Harry started and groaned as his phone went off on the bedside table. He wiggled slightly in Severus's arms until he could snag the phone. He cursed when he dropped it onto the floor and the cord got caught up. He hung over the side of the bed to grab it and quickly answered it.
"Blake," Harry whispered, trying not to wake Severus as he slipped out of bed and out of the room.
"Mr Sun," An American voice came down the phone and Harry frowned. "My name is Tom Holden, I work in the United States Ministry of Magic in the Border Department."
"How are you Mr Holden?" Harry greeted as he glanced at the clock it was only one in the morning. "How can I help you?"
"I was ordered to call you," Tom told him, not sounding happy about it. "Graham Simpson tried to cross the Border earlier tonight."
"He was rebounded?"
"Of course," The man scoffed. "We took his blood before he was exiled. There is no way that he can cross."
"Did he just try to cross the Border anywhere?" Harry asked. "Or was there anything special about where he tried to cross?"
"Well," Tom mused. "Strange you should say that."
"Why?" Harry asked as he sat at the table.
"Well, where he tried to cross, there is a lay line." Holden replied. "How did you know?"
"Just a hunch," Harry answered. "Could you send me the report, please?"
"Well," Holden hesitated. "You know that would be against policy."
Harry tilted his head back in frustration.
"Do I have to come over there to get the report?" Harry asked quietly. "They said last time that they didn't want to see me again."
Tom snorted.
"I heard the story," Tom replied. "I'll see what I can do."
"Thank you, Mr Holden."
"Good night, Mr Sun."
Harry looked at the phone in thought before a grin curved up his face. Simpson was running scared. Harry had him making bigger risks than he would have normally made before. To try and get back into a country, that he'd be exiled by with blood wards in place, was a very big risk. He may be a Dark Lord but he was learning that having a large amount of dark power wasn't everything.
Harry picked up the dark cube that he'd been using as a paperweight and looked at it with a smirk. Understanding what good planning and simple things could make in a war. He placed the cube back onto the files and glanced at the clock again. It made him feel better that his plans were falling into place as they tightened the noose around Simpson's neck.
He just had to keep the man running so that he couldn't gather support around him until he had nowhere else to run to and no allies to turn to. Then they would move in and that's when it would get dangerous as they cornered him. Harry would have to have everything in place to take the man down and be ready to move quickly.
He couldn't take him down directly since the man held more power than he did. A full out magic attack would fail even with Harry's light magic behind him. He did not have the power a Dark Lord had at his fingertips. He smirked as he remembered another time when he was young and believed that he could take on anyone and had failed against a Dark Lord, badly. He was not that now, he had learned his lesson.
He liked to think he could learn from his mistakes but every now and again. Something would happen and he would be reminded of his stupidity or someone would remind him.
"What are you doing out here?"
Harry looked up at Severus standing naked in the doorway, staring at him. His eyes roamed over the man, taking in the sight before he stood from the table. He palmed his phone and moved towards Severus.
"I got a phone call," Harry replied, holding up the phone as he moved closer. "I didn't want to wake you."
Severus wrapped his arms around him and tiled his head up for a kiss.
"At least it wasn't the vampire this time," Severus purred in his ear and Harry shivered.
"Come on," Harry said, pushing him back. "I have a class in the morning."
Severus laughed and pulled him back to the bed.
xXx
Harry sat on the floor of an unused classroom on the second floor of the castle with things scattered before him and a chalk circle around him. He had one of his notebooks and photos on the ground in front of him. His two wands were to his right and a silver knife and his sword to the left.
He had made sure that he had informed Albus that he might be working with his dark magic earlier in the day. When he'd asked for the man's memory of when Simpson had tried to kill Severus. He wanted to look at the spell that had been used for the trap. He hadn't sensed the spell and he was sure it had been dormant before the explosive device had set it off. That's why Severus had been able to use magic but not Harry which had given him an idea.
Harry lay out on his stomach and conjured a pillow to rest on as he looked at his notebook and photos around him.
"Well," Severus drawled from the doorway. "Interesting sight."
Harry looked up at him with a grin as the man stepped into the room and closed the door behind him.
"I need your memory of the night Simpson blew up your room," Harry requested casually as he lay there.
Severus paused and crossed his arms.
"Can I ask why?" Severus asked softly.
"I want to look at the spell that was used," Harry replied with a frown. "I have Albus's memory but he was outside the room. I've already looked at my memory but it's a bit vague. I think your memory might be better."
Severus sighed and grabbed one of the chairs in the room. He placed the chair down just outside the chalk circle and took a seat.
"What are you hoping to find?" Severus questioned.
"I want to know how strong that spell was," Harry explained as he sat up. "I was more focused on getting to you than breaking through the spell."
Severus looked at him with dark eyes.
"How would you like to view the memory?" Severus drawled.
"Ah," Harry replied, leaning back on his hands. "Whatever way you are comfortable with."
"Very well," Severus answered and Harry could tell when Severus lowered the barriers in his mind and his eyes widened in surprise.
"Are you sure?" Harry asked, sitting up straighter.
Severus snorted and smiled at him. Harry grinned back as he got to his feet and grabbed another chair and placed it before Severus and sat down. He placed his hands on Severus's knees.
"This might feel strange," Harry warned. "It's not the same as legilimency."
"Hurry up, Sun." Severus snapped in amusement.
Harry grinned and took the man's hands in his. He relaxed his shoulders before looking into Severus's eyes and the man brought the memory forward for him.
He was walking down the hallway towards his rooms with thoughts of the fact he hadn't used them in a while since he spent more time in Blake's rooms than his own. Harry gently pushed Severus's thoughts aside as he focused on the hallway. He came to his door and pushed it open and glanced around the room before stepping through the door, leaving it open behind him.
He walked towards the bedroom first and had a look around for a while before moving towards his office door. He pushed the door open, heard a soft click and instinctively pulled up a shielding charm, pulling on his dark magic without thinking.
Harry froze the memory and slowly wound it back and brought it into sharp focus.
He opened the door, click.
Stop.
Harry looked closely at the memory as it stood frozen and he cocked his head to the side.
He very slowly moved it forward, then stopped it just before Severus pulled up the shield. He glanced at the spell and the magic that went into it in interest before playing the memory forward in slow motion.
Click, shield, bang, fire, stop.
Harry frowned and tried to look into the office but the shield blocked a lot of his view. He closed his eyes and tried to reach out with his magic and feel the spell. He could just feel something but he was working on Severus's sense of magic and not his own. He frowned in frustration. Then a thought occurred to him.
"I'm going to make a connection with you," Harry whispered, not breaking out of the memory. "It might show me more."
He felt Severus's agreement around him as he stood in the man's memory. He gently held the memory as he reached out to the connection in the ring and the memory flared around him. He almost lost the whole lot but he gritted his teeth and refocused. Letting the magic settle around them before focusing back on the memory.
The memory was clearer as he looked into it. His own vision doubling over Severus's images of the memory, making his head swim a little before it came back into focus. He held Severus's hands tighter as Severus's amazement rolled over him and he pushed the man's feeling to the side again.
He replayed the memory from the start.
He stepped towards the door, magic swirling around his sight. He pushed the mists to the side so that he could see what was happening better. He reached out to the door and pushed it open, click, shield, stop. He held the memory there, the dark magic swirling in front of him, with the rainbow colour of wizard magic swirling through the dark power of the shield and squinted his eyes. The spell turned transparent as he looked through the magic and into the room in front of him.
'What's that on your desk?' Harry asked Severus in his mind.
'It's not mine,' Severus replied his voice coming from all around him.
Harry focused in on the small box on the desk and eased back to see the magic in the spell. It was a type of dampening spell but it was tied to the box. Harry played the memory very slowly forward. The explosion started at the box, then the spell kicked in. He stopped the memory again and looked closer, yes! He could work that spell out as he looked closer at the anchor spell with interest before pulling back completely.
He blinked his eyes as the soft light in the room returned and softly dropped the connection with Severus. The man before him just stared at him with his mouth open in surprise and Harry gave him a grin.
"Ah, aren't you two cute together."
They turned to see Dracka leaning up against the wall and Harry turned his grin on him.
"How the hell did you do that!" Severus gasped as he looked at Harry with wide eyes. "That wasn't legilimency."
"Ah, no." Harry replied. "I don't know legilimency."
"What!" Dracka yelped. "But I have seen you use it!"
"Nope," Harry replied, releasing Severus's hands and sitting back in his seat as he rubbed his temple. "Could never master it or Occlumency."
"What was that then?" Severus demanded as Dracka grabbed another chair and joined them.
"People are similar to wards," Harry intoned in his teaching voice, making the other two share a look. "Memories are like layers piled on top of each other with connections linking events and people together, much like wards. When you look into them you can work your way through the layers, so it helps knowing what you are looking for, so you can pick that ward up easier. Then to break them down you work through each one cutting the ones you need or bending them in a different way. Similar wards seem to rest together like common memories."
"Yes," Severus drawled. "That's not legilimency."
"Nope," Harry said with a grin. "When I started to learn wards, I realised that a person's mind could be the same after someone explained legilimency. It became one of my pet projects, since Legilimency just wouldn't work for me. In a way, I believe that the Hallows played it's part in my skills and memory. Cursed with a long life and the ability to remember it."
Dracka snorted as Severus smiled at him.
"That only goes so far," Severus remarked and Harry gave him a grin.
"You try remembering events from a hundred years ago or further," Harry muttered and looked at Dracka. "Hey, Dracka? You're younger than I am, do you remember when you were a fledgling?"
The vampire just flashed his fangs at him in answer.
"Plus, it helps when you can see the magic around you," Harry remarked. "Took me a long time and many migraines until I could control that. It was a good thing that time wasn't that important then."
"I can understand that," Severus uttered and rubbed his head.
"Did I give you a headache?" Harry asked in concern.
"Just a little bit of one," Severus replied.
"Oh, sorry." Harry offered. "I didn't mean too."
"Did you get what you needed?" Severus asked.
"I think so," Harry said, sitting back in his seat. "I'll have to try the spell and rework it for what I have in mind."
Both men froze and two sets of dark eyes looked at him.
"Ah," Severus said slowly. "I better warn the Headmaster."
"Oi!"
Dracka just barked a laugh.
xXx
Ben Cooper looked around the Great Hall of Hogwarts in amazement as dark and light mists swirled around, with the odd flash of rainbows getting through. He just stood in the doorway amazed again at the sight. The mists slowly sunk into the walls and floors of the castle as more rainbow colours took over. He looked around at the students and had to focus to push the magic to the side. He could see magic everywhere he looked and it was very distracting and a bit overwhelming.
"A bit to take in?" Blake's amused voice came from beside him.
Ben turned his head to look at the man, the only real solid person in the room. He could still see the man's magic but it was more a slight coating over his skin in an odd mix of colours. He could easily have dismissed him in a crowd for being muggle if he wasn't paying attention.
"Yes," Ben answered.
Blake grinned, his green eyes dancing, as he clapped a hand to his shoulder.
"Don't worry, Ben." Blake said kindly. "It will get easier."
"So," Ben announced as he rocked forward onto his toes. "What's this project you need help with?"
Blake laughed and pushed him towards the rest of the Hall.
"Let's have dinner first," Blake suggested in amusement.
He led them up towards table at the head of the room and Ben followed. They walked along the side of the room and Ben looked around at the students at the tables and the magic in the room. He still had problems pushing down the images that the magic threw up but at least he was getting better with it. He paused looking at a couple of students and Blake stood next to him.
He flicked his head to the side as a dog shape mist appeared in the room with blazing red eyes and he gasped.
"It's a hellhound," Blake explained from beside him. "One of Dracka's beasts."
"The vampire?" Ben asked.
"Yes."
The beast turned its head in their direction and Ben shivered. He focused his mind on its online and it formed a shape of a dog as he pulled back on his magic slightly. The hellhound turned away as it moved around the room and Blake gently pushed him towards the Head Table.
He looked up at the men and women at the table. He focused on the Headmaster, a bright light in the room, and he pushed down on his sight even more. The man came into focus, giving him a smile as they moved closer. He looked at the vampire next, the dark magic surrounding the man like a long coat and the man grinned at him showing fangs.
Ben shivered before looking at Severus Snape and noticed something he hadn't before and turned to Blake with wide eyes.
"Um," Blake stammered and rubbed his head. "It's not what you think…well yes but no."
"But," Ben replied. "He has and you have."
"Not what you think," Blake repeated and patted his shoulder. "But close."
Dracka laughed and turned to Severus and nudged the man.
"He speaks Blake language!" Dracka barked.
"Oi!" Dracka yelped as Blake whacked the back of his head and took a seat next to Severus.
"Take a seat, Ben." Blake offered as he pushed the seat out next to him and Albus.
Ben grinned and looked at the woman on the other side of Dumbledore.
"Oh," Ben exclaimed with wide eyes. "You're a cat!"
"I'm a what?" Minerva squeaked as Dracka laughed.
"I believe," Blake said in amusement. "That Ben was supposed to say, are you an Animagus."
Ben blushed and ducked his head.
"Ben, this is Professor Minerva McGonagall." Blake introduced. "Minerva this is Ben Cooper, he's here to help me on a project. The Ministry of Magic kindly donated his time here."
"Hmm," Minerva hummed and Ben gave her a small grin.
"Sorry," He muttered. "Nice to meet you."
"And you Mr Cooper," Minerva replied primly. "Always entertaining meeting friends of Blake's."
Severus snorted as Dracka sniggered.
"Um," Ben replied, unsure how to take that as he looked around him.
xXx
Harry sighed as Ben was distracted by something again and the spell they were working on fell apart. The boy just didn't have the control that the older version that Harry had known did as he watched the boy seeing something that Harry couldn't. It didn't help that a hellhound would walk passed outside the room or poke its head through the door and the boy would be distracted once again.
"Oops," Ben exclaimed. "Sorry."
"Too much magic?" Harry asked.
They were in his classroom working in the bronze circle. Even with the fact Harry didn't keep anything overly magical in here and they were in the circle. The boy was still getting distracted.
"Um, yeah." Ben replied with a grin.
"Do we have to go outside the wards?" Harry asked, leaning back on his hands as he sat on the floor of his classroom.
"Maybe," Ben muttered as he looked at something that Harry couldn't see. "Can you see it?"
"Not at the moment," Harry replied. "I wasn't born with the sight like you."
"But you can see it?" Ben insisted, his eyes focusing on Harry.
"If I focus, yes." Harry replied. "Don't worry Ben, you'll learn how to control it better over time."
"How do you know?" Ben asked with frown.
Harry gave him a wink in answer.
"Come on," Harry announced as he pulled himself to his feet with the help of his cane and held out his hand. "I'll just speak to Severus and we'll go work outside the wards."
Ben grinned and took his hand and allowed him to pull him to his feet as he looked around. Harry sighed as the man focused on something again and stared off in that direction. It was going to be a long day.
xXx
Harry flopped down on his bed with a groan. His head was pounding. Ben had lost his grip on the spell they had been working on and Harry had had to grab a hold of it quickly and ground it. Causing a loud crack that could be heard up at the castle and made a hellhound bound towards them with its head cocked to the side. Its red eyes wide as it looked at him.
They were getting closer but Harry was finding it frustrating. He placed his hands on the back of his aching head as he lay on his stomach and closed his eyes. He woke sometime later to hands on his shoulders and working on the muscles. He opened his eyes and turned his head to look up at Severus.
"You slept through dinner," The man reported softly.
Harry just closed his eyes again as Severus slid his hands down his sides and under his shirt before pushing it up. Harry lifted up slightly to slip the shirt over his head. Severus slicked up his hands and worked on the tight muscles in his neck and Harry just enjoyed the feeling as he relaxed.
"You're very good at this," Harry mumble into the pillow.
Severus chuckled and kept working at the tight muscles before slipping lower. Harry moved his hips up so he could unbuckle his belt and slip his pants off. Severus worked down his body working the muscles in his legs. Harry hissed when he started working on the tight muscles of his right thigh.
"I can still feel the scar tissue here," Severus remarked. "The skin feels smooth but the muscle isn't."
"Yeah," Harry replied and flinched when Severus hit a sore spot.
"You know we felt the ground shake with what you did," Severus told him in amusement.
Harry groaned.
"Wasn't me," Harry grumbled. "The boy lost his focus on the spell and I had to ground it. A hangover has nothing on grabbing someone else's spell work and grounding it."
Severus rumbled a laugh that ran a tingle down Harry's spine as he relaxed.
"Are you having any luck with it?" Severus asked as he saddled his waist to work on his back.
"Yes," Harry commented. "But it's slow and frustrating. Ben just doesn't have enough control yet."
Severus's hands paused on his back and Harry opened his eyes and looked over his shoulder at him.
"What?" Harry asked.
"What does he see when he looks at us?" Severus inquired, making Harry frown.
"What do you mean?" Harry asked.
"He gives me a strange look then looks at you then me again," Severus pointed out and Harry snorted.
"He's seeing the connection between us," Harry explained and laid his head back down on his arms. "He thought it was a binding."
Severus's hand stilled again on his back.
"He can see that?"
"He can see all the magic," Harry said. "He was born that way. He just doesn't have as much control over it as he should."
"Like you can?"
"Similar," Harry replied. "But I wasn't born with the talent. I developed it over time until a teacher pushed me straight into the deep end of the pool."
Severus worked on his back a little longer in silence. Harry rolled over and looked up at Severus.
"Your turn?" Harry asked and reached for the man's robes.
Severus smiled and slipped out of his robes and shirt then stepped off the bed to slip out of his shoes and pants. Harry moved over as Severus laid down on his stomach and Harry grabbed some lube. He saddled Severus waist and started to work on Severus's shoulders.
"I'm not great at this," Harry remarked. "Just a warning."
Severus huffed a laugh and grabbed a pillow to place under his head. Harry worked down Severus's back, loving the feeling of the man's soft skin under his fingers as he relaxed under him. Harry leaned forward as he worked on Severus's shoulder and kissed his neck before taking the man's ear lobe into his mouth.
"That's not giving a massage," Severus purred.
"Isn't it?" Harry whispered.
He felt a shiver run down Severus's back as he kissed his neck. He ran a hand down his side before grabbing his bum with his other hand braced near Severus's head. Harry pulled back and smirked before placing the back of one finger nail at the base of Severus's neck. He ran his nail down Severus's spine making the man shiver.
He massaged his back for a while before following the trail his hands had made with kisses, licks and the odd bite that had Severus hissing.
"You don't like that?" Harry asked.
"Just odd," Severus replied.
Harry chuckled and gently ran his nails down the man's back. He watched as goose bumps came up on his skin as light marks appeared. He kissed down the marks and slipped his hand under the man's hips and palmed his hard cock in his hand. Severus turned slightly and Harry moved to the side and suddenly he found himself on his back with Severus kissing him.
Severus grabbed his wrists and held them above his head as he bit down on his neck. Harry gasped, his cock rock hard between them and tilted his head to the side. Severus moved one hand down his side as the other held his hands above his head. Severus grabbed his cock and bit down harder this time as he gave him a pull and Harry came with a gasp.
"Fuck, sorry." Harry panted.
Severus pulled back and smirked down at him with amusement. Harry tried to move his hands but Severus held them where they were and shifted between his legs. Harry moved his legs to either side of Severus as he settled there and looked up at him with bright green eyes. Severus grabbed up the lube with his eyes locked on Harry's as he slicked up his cock and gently eased one finger into him. His dark eyes watched him and Harry gave him a smile as he wiggled slightly as Severus widened him.
"Bloody tall people," Harry gasped.
Severus huffed a laugh as he worked on him. Harry rested his head back as his cock twitched in interest as he clenched his hands together. Severus still holding his wrists in one hand.
"Ready?" Severus whispered in his ear and Harry shivered.
He opened his eyes and looked up at the man and nodded. Severus pushed forward and Harry bit his lip as their magic took notice and lazily moved around them. Severus licked up his neck and Harry relaxed as he brought his legs up and wrapped them around the taller man's waist.
Harry tugged on the hand holding his wrists but Severus held them there as he slowly rocked his hips. Harry panted as the man hit his prostate and his cock twitched lazily between them as pleasure rolled down his back. Severus growled softly and moved a little quicker and Harry moved his hips up to meet him. Harry could feel Severus's magic settling on his skin as the man lost control over his magic. Harry gently cast it to the side as his legs tightened around the younger man's waist.
Severus dark eyes locked with his as he lost complete control. He panted as he pushed forward and came with a soft grunt, his eyes locked on his. Harry groaned as the magic washed over him and he closed his eyes as he pushed it to the side.
Severus swore and quickly released his wrists.
"Blake?" Severus gasped.
Harry looked up at him with amusement and carefully unhooked his legs and winced at the slight pain. Severus swore again with his eyes locked on to Harry's wrists. Harry glanced over to see red marks from Severus's hand on them. He grabbed the man's head and pulled him down for a kiss. Severus was tense under his hands but relaxed into the kiss quickly.
Harry released him and looked up into Severus's dark eyes. He pushed the man and Severus squeaked as he landed next to him and Harry barked a laugh. Severus's eyes locked onto his wrists again.
"Sorry," Severus uttered and gently touched his wrist.
"You're young, Severus." Harry said with a small smile and feeling satisfied. "And still have to learn how to push your magic away during sex."
He brushed Severus's hair back and gently cupped his face. Tangling his legs with his but could still feel the tension in the man's body. He frowned and looked back up at him.
"What's wrong?" Harry asked softly with a frown.
"I hurt you," Severus stated, much to Harry's confusion.
"I'm fine."
"Your wrists."
Harry looked at the redness around his wrists, which was already starting to fade.
"They are fine," Harry said, frowning.
Severus looked away, making Harry frown deepen. He ran his hands through the man's hair and turned his face back.
"Is this more than just about the sex?" Harry questioned.
"You were bound by your wrists," Severus remarked and Harry understood what was bothering Severus.
"That was a very long time ago, Severus," Harry pointed out. "I may still have the scars but I made peace with that."
"So that doesn't…" Severus trailed off and Harry grinned at him.
"Not at all Severus," Harry smirked. "Though your control over your magic during sex needs a lot of work."
Severus grinned at him, his dark eyes glinting.
"Does that mean more practise?"
xXx
Severus woke early the next morning with Blake curled along his back and his legs tangled with his. He was snoring softly with an arm flung out over him. Severus gently pulled the covers back and looked at the man's wrist. He could still see the slight mark there and he ran his finger over it, feeling the slight scar under the mark he'd made.
He hadn't realised how much he'd lost control until he saw those marks and he had felt both sick and satisfied at the same time. He had marked the man as his. His eyes roamed to his own left forearm where the Dark Mark had once branded him and ran a finger over the smooth skin. Nothing remained of the mark now after Blake had cut through the connection.
He turned his attention back to Blake's wrist and the scaring on his arms. They started close to his elbow crisscrossing up and over his shoulders. Severus turned slightly to look at the man while he slept. He was snoring slightly and was in a lot deeper sleep then normal as Severus looked down at him. He ran his hand over the scaring on his shoulders.
The whip marks were only on his back and not his chest. He ran a hand over the small scars he could see. The only reason that the ones on his back existed at all was the fact they had healed before healing spells could be used. He ran his fingers along the faint lines that that veela bitch had left. They were slowly fading since the healing balm hadn't worked on them and he was sure in time they would disappear completely. The fact they were still there, still brought up rage in him.
"Hey," Blake croaked, getting Severus's attention.
"Hey," Severus replied.
"That tickles you know," Blake whispered.
Severus ran his hand over the spot again and Blake shivered, making Severus smirk.
"Stop that," Blake snapped without heat.
Severus chucked.
"If you want a history of the scars," Blake said softly. "It could take a while and probably a few spells to bring the memories up."
Severus smirked.
"Your memory failing, old man?" Severus whispered.
Blake huffed a laugh and whacked his shoulder.
"Watch it you," Blake smirked.
xXx
Harry stepped out of the stone room next to Albus's office with interest. He looked around the office since the man wasn't there yet. His eyes skinned over the portraits of the past Headmasters and the knick-knacks on the man's shelves and desk. He picked up a small gold marble and rolled it in his fingertips before placing it back on the desk.
Fawkes the phoenix eyed him off from his perch and Harry gave the animal a nod before collapsing into one of the armchairs and pulling a file from his pocket as he waited. The end of the school year was coming closer as Harry spent more time training Ry than working with students as his seventh and fifth year students studied for their exams.
"Blake," Albus greeted as he moved into the room. "How are you?"
Harry shrunk the file he'd been reading and placed it back away in his pocket as the Headmaster took a seat in the armchair across from him.
"I'm well, Albus." Harry replied. "Busy, but well. What can I do for you?"
"Mr Genger," Albus stated and Harry frowned. "He has been using his dark magic."
"What!" Harry yelped in shock. "He's a third year!"
"Yes, he is." Albus agreed.
"Are you sure?" Harry asked as he sat forward in his seat. "He is way too young to be using that magic."
"According to my connection to the wards," Albus answered with a smile. "And I should be used to the feeling of someone using dark magic by now."
Harry smirked, not the least bit apologetic.
"Maybe he became more aware of it after Simpson pulled on the core of dark magic," Harry mused. "Most people don't become aware of dark or light power until their mid-twenties to thirties or not at all."
"Could you talk to him?"
"Sure," Harry agreed. "He has powerful dark magic Albus. He is stronger than I am at his age, now."
Albus paled at those words.
"Is he a danger?" Albus asked faintly.
"He is only, what fourteen?" Harry asked. "And untrained."
Harry sat back in his seat as he thought it through.
"He could be very dangerous," Harry summarized. "His upbringing wouldn't help either."
"Would he need to be removed from Hogwarts?" Albus questioned.
"God, no." Harry replied with a grin. "I'll talk to him and start his training now."
Albus winced and Harry gave him a grin.
"I'll kick the vampire out of his classroom," Harry stated with a smirk. "I don't want to work outside the wards at this time but that's an option. I'll bring Severus along, it's about time I started to teaching him as well."
"So, he does have dark magic?" Albus muttered to himself.
Harry smirked at the other man, he wouldn't be used to students working with that kind of magic. Callum may even be the first one that Albus would have had to deal with.
"Were you in doubt?" Harry asked.
"I don't see magic like you, Blake." Albus pointed out, while Harry gave him a grin. "And I don't want to."
"What about the rest of the students?" Albus inquired. "Will they start throwing around dark and light magic?"
"I doubt it," Harry answered. "But it is possible for the stronger students. You won't be able to pick up the light magic, the founders only put that ward on dark power, and I have adjusted it a bit since I've been here. I wonder why they did that?"
Albus coughed and looked away from the other wizard.
"I am aware of what dark magic can do, Albus," Harry said smoothly. "I have done some of it myself. I also know what people with light power are capable of."
Albus looked back at Harry with unreadable eyes. Harry gave the man a grin and pulled himself to his feet.
"Well," Harry announced. "I should be off, I'll strengthen that ward around Dracka's classroom tonight after dinner."
"I'll be ready for it," Albus drawled and Harry gave him an amused smile.
Harry moved towards the stone room with even more things on his plate than when he arrived at the man's office.
xXx
Dracka's head shot up when he felt dark magic and he grinned as the demon took notice. Blake must be doing something and he felt sorry for the headache that the Headmaster would have. He got to his feet and stepped out of his office then frowned when he felt the dark magic coming from his classroom. He moved one door down and pushed it open to see Blake standing in the middle of his empty classroom.
"Could you feel that?" Blake asked.
"Where are all the tables?" Dracka said at the same time, looking around.
"I moved them to my classroom," Blake replied and Dracka could feel the dark magic strongly in the other man. "So, could you feel that?"
"Yes," Dracka replied as he carefully moved into the room and shut the door. "What are you doing?"
Blake felt like a real Dark Wizard as he stood there, no hint of his light magic. It reminded him of when he first met the man and the chaos of that night.
"About normal?" Blake asked.
"If you mean a Dark Wizard," Dracka drawled with a leer as he moved closer, his demon closer to the surface then normal. "Then yes."
"Perfect," Blake exclaimed. "Where were you?"
Dracka moved forward and took a sniff of the man and Blake gave his arm a whack.
"I'll pull it back again," Blake warned.
"No," Dracka snapped and flashed his fangs.
Blake barked a laugh as the dark magic pushed against him and Dracka resisted the temptation to shut his eyes, he could almost taste it on the air. With Blake's own scent mixed with the dark magic he could almost hear his demon purring in his mind.
"I've kicked up the wards on your classroom," Blake explained as he leaned back on his cane, amusement in his eyes. "Albus informed me that one of my students has been pulling on his dark magic."
"What!" Dracka reeled back. "A seventh year?"
"Third year," Blake replied. "Mr Callum Genger. I'm going to steal your classroom to start his dark magic classes. If he agrees."
"Why don't you just ward your classroom," Dracka whined.
Blake stepped forward and let his dark magic touch on him and Dracka shivered.
"Because." Blake said slowly. "Warding your classroom and rooms was hard enough. It was easier to boost them, then to start over with my classroom."
Dracka cocked his head to the side and Blake gave him a grin before stepping back.
"Blake," Dracka said softly and the other man's green eyes settled on him.
Dracka stepped forward, closing the gap between them, so that the shorter man had to tilt his head back. Dracka could see the tension in his body and the wary look in his eyes.
"What?" Blake questioned
"Let go of it," Dracka whispered.
"I have," Blake replied.
"All of it," Dracka counted.
"I have," Blake repeated with a grin. "You think I have more? I'm only holding back the light magic. Unless you want me to let that go."
Dracka brought his hand up and cupped the man's cheek and felt the dark magic wash over him. He felt the demon in him prowling in his mind but held it back.
"You thought I had more?" Blake whispered, his eyes dark.
"Yes," Dracka stated as his hand ran down the man's neck and settled with his thumb on his jugular vein, feeling the blood pulsing underneath his skin. "With the amount you throw around."
Blake grinned and gave him a wink as he stepped back. Dracka could feel the demon growling at the move as his hand dropped away from the man. He had to hold onto it tightly to stop himself from doing something he would regret.
"I have knowledge and time on my side," Blake explained. "Severus should be up soon. I'll have to call the Headmaster to see if he can pick up on the dark magic."
Blake went to turn away but Dracka grabbed his arm to stop him and Blake locked eyes with him.
"What?" Blake asked with a frown. "Do you want me to pull it back?"
"No," Dracka answered. "That night, it felt darker."
Blake flinched back at the words but Dracka didn't release him.
"It rolled along the ground," Dracka said softly. "I could taste it on the air."
Blake looked up at him with wide eyes.
"The way your magic feels now," Dracka remarked. "It isn't as dark."
Blake looked at him and Dracka could see the pain that his words had brought up but he'd had to say them.
"Move back," Blake ordered and Dracka frowned.
"What?" Dracka stuttered, looking confused.
"I said," Blake repeated in amusement. "Move back."
Dracka stepped back a few steps but Blake waved him further back. Severus slipped into the room in interest.
"Where are all the tables?" Severus asked as he looked between the two men.
"If you attack me vampire…" Blake threatened instead of answering and Severus tensed.
"Should I come back later?" Severus asked calmly. "With a first aid kit, maybe?"
Blake smirked over at him and both men tensed at the look.
"Oh, no." Blake stated and Dracka shivered at the look in the other man's eyes.
Dracka looked at Severus to see the other man wasn't sure either.
"Let's put these wards to the test," Blake suggested and took a few steps back.
Dracka frowned in confusion when Blake closed his eyes and he could hear the man's heartbeat slowing.
"What's going on?" Severus whispered to him.
"I think we are about to get a lesson," Dracka whispered back.
"He feels like a wizard?" Severus hissed.
"That's dark magic, Severus."
Severus turned back to Blake with interest. Dracka had to remind himself that Severus was only just learning about this new part of himself and that he was a lot younger than him. His knowledge of both potions and Dark Arts were a different kettle of fish to dark magic and it's use.
"Will the Headmaster yell at him?" Severus questioned with a smirk.
"Not if the new wards work," Blake added with a smile, without opening his eyes. "He knows what I'm doing."
Dracka felt it the moment that Blake reached out with his magic and it felt different than normal. He then realised that the man was only working with dark magic as it brushed over him. The demon pushed further forward in interest and he could taste it now.
"So, there are two ways to work with dark magic," Blake explained, his eyes still closed. "You could throw it around like a hammer and hope for the best, most Dark Lords take that approach or you can weave it into spells to add in potent power."
Dracka could now feel something beneath his feet and he looked down in interest.
"When I use it in warding, I use different strands twisted together to make a whole." Blake told them and opened his eyes, Dracka shivered at the slight glow. "Like threads in a blanket. If one breaks it can ruin the whole thing. Unravel around you, so you have to make sure that they stick together. That way each strand will help the others when they are under stain."
Dracka flicked his head to the side when he felt something touch his shoulder. The feeling of dark magic increased as something brushed his other shoulder and he growled. His demon felt frustrated and knew the other man was using his dark magic. He looked back at Blake but the man just stood there calmly.
The magic started to settle on his shoulders and Dracka held the demon back as it started to rage. He could feel the pull towards Blake now and it put him on edge.
"This is why Dark Lords can be so dangerous," Blake remarked. "If they work with the dark magic and build on the skills that the added power gives them, they can turn allies against each other."
Dracka fell to one knee as the power pushed on him and he growled louder, feeling it roll over him. He could taste it on the air with the scent of Blake mixed in with it until he panted slightly as he looked up at those green eyes.
"But to understand dark magic you need to understand your wizard power," Blake said softly. "That is what you are feeling."
Dracka's eyes widened and Blake gave him a smirk, which went straight through him. He heard Severus gasp beside him, he couldn't look at the wizard with the demon ruling his thoughts.
"The same way that dark power can boost a spell," Blake said in amusement and the magic disappeared completely from the room. "Wizard power can also boost dark power if you work with it correctly."
Severus stalked across the room, grabbed the other man and pulled him close. Dracka looked down at the stones in front of him as the demon pushed on his thoughts. The fear from that night that his brother was killed in his mind. He started when Blake's magic brushed down his back and he looked up to see the man holding out his hand.
He gave him a smile and let Blake pulled him to his feet. He was surprised when the man pulled him close in a hug and he wrapped his arms around him. Feeling the strength in the man as he held him and his scent around him. Severus laid a hand on his back and he looked at him but the other man's eyes were unreadable.
Blake pushed him back and looked him over with his pale green eyes and Dracka shivered slightly under the man's gaze.
"You should never use it against someone that is a friend or lover," Blake stated with conviction. "Unless you want to make a point."
Blake gave him a grin and the man he knew was back and he smiled back as Severus's dark eyes settled on him. He felt the demon stepping back slightly and was surprised by that. The demon seemed to recognise the connection that the other two men held. Dracka wasn't going to come between that.
xXx
"So," Harry announced as he looked away from Dracka. "First lesson."
Severus sighed as he looked down at him.
"Are you teaching us now?" Severus drawled.
Harry barked a laugh.
"I've been teaching you two for years." Harry said with a smirk.
"Severus maybe," Dracka pointed out with a leer but it didn't reach his eyes.
Harry looked the man over and was concerned that he'd pushed too far.
"Oh, no." Harry cried with a grin. "Anyway, I have to call the Headmaster to see if he felt any of that."
Harry stepped back from the other two men as he pulled his phone and dialled the Headmaster.
"Yes, Blake?" Albus answered and Harry could hear the amusement in the man's voice.
"Did you feel anything after I did the warding?" Harry asked.
"Nothing after you did the warding," Albus confirmed.
"Perfect," Harry replied.
"I hope this means less headaches, Blake."
Harry gave a laugh.
"I would have to ward the whole school for that, Albus."
Albus just groaned and hung up.
"So," Harry announced, turning to the other two men and paused as he looked at them.
"Yes?" Severus drawled.
"Sorry," Harry stated and ran a hand over his head. "The ward works, so Dracka I may have to kick you out while I work with Severus and Mr Genger-"
"Blake," Severus snapped and Harry stopped.
"What?"
"You seem to have forgotten the part where you explain why I am here?" Severus drawled with a glare.
Dracka coughed a laugh.
"Dark magic lessons," Harry announced with a grin. "Are you game?"
Severus flinched back and Harry looked at him in surprise while Dracka sniggered.
"Why would you be giving me dark magic lessons?" Severus asked slowly.
Harry ran a hand over his head and gave him a grin.
"The Headmaster informed me that Callum Genger has been using dark magic," Harry informed him. "So, I will have to start lessons with him to get that under control."
"And you thought that you would teach me as well," Severus hissed and Harry stepped back from the look in the man's eyes, unsure.
"Well," Harry started to say but the look in Severus's eyes stopped him. "No problems, I'll just teach Mr Genger then."
Harry looked away.
"I'll just call back the tables and chairs," Harry told them as he moved back. "Now that the warding is done."
Blake?" Severus called.
"All good," Harry answered as he glanced back at the two. "Just move to the side and I'll cast the spell."
Dracka and Severus shared a look and Harry just waited.
"Dracka could always teach you, I suppose." Harry stated, looking at Severus then turning away as he started to call back the chairs and tables. "You will have to learn eventually, Severus. It's better that you learn control now then to call on it and lose control of the magic. Losing control of your dark magic is not something you want to do. Light magic has a lot more of give to it, so losing control of that isn't as much of a problem-"
"Blake!"
Harry started at looked over at the two men.
"What?"
"You are rambling," Severus pointed out in amusement.
"Sorry." Harry said as he called back the last table and looked around. "Dracka, I'm sure you can get the students to sort this mess out. I've got to go to talk to Mr Genger about these lessons."
Harry gave the men a grin and went to step out of the room when Severus grabbed his arm. Harry paused and looked at the man in question. His eyes were dark as they looked at him. There was something in the man's eyes that he hadn't seen before and Harry frowned.
"Why do you want to teach me dark magic?" Severus asked quietly.
"Not teach you dark magic," Harry replied. "Teach you how to control it. How to draw on it safely, if you need to and to understand the difference between it and your wizard magic."
Severus's eyes were unreadable as they looked at him and Harry gently pulled away.
"Just think about it, we have time. It doesn't have to be now." Harry explained and slipped out of the room, leaving the two men behind.
xXx
Severus looked over a Dracka but the vampire was no help.
"What just happened?" Severus asked the other man and he just snorted.
"I think Blake just showed his age," Dracka replied with a grin.
"Do you think that it was common place for people to use dark and light magic from the time he is from?" Severus asked.
"Very likely," Dracka replied with a grin. "He sure does. If it wasn't for my own nature I wouldn't be able to pick up when he's using dark magic."
Severus started at that.
"Light magic?" Severus questioned. "Can you tell when he uses that? The school wards wouldn't be able to pick up on it."
"I don't think he uses it much," Dracka remarked, looking at the mess of his classroom. "The Headmaster would be able to tell you."
The two men feel into silence for a couple of minutes.
"Severus," Dracka uttered and Severus looked over at him in question.
"You do know there is a difference between dark arts and dark magic," Dracka told him.
"Well yes," Severus drawled.
"As Blake would say," Dracka said with a smirk. "It's all magic in the end."
Severus smirked.
"Why do you think he really wants to teach me?" Severus questioned and Dracka looked away. "You know why?"
"Trying to work out Blake's mind?" Dracka laughed. "Good luck."
xXx
Harry's eyes were drawn to Callum as the boy sat with his best friend. The two boys were close and Harry hadn't seen him talk to anyone else and he frowned. He looked over to Ry at the Gryffindor table as he laughed and fit in easily with Ginny and her friends. His training was going well, if slow. He was due to spend a week at the Auror school next week. His eyes were drawn back to Callum as Dracka took a seat next to him.
"You're thinking, that can't end well." Dracka stated and Minerva snorted into her tea.
"No, no it can't." Harry agreed softly and leaned back in his chair.
"Mr Genger?" Minerva questioned, following where Harry was looking.
"What's he like in your classes?" Harry asked, turning to the woman next to him.
"Average really," Minerva replied. "But it's a show, he intentionally puts in false information into his assignments to get a lower grade. He's smart but he doesn't want to show it."
"How's he been going after everything with his father?" Harry asked. "Has he spoken to you?"
"I've offered," Minerva replied. "But he hasn't taken it up. He keeps to himself and only spends time with William Shelly. Has he spoken with you?"
"Yes," Harry answered as he remembered the boy's memories and the similarity to his own upbringing. "Yes, he has."
"Blake?" Dracka questioned.
Harry turned to the vampire and they shared a look as Minerva frowned over at them then paled.
"You," Minerva gasped and Harry looked over to her. "You're not thinking of…"
"Yes?" Harry purred in question.
"I'm sorry," Minerva stuttered and Harry quirked a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "What are you planning with Mr Genger?"
Harry looked back at the boy, the words of the crow in his ears.
"I'll let you know…when I work it out."
xXx
Callum Genger nervously knocked on Blake's door, unsure about why the man wanted to see him. He tried so hard not to stand out but Blake saw through that and knew more about him than anyone else and that made him even more nervous.
"Come in."
Callum pushed open the office door and moved inside but stopped when he noticed Blake leaning back on his desk and not in his seat as the man gave him a smile.
"Come on," Blake announced as he moved towards the door Callum still had open and he frowned. "Walkie time."
Callum's temper flared until he noticed the hellhound and realised that Blake was talking to it and not him. Callum fell into step behind Blake and watched as the hellhound bounded out in front of them. Blake looked over his shoulder and his pale green eyes locked with him.
"Going to walk with me?" Blake asked with a challenge in his eyes and voice. "You can act as a barrier between me and that beast."
Callum quirked a smile and fell into step with his teacher. Blake was unlike many adults he'd had contact with in his life and he relaxed slightly as they walked along. He always felt tense around men but Blake was different in a way that he couldn't put his finger on. Like there was a pull between them. Something that he didn't understand.
They moved out of the school and Blake steered them towards the front gates.
"Oi!" Blake yelled at the hellhound as it went running after a rabbit. "You have a job to do!"
Callum giggled and Blake gave him a grin before yelping as the beast went to nip him and Blake skipped to the side. He flicked his cane out at it and it jumped back.
"Bloody beasts," Blake cursed and Callum snorted.
"They don't like you," Callum observed, he'd noticed the way the animal took every opportunity to torment Blake and interrupt his classes.
"No, they don't." Blake agreed as he pulled his wand and focused on the beast. "I'll lock you in that form!"
The beast snarled at him before settling down beside them.
"Why?" Callum asked.
"No idea," Blake replied. "I must have made a bad impression on them and on that basis, they decided to hold a grudge."
"Where are we going?" Callum asked after a few minutes as they reached the front gates of the castle.
Blake turned to him and gave him a wink and a grin that on anyone else would have put him on edge. On Blake it just made him slightly nervous.
"Secret Dark Wizard business," Blake announced with a wide grin as he stepped over the wards.
Callum just looked at him with wide eyes as the man stood on the other side of the wards and the hellhound sniffed around. Blake held out his hand to Callum and he frowned.
"Shall we?" Blake asked with a challenging smirk.
"I'm not a Dark Wizard," Callum stuttered and Blake lifted an eyebrow.
"Yes, you are." Blake stated mildly as he let his hand drop and Callum didn't know what to say. "And so am I, it's nothing to be ashamed of. No matter what the idiots in the Ministry think."
Callum looked around the silent night. Besides him, it was only Blake and the hellhound.
Caw!
Callum started and looked up at the small crow in the tree to his right in surprise. They weren't alone after all.
Caw!
Callum turned back to Blake, standing there silently as he leaned on his cane and he felt like he stood on a crossroad. That two pathways had opened up in front of him. He could turn and walk back to the castle and he knew that Blake would accept that or he could take one step forward over the wards. Take what Blake was offering, which he wasn't even sure what that was.
Caw!
Callum slipped the silver snake out of his pocket. He'd turned it back into that shape with the help of the man before him. A man that had helped him and had looked at his memories without contempt or judgement. Had seen what he'd been through and had only offered him help and had asked nothing in return. He looked up into Blake's green eyes as the man waited for him, without saying a word. He had to ask.
"What my father did," Callum uttered. "That happened to you as well?"
"Not to the degree that your father did," Blake replied with no expression on his face. "I did not have a happy childhood."
Callum nodded, he'd had his suspicions. Not that it changed his opinion but Blake was being open and honest with him.
Caw!
They both looked up at the crow and the bird flapped its wings before taking to the air. It had made its point.
"Interfering beasts," Blake whispered under his breath but Callum heard him and quirked a smile.
Callum took a step forward as he made his choice. What that meant he wasn't sure yet as Blake looked him over. He had placed his trust in Blake before and he felt comfortable in doing it once again.
"Secret Dark Wizard business," Callum offered with a slight smile and Blake barked a laugh.
"That it is," Blake agreed.