Part Four
Time is not something they have on their hands as Harry Potter enters his last year of schooling with the thought of having to face two Dark Lords starts to become a reality. Hard choices may have to be made as two Commanders work together to stop that from happening. But will it be too little, too late?
xXx
Harry stumbled slightly as the portkey spat them out but Severus's strong arm around him and Ry's hand on his other arm kept him up right.
"Bloody portkeys," Harry muttered under his breath as his boys let him stand on his own feet while Ry giggled.
Harry glared up at his son as he leaned heavily on his cane. Ry just grinned down at him and ruffled his longer than normal hair. It was something that Harry had done so many times to the boy that it had him grinning like an idiot while Severus just snorted and walked up the path to the small house.
"Come on," Severus called over his shoulder. "We have a lot of work to do to get the house ready for Potter's birthday party tomorrow."
"Bloody mother hen," Harry hissed.
Ry burst out laughing as Severus turned back to them.
"Did you say something Mr Sun?" Severus said silkily, glaring down at him with his best 'Professor' look.
"I said 'Yes, dear.'" Harry called back.
Ry's laughter kicked up a notch and Harry gave the boy a push on the shoulder, which didn't even budge him. The boy had filled out even more and stood a good head and a half taller than Harry did. The light brown of his skin, the shaggy dark hair and blazing green eyes had girls giving him looks in the hallways.
'Not that the boy would notice them,' Harry thought.
"I can't help anyway," Harry called back to Severus. "Doctor's orders!"
Severus glared down at him for a few more seconds before turning on his heels, his robe flaring out around him as he stalked into the house.
"He'll get you for that!" Ry snorted from beside him.
"He still loves me," Harry said with a wink.
"Ugh! Dad!"
Harry grinned, moving into the house slowly, leaving his son gagging on the footpath.
"What did you do to, Potter?" Severus asked as the boy ran passed the two of them and up the stairs.
"Me?" Harry asked innocently. "Nothing."
Harry smirked as Severus looked down his nose at him.
"I find that hard to believe."
xXx
The strange family sat around the dining table for dinner that night. Harry had spent most of the day sitting in the armchair in the living room catching up on e-mails, phone calls and reports while Severus and Ry had tidied up the house for the guests that would be arriving for Ry's birthday party the next day. The boy was turning seventeen, which was a big mile stone in a wizard's life.
Harry could see the man that Harry Potter would become in this time and he felt a little sad that his son was all grown up and yet happy to see that Ry hadn't grown into the man he had been at that age. By the time Harry had turned seventeen the death and sadness that he had seen had been heavy on his shoulders and he could almost feel the darkness on his soul. He had buried two men that had meant so much to him and had known that there would be even more in his future.
Even if he could see a lot of himself in the boy, especially in the way Ry would throw himself into something without thinking, they were now two different people leading very different lives. He leaned back in his chair as he watched Severus and Ry tease each other over the table. He felt proud for the family he had around him.
"You know," Severus said slowly as if just remembering. "I don't know your birthday, Blake?"
Ry snorted, spilling his juice over the table as Severus sneered at him.
"You never asked him!" Ry cried as Snape flicked his wand cleaning up the mess with a sneer.
"Never seemed to come up," Severus said blushing. "Plus, you two are normally overseas or somewhere else at this time of year."
"It's tomorrow!" Ry said.
"Is that so?" Severus asked slowly.
"He has the same birthday as me!"
Harry sat back in his seat and watched the wheels turning in Severus's head, even if the man guessed, having it confirmed was something different. His hand slipped off the table and grabbed his wand just in case. Severus's face drained of all colour as he looked back and forth between Harry and Ry.
Harry knew that his longer hair made it easier to see the similarities between them. Not that Harry tried to hide them since no one would be looking for them anyway. The Potter hair and features were renown in the Potter line even if he didn't carry the Potter name. Not to mention that he looked a lot like James Potter, except for the height. Shortness was not a Potter trait.
"Yes, he is me from the future!" Ry cried. Looking between the men with glee.
Harry stared at his son in shock, Severus forgotten for a moment.
"Ha!" Ry cried standing. "I'm right! I knew it!"
"How?" Harry whispered.
"You have the same birth mark on your right hip!" Ry said in glee. "When you told me that you were from the future I started thinking and it kept coming back to that birth mark and the fact you didn't know my parents and you look way too much like a Potter to just be a cousin!"
"When did you see my hip?" Harry asked in shock.
"When I was four!" Ry said, shivering at the memory.
Suddenly Severus barked out a laugh, startling Harry and Ry. Both Potters turned to the other man.
"I've been fucking Harry Potter?!" Severus burst out.
"Ugh!" Ry groaned his face twisting up.
"Um," Harry said softly. "We haven't actually had-"
"Shut it, Sun!" Severus snapped, but the amusement in the man's dark eyes had Harry relaxing.
"I didn't want to hear that!" Ry yelped and pushed his plate away from him. "I'm straight you know!"
Harry barked a laugh and looked over at his son in amusement.
"I am!" Ry said.
Severus looked down his nose at him with a raised eyebrow.
"I am!" Ry insisted. "When did this become about me! He's the one that didn't tell us!"
"Um," Harry said intelligently as a set of black eyes and a set of green eyes fell on him. "Slipped my mind."
"Your mind is like a damn sieve," Severus growled.
Harry grinned as Ry laughed.
"You are taking this well," Harry said softly focusing on Severus.
"Um," Ry said slipping from his seat. "I'll just be go-"
"Sit," Harry ordered.
"Sitting here quietly." Ry finished.
"Listen you two," Harry said seriously. "You can tell no one! The Dark Lord can't know that there are two Harry Potters."
"I won't tell him!" Ry spat.
"You can't tell your friends either Ry," Harry said staring at the boy. "No one. If he ripped it from their minds we are in a lot of trouble. It is bad enough with the connection that you have with the man."
"The prophecy?" Severus gasped, going pale as more pieces fell into place.
Harry nodded.
"But you don't have my scar!" Ry said as his eyes locked on Harry's forehead.
"Don't I?" Harry asked with a grin on his face.
Severus sucked in a breath, his eyes wide, as coldness settled in his stomach making him feel faint.
"You killed him," Severus whispered.
Harry nodded.
"You killed Volde-Dark Lord?" Ry changed halfway through when Severus and Harry glared at him.
"Yes," Harry said. "I killed him."
"Wow," Ry gasped. "Does that mean I will kill him?"
Harry sighed and rubbed his face, unsure about how could he explain all of this.
"What happened in Blake's time, Potter." Severus answered for Harry. "May not happen in this time."
"But-" Ry started to say.
"No, he is right Ry." Harry said softly. "Just because I killed the man in my time. Does not mean that you will in this time. The way it stands at the moment. Is that both you and I have been marked by the Dark Lord. The fact that my scar has faded over the years does not mean that the connection wasn't there to begin with."
"So, you could kill him again?" Ry asked hopeful.
Harry looked at his son sadly.
"You are a Horcrux Harry," Harry said to his son, his heart breaking.
"Fuck!" Severus swore as Ry just stared at his father.
"How can I…" Ry trailed off in shock.
"He didn't mean to make it," Harry said softly and reached for Ry's hand.
The boy pulled his hand away and wrapped his arms around himself. Harry felt a stab of hurt in his heart as he looked at his son sadly.
"When he killed your mother," Harry explained. "He unintentionally made you into a Horcrux."
"But-but you killed him!" Ry said standing suddenly, his chair crashing to the floor. "You must have gotten rid of all the Horcruxes to do that!"
"Yes," Harry said calmly, feeling his many years. "I did."
"Then how did you do it?" Ry cried.
"I died," Harry said softly, looking away from the blazing green eyes. "I died Ry."
"But…"
"Then the deathly hollows sent me back," Harry finished.
Harry heard Severus get to his feet but he couldn't look up at his son as he stared at the tabletop.
"Then we find the hollows of this time!" Ry cried.
"They don't exist here, Ry." Harry said softly.
"They have to!"
Harry stood slowly and turned to his son. Severus stood behind the boy with a hand on his shoulder in support as tears ran down the boy's cheeks unchecked. Harry flinched back at the look in his son's eyes as it cut him to the bone.
"I am so sorry Ry," Harry said softly. "Only one set of hollows can exist in one time. When I entered this timeline the stone, elder wand and cloak became just normal, if still powerful items."
"No!"
The boy yelled and ripped out of Severus's grasp and dashed out of the room.
"Potter!" Snape yelled after the boy.
"Let him go," Harry said softly as he took his seat again all of his energy gone. "He needs time to think it through."
Harry covered his face with his hands feeling so old in that moment, still unsure how he had gotten to this point. Long thin fingers took hold of his wrists and pulled his hands away from his face and Harry looked up into dark unreadable eyes.
"I'm sorry," Harry said softly. "I just couldn't tell you, I couldn't run the risk that the Dark Lord would capture you and get the information from your mind. You would have been at risk if word had gotten out…we both would have been…even more so now that Ry has spoken my birth name."
"Sh," Severus said softly.
The taller man kneeled down on the floor in front of him and let his hands rest on Harry's knees as he looked up at him.
"I understand, Harry." Severus said softly.
Harry flinched at the name.
"Blake," Harry said roughly. "I have been Blake Sun longer than I was ever Harry Potter."
Severus smiled softly and ran his hands across Harry's thighs making the man shiver.
"If anyone knows what the Dark Lord is like, it's me." Severus said straightening up. "I can understand why you kept this secret and, in some way, I already knew who you were. I just didn't want to face it."
Harry gave him a sad smile.
"Another Potter in your life." Harry said softly and Severus gave him a smirk.
"Come on," Severus said getting to his feet and holding out a hand. "We have a big day ahead of us tomorrow and you are still recovering."
"Oh god," Harry moaned. "We have to deal with Black and a house full of children."
Severus barked a laugh pulling Harry to his feet and hugging him tight. He leaned down and gave him a soft kiss.
"They are your family." Severus whispered in his ear when he pulled back.
"Damn it."
xXx
"Dad!"
Harry started, tightening his hold around Severus's waist before hissing a breath as the movement pulled across his still healing ribs.
"Make it stop," Severus muttered as he pulled the blanket over his head.
"Remus and Sirius are here!"
Suddenly the bedroom door crashed open and a blur of black fur landed on the bed making Harry gasp in pain as the beast half landed on him.
"Yelp!"
Severus's wand was pointed at the dog on the bed as Ry howled with laughter from the safety of the doorway. Harry's eyes watered as he looked at the scene of a shocked Black before the mutt bolted, Severus's spell following the giggling Harry Potter out the door.
"That boy is so your son…well." Severus trailed off.
"That he is," Harry gasped as he held his ribs. "He is nothing like I was at that age."
Severus remembered the other man talking about his childhood vaguely.
"Who brought you up?" Severus asked as he sat up in bed and looked over at Harry.
"Lily's sister and husband," Harry replied as he pulled himself out of bed.
"Lily didn't like her too much," Severus said.
"The feeling was mutual," Harry replied. "Give me a hand with these bandages."
Severus carefully helped Harry unbind his ribs and eyed off the fading bruises and red cuts from the stab wounds on his lover's chest and stomach. Harry's body was still littered with boot size bruises but the bruise balm was working to clear them up and the stab wounds were slowly healing over.
"Do you need me to rebind your ribs after your shower?" Severus asked running a gentle hand over the man's chest.
"Nah," Harry said softly. "Albert is coming around soon to give me a check-up, he doesn't trust hospitals."
Severus snorted and picked up his hand, his eye was drawn to the ring on the man's finger and he frowned.
"You reached out to me when you were stabbed," Severus said slowly.
"Yes," Harry replied.
"The ring…" Severus trailed off.
Harry stilled and he looked down at the ring.
"The connection broke," Harry said softly. "I had to pick it up again…a couple of times."
"Broke?" Severus asked in puzzlement.
Harry lifted the man's hand and kissed his knuckles as their eyes locked.
"My death broke the connection," Harry said softly.
Severus paled and he felt faint at the other man's words.
"I've fixed it now," Harry said softly. "Your magic is on the ring Severus. It was easy to pick up the connection again."
Severus pulled the man into a hug, just reminding himself that he was still alive and still here. Harry held him close feeling the tension in the man's back under his hands.
"Dad! Albert is here!"
"Can you tell him to meet me in here?" Harry asked Severus with a sigh. "I'll just have a quick shower."
Severus pulled him closer and looked into his green eyes before kissing him taking his time.
"Dad!"
xXx
Harry walked back into the bedroom about five minutes later, with a towel around his waist to see Albert sitting on the bed. The man whistled when he saw him.
"He did a number on you Blake," The big man said in German.
"That he did, Albert." Harry replied also in German. "Severus broke his hand getting a bit of revenge on the man from Ry's report."
The big man laughed.
"Come, come." Albert said. "Stand here, drop the towel."
Harry stepped in front of the man naked without a hint of embarrassment. Albert looked over the bruising on his legs, arms, chest and stomach and poked around the wounds across his stomach and chest.
"This one looks like it hit your ribs and into your lung," Albert said in concern. "This hurt?"
"Yes," harry hissed as the man pushed around the wound.
"This one would have got your liver, hurt?"
"Yes! Damn it!"
"Don't be baby."
Harry glared at the man as he kept looking at his stomach and chest.
"Only on your front?" Albert asked looking around at his back.
"Mostly yes," Harry agreed. "And head."
"Ah, yes." Albert said pulling Harry's head down with big but gentle hands. "Concussion?"
"Yes," Harry replied. "Got me a good one on the side of the head."
"This hurt?"
"Yes! God damn it!"
xXx
"Who is that man Severus?" Remus asked when Albert moved towards Severus and Blake's bedroom.
"Doctor Greenburg," Severus replied. "He's here to look Blake over."
"He looks like he is part bear," Black said working his way into the conversation.
Severus glared down his nose at the man.
"I wouldn't say that to him, Sirius." Ry said from the table.
"No, please do." Severus said sweetly. "Say those exact words."
"Now boys," Remus said getting between the two men. "Come on Sirius let's head into the garden to set up the tent."
Sirius glared at Severus for a second longer before following the werewolf outside. Severus picked up his coffee and moved to the dining table to sit next to Ry.
"How are you feeling?" Severus asked the boy taking a sip of his coffee.
"I don't know," Potter replied. "Dad is always full of secrets but he would always answer any question I had and if he couldn't answer he would say so. In fact, you could say he would say too much and I would have to tell him to stop."
Severus snorted into his coffee and the two men shared a look.
"He loves you, Potter." Severus said softly. "He didn't keep things from you to hurt you."
"Yeah," Ry said softly. "I know that. It's just hard to wrap my mind around the fact I may have to die for Volde-Dark Lord to be killed."
Severus grabbed the boy's shoulder and shook him slightly until he looked up.
"That will not happen!" Severus hissed. "Your father will not let that happen… I won't let that happen!"
"But the Horcrux!"
"We will find a way! Understand?"
Severus released the boy's shoulder as he let the boy think through everything.
"Thank you, Snape." Ry said softly some minutes later. "I suppose you aren't too bad."
"Don't let that get around," Severus snorted. "Or they will order you a bed next to the Longbottoms."
"Versuche, kein Dummkopf zu sein!"
"Sounds like Dr Greenburg is done with your father," Severus said with a smirk.
Ry choked a laugh.
"He just called him an idiot." Ry said.
"Do you speak German?" Severus asked in surprise.
"Um," Ry replied. "Not really, just some words, we lived in Germany for a little while when I was young before I started at a muggle boarding school here in England. Doctor Greenburg calls Dad a Dummkopf a lot."
"Can't understand why," Severus snorted.
Albert walked into the room as Blake limped behind him. Severus could see that Blake was already hurting and placed a pain potion next to the man's coffee on the table. Blake nodded in thanks and sat in the chair gratefully, looking a bit pale.
"Happy Birthday, young Potter!" Albert said with a big grin and set a gift on the table.
Blake eyed the gift off for a second before nodding at Ry to take it, which piped Severus interest. Ry grinned and ripped the paper open to reveal a very nice leather potions pouch.
"I'm sure, Mr Snape can fill that up for you with healing potions," Albert said and clapped the boy on the shoulder, which almost sent him into the table. "Now I'll be off. Auf Wiedersehen."
"Thank you, Albert." Ry grinned.
"Auf Wiedersehen," Blake said. "Pass auf Dich auf."
"Dummkopf," Albert replied.
Blake just nodded and toasted him with his coffee in agreement.
"I'll walk you to the door, Albert." Severus said standing.
Blake flicked his eyes between them but said nothing as Severus walked Albert to the door.
"Thank you for coming to see him," Severus said as they stepped out onto the porch.
"No problem," Albert replied with a grin. "That man did a number on him."
"Yes," Severus said darkly.
"How is your hand?" Albert asked with a laugh.
"Ah," Severus said holding up his right hand. "He mentioned that?"
Albert quickly looked his hand over before nodding.
"Should have hit harder." The man said gruffly.
"If we hadn't been on school grounds," Severus said softly. "I think I would have killed him."
"You would not have been alone," Albert said with a wink.
"Isn't that against your oath?"
"Not when it comes to Blake."
"He brings that out in people."
"Ja, he does." Albert said with a smile. "Auf Wiedersehen, Severus."
"Good bye, Albert."
xXx
"Hey Remus," Harry called out to the man as the werewolf charmed a rope to twist around Sirius's leg as the man worked on setting up a table.
"Hey Blake," Remus said with a grin as he walked over to the man.
"Can you do me a favour?" Harry asked, keeping an eye on Black.
"What do you have in mind?" Remus replied.
"Could you take Ry out for a few hours?" Blake asked leaning back against the side of the house. "I have something planned for tonight to set up."
"Sure," Remus said happily. "We'll bring him back just before two?"
"Sounds great."
Suddenly Sirius yelped as he tripped bring down part of the tent on his head.
"After you fix the tent," Harry said with a grin. "Looks like it has problems."
"Remus!" Sirius yelled from under the canvas.
"Just can't find the help," Remus muttered as he moved back towards the animagus.
Harry grinned and moved back into the house. He walked in to see Severus and Ry talking softly at the table and he paused watching them for a couple of minutes.
"Hey Ry," Harry said coming into the room. "Your uncles are going to take you out to lunch until the party this afternoon."
"Cool," Ry cried. "Where are we going?"
"Go ask Remus," Harry replied. "Black seems to be having problems with the tent."
"Okay Dad," Ry said happily before running out the back door.
"What are you up to?" Severus asked smoothly.
"Me?" Harry asked with a wink. "Nothing."
Severus just raised an eyebrow in doubt.
"Just remember I'm the one that supplies your pain potions." Severus reminded him dryly.
"Ha!" Harry laughed and moved out of the room leaving Severus alone at the table.
xXx
Harry looked down at the glass bowl in front of him but his eye was draw to the wooden box on the edge of his table and he picked it up instead and ran his thumb over the Potter crest on the front of it fondly. The box held Ry's Gringotts keys and properties and since the boy was now an adult in the wizarding world, he should be giving him the box but he held himself back.
He placed the box back down on the table and just looked at it. He opened his drawer and moved a few things around until he pulled out the Potter will and flicked the paper open and ran his hand down the writing. Lily Potter had hand written the will and he smiled softly at it for a while as he read through it. He sighed and placed it on the table before diving back into his drawer and pulling out the paper that had been left with Ry when Harry had picked up the child and looked over the Headmaster's writing.
"Do you want a coffee?"
Harry looked up at Severus in the doorway and gave him a smile as the man looked over the table in interest.
"Yes, thank you."
Severus's eye caught on the box and Harry moved it to the drawer of the desk and closed it. Severus raised an eyebrow at Harry and he shook his head slightly. Severus sighed and moved back out of the room. Harry picked up the glass bowl and moved it closer as he pulled out his cherry wand and placed it on the table. He sat back in his chair in thought as he looked over his desk.
Severus moved back into the room and placed the cup on the small part of the table that wasn't covered in papers or other things. He picked up the letter the headmaster had written and glanced at Harry who nodded. He watched the man as he read through it. Harry passed him the Potter will as well. Harry watched as the man's eyes widened.
"This is Lily's writing," Severus said quietly.
"It is," Harry confirmed. "She mentions you in there."
Severus's eyes widened as he read the paper all the way through.
"Do you have a memory of James and the others in animagus forms?" Harry asked softly.
Severus looked back at him with unreadable black eyes and Harry pointed at the bowl and the man smirked at him.
"In the bowl," Harry said with a grin and tilted the bowl towards Severus.
The man gave him a smile as he pulled his wand and placed it to his temple and pulled the memory that Harry wanted and placed it in the bowl.
"Anything else?" Severus purred.
"All good," Harry said with a smile and pulled out a glass vial with a strand of silver swirling around. "I already hit Minerva up."
"Ha!" Severus barked. "Did I ever talk to you about Lily?"
Harry frowned as he looked at Severus.
"No," Harry said. "Why?"
Severus looked away and Harry placed a hand on the man's arm and he looked down at him.
"She was your mother," Severus said softly.
"Severus," Harry drew the man's name out.
"Blake," Severus drawled as he leaned back on the table.
"Severus," Harry said with a sigh. "Ry and I may have been born the same person but the moment that the Dark Lord killed James and Lily Potter is the moment that our lives split and changed. For Ry that was only about sixteen years ago…"
Harry trailed off and Severus let his hand rest on his arm.
"For me however," Harry said as he looked up. "A very long time has passed from that moment. I walked away from the name Harry Potter and just about everything else from that life."
Severus looked at him with large eyes.
"It was just one life in many," Harry said softly. "It may have been my birth name…"
"It is still a part of you, Blake." Severus whispered.
Harry ran a hand over his head.
"Yes," Harry said. "Can we let it go for now?"
"Blake."
Harry looked up at Severus and he placed his hands on either side of his face.
"Are the memories that hard to deal with?"
Harry flinched and would have pulled back if Severus's hands hadn't been holding him still.
"Yes," Harry whispered. "As things start to change it's getting easier. To see Ry growing up into the man that Harry Potter will be in this time. So much different and yet the same as me. To see people that I loved so much still alive when they would have died…"
Severus gave him a soft smile.
"There is still so much to come," Harry said softly and could see a shiver run down Severus's spine at the words. "There could be so much death and destruction."
Harry's thoughts started to drift but Severus ran his thumb over his cheek pulled him back and he looked up at the other man.
"We can only try," Severus said softly. "You said it yourself, you can't stop everything even if you know the future. Charmling was a good example of that."
"Yes, yes he was." Harry said softly. "I think I see a talk with Charmling in my future."
Severus snorted and looked down at him fondly. He leaned down and gave him a soft kiss.
"A knife between the ribs would be a better outcome for him," Severus whispered in his ear and Harry shivered.
"I'm sure something could be worked out," Harry said with a smirk. "Now, I have work to do before Ry gets back. Off you go."
xXx
"Okay everyone," Harry called to everyone in the garden.
The Weasley took up a big section of the garden to the left of Harry. Mr and Mrs Weasley sat with the other adults with their two older sons, Bill and Charlie. Fleur Delacour sat next to Bill and they held hands while George and Fred snickered behind them. Harry had invited Percy, but the boy hadn't been able to make it.
The Headmaster, Minerva and Hagrid were to the right of the Weasleys with Severus, Remus and Black. Ry, Hermione and Ron were sitting close to Harry with Neville, Luna and Ginny. Draco and Narcissa were sitting slightly apart but Harry had seen Draco mixing with the other children throughout the night and Severus had disappeared with Narcissa for a while before dinner was served.
"I have something planned for tonight," Harry said loudly and the noise quieted around him. "If everyone could stand and move the tables to the side of the garden please?"
Tables moved as everyone got to their feet and Severus moved up close to him.
"Headmaster if you could please cast a concealment charm around the garden for me?" Harry asked.
"Of course, my boy." The Headmaster said and with a flick the charm settled around the garden, which would probably wear off by the morning.
"What are you doing?" Severus hissed at him.
"Okay Ry," Harry continued ignoring Severus. "Come grab this bowl please and take it to the middle of the garden."
Ry ran up and grabbed the golden bowl out of Harry's hands and did as instructed then stood back.
"Okay if all the kids could sit on the grass around the bowl please," Harry called. "Just move back a bit further. Okay ready?"
"Okay dad!"
A murmur ran though the group as they looked at the bowl. Harry pulled his cherry wand out of its holster. Severus grabbed his wrist before he could do anything.
"Blake," Severus hissed as him.
Harry grinned at the man and gently gave him a push.
"It's okay," Harry said quietly to him before turning back to the group.
"I may not be Ry's biological father but I have looked after him since he was a baby," Harry said to the group. "He is seventeen today and I want to share some moments in Ry's life with you all. Don't worry Ry they are not all embarrassing!"
A chuckle ran through the group at Harry's words.
"Feel free to take a seat and enjoy!"
Harry cast his spell with a whisper and a flick of his wand and everything went dark except the bowl in the middle of the garden and a memory of Ry when he was a baby appeared in the air near the gold bowl. The green-eyed baby crawled across the baby blanket before disappearing. Then a small boy of about five appeared running after some coloured lights, which appeared around everyone in the garden. Remus reached out to touch one of them and it darted off as the kids giggled trying to catch the lights.
Then suddenly there was a huge Dragon with brown and red scales roaring silently and sending a jet of fire around the group harmlessly then a small figure of Ry appeared on a broom darting around the dragon as it roared soundlessly. Everyone gasped even the Headmaster was amazed by the display. The figure of Ry dived and everyone gasped as the dragon swung around and tried to get the boy as he ducked close to his broom and was soaring off with a golden egg in his hands.
The memory was replaced by a full moon in the sky and Remus gasped until Sirius elbowed him and pointed. A stag was peeking around and then suddenly there was a wolf and a black dog running across the grass and a small rat trying to keep up. The stag turned, stopped and let the rat catch up before running off again.
"Oh my god," Remus gasped. "How did he?"
The stag stood tall for a moment before bounding off with the wolf, dog and rat at his heels.
Harry grunted as he held the cherry wand and Severus moved closer as the image changed and Lily Potter was standing there. Her red hair flowing around her head, her face lit up with a big smile as her green eyes looked up at the shaggy dark-haired man with glasses beside her. The man looked down at his wife grinning as he pushed his glasses up his nose as the Weasley twins made kissing noises loudly.
Then the image was gone and the image of a young Ry was standing there with his first wand in his hand, wind ruffling his shaggy black hair as he stared in wonder as the wand lit up with golden light.
"Blake," Severus hissed but Harry ignored it and the pain in his chest as he held the spell.
A young Hermione, Ron and Ry appeared sitting on the grass at Hogwarts talking between themselves as a younger George and Fred crept up on them using the side of the building for cover. They spelled some water balloons to slowly float over to the three children and when they were above them let them drop with cries of laughter. Everyone laughed as the water balloons landed on the younger Ry, Hermione and Ron and they squealed.
"I knew that was you!" Ron yelled at his brothers.
Harry's hand started to shake but he kept the spell up.
A small golden snitch appeared darting around the garden, just as someone would reach out to grab it, it would dart away again. Draco stepped forward to try and grab it but it shot to the side and then suddenly there was a younger image of himself swooping down, chasing it, followed by an image of Ry. The two boys chased the snitch around the garden as they weaved around the tent poles.
"Get it Ry!" Ron yelled out followed by a couple of other calls from the people gathered.
Then the image of Ry was diving with Draco on his heels and he grabbed the snitch holding it up high. Then the image was fading away and the light was coming back into the garden as Harry eased back on the spell.
"Albus!" Severus hissed at the Headmaster and he turned to see how pale Harry was and quickly grabbed a chair and placed it behind the man.
"Thanks," Harry said as he placed his wand away.
"That was fantastic!" Ry yelled and raced over to his father giving him a big hug. "Thank you."
Harry smiled and ruffled the boy's hair before taking a seat.
"No problems Ry," Harry said, ignoring the pain in his chest and the tiredness.
"Okay everyone," The Headmaster called. "It's getting late, I think it's time we all head home."
Everyone wished Ry a great birthday and started moving out of the garden. Severus was very grateful for the Headmaster at that moment. Severus grabbed Harry's cup of coffee off the nearby table and placed it into the man's hands.
"Mrs Weasley wants to know if I'm leaving with them to head to the Burrow for a few days?" Ry asked when the Weasleys were getting ready to leave.
"It you want to Ry," Harry said softly from his seat.
"Thanks Dad!"
Ry ran off and before they knew it, just Severus, Harry and the Headmaster were left in the garden.
"Very nice piece of magic, Blake." The Headmaster said with a smile. "Very nice indeed."
"Thank you, Headmaster." Harry said with a grin.
"Good night boys," The Headmaster said before turning and striding away.
"Can you move?" Severus asked in concern.
Harry sat further back in his seat and looked around the garden. From the tables still pushed to the sides and the tent floating above them blocking out the stars before turning back to Severus.
"Blake?"
"Not without help," Harry said softly.
"You idiot," Severus hissed.
Harry grinned and leaned forward trying to ease the pain in his ribs.
"Yes, yes I am." Harry said calmly.
"Come on," Severus said moving forward.
Harry wrapped an arm around Severus's shoulders and the other man pulled him to his feet. Harry hissed as his ribs complained but it wasn't as bad as he thought it would be as they made their way into the house.
"That display was very impressive," Severus told him.
"Pure light magic that was," Harry said. "I was never very good at working with that kind of magic."
"Looked very good to me," Severus replied.
Harry grinned. "Thank you."
"You are still an idiot," Severus muttered.
Harry grinned tiredly feeling like heavy weights were holding him down as Severus helped him to the bed and Harry stripped his clothes off down to the bandages on his ribs. Severus pushed him under the covers and Harry was out before his head hit the pillow.
xXx
Severus woke early the next morning with Blake curled up next to him with his back resting against his. He turned over and checked the man but he was out. Blake didn't normally sleep deeply but the magic he had used so shortly after his stabbing had worn him out completely. Severus reached forward and brushed his lover's hair to the side and placed a hand on his forehead. He didn't feel warm to the touch. Out of curiosity he looked closer but couldn't see a scar of a lightning bolt on the man's forehead.
Severus shook his head and slipped from the bedroom before making his way out to the garden to tidy up from the party last night. He checked on Blake a few times throughout the day but he was still curled up asleep and wasn't running a fever so he wasn't concerned yet. It was late afternoon when his phone rang suddenly. He fished it out of his pocket.
"Snape."
"Severus, it's Dracka," Floated down the phone. "Is Blake okay?"
"What, why?" Severus asked racing into their bedroom to find Blake still curled up asleep.
"He hasn't answered his phone or called me back."
"He's sleeping," Severus replied, resting a hand on Blake's forehead before leaving the room. "He used too much magic at Potter's party last night."
"Ha!" Dracka laughed. "Could you get him to call me when he wakes up?"
"Sure," Severus said. "Anything I need to know?"
"I just want to know when I can stop by to talk to him," Dracka said.
"I'll get him to ring you," Severus replied before hanging up.
Severus let Blake sleep through until after he finished cooking dinner. He slipped back into their room and sat on the bed next to the man. He reached out and pushed the blanket back. He was curled up on his side hugging his pillow close to him and breathing slowly. Severus ran a hand through the man's hair before shaking his shoulder.
"Blake?"
"K, wha'?" Blake muttered as he blinked up at Severus.
"I have dinner if you're hungry?" Severus said softly.
"Did I sleep for the whole day?" Blake asked rubbing a hand over his face.
"Yes."
"Damn," Blake muttered as he flopped onto his back with a hiss. "I had work to do today."
"Like calling Dracka?" Severus asked innocently.
"What? Dracka?" Blake asked pulling himself into a sitting position and grabbing his phone. "Oh, for fuck sake!"
Blake turned the phone for Severus to see and he smirked when he saw twenty-six missed calls and five voice messages on the small screen.
"Did he call you?" Blake asked leaning back in the bed.
"Yes, he sounded concerned about you." Severus said.
"Ha!" Blake said bitterly. "He is concerned about the fact that I can keep up my end of the Treaty and at the moment I would just be directing people from the side lines."
"He seems to care about you Blake."
"I still killed his brother Severus," Blake pointed out. "The rage on his face…"
Blake shivered and Severus picked up his hand.
"Come on," Severus said instead and stood up. "Dinner time."
"Do I have time to put on pants?" Blake asked with a smirk.
"I'll think about it…"
xXx
Dracka appeared on the dark street in Leeds on a cool Tuesday night. He could still feel the light of the day soaking into the earth as he looked up at the small house before him. It didn't look like much from the outside, just a normal two-story building with a small porch out the front and a well-maintained garden and path leading up to the front door.
He could feel Blake's slight magic on the gate, but if he hadn't been looking for it he wouldn't have noticed. It still amazed him how such a powerful man could feel like he was a muggle most of the time and it wasn't until he was drawing on the magic or he was distracted that the magic would slip. He still had nightmares of the night that his brother was killed and the dark magic that had spread out from the slip of a man and a silver sword.
He pushed those thoughts to the side and moved up the path to the front door, the magic parting around him with only a slight brush as he moved through the man's wards. He knocked loudly on the door and heard pounding footsteps. The door flung open to Harry Potter's grinning face.
"Ah, Hello." Ry said softly, the grin fading. "Dad said to come in, he's in the garden."
"Thank you, Mr Potter." Dracka said with a small smile moving into the small entrance hall.
The staircase to the upper story was in front of him as well as the hallway leading into the kitchen and the back yard. To his right-hand side was a cosy living room and a study to the left. Everything in the house was neat and the walls were mostly bare as he looked around in interest.
"Just through the back," Ry said nervously.
"Thank you," Dracka said politely. "I think I can find it."
"Okay, bye!" Ry grinned and dashed up the stairs.
"He has no manners that boy."
Dracka turned to see Severus coming out of the living room and gave him a soft laugh.
"He is young," Drack said giving the other man's hand a shake. "I hear there was some trouble at Hogwarts?"
"Yes," Severus replied and the man's eyes darkened.
"Blake didn't call us?" Dracka asked, the thought had been bothering him
Severus eyed him over and Dracka couldn't think of a better man to be at Blake's side in these times.
"They came for him first," Severus said slowly "Stabbed him straight in the chest before he could react. He only just managed to call out to me…"
Dracka could see that the memories still haunted the other man by the way that his right fist clenched and his eyes darkened. Yes, this man would kill for Blake and he was hoping that if Sun's hand wavered that Severus would do what needed to be done.
"Blake is in the garden," Severus said when the silence stretched. "Doing god only knows what."
Dracka barked a laugh and asked, "Getting in the last of his work before school starts again?"
"Yes," Severus said blandly. "He said he can't do it behind the wards of the school."
"Ah," Dracka said. "Sounds like dark magic then."
Severus stiffened beside him and Dracka barked another laugh.
"You wizards and your ideas of dark and light magic," Dracka said with a smirk. "It is all magic in the end."
"Severus! Is that Dracka?"
Severus and Dracka looked towards the garden.
"I see that manners escaped Blake as well," Dracka said in amusement.
"You have no idea," Severus muttered and wandered off. "No idea."
Dracka looked after the man with an amused smile before moving through the house and into the back garden. The house had a large garden that was bigger than the house itself and was mostly grass from one fence to the other. Blake stood in the middle of the yard in blue jeans and a dark grey shirt, his scars on show as he worked with some stones on a small table. Dracka moved towards the man, feeling the slight magic rolling over him, as he got closer.
"Message stones?" Dracka asked, as he got closer to the man.
"Hold on," Blake muttered his magic swirling.
Dracka could tell that the man was still recovering from his attack since the magic didn't feel as free flowing as it normally did around him and he could tell that the man had to keep grabbing the strands every now and again. He was also sweating slightly and the tart smell made Dracka's mouth water.
"Hold it back Dracka," Blake muttered and Dracka noticed he had stepped closer to the man and took a step back.
Dracka took a tight hold of his demon and pushed it down as he watched the man work. He could see that the man still held himself hunched forward slightly as he worked and could just see the pale green brown of the bruises down Blake's arms. The stones, the man was working with, slowly changed shape and flattened out until they looked like large phone screens without buttons before the magic soaked in and they stopped glowing. Blake turned to Dracka with an easy grin on his face as he placed his wand on the table.
"Welcome," Blake said. "Sorry I couldn't meet you at the door. I had to get these done for you."
"For me?" Dracka asked stepping forward and picking up one of the stones.
He could feel no magic under his fingers and was surprised since he had seen the amount that Blake had pushed into them. They just looked like normal, if a bit too flat, stones.
"Yes," Blake said leaning on his cane. "Needed to get them done before heading back to the school next week. They are message stones, as you know, but are different."
"How?" Dracka asked turning the stone over in his hand.
Blake picked up one of the stones and suddenly the one in Dracka's hand buzzed and a message appeared on the flat stone.
'You can use it like this.' Was written on the stone, in Blake's neat script.
"Interesting," Dracka said.
Blake grinned and put the stone back on the table with the other thirty or so.
"They can be used with anyone else that has one," Blake explained. "Just think the message you want that person to get and it will appear on your stone then you can send it to that person. I thought that it would work well with your spies. You can also send reports with them, by placing the stones on the report and having a file ready with the other stone. I'll write out the instructions for you."
"That is generous," Dracka said slowly, raising an eyebrow at Blake.
"Well I may have added in another spell." Blake admitted.
"Do tell?" Dracka said dryly.
"It will tell me what kind of magic your spies come into contact with," Blake explained. "I'm looking for a certain type of magic and I don't have the time to go looking everywhere for it. Your spies have a better chance of coming across it than I do."
"Will you know what will be written on the stones?" Dracka asked.
"Nope," Blake said with a grin. "I don't care what your men are talking about, I'm just after that magic."
Dracka pulled his demon forward and knew his eyes had turned red but the other man just raised an eyebrow in question. Drack stepped forward until he was within arm's length of the other man. Blake had to tilt his head back to keep eye contact with him. The vampire had to give credit to the man, most people would have flinched back when Dracka pulled his demon forward but Blake just stood calmly before him.
Dracka grinned feeling his fangs digging into his bottom lip as he reached a hand forward and cupped the side of the man's face. Blake tensed but didn't move away as Dracka's demon rolled over him making goose bumps come up on the man's arms as a shiver ran down his back. Blake's eyes dilated but Dracka knew that if he pushed forward, he would find himself on his ass.
"Find what you are looking for?" Blake asked, voice rough.
"I think I found that a long time ago," Dracka whispered, running his hand down the man's face and down to his neck, his thumb resting against the jugular vein feeling the blood pulsing under his hand.
"Dracka," Blake warned.
They heard the back door to the garden open behind them but didn't move. Blake's eyes held a question as they looked up at him. The vampire could feel the demon calling for him to claim the man and the power he held but he slowly pulled the beast back. He knew when his eyes changed back for Blake relaxed slightly under his hand.
"One day," Dracka muttered.
"Not today," Blake said softly.
Dracka barked a laugh and stepped back, as Blake's eyes flicked over his shoulder and the vampire knew that Severus stood there.
"He is good for you Blake," Dracka whispered. "But he won't live forever."
Blake glared at him darkly as his eyes flashed green and Dracka stepped further back with a shiver. Then the man grinned and turned towards Severus and the moment passed.
"Finished?" Severus asked stepping up next to Blake and looking down at the stones.
"Yep," Blake replied with a soft grin in Severus's direction. "You can stop hovering like a mother hen."
Dracka coughed a laugh as Severus glared down at the other man.
"Just remember I have your potions old man," Severus smirked down his nose at Blake.
Blake winked at Dracka and pulled out a leather pouch from his pocket and pushed the stones into it, the vampire flinched at the sounds they made clicking against each other. Blake just grinned and held the bag out for Dracka to take.
"Thank you, Blake." Dracka said softly.
"No problems." Blake said leaning back on his cane. "What did you want to talk about?"
Dracka grinned showing off fangs and was pleased when he saw a shiver go down Severus's back.
"I'll be seeing you when school starts up," Dracka said with glee.
"Why is that?" Severus asked frowning.
"Oh god, no." Blake said dryly.
Dracka's grin widened. "I'll be teaching Defence."
Severus paled as Blake ran a hand over his short hair.
"Gee," Blake muttered. "Albus is really hitting the bottom of the barrel."
"Hey!" Dracka yelped. "And it was the Minister of Magic that called me not the Headmaster."
"Say what?" Blake asked in shock.
"Yes," Dracka grinned darkly. "Said he would like to forge a better relationship between the Council and the Ministry."
"He must be running scared," Blake muttered. "This could help us."
"Yes," Dracka said softly.
"Oh," Blake suddenly turned to Severus and a silent conversation seemed to pass between the two.
"Yes?" Dracka drawled.
"Blake seems to think that there are students with creature blood in them," Severus replied for the other man. "He says he doesn't have the time to look into it."
"Oi!" Blake yelped, whacking the taller man's shoulder.
Dracka watched the two men with an amused smile on his face. They worked so well together, almost seamlessly. He was looking forward to watching them working together once they were at the school.
"Well," Dracka said softly. "I should be leaving. Thank you again for the message stones, Blake."
"No problems," Blake said with a grin. "I guess we will be seeing you soon then."
Dracka turned and walked back into the house leaving the two men in the garden.
Severus looked down at Blake with soft eyes once the vampire had left. Blake gave him a wink and went to grab the wand he had left on the table but Severus got there first and gabbed up the cherry wand and placed it into his own pocket.
"Really?" Blake asked. "Do you want the other one as well?"
Severus grinned and held out his hand, Blake sighed and passed over the other wand.
"Fine," Blake muttered. "But I want them back once we get to school."
"What was all that about with Dracka?" Severus asked softly.
"Um," Blake said nervously. "I have a feeling that I may have been forgiven."
"I think you may have been forgiven when I walked in to see him asleep next to you after the battle with Simpson," Severus said softly.
"Say what?" Blake yelped, with wide eyes.
Severus rumbling laughter sounded in the yard at the look on the other man's face.
xXx
Harry and Severus made their way up to the castle before the students were due to arrive later in that day. The day was bright, clear and very pleasant as they walked along. Severus reached over, taking the other man's hand and Harry turned and looked up at him with a soft smile.
"What's in store for us this year?" Severus asked with a smirk.
Harry barked a laugh and whacked his shoulder without heat.
"Mr Sun!"
Harry stumbled a stop at his shouted name and looked around with wide eyes. Professor Sprout waddled towards them with rage on her face. Severus stepped back leaving Harry to face the woman head on.
"Coward," Harry muttered out of the side of his mouth.
Severus snorted.
"Mr Sun!" The woman cried as she got closer, hands on her hips as she glared up at Harry.
"Professor Sprout," Harry said in his most charming voice. "How can I help you?"
"Don't you used that tone with me, young man!" The woman snapped pointing a finger at Harry.
"Um," Harry stumbled over his words.
"That beast of yours has been eating my garden beds!" The woman shrieked.
"My beast?" Harry asked slowly.
"That griffin!" Sprout cried. "It has eaten through my prize-winning roses and my whole crop of corn!"
"My glass griffin?" Harry said slowly. "The one made from glass?"
"Yes!" Sprout yelped.
"Right," Harry said drawing out the word. "I am very sorry, my dear. I had no idea that an animal made from glass could have such interesting tastes."
"I want that beast gone!" The woman demanded, before turning on her heel and waddling away leaving the two men speechless.
"Um," Harry said turning to Severus. "What the hell just happened?"
Severus just smirked down at the man.
"Oi!" Harry said smacking Severus's arm. "You were no help!"
Severus coughed a laugh as Harry turned on his heel and started to limp after the woman.
"Where are you going?" Severus called after him.
"To sort out my beast, apparently." Blake called over his shoulder. "It's not like that beast saved the Headmaster's life, this school or anything like that!"
xXx
Severus looked up from the book he was reading when Blake banged into the room. He placed the book on the table next to the man's two wands calmly. He smirked when he saw the thin scratches covering the man's arms and face.
"Have a little trouble, love?" Severus purred.
Blake glared at him and placed the small griffin on the table before Severus. It was frozen in place with its wings wide and head forward as if roaring.
"Bloody thing wouldn't come out of the rose bushes," Blake muttered running a hand over his head. "So, I had to go in after it!"
"You couldn't summon it?" Severus asked sitting back in his seat.
Blake's glare picked up a notch.
"I'm going for a shower," The man muttered not answering the other man.
Severus laughed when the man slammed the door shut loudly behind him.
xXx
When the first years started being sorted, Dracka leaned over towards Severus next to him.
"Why does Blake look like he had a run in with a very large Hedgehog with issues?" Dracka asked, watching the man seated next to his son at the Gryffindor table.
Severus snorted into his hand loudly as McGonagall glared over at him from her place near the first years.
"Please," Severus smirked. "Ask him that question, with those exact words."
"Do you think I have a death wish?" Dracka asked.
Severus snorted again and chuckled. Blake chose that moment to look at him and lock eyes. Severus smirked back as the man glared at him. The thin red scratches over his face and arms standing out since Severus had refused to give him a balm until after the feast.
"Oh boy." Dracka muttered. "You are in trouble."
Severus grinned wider and gave Blake a wink. The man turned away as Ry giggle next to him. His father clipped him on the back of his head, which just made Severus snort again in amusement.
"Welcome everyone to another year at Hogwarts," The Headmaster said standing after the last student was sorted. "We have a new teacher this year. Please welcome Professor Rolf Dracka who has been appointed by the Ministry of Magic and he will be teaching Defence Against the Dark Arts which should be right up his alley for the fact that he is a vampire. Please make him feel welcome."
Dracka snorted as got to his feet and bowed to the students before taking his seat again to whispers and scattered applause.
"Thank you everyone," The Headmaster said cheerfully. "Please eat."
The tables filled with food and the noise started up around the room with more than a few glances cast in Dracka's direction. Severus leaned over towards him and Dracka raised his eyebrow in question.
"Maybe with a real Vampire here it will dispel the myths that I hunt down students at night and drink their blood," Severus drawled.
"They may just think that you have a hunting buddy now," Dracka counted and flashed his fangs at the other man.
Severus sat back in his seat as Minerva sat down at her place and looked over at them with interest.
"Dracka has offered to be my hunting buddy, Minerva." Severus said with a smirk.
"Don't you have enough rumours going around about you, Severus?" Minerva said stiffly. "Without starting your own?"
"I'm sure I could always team up with Blake," Dracka said dryly. "You always need a look out for the Headmaster when hunting down students."
Albus snorted as he looked over at the two in amusement while Minerva huffed.
"Blake looks like he has already had a run in with something," Minerva replied.
"My rose bushes," Professor Sprout squeaked. "What was left of them anyway."
Severus's lips curled up in a smirk.
"The rose bushes won," Minerva muttered.