Chapter 7:
Sirius was overjoyed at the opportunity to spend some quality time with his reunited godson. The excited man stopped at nothing to make sure Harry had the best of the magical world. Harry's new extendable trunk was filled with custom acromantula silk and dragonhide tunics, vests, boots, and robes. The shops the two had visited looked as though they were robbed, but Sirius's spending streak did not even come close to halting, much to Harry's dismay and growing concern. Now standing before Gringotts again, Sirius pulled out his long checklist of items and ran a finger down the list.
"Many of the items here will have to be ordered," Sirius grimaced, "I am surprised at how many of these are classified as restricted now. During my Hogwarts days, you could get any of these necessities at a regular shop."
"I don't believe - what did you call it - 'bottled fiendfire' is something that is even remotely legal," Harry frowned, "I don't see why I ever need half of the things you put on that list."
"You're no fun," Sirius sighed, "Imagine all the havoc you can cause with these beauties. Guess we have only one thing left we can buy today."
"A wand," Harry nodded. The young man was most excited for his own wand. Knowing the existence of magic or seeing it performed was one thing, but knowing that he will be able to control magic for himself was something far more significant. The wand is more than a tool, it was a symbol that Harry was part of this society.
"Usually people would suggest Ollivander's..."
"But you are not the usual person, right?" Harry sighed.
"No, I am not," Sirius grinned, "And you're not either, pup. We will be going somewhere not well known but so much better."
"A shop for the wealthier minority I presume?"
"You betcha!" Sirius laughed, "I hate all these pureblood customs and supremacist gits, but I have to admit, they do get the best of everything."
"What's the big difference between Ollivander's and wherever you had in mind?"
"You'll see," Sirius replied ominously as he led the way into a dark alley.
After multiple sharp turns down narrow alleys and getting lost somewhere along the way, Sirius finally stopped in front of a small redbrick shop with a certain rustic charm. The moment Sirius stepped on the doorway, a series of clicks clinked from within the door and it flew open with great force. Signaling for Harry to follow, Sirius marched into the darkened interior of the shop.
Harry's eyes wandered feverishly as he walked past the open door. The simple exterior of the shop completely juxtaposed its disheveled interior. Hundreds of different wooden instruments were displayed behind glass shelves and thousand more laid silently on the walls and even hung from the ceiling. The sizes of these wooden items ranged from small wooden rings to ten feet long staffs bent in odd angles. Overall, the shop was quite overwhelming.
"This is..."
"Where we will find a magical instrument for you," spoke a softly melodic yet powerful voice from behind the pair of customers. Harry jumped as the doors slammed shut and shuttered at the foreign presence, one which seemed ancient beyond comprehension.
"Don't scare me like that, Selene!" Sirius yelped, but a toothy grin betrayed his amusement.
"Ah, young Lord Black, how time has changed you," Selene said as she stepped from the shadows into the dim light of the shop. Her deathly pale skin shimmered faintly as though she was covered by tiny beads of water. Black silk robes hung loosely from her slender body, though they still could not hide away her shapely curves. The darkness of the walls blended with her pitch-black hair, but a pair of blood red eyes shined like a beacon in the night. Her face seemed unnaturally young and beautiful; her expression revealed wisdom impossible for her youthful appearance.
"You still look sexy as hell!" Sirius whistled.
"Repeating what I told you so many years ago, I am old enough to be the founder of your house," Selene smiled back but never taking her eyes off Harry.
"Still doesn't mean I can't try," Sirius mutter.
"Such a cute little boy," Selene laughed as she stepped forward, looking at Sirius for the first time. "We should proceed with intended business before young Lord Black gets sidetracked again."
"Oh, yes. That..." Sirius snapping out of his daydream, "Young Lord Potter here needs a wand worthy of his lordship."
"Sirius..." Harry sighed. For the entire morning, Sirius had introduced Harry as Lord Potter to anyone who wished to listen, which happened to be everyone. Since Andromeda never informed anyone else of Harry's return, it came as a shock when Sirius suddenly proclaimed Harry's return. Sirius informed Harry that his plan was to rile up the entire magic community so that Harry can make a grand reentry, much to Harry's discomfort.
"Master Potter has arrived at last," Selene smile with a small bow of courtesy, one which Harry returned immediately.
"Hey! Why am I young Lord Black, but you call this little cub master?"
"There are things that are meant to be," Selene suddenly appearing behind Harry and rested her crimson lips on the lobe of his ear. She silently slithered her arms protectively around Harry's shoulders, licked her lips seductively, and whispered: "There are also other things that are never meant to happen at all."
"Damn cub," Sirius said with a grin, "First you seduce my cousin Nymphy and now the great Selene? Sweet Merlin I am proud of you."
"Sometimes I do not know whether I should fear your insanity or be amused by it," Selene said to Sirius. Harry was as still as a statue. He felt her warmth pressing into him and her sanguine lips so close to his own. Some parts of him wanted to break free of her enchantment, but other parts wish to bathe in it.
"What do you mean?" Sirius asked in confusion.
"Nothing important," Selene replied quickly and planted a firm kiss on Harry's cheek, causing him to blush as red as Selene's eyes.
Her slim figure darted into the darkness of the shop and she signaled for Harry and Sirius to follow.
Sirius shrugged and led Harry into one of the many dust-covered aisles of the dimly lit shop. They found Selene standing in front of an obsidian chalice holding three medium-sized vials in a pool of crimson red fluid.
"I need you to fill these three vials with your blood," Selene smiled happily at Harry. For a moment, Harry thought he saw a flash of carnal hunger in her eyes but quickly dismissed the thought.
"Is this regular procedure for purchasing a wand?" Harry asked warily.
"I didn't have to do that when she found my wand for me..." Sirius frowned.
"Master Potter is somebody special," Selene winked at Harry. "Well come on now, don't be shy."
The dark-haired girl slithered her arm under Harry's and dragged him to the chalice. She gently supported his wand-arm and placed a serrated stone knife in his open palm. Wrapping her finger over his, her body pressed into Harry's back as she brought his hand and the knife to his left wrist and slowly pressed into his skin, as though savoring the moment, causing the release of a warm pool of blood. Her petite yet strong form kept Harry from flinching in pain. In a swift motion, she brought his bleeding wrist above the first vial and allowed the blood to flow freely down the tips of his fingers and into the awaiting vessel. She then repeated this two more times after the first vial was completely full, but allowed the third vial to only fill up half way. Surprisingly, not a single drop of Harry's warm blood splashed outside of the vials during Selene's maneuvering.
"The last one isn't full yet," Harry gulped, unable to tear his eyes away from his still bloody wrist.
"Mhm," Selene replied nonchalantly and brought her cool lips to Harry's bleeding wrist. The gushing red blood painted streaks across Selene's pale, white skin, and made her crimson, full lips even more luscious.
"What are you..." Harry's words died in his mouth when Selene pressed a finger to his lips. Sirius froze but continued watching Selene with widened eyes.
After a few long seconds, Harry began to feel light-headed. His body gently swayed and his knees threatened to cave in. Sensing his reaction, Selene tore her mouth away from Harry's wrist and instead wrapped her arms around his waist and pressed her crimson lips onto Harry's. Her breath was surprisingly hot compared to her cold lips, and the taste of his own warm blood increased Harry's dizziness. The kiss was neither perverse nor chaste, but full of demand - a hunger in the beautiful girl's lips which sought desperate salvation in the lips they touched. Harry could not bring back his lucidity – his will possessed by an instinct to reciprocate the sensations he felt. Neither of the intertwined two knew how much time had past, but they were broken apart by a panicking Lord Black.
"What in the bloody hell is going on here!" Sirius demanded in distraught as his eyes darted between the two blood-soaked figures, "Selene! He's only fifteen! He could be your great grandson! Oh, Merlin the blood! What…"
Sirius Black continued to rant as Selene quickly stoppered all three blood-filled vials and bandaged Harry's bleeding wrist.
"Are you even listening to me?" Sirius stomped his foot loudly in hopes of gaining her attention.
Not dignifying that with a response Selene's attention never left the dumbfounded boy who stood motionlessly, jaw slightly agape. Selene pecked his cheek lightly as she pulled out a vial of a pinkish-red fluid, "Drink this blood-replenishing potion and you will feel less lightheaded."
Harry complied diligently and felt the rush of blood returning his motor functions and the brain he had forgotten he possessed.
"Why did you take the blood?" Sirius asked more sternly, "But more importantly why did you just kiss my godson?"
"I lost my composure," Selene answered with a shrug as her predatory gaze fell back on Harry, "It might do you well to remember that I'm a pureblood vampire. And to us, some blood carries more power than others… And, to me, Master Harry here has the most irresistible blood. One I have not tasted in many lifetimes..."
Harry shuddered at her last whispered comment and pulled himself away from the seducing girl.
"Umm…" Harry began, but foolishly stood there with his mouth open.
Selene smiled apologetically at the boy and turn to the basin to pocket the three vials of blood.
"The two vials of blood are to be used for the making of a bloodstone for Master Harry," Selene smiled, licking her lips in a full circle, "The scent still sends shivers down my spine."
"What do you mean a Bloodstone?" Sirius asked in confusion, but the tension in his form visibly tightened. "I thought only ancient vampires or whoever have those jewels… Are you telling me they are literally made from blood?"
"Yes," Selene answered nonchalantly as she took a step towards Harry, who in turn fled behind the protection of Sirius like a wounded animal, "Bloodstones are the ultimate fruit of alchemy. The wizardkind is more familiar with a similar form, but less pure, known as the philosopher's stone. Both stones have great power and potential, albeit for opposite purposes, purposes I am not about to discuss at this moment."
"You wish to create such a stone out of Harry's blood," Sirius stated as he drew his wand, "Sounds to me you wish him harm!"
"Always so brash and fast to… conclude," Selene smirked, brushing aside his wand with the back of her hand. "Only the bearer of the blood used to make the bloodstone has the ability to command its powers. I have reasons, you can say both selfish and altruistic, to guarantee the safety of the young master, and help him unlock his true potential. But it's not something you need to, or would, understand, Lord Black."
"You… ugh… love the boy?" Sirius guessed wildly as he sheathed his wand, "Is that what the kiss was?"
"Don't ask questions with consequences you cannot comprehend," Selene warned sternly. Though she was visibly trying to control herself, a wave of anger and fragility emanated from her core. "But I vow upon my honour and blood that all I will do... and have done is for the young master's sake… and maybe a bit for mine."
"Mhmm…" Sirius nodded, not fully convinced, "Let us say I do believe you have his best interests at heart, but," looking behind his shoulders at the cowering boy, "I think you broke him."
"Fear not," Selene projected loudly on tipped-toes, as though trying to penetrate her voice through Sirius and reach the ears of the boy behind him, "The young Master Harry will be wanting more soon enough, and he knows where to come…"
Sirius coughed into his fist, for the first time truly uncomfortable.
"Umm how about we get the wand for Harry and we will be out of here?" Sirius suggested hopefully.
"Tsk, tsk, is foreplay over already, Lord Black?" Selene replied as she walked away with a dazzling swaying of her hips, "I would have thought the drooling dog to last a bit longer, or maybe not."
"Okay, you win!" Sirius said in defeat, "I won't bother or hit on you anymore! Happy? Now the wand?"
"The puppy learned a valuable lesson today," Selene said from the shadows on the room, distinctive clinging of glass vials sent waves of echoes, "But for the wand, I fear there is nothing which can control the power of Master Harry's magic. He will find no bond here."
"No ugh… bond huh," Sirius muttered as he rubbed the back of his head, "Then can you make one for him?"
"No wand born from my hands can hope to understand or command the scope of Harry's magic," Selene said as she continued to work in the dark, "And there will never be one of that aptitude to be born."
"Your way of talking is making Harry sound like the next Merlin himself," Sirius joked.
"Is he not?" Selene muttered from the shadows, barely audible.
"Now I can't tell if you are joking or not…" Sirius sighed, "I'll just take the poor shivering boy and leave before he has another panic attack. When will you have that stone ready?"
"Harry will know when it is time, and he will know how to use it when the time comes."
Sirius nodded in confusion but pressed no more. He turned around, placing an arm around Harry's shoulder, and guided the still shell-shocked boy towards the long-awaited exit. As Sirius turned the doorknob, a sudden intrigue suddenly sprang into his mind.
"I might have missed something," Sirius said with a sharp turn of his head towards the darkest corner of the room, where Selene most likely was, "You said only two vials of blood were needed… then what is the third vial going to be used for?"
"Oh, you were paying attention," Selene hummed joyously. "There must be some payment for my hard work. And besides, who would deny a beautiful lady from her nightly delights? Fly now little pup... and don't turn back!"
With the end of her words, Sirius was thrown out the door by an invisible force while Harry was seemingly lifted and placed outside. As Sirius climbed to his feet and dusted off his robes, he could have sworn he heard the woman's wicked smile appear on her face.
Notes:
Hey people, sorry for the great delay. I had to pay Spain a visit, and I also had to move from one apartment to another. Life is troublesome. I hope you guys enjoy the story so far. I love the constructive criticism and COMPLEMENTS, and I am open to plot, character, or overall suggestions.
Tell me if you like Selene. There could potentially be a great role for her later on.
I once again apologize for writing muggle-born instead of muggle. I was sleep-deprived and very tired. Probably drunk too.
It's currently 3am at my location so excuse me if I made another typo
