa quickly placed a hand over her mate's mouth, effectively shushing him. "Darling I think you've made your point, besides you're frightening your son."
Draco blanched at the thought of how something so good could kill him. "Do we eat?" he asked. He knew he needed blood but he wasn't completely dependent on it, thankfully.
Narcissa laughed. "Of course; you've seen me eat at dinner, haven't you?"
"Yes, but there are spells to make blood into food so you could seem normal," Draco answered.
"True, but that's for older Vampires, dear. When you've reached your third century, then blood would be your primary diet along with raw meat." Narcissa spoke. "But to be dependent on blood, means your Second Half has a harder time if he - or she is not a Vampire or from relation."
"A relation? You mean like Dumbledore is a – Brother Wizard?" Draco asked puzzled over the new term.
"No." Narcissa nodded her head no. "A relation is someone who's not yet come into their inheritance but will be. A Brother Wizard – or even a Sister Witch -" Narcissa furrowed her brow together, pausing. "Let's leave that topic for another day shall we."
"Fine." Draco ran his hand through his hair. He was curious, he really wanted to know but at the moment his brain was protesting so he decided to change the subject to something of more importance. "Whose blood did we just ingest?" he asked.
"First, you drank our blood." Severus spoke.
"What?! Ewe, that's disgusting!" Draco blurted.
"It's a ritual Draco," continued Severus. "We are the elders of the Clan Espina and as such we have the responsibility of initiating you into the clan."
"Initiating?" Draco asked not knowing what else to say. This was just a little too unreal.
"Oh don't be so theatrical Darling. What your father means to say is that now, since you've drank the blood of both elders, you will soon come into your 'gifts', as you put it, and now you have a say in the political aspects of the Clan," Narcissa reassured with one of her charming smiles, it seemed like she'd been smiling more in that one day than all her years as a Malfoy's wife.
"Basically I'm an adult?"
"Not only that but you are next in line for Clan Leader, but that won't be an issue for many, many years." Severus said.
"Wait." Draco fidgeted with the crystal in his hands, thankful for giving him something to do other than sitting. "Let's not get into that right now, there are too many answers that I want and no I'm not waiting for tomorrow when I'm good and rested. Let's talk about the important basic stuff," licking his lips he continued, ignoring both his parents faces and concentrating on the crystal in his hands where the remaining blood had pooled in the bottom.
"I understand that my Potions Master is my father, I can still eat solid food, I've just been told that I'm the son of Clan Leaders, foreign blood can possibly kill me -"
"Unless it's family or your Second Half's." Narcissa interrupted.
"Another thing we're going to discuss later. What about the sun or garlic? Would it kill me?" Draco asked still keeping his attention in the crystal.
"Garlic, stakes, holy objects, metal, they're all muggle myths Draco. With the sun you'll probably get sunburn if you're not wearing lotion and luckily our eyes are made to be out into the sun and the florescent lighting." Severus answered.
"So there are Vampires out there that can't be out in the sun?"
"Yes and no. Vampires have sensitive skin, yes, and for some or more like several Clans the sun harms the eyes which either can be helped by a potion or contacts," answered Severus.
"Dracolis, hun, here's what you must realize," Narcissa began before she licked her lips. "Each Clan has their strengths and weaknesses. Fortunately the gods have smiled down on us and are weaknesses are minimal but we, the Espina, are devoted to one another and have certain rules. Each Clan is very hush, hush when it comes to the outside world and that's why the wizarding world brands us as Dark Creatures who follow Voldemort."
"But -" Draco eyed Severus who merely smirked.
"I'm a spy Draco," spoke Severus wanting to clear up a few things. "The Clan Leaders got together years ago and I took the honor of carrying the mark."
"Honor? What in Merlin's name is honorable carrying the mark of a mad man?" Draco spat. He was confused and it was making him angry.
"Self Sacrifice. I sacrificed some of my freedom to keep tabs on Voldemort for not only the Clans, but to help aid the light, Dumbledore, who has been our Wizard Brother."
"Wait, you took the mark because you volunteered to sacrifice yourself and help Dumbledore?"
"Mhm. It kept Vampires from all other Clans away. My presence in the Death Eaters leaves me as the only Vampire.
Voldemort has a nasty habit of promising desires that are impossible and his view of tainted blood is ludicrous. The wizarding world can never die out." Severus muttered the last part more to himself, but Draco heard it loud and clear.He narrowed his eyes at the crystal glass. His mind was overflowing from questions and new knowledge, but it would take more than a night to know answers, that would more than likely, lead to even more questions, so, he decided to change the topic.
"Vampires aren't in the league of Voldemort, that I get, but what about me?" Draco lifted his head and stared at his father. "If I'm your son, then why do I look like Lucius? Why do I look like a Malfoy?"
Narcissa had a troubled look on her face. She spoke up. "Unbeknownst to my father, my mother was a Witch Sister. You have to first understand that my father was a cold, by-the-book man who married for convenience. I was to be sold off to the highest bidder, but before that, my mother had had an affair with a Vampire. They cared deeply for one another, she was actually his Second Half, and they ran away together. They had a blissful month together until he died. Mother was heartbroken and she refused to return to her new family, because she didn't want to be reminded of what she had.
Mother contemplated suicide, but before she could go through with it, she found out she was pregnant with me. She decided to live for me, so she Obliviated her husband's memory, but months without the blood of her mate made the birth difficult and she died having me. I was signed off to marry Malfoy when I came to age.
Some weeks before the wedding, and years after my own inheritance I met your father, and I became his Second Half. Lucius, upon finding this tidbit out, placed the Imperious Curse on me. Before I could fight it off, he gave me a potion that made me more susceptible to the curse and it wore off on the night of our honeymoon. The Marriage Contract was unbreakable until both were willing to leave, and Lucius was not.
That night, he forced some pregnancy potion down my throat. Since I was already pregnant, all it actually did was give you his features, but your blood is of Severus, and really, as long as you looked like Lucius, he did not question your parentage."
"But what about you two? How did you deal with the separation?" Draco asked.
"I'll answer my Sweet." Severus cleared his throat. "I found out about the wedding by paper, since I was traveling at the time. The Contract legally bonded her to Lucius, who took great satisfaction in shoving it in my face. I couldn't kill him because he was a favorite of Voldemort, so we settled on meeting behind his back. Since divorce wasn't an option, along with murder, we had to settle for an affair. After you were born, your mother drank a potion to make her unable to conceive – by a mortal."
"He knew all along that I was a vampire?" Draco asked.
Narcissa shook her head no. "Lucius knew I was a vampire, but since he thought you were his son, there was a chance that you would not come into your inheritance and I would have to mark you. You had half a chance of being a born Vampire or made Vampire."
"Is that bad? I mean, being made instead of born?"
"No, my Dracolis. The Clans acknowledge both with no prejudice, unlike the wizarding world where Muggleborns are sometimes frowned upon." Narcissa smiled. "But since that bastard wasn't your father, there was no doubt in my mind you would be born as one."
"Wow." Draco had a little smile on his lips as he leaned back and let the new information flow through him. It was still overwhelming, but he was beginning to accept what he was. "A part of me is in enthralled by me being a vampire, and with everything that comes with it, but another part is apprehensive about what everyone might say."
"Don't concern yourself about what others might think about you," Severus said. "You're a Snape, and my son, if it becomes knowledge that you are a vampire then we'll deal with it then."
"I won't be kicked out of school, will I?" Draco asked apprehensively. He really didn't want to leave Hogwarts and transfer to some unknown school.
"No. Times have changed and no matter how many parents complain, the Board of Governors can't ostracize a student because of breed. Hogwarts now houses four Werewolves and 6 Vampires, and of the 6 only two have come into their inheritance." Severus spoke. "Both Hufflepuff's are from Clan Prover, cousin's to you."
"Hufflepuff? There's a Hufflepuff Vampire?" said Draco in disbelief.
"I was almost in Hufflepuff," Narcissa spoke up. "But Lucius wanted a Slytherin bride so I was forced to beg the hat to place me in that house. The Sorting Hat understood, which was good, I didn't have to threaten it with a curse."
Draco was silent for a moment, brow crunched together in thought. He glanced down at his mother's abdomen before he spoke. "I wonder if my sisters will be Hufflepuff's since it's so popular."
"Sisters'?" Severus stared into his mate's face, who was in shock, before his eyes lowered to where Narcissa's hands held onto her stomach. Realization dawned and he was gob smacked. His mouth opened and shut, unsure how to answer.
"I'm having a girl?" Narcissa breathed out in her own disbelief that quickly turned to utter joy. "I'm having a girl!"
"Two actually," Draco replied with a smirk.
Severus ignored the thud his glass made as it slipped from his numb fingers. His mate wrapped her arms around him and giggled excitedly. He was to be a father… well, again but this time from the very beginning. He had to deal with the changing, feeding, crying, everything he was actually looking forward to in a sick happy way.
He was to be a father.
A father.
A father to twins.
Twins!
End of chapter 4
A/N: So how was it? it was confusing wasn't it? Anyhow i hope you liked it and hopefully this'll satisfy some hungry ppl out there. As always, reviews welcomed, and questions are better answered when either emailed or posted in my yahoo group. Thank you.
Teaser: Hmm... this is most difficult. Okay, Petunia returns home and is none too happy, Draco leaves a happy camper but Severus is not so certain, Harry's weak and is in need of his mates blood, and the Order are making an appearance along with a new character or two. Chapter 5 should be long... really long.
Thank you all who reviewed this fic and i'm sorry i haven't replied to your reviews here but i REALLY don't want to be kicked off. Forgive Me please. Thanks.