Thank you for all the reviews, comments and kudos. I love hearing about what you think of the story so far and your speculations. If you get a spare minute and are loving the story, please let me know. :-)
xXx
The German and some Russian translations are by: Averagefish on FanFiction.
xXx
Harry stumbled and fell to his knees as they made it out of the room and Ivic held his hand tightly as he tried to catch his breath. He looked up to see they were in a large tower overlooking the grounds with only the moonlight coming through the windows to light the room.
"Is it night?" Ivic asked as he looked around and released his hand.
Harry glanced at his watch.
"No," Harry replied. "It's eleven in the morning."
Harry pulled himself to his feet and limped over to the window and looked out at the grounds. The full moon shining down, lighting up the grass and shining off the pool of water from the fountain, turning it silver.
"It's also not a full moon tonight," Harry said as he frowned.
Harry stopped at one of the windows and held out his hand and could feel the magic under his palm but it wasn't time magic he was feeling.
"It was a full moon two weeks ago," Harry said softly.
"When mother died?" Ivic asked softly as he moved closer to Harry.
"Yes," Harry replied and looked around the room.
He could see no way in and no way out of the room. There were no stairs leading up or doorways. It was just a very large circular room with panel windows going all the way around. The crackling of Harry's walkie talkie startled them them and he pulled it out with a frown.
"I thought you said the battery was dead?" Ivic asked.
"It is," Harry replied, then into the radio. "Sun."
"Ivic, my son." A female voice came across the radio and Harry shivered. He passed the device to the other man.
"Mother?" Ivic gasped, as he pressed the button on the side.
"My boy," A woman's voice purred. "My beautiful boy."
Harry felt a shiver go down his spine again as he moved away from Ivic as goose bumps came up on his arms.
"Why, mother?" Ivic gasped.
Harry moved across the room to give the man space as he felt out the magic in the tower. Feeling the darkness and yet light magic swirling around. Something bad had happened here and yet the light magic brushing against him gave him hope. He could feel no time magic so whatever had changed the time outside had nothing to do with the room they were in and more to do with the dark magic he could feel.
"Sun!" Ivic called.
Harry looked over to the man, he hadn't realised that he had moved so far away or how large the room was. Harry limped back to the man, ignoring the pain.
"Mother said that something dark attacked her and she had to jump to save herself," Ivic said softly as Harry came up to him.
Ivic held the radio out, his eyes red and Harry took the device from him. He looked down at it but the light was dead on it, there was no power in the device and he felt a chill. Just more ghosts in this cursed house.
"Do you know this room?" Harry asked looking around.
"No," Ivic replied. "It looks similar to the tower but not."
"What looks the same?"
Ivic moved over to a window and pointed.
"This window is the same," Ivic replied. "It overlooks mother's favourite part of the garden."
Harry moved over to stand next to Ivic and held his hand out towards the window palm out. He could feel the magic brush his hand and the wards under his palm. It felt like everything was tied into this one spot. This was probably the window that Ivic's mother had jumped from.
Harry and Ivic started when a growl sounded and Harry quickly summoned his silver sword as a dark beast started to appear on the other side of the room, dark mists swirling around it as it gathered a form.
"Here," Harry said and held out his sword to the other man. "Hold it back while I work on the wards."
"I don't know how to use this," Ivic snapped, as he took the sword in his hand.
"Just swing it around and try not to cut yourself or me," Harry replied and pushed the man gently forward.
Harry quickly pulled a piece of chalk from his pocket and painfully crouched and ran a line over the ground in a rough half circle before them and pulled up a protection ward. It shimmered before turning silver and Harry frowned. That was not the colour that it should have turned but at least he didn't have ghost hounds snarling at him this time.
"Hopefully that will keep it back," Harry said to the frozen Ivic who stood with the silver sword in his hands nervously.
"And if it doesn't?" Ivic asked, with wide eyes.
"Start swinging." Harry suggested, with a smile as he moved back to the window.
The creature snarled and Harry glanced over at it. Its form had started to even out around the edges and it looked vaguely human, as long as you thought outside of the box. It had a round head, two arms and two legs but that's where the similarity ended. It had glowing red eyes as it swung its head around and Harry shivered as it moved forward in jolting steps. It dropped down onto all fours, its arms as long as its legs, and its hands and feet ending in claws. It was a thing of nightmares.
It prowled forward as dark mists spun away from it. It was a dark curse given form and Harry knew that the claws would slice through human skin without a problem as it moved closer. He'd faced something similar before and was happy that he had his silver sword, well Ivic had his silver sword this time.
Harry turned back to the window and quickly opened his mind to the magic as his head pounded slightly since he hadn't centred himself but he didn't have time as the beast snarled and Ivic whimpered. He picked up the wards as quickly as he could and they burned his hands as he grabbed them harshly, the light magic bitting into his skin. He gritted his teeth and tore into the wards, they did not have time for him to pick through each one.
xXx
"Severus!"
Severus and Dracka looked up as Bill's face appeared at the flap of the tent. Severus moved quickly towards the man, leaving Dracka behind in the tent as Bill quickly weaved through the tents.
"Blake is working on the wards," Bill said quickly. "He's just tearing into them."
Severus looked over at the other man and he noticed how pale the man looked under the freckles on his face.
"Is that good?" Severus asked.
"No," Bill said. "Not good at all."
Severus paled as they came to the mansion's front gates and he could see a dark-haired woman standing alone before the gates. She was the Head curse breaker, a Russian called Galina. She normally did a lot of the warding work for Gringotts, but had been on leave so the contract had fallen to Blake. The woman looked over at them as they moved towards her.
"Are you the apprentice?" The woman asked with a thick Russian accent.
"No," Severus replied. "His partner."
"Close enough," Galina said. "He is slicing through the wards. He has skill but the magic is building. I hope he knows what he is doing."
"He knows," Bill replied, with conviction.
"Do you have a connection?" Galina asked Severus.
"To Blake?" Severus asked.
"Da, yes." Galina said quickly.
"Yes," Severus confirmed and Bill sucked in a breath with wide eyes.
"You will be able to find him?" Galina asked.
"Once we are passed the wards, yes." Severus said as he stood up straighter and crossed his arms over his chest.
Bill and the woman's heads flicked back to the gates and they stared at them for a couple of minutes with matching frowns.
"What's he doing?" Bill asked softly.
"Not sure," Galina answered. "Time loop?"
Severus paled even more.
"Time magic?" Severus asked softly.
Bill glanced over at him before focusing on the gates again and Severus felt even worse. They had been so concerned with getting Blake out, that the thought that time magic could be at play terrified him. His lover had already stepped through a time rip to come here. He wouldn't think to do the same thing now, to escape the house?
xXx
Harry tied the wards he could into the house as he sliced through others as the creature roared and he shivered. He could hear the thing's claws crashing against his shield and he glanced over his shoulder, to see sparks flying. His eyes widened as the beast snarled and slammed its shoulder into his ward and he shivered as cracks started to appear.
"It's not going to hold!" Ivic squeaked.
Harry turned back to the window and grabbed the magic that had been building when he hadn't been watching and pushed it into the ground roughly. The power in the wards forcing him to his knees as he tried to tie what he could back into the wards of the house. Then he made a mistake and cursed. He jumped back and lunged at Ivic and pulled the man to the ground as his silver sword spun away from Ivic's hand and straight towards his protection ward. Harry's eyes widened as his sword hit the ward with a ringing sound as he pulled up a shield up around them.
xXx
The ground shook and Severus stumbled as Bill and Galina jumped back with wide eyes. The three looked up at the mansion but couldn't see any damage as the ground rumbled.
"He made a mistake," Galina said as she looked back at the wards.
"Blake made a mistake?" Severus said slowly.
"Da," Galina said. "He cross wrong ward. There would have been bad backlash from that."
"He's never made a mistake," Bill said softly.
"Well," Galina said softly. "He make mistake this time. He stop working on wards. They are still holding, I'll call if anything happens. After that, he probably won't be working on them for a while."
Severus and Bill shared a look before moving away from the woman.
"Blake has never made a mistake with wards, Severus." Bill said softly, looking pale.
Severus looked at the mansion and reached out to the link with Blake. He could feel the connection but nothing else.
"I better update Dracka," Severus said. "Before he burns himself…again."
xXx
Harry held the shield around them as the magic swirled and the beast roared as he covered Ivic's body with his own, hoping the magic would settle soon. He winched as the beast claws smashed into the shield, just above his head, before the light magic around them forced it back and pushed against his shield harshly and Harry had to pour more magic into it.
Then everything went silent except for the two men's panting breaths. Harry lifted his head feeling tired and hungry but he pushed that to the side as he rolled off Ivic and onto his back still within his shield.
"Is it over?" Ivic asked as he tried to look through the shield without luck.
Harry tilted his head back and with a thought the shield turned clear. The beast was gone and the room was clear of magic and Harry dropped it. He rolled until he was on his hands and knees and Ivic helped him up. Harry stumbled slightly as he got his feet under him.
"Are you okay?' Ivic asked in concern.
"Just tired," Harry replied and moved to the window.
He tried to pick up the wards again but they just slid through his fingers and he gave up and turned away. Instead he picked up the connection with Severus as he leaned his back against the wall, before sliding down to sit on the floor as Ivic watched him. He sighed in relief when he could tell the man was okay then he frowned. He was close, why was he close?
Harry rubbed his head as his headache made itself known as Ivic moved towards him and sat on the floor next to him. The two men sat shoulder to shoulder as they looked out at the bare room before them.
"What do we do now?" Ivic asked softly.
Harry looked at his watch, it was heading into Sunday afternoon. They'd run out of food early on Friday and had had the last of their water that morning.
"I need to rest," Harry said. "Then I'll try the wards again. I don't think that creature will be back for a while. It's probably full."
"Full?" Ivic asked.
"It eats magic," Harry said as he laid his head back against the wall. "It would have taken it's fill from my mistake. Wake me if it comes back."
xXx
Harry started when Ivic grabbed his shoulder and his eyes fell on a small patch of dark mist rolling along the floor and he frowned. He glanced at his watch to see that it was one in the morning.
"What is that?" Ivic asked.
"Dark magic," Harry replied and pulled himself to his feet stiffly.
He limped across the room and knelt down and touched the dark mists. It swirled over his fingertips, slightly cold to the touch and he grabbed a hold of it. It brushed against his hand and arm and he grinned tiredly.
"Sun!"
Harry threw up a shield just as a dark blade crashed down towards him and he rolled to the side as he summoned his silver sword. He stumbled slightly as he got his feet under him as Ivic backed away. Harry faced the creature and brought his silver sword up in front of him warily.
The magic had changed the beast from before into something more human shaped as it held a dark sword out in front of it with burning red eyes. Harry circled it slightly and it watched him as he kept most of his weight on his left leg. The creature swung the sword and Harry brought up his blade against it, then yelped and dropped to the ground hard, as the creature's dark sword just parted around his silver sword and kept going. The damn thing was learning.
Harry gasped as the breath was knocked out his lungs and he rolled out of the way of the blade as his silver sword clattered across the floor. He jumped to his feet and summoned a light blade instead, made completely from light magic. Harry hated using light or dark magic for blades, it always drained his magic so much quicker. The creature paused at the use of light magic before stalking forward. Harry swung the blade towards the beast and it brought its dark blade to bare and the two swords rang out with a sharp crack.
Harry stumbled back and flicked the sword the other way and smashed his sword into the thing's side. The impact travelled along his blade and Harry gritted his teeth as the beast howled and lashed out. Harry brought a light shield up and the thing's claws skittered across the shield with a squeal. Harry smashed the shield into the beast's head as he swung his sword around and connected with the creature's side again and it fell back. It may have a human shape and sword but it did not have the skills of a swordsman.
Harry could tell it was starting to lose its form as he pushed forward. Using his sword and shield to drive it back towards the edge of the tower. He skipped back a step as the creature swung its blade and winched as he came down hard on his right leg as he pushed forward again. The beast snarled as Harry's sword crashed into its side and it darted to the side quickly with a deep growl.
Harry grinned and lunged with his shield out and pushed the beast back…and through the window behind it.
It screamed as it tumbled back and over the windowsill and Harry's eyes widened.
"Get down!" Harry yelled as he hit the floor.
Harry quickly brought up a shield over Ivic before pulling one up in front of him as the magic built then spun out around the tower before igniting around them in flames of dark and light.
xXx
Severus and Dracka jolted awake as the ground rumbled and they could feel magic flaring out around them. They were running before they realised they were moving and Severus was glad for the fact that they had worn their clothes to bed that night. The camp was alive with people and goblins as Severus and Dracka pushed forward towards the gates, where Galina and Bill waited for them.
"Wards are down!" Bill yelled when they got closer. "It's a mess."
Severus looked up at the mansion and could see nothing different except for the open front gate.
Galina nodded at Severus and the others as she moved forward carefully.
"Stay behind the main team," Bill ordered as a couple of other people moved forward with Galina at the front. "You need to guild us to Blake."
Severus nodded as they moved forward, with Dracka's eyes shining red in the night. Severus kept in step with the vampire as they moved. The team smashed through the front door and into the entrance hall.
"Two down!"
Severus, Dracka and Bill moved forward to see two bodies sprawled out on the marble tiles. They had been ripped apart and Severus swallowed back the bile at the back of his throat at the sight.
"Which way, Severus?" Bill asked softly.
"Up the stairs," Severus replied and they moved passed the bodies, there was nothing they could do for them.
They moved further into the house and could see the damage that something very large had made and his eyes widened at the sight. Dracka suddenly sneezed next to him, startling the team.
"Sorry, dark magic," Dracka replied. "It has settled."
"Da," Galina replied. "And light."
"Blake?" Severus hissed.
"No," Dracka replied.
They moved down the hallway until Severus frowned and stopped. Bill called out to the team and they moved back towards them. Dracka had his nose in the air and was sniffing.
"That way," Dracka and Severus said at the same time.
The two men glared at each other as they pointed to the left-hand hallway. Bill snorted and they turned on him.
"That way," Bill said to the team and they moved forward until they reached a staircase and they moved up to the third floor.
Two move bodies greeted them and Severus shivered. They didn't have a mark on them but the medic confirmed them as dead.
"Killing curse?" Severus asked softly.
"Niet," Galina replied. "Ghosts."
Severus shivered.
"Russian ghosts," One of the Russian men said softly. "More beast, they feed on magic."
Severus and Dracka paused outside a door, before pointing at it and moving back. The team moved forward and smashed through the locked door. They walked out into a large dance hall and looked around. This house was huge as they walked into the hall and spread out.
"Another one," A woman on the team called. "Alive."
Severus rushed over but it wasn't Blake as the medic moved forward and looked the woman over. He pulled out a walkie talkie and spoke quickly in Russian and a medic team appeared and stretchered the woman out. Severus moved back out into the hall with Dracka by his side and paused at a door tucked behind a curtain.
"That way," Severus said softly.
Galina and her team moved forward and opened the door, a narrow staircase was on the other side and they would have to move up in pairs. Galina nodded and two of her team moved forward and up the stairs.
"Clear. Medic."
Galina and the rest of her team moved forward with Dracka, Severus and Bill bringing up the rear of the group. Dracka snarled and surged forward when they got to the top of the stairs to see a blonde-haired man crouched over Blake.
"Niet, niet!" The man yelped as Dracka surged forward. "He fine!"
Dracka paused as the man held his hands up and away from Blake and Severus moved forward quickly, his heart in his throat, as he fell to his knees next to Blake. His lover was on his side and slightly curled up with his arms outstretched. Severus placed his fingers on his throat and he could feel a pulse and he sighed.
"Who are you?" Dracka demanded, his eyes red.
"Ivic Smirnov," The man said. "This is my house."
Severus shivered as the magic settled around them and Blake jolted under his hand slightly.
"Blake?"
Blake groaned and rolled onto his back and peered up at Severus and frowned.
"Severus," Blake said softly, then grinned. "How was your weekend?"
Dracka snorted as Blake looked up at them and Severus wasn't sure if he should kiss the man or strangle him.
He didn't get a chance to do either as the medic rushed forward and ran his wand over Blake and Ivic. The blonde picked up Blake's silver sword and held it out hilt first to Dracka and the vampire used a cloth from his pocket to grab the hilt and he held it by his side. Severus grabbed Blake's hand and the man looked up at him looking tired.
"Give me a hand up?" Blake asked.
"Niet," The medic replied. "Ostavaysya tam."
"Niet," Blake snapped and Ivic grinned.
"On v poryadke," Ivic said softly. "He is fine, let him up."
The medic nodded sharply and moved off as Severus and Dracka got under Blake and got him to his feet. Severus frowned when the man took his weight off his right leg.
"We'll check the rest of the house," Galina announced and they moved out of the room.
Ivic stayed with them as they moved to the stairs and Blake groaned as he looked down at them. Severus smirked and took his weight as Dracka slipped out from under his left side. Blake was sweating and swearing under his breath by the time they made it out of the house and Severus was concerned that he wouldn't put any weight on his right leg.
"Ivic!"
Severus looked up as a heavily pregnant woman with straight black hair yelled out and Blake tensed beside him. Ivic ran forward and embraced the woman and Severus looked down at Blake, the man was pale and his eyes were wide as they looked at the woman.
"What is it?" Severus whispered as Dracka moved in front of them with Blake's silver sword.
"Prizraki," Blake whispered.
"English, Blake." Severus said in amusement.
Blake grinned up at him and went to step forward on his right leg then hissed as his leg gave out under him. Severus grunted as he took the man's full weight.
"Sorry," Blake breathed.
"All good," Severus said with a smirk.
Blake smiled up at him but Severus saw his eyes stray over to the couple again as a small child squealed from the arms of another woman that looked like she might be the other woman's sister. Blake's eyes clouded over with pain as he looked at the child and Severus frowned at him.
"We should get you to the tent," Dracka said softly from beside them.
"Da," Blake said softly, as he watched the family. "Da."
Severus sighed and helped Blake to the tent, as soon as he helped the man to the camp bed, he was out and Severus ran a hand over his head fondly. Dracka collapsed on the other bed and placed the silver sword on the ground beside him. Severus looked down at the man before curling up along his back on the small bed and ignoring Dracka's leer and was soon out as well.
xXx
"Mr Sun?"
Harry turned and limped slowly towards Ivic with the help of a cane they had found somewhere. The blonde-haired man had an arm around his wife.
"Ivic," Harry said with a soft smile. "You know you can call me, Blake."
"Da," Ivic said with a smile. "My wife Katelin."
Harry kissed the woman's fingers with a smile.
"Nice to meet you," Harry said softly.
"Thank you for saving my husband," Katelin said with a strong English accent. "You are English?"
"I am now," Harry replied with a grin.
Ivic laughed and placed a hand on Katelin's stomach.
"We wish to call our child after you, if it is a son." Ivic said softly with a thick Russian accent.
Harry's eyes widened in shock as Severus moved towards them.
"My son's name was Nikolai," Harry said softly. "I would be honoured if you would consider that name?"
"Da," Ivic said quickly. "You saved my life and I have family home. All because of you."
"Thank your mother," Harry said softly. "Even with that dark curse, she thought of you."
"Da," Ivic said softly. "Prizraki."
"Da," Harry said in agreement.
Severus moved up to his shoulder and Ivic nodded at them before turning away as he hugged his wife close.
"What does that word mean?" Severus whispered.
"Prizraki?" Harry said softly and Severus nodded. "It means ghosts."
Severus shivered at the words and grabbed Harry's hand.
"Let's go home," Harry said softly then looked over at the tent and Dracka in the shadows. "Well, after the sun goes down."
"We could leave him here," Severus muttered in his ear and Harry snorted in amusement while Dracka glared at them.
"But then one of us would have to teach Defence," Harry said blandly.
They could both hear Dracka's growl from where they stood and they smirked over at the vampire as the sunlight warmed their skin.
xXx
Dracka watched in amusement as Severus moved around the Great Hall handing out pieces of paper from Blake. The man had cancelled any classes he would have had this week and even Dracka was concerned. Severus paused behind Potter before hissing something in his ear and the boy looked up at him with wide eyes before bolting for the doors and Dracka frowned as his demon took notice.
Suddenly a large man appeared in the doorway and Potter yelped and tried to pull to a stop but the big man just grabbed the boy by the arm. Dracka jumped to his feet and he even saw Albus pull his wand from its holster.
"You set me up!" Potter yelled at Severus.
The large man's laughter had Dracka calming but he could still see Albus holding his wand. Severus smirked as he moved towards the two as Ry glared at him.
"And why would you think that, Mr Potter?" Severus purred.
"You knew he was coming!" Ry spat then yelped as the large man shook him.
"Manners, little Potter." The man rumbled.
"Sorry, Albert." Ry replied and the man released him.
Ry stumbled a step as he was released and Dracka made his way towards them. Albert looked up at the vampire in interest as he drew closer.
"Albert Greenburg," Severus said softly. "This is Rolf Dracka, he is teaching Defence Against the Dark Arts this year."
"Ha!" Albert laughed. "A vampire teaching Defence. Very funny."
Dracka pulled back and took a sniff of the man then grinned and held his hand out. The large man took his hand in his large one and gave it a shake. The man was even bigger close up as he looked down at Dracka with a grin. He could have rivalled Hagrid in size alone but there was a kindness around the man that seemed to soften his bulk as he looked around the hall in interest.
"Albert is here to see Blake," Severus explained.
"I'll just be-" Ry tried to say but Severus clamped a hand down onto the boy's shoulder.
"Finish giving these out for your father," Severus cut in and handed Ry the pieces of paper in his hand. "The name, year and house of the student is on the front, if you don't know them, give them to the student's Head of House."
Ry pouted but took the papers and Severus released him.
"I feel like a pin ball," Ry muttered as he walked off and Albert grinned after him.
"Severus?" Albus asked softly as he moved towards the group.
"Albert this is Headmaster Albus Dumbledore," Severus introduced. "Albus this is Doctor Albert Greenburg."
Albus smiled and held his hand out to the man.
"Oh, yes." Albus replied. "Blake has spoken of you before."
"What has that Dummkopf gotten into now?" Albert cried as the hall watched them in interest and Severus grimaced.
"Follow me, Albert." Severus said softly as he glared at the students close by before leading the large man out of the hall.
"You look unwell, Severus." Albert said loudly, as they moved out of the room. "You need to eat more! You are too skinny!"
Dracka barked a laugh as a few students giggled.
"No, excuse!" Albert's voice floated back to them and Dracka sniggered. "You run faster with good food."
Potter sniggered from beside them and Dracka and Albus turned to the boy.
"He's found a new target," Ry said with a grin. "Serves him right for setting me up."
"Now, Mr Potter." Albus said with a twinkle in his eyes. "I'm sure Professor Snape did no such thing."
"No," Dracka disagreed, with a smirk. "Sounds just like him."
"Or Dad," Ry said with a grin. "Sounds just like Dad. I bet he put Snape up to it."
Dracka barked a laugh as he clapped a hand to Ry's shoulder and the boy grinned.
xXx
Harry could hear Albert coming well before the man opened his door.
"You don't look well," Albert said loudly as he came into the room.
Harry looked up at the large man in the doorway with Severus behind him. Harry was sprawled out on his stomach on the bed and he could see the concern in Severus's eyes as he looked down at him.
"Don't feel that great either," Harry replied.
Albert pulled his wand as he moved closer and Severus shut the door behind them before moving to the chair in the room. Albert moved the covers to uncover him as he looked him over. He was only wearing underwear as he lay there.
"What did you do?" Albert asked, keeping their conversation in English for Severus's sake.
"Dark curse locked down a house," Harry said softly. "Ghost hounds and the manifestation of the dark curse."
"Ah yes," Albert said as he muttered a few healing charms under his breath and Harry shivered as the magic worked into his system. "Roll onto your left side."
Harry did as he was ordered and winched as the pain flared in his hip and leg. He relaxed quickly under Albert's spells and was starting to drift off to sleep.
"No sleep, Blake." Albert rumbled.
"No sleep," Harry repeated and the man laid a large hand on his hip.
"Severus come here," Albert ordered. "Do you have muscle balm for him?"
Harry didn't take offence at being talked about like he wasn't there, he was used to it.
"Blake, pants off." Albert said softly and gave him a hand to get his pants off.
Albert moved him back to his left side where the damage from the snake bite was on show. Harry shivered when the man placed the balm on the damaged area and up to his hip and further down his leg.
"Work the balm in like this," Albert said, showing Severus how to work it in while Harry gritted his teeth against the pain as he hugged the pillow tight to his stomach. "Right, Blake?"
Harry could only nod his head.
"Relax," Albert snapped and eased off on digging his fingers into his hip and Harry gasped.
"Easy for you to say," Harry panted.
"Don't be baby," Albert snapped but his hands were gentle as they worked the balm into his leg and hip.
By the time Albert was done Harry was a mess of pain and Albert patted his hip as he just gasped.
"You'll be fine," Albert said softly. "Give it a couple of days."
Harry nodded as he held the pillow and tried not to move.
"You over did it, Blake." Albert said. "You forget old man."
"Never forget," Harry gasped and winched as a twinge went up his leg and hip.
Albert barked a laugh and laid his hand on his side, he pulled out a pill bottle and placed it on his bedside table.
"Auf Wiedersehen, Blake." Albert said with a chuckle.
Harry just waved his hand and tried to relax as the door opened and closed. Severus pulled the blanket up and over him.
"Need anything?" Severus asked softly.
"Pain potion…and sleeping potion." Harry gasped.
Severus's hand stilled on him and Harry slitted his eyes open to look up at him. Severus must have seen something in his eyes for he quickly left the room as Harry tried to get comfortable under the covers. Severus returned quickly and Harry struggled up enough to take them with the other man's help. The potions took effect quickly as Harry sprawled out on his stomach and was out quickly.
xXx
Severus looked down at Blake as he held the two empty potion vials, Blake had never asked for a sleeping potion before and he couldn't recall the man ever taking one and it concerned him. Whatever had happened in that house it had pushed him too far. A soft knock at the door had him looking up with a frown.
"Come in," Severus called and Ry poked his head around the door.
"Is he gone?" Potter asked softly.
Severus smirked at the boy and Ry grinned and slipped into the room, then frowned at his father.
"Is he sleeping?" Ry asked. "It's eight in the morning."
"He asked for a sleeping potion," Severus replied as he moved to the chair in the room and conjured another one for Ry.
"That's unlike him," Potter commented quietly.
"His leg," Severus whispered, as he leaned his elbows on his knees.
"Oh," Ry said, as he looked at his father. "It used to be worse."
Severus looked over at the boy sharply.
"When I was younger," Ry said quietly. "He used to hire someone to look after me sometimes when it was really bad. Albert would stay with us as well for weeks at a time. The last few years have been a lot better, I think his potions are getting better. He even started to work with his sword again just before I started school here."
Ry looked up and locked eyes with Severus and he understood why the potions were improving and Potter gave him a small smile.
"How long has he known Albert?" Severus asked.
"As long as I can remember," Potter said. "He used to live in Germany, but moved his practise here a while ago, probably when I started at Hogwarts. I think Dad helped set him up here."
Severus filed the information away, under the label Blake Sun.
"You can't know everything about him, Snape." Ry said softly.
"Albert?"
"No, Dad." Ry said with a grin. "Man of mystery, is what he is. There is always something else that you didn't know about him or something he would say and he would get this look and remember that he hadn't told you something. When I started here I thought everyone worked magic the way Dad does, then I was surprised when it was completely different."
They fell into silence before Potter suddenly chuckled.
"Yes?" Severus drawled.
"The Department of Mysteries, they didn't see him coming." Ry quipped in amusement. "You should see his office."
"He has an office?" Severus asked, again reminded of how little he knew about his lover.
"Do not ask him to see it," Ry replied with a shiver. "That's if you can get through the door."
Severus glared down his nose at the child but Potter just gave him a grin.
"Let's just say," Ry said lightly. "If they don't know what to do with it, they give it a label that says Blake Sun and they shove it into his office. Then they hope that he can work it out or contain the explosion."
Severus snorted and they both looked down at the man in the bed fondly as he slept.
xXx
Harry sighed as he lowered himself into the warm water of the large tub, ignoring the giggling from the girl ghost near the taps.
"Didn't you get enough of the show from Mr Daniels and his partner?" Harry asked the girl as he sunk up to his neck in the water.
"No," Moaning Myrtle complained. "You scared them off too early."
Harry looked over at the ghost as she peered over the lip of the tub at him.
"You know," Harry said softly. "It's a bit creepy with you watching students in a bathroom. Maybe I should put up a ward in here."
The girl pouted at him and Harry gave her a grin.
"It gets so lonely," The girl moaned.
"Ha!" Harry barked a laugh. "You are surrounded by horny students. How is that lonely?"
Harry moved back to the side of the tub and sat on the shelf as he rested his head back on the edge of the tub. He closed his eyes and listened to the slow dripping of the water.
"Not when you scare them off," Myrtle snapped.
"I'm sure Mr Daniels will be back and maybe even with the same partner," Harry replied with a smirk. "I think he likes to give you a show."
Myrtle gave a giggle and Harry looked over at the ghost in amusement.
"He needs the practise," Myrtle said with a smirk.
"Ha!" Harry laughed. "Girl or boy?"
Myrtle giggled and gave Harry a wink.
"Keeping his options open?" Harry asked with a smirk. "Or hasn't settled yet?"
Harry tilted his head back when Severus opened the door behind him and Myrtle yelped softly and disappeared.
"Are you talking to someone?" Severus asked as he moved into the room and shut the door.
"Just talking out loud really," Harry replied and could hear a slight snicker. "Had to chase Mr Daniels and his latest partner out of here first."
"Again?" Severus sighed, as he shrugged out of robes and shirt as Harry watched him upside down. "Who was it this time?"
"I'll have to talk to Minerva," Harry said with a wink and splashed water towards where Myrtle had disappeared to as Severus finished undressing and slipped into the water.
"No taste," Severus muttered.
"Oi!" Harry yelped as Severus smirked over at him.
"What are you doing in here anyway?" Severus asked. "The teachers have their own on the fourth floor."
"What?" Harry said with a smirk. "And walk up all those stairs when there is one on the first floor?"
Harry heard Myrtle snigger quietly and knew the girl had found that bathroom as well.
"I hope you aren't watching teachers, Ms Warren?" Harry called over to the ghost and Severus flicked his head around with wide eyes.
"No," Myrtle whispered as she peered over at them and Severus squeaked.
Harry looked over at him in amusement.
"Bastard," Severus cursed and Harry just grinned.
Harry swum over to Myrtle and the girl looked at him in interest.
"Severus gets embarrassed," Harry said quietly to the ghost and her eyes flicked over to the man and she giggled. "I'm guessing that Mr Daniels probably moved his antics to the classroom on the third floor."
"Oh," Myrtle exclaimed and her eyes lit up.
"Now," Harry said, with a smirk. "I don't want to see you for at least two hours or next time you try to get in here, there will be a ward stopping you. Understand?"
The girl smirked and gave him a wink before disappearing with a squeal. Harry pushed back from the edge and floated on his back as he glanced over at the Slytherin.
"What did you tell her?" Severus asked as he watched him.
"That I'll ward this room against her if she doesn't give us two hours." Harry replied as he moved closer to Severus.
"Ha!" Severus barked with a smirk. "Did you lock the door?"
"Yes," Harry said, as he floated.
Suddenly a bang sounded from the door and Harry righted himself in the water as both men looked over.
"Out of order!" Harry yelled.
"Sun!" Dracka yelled back.
"No vampires allowed!" Harry called back as he moved over to Severus.
Severus grabbed him and pulled him close for a kiss as Harry settled on his lap. Severus's hands curled around his ass as they kissed and Harry tangled his hands in his hair. He tensed when Severus's fingers dipped lower and one moved further.
"No," Harry whispered in the man's ear before kissing his neck and Severus's hands moved back to his bum.
Harry pulled back and looked down at Severus but the man just gave him a smile before pulling him forward and twisting around so that Harry sat on the shelf and he stood between his legs. Harry looked up at the man in amusement.
"Yes?" Harry drawled and was pleased to see a shiver run down Severus's back. "Good to know Daniels won't be the only one seeing action tonight."
Severus huffed a laugh as he pushed Harry's legs further apart as he took him in a deep kiss.
"Did Albus give you the no more sex in the classroom talk?" Severus purred in his ear before taking the lobe into his mouth and sucking on it slightly.
"Yeah," Harry gasped. "And it came with the no dark magic on school grounds speech."
Severus chuckled as he pulled back and looked down at him as Harry let his head fall back on the edge of the tub as he slid forward on the bench slightly.
"He smirked the whole time and his blue eyes wouldn't stop twinkling," Harry said softly. "He only says it cos he has to by law. Oh god."
xXx
Cut scene.
xXx
"Okay?" Severus purred.
"Yeah," Harry replied and Severus moved to his side as he pulled his leg up slightly. "Couple more days and should be back to normal again. It's a pain in the ass until then."
Harry moved off the shelf and went for a lap around the huge tub.
"Why is this thing so large?" Harry called back to Severus.
"Roman times?" Severus replied. "How the hell should I know?"
Harry chuckled as he made his way back to Severus while the other man watched him. Harry tapped into his wizard magic and tapped the surface of the water and a rainbow of colours spread out from him and across the water like oil. Severus started at the use of magic and Harry grinned at him as he added a few bright blue fishes that would dart around and jump out of the water every now and again.
"You just can't leave it alone," Severus drawled and Harry smirked.
"Got to clean the water somehow," Harry replied as he splashed some water in Severus's direction. "There was no way I was getting in here after Mr Daniels had been in here without cleaning the water first."
Severus barked a laugh as Harry floated on his back as he moved back towards the other man. Severus's dark eyes watching him the whole time.
xXx
Harry looked up from his breakfast when Albus placed a file box in front of him a few weeks later. He paused with his fork raised halfway to his mouth as he looked at the Department of Mysteries tape around it as well and the 'Danger: Do not open' tape across the top of it and his name written in large letters.
"This arrived just before," Albus said with a stern look.
"Right," Harry said, drawing the word out. "I didn't request it."
Albus tapped the name on the box with a twinkle in his eyes.
"Your name on this box would suggest otherwise, Mr Sun." Albus replied with a smile.
"It would, wouldn't it." Harry muttered as he pulled out his phone. "You are game to touch that, Headmaster."
Albus snatched his hand back while Dracka snorted. Minerva looked over in interest as Harry pulled up a number in his phone and pressed it. He placed the phone on the table on speaker.
"Dogwood," A gruff voice answered.
"Hey boss," Harry said, with a smirk in Albus's direction. "What-"
"What the fuck do you want Sun!" The man cut across him and Minerva's lips tightened.
"You are on speaker phone, Dylan." Harry said quickly. "In the Great Hall at Hogwarts, I seem to have a box sitting on the table in front of me from the Department."
"Why am I on speaker phone?" Dylan asked.
"So, I have witnesses to your verbal abuse," Harry replied calmly. "Or to improve your language, pick one."
Harry could hear the man cover the phone and faint words before he spoke back into the phone again.
"If you would do your job, instead of playing Professor, Sun!" The man barked. "You wouldn't have that damn box."
"What is my job again, Dylan?" Harry asked in amusement.
"You know damn well!"
"So, this box?" Harry asked as he moved it closer to him and looked over the runes on the sides of it. "Why have you sent it here?"
"Wouldn't fit in your f-damn office," Dylan amended. "If you don't sort your office out I'm just going to start sending the boxes to Hogwarts-no, better yet, your house in London."
Harry groaned, "I'm still paying off that bill to the body corporate from the last time, Dylan."
"Not my problem," Dylan snapped.
"It is, if I send the bill to the Minister," Harry replied and pressed the speaker button as Dylan exploded and Harry winked at Severus as the man smirked at him.
"Sun!" Came through the phone faintly and Harry pressed the speaker button again.
"It's only near the start of the school year," Harry said mildly. "And Professor McGonagall is already looking like she's going to take points."
"You are not a student, Sun!" Dylan snapped. "You are barely a teacher!"
Dracka barked a laugh as a few students close by giggled.
"From his pay cheque, Mr Dogwood." Albus said with a smile. "I would have to agree with you."
Dylan barked a laugh.
"The minster was sniffing around down here the other day," Dylan said. "He was eyeing off your office. I'm thinking he wants to just seal it up and be done with it."
"Fine," Harry snapped. "I'll drop around next weekend and see what I can do."
"I'm not paying you penalty rates," Dylan snapped.
"On the house then," Harry replied as he pulled his dark wand and the teachers shifted nervously and Harry looked over at them with a frown. "But if you tell the Minister I'm there…"
"Deal," Dylan agreed quickly. "But you know he's a crafty old lion."
"Whoever did these runes, needs lessons." Harry replied, as he ran his wand over the box.
"I'll get them to contact you," Dylan growled. "I want you to get down here and do some fu-bloody work."
"Right," Harry replied, distractingly. "I'll look into that."
"Sun!" Dylan barked.
"Bye boss," Harry said sweetly.
"Sun-"
Harry pressed the button on the phone as the other's looked at him in amusement.
"Glad to see you treat all your bosses the same," Albus muttered with a twinkle in his eyes.
"Only the ones I like," Harry muttered, as he looked the box over.
"So," Dracka said as he leaned over and took a sniff of the box and Harry pointed his wand at the vampire casually. "What's in the box?"
"If you get any closer, Dracka." Harry warned, and the vampire flashed his fangs at him.
Harry pulled out a silver knife and Dracka reeled back with a hiss as Harry smirked at him. He placed the knife on the tape.
"Ah, Blake." Albus said, unsure. "Shouldn't you open that in your classroom? Or better yet outside the school wards?"
"Oops," Harry smirked as he cut through the tape. "Too late."
Harry flicked the lid off the box and peered inside with a grin.
"Hello you," Harry cooed and Severus sighed.
"Not a snake then," Severus muttered.
Harry glanced over at Severus with a grin before reaching in and pulling out a ball of fur. The thing was as big as his palm and seemed to have no legs, arms or head. Much like a pom-pom but with mass at the middle of it in a dark brown colour.
"Hey, Hagrid." Harry called down the table to the half giant. "These are right up your alley."
"Wha' do you have 'ere?" Hagrid asked as he got to his feet.
"Small little fur ball," Harry replied as he patted the dark brown fur of the little creature and looked back into the box. "And friends."
Dracka reached in and pulled out a brown fur ball and looked at it in interest. He tilted it a few different ways but it just sat there, or he assumed it was sitting there since he had no idea what way up it was supposed to be.
"Why would the Department send you these?" Dracka asked. "They look cute enough."
"Until they grow up," Harry said in amusement. "I'm sure they will feel at home in the Forbidden Forest, Albus?"
Hagrid had wandered down and reached a hand in and pulled out another black fur ball and was looking at it with a frown. The fur ball looked very small in his large hand.
Suddenly ten balls of fur flew out of the box and rolled along the table and onto the floor as the students started to take notice and the noise dimmed. They were brown, black or white or mixes of those three colours as more fur balls rolled from the box and the children laughed and picked the creatures up as the teachers looked at them nervously.
"Blake?" Albus asked as he moved towards him and looked into the box as more fur balls rolled out. "How many are there in there?"
"Ah," Harry replied and peered into the box. "I'm sure that every student should be able to have one."
Albus paled under his beard as he looked out, as the students started to pick up the fur balls and giggling started up around the hall. The fur balls suddenly stilled and Harry looked up in amusement as they all started to tumble towards the doors of the hall. Harry kept a hold of the one in his hands and it squeaked at him.
"No, stay here." Harry ordered and the animal quieted down as the others rolled out.
"That is creepy," Dracka muttered.
The animal in Harry's hand squeaked again and Harry stroked its back, well a part of it anyway.
"Is that all of them?" Harry asked the fur ball, as he held the last one. "No."
Harry peered into the box and let the one in his hand go as he reached into the box with two hands and pulled a small beast out. The thing squeaked at him and Dracka and Severus pushed their seats back quickly, the chair scraping across the stones. The beast could have been called a cat, if cats had floppy ears and very large claws and teeth. The cat had bright blue eyes as it blinked them open and yawned as Harry gently placed it on the table and it stretched his back.
The animal had a long coat of brown and white and two tails as it flicked its ears and sat looking at Harry. The wizard held out a hand and a ball of light magic pooled in his hand and the beast tilted its head transfixed.
"They grow into that?" Severus asked and he moved further away.
Harry snorted as the beast lunged for the ball of light magic and Harry snatched his hand back before the thing could take his fingers, leaving the ball behind as the beast grabbed it in its paws. Hagrid looked down at it with bright eyes, Harry was sure that it was love at first sight.
"This one's just a baby," Harry replied. "This is a Squirt."
The beast went to jump off the table and Harry quickly grabbed it by the scuff of the neck and it let out a loud yowl.
"Oh, shush." Harry snapped at it.
The beast swung its claws around as Harry held it tightly and the hall had gone silent. Harry gave it a shake and it settled down and glared at him with bright blue eyes.
"You will be allowed to live in the Forbidden Forrest," Harry said sternly. "You will be fair game for anything in there and anything except wizards, witches and members of this school will be off limits. Understand?"
The beast glared at him as it swung from his hand before looking away as more of the fur balls rolled back into the hall and the teachers eyed them off warily.
"Vampires are fair game," Harry said softly.
"Hey!" Dracka yelped.
Harry glanced over at the vampire and smirked.
"Agreed?" Harry asked the creature and held his other hand out towards it.
The beast swung a clawed paw out and it connected with Harry's hand as he wrapped his hand around the furred limb before releasing the creature. The thing landed on four feet and hissed at him before jumping from the table and onto the ground. It shook its coat out and letting the hair settle before glancing over at Harry before strutting between the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff table towards the front doors with its tails up in the air.
"Oi!" Harry yelled after the creature and it turned. "Any trouble and we'll be having words."
The beast snarled at him showing fangs before bounding from the room as the fur balls rolled after it.
"Well there you go Dracka, enjoy." Harry announced, turning to the vampire.
Dracka eyed him off, then the way the creatures had gone, then Harry again before his lips curled up in a smirk, showing off his fangs. Severus frowned as he looked at Harry.
"Blake?" Albus asked, looking at the man unsure.
"They will keep to the forest Headmaster," Harry replied. "Call it another layer of protection."
Dracka barked a laugh and leaned in close to Harry.
"Cunning bastard," Dracka whispered in his ear.
Harry barked a laugh as he looked over at the vampire.
"Knew there had to be a reason that Dogwood sent that box here," Harry said with a smirk. "Food chain and all of that. Severus, feel like a field trip to the Department?"
Severus glared over at him.
"No?" Harry asked in amusement.
"No," Severus repeated, as he retook his seat.
Harry grabbed up his coffee and looked around the hall and the teachers, everything silent, as they looked at him.
"What?" Harry asked mildly, as he took a sip of coffee.