Chapter 31

Andraste walked into class the next morning to a sight that left her resisting laughter. The desk that had been enlarged to accommodate both teachers was covered in a rather high pile of scrolls. Judging by the sheer size of it, they were going to be grading for the next four days straight, and this was only the first of several classes that had to do such lengthy homework. Giving the students only a cursory glance, she sat down and set to work while Professor Snape explained the day's assignment. When he had finished giving them the formula for the simple potion they were to create for the day, he sat beside her, taking one of the thicker scrolls to grade. "Jeff," Andraste said, looking up from the scroll she was working on and getting the attention of everyone in the classroom, not just the young blonde boy she was speaking to. "What is dragon's blood resin?" The shy boy looked up at her for a moment, confused, before answering.

"Um, resin from the blood of a dragon, ma'am?" he stuttered almost incoherently.

"And how would one get resin from dragon's blood?" There was a long silence as everybody waited for his answer.

"I'm not sure, Professor Andraste."

"Would anybody else like to try?" she asked the class as Professor Snape looked on in amusement. A hesitant hand raised in the back of the room.

"You burn it?" Alicia asked more than she said.

"Miss Drayel," Professor Snape broke in snidely, "if dragon blood was flammable, would the dragon not light itself on fire every time it received even a small cut? I doubt the species would have survived this long if that was the case. Would someone else like to venture an answer? Preferably a reasonable one this time." Another hand slowly rose, this time from Miss Warrington – apparently trying to redeem herself for suggesting that Mandrake Root made beer.

"Um, dragon's blood resin is from the dragon's blood plant, not, uh, dragon's blood."

"You are quite right, Sara," Andraste said. "5 points to Ravenclaw. For future reference to the rest of you, anything requiring the resin, or a stick of Dragon's Blood; calls for the plant, not the blood of a dragon. Actual dragon blood is a very potent, but very dangerous substance, and as such is not used by anyone that has not passed their fifth year O.W.L.'s." Andraste and Severus both turned back to the papers in front of them, and the class followed their lead in returning to the tasks at hand. Much to Andraste's surprise, they managed to grade all of the papers before the class was through. "When you are finished with your potions," Andraste said, standing to address the students, "please bring them to the front and collect your essay. Then you are free to leave." The students brought small vials up to the professors in pairs and took their graded homework. "I want coffee," Andraste complained as the second class of the day filed in, leaving a stack of scrolls on the desk that was only slightly smaller than the last hours. As before, Andraste graded papers while Severus settled the students and gave them their assignment. Again, the papers were graded before the period was through. With the third years out of the way for the week, Andraste and Severus set the first year Hufflepuff/Ravenclaw class to work, and spent the period walking around from group to group supervising.

"I'm so glad that's over," Andraste said once the final student had left. "I'm starving, what time is it?"

"4:30 I would expect," he replied dryly, but with a hint of a small smile on his face. "The same time that class ends every Monday," she looked at him blankly, totally ignoring his sarcasm.

"I'm starving."

"Fasting was your brilliant idea."

"Can I change my mind?"

"No."

"Please?"

"No," he reaffirmed, as a mischievous look entered his eyes. "But I might be able to think of a way to pass the time."

"What, and work up more of an appetite?" she asked, laughing with him and not at him, he hoped. "Not gonna happen. At least not until I get some food." He went dead serious for a moment, looking at her as if she had just announced that his dog had died.

"Then we must find you food, now," he insisted, sweeping her up in his arms and heading through his office and into his living room. He dropped her, with anything but gentleness, onto the couch and rushed to the kitchen with mock urgency, throwing open the cabinets. "I had never noticed," he declared, turning to her, "how little food I actually keep here."

"Well then, let's go to London." Andraste jumped up from her seat and grabbed a ruby cloak from the couch that hadn't been there the moment before.

"And what purpose would that serve?"

"Grocery shopping," she answered happily. Severus looked at Andraste as though she had just suggested that they go wondering naked on the polar icecaps. Andraste couldn't resist laughing at his odd expression. "You've never been grocery shopping, have you?"

"No, I have not, and I see no reason to change that now. If you would like, however, I'm sure we could have the house elves get anything you want."

"Sev...darling...it's really not the same. Let's go."

"I doubt that Dumbledore would like it if we went running around in London, Andraste. Did you forget how many people want us dead?"

"Chicken."

"I am not a chicken. I just have no desire to take you back to the hospital."

"Well, I'm going shopping. Join me or don't," she told him, heading for the door. Severus sighed to himself. He knew full well that it was impossible to change her mind when she had it set on something. With a grimace that said that he knew she won, he followed her through the door.

"Do you plan on giving me normal clothes?" he asked as they walked across the lawn towards the Hogwarts apparation borders.

"Kinda," she said with a smirk, "I plan on changing a lot more than your clothes."

"What do you mean by that?" he asked, eyeing her nervously.

"By that, I mean I'm bored... and we're going to go have some fun with the muggles." He opened his mouth to warn her against doing anything stupid, but his objections were met with a finger across his lips. Immediately he felt an odd tingling sensation, but looked down to find that the only thing that had changed was the style of the cloak he wore. He was about to ask Andi what else she planned on doing when he ran his fingers through his hair, only to discover that it was considerably longer. "Let's go try it out," she said, and took off in a run towards Hagrid's hut. He walked after her, wondering what she had done to him. His stride felt longer and his body weight seemed different somehow. By the time he caught up with her at Hagrid's door, it was already open and she was standing inside.

"Rubeus Hagrid," the groundskeeper said, holding his hand out for Severus to shake. He couldn't help but think how odd it was for Hagrid to be introducing himself when they had been working together for years. "Any friend of Andi's is a friend of ours, 'cept that last one o' course, 'd like to ring 'im by the neck and hang 'im out in the forest af'er dark."

"Thank you for the sentiment," Andraste said, smirking at Severus. "Hagrid, this is Draegon. Draegon, this is the Care of Magical Creatures professor. And through there is..."

"Oh 'scuse me. Didn't realize I was in the way," Hagrid interrupted, moving so that Severus could see the others. Andraste started to continue introductions, but was cut short by Hermione hopping up and rushing over, her hand out.

"I'm Hermione, and that's Ron and Harry," she offered, throwing a quick glance over her shoulder. "It's wonderful to meet you."

"The pleasure is mine," Severus said, the foreign sound of his own voice confusing him for a moment. It wasn't quite as deep as it he was used to, but it definitely had a silky quality to it, even to his ears it sounded soothing.

"Have you come to stay for a while?" Hermione asked hopefully. Unsure of what to say he shot a quick look at Andraste and received the help he was asking for.

"No, he's just visiting I'm afraid. We're going to go spend the evening in London before he heads home. I'm trying to get him to come back for Halloween, though..."

"Oh, please do," Hermione said, sounding a bit too excited even to herself. "I mean...um...if your Andi's friend."

"Oh, sit down before you hurt yourself, Hermione," Ron laughed from the chair he was still seated in. She turned shades of red that Andraste was sure she had never seen before, and quickly took her seat, staring hard at the empty tea cup in her hand. Andraste laughed and took the lead in the conversation again.

"Hagrid, Draegon was hoping to clean up a bit...would you mind terribly?"

"Oh, right. It's through there then. The loo, I mean. That's what you meant, right, Andi?"

"Yes, Hagrid, thank you." The entire group watched as Draegon quickly headed down a short hallway to the room that Hagrid had pointed at, and shut the door behind him. Immediately Hermione jumped back out of her seat and ran to Andraste.

"Who is he? How old is he? Does he have a girlfriend? Tell me that he's coming back for Halloween, oh please, make him come back! Do you think he'll dance with me?" Andraste struggled to keep a straight face while she was inventing answers for the teenage girls questions.

"A friend, 20's, I don't think so, I'll see what I can do, and you'll have to ask him that."

"If she's quite done swooning, we're curious about a few things, too."

"Yes?" Andraste said, turning to the boys that did not look at all happy.

"What is he?" Ron demanded, "And where is Professor Snape?" Harry finished for him. Andraste couldn't help but smile to herself at the show of loyalty towards the potions master, but wasn't about to give up her fun to comfort them.

"He is an elfin vampire. Interesting combination really. And I have no idea where Professor Snape is, I'm sure he can fend for himself for the evening."

"Does he know you're gone...with him?" Harry demanded.

"I appreciate your concern, Harry, and I'm sure Severus would too, but we are quite capable of handling our relationship ourselves...Plus," she added, giving Hermione an impish wink, "Draegon's quite the hottie."

"They're just jealous that they're not that cute," Hermione offered. Severus listened in amusement to the ongoings in the other room as he studied himself in the mirror. His matte black hair was still black, but now it was so dark that it almost appeared blue, and at least 15 centimeters longer. His brown eyes were an odd shade of bright purple, and his already tall figure had grown at least six more centimeters. His body, while basically the same angular build, had muscles more similar to those of someone in their mid-20's, which was about where he would place himself if he was a stranger. It wasn't until he heard Andraste say that he was an elfin vampire that he even thought to check his teeth or ears. Sure enough, both had slight points. He looked closer at the shape of his new face. It was similar to his normal one, but the features were slightly more defined. All in all, he was definitely not upset with the transformation. Smiling to himself and wondering exactly what odd potions Andi had been drinking, he headed back out to the living room.

"Andraste," he said, letting her name roll off his tongue and truly enjoying the sound of his own voice, "if you are ready, mi' amour, we should go."

"Andi said that you would come to the Halloween dance," Hermione piped up, earning herself incredulous looks from the three men, and an amused smile from Andraste, who immediately decided to cover for her...for now.

"I must admit, I did," she confessed, smiling sweetly at Severus/Draegon. "I guess you're stuck now."

"If this is my destiny, then I must accept it," he responded with an excessively resigned tone. "I believe I will see you all then, it was a pleasure to meet you." With that, he gave them all a dramatic bow and swept out of the hut, dragging Andraste behind him by the hand. They walked back in the direction they had come from, silent and composed, for a few minutes. When they reached the apparation borders, she opened her mouth to speak, but Severus/Draegon silenced her with a kiss. As soon as their lips met, he apparated them both to London. When she re-opened her eyes, she was standing in a secluded alleyway. "Do you plan on changing?" he asked her, a half-smile gracing his full lips.

"Oh, I guess that would help," she said. "Now close your eyes." He did as he was told and re-opened them a moment later at her direction. The woman now standing in front of him bared only a slight resemblance to the one he had just seen. Her hair was still just past her shoulder blades, but it was as black as his now, only with red highlights. Her normally blush skin tone was a perfect shade of ivory, and her lips were the color of blood. Her eyes, while still grey, had become so dark that they were almost black. He stepped back, taking in the full effect of the person she had changed into. The flaring legs of her black leather pants had a strip of sheer fabric on the outside, revealing high heeled boots that ran up to mid-thigh. Her shirt, also black, was more of an intricate weaving of leather strips than actual fabric. It was revealing, but not tastelessly so; and the entire outfit was brought together by a black armless cloak clasped with an antique looking silver charm. When she smiled at him, he saw that her teeth were also vaguely pointed; which caused him to check her ears. Sure enough, the one that wasn't hidden by her hair had a point to it, though not dramatically so.

"What a pair we must make," he said, holding out his hand to her.

"Shall we go attract some unnecessary attention?" she asked him, smiling evilly.

"I believe that would be best," he responded as he led her out of the quiet alleyway and onto the busy London street just as the sun disappeared behind the horizon, and immediately they started getting the strange looks they had expected. "There's a park near here, we should head there," he whispered to her, putting his arm securely around her waist, but under her cloak so that it could still trail in the wind as they walked. Everyone they encountered seemed to go out of their way to give the pair a wide berth, and more than one group stared at them as they passed.

"This is fun," she chimed merrily.

"I must agree," he told her, flashing a smile that gave a glint of his sharpened canines to anyone that was watching closely enough. "Although I am not sure that Albus would approve if he knew."

"This is Albus we're talking about," she said with a laugh, "approve or not, I'm betting he knows."

"True."

"She was hitting on you, did you notice?"

"What are you talking about?" he asked, genuine confusion in his eyes.

"Hermione." He looked at her for a moment, the bewilderment in his eyes replaced by sheer amusement.

"Yes, she was. It was rather humorous, wasn't it?"

"Rather. Halloween should be fun...It's amazing to think it's almost here."

"Yes, it is. I must tell you though, I normally do not attend the festivities."

"All the better, they won't notice you're missing. And as far as the dancing goes, if they can't figure out that you're Severus, it serves them right for flirting with you."

"I am not going to spend the entire night being hit on by my students."

"I'll try to protect you...a little," she said with a smirk. They walked deeper into the park for quite a while, and eventually were far enough in that they went several minutes without seeing anyone else. Severus leaned in to kiss her, but was interrupted by gang of about ten people that Andraste suspected thought themselves to be the epitome of coolness, complete with studded necklaces and colorful Mohawks.

"Hey freak, Halloween isn't for a couple more weeks."

"I find it ironic," Severus replied, turning towards them, "that you would call us freaks." They looked at him blankly for a moment, spurring Andraste to continue his commentary.

"Draegon, darling, you may need to define 'ironic' for them; I suspect they need small words."

"Of course, my love," he said, looking back at the group. "What I meant is that I find it odd you would call us freaks when you look so...absurd."

"Small words, honey." Andraste reminded playfully, gently touching his hand. He couldn't see the glow that he normally did, but he was immediately overcome with the same feeling of warmth that he normally gets when she passes on her ability to fly. She had, he was sure, just effectively upped the ante. The night was growing dark, and every bit of him was aching to play his vampire role to the fullest.

"I think you two better run along before you get yourselves hurt," commented the one that both Andraste and Severus assumed was the leader of this little gang. It seemed that their rank was somehow related to the height of the spikes they had forced their hair into.

"And I think," Andraste said, taking a step forward, "that the same would be in your best interest."

"You should teach your little girlfriend some manners, Mate," he said, staring at Severus, "before she gets you both in a load of trouble." Severus took a step towards them so that he was once again beside Andi.

"That seems to be a lesson that you are in need of as well," he returned, his voice icy enough to send chills down even Andraste's spine. "If I met us in a dark park," she thought to herself, "I don't think I'd be pushing my luck right now."

"I don't know how you could be so daft as to think that you could take on all of us just 'cuz you're dressed like you think you're vampires or something, but I think we're going to have to show you both otherwise." The melodic laughter that Andraste responded with was catching, and soon Severus had joined her.

"You find that funny, do you?"

"I'll make you a deal," Andraste offered, her face turning serious again, "We'll give you a five second head start."

"Head start to what?" he asked indignantly.

"Run." Severus said for her, and then together they started counting. "5..." The entire group looked nervously at their leader; apparently at least a few of them were intelligent enough to see they were in over their heads. "...4..." Andraste heard one of them suggest that they walk away without hurting her or Severus. HA. "...3..." The leader was sticking his ground. They insulted him and he wanted retribution. "...2..." One of the younger members tried to turn away, but was pulled back by one of the older ones. "...1..."

"Where did they go?" someone shouted.

"Looking for us?" Severus asked quietly from behind them; a tone of death in his voice.

"I believe they were, Draegon," Andraste replied, drawing their attention to the air above him where she was floating. The looks of sheer terror on their faces made Andraste and Severus laugh again. The punks were getting exactly what they deserved. The group tried to scatter, but each time one would break off from the rest, either Andraste or Severus would appear in front of them, keeping the lot herded much like cattle.

"I offered, Draegon," Andraste said to Severus, but for the benefit of the others.

"You did, they can't deny that."

"Do you deny it?" Andraste asked, floating down so that she was only inches from the leader and purposely letting her fangs show as her eyes changed to a bright, glowing red.

"NO. You did...I'm sorry," he cowered. It was amazing how much his attitude had changed. "Please don't kill us."

"What do you think, Draegon?" she asked, looking over them at Severus.

"Has he learned manners?"

"Yes. Yes I have. I'm sorry," the man answered for her.

"Well, then," Severus continued, "there's only one problem."

"They know what we are now," Andraste said, "and if they were alive to tell anyone..."

"That would be bad." The leader dropped to his knees, tears flowing freely down his face now. "Oh, how the mighty have fallen," Andraste thought with a smirk.

"Please," he begged, "we won't tell. I swear. Just don't kill us." Andraste looked at him thoughtfully for a moment, and then looked back up at Severus. She made her suggestion to him telepathically, and receiving a nod of agreement, spoke again.

"What is your name?"

"Eric," he replied, visibly trembling by now.

"OK Eric, I will make you one more offer. The choice is yours. I will let all of your friends go, and you will die in their place; or I will let you go, and they die." Eric glanced back at them, but only briefly before returning his eyes to Andraste and answering.

"Anything. Just let me go." Andraste nodded to him amidst gasps from the others, and stepped to the side; holding her arm out in a signal for him to run. Just before he had left her reach, she grabbed his arm and pulled him back to her.

"If you ever speak a word of this," she growled, "I will hunt you." He nodded understanding again and pulled away, running as fast as he could and quickly disappearing towards the lights of the city. She turned to the others, who looked frightened and angry.

"What are you going to do to us?" the young one that had tried to leave asked. Before she had the chance to respond the boy continued. "Please. Let them go. I'll stay; just don't kill them for Eric's stupidity." Andraste glanced up at Severus, who looked as impressed with the teenager as Andraste felt.

"What is your name?" Severus asked, floating so that he was beside Andraste.

"Thomas," he replied, doing his best to hide his fear.

"Thomas, you are a brave man. And by far more fit to breathe than your friend," he said, glancing in the direction that Eric had ran. "Because you are willing to sacrifice your own life to protect those that you are with, I am going to let all of you go...on the condition that you tell no one of this."

"Agreed," Thomas said, the tension leaving his composure. Much to everyone's surprise, he then held his hand out towards Severus, who shook it willingly. "Thank you."

"Good-bye, Thomas. I hope that we do not meet again." The group watched as Severus/Draegon took Andraste's hand and flew up into the air above them.

"Can you make us invisible?" he whispered in her ear. She nodded and immediately they heard gasps out of the group below.

"Those were..." one began.

"Vampires," another finished. Smiling, Andraste pulled Severus upwards past the tree line, and then broke out laughing.

"Now that was fun. And I believe rather informative for them."

"I suspect so as well," Severus replied. "Thomas will be a great man."

"Thomas is a great man," she corrected. He nodded to her, but she, of course didn't see it. "I am really hungry."

"I think that we've made it to 24 hours. Do you still want to go grocery shopping?"

"No, I'm too hungry to shop. We'll send one of the elves." He laughed at her, sure that that was what he had suggested to begin with, but that was one of the wonders of Andi...