Er, yup, I'm actually still alive … can't apologize enough for disappearing. I'm working three jobs, and tomorrow school starts. But at least I'm in fun classes ---Organic Chem, Environ Bio, Medieval European History, and Calculus! Too exciting. Anyway …I know that's no excuse. I'll keep plugging along, and The Fifth Marauder will so be updated before you know it. I know how it ends, I just need to, you know, write it down. And reread the story, seeing as I can't remember slightly important plot points. I'm rambling again. What are you reading this for? Story's down there.

Ex Umbris

Chapter 10

Warning: There're a few nasty words in this chapter.

The blood was screaming at Severus. It required all of his strongly disciplined self-control to stop himself from lunging toward the student and grabbing him and tearing out his throat…

His hands balled up into fists, and he stood up in a single fluid motion.

"Professor? Could you heal me, please?" Malfoy took a step forward, but Snape edged away from him.

"Go," his words were strangled, forced.

"But, Professor Snape, it's such a small cut. Couldn't you heal it for me?" Malfoy moved toward him quicker than he should have, and in a moment of lapsed self-control, Snape grabbed the young man's wrist. His nose caught a strong, salty and sugary smell of fear, and it shocked him back into himself. He twisted the wrist and used Malfoy's momentum to flip him effortlessly over the side of the second floor balcony, into the lake.

The Giant Squid helped Draco back to the shore, and he stood in ankle deep water looking up at the balcony. He saw Snape look down at him, and then turn and calmly walk back into the school, looking for the life of him like he didn't just throw a student off the balcony.

Draco wondered what the Dark Lord had thought would happen.

Severus could still smell the blood as he slowly made his way toward the dungeons. The coppery smell of the sticky blood on his hand nearly overpowered him. The bittersweet taste of Malfoy's sapient fear was like a delicate appetizer, and leaving before the main course gave him an empty, hollow feeling in the pit of his stomach.

He unconsciously skirted a beam of sunlight that shone on the floor in the arched shape of the window. Sunrise had come and gone, and the brightness of the day was giving him a violent headache.

"Severus," Albus Dumbledore fell into step beside him, emerging from a random doorway. "How are you feeling this beautiful morning?"

Resisting the nearly instinctual urge to scowl a sarcastic reply, Snape instead answered: "Better than I felt a month ago, Headmaster."

Albus chuckled and clapped him on the shoulder. "I was hoping we might have tea together sometime, Severus. There are several things I've been meaning to ask you about."

"Mr. Malfoy not among the least of these, I presume?" His headache had migrated down to his sternum. Severus felt a vice-like tightness grip his chest, making it a conscious act to breathe. He stopped and put a trembling hand on the wall for support.

"Well, as a matter of fact --- Severus?" Albus turned when he realized he was talking to himself. "Severus, what's wrong?"

The Potions Master felt his knees crack against the stone floor as his legs gave out. Albus ran over and wrapped a supporting arm around Severus's shoulders, keeping him from collapsing.

"I can't …breathe," Snape gasped, wrapping his arms around his torso and unconsciously leaning on the Headmaster.

"Albus …I …" don't want to die again.

"I know, my boy. I know." Albus reassuringly squeezed his shoulders. "Just try to stay awake, Severus. At least until Madam Pomfrey arrives. Severus? Can you hear me?"

Merlin … stop saying my name …I live to serve, My Lord …I was detained …couldn't get away …I tried to ---

By the time Madam Pomfrey arrived, Snape was unconscious.

"Blood loss." Madam Pomfrey confirmed quietly, rising from Severus's hospital bed.

"Blood loss from what?" Minerva scowled down at the still form.

Pomfrey was at a loss for words. She shrugged. "He hasn't got any wounds. It's …It's almost like his body is destroying blood cells rather than producing them. I've never heard of anything like this."

"Maybe we should take him to St. Mungo's?" Bella Lobdell suggested.

Albus shook his head. "Magic hasn't worked on him since …then. We'd have better luck taking him to a muggle hospital."

"Absolutely not!" Poppy Pomfrey huffed, turning on Albus like a protective mother hen. "They would probably take leeches to him … to 'bleed out the bad blood' or some such nonsense!"

"They don't do that anymore, Poppy," Bella grimaced. "I was raised as a muggle until I was 19, and I spent some time in a hospital for anemia …that's kind of like this."

"What did they do?" Minerva looked over at the young professor.

"They gave me iron supplements and adjusted my diet," she blushed and pushed wavy red hair out of her face. "Maybe that would help."

"Anything is worth a shot, my dear," Poppy conceded. "I just wish magic would work on him. It would be so much simpler." The three women bustled out of the Hospital Wing, talking animatedly about iron and blood and muggles.

Albus remained alone with Severus, silent, staring down at the drawn face of his tortured comrade. Slowly, he reached thin hands toward the Potions Master's collar and unfastened the top button, pulling his shirt away from his neck.

Pale scar tissue covered his neck in a jagged slash, over the external jugular, just over his collarbone.

Dumbledore sighed heavily, his most-hated conjecture forming into concrete. Severus Snape was a vampire.

But why hadn't Madam Pomfrey noticed during his exam, the first night he came back?

The Headmaster's eyes refocused as he felt a slight shift in the magic aura that surrounded the unconscious man. It looked as if Severus's magic was preparing it's own spell, without the caster's permission. Perhaps Severus had set wards around himself for protection. Albus straightened and began the slight hand-motion that summoned a basic shielding spell, but it was too late.

Albus Dumbledore, the most powerful wizard of his age, left the Hospital Wing wondering what could be wrong with Severus. He found the three witches outside and joined in their conversation about iron supplements and B12 vitamins. Perhaps Severus had developed anemia. Merlin knows he doesn't go to enough meals.

He opened his eyes, wincing at the too-bright whiteness of the ceiling. The pressure on his ribs was unrelenting, and it felt as if someone was sitting on his chest.

"It'll only get worse."

Sirius Black was standing in the doorway, but as Snape's eyes flickered toward him he entered and shut the door.

"Look, Snape …" Sirius had carefully avoided the Potions Master for the past month, but he had finally let guilt overtake him. "I …I saw what happened in the Forbidden Forest. I know what you are."

The blurry haze of dizziness receded slightly and Snape's eyes sought his in confusion. "What am I?" He asked in an unsteady voice.

Sirius hadn't expected Snape wouldn't remember. He looked down at the man in surprise and decided that schoolyard grudges needed to be set aside. He sat in the chair next to the Potions Master and turned it to face him.

"Snape …er, Severus," he began uneasily, but gained confidence when Snape didn't glare or say something sarcastic. "My best friend is a werewolf…" He stopped, trying to think about what he was trying to say.

"I knew that," Snape told him quietly, a quirk at the corner of his mouth the only telltale that he was amused. Sirius wasn't sure if he felt like smiling or slugging him.

"I grew up with a werewolf for a best friend. It was hard for him, but with the support of great friends and the teachers at Hogwarts, Remus got through it.

"It …well, you're not much different. I'll sure be hard, but we need you. Without you, there have been more Death Eater revels than ever before …"

"Black?" Snape's eyes were closed, but he was talking, so Sirius hadn't bored him to death just yet.

"Yeah?"

"I'm pretty sure I'm not a werewolf."

"You're a vampire, Snape. Not a lorelei, a zombie, a werewolf, or a khajiut. Just a vampire. And you're going to keep getting weaker until you …feed. I guess Draco Malfoy acted as a catalyst to your …Everyone noticed that you don't come to many meals, but I don't think even Dumbledore suspects …that."

The blood drained from Snape's face, making him match the blankets and walls, ceiling and floor.

…flashes of the cruciatus curse between bouts of non-magical beating. The twisted blade drawing thick lines of blood…

Blood. Voldemort had meant to draw blood to attract the vampire. The vampire …black hair and grey eyes…a thick accent with a deep, feminine voice...red lips and pointed teeth… parts of a whole came together witha sudden ferocity that left him numb and cold. Student rumors and fears came to be the truth. A vampire.

"Shit."

Sirius shrugged imperceptibly. "It's nothing that we can't handle, Snape. We just need to find you …food."

"I-I…I can't do that!" Snape replied hoarsely, his silky voice harsh with fear.

"You have to. It isn't that bad. Remus caught rabbits all the time, he could handle it."

"Get out of here."

"Snape!"

"Fuck off!"

Sirius left, slamming the door behind him before realizing he was supposed to be disguised as Snuffles.

"Prat."

Uncle Demorvolet,

I proceeded as ordered. He threw me off the second floor balcony, performing no magic. Crabbe and Goyle followed him afterwards, and they report that the Headmaster attacked him. He is in the Hospital Wing now, but as of yet I have been unable to get in to see him.

It is my feeling that he is unsure which side he is loyal to. Perhaps now would be the time to summon him and bring him back to us.

Your nephew,

Draco Malfoy

"Tender-handed stroke a nettle, and it stings you for your pains; grasp it like a man of mettle, and it soft as silk remains." Voldemort chuckled quietly. "The child presumes to tell us what to do, but perhaps he has a point. Wormtail! Attend me, now!"

Aaron Hill, Verses Written on a Window in Scotland.

I know what you're going to ask, but I'll answer it in the next chapter. ::turns on The Exorcist theme and starts dancing around::

You know, if you review me, I might be so happy I'll write faster…