Blake was having nightmares and it was concerning Severus. The man normally slept soundlessly but would wake at the slightest noise much like Severus himself but lately he'd been sleeping less and was restless when he did. Severus had found himself waking to find Blake sitting on the edge of the bed, working with his sword in the other room or just holding him as he shook.
He'd left sleeping potions and even a dreamless sleep on the man's bedside table but Blake hadn't taken them. Severus had just left them there, just in case he changed his mind. When he asked the man about the nightmares he would say he couldn't remember or say it was about the torture that he'd gone through but Severus wasn't so sure. His nightmares did flare up every now and again but not like this.
It was for that reason that Severus found himself in Blake's office, not that the man used it often. Preferring to use his dining table or work in his classroom but he did use it sometimes. Severus looked around the space, Blake kept his potion ingredients in a cabinet to his right and shelves of books to his left. This room was the only room that he kept locked but Severus and Dracka were keyed to the door as well as the Headmaster. He moved to the desk and took a seat, looking over the files on the table.
Mostly student files but there were a couple on Simpson and his movements and the murders. Blake's neat writing covering the reports. Severus flicked through them finding nothing out of the ordinary until he got to the file of the murdered village and the photos. He paused as he looked at the woman on the stone table and his stomach rolled at the image as it brought up memories of his time with Voldemort and what that man was capable of.
"Can I help you with something, Severus?"
Severus's head shot up to look at Blake. He didn't even hear the man come into the room and yet there he stood, leaning back against the door with his arms crossed and his cane hanging from his arm. The man looked at him with unreadable eyes as they looked him over.
Blake sighed and moved towards Severus. He hung his cane off the edge of the table as he limped slightly towards Severus and looked down at the file in his hands frowning. He leaned back on the table edge beside Severus and looked down at him.
"What are you looking for?" Blake asked softly.
"Your nightmares," Severus whispered.
"You think they are in those files?"
"Are they?"
Blake sighed and Severus could see how tired the man was.
"No," Blake said after a couple of minutes. "No, they are not."
Severus laid his hands on the other man's thighs making Blake look down at him. Tried green eyes locked onto his and suddenly the man's barriers around his mind were gone. Severus sucked in a breath as his eyes widened.
"Blake?" Severus questioned softly.
Blake gave him a soft smile but didn't bring his walls back up. Severus stood up and cupped the man's face. He could faintly hear the man's surface thoughts like whispers in his ears with no distinct words. He could easily push into the man's mind but he held back.
"If you're not going to look," Blake said softly, then gave him a lopsided grin. "I think a pen is sticking into my bum."
Severus barked a laugh and pulled the man forward by the hips and looked behind him before clearing off a part of the desk and placing Blake onto the surface. Blake grinned at him as Severus gave him a soft kiss and pulled back. He looked down at the man and smiled.
"Well?" Blake asked. "Mind full of hundreds of years of history here."
"With many holes," Severus muttered. "And forgotten things."
Blake barked a laugh then looked back at Severus with a soft smile.
"Show me one of the nightmares?" Severus whispered.
Severus looked into Blake's eyes.
Then suddenly he was falling and there was screaming and pain. He could feel a burning on his back and blood on his hands as he screamed. His veins full of fire and ice, he was so cold and hot at the same time and it made his head swim and all he could see was a dark mist. He felt dark power at his fingertips and running over his back.
"You will tell me, Mr Potter." A voice said beside him and he rolled his eyes slightly.
A man in a suit was crouched beside him, brown hair hanging slightly in front of his cold brown eyes as he looked down at him. A dark mist was coating the man's skin and Severus squinted his eyes in confusion. A lot of the man's features obscured by the dark mists covering his eyesight. Severus shook his head slightly but the mists remained.
"Come now, Mr Potter." The man said with a smirk.
The man looked up and suddenly hands were grabbing his arms and shoulders and pain burst through his body. Dark mists swirling around him as he was dragged through the hallways. Fire ran up and down his back as he shook in pain. They reached a large room with chains hanging from the ceiling.
He felt the men pull first one hand then the other up and lock his wrists into place with the handcuffs. He tried to get his feet under him but he just couldn't hold his own weight as the man in the suit moved into his line of sight, those cold eyes locked onto him.
"Shall we start again, Mr Potter?"
Severus screamed as the lashes fell on his back tearing it open.
Severus came back to himself panting, his eyes wide with his hands on either side of Blake as his stomach rolled and he wasn't sure if he was going to be sick or not. Blake didn't look much better.
"Oh, god." Severus whispered.
He laid his head on the man's shoulder as Blake wrapped his arms around him, his legs on either side of his body as Severus leaned into him.
"They are memories?" Severus whispered.
"Yes," Blake replied. "Are you okay?"
Severus huffed a mirthless laugh and pulled back to look into Blake's eyes. He cupped the man's cheeks, feeling the man's soft hair under his fingertips. Blake closed his eyes as Severus ran his hands through the man's short hair. He could feel the man relaxing under his touch.
"Come on," Severus said softly.
Blake frowned but followed Severus back to his rooms. Severus moved into the bedroom and slipped the man's jacket off his shoulders.
"Severus?" Blake asked softly.
"Take off your shirt." Severus replied, as he stripped down to his pants.
Blake frowned but complied. He reached for his belt when Severus placed a hand on his.
"On the bed," Severus gently ordered. "On your stomach."
Blake hesitated for a second, his eyes unsure. Severus just waved him to the bed.
"Severus?" Blake whispered. "What do you have planned?"
Severus grabbed the other man's hips, leaned down and kissed him before stepping him back towards the bed. Blake was tense under his hands and he lightly rubbed his thumbs over the man's bare skin. He walked him back until the man's legs hit the bed then released him. Blake's eyes were wide as he looked up at Severus and he felt his heart beat that little bit quicker as he gave the man a soft smile.
Blake returned the smile before sitting on the bed. He turned and crawled up the bed before sprawling out on his stomach. Severus could see the tension in the man's back and was a little unsure why. Severus moved onto the bed and saddled the man's waist. He noticed that Blake's hands were curled into fists above his head and that his head was slightly turned to the side as he watched him.
Severus reached over to his bedside table and pulled out a vial of lube. He poured a little into his hands and warmed it up before placing his hands on Blake's tense back. The muscles were as tight as ropes under his hands, the scaring plain to see and his gut clenched at the sight, knowing how it had felt as those scars were made. The phantom feeling of lines of fire on his own back.
He gently ran his hands up the man's back to his shoulders and worked on the tight muscles there. Carefully working out the knots he found as his hands worked down his back and then back up as Blake's hands slowly relaxed out of the tight fists they were curled into. He took his time to work every muscle as the man slowly relaxed under him. He leaned forward and kissed the man's left shoulder.
"Better?" Severus purred in the man's ear.
Blake gave a sharp nod but stayed silent as Severus sat back up.
"Lift your hips?" Severus said softly.
Blake tensed slightly but did as he asked and Severus quickly loosened the man's belt and slipped his pants down. Slipping each of his shoes off until he lay naked under him. Severus settled back, saddling the man's waist and worked the muscles in his back again until Blake relaxed under him.
He poured more lube on his hands and slid his hands down Blake's sides then over his hips as he moved further down the bed. Working the muscles in the man's thigh, Blake groaned when he worked on the tight muscles around his right leg and Severus took great care as he kneaded his fingers into the muscles. Still feeling the damage under the skin where he'd cut back and rebuilt the muscles. His actions giving Blake more movement and less pain and yet still not enough.
Blake panted but didn't say anything and Severus could feel himself hardening at the sounds but he ignored it. He moved down the man's legs before moving back up again. Working his fingers into the tight muscles of the man's hips especially his right hip. Before working up his back to his shoulders.
The man had finally relaxed, his breathing deepening. Severus stepped off the bed to strip down as Blake watched him with slitted green eyes. Blake went to move his legs as Severus moved back to the bed but he stopped him and saddled his waist.
"Severus?" Blake whispered.
"Sh," Severus replied, placing a hand on the man's back.
Blake was tense again and Severus sighed. He poured more lube on his hands and worked on the muscles until the man was boneless under him and had closed his eyes for the first time. He worked on the man's neck before moving back to his shoulders, gently easing off, so that his hands were just running over his skin softly.
Severus could feel the moment that the man fell asleep under him and laid his hands on the scaring, tracing his fingers along the overlapping lines. He'd felt those lashes on his back, the lines of fire as the whip hit again and again without mercy or pause. He'd felt the echo of the pain that Blake had felt as his back was torn open and he shivered slightly. He couldn't imagine having to endure that for days and weeks on end and he wasn't sure if that was the only kind of torture that Blake had endured while he'd been captured.
Blake moved under him slightly and Severus moved to lie beside him instead. Blake moved onto his side in his sleep, his hands near his head. Severus frowned and looked at the man's wrists, only just now noticing the very faint line around each one. He leaned over to have a closer look, running his fingers over the man's wrist and could feel the slight line of scaring under his fingertips. If he hadn't been looking for it, he probably wouldn't have seen them, and it sent a chill down his spine that he'd missed something like that for so long.
Severus lay back down on the bed and scooped up his wand from the side table and a blanket fell over the two, Blake jolted slightly at the use of magic but didn't wake. Severus rolled towards the man and tangled his legs with the other man as he placed his arm around his waist just listening to him breathing softly. Sleep didn't come easy for Severus that night but Blake slept all the way through.
xXx
Severus woke to the feeling of someone running a hand down his side and a mouth on his throat and he rolled slightly onto his back and peered up at Blake above him. The man grinned and slipped his hand lower as Severus rolled onto his back completely. The man had been on the phone when he'd gone to bed, his soft voice in the next room lulling him to sleep but going off the clock on his bedside table that had been a long time ago.
Blake saddled him before gently placing a knee between Severus's legs and nudging them apart as he kissed him deeply, his hands moving on Severus.
xXx
Cut scene, link can be found on my profile page.
xXx
Blake pulled back and moved to the side as he curled up into Severus's side and with a flick of his wrist cast the cleaning charm and Severus's eyes widened as he watched the magic swirling as the charm worked. He glanced around taking in the sight of the magic as it settled around them. Blake watched him in amusement as he curled into his side.
He reached out a hand and touched the magic he could see, it twirled around his fingers and brushed against his arm. Swirling through his fingers and felt slightly cool to his touch. He'd felt the magic before but with the boost of Blake's magic he could see it clearly around him.
"Grab it," Blake muttered into his chest.
Severus closed his hand on the magic and could feel something, no someone, at the other end. He focused on the magic more and suddenly he was surrounded by it, it felt familiar as it ran over his senses and he could feel a connection in the back of his mind.
Then he realised the connection was with Blake, a hint of amusement came down the link as he looked around in amazement, the room was covered in mists, some dark and others light as he took on more of what Blake saw. He knew instinctively that if he focused on a magical object he could see the spells worked into it as he lay there.
Blake nudged him slightly and he turned his eyes on him. His green eyes stood out as the man grinned at him.
"Follow the connection," Blake whispered, he wasn't sure if the man said it out loud or in his mind.
He closed his eyes and grabbed the connection he felt, it slipped from him a few times before Blake's presence pushed him slightly and he grabbed a hold of it. He followed it back to the source feeling Blake around him. Until he stood looking at the man's core, a twirling ball of magic before him. It was like looking at oil on water as the power shimmered every colour of the rainbow, with dark and light mists swirling together around and through it.
Blake nudged him and Severus reached out and touched one of the strands of light magic. He could feel life in that strand, of things he could create and he quickly let go of it. He hesitated to touch the dark strand and this time Blake didn't nudge him but he could feel the man waiting.
He reached out hesitantly and touched the dark strand and felt a cool breeze run down his back. It felt familiar, like an ex-lover, as it danced down his spine. He'd held this power before, he realised with shock and it came easily into his hand unlike the light power that seemed to turn away from him.
Blake gave him a hard nudge and Severus let go of the power with a gasp. Blake wrapped around him and was pulling him back to the surface of the connection and then Severus could only feel himself and Blake was just a thin connection at the edge of his mind. Blake nudged him but it was more an echo and Severus realised that he was in his own mind. Which just felt surreal to him.
Blake gave him another push and Severus could tell the man was frustrated at something, like he was being held back. Severus started and lowered the barriers around his mind in understanding. Blake's presence grew stronger and he was pushing him forward until Severus was looking at his own core of magic, the rainbows paler than Blake's but still there as it moved around him and the dark mists only small strands as they drifted around lazily.
He reached out and the power flowed to him easily as he cupped the dark power, he could feel Blake stepping back. The man was unsure and slightly nervous and Severus didn't understand why.
"Shit!"
Severus startled at the sudden noise and the connection broke around him. Blake was out of bed with a slight burn mark on his chest.
"Sorry," Blake said quickly. "Should have warned you."
Severus quickly slid out of bed in concern, the burn mark was only small but was already puffing up.
"Did I do that?" Severus asked.
"Um," Blake said, as he reached into the drawer of the bedside table. "Yeah, I forgot to warn you, don't worry I don't think it was enough for the Headmaster to notice."
He pulled out a jar of healing balm which Severus took from his hand and worked the balm into the small burn. Severus chuckled suddenly, startling the other man.
"What?" Blake asked.
"Does sex always come with lessons with you?" Severus purred.
Blake grinned back and wrapped his arms around the taller man.
"Hey," Blake smirked. "At least I make my lessons fun, unlike some teachers I know."
Severus laughed as he tumbled the man back onto the bed.
xXx
"We've had no luck in finding him," Dracka said softly as he looked at the files on the table.
"I'm not surprised," Harry replied. "He would have gone to ground quickly after the ritual. His dark power will make it harder for him to hide like before but he has shown he is very good at hiding."
Harry sighed as they looked over the reports.
"We have the numbers of his supporters from when we raided his compound," Harry remarked. "Not to mention a long list of safe houses and other places and agreements he has. One down side to those files is my own stupidity could have compromised them."
"Couldn't have been helped, Blake." Dracka told the man.
"Over confidence is the failing of many leaders," Harry said softly and moved a couple of the files around. "We have to be careful now that he doesn't use the information we gathered from his office against us. Due to us taking the horcrux he will know that we were in his office.
"Another thing that couldn't be helped," Dracka pointed.
"Yes, yes." Harry snapped. "I'm well aware of that."
Harry was frustrated and he sighed.
"Sorry," Harry said softly. "How is the Headmaster going with the Dark Lord?"
Dracka grinned.
"The man has been quiet so far," Dracka replied. "But is gathering support again."
"So," Harry said looking at the other man. "You think he won't make any great moves until he tries to takes the school?"
"It looks that way," Dracka replied then frowned. "Why is he so focused on something that really has no value?"
"I think it's a pride thing," Harry replied as he sat back in his seat. "A half-blood wanting to be recognised as a pure blood due to his connection to Salazar Slytherin. A man, I might add, that has been dead for over a thousand years."
"Blood can be very important," Dracka remarked as he flashed his fangs at Harry.
Harry looked away.
"Blake?" Dracka asked softly, since looking away was unlike him.
"Magic," Harry said softly, as he looked at the table. "Is so much like blood. It has a different flavour but boils down to the same thing in the end."
Harry looked up to see that he had shocked the vampire and gave him a grin, showing off his own teeth to the man and Dracka snorted.
"They are both something that someone would fight for," Harry said to the other man. "And die for and you Rolf Dracka can take both away from someone."
Dracka shivered and Harry gave him a lopsided grin.
"You would make a good vampire," Dracka whispered.
Harry barked a laugh and gave the vampire a wink.
"I've been told that before," Harry said with a smirk. "Now, have you been able to find out if we have gotten all the horcruxes?"
Dracka eyed off him off for a few minutes before letting the conversation change.
"Just the snake and Harry Potter," Dracka replied.
Harry stilled.
"Harry Potter," Harry whispered.
"We have a plan in place, Blake." Dracka said softly and grabbed his hand.
Harry nodded stiffly, he was too close. This was something that he would have to have faith in the other two men for. Since his own feelings for his son would get in the way. It tore at him but he knew he had no other choice in the matter. He ran a hand over his head, feeling the tension in his shoulders.
"Blake," Dracka said softly.
Harry looked up at him, locking eyes with a vampire.
"We'll look after him," Dracka said softly. "You have to trust us. You know what needs to happen."
Harry's eyes bore into the vampire's but Dracka did not look away or flinch.
"I'm guessing," Dracka said softly. "That my life would be forfeit if the boy dies."
Harry looked away.
"I don't know what I would do," Harry admitted softly. "I can't blame you if your plan goes wrong, unless you haven't thought of everything."
"I could just hide behind Severus," Dracka smirked. "And hope for the best."
Harry snorted and looked back at the vampire steadily.
"I suppose an eye for an eye," Harry said softly.
Dracka flinched back at those words.
"Jesus, Blake!" Dracka cursed. "My brother was a clean kill."
Harry looked away but his eyes snapped back when Dracka growled at him and his eyes locked on the vampire's red ones.
"It still hurts," Dracka said softly as his eyes bleed back to black. "But, no one could say it wasn't a clean kill. I was there, I saw him jump on you after killing your team. If you think I would take your son away because of that!"
Harry flinched back as Dracka glared at him. The vampire's chair crashed to the floor as he stood suddenly as anger flooded through him. The fight went out of Dracka as he looked down at Harry and he knelt down in front of the seated man.
"He is your own blood," Dracka whispered. "Your own magic and you have raised him from a child. Something you didn't have to do."
"And I am trusting him to you and Severus," Harry said softly. "All I want to do is protect him. I wasn't there for him as much as I should have been. I couldn't remember as much as I should have and he was hurt by that. Now, I have to trust him to you...Your own brother's blood is on my hands, Dracka."
Harry held his hands out and Dracka took them in his own, his skin slightly cooler than his own.
"And you trust his life to a man you love," Dracka said softly. "A man who you trust completely."
Harry nodded, unable to find the words he needed.
"Trust us," Dracka said softly as he held his hands.
Harry looked at their joined hands and nodded.
"Don't make me have to bury another child," Harry said softly into the silence.
"We'll do everything we can," Dracka replied.
It was a soldier's promise, something Harry knew well. There would be deaths, he just hopped that they weren't friends, family or lovers.
xXx
"So," Harry started as he looked over at Severus getting dressed for breakfast from his place in their bed. "The goblins want me to see if Bill Weasley is ready for the title of Master Curse Breaker."
Severus looked over at him as he tightened his belt.
"What does that entail exactly?" Severus asked.
"Well," Harry replied. "That depends on the person and their level of skill or power or both really."
"Yes," Severus drawled. "That cleared that up nicely."
Harry barked a laugh as he pulled himself out of the bed and moved over to the other man and was pleased to see the way Severus's eyes roamed over him before he snagged up his dress shirt.
"It's not like when you did your apprenticeship," Harry replied as he pulled out a pair of jeans. "Some curse breakers don't even make it to the master level. That's why we are in such demand. The goblins want Bill to get the title so they don't have to keep calling me."
"And sending you all over the world," Severus muttered.
Harry gave the man an amused glance as he finished dressing.
"You knew that before we started a relationship, Severus." Harry replied mildly. "You know I always come back."
"In roughly the same shape," Severus remarked and Harry let that slide as they finished dressing.
The two men moved into the hallway to the sound of yelling. Severus and Harry picked up their speed to see two young students having a fist fight in the hallway before the Great Hall. Severus pulled his wand but Harry grabbed his wrist as Dracka appeared and grabbed the uniform of one of the boys and hauled him off the other one with a growl in his throat.
The other boy jumped to his feet, his face red before he saw the vampire and paled as he backed away. Dracka dropped the boy he held and the student crashed to the ground in a tangle of limbs. Harry let Severus go and the man stalked forward.
"And what, pray tell, would this be about?" Severus asked silkily as Dracka stood between the two students, his eyes red and his fangs barred.
"He stole something from Mr Sun's desk," The third year Slytherin named, Sam Carlson, shouted.
Severus glanced over at Harry and he just shrugged his shoulders. He had no idea what the boy was talking about. The child wasn't even one of his students.
"I did not!" The second year Gryffindor, Callum Genger, yelled back.
Genger stepped forward towards the other boy and Dracka growled, blocking him and the boy paled. Professor McGonagall walked out of the Great Hall and paused as she looked over the scene. She stood up straighter and pushed her glasses up her nose with one finger as she looked over everyone in the hallway as students lined the walls and the doors to the Great Hall whispering.
"Enough," Severus hissed and silence descended.
Harry shared a look with Dracka, that one word from Severus could silence a hallway where a vampire couldn't. Harry limped towards Severus to stand at his shoulder as he looked between the two students.
"What is it, that you believe, that Mr Genger stole from my desk?" Harry asked into the silence.
"That snake of yours," Sam replied as he glared over at Callum.
"What snake?" Harry asked, puzzled.
"I didn't steal anything!" Callum defended.
"Hand it here," Severus hissed as held his hand out.
Callum stiffened and his eyes darted around, making Harry frown as he stepped in front of Severus.
"Show me," Harry said gently as he leaned into his cane.
Callum slowly reached into his pocket and pulled out something silver and held it out in his palm and Harry paled as he looked at it. Dracka growled and moved closer but Harry held up his hand.
"He did not take that from me," Harry said softly.
Callum Genger closed his hand over the silver snake and slipped it back into his pocket. Harry turned to the other boy.
"Did you see Mr Genger take it?" Harry asked, steel in his voice.
"No, sir." Sam said softly and shifted slightly. "But it is yours and you had it on your desk."
"And yet, Mr Sun has stated he did not take it," Severus added silkily. "Follow me Mr Carlson and we will have a little chat about this matter."
Sam Carlson paled and looked down at his feet.
"Yes, sir." Sam said softly.
Severus turned on his heels and stalked off with Sam following behind him, in no doubt that the child would follow him.
"Mr Genger please follow me," Minerva said softly and Callum hung his head as he followed after his Head of House.
Dracka looked around the hallway, his eyes still red and he flashed his fangs at the children which had them moving. Harry looked over at the man in amusement.
"Remind you of fledglings?" Harry asked.
"If they were fledglings," Dracka replied mildly. "I would have waited a little while before stepping in. It's not a good fight until there's blood on the floor."
Harry barked a laugh then an idea came to mind and Dracka pulled back from him.
"Have you had a class on vampires, yet?" Harry asked mildly and Dracka groaned.
"One that I wish not to repeat," Dracka replied. "Idiots the lot of them."
"I wonder if the Headmaster would allow a demonstration," Harry remarked with a smirk.
Dracka groaned before giving him a once over.
"What did the boy have?" Dracka asked.
"The token I gave the crows," Harry said softly and watched the blood drain from Dracka's face as he swore in French. "I wonder why they give him that."
"You know what he will become," Dracka said softly and Harry sighed as he ran a hand over his head.
"Yes," Harry confirmed. "I would be blind not to see what that boy will become."
"What are you going to do about it?" Dracka asked in interest as he moved closer.
"I already offered him to take my classes," Harry replied with a sigh. "He hasn't given me an answer yet."
Both men looked over when Albus Dumbledore made his way down the hallway towards the Great Hall, the man paused when he saw them and Harry gave the man a big grin.
"Albus," Harry greeted cheerfully.
Albus groaned at the look on Harry's face.
"Don't tell me that the Department of Mysteries have sent you another box," Albus said softly as he moved towards the other two men.
"Not that I am aware of," Harry replied as his smile widened. "I have something better in mind."
xXx
"Mr Sun?" A soft voice said quietly from his office door and Harry looked up to see Callum Genger standing there nervously.
"Come in, Mr Genger." Harry said with a smile as he looked up from the file before him. "How can I help you?"
Callum came into the room, leaving the door open and stood in front of his desk. The boy looked around before pulling the silver snake out of his pocket and placing it on his desk. Harry could see the boy did it reluctantly as he held his hands nervously in front of him.
"Professor McGonagall said I should give this back to you," Callum said softly.
Harry looked the boy over, he was small for his age and normally would just disappear amongst the students. There was nothing to make him stand out and from what his teachers had told Harry his work was very much the same. Passing but didn't show any real talent in any one subject.
"It is yours, Mr Genger." Harry said softly. "They gave it to you for a reason."
The boy started and looked around even more nervous as he glanced behind him at the open door. Almost to reassure himself that he wasn't trapped in the room.
"Who, sir?" Callum asked in a small voice.
Harry leaned forward and touched the silver and it slowly morphed under his fingers into the shape of the crow with beady black eyes. Callum gasped as he looked at the silver figurine and Harry pulled back in his seat. The boy picked it up and looked it over in fascination.
"How did you do that?" Callum asked softly.
"If you take my classes next year," Harry replied softly. "I can show you."
Callum looked down at the little silver crow before looking back up at Harry. He tucked a piece of loose brown hair behind his ear as his blue eyes looked Harry over.
"Do you need my parents' permission?" Callum asked softly.
"No," Harry answered with a frown. "But they will be informed that you would be taking extra classes."
Callum nodded and his eyes strayed back to the silver crow in his hand.
"Yes, thank you." Callum said softly before looking up at Harry with a slight glint in his eyes.
"Any other questions?" Harry asked.
Callum slipped the crow away into his pocket and looked over at Harry, his eyes catching on the thin scars on his arms.
"No, sir." Callum replied.
"Well off you go," Harry said with a smile. "We can work out class times when you start next year."
Callum nodded and moved out of the room with Harry looking at the open doorway with a frown between his brows. The crows had taken an interest in the boy with piped Harry's interest. He tapped the table with his pen a couple of times before going back to his work.
xXx
Severus frowned when he moved out into the hallway to see students milling around and he looked over the mostly Slytherin students with slight puzzlement. It was close to dinner time and most of the students were normally seated by now. The Slytherins noticed him and stepped to the side as he moved down the corridor and towards the Great Hall.
He was surprised to see the doors closed and more students of all houses waiting to go in. Minerva stood to the side of the doors and gave him a frown as he moved towards her.
"Do you know what's going on?" Minerva asked as she glanced around.
"How would I know?" Severus asked
"It was Mr Sun that closed and locked the doors," Minerva said sternly and Severus pulled back. "Ah, you can't leave now Severus."
A few students snickered around them as Severus gave the woman a smirk.
"There is always an escape route," Severus replied mildly.
"No there isn't," Dracka announced as he moved towards them with a big smile and a glint in his dark eyes.
Severus pulled himself up to his full height as he looked down his nose at the vampire which just made the man widen his smile, showing off his fangs.
"And why would you say that, Mr Dracka?" Minerva asked.
"Because," Dracka replied, drawing out the word. "Tonight, I am not the only vampire here."
The students around them went quiet before the hissing of whispers started up. They all looked over as the doors to the Great Hall opened and they glanced into the room. Severus frowned when he noticed that all the tables had been pushed to the sides of the room with a large space in the middle.
"Welcome everyone," Albus said with a smile as he moved out of the Great Hall. "Tonight, is going to be a little different. You will not have to sit at your assigned tables, so please come in and take a seat anywhere you wish."
The students flowed into the hall whispering between each other as Albus looked around with a twinkle in his eyes.
"What is this Albus?" Minerva hissed at the older man.
"Mr Sun and Mr Dracka have decided to put on a class tonight," Albus said with a smile and Severus groaned.
"Do I need to get the first aid kit?" Severus asked.
"No need," Sergeant Miller said as he moved into the hall with his team at his back. "I brought a medic."
Severus groaned again and looked around.
"Do I even want to know where Blake is?" Severus asked.
Dracka gave him a leer before moving off into the Hall. Miller just patted his shoulder as he moved passed with his team at his back. Severus looked back to Albus but the man was no help as he just smiled at him, his eyes twinkling behind his half-moon glasses. Before linking his arm with Minerva and moving into the hall. Severus looked around at the empty hallway before with a sigh moved into the Great Hall.
Severus looked around at all the tables pushed to the side of the room and the students scattered around. There were more tables than students as his eye caught on Miller and his team, looking casual in jeans and shirts, instead of uniforms. He frowned when he noticed Bill Weasley, Remus lupin and Sirius Black as well as a few other Order members and some other people he didn't know and which he assumed were from the Auror and Department of Mysteries.
In the middle of the hall there was a large black circle and he followed it around until he spotted Blake sitting next to Ry with a guitar in his hands and his frown deepened. He moved up to the Head Table but his eyes watched Blake and Ry talking quietly with Ry's friends around him. There was a skin drum on the ground beside Ry as Severus took a seat next to Dracka.
"Just a minute of your time before dinner is served." Albus called out, his voice carrying around the hall. "Mr Sun and Professor Dracka have decided to put on a lesson for you tonight. You would have noticed the black circle on the ground, if all students could stay out of that circle unless they are bid to enter it."
Dracka got to his feet and the noise in the hall dropped.
"Mr Sun and myself thought it would be a good idea to give you a taste of what it's like in a Coven," Dracka said softly, his slight French accent a little stronger than normal as he looked around.
Whispers started up around the hall and more than a few glances were being thrown in Miller and the adults' direction and Severus frowned.
"Blake?" Dracka asked, looking over at the man.
Blake picked up the guitar and picked out a few notes before moving into a song as Ry picked up the drum and picked up the beat. Severus watched the two and he was sure that they had done this more than a few times and was surprised that he had never heard them play. He knew Blake had a guitar, of course, but he'd never seen the man pick it up.
Food appeared on the table as a man and a woman moved into the hall and the breath caught in Severus's throat. The two people moved as one as the woman's dress sparkled under the soft light and the music rolled over them. The man wore a suit and both weren't wearing shoes as they moved into the middle of the room. The woman smiled as she looked around the hall, her long black hair pulled back into a bun at the back of her head as the man glanced around in interest as the two fell into a stance and waited.
Blake changed the song slightly and then the two were moving. They hall went quiet as the two people danced, twisting and turning and moving as one. Not missing a step as they danced together and this wasn't what Severus was expecting. He glanced over at Dracka to see a soft smile on the man's face as he watched the two.
He looked back to see the woman twisting around the man before he threw her slightly into the air before catching her again as they twirled around. The beat of the drum drawing you in as the haunting sounds of the guitar as Blake plucked out each note as the two people danced perfectly together. The two came to an end of their dance and gave a bow as the hall erupted in clapping. The two people moved to the table where Miller was seated and took a seat as they piled up their plates as they smiled and spoke to the people around them.
Blake changed the song he was playing and Ry stopped the drum and Severus's eyes was drawn back to the door as a man walked in and he started as he recognised Liam as the man moved forward alone to stand in the middle of the hall and took a bow. Another man came in with a box and set it down to the side of the circle and opened it up. Severus looked Liam over, the vampire had the slim build of an athlete as he stood there, completely relaxed as he looked around.
"You'll like this one," Dracka muttered and gave him a wink.
Severus tensed at those words and looked back to see the man with the box, pull out a coloured ball and throw it to Liam. The man caught it easily and threw it up in the air with one hand as the man threw another ball. Very soon Liam had at least ten balls in the air as he juggled them with skill. Gasping from the students had Severus smirking as the man tossed a couple of balls back to the other man and they moved the small balls back and forth between them until the other man held all the balls again and would toss one in the box ever now and again as he juggled them until there were none left. He moved to the side and closed the box before sitting down on the lid.
Liam gave a grin before he held his arms up and Blake strummed away on his guitar as Ry picked up a beat with his drum. Then Liam was tipping over backwards before flicking his feet over his head as he tumbled back in a perfect flip. Severus breath caught as the man tumbled and twirled across the floor and he was amazed at the skill as the man moved so easily. Flipping and rolling as the students gapped.
"Used to work in the circus," Dracka said softly.
"Before or after he was turned?" Severus asked and Minerva looked over in interest.
"Before and after," Dracka replied. "About all we know about him."
Their attention was drawn back as Liam gave a bit of a run and a jump before flipping across the floor and into a twist at the end and landing perfectly on his feet and gave a bow. The students clapped loudly as Liam gave another big bow before moving over to the man and woman from before. The man flashed his fangs at the young man and Liam give a big grin as he ducked his head.
Dracka snorted at them and gave Severus a grin which turned into a leer.
"He's not just good at Gymnastics," Dracka purred with a wink. "He has many skills."
"Mr Dracka!" Minerva admonished.
Dracka just sat back in his seat and gave the woman a leer and Minerva blushed.
"I'm a vampire, my dear." Dracka said with a smirk. "Blood isn't the only thing we hunt for."
Minerva blushed even deeper as Severus snorted.
Severus looked over when Blake stopped playing and a young girl walked in, she was one of his snakes and he frowned as the girl moved into the middle of the circle with a case and placed it on the ground before taking out a silver flute. She stood up and placed the flute to her lips as she started playing. For a fourth year, the girl had real skill as she played and the students watched her as the music filled the Hall.
"Is this normal?" Minerva asked softly to Dracka.
"Every night," Dracka replied. "Keeps ties strong in a Coven. Helps settle disputes as well. When you live as long as us, you pick up talents along the way. Helps the children show off what they had learnt as well."
Severus started at those words and glanced over at the vampire and he could see a light in the man's eyes as he looked around the hall. He felt a little bad that he hadn't asked or wondered if Dracka missed his home while he was here.
The fourth year Slytherin finished up and another student moved forward with a violin and the haunting sound filled the hall. He glanced over to Blake to see the man talking quietly to Ry and the boy was blushing and he wondered why.
"Probably trying to get him to sing," Dracka said, looking over at the two. "I don't think he'll have much luck. I was trying to get him to spar."
"Blake didn't want to spar?" Severus asked with a frown.
"No," Dracka replied with a frown.
The noise in the hall dimmed as Blake and Ry got to their feet and moved into the circle and Ry placed his wand to the line and it flared up behind them. Severus's eyes looked over his lover as he limped without his cane as the two Potters moved into the middle of the circle. They both pulled their wands before Ry gave him father a big grin. They turned and walked a few paces away from each other as the whispers increased.
"Looks like he got a better offer," Severus drawled as he sat back in his seat.
Dracka flashed his fangs at the other man before focusing back on Ry and Blake. Blake gave his son a mocking bow and Ry followed suit before falling into stance. Blake just looked at his son mildly, standing calmly with his hand in his pocket and Severus frowned.
"He shouldn't give Blake time to think," Dracka muttered.
"He isn't," Minerva replied and pointed to the box that had been left to the side of the circle.
The lid on the box suddenly banged open and a large blue cat lunged out towards Blake. The man yelped and stumbled back a step as he brought up a shield as Ry moved quickly to the side and threw a spell at his father. Blake ducked quickly as he used the shield to push the cat to the side as he skipped to the side as Ry sent another spell hurling at him.
Blake called a lash of fire to his hand and twirled it around and Ry retreated with a shield in front of him. Severus could tell that the two Potters had done this many times before as Blake finally caged the large cat in a wire cage as both Ry and Blake eyed each other off. Ry grinned and pulled a glass sphere out of his pocket and Severus could hear Blake groan from his seat.
"Stop stealing things from my rooms," Blake snapped at the boy and Ry's grin widened.
A few students laughed before Blake pulled something from his pocket and threw little glass beads across the ground as Ry tossed the glass ball up into the air. Both Blake and Ry threw spells at each other and were moving as the glass balls morphed into little glass mice and they went scattering across the floor as the glass ball arched up then down. Blake yelped and ducked down to the floor as one of Ry's spells came close and Severus smirked. The boy knew his father's tricks well.
Then the glass ball smashed on the floor and dark mists rolled out as flashes of lights sparked in the dome of the protection circle.
"Oi!" Ry yelped from somewhere in the mists and Severus smirk widened.
"Which one is the biggest child?" Albus asked with a twinkle in his eyes.
"Blake," Severus and Dracka replied at the same time.
The coloured lights faded, leaving only the dark mists swirling around before they started to fad as well. Severus frowned when he could only see one shape to the side of the dome with his back to the protection ward and his wand out. Ry was nowhere to be seen as the mists cleared and whispering started up as Blake's eyes darted around before focusing on something and sending a spell that way. The spell just crashed into the protection circle flaring it briefly before a spell came out of nowhere and Blake brought up a shield.
"Ha, he's wearing his father's cloak," Severus muttered.
Another spell crashed into Blake's shield and the man held his wand in both hands as Ry poured on the magic. Blake moved to one knee and placed his hand flat on the ground and the spell cut off, Ry well aware that his father was up to something. Blake grinned as he stayed where he was until something silver flashed out and Blake rolled to the side as a small silver ball smashed into his shield dropping it.
Blake quickly pulled a piece of chalk from his pocket as he righted himself and went to jump to his feet but something tangled around his leg and he crashed to the floor with a yelp and Severus winched as Blake threw a spell over his shoulder as he pulled his silver knife and cut through the rope around his leg, just for another to wrap around his other leg.
"Okay," Blake called out. "Yield."
Ry pushed his cloak back, reappearing with a wide grin on his face as he looked over at his father and stopped the rope spell. Ry moved over and held his hand out to Blake and he took his son's hand as clapping started up around the hall. Severus's sharp eyes picked out Blake's heavier limp as the two Potters moved towards the protection circle and Ry dropped it as they moved back to their table. Blake sent a first year off to clear away any of the glass mice and other things from the floor. The small boy ran back to his table and the other students oh and ah over the small frozen animals.
"He's getting very skilled," Albus said softly. "He'll probably move through the ranks when he gets into the Auror program."
"With Blake training him," Minerva replied. "I'm not surprised."
"Hey," Dracka muttered. "He's not the only one training him."
Severus looked back to see Miller and one of his team, Robbie moving forward into the circle and falling into a stance. He looked around the hall to see all the students eating, watching or talking as they focused on Miller and Robbie as they started a bout of hand to hand. He noticed that the floor had a bit of give to it and looked over to see Blake putting his wand away and knew he was the one to cast the spell.
He watched the two men in interest as the noise of the hall washed over him. They hadn't done this before in the hall and as he looked around he found himself smiling slightly. He caught Blake's eye and the man gave him a grin as Miller and Robbie moved back to their seats and two more of Dracka's men moved forward for a bout.
Dracka suddenly yelled out something in French and the two men glanced over at him before one yelled something else back and Dracka barked a laugh before waving his hand. Dracka glanced over at Severus and the man saw a glint in his eye.
"What did you say?" Minerva asked.
"Something that would have lost me points," Dracka replied with a sly grin.
Severus snorted at the look on Minerva's face as he leaned back in his chair and took in the show. Once the men finished, a young girl of about ten walked out onto the floor and one of fighters knelt down as she came closer and clapped a hand to her shoulder before standing and stepping back.
"His daughter," Dracka said softly and Severus looked the pair over. "Lovely voice as you will hear."
Blake scooped up the guitar and started up a song that Severus didn't know and the small girl started singing in French. Severus was captivated as the young girl sang and he could see he wasn't alone. The girl finished up and took a bow and the hall erupted into cheers as the girl took the man's hand. The man looked down and gave his daughter a smile before they moved over to one of the tables.
"She's a werewolf," Dracka said softly and Severus started.
"And her father?" Minerva asked in interest.
"Human," Dracka replied. "They live in the village around my Coven."
"And the man he was fighting?" Severus questioned.
"My cousin," Dracka replied with a grin.
"Vampire?" Minerva asked.
"Born vampire," Dracka replied as he looked around the hall. "Elder vampire."
Severus looked over at the other man and Dracka flashed his fangs at the man. Blake got to his feet with the help of his cane and moved into the middle of the room and the noise started to hush.
"Entertained?" Blake asked as he looked around. "I hope this has given you an insight into a different culture. This is a every night entertainment in a Coven for both the people that live there as well as the village. Dracka?"
Dracka moved from the Head Table to stand next to Blake and glanced around.
"Much like the lessons here," Dracka said softly. "We perfect the skills we have and reinforced what binds us together. Regardless of Blood or magic."
The hall had gone quiet at the vampire's words.
"But never forget that a vampire is a dark creature," Blake said softly, his voice carrying. "But they are also people. Professor Dracka has been teaching here for almost a year and even if he has threatened to drain a few of you. You are all still alive."
"And have less fear of me than Professor Snape," Dracka remarked with a grin in Severus's direction
Blake bumped his shoulder into Dracka's shoulder and the man looked down at him with a grin as Severus glared at the two of them.
"Now," Blake called. "Who can pick out the vampires?"
Severus sat back in his seat as he looked out over the hall as the students called out and Blake and Dracka stood shoulder to shoulder as the lesson progressed. A lesson to the whole of the school, something Severus had never seen before.
xXx
Severus started from his sleep and glanced around, unsure what had woken him as he looked over to the clock on the bedside table. He ran his hand down Blake's side, feeling the slight indents of the scars down his back. He traced his fingers over the scars as he moved his hand down Blake's back to his hip. He let his hand rest there as he ran his thumb over the other man's skin. He could see Blake's short dark hair from the soft light in the room and moved his hand to run through it.
"Right there?" Blake asked softly.
"Yes," Severus replied and kissed the man's shoulder.
"Hmm," Blake replied as Severus kissed his shoulder again as he ran his hand down his side.
"You put on a good show last night," Severus purred as he grabbed the man's hip and kissed down his back.
"Getting my ass kicked by my son?" Blake asked in amusement as he moved to lay on his back. "The bugger knows all my tricks, we agreed that I could only use wizard magic and couldn't call my sword."
Severus chuckled as he ran his hand down Blake's chest and letting it rest on the man's stomach, his fingers idly tracing a scar there.
"He's improved since his first duel in his second year," Severus muttered. "No snakes this time."
"I would hope that he's improved since then," Blake said softly and they both fell into silence.
They both knew what the boy would have to face and they were both afraid of whether he would survive. About whether they would all survive and a chill went through Severus at the thought, knowing Blake was the only one that had any protection.
"Your connection with Ry is strong," Severus said softly.
"We are the same person," Blake said softly as he turned to him and let his hand rest on his side.
"No," Severus disagreed as he looked into Blake's eyes. "You were both born the same person but you are not the same person now."
Blake's eyes darted between his own and Severus gave him a soft smile before cupping his face and pulling him forward for a kiss. Taking his time to taste the man as his hands ran into his hair, feeling the soft strands under his palms. Severus pulled back and looked into Blake's eyes. So much like Lily Potter's and yet not. There was an age to the man's eyes as Blake gave him a smile and he felt a tightness in his chest at the look.
He ran thumb over the man's cheek as he looked at him and Blake frowned.
"Something wrong?" Blake asked.
"No," Severus replied softly. "Not at all."
Blake pushed back the covers before giving Severus a slight push and he moved onto his back as Blake saddled his waist before leaning forward and kissing him deeply as he ran a hand down his side. Blake pulled back and looked down at him as his hand rested on his hip and slightly curled around his bum.
"Love you," Blake said softly as he looked down at him.
"Are we getting sappy?" Severus asked in amusement.
"Only if you want to, love?" Blake replied with a sly grin.
Severus grabbed the man by the hips and rolled them as Blake gave a laugh. Severus attacked his neck as he grabbed him and gave him a pull and Blake moaned softly. Severus pulled back with a grin.
"Love you," Severus purred and was satisfied to see Blake shiver as his eyes darkened. "Even if you are a Potter."
"Ha," Blake barked with a grin. "I think you are getting used to that. You knew the minute you saw me that I was a Potter."
"And you tried to hide behind the Sun name," Severus smirked.
Blake rubbed his hand over his head.
"Can only try so hard to hide the Potter hair," Blake said with a lopsided grin. "Can't do much else for the Potter features either. You can always pick out a Potter in a crowd. Much like a Weasley."
Severus gave the man a soft smile as he looked down at him sprawled out under him. Despite his words, Severus knew that the other man didn't hide who he was and he was sure he wouldn't care if the truth came out tomorrow, the only thing that he was concerned about was Voldemort learning the truth. That the man would learn that the prophecy could talk about two people marked by the Dark Lord and not one.
"You wouldn't care, would you?" Severus asked softly.
"About what?" Blake asked with a frown.
"Everyone knowing the truth," Severus whispered.
"About what?" Blake repeated. "There are a lot of truths I could tell people that would have them in an uproar."
Severus quirked a smile as he looked down at the other man.
"As you grow older," Blake said softly. "You learn there is a time and a place for everything and saying or doing the right thing at the wrong time can fuck things up."
"Are you talking from the future point of view?" Severus asked in interest.
"No," Blake replied with a twisted smile. "That is a whole other type of torture."
Severus started at that as he looked down at the man below him, is that what the man really thought? Reliving his past as a torture?
"A self-induced curse," Blake muttered with a faraway look in his eyes. "Much like the Deathly Hallows. Except one thing."
"And what would that be?" Severus whispered.
Blake reached up and pulled him down and kissed him as Severus moved to lay between the man's legs. He ran a hand down the man's side as he deepened the kiss before pulling back slightly.
"I have you," Blake whispered in his ear and Severus shivered. "And so much more that I didn't realise I was missing."
xXx
Severus moved into Blake's rooms after dinner to see the man sprawled out across his lounge, snoring softly. Blake had left early that morning to assess Bill Weasley and this was the first time all day that Severus had seen him. The man lay on his side with his arm dangling over the side of the bed as he snored softly. Dead to the world.
He smiled at the sight, the man didn't normally sleep deeply and even if the nightmares had started to ease off, he still hadn't been sleeping well. He crouched down before him and reached out and ran his fingers over the man's wrist, feeling the slight scar under his hand. He could almost feel the metal closing over his own as he remembered Blake's memories and he was amazed again that the man could sleep at all.
Severus started when a knock sounded on Blake's door but the man didn't wake. Severus left him to answer the door to find Ry on the other side.
"Hi, Professor." Ry said softly. "Is Dad back?"
Severus slipped out of the room and into the hallway and Ry stepped back.
"He's asleep," Severus replied once the door was closed. "Did you want something?"
"No," Ry replied and shifted slightly. "Just wanted to talk."
Severus looked the boy over and he was stuck with how much he looked like a blend between Blake, James and Lily and how much he was also his own person.
"Nice show the other night," Severus said softly as he moved off down the hall and Ry fell into step with him. "Your father is a bit miffed that you know his tricks."
"Ha," Ry replied with a grin. "He just wanted to call his sword."
"It's his fall back," Severus remarked in amusement as he opened the door to his rooms and held it for Ry to enter.
Ry walked in and looked around as Severus moved towards the small kitchen attached to the living room. The staff rooms were all basically the same with a bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, a small office and living room.
"I didn't know you still had your own rooms?" Ry said softly, looking around.
"Of course," Severus replied as he passed a glass of juice to Ry and took a seat on his lounge with a mug of coffee. "The Headmaster insisted."
"Plus, it gives you somewhere to hide from Dad," Ry replied with a grin and the two men shared a look.
"Are you ready for your NEWTS?" Severus asked as he leaned back on the lounge and Ry winched.
"I think so," Ry replied. "Hermione keeps jumping out of nowhere with questions for us. She scared the crap out of Ron yesterday which has made him a bit jumpy today. He thinks nowhere is safe from her."
Severus smirked at that and Ry gave him a smile.
"With your display," Severus commented. "I'm sure you have a place in the Auror program already."
"See!" Ry cried. "That's what I keep telling Hermione! She just won't listen, saying that the tests are more than just about how good you can fight."
Severus chuckled as the boy relaxed back into his seat and they could just forget for a little while that there was a Dark Lord after the boy's head and what was to come in the coming months.
xXx
Harry collapsed in his chair at the Head Table and grabbed the whole pot of coffee and pulled it close as he took in the scent with a sigh. He was sure that the house elves made one just for him as he poured it into a mug and sweetened it to his liking before resting his pounding head on the table. It was so early that he was the only one at the table and only a few students were scattered around the hall.
A slight huff beside him had him turning his head slightly to peer up at Minerva looking down at him with a stern look on her face as she took a seat next to him. Disapproval in every line of her body.
"Another night out with Mr Dracka?" Minerva snapped and Harry winched at the sound. "Causing trouble on the streets and with the muggle police?"
"They haven't arrested us yet," Harry replied mildly without raising his head.
"You are met to be setting an example for the students of this school, Mr Sun." Minerva remarked primly.
"What kind of example are we setting?" Dracka asked as he moved towards the table and looked him over. "What's wrong with you?"
Harry buried his head in his arms and was regretting coming up to the hall for food, he should have just made his own in his rooms. His pounding head reminded him why he hadn't done that.
"You don't know, Rolf?" Minerva asked.
"No," Dracka replied over his head as he took a seat next to him. "Nothing to do with me."
"For a change," Minerva muttered but Harry heard her.
Harry was sure he would have seen the vampire flash his fangs at the woman if his head wasn't buried in his arms. He started slightly as a hand was laid on his back and glanced over to see Severus looking down at him in concern.
"I shouldn't have come up here," Harry groaned and Dracka snorted.
Severus placed a pain potion on the table next to his plate but Harry didn't take it as Minerva looked him over.
"You really don't look well, Blake." Minerva said softly. "Maybe you should see Madam Pomfrey."
Harry just groaned and buried his head again.
"Going to see Albert soon," Harry said into his arms. "After I can get some coffee into me. Wasn't expecting so many people to be up this early in the morning."
Harry could almost feel the tension from the two men beside him at his words.
"Mr Sun and Dracka were you setting a bad example for this school last night?" Albus asked with amusement in his voice and Harry groaned.
He lifted his head up to look over at Albus and the smile on the man's lips slipped slightly as Harry picked up the coffee, ignoring the pain potion as he took a sip. It was still a bit too hot to drink, but he needed it.
"Are you sick, Blake?" Albus asked.
"No," Harry replied as he pushed the potion towards Dracka. "Severus you can have that back."
Dracka passed the potion to Severus on the other side of him. The man's dark eyes burning into him before he placed it away in his robe without saying a word. Harry finished off the cup of coffee, the slight burn taking away from his pounding head. He used his cane to get to his feet as the other teachers watched him.
"Right there?" Severus asked gently as Harry paused once he was on his feet.
"I'll see you later," Harry replied, sidestepping the question.
"Don't think you can get away with that answer," Severus purred as he got to his feet and fell into step with him.
"Thought I would give it a try," Harry replied as they slowly made their way out of the hall.
The pounding in his head setting him off balance slightly and Severus moved closer as they moved through the hall and out of the castle. Harry eyed the stairs and they paused.
"I'm assuming that Bill Weasley didn't pass his examinations?" Severus said mildly, watching him eyeing off the steps.
"Ah, no." Harry replied. "I would say he still needs a couple more years to learn his craft. He will make the Master title, just not yet."
Harry moved down the stairs, his head pounding on every step while Severus watched him with sharp eyes.
"Always something new to learn in curse breaking," Harry commented, more to distract himself than anything. "Some type of magic or ward that was placed a thousand years ago that someone didn't write down and can cause you trouble when you activate it."
"Like in Russia?" Severus asked softly.
"Da," Harry replied with a grin. "And that's another thing. Just when you wrap your mind around the magic here, you go overseas and it's another matter. Bill has had a lot of exposure to Egyptian magic and those people knew how to kill someone six different ways before lunch."
Harry paused as his head spun slightly and Severus stepped closer just in case as Harry waited it out.
"Do you need that pain potion now?" Severus asked softly, no sneer in his voice.
"Already took what I could, Severus." Harry replied with a sigh. "Hence the spinning head. Albert will have something for me when we get there."
Harry looked over to see Severus frowning at him.
"How do you know him?" Severus asked.
"Who? Albert?" Harry asked.
"Yes."
"Met him in the town I was staying in after I got here," Harry said softly. "He picked up on my dark magic. I had been in town picking up supplies and got into a bit of an argument with this bloke. The man pulled a knife on me, the bastard. I had Ry with me at the time and the child just squealed at the top of his lungs. Albert came out of the nowhere and grabbed him."
Harry paused as his thoughts went back to that day and he winched slightly and rubbed his temple. Severus waited him out as they stood on the front lawns of the school.
"I must admit, I took a beating from the man until I was able to get over to Albert and Ry," Harry said softly. "I could feel the dark magic pushing to take over."
Severus's eyes widened at those words and Dracka's story of when his brother died came back to him. That was a dark time in the other man's life.
"Albert took one look at me and called me an idiot," Harry said with a quirk to his lips. "As Ry just sat there in his arms and giggled as he looked up at Albert. The boy looked so small in his arms and all the anger just drained out of me. I just stood there as the bloke that attacked me scampered."
"When was this?" Severus asked.
"A few months after I stepped through the time gap," Harry replied as they started moving again. "He said that I needed to control my dark magic if I wanted to give Harry the life he needed. That the man that attacked me had been drawn to my magic. My mind was still a mess from what happened before I stepped through the time gap and pulling my magic close was the last thing on my mind."
"What did you do?" Severus asked.
"After realising my stupidity?" Harry asked with a lopsided grin. "I really didn't know what to do, Severus. From the moment that I picked up the child, I had no idea what I was doing. Then this big man, that I had never met before, was holding the boy and pointing out that I was an idiot. I just stood there, bleeding from the fight in shock and I felt like the idiot that he had called me."
"And still calls you that," Severus muttered.
"That he does," Harry agreed as they stepped passed the wards. "He was there after I got back from Dracka's Coven…after I killed his brother…"
Harry trailed off and Severus let his hand rest on his shoulder.
"I was a mess that night," Harry said softly and rubbed his arching head. "He'd been helping me with Ry and in one move I had undone all that he had done to try and help me."
Severus wrapped an arm around him and pulled him close and Harry took in the comfort.
"Stupidity on new levels that night," Harry said softly. "Can you apparate us?"
Severus arms tightened around him before pushing him back. The man's dark eyes looking him over.
"Just a migraine, Severus." Harry said softly. "Over did it with testing Bill yesterday."
"Are you going to be sick after I apparate us?" Severus asked.
"I'll make sure to throw up the other way," Harry replied with a smirk.
"That answer fills me with confidence," Severus drawled.
Harry gave the man a smile.
"I'm good to go when you are Mr Snape," Harry said with a challenge in his voice.
xXx
Severus leaned back in his chair in the waiting room in Albert's surgery as he glanced around at the people waiting. There was a blonde-haired woman a few seats down from him that he was sure was a Veela or part Veela and a man that would stare at the woman until she looked up then would look away quickly. He smirked at the two and the woman gave him a glance in amusement before going back to her book.
His eyes were drawn to the young child of about five that had a tail as his father played on the floor with some blocks, his own tail wagging slightly and Severus had wondered what the hell he had gotten into. He glanced over at the receptionist but she was busy on the computer after giving Blake a very cold look as the man had moved passed with Albert.
A few people had come and gone and Severus quickly learnt that Albert wasn't the only Doctor that worked in the surgery and wondered how human the people were, patient or Doctor, as the minutes ticked away. Severus was just starting to think he should have brought a book when a young man in his late teens came through the door.
The Veela tensed as the man glanced around with pale eyes as he made his way across the room. Severus looked the man over from his slim build to his pitch-black hair and he found it hard to look away as he moved, with a grace of a dancer, towards the reception desk and spoke to the woman before talking a seat across from Severus. The man gave Severus a smile and Severus felt his gut clench at the look then frowned.
He glared down his nose at the man even if he felt like doing something completely different and the young man looked away and the spell was broken. Severus was unsure what the man was but it wasn't human.
"Incubus," The Veela whispered to Severus and he looked over at her. "He likes you."
"I'm sure my partner would have words to say about that," Severus drawled.
The veela gave a laugh and the young man looked up with interest and Severus felt the draw to the young man but now that he knew what he was, he was able to push it to the side. He had never seen an incubus before since they stayed away from wizards preferring to hunt amongst muggles to satisfy their hunger. They were very much like vampires but their need was different, instead of blood it was sex.
"He's drawn to your dark power," The veela said softly.
"Is that so?" Severus purred and looked over at the young man before focusing on the veela. "Severus Snape."
"Isabella Colington," The veela replied softly. "Yes, he is young and still learning to control the power."
"Much like a veela?" Severus asked with a raised eyebrow.
Isabella's lips curved up in a smile and she gave Severus a wink.
"New meaning to the saying; stuck between a rock and a hard place," Severus muttered and Isabella gave another twinkling laugh.
The Incubus looked over at the sound and gave a soft smile that went through Severus and he shifted slightly. The veela gave a smile over to the young man and he looked away.
Just then Blake limped out from one of the back rooms and the Incubus's eyes snapped around to him and Severus felt on edge as his lover looked over at him and gave Severus a grin. Blake moved closer as the young man sat forward in his seat, an intense look in his eyes. Blake didn't even glance at the man as he moved towards Severus.
"Your partner?" Isabella asked, looking Blake over. "Attracted to power, I see."
Severus straightened at those words, his eyes hardening.
"Please don't take that the wrong way," Isabella said quickly. "I didn't mean to offend."
"Making friends?" Blake asked softly, when he got close.
"Well," Severus drawled. "You do take me to the most interesting places."
Isabella gave a laugh as the Incubus eyed them both off and Severus felt even more on edge. Blake looked over to the young man before looking back to Severus with an eyebrow raised and a smirk on his lips.
"You sounded just like the vampire," Blake said with a smirk.
Isabella tensed and Blake gave her a slight smile and Severus was struck by how comfortable Blake looked surrounded by people that were not completely human.
"Well?" Blake said. "Would you like to head back to the school?"
Severus rose to his feet as Blake glanced around before grabbing his hand and Severus started slightly at the move. He glanced down into Blake's green eyes.
"Do not compared me to Dracka," Severus purred.
Blake's lips quirked up in a smirk that went right through Severus in a way that a spell never could. His eyes only for the man beside him. Everything else falling away.
"Never, love." Blake purred back.