Harry walked with Remus out the Great Hall. He could hardly contain the smirk wanting to play on his lips as he got the older man alone. Finally, once he was certain they were alone and no one would hear them, he started right in. "You like him don't you?" Keeping his face as blank as he could, for the moment.

"Who?" Remus asked, playing that he had no idea whom Harry meant. The answer was rather obvious given who he had just had a rather interesting, if nearly heated, debate with.

"Vlad," Harry answered slowly like Remus' mind was running just as slow. Who else could he have meant, he wondered to himself.

Remus arched a brow not only at the thought of liking Vlad but also at the way in which Harry responded, like Remus was now the student and Harry the adult. "Like him?" Knowing for fact that Harry did not mean in passing friendship or platonic interest.

"Yes," just as slowly as before, "like him. Are attracted to him." Harry knew Remus could not be that thick headed. Why was he giving him such a hard time in answering a simple yes or no question. Harry found it annoying.

"He is attractive, yes," Remus admitted. Even a straight man would have to admit, likely with great envy, that Vlad possessed a remarkable dark, mysterious quality that was sexy. As a man attracted to his own gender, Remus found Vlad dreamy. But that was simply the man's body and the mystery and danger that pervaded from him. "I do not know him to like him, Harry," Remus concluded. While attracted, that was all. Lust was hardly a basis for liking the man as Harry meant.Thinking on it further, Remus wondered really how he could like the vampire at all. "Hell, he wanted to kill me the first time he laid eyes on me."

"He didn't look like he wanted to kill you just now." Harry smirked as he had been trying not to do. "He looked interested."

"Interested? In me?" Remus found that hard to fathom. He was, after all, a werewolf. Vlad had made it quite obvious his opinions on that lot. Why would he change those thoughts for a simple man such as Remus J. Lupin?

"No, the tooth fairy," Harry answered sarcastically. He rolled his eyes deciding that Remus really was as thick as he acted. "Yes, you." His tone was that of someone about to smack someone else over the head for being stupid.

"He does not know me," he argued for Vlad, as he had for himself. You had to know someone to like them, to really want more than just their body. "He was just interested in what I told him. Nothing more."

"Really," Harry grinned devilishly, "I think he was interested in your body."

"Harry!" He shook his head. The boy was shaping up to be so very much like his father and, which was a bit scary, Sirius.

"What?" Innocently smiling at the older man. "I was just stating an opinion." Opening the door for Remus to retaliate without thought.

"How do you know?" A smirk played on Remus' face. If Harry wanted to devil him and give him a hard time, he would return the favor. "Unless you like it yourself?"

"You're a little old for me..." Harry started only to cut himself off, opening yet another door into Remus argument.

"And he isn't old for me?" He asked simply, hiding a smug smile.

"He doesn't look his age now does he," he replied, hurrying on before Remus said something about Harry implying he looked old. "He could be Ticia's father instead of grandfather."

Remus sighed. Harry was correct. Vlad and he did appear about the same age, if not younger in fact than Remus. "You aren't going to let this go, are you?" He knew, without asking, the answer. Harry was doggedly determined like his mother always was.

"Nope." Then he grinned broadly. "Oh, and your butt is kind of cute."

Remus rolled his eyes, making no comment at Harry's candor. "What do you want me to do about it?" If only to get the lad to leave it be once he proved that there was nothing to him and Vlad other than perhaps a sexual lust.

"Do the school a favor," Harry stated easily, eyes dancing behind his glasses, "and go get laid. You're getting cranky." He could have died laughing at the look that graced the professor's face but forced himself to hold it in.

"Harry James Potter!" Remus exclaimed in disbelief.

"Yes?" He inquired innocently.

"Go eat," he told him when he could think of nothing else to say. Placing a hand on his nose and rubbing away some tension with a sigh.

"Come on. I was just kidding." Harry placed a hand on Remus' arm to let him know it was all in fun. "Ticia sees it, too, you know. Said she's never seen him like he just was, that interested in someone," he confided, placing all candor and geniality aside.

Remus sighed again. Harry really was not going to drop it. "Well, I'm going to go eat." Saying no more about Vlad or this little talk as he walked back to the Great Hall.

"You could ask him to sit at the table with you," Harry pointed out, giving Remus a little encouraging spiritual shove in the right direction. He followed behind him in hopes of getting Remus to do something for himself for once.

"Maybe another time," Remus replied. "He needs to be with his granddaughter right now," he easily passed off an excuse. He did believe that Morticia needed her grandfather at the time. Harry was the only other one besides Poppy to have anything much to do with her.

Harry shook his head in defeat. He could only hope Morticia had better luck with Vlad.

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"He is a nice man," Morticia told her grandfather as she watched Harry lead Remus from the Great Hall, silently wishing him luck.

"If you say so," Vlad answered, seemingly disinterested in the subject of Lupin. He had better things to think about than some werewolf professor with odd ideas.

"You don't think so?" She looked up at him with an innocent, curious expression.

He could tell she wanted him to accept Remus to some degree. Was not killing him not enough to prove he had, in the very slightest at least. "I think he has much to learn."

"Why?" She sounded as she had when she was so very young and so very naive.

"He is young and naive about the way things work," he stated simply. "Prepared to accept death, defeat should it come." Remus was a fool as far as he was concerned. Of course, death and defeat was something that Vlad had not been faced with since becoming what he was.

"What is he suppose to do, should it come?" Morticia sipped her pumpkin juice, eyes looking at the table. Her demeanor and voice casual and curious.

Vlad was reminded of his beloved daughter for a moment, but Morticia was sharper and could easily turn a conversation around. He had to watch her and what he said. "What have I always taught you to do?" He raised a brow and looked down at her when she looked up and rolled her eyes. "Not give up, fight."

He always found a way to put a lesson into every conversation. Morticia hated it. "When the fight is done, and I lose?" Not letting him distract her from her purpose or line of questioning. He had to realize that his opinions were not the only opinions and not right for everyone else.

"If you do not give up then you cannot lose," answered simply. She had been taught this over and over growing up.

"You have high ideals," she informed him setting down her juice and giving him her full attention.

"I have told you my ways are the old ways." He could see that her very short time with mortals was changing her. He was proud she was learning. "That is why you are here, to learn more than I can teach you." His eyes grew sad. He could only hope that the changes would not rip her from him.

"Do you mean," she asked as though he had not brought up her reason for being at Hogwarts, "even if I die I will not lose as long as I do not give up?" The debate over death was growing tiresome.

"Yes."

She nodded. "I can understand that." She watched as he smiled at her, proud. "I figure he does as well," sliding Remus back into the conversation. "That does not mean we can't accept death as a given."

"It is hard for someone who cannot die to accept death as a given, Jewel," he answered sadly.

Morticia nodded and placed her hand on his arm. She hated it when he grew sad for any reason. He was just a dear and gentle man no matter how mortals thought of him. She gave him an encouraging smile as she squeezed his arm under her hand.

Vlad looked into Morticia's eyes and gave her a small smile. "You have your mother's eyes."

"I do?" He had never told her that before. The fondness in his voice warmed her.

"Yes, she got them from your grandfather." He wrapped an arm around her and held her close to his side. She was the only thing in his life that meant anything now.

She smiled at him, showing him the emotion she felt. "I love you," she verbalized.

"You are my heart," he told her softly, "and I love you with all of it." He kissed the top of her head. He could not imagine what he would do if anything ever happened to her.

"You need to share it with another, not be alone," she told him as she leaned into his side.

"I am not alone. I have you, and when the time is right your children." He saw a frown grace her lips as she nodded. He squeezed her lightly a moment. "Jewel, I loved once. I will not lose again."

Morticia could hear the pain in his voice and felt a sadness set deep within herself. She hugged him to her tightly. "Grandfather," she said softly, sadly. Vlad held her close again kissing the top of her head. "I will not give up," she vowed to him.

"I would be disappointed if you did." He smiled down at her. She was as much like him as she was her mother, who had been like his lost love.

She nodded and leaned back, taking up her original position and lifting up her juice to her lips. "You know, Professor Lupin is handsome," she spoke offhandedly after the drink.

"That he is," Vlad agreed easily. Remus was indeed a handsome man. He was not rugged like an athlete or sensual like a model, but he was very handsome in his own way. Perhaps it was his intelligence and the way he wore it.

"You are a lot alike," she continued when he said nothing further. At his raised brow, she elaborated, "You are. Stubborn, proud, handsome, nice, smart..."

"Now you flatter," he cut her off. "What is it you want?" She always played him up when she was after something.

"Flatter?" She had not meant it that way and was a bit shocked he took it so.

"Yes, now answer the question," he demanded before she started off on some other topic to distract them.

"I don't want anything," she answered honestly. Well, for the most part. She did want nothing, for herself at least. "Garethan was enough."

"Jewel, you know what I meant. Though anything you want is yours as it has always been." He stroked her cheek with his thumb.

"What did you mean?" Smiling at his love for her.

"First you state that we are alike... What is it you want?" She was hinting to something, and he had a pretty good idea what it was. He wondered if young Harry was hinting about the same to the werewolf wherever they had gone.

"I don't want anything," she answered firmly.

He could tell she had an argument ready if he called her on lying. So, he tried a sideways approach. "Really?" He would have her say it.

"What do you think I want?" She turned his earlier game on him. If he was going to be stubborn with his lessons about fighting and death, she was going to be stubborn about this.

He gave in then and there at the look deep in her eyes. He pulled her tight to him again. "For me to be happy," he answered. He felt her hug him back and smile against his chest. His jewel would do anything to see him happy as he would for her. If him getting to know the werewolf in an attempt at his own happiness would see her happy, then he would get to know the werewolf.

At that time Remus returned followed by Harry. The older looked straight ahead as he walked to the head table to sit and eat. Vlad watched him a moment before standing and walking to sit beside him. Harry joined Morticia, who was slightly stunned that her grandfather rose and walked to Remus, with a smile. She had obviously been much more successful than he had.

"I am to get to know you better," Vlad informed Remus bluntly as he sat beside him.

"Oh?" Remus asked, arching a brow without looking at him. He was not surprised that the count sat without invitation.

"Yes," he answered simply, looking to Harry and Ticia as they sat watching them with matching smiles. He subtly motioned to the two to draw the man's attention.

Remus nodded slightly. "Children can be the greatest and most trying of things," he supplied, letting Vlad lead the conversation. If the vampire wanted to talk, he would have to do the talking.

"They can, though their hearts are in the right place." He watched the children a moment more before averting his eyes back to Remus. He could tell the man was letting him lead.

"Yes," Remus agreed, speaking between bites of food.

"They would make a good match, if Harry were interested." He glanced up to see Morticia leave Harry's side, wondering where she was headed, and watching as she slipped from the Great Hall.

"But he has interests elsewhere," Remus agreed. He was not inclined to speak of them with Vlad, even if Harry did like the vampire.

"He may, but from what Jewel says, not at this school." Vlad watched the other man closely. He was fond of Harry, that was obvious. Vlad could tell that Remus had a near fatherly affection for the boy.

"No. I believe she and I may be the only ones that know, besides you now." He glanced at the older man. While he doubted Vlad would talk to anyone besides those he already had while at the school, he did not want him going and spreading Harry's secret. Harry was the one that had to let people know.

"Though I kept it from her, it is nothing to be ashamed of." His eyes told Remus Harry's secret was safe. After living for as long as he had, Vlad knew very well how to keep secrets.

"No, I have told Harry that," Remus agreed. He was beginning to find the conversation not that hard to keep up. Vlad did not seem quite the same man that was wishing to rip him apart or belittle his ideals.

"And is he?" Vlad inquired curiously. "Still ashamed?" He had not seemed so, though embarrassed slightly when Vlad was made aware. Vlad assumed that was likely the nature in which the information was brought to light.

"I don't believe so. He just doesn't broadcast it." Much in the same manner as Remus. Most people did not know the exact orientation of the werewolf, though some made guesses right and wrong.

"It is funny, is it not?" Vlad mused offhandedly.

Remus looked at him puzzled. He doubted he was talking about Harry being gay. "What?" He asked when the vampire remained silent.

Vlad looked at him a moment. "That everyone knows the boy-who-lived, but they don't see the human side of him. Just the legend. Even his friends." He imagined that was why Harry stuck with Morticia. He felt a kinship with her, other than just being so naive and innocent.

"Harry dislikes that," Remus commented, agreeing with the count's observation. "He lives under its shadow every day."

Vlad saw the pain that put deep in Remus' eyes. He could see the werewolf had a depth nearly equal to Harry's to care for others no matter what. He wondered if Remus had been as innocent and naive as Harry when he was Harry's age. "He lives under many shadows. I have seen." He felt the odd impulse to place a hand of comfort on Remus' shoulder but refrained.

"Yes. He is stronger than anyone else I know." Remus looked back to his food from Vlad. He picked at it now instead of eating it.

"He is too young to be that strong. I should have taken care of Voldemort when he came to me." He looked sour, expression darkening. He regretted his decision to just turn the man away, to let his peers deal with him, more than ever.

"He came to you?" Remus asked in wonder. Vlad now had his undivided attention.

"As Tom Riddle wanting the 'gift', as he put it. I turned him away. He came back as Voldemort to offer an alliance. Again I turned him away. I should have ended him then." He had felt the evil, the power in Tom and then more so in Voldemort. At the time he felt he was far above whatever the man did to the mortals, magic user or muggle. He had not known he would be sending his greatest possession out into it.

"You cannot change the past but live for tomorrow," Remus told him wisely, sounding far older than he was. His eyes shadowed with his own memories and pains. And, while wishing deep down for what it would have been had Vlad destroyed Voldemort, he knew that it was fruitless to do so.

"I have lived too long not to understand that," he spoke softly. He looked to Remus in wonder at what happened to the man that he knew something that had taken Vlad a long time to come to grips with. "But... when I saw what he did to that boy..." He trailed off shaking his head eyes looking to Harry, who seemed all alone.

"I was very close to his parents," Remus said, letting Vlad know he knew and understood too well. "He continues to do such things to families every day."

"I was told of your friendship, that his father and Sirius broke laws for you." He looked into the other man's eyes. He saw how much what those men had done then still meant to Remus now, and he also so that light of remembrance turn to a flame of hatred and betrayal.

"So did the man that betrayed us, betrayed James and Lily." Remus' voice was laced with a hate and anger so deeply etched into his soul that it almost hurt to hear.

"Every debt is paid. His time will come," Vlad assured him. Again he felt that Remus needed comfort, that the man held so much inside of himself and let no one in. Morticia was right. He and Remus were a lot alike.

"Yes. I hope it is slow and painful." His eyes flashed yellow as he spoke with that same hate and anger.

"It saddens me to see such a gentle soul as you hope for something like that." Vlad's eyes conveyed this to the other man. He had to admit this was the first time he had truly seen a taste of the wolf in Remus. He was not surprised, really, that the hate and anger the other man radiated at the moment provoked it. He was surprised, however, that it took that much to do so. Remus really was like no other werewolf he had met, or so he hoped. He did not relish the fact that he could have killed someone like the man before him.

"He has ruined too many lives for any pity from me," Remus bit out. The fork in his hand bending without his knowing as he gripped it far too tight.

"Pitying and not wishing a horrible death on someone are two different things," Vlad reminded gently. He took Remus' fork before the man hurt himself.

"Perhaps," Remus relented. "He has never extended such to anyone himself, but..." He sighed in defeat. "I suppose wishing so upon him makes me like him in a way."

Vlad was amazed at how fast the anger and hate passed from Remus. "It lowers you to his level a bit, yes."

Again Remus sighed. "Moony has corrupted me, I believe." He rubbed his face feeling so very old.

"The animal only has as much power as you give it," he informed him, eyes hardening a bit.

"I give it none, now. It has taken time to get here, though." He sat back, slumping in his seat.

Vlad nodded. "You have had a hard life yourself. I can read it."

Remus nodded back. "Yes. I feel much older than I am." Boy, did he ever. He felt like Albus looked some days, minus the twinkle in the old man's eyes.

"But your spirit is still young, playful." Vlad's hand unconsciously touched Remus', handing out the support the vampire had seen the werewolf need since seating himself.

Remus smiled fondly at a memory. "I'm a Marauder. Of course I'm playful." He told him proudly.

"Marauder?" Vlad asked. The term was not foreign to him but it was obvious Remus meant something far different than the images brought forth to Vlad's mind of what a marauder truly was.

"You should have seen me as a boy at this school," Remus stated wistfully. "James, Sirius, Peter, and I. We have quite the reputation as pranksters and jokesters while students."

Vlad gave him a small smile. "I can see the boy still inside the man before me." He watched as memories played across Remus' face, seeing the man happy in those memories. "May I?" He raised his hand to Remus' brow, wanting to see what the man saw. He waited without touching until he had permission.

Remus nodded, watching Vlad as the man touched his brow. He saw what Vlad saw. His memories of his childhood, good and bad. What it was like to be an outcast because of his curse. His making true friends with James, Sirius, and Peter. Seeing his world ripped apart by Voldemort time and time again. And finally, seeing Harry and Sirius again third year. Along with everything else in between.

Vlad felt it all, the emotions and everything. He withdrew his hand it all almost too much to take as it flooded over him. He looked pale as he looked at Remus, who still watched him. "I should have warned you," Remus spoke softly after a moment.

"I have seen worse," Vlad brushed it off.

Remus nodded. "I imagine so."

"You never told him?" Vlad asked out of the blue to change the subject from dark things. He knew the answer to his question but it was one of the few things he latched onto. All he received from Remus was the shake of his head. "It took a long time to get over," Vlad observed.

"Yes," Remus agreed. His unrequited crush on Sirius had in deed taken a long time for him to get over.

"He was a fool if he could not see," Vlad said with a firm voice, placing his hand on Remus' again.

"Fool?" Remus was not sure if he meant that he had been obvious in his crush or something entirely different.

"What you would have to offer," he explained, "as a companion."

Remus snorted derisively. "What can I offer?" He asked rhetorically. "I am but a simple, poor man." His eyes fixed on his pumpkin juice as he turned the glass lazily on the table.

"With more integrity than half this school put together." Vlad spoke as though he had known Remus a long time, and in a way he had now. He knew most of what there was to know about the man in part.

"Integrity means little to a lot of people," he added glumly.

"As my granddaughter is well aware, and you should be too from earlier today, I value integrity and honesty above all else."

"Yes. I said before, you are a very noble man."

"I am but a simple man, nothing more." The smirk he saw grace Remus' face reminded him briefly of Morticia.

"Thought you said you weren't a mere man," Remus intoned smugly, playfully.

"Did I mention I have a little problem with pride?" Vlad asked with a smile, pleased with the chuckle that got from the other man.

"You didn't have to," Remus responded with a light chuckle. At the arched brow from the count he elaborated, amused, "I've known Severus Snape far too long to not pick up on pride."

"Then you will realize how much this means." He sat forward to look Remus square in the eye. "I was rash in my reaction today. For that, I am sorry." When Remus nodded, he continued. "It is a good thing that Jewel was there or I would not have gotten to know the man I so nearly killed." He smiled softly. And perhaps still have the chance to know him better.

Remus smirked patting Vlad's hand on his arm to let him know all was forgiven. What do you wish to know? What more was there after all he had seen?

Anything you wish to tell me. I only looked far enough inside to see your friendships.

Remus realized he was right, but most of his life had centered around friends and the lack there of. I wouldn't know where to begin.

How about why you let me see inside. Vlad was very curious why a man he nearly killed had been so open in such an intimate way.

I have nothing to hide.

But you could have told me all I wanted to know... To look into ones mind is very personal. He watched closely the man's face and demeanor as he waited for an answer.

I am open. Remus shrugged, passing the matter off as nothing.

"Is there anything you wish to know about me?" He asked, curious. Neither man noticed as the children and professors alike started to trickle from the Great Hall.

"I know enough from what you have said."

"Enough to what?" Remus was more and more a puzzle and a surprise to him.

"That I don't need to know anymore, as it will not change my judgement," he told him simply, meeting his eyes.

"And you have judged me?" He leaned in, very curious to the outcome of that judgement indeed. He did not know if he had ever been judged by a werewolf or not.

"Well," Remus started as simply as he had been speaking, "you are a nice, honest, noble, loving person."

Vlad smiled, chuckling and shaking his head. "I've never been called nice so many times before." In ways it was disconcerting.

"So many times?" Remus asked curiously. He knew he had said so only once.

"Yes. My granddaughter said the same thing a while ago." He looked bemused.

"The truth is spoken more often..." Remus started to say before being interrupted by Vlad's indignant response.

"It's ruining my reputation! If people hear the word nice associated with my name, they won't run in fear anymore." He almost sounded childish, a slight whine to the end.

Remus blamed the man's pride for his outburst. "Is that a problem?" He asked innocently.

"I like being thought of as scary... It has served me well in the past." He even looked pouty to Remus, who chuckled lightly.

"Well," he drawled with a smirk "you aren't." He chuckled more at the look Vlad gave him.

With the lift of an eyebrow, looking like Remus had just said the sky was not blue, he asked, "Then what am I?" He leaned in very close to Remus, looking him in the eye.

"A man, not mere, but a man with needs and wants the same as every other man." Remus looked back evenly.

"And those wants and needs?" Vlad asked softly never taking his eyes from the werewolf's.

"I do not know," Remus answered truthfully.

Vlad nodded and sat back to look around the room. "Seems as if they have deserted us," he observed needlessly. He quelled the rising interest in Remus, an interest that would have Morticia unbearably smug for days on end.

Remus shrugged nonchalantly. "Can't complain. The can be quite noisy."

Vlad had to agree. "Yes, they can." He gave pause, thinking over the time he had been conversing with Remus. "Though, I don't recall having to deal with the chatter tonight."

"You must have been distracted," Remus replied before realizing the way that sounded. He thought about it then decided he did not care.

"I must have been." Vlad smirked at Remus. "It was an interesting conversation." He grinned. "With the most intriguing company."

"Intriguing?" Remus took his turn to raise a brow and smirk.

"Yes, very." Vlad returned the smirk. "Shall we speak again? I find it most agreeable."

"I would like that," Remus agreed as he stood. He had papers to see to in his rooms before he turned in for the night.

Good. Vlad stood as well, rather close to Remus. May I?

Remus swallowed thickly but hid it very well. May you what?

Vlad leaned in so his lips were but millimeters from Remus' cheek. A peck goodnight.

Remus looked at him a moment taking in the smell of the man before him. The aroma was heady. Perhaps that is one of those needs and wants. He smiled at the count before inclining his head.

Vlad bestowed the lightest of touches to Remus' cheek with his lips. Perhaps it is. He stepped back from the werewolf. My granddaughter stated something very similar today.

What did she state? He could only imagine as Morticia had quite the way with her tongue when she wanted.

That I, as she put it, need to get laid. The faintest of blushes rose on the vampire's skin. Had he not fed the night before, the blush would have been none existent.

Harry told me the same. Remus smiled. Children really were something sometimes.

I think they may have planned this.

Remus chuckled. That was stating the obvious. Really? He asked sarcastically.

Remind me to thank them. He smiled.

Remus nodded. He would as he would have to do the same. Yes. He turned to leave the room. He really needed to get to those papers.

Goodnight, my friend wolf.

And you, Count. Remus stopped and bowed his head to the man before heading for the door.

Tomorrow then.

Yes.

Vlad watched Remus leave a smile staying on his lips. Morticia was going to be hard to live with for a while. She always was when she was right. He sighed, shook his head, and headed off to his own devices.