Chapter Five

Vents and Potions

ONE

Severus held Potter until the boy finally fell back into a restless sleep. Potter didn't talk in the time it took him to become more relaxed, but Severus didn't need him to. Potter talked in his sleep.

After gently placing the boy under the bedclothes, Severus cast a simple bonding spell. He needed to talk to Albus, but he also needed to know if Potter was afflicted by any more curses while Severus was away. He looked at Potter for a moment, wondering if the boy ever truly found peace. Even in his sleep, Potter's features were drawn with worry.

Severus shook himself out of his thoughts and quickly exited his rooms. He walked quickly, his robes billowing as though in reflection of his irritation. As he reached Albus' office, Severus paused to compose himself before entering. He smoothed his hair down and took a deep breath.

"Sugar Quills!" he said, and the stone gargoyle came to life,springing to the side to revealthe moving stone staircase. Severus mounted the stairs and allowed them to carry him slowly toward Albus' office. Just as Severus raised his hand to knock, Albus' voice rang out cheerfully from the other side.

"Come in, Severus!" he cried.

"Severus scowled, wondering how Albus did that, and opened the door.

"Come in, come in!" Albus said. "Would you care for some tea, or a sherbet lemon?"

"No thank you, Albus," Severus replied shortly, seating himself in front of the wizened old wizard. "I've come to tell you something."

"To business, then," Albus said, popping a sherbet lemon into his mouth.

"The Dark Lord knows that Potter is staying in my rooms," Severus said without preamble.

"And how would he know that?" Albus asked calmly, selecting another candy from his pile.

"Michael," Severus replied distastefully. "He is the only person who could have told him."

"I see," Albus said, sipping some tea. "You told me that Michael did not have direct contact with Voldemort."

Severus hissed softly at the sound of the Dark Lord's name, but knew better than to comment. " I have never allowed him to receive the Mark, nor do I allow him near the Dark Lord," he said. "It may be that he leaked the information in an attempt to gain trust."

"Well," Dumbledore said, now munching on a cracker. "If Voldemort knows, there is nothing we can do about that. Are you certain that he knows?"

"Yes," Severus replied, beginning to become irritated. "Potter had another vision this evening. The Dark Lord wishes for me to lure Potter away from the castle by the first of October."

"Has Harry been talking in his sleep?" Albus asked, selecting another sherbet lemon.

"Yes."

"And how was he speaking? Did he sound like an observer?"

"No." Severus paused for a moment before going on. "He was speaking as though he was the Dark Lord."

Albus sat back in his chair and folded his hands in his lap. "It is as I feared, then," he said softly.

"Quite," Severus replied.

"You must keep a close watch on him, Severus," Albus said, turning his eyes to the ceiling. "He is going to suffer during this time."

"I've decided to try to find a potion that will suppress the curses before they happen."

"I think that will be a good idea. Is it your belief that Voldemort knows of his connection with Harry?"

"No, Albus," Severus replied firmly. "If he did, he would simply keep cursing people until Potter died."

"Yes," Albus said, mostly to himself. "Yes, you are right." He stood from his desk and walked Severus to the door. "I don't want you to break things off with Mike. It would seem suspicious. I will formulate a plan and get back to you about the first of October. Go and work on your potion and I will see you later."

"Very well, Albus," Severus said, sweeping out of the office.

TWO

Harry shot up in bed with the terrible feeling of being watched. He turned to his left and saw someone sitting in the shadows. He snatched up his wand and said, "Lumos!" A light came on at the tip of the wand and illuminated a sheet of blonde hair and crystal gray eyes. Snape's friend, Mike, was sitting next to Harry's bed.

"Good evening, Mr. Potter," Mike said gently. "Did you sleep well?"

"What are you doing in here?" Harry asked in reply. He noted that Mike was sitting in a large cushiony chair that hadn't been there when Harry had gone to bed. Mike was idly twirling his wand in his left hand.

"Oh," Mike said carelessly. "Severus said that you weren't feeling well. I decided to keep an eye on you to make sure that you're all right." He smiled and his teeth twinkled in the light from Harry's wand.

"Well," Harry said, forcing himself to sound cordial. "I feel fine just now. Thanks though."

Mike continued to smile and said nothing, nor did he make any motions to indicate that he was leaving.

"You can go now," Harry said. "I'll be fine by myself."

Mike didn't move.

Harry was considering hexing the man when the lamps came on. He turned and found Snape standing in the doorway, looking livid.

He crossed the room and roughly dragged Mike out of the chair.

"What do you think you are doing?" Snape hissed.

"I was keeping an eye on him for you," Mike said innocently.

"Go to my sitting room and wait for me there," Snape said in a deadly tone.

Mike cast Harry another smile and stalked out of the room. Snape wheeled around to look at Harry.

"What did he do?" he asked sharply.

The question took Harry rather by surprise. "Nothing," he said honestly. "He just startled me a bit, that's all."

"Stay here," Snape said and swept out of the room.

Harry's curiosity got the better of him and he crept out of bed to listen. He could hear Snape's voice drifting in through the open door.

"What in bloody Hell did you think you were doing?" Snape was asking angrily.

"I was only curious, Severus," Mike replied lightly.

Snape gave a hollow laugh. "Do you think me a fool? I know your ambition to be initiated into our ranks is second to none. You want a piece of the glory that will come from bringing Potter in to our master."

"How do you know about that?" Mike asked suspiciously.

"The world knows our Lord wants Potter dead!" Snape snapped irritably. "You keep this up and you will blow my cover! Dumbledore already suspects something! Do you want to end up as a casualty?"

"No," Mike replied. He sounded resentful now.

"I know you have a taste for youth, Mike," Severus said coldly. "But if you know what's good for you, you'll keep your wanker in your pants and leave the boy to me!"

Harry felt a pang of repulsion at the thought of Mike touching him.

"You are confusing me with Lucius," Mike replied, equally cold. "Although young Mr. Potter is very… desirable, I would never dream of touching him."

"You forget your place, Mike," Snape said. "You are not a Death Eater yet, nor will you be until I tell our master that you are ready. You are only a Vent. A toy. You are nothing more that my plaything at this moment, and if you value your life you won't go into Potter's room again."

There was a drawn out, extremely uncomfortable silence in the room.

"Do I make myself clear?" Snape asked after some time.

"Yes," Mike replied grudgingly.

"Yes, what?" Snape pressed nastily. Harry could practically see Snape's glare in his mind's eye.

"Yes, my Caretaker," Mike replied now sounding small and defeated.

"Good," Snape spat. "I have let you treat this like a normal relationship, but if you go against me again, I will turn you into a slave! Now get out of my sight!"

"Severus," Mike said meekly.

"What?"

"Why do you treat me like a boyfriend and not a Vent?"

"Do not ask questions! Just be grateful that you are not Lucius' Vent. You can't do any better than me, so I suggest that you keep me happy."

"Yes, Severus."

"Now get out, and don't come back until you are called."

There were shuffling feet and the sound of a door opening and closing. Harry crept back to his bed and waited.

THREE

Severus sat down heavily on his couch, knowing that Potter probably heard the whole argument. The Dark Lord's followers who wished to become Death Eaters, first had to act as Vents in order to prove their loyalty.

The Vents were offered to Death Eaters as gifts. Only a Death Eater could decide if their Vent was worthy of receiving the Mark. It was a sign of how insignificant the Dark Lord found his followers.

Mike had been Severus' Vent for ages, though they hadn't seen each other for nearly 14 years. The Vents came back to their Caretakers after the Dark Lord had risen again the previous June. Severus had always allowed Mike to treat theirs like a real relationship because Severus had never liked the idea of having a Vent, as though he needed help finding a lover. He even allowed Mike to dump him on several occasions, though Mike always came back in the end. Mike was very ambitious, and lost so deeply in the Dark Arts that Severus had lost all hope for Mike's salvation.

Severus rubbed his face absently, knowing that Potter was waiting for explanations. He resigned himself to the inevitable and walked to Potter's bedroom. Sure enough, when he entered, he found himself under Potter's intense green gaze. Severus sat on the chair Mike had conjured and waited for the questions to come, but none did.

Potter gazed at him curiously, but said nothing.

"Are you certain that he didn't touch you?" Severus asked after several moments of silence.

"Yes, sir," Potter replied.

"Do you have any questions for me?" Severus asked.

Potter looked taken aback for a moment, but composed himself quickly. "What's a Vent?" he asked.

Severus took a deep breath. "A sex slave," he replied heavily.

"Why are they called 'Vents'?"

"Because they are used by Death Eaters to 'vent' all of their frustrations."

"Do all Death Eaters have Vents?"

"Most of them, but not all."

"And why did Mike call you his caretaker?"

"That is the title that was chosen for those of us with a Vent."

"Why Caretaker, though? Why not master, or something along those lines?"

"Because the Dark Lord does not want anyone to be called 'master' but himself."

"What happens to the Vents once their Caretakers get tired of them?"

"The Death Eater will hand his Vent to the Dark Lord and give his 'report'."

"What does that mean?"

"The Vents want to be Death Eaters. The Dark Lord leaves it to us to decide if our Vents are worthy to take the Mark."

"So does that mean that Draco Malfoy is a Vent?"

"Yes."

Potter fell silent and watched Severus apprehensively for a moment.

"Just ask, Potter," Severus said wearily.

"Were you a… a Vent once?" Potter asked slowly, as if expecting an explosion.

Severus had expected the question and did not hesitate in responding. "Yes," he said.

"Who…" Potter started.

Severus had also been expecting this question and cut Potter off. "Lucius Malfoy."

Potter again fell silent. He looked down at his lap as though ashamed of something.

"Potter," Severus said delicately. "You don't have to look so distraught. I knew what I was doing."

Potter shook his head slowly. "I shouldn't have pried."

"You didn't pry," Severus said firmly. "If I didn't want to tell you, I wouldn't have."

"Who is Draco's Caretaker?" Potter asked quietly, sounding rather disturbed by the whole discussion.

Severus wasn't certain he should answer that question. Draco's life was not his to divulge, however, he knew that Potter would never let on that he knew anything. Potter would most likely find out from his visions, as Draco had already been set to receive the Mark on his seventeenth birthday.

"Lucius Malfoy," Severus replied at last.

Potter looked up, startled. "He's using his own son as a sex slave?" he asked disbelievingly.

"Lucius is a sick, twisted individual," Severus replied distastefully. "He finds it amusing that he can subject his son to his kinky fantasies."

"Can Vents change their minds?" Potter asked, wringing his hands in his lap.

"They can," Severus said slowly, "but Draco enjoys it too much. He's almost as twisted as his father, if not more so."

"What's Mike going to do now?"

"He will do as I say. He wants to become a Death Eater. His initiation into their ranks depends upon my good graces. He won't cross me again."

Potter nodded silently.

"Do you have any other questions?" Severus asked.

"Just one," Potter replied.

"Yes?"

"Do you enjoy being a Caretaker?"

"No. I loathe the whole system, which is why I allow Mike to behave as he pleases. I'm afraid that I will need to tighten the reigns after tonight, though. He cannot be permitted to get too close."

"Oh. Okay."

"And now I have a question for you," Severus said.

"Okay," Potter replied.

"Why did you wait for permission to ask questions?"

"Because…" Potter faltered for a moment. He took a deep breath before going on. "Because the first rule for a quiet life with the Dursleys is 'don't ask questions.' "

Severus felt a great deal of anger at the thought of Potter's poor excuse for a family. "Yes, well," he said. "I am not a Dursley. If ever you have an important question you can feel free to ask me."

"Thank you, sir," Potter said quietly.

Severus stood up abruptly. "Good night," he said shortly and stalked out of the room. Discussion of Potter's relatives put him in a bad mood, and Potter's meekness was not helping things. This was the boy who snapped back at him in class. This boy spoke the Dark Lord's name without fear and pulled his friends from danger time and again. He wasn't supposed to be afraid to ask questions. He wasn't supposed to act small and weak with his most hated teacher. Severus went to his sitting room, pulled down his potions notebook, and began making notes to create the most complicated potion he had ever attempted.

Author's Note: I would like to thank Victoria Ennis for looking over this for me. I would also like to thank…

Monica85

Sliver of Melody

Smurff

Mariana

Leeleepotter: Thanks for the boost, love. I like the quotes you picked.

Purplepaper: Don't worry overmuch about Michael. He'll be out of the way soon enough.

Jenonymous: I always appreciate advise that could help my writing, but if you could refrain from using your arrogant tone and insulting words when offering said advise, I would be most grateful. Thank you.