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?

Author Notes: I'm sorry this took so long to update but I'm stuck on all stories at the minute. As you are probably aware, the prewritten chapters of both this and my In the Eye of the Wolf story are posted and I need to catch up and write more. I hope you like this chapter, I rewrote it twice and still I am not satisfied. To me, it seems like the guests were added on the spur of the moment, it is hard to believe it was planned –rolls eyes- thank you all for your reviews anyway, I appreciate them loads.

Chapter Twelve

As the days went on, Harry found himself feeling a lot better now that he had told everyone except Ron and Hermione. Soon the whole world would know anyway, as Harry knew it would be impossible to keep it in any longer but he didn't care. He had all that mattered to his heart now, well; he would have when his friends started speaking to him again so that he could tell them. He had moved into his family's chambers now so he was no longer in the Gryffindor Tower and his training started up again every night after classes.

Severus came to see him every single day and they spent some time alone together just getting to know each other that bit better or kissing. Sirius and Remus started to get along wonderfully with everyone else in the family and so Harry found himself happier now than he could ever remember being. He no longer had the threat of being kept away from his family during the holidays and Celeste had even invited Remus, Sirius and Severus to join them at the manor.

The first Hogsmeade weekend came and went and Harry had spent the entire weekend with his godfather, driving around the countryside with the cars of his family behind him. He was never allowed outside of the Hogwarts wards without at least two members of his family but he didn't care in the least and was instead glad for the company. One week before Christmas break though, Harry had been taught how to fight in nearly all muggle styles and with weapons. Both Severus and Celeste taught him how to duel whilst Remus and Sirius tried to teach him to become an animagus, he was still very far from completion on that latter one but it did take time and so neither the two marauders or Harry were particularly bothered by that.

Harry walked silently through the forbidden forest, once again hunting but this time he was alone. He needed to clear his head and he couldn't do that whilst his family were chasing each other and playing. As much as he loved them, he needed time to think by himself and now – at night – was the best time for that. He had everything, he had family, he had friends, he had wealth, he had knowledge, power and most of all, he had love. So why did it feel like something was missing?

He had been accepted for what he was by nearly everyone that mattered and whilst he was lighter for that, his heart still felt like it was in his stomach. He sighed and shook his head, forcing all thoughts to the back of his mind as he peered through the trees with narrowed eyes, he decided to go for a difficult creature this time, he was up for a nice game of hunting. He moved swiftly and silently through the trees, listening out carefully for any noise. When he heard a twig snap to his right, he turned sharply in that direction and almost glided through the trees.

Again, he heard another noise but this time to his left, leading him deeper into the forest as he peered through the trees. When he felt a few drops on his head, he looked up to see that black clouds were in the sky and he smiled almost wildly. He knew the game was on now, the rain would wash away the tracks and he would have to use what senses he could. Again, another twig snapped slightly to the right and up ahead and he moved towards it, listening. He could hear the faint sound of a heartbeat, Harry would have thought it to be of a mortal if he didn't know that nobody would dare enter this deeply into the forbidden forest, not even Hagrid.

So that left a large animal

And a hell of a hunt

The rain started to fall heavier and before Harry knew it, he could barely see his hands in front of his face. He was guided by what little of the moonlight that filtered through the trees as he followed the noises, deeper into the heart of the forest. He crouched down and looked at the leaves and twigs he could see, he was lucky enough to find a twig that was snapped it half and he followed that with his hands to see a footprint in the mud. He frowned slightly at that and looked up through the trees, his family didn't even know where he was so it couldn't be them; none of the students even considered stepping near the edge of the forest let alone coming this deep and the teachers would not come out here if they suspected him of being on a hunt

They weren't that comfortable with vampires

That left two possibilities, someone is out here who shouldn't be or... Well, one possibility then considering that footprint was nowhere near Hagrid's size. Who else would be here? He paused to consider his options; there was no point of deatheaters being here was there? They all probably knew that the forest was forbidden to students and none of them knew that he himself was a vampire. Curiosity was Harry's biggest weakness and he acknowledged that as he hedged closer, listening for the sounds again and smirking when he heard them.

It was probably just some big animal

And that footprint must have been here for ages, nothing to worry about.

---------

"Where's Olwë?" Celeste asked yawning as she threw her cup into the sink and grabbed another one from the cupboard. The rest of the family was fast asleep apart from Anéthiel who was sat up staring into the fire. She looked up at her mother and laughed as the woman stumped her toe on the corner of the cupboard and started cursing loudly.

"I don't know, his cloaks not here... I think he just went hunting" she replied after a minute before turning her attention back to the flames of the fire and watching as they danced up and licked the sides of the fireplace. She jumped slightly as Celeste sat down heavily besides her with a sigh and a groan

"What's up with you?" Celeste asked, concerned when she saw how fidgety the usually calm elf was. She studied her daughter carefully for a minute, taking in the pale skin and the bags under her eyes and she recalled her earlier conversation with Armand about the girl's quietness as of late. They had just put it down to her adjusting to a new brother and a larger family but now she wasn't so sure. Ané looked at her again before turning her body to face the vampire and crossing her legs in front of her.

"I sense...something" she said after a minute and then frowned again as she tried to elaborate. "I've been having dreams about my kin, nothing much but just sort of little reminders of who I am, who they are and my culture. I don't know, you could say I was just being paranoid and I'd agree with you but tonight its stronger even though my senses have weakened somewhat. I don't know whether its good or evil, living or dead but something approaches and I just – I don't know what for" she finished feebly. Celeste sighed and wrapped her arms around her daughter, pulling her closer whilst she mulled over the words she had just heard. She rested her chin on Ané's head and stared out of the window.

---------

Harry stopped and stared up in disbelief, he was in a clearing in the center of the forest but completely surrounded by people with arrows sat up in the trees. What the bloody hell had he done to deserve this? He heard a noise behind him and turned to see Armand and Remus being led towards him by two more of these people, he hissed as he saw they had swords prodding them in the back.

"What are you doing here?" he snapped to his father and the werewolf. They both looked over at him sheepishly and shrugged

"We thought you wanted to hunt, but we knew you wanted to be alone, so we thought we'd make it harder for you so you could work off your frustration so to speak. We led you deep into the forest and then these fools here attacked us in more the same way they have you now, surrounded by arrows" Armand said as he moved with his hands up and his back to his son's. Remus was in much the same position, with his back to them both so that they had each other covered. Harry sighed, he was pissed off to be honest and when he saw one of these people push his father closer to him, he couldn't stop himself from transforming.

"Oh this is pointless! Shoot me if you dare!" he shouted, throwing his arms up in the air and turning around in a circle. "I am not in the mood for this idiocy, I am hungry and..." he trailed off and turned to the two who had pushed Remus and Armand and he stepped closer, ignoring their swords and punched them both square in the jaw. "...And if you dare touch my family again with so much as a pin, I will tear your heart out" he snapped again, he moved to the one who had staggered back towards a tree and removed his or hers helmet.

"Figures! Totally figures! They're elves dad" he said as he turned back to Armand but just behind his father, two people caught his attention. A male and female, both dressed in sky blue robes that seemed completely untouched by the rain and the mud. They both had long blonde hair, the woman had eyes that seemed a perfect lilac whilst the mans was blue and they were holding hands. These were obviously the leaders of the idiots who had him at knifepoint.

"Who are you and why are you here?" the woman asked in a loud musical voice, Armand opened his mouth to answer but the man held up his hand and ignored him.

"Not you, the boy will answer" he said and Harry glared forcefully at the two but he found he couldn't hold it for long and his anger drained from him, leaving him weary, irritated and soaking wet.

"Who we are and why we are here is our business alone do you not think? Should I not be asking you that question considering you are on Hogwarts grounds and we have been granted permission to be here...Have you?" he asked sounding old but when nobody at all made to answer he sighed. "I am known as Olwë Maeglin Melwasúl by my family and Harry Potter to everyone else, this is my father Armand Van Alberict and my...uncle. Remus Lupin. We are here, as I say, because we have been given permission to hunt here and unless you are stupid, you would not have missed the fact that two of us here are vampires"

"Olwë, perhaps I should teach you the best way to speak to someone who just has to wave his hand to give the order to kill you." Armand spoke up into the silence, sounding thoroughly amused. Harry sent him an exasperated look before turning back to the man

"You are he? You are Harry Potter?" the man spoke up again and when Harry nodded, the elf lowered his hand and Harry watched as the elves in the trees instantly lowered their arrows and the ones on the ground sheathed their swords. "Then it is you we have come to see, you and one Albus Dumbledore. Forgive us for this misunderstanding but we have already been attacked twice since leaving our home ground" he said again and then shook his head with a gentle smile. "I should have known, no one else would have spoken so bluntly to the edge of a sword unless it was the boy-who-lived himself. I am Erevan and this is my wife Queen Celendil, we are here to speak with you about an alliance"

"What did you mean, they are elves? The way you spoke, it was as if you believe my kin foolish" the queen spoke up and Harry groaned, looking over his shoulder at Armand and Remus

"Ah hell, I've stuck my foot in it already haven't I?" he muttered and then pointedly ignored their smirks and the amusement in the eyes of the King and Queen as he approached them and bowed, kissing her knuckles.

"Not in the least my queen, but I believe attacking us on Hogwarts grounds was a foolish thing to do and I know of no one, not even Voldemort, who would dare" he said seriously and she waved her hand, rolling her eyes playfully.

"No, no that just won't do. You spoke bluntly before my child; I would have you do so again, please call be Celendil, I tire of formality" she said and Harry stepped back and arched his eyebrow, something like suspicion gnawing at his stomach

"Very well, I think you were totally stupid to interrupt a vampire on a hunt, I believe you were stupid to attack me on a hunt and I think that entering Hogwarts grounds unannounced was the most foolish thing you have done this evening, and that, Celendil, is saying something. I hold no prejudice against your kind, in truth; I am interested greatly in your ways of life, and especially your ways of hiding... But I know that vampires and elves do not necessarily get along"

"You cant seriously believe you would have lived if we attacked" the king said with an arched eyebrow and Harry laughed

"Not in the least, king. I never said I would have stood a chance, I just think that your interrupting my hunt was stupid because now I am irritable, soaking wet and hungry. Now, you can wait here whilst I go and find some food, or Armand and Remus can show you the way to the castle. It is your choice"

"Very well, I will wait for you, Erevan, dear, you go with Armand back to the castle... I would like to get to speak with our young friend here" Celendil said and Harry blinked but then shook his head and moved on through the forest whilst they sorted themselves out. Right now, he was just about as confused as hell. From what little he knew of elves from Anéthiel, they were ritualistic to a fault, they followed all formalities and they didn't just turn up in the forbidden forest... He also knew that vampires were not regarded well amongst the fair Elven race.

He spotted another wolf and grinned before darting forward, before the wolf could so much as blink, Harry had his teeth in its neck and he started drinking. He closed his eyes and allowed a moan to escape him as his strength and warmth returned and then he pulled back before he ended up killing the poor creature. He lay it down gently and stroked back its fur whilst trying to clear his thoughts. When he stood up and saw the queen watching him, he looked for the warriors in the trees but found no one.

"Is it not seen as inappropriate for one as beautiful as yourself to be alone in a forest with a male vampire?" he asked arching his eyebrow. He wiped the drop of blood from his chin, straightened his robes and checked that the wolf was still ok before he offered the woman his arm.

"I'd be more inclined to worry about leaving my husband alone in a forest with a beautiful vampire" she replied and Harry groaned

"Is it that obvious?" he muttered but then shook his head. "Tell me, as I was led to understand, elves are formal to a fault, what has changed?" He asked and Celendil smiled slightly

"A lot has changed over the last century, Olwë. Times have grown darker throughout this world and the next. Evil has spread and so few are left untouched by its harsh caress" she said and then sighed. "Your name. It is of the Elven tongue. How did you come by it?" she asked abruptly and Harry stared at her, unsure of what to say. He knew that this was a queen but he also knew that Anéthiel was a princess who ran from her customs. Does this mean this Celendil here is her mother or some sort of kin? Should he hold his tongue?

"My sister gave it to me" he said and then smiled at her confusion. "My family and I are not bound by blood, but of heart and soul. We are a close family my lady, and neither I nor my brothers and parents wish for that to be disturbed if the one in question does not wish it also." He said carefully. She stopped and stared at him, her hand over her mouth as she whispered but one word

"Anéthiel"