AN: YAY! Because I got a few more reviews that usual, and I'm in a very good mood, I've decided to update EARLY! These next two chapters were originally one very large one, so I split them up. I haven't yet decided if I'm posting them both now, but I guess you'll find out sooner or later if I have or not! Thanks again
CHAPTER NINE: PART A: Disturbances in the night
Later on that day, more people had arrived at Grimmauld place. They included Molly, Arthur, Fred and George Weasley (who had decided to visit for a few days for Christmas, although after they'd spent all day in their extremely popular joke shop) Tonks and Mundungus.
All at once everyone had set to putting up decorations, making the place look a little more bright and cheery.
Usually dinner time where ever Mrs. Weasley was seemed to be something of a favoured event, but not any more for Harry. While he was now more tolerant of most foods, he found he could hardly bring himself to consume any animal meat- unless he had to force himself. And that was one of the main downsides. Molly was always fond of cooking up hearty meals full of protein and iron, in other words meals consisting mainly of meat.
But Harry got through his- thanking Merlin it was a buffet style feast. He found that if he placed some meat on his plate, he could get away with just eating the vegetables, and hide the meat under the remaining vegetables. So that wasn't too bad.
The worst thing was the fact that Severus was not there, and there was no chance of Harry being able to see him. Usually, at school, he knew if he wanted to he could throw on his invisibility cloak and sneak down to the dungeons. But Grimmauld place did not offer Harry such a luxury.
Harry went to bed early, yearning to see his comrade. At least he could always resort to crudely pleasuring himself, if it came to that. He heard Ron come in, and didn't even pretend to be asleep.
"You alright, Harry?" He heard Ron ask him. He knew that Ron had known him too long not to know he wasn't asleep.
"Yeah... I'm all right. Missing Severus, but I'm sure I'll manage." He said, hinting at what one could call vulgar thoughts of enjoying himself in bed alone.
"Arg, Harry. Please, it's enough that you miss him... but did you really have to insinuate what I know you're going to do? At least have the courtesy to be discreet." Ron snorted, getting into bed and extinguishing the lights.
Harry, smirking, knew he had to do something to further irritate his friend. Putting his hands down his pants, to where he was already erect, Harry made exaggerated movements depicting the exact exercise he was actually performing. Not that Ron knew that, of course. "Hmmm... oh... it feels so good..." He said, moaning, grinning. He was looking towards Ron, whose eyes he could see looking at him in the dark. Ron may not be able to see very clearly, but Harry sure could. Harry arched his back.
"Do you mind?" Ron said, obviously forgetting Harry's heightened eyesight, keeping his eyes on Harry's moving form.
"Not at all... you can't deny to me that you don't do this. I do have ears you know, as does the rest of the seventh year boys dorm." Harry could almost see Ron blushing in the dark. "It might help to learn that silencing charm we were supposed to learn in fifth year."
Ron groaned in annoyance and rolled back onto his back. "That may be so, but at least I don't purposely do it in front of my friends."
Harry actually laughed out loud. "Oh Ron, lighten up. It's not like I'm committing a crime. If it matters that much to you I'll try not to be vocal..." He shut his eyes, breathing more heavily. He didn't know why he was acting the fool, only that it seemed appropriately amusing.
But it seemed Ron really did lighten up. "Maybe I should go and call Remus to take you to his room Harry. Would you like that?" He mocked.
Harry's hand paused. "Now Ron, I think that's a little unfair. Remy's my friend, I could never fancy him like that. Although... if he's interested..." He sniggered, resuming in rubbing his thumb across the tip of his phallus and smearing the thick liquid already beginning to seep. He shuddered at his own actions.
"You really are hopeless, Harry." Ron was now smirking at him. "I doubt Remus would even be alive if Snape ever found out if you did, mind you."
Harry had to agree. His kissing of Remus was something he definitely had to keep from the half-night dweller, however unfaithful it was. "You can say that again, Ron. But seriously... does it bother you that much if I do this?" He punctuation his words by resuming stroking his cock swiftly up and down.
"Harry... you really have no idea anymore do you?" He half laughed. "Just... just keep it down."
Harry grinned in the darkness. "Yeah alright- I'm trying! You know Ron, you could always just have a bit of a play yourself, maybe to block out any unintentional sounds I may happen to make."
Ron snorted into the darkness. "Yeah that's great, imagine if mum were to walk past, like she usually does, only to hear us both rustling the sheets and making odd sounds. She'd sure get a surprise."
Harry laughed. "Yeah... that would be kind of embarrassing."
"Damn straight it would be. Not only that, but don't you feel funny doing it when there's someone else in the room?" Ron asked.
Harry shook his head. "Nope, I've done it in front of Severus before and he loved it."
Ron made wrenching noises. "Please... please don't ever say anything like that ever again!"
"Yeah, sorry Ron." Harry chuckled, struggling to contain a groan of pleasure as he remembered that exact day, increasing the pace of his stroking.
"So you should be. If you don't mind, I'm going to go to sleep now. Goodnight." He said, turning over.
"Goodnight." Harry said, pulling out his wand with his left hand and thanking that he was now old enough to use magic out of school. He waved it and cast a particularly difficult silencing charm, much more intricate than the one they'd learnt in class, which he was hopeful would work in containing any sound he might happen to make so that Ron wouldn't hear. Testing it out, Harry called out Ron's name. Happy when he didn't stir, Harry resumed his pleasuring activities.
He knew exactly what he was going to picture in his mind, and brought himself to orgasm with only thoughts of Severus. Feeling more relaxed and more in need of sleep, Harry cleaned himself up with a simple spell, and found himself drifting lightly off into sleep.
These days Harry slept, although not in the same way he had in the past. Now, sleep to Harry was almost like a state of half-consciousness. He dreamt, mostly just arduous reminiscence of his painful past, amongst those odd black dreams of nothingness.
But not tonight. Almost as soon as he'd closed his eyes, a picture of Meier entered his mind. It was almost like it too had been implanted like those thoughts of taking what was really undesired blood, of Meier standing on nothing more than a dull black background.
"You must find me... Harry... I must speak with you, urgently." His rich voice entered Harry's mind.
It was strange, considering Harry always seemed to be within his dreams. But this was more like a projection, like he was watching a scene from a movie. Harry couldn't respond to the image of Meier.
"Meet me in Knockturn alley as soon as possible, I must have words with you..."
But then it dawned on Harry he wasn't asleep, but wide awake and lying with his eyes open.
Had it been a dream? Harry didn't know. But he had an uncanny feeling that it was not a dream, nor a figment of his imagination. Meier needed to see him, and needed to see him now.
Decidedly, Harry got up out of bed and dressed in black, donning a long black cloak that had a hood.
Severus.
Harry had to tell Severus, and hopefully persuade the man to come with him. He dug further into his trunk, and found a stray piece of parchment and a self-inking quill. He scrawled a hasty message telling Severus to meet him out the front of Grimmauld place as soon as possible.
Carefully, Harry cast another impermanent silencing charm on Hedwig so that her doleful hoots wouldn't awake his slumbering friend. He attached the letter to her leg and whispered quietly to her.
"Hedwig... please find Severus for me, I know you will. I'm sorry I had to silence you, but it'll wear off in about five minutes. Make sure you wake him up for me, will you? Thankyou Hedwig." He said, smiling as she nibbled affectingly on his finger. Harry knew she'd be glad for the fly.
Harry crept downstairs as silently as possible, with Hedwig perched on his shoulder, and magically opened the front door to let her out. Closing it behind him, Harry transformed into his snake from to await Severus. Now would be a good chance to test his skills out side.
Flicking his tongue out, Harry tasted the air. He knew to his left there was particularly appealing potential prey, if he were really a snake. However, despite being a snake and having all their sensors, Harry also had his mind and chose to ignore the fact a snake of his kind would take very kindly to consuming a tasty field mouse.
Harry waited, for what to him felt like hours, until he heard the unmistakable CRACK of someone apparating and stood up as tall as his snake form would allow. It took Severus only moments to transform, and finally he came to converse with Harry.
"What's wrong?" He asked, unable to express his concern in his form.
"Meier has summoned me, I have to meet him in Knockturn Alley. I want you there with me." Harry said, as he and Severus slithered away from Grimmauld place.
"And are you expecting to get there like this?" Severus asked sceptically.
Harry replied: "No, you git. We just need to get away from Grimmauld place. Then I say we hail the Knight bus."
Severus agreed, and it wasn't too much later that he and Harry boarded the bus, which was empty aside from a couple of stray witches and wizards. Keeping their hoods handing over their faces, both made sure to be indistinguishable.
Soon, they reached the leaky cauldron, passed through it, entered Diagon alley and were standing at the entrance to the infamously evil alley.
Walking close together, they began moving down it, Harry not surprised to see quite a lot of people lurking in the cold street. He startled, however, when a hand suddenly clamped down on his shoulder. Harry turned, wide-eyed, to see a dark hooded man clutching his arm. But he also noticed eyes that he knew.
Meier ran his hand down the length of Harry's arm, until he reached his hand. Carefully, he intertwined his fingers with Harry's and, wordlessly and without explanation, pulled him off deeper into the Alley.
Severus had to catch up a couple of steps, assuming that his man was of course Meier. He might have known by looking at him, but didn't get a clear view of his face. He felt a little disconcerted when he and Harry joined hands, but was pleased when Harry's unoccupied hand found his own and held it tight.
After walking briskly, they came to a motel. Meier led them up a flight of stairs, which Harry vaguely recognised, and then to a room where Meier opened the door with the wave of a hand.
Harry and Severus entered, and were ushered silently to sit on the bed, while Meier pulled up the only chair in the room. Finally, he drew his hood back and Severus had to contain a gasp at seeing the Vampire in flesh. He was exquisite.
"Harry... I am so glad that you came. I wasn't sure if you'd take my message seriously." He paused, and then looked to Severus. "And this must be your chosen one..." He said, looking at Severus with interest. "What an honour it is to meet you...?"
"Severus." Harry said automatically. "And yes, he in my chosen one. Severus, this is Meier."
Meier held out his hand, and Severus took it, their skin smoothing against the others. "If you don't mind me saying, you are quite the handsome one." He smiled his light smile at Severus.
Severus was feeling a little taken aback. But relaxed when he heard Harry chuckle.
"Yes, he is. But don't you go getting any ideas."
Meier turned his penetrating eyes back to Harry. "I would never do such a thing, Harry. If we knew each other to a deeper extent, you would be aware of that." He said, although not in a tone that declared offence. "But I must not contain my alacrity in expressing why I have brought you here. Please, be hushed for now..."
Harry and Severus nodded.
"Thankyou. I am much aggrieved to say that it was not entirely my decision to make you what you are. Yes, it was I who lured you out of your save haven in Privet drive, and I who bit you. But it was never intended that I make you only part-Vampire. The Dark Lord used me, took advantage of my kindness and blackmailed me into my actions. But you see, not all was lost. I had the power to defy him, although he threatened me with a stake to the heart. I would much rather perish to the fiery depths of hell than help him succeed in something so wrong." He paused, as if to survey Harry's reaction.
Harry was awestruck. "But... but why are you telling me this? How do I know you're not still working for him?"
"I've escaped. I will no longer be under his duty that I was so unhappily pledged into. He captured me, and tried to control me. But not only that, he has been implanting thoughts into your mind willing you to complete your transformation. Please, heed this warning: Do not succumb to the temptation that fresh blood brings. It will be your inevitable demise. It is what the Dark Lord wants, and what I hope he does not attain wrongly. I've been around for centuries, but never have I seen such wickedness. It shames me that a creature such as he can roam this world."
Harry felt his eyes bulge. "So it was Voldermort who was doing that! I knew it... but how do I stop it?"
Meier sighed, and placed a hand on Harry's knee. "I am not to know, although I can only suggest you work to broaden your mind. You may not have noticed, but you have inherited something from me."
Harry furrowed his brows. "I have? What is it?"
"The ability to use mind power, like that I used on you this evening. However, it is a mastered art. I ask that you work on this, and also the control that comes with learning Occumlancy. These combined together will render your mind impenetrable. But you must master them, make use of them." Meier urged. "It it how the Imperious Curse was useless on myself."
Harry nodded, a new determination running through him. He found no need to question Meier's truth, and willingly believed his words. Harry knew Meier wouldn't lie to him, he could sense it. "Alright... I will do it."
Meier looked pleased. "I knew you were something special, Harry Potter. To have more than thrice defied the Dark Lord is a new achievement, and one that should be noted. I am glad I have found you well." He smiled.
Harry nodded. "He'll be after you now, won't he?"
Meier nodded. "Indeed. But he is nothing I cannot handle. I may not be able to take him on, in a duelling sense, but I can keep myself away from him and his Death Eaters."
"I'm sorry... if it weren't for me he wouldn't have sought you out, and you wouldn't be in danger." Harry said sadly.
"Nonsense. Don't you talk like that, everything in time happens for one reason or another, this I have come to learn as the centuries progressed and what you will eventually learn as you also watch them pass. But Harry, I must now leave you, for it is not safe for me here anymore. If you ever need me, you now know what to do. I wish you good luck, but I can foresee it that you will not be needing my luck." He smiled again, and stood.
Harry stood, still holding Severus's hand, and he stood up also. "Thankyou..." Harry said gratefully. "I do not resent you, Meier, just remember that."
"Thankyou Harry. And good luck to you, Severus."
Severus nodded once.
Meier turned back to Harry. "I must be off. Maybe one day we shall meet again."
But Harry stopped him with a hand on the shoulder. Meier looked at him with mild interest, before Harry released Severus's hand and wrapped his arms around Meier. Harry didn't understand why he'd done what he'd done, considering in reality he barely knew Meier, but did so anyway.
As he pulled away, he noticed a sparkle in Meier's eye. Harry looked to Severus, asking permission, he nodded, then turned back to Meier. Harry smiled lightly as Meier lent in and kissed him softly on the lips, but Harry kissed him harder, and soon deepened it to find Meier's tongue. Harry kissed him feverishly, almost passionately, and then finally pulled away. He knew that Severus would accept his actions.
Meier turned to Severus, and embraced him lightly. Severus embraced the Vampire back, a little stunned. When they pulled back, Severus knew it was his fortune to kiss him also.
Harry grinned when Meier and Severus kissed and although he could tell it wasn't as fiery as his kiss had been with the night-dweller, he could tell it was still pretty involved.
After a few moments, the two released each other and Meier, bidding farewell just one more time, opened the window and exited as a flapping bat.
Harry sighed, and turned to Severus. "Well that sure was interesting."
Severus was still looking mildly awestruck. "Yes... indeed it was."
Harry frowned, and took Severus into his arms. "Severus... I need you to know that, no matter how attractively handsome Meier is, my desired one is still you. Only you. I don't know what would become of me if I were to loose you." He said truthfully.
Severus didn't know what to say, or how to adequately expresses his own similar feelings. So instead of words, which could be so useless in times like this, he wrapped his arms around Harry, pulled him tight, and kissed him. Severus made sure to make this kiss more meaningful, if that was even possible, than just any kiss. Severus ran his hands down Harry's back, pulling their bodies simultaneously closer together. His breathing was increasing, but he knew he must not start something they would be unable to finish.
With extreme reluctance, Severus gently broke their kiss but kept their bodies pressing together. Already he could feel how much Harry wanted him, and how much he wanted Harry back. But now was not the time or the place for such actions.
"Harry... we must get back, before it's discovered that you're gone."
Harry nodded. "Yes, I know. But you're forgetting something." Severus gave him a curious look. "I think it's time I tell Dumbledore of what's happened. This now involves Voldermort, meaning that any information I give may bring us one step closer to ceasing his reign of torment. I do not expect you to confess along side of me, in fact it's probably best you don't."
"But why? I've told you what's likely to happen if we're separated, and as you only moments ago said, what would you do without me?" He smirked lightly, kissing Harry lightly on the lips.
Harry laughed lightly, but rather wryly. "I know... but you can't always have what you want. Who knows, they may wish to put an end to me before I even think of taking the blood of humans. I don't want you to risk that."
"But what you don't understand Harry, is that I want to. It's worth the risk. As you said, if we can stop the Dark Lord then our input of information would be highly valued, and they might go easy on us. I doubt you realise just how much the old man does care for you, Harry. He is an old fool, and was taken by you. But not so much as you were taken by me..." He whispered, kissing Harry hastily again. "It's my choice, and I want to be there along side you. There is nothing you can do to alter my mind."
Harry sighed, albeit happily, that Severus was so willing to be there with him. "Thanks..." Was all he managed to say, before he shook himself out of his momentary stupor. "But we must act quickly. Tonight. As soon as we get back to Grimmauld place, where I'll have to wake up the whole damn place just to get in, we'll contact Dumbledore and get him to arrange for an Order meeting as soon as possible. There's no use hiding what we are now, so it may as well be in front of the lot of them."
"Alright, agreed." Severus said, feeling determined. Maybe this would prove to be the end of Voldermort, if this information did tell them more as to his plans and such. He was sure it would come as a surprise, even to Dumbledore.
Harry and Severus left the Motel room, and quickly moved out of Knockturn alley. They again passed through the Leaky Cauldron, and once more hailed the Knight Bus.
It was a relatively quick ride, which they were thankful for, and soon Harry found himself and Severus on the front of the browning lawn of the house that once was dubbed 'The Nobel House of Black'. Harry drew in a shaky breath, nervous as hell.
They walked up the path to the front door. Harry poised his hand to knock, but then cast one more stray glance towards Severus.
"Maybe we should ring the bell, Harry." He said. "They mightn't hear us."
Harry nodded, but remembered what happened every time the bell was wrung. "But what about Mrs. Blacks portrait? We'll be waking her up too."
Severus shrugged. "At least we can be sure that someone will hear us." Before Harry even had a chance to speak, Severus reached across him and rang the doorbell. From the out side nothing could be heard due to the extensive soundproofing and the wards on the house.
They waited, but for a good couple of minutes nothing happened.
Finally, after around five minuted, a voice sounded. "Who's there?" It was Mrs. Weasley's voice and it was clear that she was somewhat nervous.
Harry realised why. He and Severus both had their faces covered by their large hoods. Harry pulled his off, and Severus followed. Immediately, the door flung open to reveal not only a stunned and mildly mad looking Mrs. Weasley, but also the intense screams of Mrs. Blacks portrait, which Remus was contending with.
She ushered Harry and Severus inside, who joined Remus until the curtain had been pulled back over her, and then they all crept back into the kitchen. As soon as they were in there, Mrs. Weasley started on them.
"Harry! Where have you been? It's four O'clock in the morning!" She made to continue, but Harry knew he had to silence her before kept going. Fred and George had warned him of this.
"Mrs. Weasley, before you say anything more... let me say something." Thankfully she paused, and Harry continued. "Remus, you need to hear this. We must contact Professor Dumbledore immediately and arrange an Order meeting. Please, I ask of you not to question me but to just trust me."
Mrs. Weasley blinked. "Harry... what's happened? I..."
"Mrs. Weasley, I don't want to sound impudent, but please... we must contact Dumbledore! I don't wish to tell the story twice."
"I think we should so as he asks, Molly." Remus interjected. This seemed to make her understand.
"Yes... yes of course. But Severus, what have you got to do with...?"
"Not now." Severus said, sounded sterner than he'd intended. But he had no time to ponder this.
Molly and Remus rushed off to contact Dumbledore and other Order members, and Harry and Severus turned to see more than one set of eyes peering from the top of the stairs. It was dark, but they could still make out the faces of Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Fred and George. Harry knew there was no hiding it from them now.
Harry turned to Severus. "I'm so nervous." He muttered. Severus put his hand on his shoulder.
There we go! Oh, and just so you know (sincea couple of people mentioned it) I haven't done a scene with HP/SS/RL in this fic. I have another fic that I DID do that in, but I've not posted it here since it badly needs revising and exceeds the rating... hehe oops.