Chapter Three – The Isolation Room
"Draco, hurry up!" Snape yelled at the blonde. "We need to get him to the hospital wing and fast." They finally reached the castle and made their way up the marble staircases to the first floor. "Draco, take Harry to the hospital wing and wait there with madame Pomfrey. Explain what happened to you and also Harry and I will be back as soon as I can." Draco nodded and turned down the corridor to hospital wing whist Snape made off towards the headmaster's office.
He entered the dark gargoyle corridor and knocked on the back door at the end of it. "Come in!" came the cheery voice of the headmaster. Walking in Severus looked up at the many portraits of headmaster's and headmistresses who all eyed him cautiously. He didn't have the best repour with the portraits. Every time they offered him advice, he often told the shut up or get lost. Especially the one of Headmaster Dibbet. His relatives had told him about Professor Dibbet and revealed he was a bit pants at the job.
Taking a seat at the headmaster's desk, he waited for him to turn up. It was one of Dumbledore's little tricks. Call them in, make them wait and pop up and try and surprise the person. It worked for most but not Severus. Especially when he had something as important as this. "Headmaster please could you come out it's urgent?" Dumbledore popped up with a look of concern. "Never on for a bit of fun are you Severus. So, what's so urgent?" The head of Slytherin explained everything that had happened that day. "Hmm. This is very worrying Severus. If what you have told me is correct, those boys may be in for a bit of a shock. It looks like also the Vampires have returned to the forest. This was the last thing I needed. I have a monster roaming the castle and now two students that have been bitten by a vampire…" It was this point that the fireplace lit up with the face of Madam Pomfrey. "Professor's I need you here now." And as quick as she had popped up, she was gone. "I think Severus, it's time to deliver the bad news."
Entering the hospital wing, the two men went to the bed that Harry was laid in. "How are you feeling boys?" Asked Dumbledore. "Now I'm afraid what I must tell you boys isn't at all good news. Nope. Far from it. It turns out that the night you were attacked Mr. Malfoy you were attacked by an evil blood sucking creature. One who has now taken your adult life away from. You were attacked by a Vampire, who has in turn bitten you and turned you into one. Now don't you worry Mr. Malfoy you will be able to return to education however; you will be taught in private classes when everyone else is out to lunch or a free period. And unfortunately, you will not be able to return to the Slytherin Common room." Draco looked like he could cry. What would his father say? Would he be disowned? "OH NO!" He yelled, fear evident in his face. "D-D-Does t-that mean…?" He couldn't finish what he was saying. It was this point Dumbledore's face showed more sorrow. "Yes Mr. Malfoy. It does mean that when you had that little taste of Mr. Potters neck you injected the vampire venom into his blood stream and as we speak, he is also becoming a vampire." Draco burst into tears. He could cope with himself being a vampire, but having the guilty conscience of turning his best friend into one too was too much.
"He's going to hate me Uncle Sev. What am I going to do?" Draco was now sat at the side of the young brunette's bed with Severus Snape asked to look over the two. "Draco, I'm sure he'll understand. It was an accident after all. However, it's not Harris you will have to worry about." You could tell Sev was in god father mode as he used Harry's actual name and not by the fake name. "I do believe Draco that it will be his mother that you will need to worry about." For the second time that night the blondes face drained of colour. "She is going to kill me."
The pair were taken out of their conversation by the small murmurs coming from Harry, who was starting to stir and awake. "D-Draco?" The blonde looked around towards Harry. "What happened?" Severus stepped to the side of the bed and explained everything. Harry looked down at his knees. "So, I'm going to be this age forever?" Snape nodded. "I'm sorry Haz. I didn't know I had bitten you and I feel awful." Harry looked at his friend. The anger towards him disappeared as quickly as it arose. Could he really be angry at someone who didn't really understand what had happened.
Dumbledore entered the room with a small smile on his face. "How are you feeling boys?" The boys gave him a very glum look in return. "Well the good news is you may leave the hospital wing however as I said, you will not be able to go back to your dormitories. I have taken the liberty of asking our wonderful castle to provide you with living quarters. That does mean however until you get a hold of your hunger feelings you will be isolated in your new living quarters. You will be taught in there and also live there. Severus will now show you the way to your new accommodation. The password is 'Sharp Teeth', just a little joke to make you smile." No sooner had he arrived and explained everything the headmaster was gone again.
"Come on then you too. Better get you guys settled." Severus helped the two boys get everything they needed and walked along the long corridors of the school. Back down the marble staircase and down to the bottom corner of the dungeons. "This really is a lovely part of the castle." Snape said earing a strange look from the pair. "Here we are!" Draco stopped and looked at his friend before looking at the portrait concealing their new living arrangements. "Ah. Hello my young little vampo's. Welcome to your new home." The portrait was of a tall motherly like lady with a very warming smile. "I'm Phoebe Black. I was the same as you in my living day all those years ago, and all I will say is that it will get better. Anyways. Password?" Snape said the password causing the portrait to laugh. "A little joke of Dumbledores I take it? Be wary of him boys. Very wary." That was all she could say to the boys before being pushed through the door by the potions master.
The walked through a tight corridor just beyond the portrait hole and walked into a stunningly beautiful common room area. It was decorated in similar colours as the Slytherin common room with green balls of light hanging from the ceiling. Dark leather sofas surrounded a warm crackling fire and dark wood bookcases lined a wall on the other side. There were large windows that looked into the Black Lake which gave the room a dull green colour however the room never seemed dark. Quite the opposite actually. The wall on the other side of the room opposite the bookcases had three dark oak doors with silver plaques on them. The one closest to the boys was labelled 'Draco Malfoy'. The middle door had a simple 'Bathroom' written on it which left the last door to be labelled 'Harris Riddle (Harry Potter). Harry looked at his door with confusion. "How does Dumbledore know my actual name sir?" Snape looked and let out what could only be described as a minute giggle. "Remember Harris. This room hasn't been made by Dumbledore. The castle knows all. I'm pretty sure Dumbledore wouldn't even know what this room looked like beyond the portrait. There are places he's not allowed to go." Harry looked at his door and felt a smile grow on his face. In this part of the castle he could be himself. None of this Harry character no. In this dorm Harry Potter didn't exist. Just Harris Riddle. He did worry however that his actual identity may fall into the hands of Dumbledore. There were only two professors that knew who he actually was. And he knew McGonagall and Snape wouldn't say anything to Dumbledore. But how long would it remain quiet.
After talking with Severus for a while they decided it was time to unpack and move into their rooms. Harry entered his room and couldn't believe the beauty of it. The walls were dark emerald colours with pictures of his favourite quidditch players all over it. There was the typical Hogwarts four poster bed however instead of the standard Slytherin colours on it the curtains were grey and silver with the bed linins displaying a large Slytherin crest in the centre. There was a large window again looking into the black lake and another large bookcase next to it. The other side if the room had a large chest of draws and a large desk that looked to already have Harry's books and homework sat on it. But the thing he was most happy about was the fact that on top of the draws he saw his owl Hedwig that his mother had brought him on his eleventh birthday.
Draco's bedroom had the same layout as Harrys however the colours were the other way around. After unpacking the boys took a seat on one of the large sofas by the fireplace. Harry sat with his potions book in his lap and a large roll of parchment that was almost completed. "Haz why are you doing homework? You've had a stressful experience. Just sit and chill." Harry looked towards the blonde boy who still looked anxious that his friend was angry at him. Harry was angry. He was very angry. His adulthood had just been taken away from him. However, he wasn't angry at Draco. He could never be angry at Draco. He was angry about the whole situation.
"Draco. The reason I'm doing my homework is because unlike you, my mother will skin me alive. And heaven forbid my father was about because I think I'd prefer the skinning." Draco chuckled and agreed. Both of Harris' parents were very scary. At this point Draco's stomach dropped again. Yep he was dead meat when Bella found out.
Three chapters in and I'm already in love with this story. But what will happen in the next chapter.
Thank you for reading guys.
Will xx