Father, what do I have to do to prove my worth? I have found a ritual that could teach someone a lesson. Do you think it will be enough?
The purpose Chapter 47 Sanguinem Dependentia
January 6th 1975
Severus and Ruma had taken the train to go back to Hogwarts. Regulus and Rosanne were with them. Rosanne was sitting on Regulus and Ruma was laying on her back, her head on Severus's lap. They chatted a little about quidditch, but their conversation flew over what they did on the holidays.
*What makes someone worthy of receiving his mark?*Asked Regulus quietly.
The question was probably directed at Ruma, who stayed silent but had quickly moved her wand at the door, casting privacy charms. Rosanne was caressing Regulus's cheek and hummed.
*You are a Black, and your crazy cousin managed to get it right after her last year. I'm sure if you plan to follow his ideas, he will judge you worthy.*Said Rosanne.
*What about you Severus?*Asked Regulus.
Severus looked at Ruma who pursed her lips. He would not do that for her. She had everything she wanted. No, he would do that for himself, to prove he was capable of power, and have recognition from the others. Besides, he wanted to feel again what he had felt in the man's presence. Then, he remembered the same aura that had gripped him when Seth had entered the dining room. Again, another situation where most had seemed oblivious to the magical auras around them. Was he magic sensitive? He looked outside through the window and stayed silent. Ruma changed subject, asking if they received any gifts, then the conversation became lighter for the rest of the ride to Hogwarts.
On their way to the dungeons, they came across the marauders. James was chatting with Lily while Remus and Peter were quietly talking, and Sirius was casting red sparks with his wand to amuse himself. Sirius eyed Ruma who was holding Severus's hand and he sprinted in front of the four Slytherins.
*Vulken, don't tell me you are going out with this greasy git?*Asked Sirius.
James took this opportunity to join Sirius.
*Seems like only her would be able to love him anyway, with a cold heart like hers.*Said James mockingly.
*The only person who would love you is your mother, Black. Oh, wait. No.*Sneered Severus.
Sirius cast a stinging hex at him but was swiftly deflected by Severus, who perfectly knew Black would do something like this, and the hex was sent back at James who winced in pain as he received it in his chest.
*Stop it! We are prefects, we will report this.*Said Rosanne sternly.
James was pulled away by Lily and Sirius brought out his tongue like a child. Ruma and Regulus had rolled their eyes and the green students continued their way. Severus excused himself as he went to sit in a single sofa with a defense against the dark arts seventh-year book when they arrived in their common room. Some students were also reading and other speaking quietly. It always was as calm as the library in the Slytherin common room, something they all enjoyed.
Ruma felt something weird in her body, like a tugging in her magical core, a bad feeling. She looked around the common room and saw several last years glancing at her, then going back to their book. They were the ones present at Vulken's castle. Her wand went to her hand, as if knowing something was going to happen. She had the shielding words on her tongue as she moved directly to the dorm, her friends calling her from behind, but she ignored them. That night, she closed her curtains around her bed and placed several warning charms, with a curse and protective shields.
The next day, Rosanne had waited for her, knowing she was an early bird.
*What was that for? You completely ignore us yesterday.*Said Rosanne as Ruma moved her curtains away.
*I felt something… like the seventh-year students wanted to curse me. They were there… at Christmas, you know.*Explained Ruma.
Rosanne sniffed and made a head movement, telling her she understood, and they should be going. Ruma quickly went to the bathroom, not without first checking for curses, even if it was the fifth-year bathroom. Seeing there was nothing, she took a quick shower, then brushed her teeth before putting on clean clothes and brushing her hair, then joining back Rosanne in the common room. Regulus was chatting with Rosanne, where she blushed and placed a kiss on his cheek.
*Come on.*Said Ruma to them and they left to eat their breakfast.
Nothing happened as they were early, but when the other students arrived, Ruma felt weird again, and wondered how she could feel potential danger. She began to suspect the ones that were present at the castle wanted to harm her, thinking to impress Voldemort, as she had been the only to not have bowed or even went to him, and perhaps they had noticed. Her heart sank at the thought, and she decided she should not wander alone until they left school. But then again, she was no coward, and she was smarter than them, or that's what she thought.
They had potion class that morning, right after the seventh-years and when they entered, they took their usual places. Her uneasy feeling flared up, her anklet becoming warmer too. Right, she had seen a defensive rune on it when she studied her anklet, but it had never activated. She looked around her cauldron and there was nothing she could see. She quietly cast diagnosis charms, and Revelio, but found absolutely nothing. She even watched underneath the cauldron for runes and on the edges of her table.
*What are you looking for, Ruma?*Asked Rosanne.
*My uneasy feeling is there again, and my anklet is warning me something is wrong. Maybe I should skip class and ask a teacher to investigate our table.*Said Ruma nervously.
*Your anklet? Like the defensive rune has activated?*Asked Rosanne and Ruma nodded.
Slughorn entered the classroom and began quickly to explain the bone-mending potion, similar to the Skele-gro but was easier to brew and useful in quick healing situations. They settled with the ingredients and began brewing.
At the end of the class, they managed to brew without incident, albeit they had been with Ravenclaws, and nothing ever happened with them, and there was even amicable pairings between the two houses. Ruma could not help letting out an exhale of relief when they went out of the dungeons. She needed air, desperately, and quickly. She placed a warming charm on herself and went outside alone after telling her friends she would be quick.
Perhaps she should have listened to her bad feeling, or even the warm anklet that never stopped the warning. When she touched the tree to take a breather as she had more and more difficult taking air in, she thought she heard someone talking and just like that, she knew no more and fell in the snow.
OoOoO
*Repeat and do not miss any detail, Rosanne.*Hissed Seth at Rosanne, who could only feel her heart beating like a horse galloping.
Ruma had never been at the infirmary, even after five long years at Hogwarts and that could be considered an amazing feat for any students. She had been unconscious for a few hours and even after several diagnosis spells, some potions, and opened books around her, the healer could not wake her up or know what she had, so they had no choice into warning her family, but in that case that had meant Seth, and Corban was with him. Most of the teachers were present, knowing perfectly how deadly Seth could be, and Albus felt as if he was inviting Voldemort in the castle. He only hoped he would be civilized for what he represented.
*Shouldn't I be the one questioning my daughter? And also making the investigation?*Asked Callum Yaxley.
Seth looked at him with anger, and his magic flared up before Corban placed a hand on his arm. Albus's elder wand was in his hand, and he tried to maintain his calm. Callum looked at his daughter and nodded for her to answer the question.
Rosanne swallowed and took a deep breath before speaking again.
*Y-Yesterday, she went to her bed without speaking to me or Regulus, and in the morning, I noticed she had placed several defensive spells around her bed. She was fine when she woke up, but she did mention she thought the… seventh-year students wanted to curse her.*Said Rosanne as she rubbed nervously her hands.
*Are you sure about this, Rosanne?*Asked Slughorn.
Seth's eyes narrowed, knowing the timing with Christmas Eve and this event could have been related. The Headmaster glanced at Seth, then back at Rosanne.
*What else?*Asked Seth dryly and Callum made a grunt, which Seth ignored.
Rosanne looked at Seth, then at the headmaster, then back at him. Seth realised there are maybe some things no one should know, but as long as she did not mention anything else about the students present at his home, the rest he did not care.
*S-She said her anklet warned her of something going on when we entered the potion classroom, but nothing happened. When we left the classroom, she said she needed air, like desperately needed air… and so she left alone outside. I… I should have followed her.*Said Rosanne with regret.
Seth did not want to wait a second any longer and passed through the teachers who protested and called him disapprovingly.
*Mr. Vulken! You cannot wander in the castle!*Said Minerva McGonagall.
Seth stopped as she was running behind him, and he turned towards the teachers, making them flinch. His eyes were as black as coal, and they made horrified faces.
*I am being reasonable. I will not try to find the criminal who did this. I shall leave that to you.*Said Seth in a voice so cold it brought shivers to everyone.*I will find what she was cursed with, so you can concentrate on her wellbeing.*Finished Seth.
Seth turned heels again, then took the direction of the potion classroom, followed by Dumbledore, Slughorn, and the Yaxley brothers. Upon entering the classroom, Seth said to Corban to do the Runic Revelio spell, and when he did, several ones lighted up with a colored mist showing where they were.
They were carved on Ruma's seat and on the floor where she stood during class, after confirming with the potion master that it was where Ruma normally stood. Seth growled as he examined them. They were complicated runes, meant to act as different steps and that was the reason she had not collapsed right away. They were meant to make her feel the need to go outside and get some air.
*Headmaster, runes have been carved prior to Ruma's class attending on her seat and on the floor.*Said Seth and Albus went to look at them himself, followed by Callum and Slughorn.
*Of course, I am sure you did not notice anything from your students, Mr. Slughorn? I would also assume the class before Ruma was seventh year?*Asked Seth.
*N-No… and yes.*Said Slughorn nervously.
Seth asked a backtracking charm from Ruma's magic to Corban who executed the spells right away. A silver mist went from Ruma's seat to the outside of the class, and Seth quickly followed it. The mist became red as they went outside where she had collapsed. Again, there were runes on the tree. Corban whispered some spells but deduced the person who did something to Ruma used advanced magic. Seth looked at Slughorn, then at the Headmaster.
*Do you know the incantation to reveal dark runic rituals?*Asked Seth.
*Runic? I cannot say I am familiar with those, but the ones I know takes several hours to perform.*Said Albus.
Seth made an annoyed click of his mouth.
*That's because you know the ones that are less harmful to the user, I am sure. Does professor Slughorn know about my… abilities?*Asked Seth.
Dumbledore frowned and shook his head negatively.
*Abilities? What does he mean, Albus?*Asked Slughorn with a worried face.
*My brother had only heard rumours.*Thought Corban to Seth as he eyed Callum, who also seemed confused at the situation.
*You know what I think of your brother.*Thought Seth as he placed himself right where Ruma had collapsed and Corban mentally snorted.
Seth brought out his wand and sliced his hand with a cutting hex, causing the ones around him to gasp, before spraying a lot of blood around and he began to chant.
*Merlin's beard, what is he doing?*Blurted out the potion master with a hand over his mouth.
*Sit maledictum esse ostendit mihi per meum sanguinem, sit maledictum esse ostendit mihi per meum sanguinem.*Chanted Seth as he slowly turned in a circle with his arms wide and letting the blood flow from his hands.
Seth was enraged. He may not know who the culprit was, or knew the reason, but now he knew which curse had been used, and the ritual had been very badly made. The runic circle that had been used appeared underneath the snow and so did the runewords. Corban muttered a swear under his breath. Some runes had been wrongly made and the effects of that ritual were probably different from its intended purpose.
Sanguinem Dependentia.
*Headmaster.*Said Seth in a low tone, trying not to run inside the castle and kill every last-year students.
Seth turned to Albus, containing all his rage in the next few words he was going to say. Corban placed a hand on his arm again, trying to calm him down, even if he shared his emotions. Seth healed his hands wandlessly, and Corban let out a sigh of relief. Since Seth became King, his blood had changed, and he had the hardest of time resisting it.
*I'm listening.*Said Albus, still with his wand in hand.
*Ruma is the victim of the curse of blood dependency. An extremely unknown ritual meant to harm by making the user dependant on blood without the means of vampire characteristics such as fangs or subdue their victims by giving them pleasure. It might seem mundane to you, but usual blood givers also love what vampires can bring.*Seth paused before taking a deep breath.*She will need to drink blood regularly. She will no longer be able to ingest any food.*Said Seth, trying to focus on what he remembered about the ritual.
Slughorn and Callum had backed away, staying silent and observing the interaction.
*Any cure?*Asked Albus.
*Other than becoming an actual vampire, I do not know yet. I need to get the book where it is mentioned.*Said Seth.
*And if she does not drink blood?*Tempted Callum.
Seth turned his head towards Corban's brother, but Corban answered him.
*She will starve and die, which might happen… you do know what her fears are, after all, don't you brother. How fitting for someone to place that curse upon her.*Said Corban.
*You speak as if I would know anything.*Said Callum with a sneer.
Albus lifted his hand, wanting anything but mayhem right now.
*Why couldn't she be woken up?*Asked the Headmaster.
*Because her organs are being changed to accommodate the need for blood intake. The feat in itself requires a lot of energy, but it could also be because the runes were not written right. She will panic, and she will be scared, Albus.*Said Seth coldly.
The vampire King joined hands behind his back and started walking back to the care center. To anyone else, it looked as if he did not care of anything that just happened, but Corban knew it took all his willpower to place one step in front of the other, and he was holding his hands because they were trembling of rage. He followed after him after a last glance at the runic circle.
*Did I really witness a vampire performing magic?*Mumbled Slughorn.
Albus gazed at Seth as he was walking away, then cleared his throat and turned towards his potion master.
*Not any vampire, Horace. I'm sure you still would remember young Seth in your own classes, almost forty years ago.*Said Albus.
*I have a hard time wrapping my head that it is indeed the same boy. What are we supposed to do?*Asked Horace.
*Hope Mrs. Vulken will be fine, and that he does not let his anger take control.*Muttered Albus before they all went back to see Ruma.
OoOoO
Her nails dug hard in her palms trying to dull the pain inside her chest. She had difficulty breathing and could only hear muffled voices around her. She was so thirsty and had a metallic taste in her mouth. She tried to open her eyes, but something was preventing her to do so. She could feel her heart hammering against her ribs. If only she could hold her mother, anything to make her feel safe. Something warm went on her hip, then on her head, finally letting her open her eyes. Icy blue eyes and an angelic face came into view. It was not her mother, but it was stronger than her, she quickly leaned it and hugged him tightly, closing her eyes shut again and letting tears flow down her cheeks. She felt Seth stiffened, since he probably never expected a move like this.
*Help me, Seth.*Cried Ruma, her voice broken.
'She's awake.'
'how touching.'
'Shut your mouth, Callum.'
'Language Mr. Yaxley.'
'She seems fine! Can I hug her too?'
'Really Black, get away from her! From all we know, you did this!'
'WHAT!? I'm… I'm… I'm her friend!'
*SILENCE!*Yelled Seth and all went suddenly mute.*GLENN- ED-!*Ordered Seth in Venthyr.
Even if only Corban and Ruma understood the words, the students stumbled and tripped in their feet as they were trying to go out the room. The weaker minds were shaken and strongly felt the suggested order, obeying him nonetheless. Dumbledore shook his head, almost a foot out, before frowning and staying put. The order was not meant for Ruma, nor Corban, and somehow, his lover knew that, so he had not moved from his side. Ruma let go of Seth and began to shake uncontrollably, falling back on her bed.
*Seizures.*Said Corban and Seth held her shoulders, preventing her to hurt herself.
*Shouldn't we just stupefy her?*Asked Albus alarmingly.
*Old fool. I'll give you a seizure and stupefy you, just to see how you feel afterwards.*Said Seth harshly.*If you do not let the seizure flow on its own, her mind will be altered. I already told you earlier that the runes had been made incorrectly and could cause different reactions.*
When her seizure stopped, Seth conjured a glass and pointed his wand at it. He closed his eyes and concentrated on his own body, his own blood, and focused on his magic. The one spell he created after speaking with Sanguini, so long ago.
*Sanguimenti.*Spelled Seth.
The glass half filled with his blood and his wand went back in its holster. Some spells just could not be done wandlessly. He lifted Ruma's head by placing an arm behind her neck and brought the glass to her lips. She stirred as the liquid went in her mouth and she swallowed slowly. The effects were immediate, she grabbed the glass from Seth with both her hands and emptied the contents in fast gulps.
*I did not know you could do that.*Whispered Corban.
*It was before I made you.*Answered Seth in his thoughts.
Seth vanished the empty glass as Ruma seemed to feel already better. She suddenly realised what she had just drank, placing her fingers upon her lips. She looked at Seth, completely terrified.
*What happened? Am I a vampire? What… what is happening to me?*Asked Ruma worryingly as she felt herself drowning in a power she never felt before.
*Sídh, cin na- ú- a lamia.*Said Seth in Venthyr.
She swallowed hard, focusing on her breath. Her hands were opening and closing on the bed covers, and Seth waited patiently. Albus looked from a distance as they talked softly in a language he did not know. Corban nodded at Albus before leaving the care center. The headmaster sat and waited for what seemed a long time until Ruma spoke again in English.
*I will… I will try to see if I can remove this by myself, or at least… at least until I'm seventeen. I know how important it is for… well, for you.*Said Ruma.
*This is not about being important for me. This is about living eternally in a young body. Why do you even think turning a child is forbidden?*Said Seth.
*But I am not a ch…*Began Ruma, but Seth interrupted her.
*YES, YOU ARE!*Bellowed Seth, drawing a soft whimper from her.
Seth stood up, his warmth leaving Ruma, and she grabbed his hand as if his presence had been vital to her.
*Don't leave me! Please!*Said Ruma with desperation.
Seth frowned and looked at her hand holding him, then remembered the effects his blood usually had on anyone. What would be the effects on a hormone-filled teenager? He stared at her green eyes and noticed they were dilated. She had looked down all the time they had been talking and had not paid attention. Even if she now needed blood to live, his blood still had strong effects on her.
*I can't stay here, Ruma. I have to see the book with the ritual, and send you blood from the servants. If you can't control yourself, you will be sent home.*Said Seth as she let go of his hand. *Better start now.*Concluded the vampire.
*What about the one who did this to me?*Whispered Ruma, getting Albus's attention.
*Do you know?*Said Seth with a serious look.
She eyed the Headmaster, then Seth.
*I do.*Answered Ruma.
Venthyr meanings
*GLENN- ED-!*
*GET OUT!*
*Sídh, cin na- ú- a lamia.*
*Peace, you are not a vampire.*
Authors note: Hullo! In this chapter, I wanted to point out that Dumbledore is not all-knowing, especially concerning muggle illnesses or occurrences. He is not a healer and had never been portraited as such. As for the way he acts with Seth, he just does not know how to be, and that is why I mentioned he feels like he invited Voldemort in the school. Only hoping he would not have to intervene, but Seth is not Voldemort, he still has a complete soul and humanity. He was raised to care, especially towards his own.
