In cold blood

Written by Becca

Disclaimer: I own nothing you recognise and most things you don't.

Summary: From the word go, Harry's summer goes downhill and he sinks into a deep despair. With no hope and the resurrection of Lord Voldemort, Harry does what any normal teenager would do in those circumstances; he tries to take his life. When he awakes he finds himself in a family who seem to welcome him openly. He has changed, he is no longer human and yet he still has to defeat the darkest lord of the century...will he stand alone or will he find, in this family, what he had always desired...Love and affection?

Chapter Ten

Harry ran through the corridors of the castle quickly and deep down into the dungeons. He didn't look where his feet were taking him and nor did he particularly care as he eventually crawled into a dark corner and curled up into a tight ball. He rocked backwards and forwards and didn't bother to wipe away the tears nor stop them from falling. If he couldn't defeat a Boggart, how was he to defeat Voldemort? He closed his eyes as his tears fell and mingled with the blood. Where was his family? They had promised they would be there for him when they were needed and yet, they were nowhere in sight.

He had been so stupid to go in unguarded like that, he should never have allowed Sirius's question to get to him and then none of this would have happened. Ugh, he was such a fool. He heard running footsteps and curled tighter into the shadows hoping nobody would see him, he held his breath and closed his eyes. He was such an idiot. He wondered briefly whether anyone else had been stupid and unlucky enough to have a Boggart actually physically attack them. He didn't even know it was possible. Until now that is.

He heard the footsteps stop somewhere nearby but he paid no attention to whoever it was and pressed his forehead to his knee. What would his family think of him now? Now that they had been forced to open their eyes and see what a real coward Harry Potter really was. He snorted at the thought and shook his head, blinking some blood out of his eye as he did so. They would all see now and then they would leave him as usual, but he didn't c are, he was expecting it anyway and had been since he met them. Despite their promises, they would see him for the failure he was and probably hand him back to the Dursleys on a Silver platter and practically pay for the stupid muggles to take him back.

Ok, he was over exaggerating now and he knew it.

The truth of the matter is, he loved them now, all of them. He loved Marius and Raven as his brothers, he loved Anéthiel as his sister and Armand and Celeste as his parents, but then again he loved Remus, Sirius and Dumbledore as family too, as well as Ron and Hermione... When they stopped acting so weirdly with him anyway. Then there were all of the Weasleys, honestly, he loved a lot of people as family and whether they loved him back or not was irrelevant when Voldemort realised the wider range he now had to target.

"Olwë, come on my darlin Rúmil, come out from there" Celeste's voice reached out to him softly and Harry tensed and curled up even tighter. He couldn't stop the trembles that ran through him at the sound of her voice nor could he stop the fear in his eyes or the pleas from leaving his lips.

"No, I'm sorry. Please don't hurt me, I didn't mean it, I'm sorry. Don't hurt me, I'm sorry, I'm sorry" the tears fell more forcefully and he pushed himself further into the corner, trying to bury himself in the shadows. His hands rose to protect his face instinctively as he heard his mother step closer. Celeste let out a startled noise in the back of her throat as she dropped to her knees and crawled further into the corner. She coaxed him into her arms and tightened her grip when she saw how hurt he was and kissed the top of his head over and over again.

"I love you so much my dear Olwë, my baby, my baby boy. I love you, you hear me? I love you, I would never, ever hurt you" she whispered and felt Harry relax slightly in her arms "Who hurt you baby hmm? Who hurt my darling?" she asked, trying to calm down her anger and hoping beyond hope that he didn't sense it. She took in the blood that was slowly trickling down the side of his head, the cuts all over his face, arms and chest. Bruises were already starting to form and his eye looked swollen from where she sat. She kissed him again and sighed, waiting as patiently as she could for his answer.

"I... You did. You and the family and Dumbledore and Lupin and Sirius and – and my uncle and Sev" he whispered and then sighed as she tensed "I – a stupid Boggart mum, I couldn't even defeat a stupid Boggart" he mumbled and she sighed her relief, she hadn't been sure what to think until he elaborated a little more...A Boggart, a bloody fucking Boggart. How could anyone have let her boy stand before one of those foul creatures after everything he had been through? That was perhaps one of the most foolish things...

"Aww my baby, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry I wasn't there. It's understandable that you couldn't Rúmil, you've suffered so and you're scared of loneliness and rejection. It's ok to be. I'll tell you what, if it bothers you that much, during Christmas holidays, you and me will get together in a room and we'll not stop until you have it ok? Who was in the room with you? Why didn't he stop it?" she asked, her eyes glittering madly. Harry nodded and smiled up at her briefly in answer to her suggestion. He would definitely have to learn to shoulder his fears and face them, what better way than in front of a Boggart?

"Lupin" he said, he sighed again and then told her the whole story from his getting annoyed by the questioning of the test and hurt by Sirius's words. When he had finished, his mother was holding him just as tightly and rocking him gently in her arms "I have detention but I – I didn't ask when. I hope its not tonight" he grumbled as he pushed himself to his feet. He helped Celeste up and sighed at his torn shirt. He was going to look a right state for his date that evening; perhaps he should go and ask Madame Pomfrey to heal him first...

"You're beautiful Olwë. I love you and I promise I will never leave you. I give you my word," she said firmly as she fixed Harry's shirt with a flick of her wand. She stared at him for a minute until he met her eyes and then smiled. "Why don't you go back to our rooms hmm? Stay there for the rest of the day. I'll sort out the detention... Don't worry about it. I need to have words with those two anyway; nobody upsets my baby and gets away with it." She said and then rolled her eyes as Harry glared at her half-heartedly "Oh don't worry, I wont kill them. Just bloody them up a lil' like you are, no worse I promise. Go on, go and get cleared up, I'll be right with you in a minute young man so no detours" she said sternly.

Harry smiled at her and kissed her on the cheek before hurrying up to his family's chambers. He wondered whether anyone else would be there or if they were all teaching and then he thought that just maybe he should have made his mother promise not to hurt Sirius or Remus at all... But then, they had both hurt Harry in their own way and he knew it would be useless arguing with his family when he learnt as soon as he joined them that they firmly believed in "An eye for an eye"

He knew Remus would never hurt him and was just shocked but what hurt the most was the two's obvious views on vampires. How could they be so biased against them when Remus himself was a werewolf? How could Sirius be fine with Remus but despise vampires so much? It wasn't fair. That lesson had certainly banished any hopes he had of telling them anytime soon... At least if they didn't know then he had a chance of speaking to them and such without knowing how they truly felt about him. Was that why they hated Severus so much?

At least Dumbledore didn't seem to share their views on Vampires though or he would never have hired Severus, would he? Nor would he have hired his family. No, it was obvious that the old man didn't hate them and gave them a chance... That was something at any rate. As he passed classrooms on his way to his family rooms, he could hear the teachers talking and he smiled, everything was just perfectly normal for the other students, it was like he was living in a completely different world from them.

--------

Celeste was seething as she stormed her way down to the Defence classroom. She couldn't believe the two mortals could have been so stupid! Ever since they arrived, Sirius Black had shown obvious dislike and distrust to her and her own but to take it out on Harry when the man didn't even know he was a vampire was taking the damn piss! She literally kicked the door open and surveyed the scene before her; all the kids were still there anyway. She didn't look at anyone as she walked to Harry's seat and gently packed away his things, ignoring the stares she was receiving and then she sneered at the students.

"Class dismissed. Get out of here now before this bloodthirsty monster gets hungry" she snapped, her eyes fixed on Sirius the whole time... Well, the students didn't want to argue with that! It was almost amusing to see them scrambling to get their things together and practically run out through the door. She looked first at Sirius and then at Remus before she walked around to the teacher's desk and picked up one of the test papers, flicking through it. When the last student had left, she lifted her wand hand and flicked it, effectively slamming the door behind them without taking her eyes from the paper.

After a few minutes silence, she finally spoke up in a low voice. "My family and I have each been through our trials." She still didn't look up as she speaking and Sirius stared from her to Remus and back again, wondering what the hell she was doing. "We have all come together through hardship and whilst we are not bonded by blood, we are by heart and soul. Having faced our difficult times alone, we are now there for one another. Nobody and I mean nobody hurts a member of my family and gets away with it. "She added as she finally lifted her head to regard them coldly.

"My family and I are infamous amongst the immortals for our closeness and refusal to stand alone. They all know that if you hurt one member, you will be dealt with by the entire family... They fear us and leave us be, even though we do not follow the most of them towards the Dark" she paused again, noting that the anger in her voice was rising but not particularly caring. "No matter how one of my family is hurt, be it emotionally or physically, they will pay" she licked her lips and stared at the two of them carefully. She could hear the two of their hearts beating faster and faster and she arched an eyebrow and laughed coldly.

"But... We haven't hurt your family" Remus said quietly and Celeste stared at him blankly, her eyes narrowing.

"Oh you have. You two have sent my baby back months mentally in one day. You should be proud of yourself" she sneered

"Harry" Remus whispered, his eyes opening wide. Now it was obviously clear why Harry feared rejection from the vampires and also why he had reacted so severely to the vampire questions. He was about to say that Harry wasn't a vampire, wasn't like them when he remembered Anéthiel, he didn't need to be a vampire for them to care for him...

But Harry isn't your family! He's mine" Sirius snapped, glaring at her. One of the main reasons he hated the vampires so much was because Harry seemed a lot closer to them than he did to Sirius.

"Oh he is, is he? I suppose that makes it alright for you to hurt him then doesn't it?" Celeste sneered as she slammed Sirius's back against the wall. He winced but didn't let out a sound as he glared at her.

"No its not! I didn't hurt him! How could I have hurt him?" he said honestly and Celeste rolled her eyes and looked over her shoulder at Lupin

"You, you hurt him emotionally. It was the werewolf who stood back and watched my baby getting hurt," she snarled as she turned to him. "Tell me everything you allowed that thing to say and from which person now, so I can try to ease my baby's pain"

--------

Harry sighed heavily as he lowered himself into a hot, steaming bath. He had managed to calm down now and was able to think through what had happened clearly. He knew that everything that Boggart said was just his fears put into words...and actions... And he knew that it did not make them true. Celeste loved him as did the rest of the family, Harry knew that and he was sick of that snide voice in the back of his mind telling him otherwise. Severus obviously did not think him to be some ugly, useless animal or they would not be going out on a date that very night. As for Dumbledore, Sirius and Remus, well, he wasn't so sure about them.

He groaned as the water soaked into his weary muscles and then leant back before closing his eyes. He was going to be bruised for the rest of the day now though hopefully by tomorrow he would be completely healed. His joined screamed in protest as he shifted in the water and he winced and placed a hand over his ribs, feeling them as gently as he could to see if anything was broken. It didn't matter, that would be healed too. He had been such an idiot to allow the Boggart close but now that it was done, there was no point complaining and he looked up with a scowl when he heard someone entering the room.

"Hey!" he snapped indignantly as he saw it was his mother Celeste and he couldn't keep the blush from heating up his cheeks as she just rolled her eyes and perched on the side of the bath. She reached across and ran her fingers through his hair, looking down into his emerald eyes with a concern that left Harry speechless.

"How are you feeling now my son?" she asked and Harry sighed again before allowing his muscles to relax and letting his eyes close again

"I'm fine. I was a fool to let that thing come too close but what's done is done now and there's no point sulking about it" he cracked open one eye and looked at his mother suspiciously "What did you do to Sirius and Remus?" he asked slowly and his mother grinned sheepishly

"Sent them to the hospital wing with a broken nose and a warning, no more" she replied innocently and Harry snorted and shook his head. He stared at her for a minute sighed

"You know it wasn't there fault don't you?"

"Yes. That's why they only got a broken nose," she answered cheerfully and then squirted some shampoo onto her hands and gently massaged it into Harry's hair. He closed his eyes again and relaxed under his mother's hands...His thoughts once again turning to the date that night.

--------

Harry settled back in the armchair and listened amused as the rest of his family came back one by one, all of them were complaining about one or more of the students and he couldn't help but laugh. He could see plainly now why the notion of teaching had never appeared to them, they simply did not have the patience. He allowed his thoughts to wander briefly to Ron and Hermione before he shook his head and sighed.

He listened to the playful banter of his brothers and the outright bickering of his parents and then exchanged glances with the only other silent person in the room, Anéthiel. They both just laughed and shook their heads at the antics of their family. Harry spent the rest of the day with his family, talking about anything and everything but most importantly about his date that night, as it was quite obvious that he could think of nothing else. Celeste teased him mercilessly about it, as did the rest of their family and Harry stretched and sat back on the settee ignoring everybody for a minute.

As night fell upon them, Harry washed again and then pulled on his tuxedo. It was a tight fit but not skin-tight and showed off his figure perfectly. When he was ready, he paced up and down in the front room restlessly and then finally it was time to leave. As he stood before his family though, Celeste pushed herself to her feet from where she sat on the floor and corrected his bow tie

"Now Harry, seriously, I want you to know... Vampires are very forward when it comes to sex and their mates, as you probably know. But just because you have accepted to go on a date, does not mean you have to do anything afterwards ok? Severus is willing to wait for you, there is no rush," she said firmly and Harry nodded, sliming at her gently. Celeste grinned and kissed his cheek "Now you go and have fun. Be careful and if you decide not to stay with Severus tonight then come back here ok?" she asked. Harry nodded and hugged her then took a deep breath and slipped out of the door.

"10 galleons says he's not back tonight," Celeste said immediately as she turned back to her family.

--------

Harry paced up and down in the Entrance Hall; he knew he had arrived a good few minutes early but still; he couldn't stop from wondering whether Severus would turn up. After everything with the Boggart and what had been said... But then he smiled when he felt arms wrap around him from behind and a kiss was pressed to the side of his neck. They fitted so perfectly together... Harry shook that thought from his mind as the older man began to speak.

"I've been able to think of nothing else all week," Severus whispered in his ear and pulled him closer, resting his chin on Harry's shoulder "I heard about the Boggart... And saw Lupin's nose, are you ok?" he asked seriously and Harry nodded, relief washing over him in waves and awe at the concern he could hear in the man's voice... Concern for him.

"I – I'm fine, it was just unexpected is all" he whispered and Severus nodded, he turned Harry around so that they were facing each other and then leant forward to pull him into a deep kiss. Harry returned it without hesitation and then looked into those dark orbs when they broke apart

"Never fear rejection from me ok Rúmil? I will never leave you unless its what you want." He said firmly and when Harry nodded he grinned and grabbed the boys hand "Come, we have reservations" he said and then tugged Harry out of the castle and down to Hogsmeade. When they were passed the wards, Severus grinned and apparated them both outside of a huge restaurant in what looked like London.

----------

Harry smiled softly; he had just had the best night he could remember. They had spent quite a bit of time in the most expensive restaurant in London where they had talked together about their pasts and now they were slowly walking through the forbidden forest on the way home. The sun was just starting to rise too but they did not rush and instead were talking again as they walked hand in hand.

"So when did you become a vampire?" Harry asked and Severus looked at him before smiling softly.

"It was just a few days before Voldemort was defeated, someone who I now know was Pettigrew told Voldemort that it was I who told your parents to go into hiding. He couldn't kill me though because the only Potion Masters better than me, refuse to join him, I'm the best he's got." He said and then grinned "Voldemort is disillusioned because he thinks that all Dark Creatures feel a very, very strong compulsion to join him and as I obviously had a compulsion already by taking his mark, he seemed to think his having me turned would mean unwavering loyalty" he paused again, taking Harry's knuckles to his lips.

"But the vampire who turned me went against Voldemort's orders and followed their own law by teaching me everything he could. He taught me all about vampires in secret, how to hunt, all that crap. So I guess its only been sixteen years, whilst to you that may seem like a long time yet, to me it seems like just weeks" they reached the main doors and stopped, Severus took Harry's other hand in his own so that he was holding both of them and then pressed their lips together again.

"May I claim you tonight my beauty?" he whispered when they broke apart. Harry bit his lip for a minute but before he could answer, Severus smiled "There is no rush love if you are not ready. After all, we have all eternity together" he added and Harry smiled at him, he blushed and looked down at his shoes for a minute before nodding.

"I – I would like that" he said softly and then allowed himself to be pulled through the corridors. Severus led Harry through to the bedroom and then retreated to get a couple of glasses of wine and then returned to him. He smiled at the awkwardness of the boy and put the glasses down before moving closer to the young vampire and pressing their body's together. Harry moaned when he felt an erection rub against his own and he threw his head back at the sensation.

Severus smirked and ground their hips together even more whilst he attacked the buttons on the boy's shirt. After a minute though he lost patience and so he pushed the jacked too the floor and literally tore the shirt from his body. When that was off he took his attention to those trousers whilst Harry's nimble fingers worked on his shirt. In minutes they were both naked and Severus had Harry lying on his back on the bed.

Harry managed to stop blushing after a few minutes as those hands and that mouth took to exploring his body. He arched up into his lovers touch and moaned loudly and then his breath caught in his throat as his lover swallowed him whole. Severus hummed around him, sending shivers up Harry's body and then started teasing the sides mercilessly. He sucked harder as he felt Harry's release draw near and then swallowed everything that was shot down his throat.

Severus pulled back and grinned before kissing his love gently, allowing him to taste himself inside Severus's mouth whilst he coated his hands with lubricant. He broke away from the kiss for a minute and pressed his finger against Harry's entrance before pushing it inside slowly and carefully.

Authors Note: I read through and corrected the spelling on this and noticed that I could have put in a lot more detail in a few places. I wasn't sure whether to just post it like this or wait until I had rewritten the entire chapter but to be honest, I couldn't be arsed. I'm lazy like that sometimes.

I have decided though that if the next chapter is as lacking in details as this one then I shall rewrite it and make it longer too. I might even rewrite this one tomorrow, perhaps. Thanks again for all your reviews and I hope you enjoyed this chapter.

Oh! And if I have refered to anyone called Matthias or something similiar, I mean to say Marius, Matthias was supposed to be his name but I kept writing Marius and decided to leave it as that instead. So sorry for any confusion and know that Matthias and Marius are one and the same.