Prince Consort

Chapter 27

Severus led Harry through the rough terrain, both of them being guided through the smell of human blood pumping through someone's body. Along the way Severus explained some things, that they never fed from children, mostly because they weren't filling enough and if they took too much to feed then they were risking the child dying on them if they did. So they stuck to fully grown adults, males usually, and they stuck to secluded areas that gave them the time to feed without anyone happening to stumble upon them. "When we feed our guard is down to a certain extent, it's the only way anyone would ever get the drop on us." Severus added.

Harry nodded as he continued moving, wondering whether the vampires tended to kill first think later or if they just Obliviated them.

"We don't feel the urge to drink from humans the same way as turned vampires do," Severus continued to explain, dazzled by the excitement and curiosity bleeding through those green eyes that listened intently to everything he said. Perhaps it wouldn't be a hardship to teach him potions after all. "Due to the fact we still have some of our…humanity people would say, that we don't have many of the vampire's weaknesses. We won't die without the blood but it does weaken us to an extent."

"But not magically?" Harry asked, quiet alarmed by that. The thought of being weak quite frankly disgusted him; he'd worked so hard to be better than everyone else.

"Eventually it probably would," Severus revealed, "It would affect everything in the long run." nobody in their right mind let it go that far. Severus jumped down off the rocks to the uneven path below, the smell of human blood was closer than ever, probably a couple of hikers. Harry joined him not as steady on his feet, but nonetheless straightened up easily enough, he'd get used to finding his balance with time. The human instinct was to panic falling from heights, and Harry did have human instincts still (they both did) but he had been one much longer than Harry had.

"We all need sustenance no matter what we are," Harry said thoughtfully gazing around, the scenery was absolutely breathtaking, he could smell sand and salt and water, crisp and fresh, they must be near a beach and the water. The smell of trees and freshly cut grass was the smell he could scent out from the other side.

"Very aptly put," Severus replied, amused and a little impressed, but given that Harry had been brought up by Remus Lupin a known werewolf since he was eleven it shouldn't surprise him that Harry would have sympathy and care for those who were considered 'Dark Creatures' it probably also had something to do with Harry's easy decision on becoming one himself.

"Ready to climb?" Harry asked grinning widely as he changed the subject, finding their path cut off by a hill.

"Very well," Severus sighed resignedly, it was not dignified to climb about like a child; he hadn't done such a thing since before he was eight years old. He had always been old before his time, but given the life he'd endured in Spinners End it had to be expected. Unfortunately, he knew having a younger mate he would have to do a lot that he wouldn't do otherwise. His thoughts abruptly cut off when Harry began to climb expertly, looking as if he had done it a million times before. Never one to back down from a challenge, Severus quickly began to follow.

When they couldn't find anything to grip, it was a simple matter of lurching forward, using the weight on their foot to propel them upwards, much to Harry's consternation it didn't last as long as he would have liked. They were at the top before they knew it, gazing out at the view that would probably take Muggle hours to complete, probably longer depending on how experienced a climber they were. They could have Apparated up, and he suspected Severus would have preferred it, and wondered why he hadn't just done it. He didn't dwell on it, he was just enjoying the fact he actually had Severus all to himself.

You'd think he would be more excited at the thrill of hunting, but honestly, Harry had learned to appreciate a lot of things, who wouldn't having spent ten years in a cupboard only getting out to do chores. Even afterwards he hadn't really gone on holiday, just to Blaise's and his dad's flat, Remus just didn't have the money to take them abroad, he didn't grudge him that. His dad had done his best by him, and that was enough for him.

Severus watched Harry, quite content to; he was beginning to realize just how unhappy Harry was constantly cooped up in the castle. The genuine smile, the excitement and exuberance that vibrated from every pore in Harry's body. Shaking his head, refusing to think on it, he would do so later, he wanted to enjoy his time with his mate without any burdens getting in the way. He simply wrapped his arms around Harry, gazing out at the scenery.

"It's beautiful," Harry said in awe, admiring the lush landscape in front of him.

"It is," Severus agreed, but it was nothing compared to the beauty of his mate, he could get lost in his mates green eyes for eternity, while this scenery was lovely, it was just…inconsequential when compared to Harry. "But you are even more so," sniffing unobtrusively the air blowing in their direction, carrying the scent of his people to him. They were closer than they had promised to be, but too far away so they were given the illusion of privacy. He didn't tell Harry, he honestly didn't want to ruin it for him if he hadn't already caught on as well. Plus they'd be on the move soon enough again, which would put them further away, probably not for long.

Harry felt his heart squeeze at those words, before being blackmailed into marrying Severus he hadn't really been interested in having a relationship, sure he had wanted a family in some sort of abstract way, but he hadn't seriously considered anyone in any way. Theo and Blaise's weren't betrothed to anyone, although they'd had their share of being asked - or rather their parents were asked - but Blaise's mum didn't even consider it for a second, surprisingly neither did Theo's father. Probably because the bride price wasn't all that much, most families loath to give too much to the females when marrying them off, well the purebloods anyway, but they were the only ones who upheld the ridged old fashioned ways. Blaise had a girlfriend, but whether he would marry her or not remained to be seen.

Their hearing picked up footsteps of at least five people coming down below, human they immediately deduced by the pounding erratic heartbeats they'd obviously been walking for hours to gather up such a sweat as well. It was quite a repugnant scent, they took it as time to leave, so as soon as Severus unwound his arms from Harry they took off, their pace a mere amble, they were in no rush.

"How did you feel when you first learned about your…inheritance?" Harry decided to call it, he wanted to know Severus better, and what better way than to ask questions.

"Which one?" Severus asked for clarification as he moved to avoid the large boulder directly in front of him, while Harry jumped over it.

"Both I guess," Harry replied, he had forgotten Severus had technically went through two inheritances, one that had given him his Vampire heritage and the other that made him the heir to the Prince seat, the Lord of all vampires who were under the Lord Prince protection.

"It wasn't as painful or as long as it was for you," Severus replied softly, as they continued to walk side by side, enjoying just getting out and Severus was surprised by how content he was, it was much more relaxing and fun than he'd expected. "In fact it was very intense, it began the moment the Dark Lord's own curse rebound on him, I was barely able to stay coherent and speak to Dumbledore. In the end I managed to get away from him and Apparate home, the pain grew so intense so suddenly that it rendered me unconscious, when I woke I had changed completely, it didn't even take twenty-four hours."

"Luckily you managed to get home," Harry commented, otherwise it would have been a matter of public record that Severus had come into a vampire inheritance. Not that it would have affected his position he supposed, since the Ministry couldn't take it away from him.

"It is indeed," Severus agreed, "It was not long after I awoke disorientated and confused that Rose and Glenn came knocking, I was informed of just how important the Prince's had been, and it most certainly wasn't what was written in the books, their heritage was always kept secret."

"I don't know how that works, even Blaise's mum knew about it," Harry said sounding amused.

"She did," Severus agreed, "She's as close to an ancestor to myself as can be, she's just as bold and strong as Artemis' mate was said to be." and by Merlin he didn't want to happen to him what had happened to Artemis. He didn't want his mate leaving him, if he had known Artemis' story he wasn't sure he would have gone down the road he had. Yet there was nothing to be done, the past is the past, all he could do was show Harry how much he cared, that he'd put him first as often as he could, love him. If that wasn't enough then he honestly didn't know what would be.

"She copied Zara Zabini's journals for me, ones relevant to her life at the Castle," Harry said fondly, she was as close to a mother figure than he would ever get. There was no doubt he was more fond of Remus, but that didn't lessen what he felt for Maria.

"She certainly made that clear," Severus said wryly, Maria Zabini was not afraid to say what she thought.

"She's very different from most other pureblood females I've heard about or interacted with." Harry admitted, wondering what Maria had done or said to Severus to get that reaction from him.

"Unfortunately it isn't completely their fault," Severus mused thoughtfully, thinking of his own mother, which he didn't like to do. "Most pureblood's don not see a use for a daughter other than to marry them off into a respectable family. They realise from a young age that they don't matter, some manage to break free of the hold their parents have on them…some however cannot contemplate the idea of being disowned or worse not having access to their inheritance."

"And if you…we had a daughter?" Harry queried, jumping down and with more grace than before landing firmly, he was getting used to it.

Severus followed him, "She certainly wouldn't receive our upbringing," Severus stated sharply, just thinking on what they had both been through, he hoped Harry would realize it wasn't aimed at him. "I did not grow up with the same belief's most people in the magical world do, and part of me is grateful for that." stepping over the dogs dirt with a wrinkle to the nose. "We're close, are you ready?"

"What exactly are you going to do to them?" Harry asked, running alongside Severus, both of them stopping at the tree line invisible to all, gazing at the jogger who had gone passed a few moments prior. "Attack them and Obliviate them afterwards?"

"No, that will cause unnecessary suffering on their part, as you know despite being Obliviated…the scare will remain ingrained and they'll find themselves terrified of certain reminders, and could potentially not wish to go outside for fear…fear of something they don't remember or understand." Severus informed him, removing his wand, sometimes people fell through the net, it was how vampires and even werewolves had become known in the Muggle world, many believing them to be works of fiction but there were those out there aware of the supernatural.

Harry watched Severus aim his wand at the jogger, and with accuracy the beam of red light left his wand and hit the Muggle in the back. He didn't even comprehend what happened; he was out like a light. Giving the area another sniff, listening intently for any sounds or people, when it became clear that it was safe and nothing was coming Severus left the safety of the trees and made his way over to the unconscious six foot male.

Severus turned him over once they got there; removing a pocket knife he sliced neatly across his arm. Their eyes flared at the scent of fresh blood in the air, a desire to gorge themselves on the blood was present but not overwhelmingly so. Their canine teeth did not become elongated like that of a fully fledged vampires, although they were strong enough to bite down and get the sustenance they desired, but it would take longer than the had to heal the wound so the unsuspected person who had become their meal did not notice. "We don't gain fangs, so using a knife is the better option; our venom prevents the wound from healing even with the aid of magic." Severus explained seeing the look on Harry's face.

"Oh," Harry said his mouth opened in a perfect 'O' as he understood, his attention was going towards the open wound, wondering how it would taste. Before he'd chosen to become a vampire blood had tasted copperish and disgusting. The blood in the meat he ate was just…delicious. If that was how old blood tasted…how good would it taste directly from the source? He probably should have felt a little disgusted but it wasn't as though he was killing someone. And humans killed their food sources so it could have been worse.

"Go on," Severus said, watching him closely, vividly remembering his own first hunt, Alfred had taken him, it was a tradition he had insisted that shouldn't be forgotten, whether they were turned or not, they all had the same urges, they were all creatures of the night. He rarely hunted, he saw no need for it, but he did want to take Harry to hunt, to experience this with him. Not that was why they were here; Harry had made it more than clear he was to be taken on a hunt. So he had suggested it.

Licking his lips, Harry inhaled the scent before lapping up the blood that had fallen already before sucking the wound, drawing out the blood and greedily gulping it down. A moan tearing itself from his throat, he honestly couldn't think of anything he'd rather do again than this.

"Harry," Severus stated sharply, picking up a few scents that hadn't been in his vicinity for a long time, but ones he wouldn't be likely to forget in a hurry. They were coming from the opposite direction from his own people, which meant they probably wouldn't pick up on it. If they were far enough away, then they wouldn't know anything was happening.

"Harry!" Severus hissed out, fully tense and alert, casting a Patronus charm, watching his doe sail off, he wasn't taking any chances of trying to take them on not with his mate beside him. Perhaps indulging in Harry's desires hadn't been the best of ideas, but truthfully it had been his idea so he couldn't blame anyone other than himself.

Harry snapped out of his pleasure induced haze, gazing sharply up at Severus, coming back to himself and down off his high realizing something was seriously wrong. Blinking owlishly at Severus, he cleared his throat and wiped his mouth, "What is it?" he asked confused, his green eyes glancing around intently. Then he saw them, vampires, fully-fledged, they had no heartbeat, and they did not look friendly. "Never mind," he added, standing up himself now. There were four vampires, all of them dressed in clothes that had seen better days, covered in copious amounts of old blood stains. They all had dark hair, similar chiselled features, and Harry wondered if they were related or if it was just a coincidence.

"Never thought I'd see the day you went anywhere without your lapdogs," the closest one spoke, the three remained one step behind him. "Especially with your mate snapping at your heels, bad move that." his tone was cold and harsh, his eyes gleamed with vindictive satisfaction, with murderous intentions clear as day.

"If you remember correctly, I've never needed them," Severus sneered black eyes gleaming in warning.

"Today, you will pay," one of the others spoke with fury, flinching and looking contrite, going quiet when the one who had spoken before glanced at him; there was clear intent in that gaze but what it said Harry wasn't sure.

"Leave, now," Severus stated sharply, removing his wand when he noticed that the others had as well, he was just about to yank Harry behind him when the four attacked ferociously, causing him to have to fight. His stance becoming even more intense when he noticed one of them had Harry by the neck, lifting him off the ground.

Harry waited until the vampire and he was face to face, ignoring the fourth vampire who seemed to be just egging the vampire who was choking him on. Vampires weren't easy to choke, he didn't need to breathe, but when he felt the second hand come up, obviously intending on twisting his head clean of his body, it was how vampires fought and killed each other - so it wasn't any stretch to figure it out.

"Wand!" the fourth vampire warned - but too late - Harry had stuck it in the vampire's mouth and non-verbally cast a 'Bombarda maxima' on the vampire, vampire or not, against magic nothing really survived depending on the spell. Harry who was no longer behind held up fell back onto his feet, surrounded by bone, flesh, muscle, and blood, half of which was on him due to his close proximity. He'd just killed his first vampire and with such finesse as well.

Shrieking in rage, the other vampire went for him, causing him to be thrown to the ground with such force he bellowed out in agony, ignoring the punches to his face, Harry struck out, kicking the vampire in the stomach, causing him to lurch back giving Harry the time to stand up. His green eyes flashing furiously, but the fight picked right back up, both of them smashing each other into boulders, the ground, into the air, punching, kicking and biting viciously, neither letting the other near their neck.

His delicate hearing heard the starting of the 'Fiendfyre' spell, a spell that most certainly would kill anything in its path. His gaze traveled to the side, the spell would consume all of them, and they obviously didn't care for the vampire who was fighting right now. "NO!" Harry yelled out, only to be shoved to the ground once more.

This time the vampire managed to get his hands around Harry's neck, without pause Harry smashed his hands into the vampire's wrists, causing him to screech in pain, standing them both up so abruptly, Harry grasped the vampires upper arm and bodily flung him at the vampire using the 'Fiendfyre' spell, scrambling for his wand, only to hear Severus protecting them both with the Aguamenti, even with it the heat of the spell went through both of them, alerting them to the fact they were not immortal, reminding them of how close they came to death.

The unknown vampire screamed in pain, having lost control of the spell, it had consumed his wand and burnt his hand beyond repair. Knowing he was defeated, that three of his brothers were gone, he turned to run away, only for Severus to hit him in the back with a "Sectumsempra," but unlike the times he'd used the spell as a teenager, it didn't just cause lots of cuts to appear on the body but it had removed the arms and legs, as well as the head Harry, observed as it wobbled on the top of his neck before landing with a splat on the ground.

But then of course, only then, did the guards appear taking in the grotesque scene in front of them. Glancing at Harry in awe, they had definitely underestimated him again; he had definitely taken one of those vampires out himself, and in quite an ugly fashion too. His head was blasted off, lying in pieces on the floor and Harry himself, there was only Harry's magic and scent on it, Severus hadn't been near.

"Bloody hell," Corin said, "I knew we shouldn't have been so far away," cursing himself for being talked into it.

Harry grimaced in pain, which was becoming more prominent now that the adrenaline was beginning to wear off now that he was safe and the danger was destroyed. Grunting softly, he stood on shaky legs, the attack had been so sudden and unexpected, despite the number of times the others had told him of the attacks on Severus he hadn't really understood until now. His legs weren't the only part of him shaking he noticed as leaned down to his wand, abruptly sticking it back up into his holster. Well so much for a fun day out, he thought with disgust.

"Let me see you," Severus stated, ignoring his guards for the moment, as he moved over to inspect his mate, wincing at the livid bruises that covered both sides of his face. The worst thing was he didn't even seem to be bothered by them even though Severus knew they had to be extremely painful. Gritting his teeth as anger renewed coursed through him, he felt pride, and guilt and anger consume him. Pride that Harry had been so successful in being able to protect himself against two assailants without an ounce of training, guilt that he hadn't been able to protect him fully and anger seeing the evidence of it. He knew there would be more under his clothes.

"I'll be fine," Harry stated, reassuring Severus sensing the bubbling anger, especially if his teeth gritting had anything to go on. The blood had already stopped oozing, and without a potion it would take all of a day or two for the bruises to disappear. Less time for the pain to stop bothering him if the books were accurate, considering how long it took for his transformation maybe relying on books wasn't the best of ideas. "I guess we're going back?" he murmured resignedly.

"Yes," Severus stated immediately, he wanted to get Harry checked over, he was definitely not going to let something like this happen again. Harry was far too important; he couldn't risk his life, seeing him being choked in the air and unable to do anything as he fended off the attack from both the vampires after him. "Take care of them, heal the Muggle and make sure nothing is out of place,"

"I'll do it, the rest of you go, I'll catch up," Corin offered immediately, not wishing for any of the others to be out of their Lord and his Consort's path.

"Nobody goes anywhere alone," Severus stated sharply, he wasn't going to risk anyone, especially if there were more of them around, which there could be, and they would come if the others didn't return. They would need to cover their tracks, he didn't need to say anything to know that the others would be doing their best to do just that until they got far enough away then they'd Apparate. "Simon, you stay with her." he demanded, knowing Simon would prefer it that way, they were mates after all.

Harry winced, "Keep it down," he said, refraining from rubbing his temples as they throbbed painfully, even the slightest sound was making it ten times worse, even the air and the sound of the trees, he was just glad he wasn't moving, he was feeling slightly disorientated.

"Head back with the Portkey, we'll cover the tracks," Storm suggested, giving their Lord's Consort a concerned glance.

Severus nodded without saying anything, grasping the necklace Portkey, much like the ones he'd made for Theodore and Blaise wrapping it around both their necks, before very quietly murmuring the password as to not make Harry's headache worse - at least that's what he assumed it was - but he wouldn't know until they got back.

"I've got the human," Simon told them as he effortlessly gathered the human over his shoulder as if he was a sack of meat and moving to the side to let the others do there thing.

"That's one hell of a blasting curse," Corin said in admiration, for a teenager he was quiet impressive.

"I can't believe we missed the fight," Cenric grouched, he always missed the fun.

"Should be glad our Lord didn't lose his mate, I don't think any of us would be standing here still if he had," Simon informed them grimly, even though they were only doing their job, or rather what they had been told. Losing your mate was the worst thing that could happen to a vampire. Watching them pile the vampire's bodies in a heap in the middle, before Corin set fire to them, watching them be reduced to ash, and only then did they banish the ash as well as the mess Harry's blasting curse had made.

"Alright set him down and let's get out of here," Cenric stated, wishing to get back to the castle as soon as possible, just in case this attack wasn't the only one for today. This might have just been a distraction, although the others would definitely protect Severus and Harry.

Simon replaced the Muggle on the floor, face down, having a good idea what had gone down - that he had been stunned in the back - it would take at least another half hour before he would rouse. He didn't even glance back, just joined the others, and all of them began to run. Corin continued to cover their tracks since she was the best at it, it would be extremely difficult to pick up her tracks as subtle as they were. Once they had ran for miles, they waited for Corin to catch up before Apparating away.

Severus and Harry landed in the entrance hall; the smell of blood drew the closest vampires to the area. None of them approached, but they did become very defensive and alert. Checking the immediate area to ensure that everything was secure. Alfred must have been notified, as one of the healers, it was to be expected.

"What on earth happened?" Alfred asked, trying to look Severus over, only to be batted away.

"We were attacked, Harry needs you more than I do," Severus told him sharply, before guiding Harry away from the entrance hall, taking him to their bedroom. Alfred unsurprisingly followed them, wand already out, by this time the others also made an appearance as the wards gave way allowing them entrance onto the grounds.

"Not even a week old and had your first fight," Alfred sighed, shaking his head as he performed a diagnosis charm on the fledgling half-vampire. "I have a funny feeling you'll be more of a trouble magnet than Severus."

"Could have told you that ages ago," Harry said sarcastically.

Alfred chuckled humouredly, "Is that so?" he replied as he read the results, most wounds were very minor, barely need looking at. "Well, you'll be pleased to know that by tomorrow all your wounds will be healed," vampire healing was extremely handy, "How is your head?" that would take the longest, and perhaps it was best to give Harry a potion while it healed, no doubt his Lord would demand it.

"Feels like it took a bowling ball to the head." Harry answered honestly, still speaking very slowly and quietly, having no desire for it to pound away like a drum.

"A Mild pain relief potion would perhaps be best, otherwise your head will be pounding for hours, you took quite a beating," Alfred said, his body was beaten and bruised, nothing severe, but he was a vampire nothing was going to be too severe. "Your head several knocks if I'm not mistaken." he could see the handprint around Harry's throat, he winced internally just imagining how Severus had reacted to that - or if he hadn't seen it yet how he would.

"You should have seen the other one," Harry grinned savagely. He had proven he could take care of himself, that he didn't need the constant shadowing or Severus' worry. He knew he would regardless, but he was hoping that Severus would relax a little knowing he could fight.

"Oh?" Alfred queried, glancing at Severus briefly before taking a potion with a smile of gratitude from Storm who had heard and gone to retrieve one despite the fact Severus had the basic first aid potions here in his rooms. "Do I want to know?" he asked, genuinely curious, making his way back over to Harry, "Drink this, you'll be right as rain soon enough!"

"Thanks," Harry said, accepting the potion and quickly guzzling it down, sighing in relief as some of the pressure disappeared.

"How about a drink? That will also help you recover much more quickly than even a potion," Alfred questioned, so far Harry had always said no when he was offered anything to drink, it was quite odd, but he said nothing, sure that Harry had a reason for it. Perhaps this hunt had a lot to do with it.

"I just drank," Harry said, shaking his head, at least he'd gotten so enjoyment out of the day before it was wrenched away.

"Did any survive?" Alfred questioned if they did it meant Harry may be in even more danger.

"No," Severus said smirking ferally, and his mate had personally seen to one of their demises, he was very proficient for a fledgling. "Thank you, Alfred, that will be all." he added, wishing to be alone with his mate, he would never admit it to anyone but he'd been bloody terrified earlier.

"Your meeting?" Alfred asked, ready to make his way out of the room to give them their desired privacy.

"You may sit in my stead," Severus stated, he trusted Alfred to see it through. Plus it wasn't all that important in the grand scheme of things.

"Of course," Alfred said, bowing to his Lords' before vacating the room.

There we go, the next chapter, I think I'll update a few other stories though before we see the next chapter of this up :) thank you all for your patience with this story it has been most difficult while The Leader was very easy :P perhaps its the locations? :D R&R please