You're probably tired of hearing this but I'm ill and apologise in advance if this is terrible. (I'm sorry you don't have a healthy author.)

Warnings for debauchery toward end of chapter.

-YDHP-

Blood and garlic, being around Riddle really made Vlad's skin crawl. His feigned friendly voice did nothing to soothe Vlad's hatred for the mans presence.

"Vladimir. To what do we owe the pleasure?"

"Greyback around?"

Vlad grit his teeth, opting not to chastise Riddle for calling him Vladimir no matter how many times he asked him to stop. He wanted the psychopath agreeable after all.

"Naturally, the poor animal is still recovering from the moon. I had him play with a pack of real wolves... it was delightfully messy. Forgive my prying, but you don't strike me as the type to seek out a mongrel like Fenrir."

"He reminds me of my mothers boyfriend, and I just found out he's knocked her up. So... I'm wanting to take my frustrations out on Greyback out of convenience. Problem?"

Vlad saw the glee in his eyes for Vlad's bloodlust, felt nauseous for having caused it. He wasn't lying - Magda was pregnant, having an illegal crossbreed baby. Vlad supposed he couldn't judge, being one himself. At least he didn't need an excuse.

"I fear he won't be able to put up much fight."

"I'm sure I can work him up a bit."

"Would you protest an audience?"

Vlad thought quickly - it would be harder to get Greyback's blood with people watching, but he knew he needed to put on a show of sorts or Riddle might get bored of him.

"Depends. If he's just going to lie on the ground I'm not having your lackeys watch, or they'll compare it to the pathetic attempts at torture they were inflicting on breathers. If he has a bit of fight in him, I suppose your idiot minions can watch."

Riddle smiled - or as close as his serpentine, inhuman face was capable of - and led Vlad away. He could smell the dark magic lingering in the air, cloying and sickly like invisible black sludge clogging his senses. He dug down to think of Harry, clinging to the strength of his mate. He was doing this for Harry - Harry wanted Lupin and Draco free of their curses, and Vlad could help do that for him.

He had a couple of vials in his pockets with Notice-Me-Not charms on, trying to keep the magical interference of the blood to a minimum. Contaminants weren't a good idea. He wouldn't get many chances to get it right, at least without raising suspicions.

Greyback was slumped on the floor, surrounded by a dozen other wolves that Vlad wondered if Greyback had turned. It would be grand fun to cure wolves from under Riddle's non-nose. The room reeked of blood and wolf, sweat and dirt. If he couldn't tell the difference by scent, Vlad wouldn't be sure whether the scruffy mounds of flesh were male or female.

"You've been recruiting. I only fought off six and one of those was my teacher."

"Yes. Greyback does so love to spread his disease. These are the last six months, two a cycle."

"So... Greyback turned all of them?"

Vlad needed to leave the room soon before he was sick from the smell, but he also needed information.

"Indeed. Efficient guard dogs with brute strength and both enhanced senses and healing capabilities."

"And by the smell, you don't let them bathe."

"Dogs don't like baths."

Vlad made himself chuckle, pretended to find the anti-werewolf joke funny.

"Well before I throw up from the stench, wake him up so I can hex him to Hades and back would you?"

A very unhappy but compliant Greyback was roughly woken by a hex, then effectively dragged by Riddle to another room. Effectively, because Riddle didn't need rope or strength to move people. They did it out of fear.

"I'm sure you're wondering what young Vladimir is doing here. You see Greyback, you just happen to be the wrong species at the wrong time. As you will, Vladimir."

He wasn't surprised Riddle wanted to watch, though with the mans keen eyes it would be harder to get away with collecting the blood. Making Greyback bleed wouldn't be a difficulty in itself - Vlad felt hatred pulse in his veins for the bitten beast, the one who actively sought to spread lycanthropy and killed indiscriminately.

Still, he hoped for a little bit of fight. There was no real fun in beating someone who couldn't, or wouldn't fight back. Greyback gave Riddle side-eyes, obviously wondering if this was punishment or simple entertainment.

"My Lord?"

"Silencio! That's much better."

Greyback scowled, but his mouth didn't make another sound even when Vlad expected he was growling and hissing angrily.

"Are you not one for hearing the screams?"

Vlad shook his head, loosely shrugging.

"My hearing is a lot more sensitive than yours."

"I suppose that would wear on a man."

Vlad couldn't help wondering if a part of Riddle was actually achingly lonely. He had certainly been so when he first met Lily Evans' mother, and he hadn't made any more friends since. The Death Eaters weren't his friends, they were barely even worthy of the title 'allies' despite their shared cause. They were effectively human missiles Riddle aimed at things, knowing they would go full force and wipe people out in his name.

Because it seemed like, when Vlad was insolent but appeared to share in his motivations, Riddle actually... enjoyed the company. Maybe it was the novelty, that Vlad wasn't so terrified he could hardly speak.

Confused as he was, Greyback didn't react at first when Vlad hexed him. Werewolves healed faster than a human, so he needed a decent couple of deep cuts to bleed the wolf enough, but he had to make a show of it now Riddle was watching.

Recovering, Greyback dropped to a crouch, mouth pulled back in a snarl even if he couldn't actually make the threatening sound that came with it. He looked every inch the cornered animal he was, though it was sluggish and tired - he was still healing from the moon.

Vlad clenched his fist, gaining a little too much vindictive pleasure from watching Greyback choke on nothing as finger-shaped bruises mottled his neck. Dropping the silently-gasping wolf down, he watched dispassionately as Greyback resumed his defensive crouch. He wanted to fight, but until Riddle said it was ok he didn't dare. Vlad ran his eyes over the bare torso, realising Greyback didn't even bear the Dark Mark. He wasn't a real death eater, just a rabid animal Riddle liked to throw at people.

A few shallow Cutting charms showered the floor in droplets of blood - not enough for Vlad's use, nor would they stay open long but out of the corner of his eye, he saw Riddle's too-thin mouth twist up in a cruel smirk. He was enjoying it.

"Does this animal have a wand?"

"The wolves share a couple of captured ones, not the best fit but serviceable. I take it then, that you want more of a challenge?"

"Where's the fun in clobbering a ball of wet fur? Off you go then."

His sneer faltered, but Riddle stood and turned away, taking a few measured steps toward the door. Vlad stayed still until he turned around, seeing the lack of movement. The second he was alone, Vlad stunned Greyback and re-opened one of the cuts, filling them with his blood and capping the vials. He managed to close them enough to be less noticeable, levitating Greyback to float unconscious next to him. Riddle quirked an eyebrow - kind of, he didn't really have eyebrows - at the position.

"Couldn't have him try and bite me because you weren't looking. Plus, I thought you wanted a show."

Vlad managed to draw out a half-lazy duel with Greyback that was no challenge at all against a half-healed recently transformed bitten. But... at least it entertained the Death Eaters, and several more opted to jump in and challenge him.

Four unconscious, bleeding bodies later, several backed off their challenge under the guise of refusing to fight a child.

"Hmm. You'll have no excuse in a year, and I'll be stronger. Your funeral."

Despite outward appearances, Vlad was exhausted and, through gritted teeth, thanked Riddle for letting him knock Greyback around before he left. He downed Replenisher as soon as he got outside, feeling it glow warmly inside him as his magical cores rebuilt. He definitely needed chocolate when he got back to the Manor though.

His knees shook but held him up as he landed back in the Manor, only then realising he had been gone much of the day.

"You reek of werewolf and dark magic."

Ingrid looked him up and down, but her Healer training kicked in as she offered him Honeydukes finest.

"Had to entertain the boss. Here's your blood. Only magic is on the vials."

He handed her the wolf blood, then felt the impact of the other half of himself wrapping around him.

"I was worried."

"I'm fine. Exhausted and mildly sick, but fine. And it was necessary to make Draco stop stinking out the Gryffindor dorm before I transform."

Draco rolled his eyes, mock-scowling.

"Bat breath."

"Fleabag. You go help with the brewing Harry, I need a shower and a square meal."

"You sure?"

"Yeah, go on."

Harry kissed him, leaving Vlad grinning dumbly before they separated, Vlad toward the stairs and Harry off toward the lab. His shower was much needed, cleansing the scent of blood and magic off his skin. It had been awful, but worth it. Both for the blood, and for the sake of keeping Riddle's suspicions quieted as Vlad displayed the expected bloodlust and magical power.

There was a hearty amount of food waiting and being picked at by Harry and Draco; even when Vlad knew he had missed dinner.

"Soon, you two could be human."

Draco nodded, a silent but strong-smelling Remus Lupin quiet in the corner.

"Thanks to you. Today can't have been easy for you."

"Even if we weren't friends Draco, you're Harry's family. There's nothing I wouldn't do for him. Up to and including helping cure lycanthropy apparently."

Lupin sought him out when everything was quieter, only Harry witnessing the awkward conversation.

"I... I misjudged you Vladimir. I'm sorry."

"You were looking out for Harry. And... you failed to keep us apart, so if I wanted to be party... I won. Don't thank me yet... you need to figure out how you'll lose your werewolf registration. We've kept Draco a secret, you are known to many as a wolf."

"I'm sure I can work it out."

"So long as it's not by saying some vampires gave you your sires blood. Riddle will get suspicious."

"Naturally."

"Well. I've done my part. The rest is up to you potions geeks, I'm not playing with Wolfsbane."

Ingrid swatted his head, but she probably understood the sentiment. He hadn't even known she was there.

"You bleed one mongrel and you think you're hot stuff."

Her words resonated deep inside him, shaking off the double meaning.

"Speaking of hot stuff... I'm getting a hot chocolate and going to bed."

He knew Harry wouldn't be joining him immediately, having potion work to get on with. Though having his mate close by would undoubtedly be a welcome boost after such a dragging day, Vlad knew it was short term - the werewolf cure took precedence.

All the same, when Harry appeared in his room, freshly showered and so cleansed of the smell of werewolf and Wolfsbane, Vlad felt much better as the other boy crawled into his arns.

"Thank you. Today must have been awful for you."

"It was for Draco. So... it was for you. I trust that you would help Ingrid or George if I couldn't, so of course I would help your brother."

"Yeah, you almost died saving my little sister though."

"I would have saved Raven if I had no clue who her family was. No baby belongs in that place."

He shuddered, but Harry held him tighter, kissed his jaw. Melting beneath the weight of his mates comfort, Vlad relaxed.

"And you saved George before you knew she was your sister. It doesn't change that saving my family means something extra to me."

Harry ran a hand down his chest, staying clear of his Mark but tracing his scar and leaving his arm slung casually over his stomach.

"I would do anything for you Harry. Up to and icluding tangling with werewolves."

"That's what makes me a lucky half breed serpent with a vampire mate."

"You're my mate. That doesn't make me yours... if snakes have mates."

"Well... it's a little redundant to say I'm not. I mean, I'm not a vampire so it's not biological, but everything else tells me I'm yours and you're mine."

Vlad started to worry he had upset Harry, but the wizard put paid to that by kissing him gently.

"Now enough heavy stuff. Go to sleep."

"You should take dreamless, Riddle was mad at a few people when I left and I don't want you suffering for it."

Harry did so, dropping off almost instantly on Vlad's chest and coccooning him within the warmth and security he so badly needed. Brushing a hand through his thick, messy hair, Vlad let himself fall asleep too, ignoring the itch of the Mark on his chest.

"Ok. Here we go."

Harry checked the instructions, nodded to himself and scooped the recommended serving size into a goblet. It was a mottled green colour, grey until the blood had been added. It smelled awful. Remus wrinkled his nose as Harry handed over the bizarrely warm brew.

"Are you sure about this Remus?"

"I'm not going to survive life as a wolf much longer. This may well be my last chance to see you grow up Harry."

Vlad, Ingrid and Vertrand each stood along the far wall, ready to stop Remus if the potion turned out to destroy his human half instead of his wolf. That was actually Remus' own choice. The only others present were Harry, the brewer not allergic to Wolfsbane, and Draco, who refused to not see this through.

"Well... here's to your good health Harry."

Harry felt a churlish urge to say some sort of monologue in case the cure went wrong, but he couldn't think of a single thing to say. Remus frowned into the depths of his goblet, then leant his head back a little and downed the lot in one.

"Worse than Wolfsbane... who knew that was possible?"

His voice came out hoarse, like he was holding back bile in his throat as he cringed, then leant forward and wretched though nothing came up. For a minute, nothing happened. Then out of nowhere, Remus crumpled to the ground and let out a pained scream, body contorting in the way Harry deeply suspected resembled his monthly full moon transformation.

He made to try and comfort him, but arms wound around his chest as Vlad held him back.

"You know how rewriting your DNA hurts, I know it's tough to watch but you have to let it happen."

His boyfriend stayed by his side and watched the man writhe in agony on the ground, though he saw no vindictive pleasure in Vlad as one would expect from a vampire watching the werewolf who tried to keep him from his mate suffering. He gripped Harry's hand, letting Harry take comfort from him as the pain went on, then dissipated suddenly. Remus was soaked in sweat and his muscles shook, but he yanked back his sleeve and stared at the scar fading from his arm.

"Is that your turning bite?"

"I've had this scar since I was four years old. I always expected to die with it."

Vlad knelt down alongside Harry, next to Remus' prone form. He leant closer and sniffed him, wrinkling his nose. Harry's heart sank - had it failed?

"You stink. But of sweat and pain. The wolf scent is faded, nearly gone."

Harry could have wept for joy. He had helped cure Remus, which meant now they could cure Draco. Rather than leap up, he simply leapt on Vlad and kissed him.

"Can you two feel each other up later? None of us can get near the cauldron and Draco needs his vitamin shake."

Vlad's dilated eyes and heavy breathing was almost too tempting, but he could always thank Vlad properly later. Standing up, he helped haul Vlad back to his feet and then they both picked Remus up off the floor. Draco stepped forward for his turn, looking to Remus for advice or warning.

"It tastes terrible and it really hurts, fair warning. It's like going through the moon... but for the last time."

"Thanks for the pep talk. Let's do this."

Harry dispensed a fresh goblet of nasty green liquid for Draco, holding it out.

"You'll have to stop saving me sometime."

"What's family for bro?"

Draco smiled, reaching for the goblet and staring into it. Even though it had only been a year, Harry knew the moon had taken a toll on him already. How Remus had stayed upbeat and energetic was anyone's guess. Draco gave him a nod, a silent agreement that there were no hard feelings if it didn't work.

"Bottoms up."

The Malfoy nose wrinkled in distaste as he swallowed the revolting mixture. Knowing what he was expecting, Draco managed to roll up his sleeve before the pain came in, obviously hoping to watch his scar fade too.

His wasn't anywhere near as dramatic, tumbling to the ground but there were far less screams and spasms, and it seemed it was over much faster. Draco himself looked surprised from the ground, turning his head to look at his outstretched arm.

"I was expecting much worse. I doubt its a pain threshold thing after he's been doing it much longer..."

Harry chewed his lip, casting his eyes at Remus with his lined face and greying hair.

"Wait. Maybe that's it. You've not been turned as long. It had less to... undo?"

Ingrid joined them, dragging Draco to his feet and sniffing him with distaste for his sweaty skin.

"Best working theory. But we have to test you first. And hold your breath until the full moon."

"Test us? How?"

Ingrid didn't waste time, pressing a coin to his arm.

"Does that hurt?"

"No. Silver?"

"Yep. Catch!"

She tossed it at Remus, who caught it deftly and stared at it in his hand.

"I haven't touched silver for so long. This is so strange."

"Well, our work here is done. Now if you howl at the moon your only excuse is your own madness. I'm going to bed."

Ingrid turned and left, Bertrand congratulating Draco quietly before excusing himself too.

"Feel free to get washed up before you apparate home Remus. I'm going to go show Hermione, and then I am in dire need of a bath."

Vlad frowned, then chuckled.

"I don't want to know."

Draco flushed, but jogged off toward where his girlfriend waited. Remus continued to stare at the coin in his hand, then looked up at Vlad.

"I can never thank you enough."

"Sure you can. Don't try to break us up... and live. I didn't do it for you, I did it for Harry so do what makes him happy, and we're even. Firstly... go take a bath. You smell."

Harry found himself agreeing when Remus hugged him, holding his breath until he was released. Vlad watched with a knowing smirk, but said nothing.

"I'll do it at Grimmauld, Sirius must be going out of his mind."

"Or chewing his own tail."

"Harsh Vlad."

Vlad stuck out his tongue.

"Eh, accurate."

Sharing a grin, Vlad confirmed outgoing apparition still worked fine and Remus popped out, leaving the two alone.

"You think you could learn to make that again?"

"The cure? I ah, I guess so. Why?"

"Riddle has Greyback turning a whole pack. Going to have to fix that sometime. Right now... you need a bath too, you smell like Lupin. Evanesco!"

The cauldron emptied - they didn't need it any longer and it would have turned rancid by the next day. Harry let Vlad pull him to one of their rooms; he didn't pay close enough attention to which. He wanted to thank Vlad properly, and Vlad apparently just wanted to touch him all the time. They stripped as the bath ran, filled with a soft citrus scent and pale yellow bubbles.

Harry basked in the hot water next to Vlad, enjoying the lazy motions of exploring each other with their hands, already knowing each others bodies exceptionally well from many nights of eager investigating. Vlad was slowly becoming more confident in initiating things, though he preferred Harry to do so. He nudged Harry upward until he sat on the edge of the bath, erection obvious and level with Vlad's face where he still floated in bathwater.

He knew Vlad hadn't done this before - he had never even kissed Krum properly, and then there was Harry. But he seemed eager rather than nervous, cool breath ghosting across Harry's erection and drawing a soft whine from his throat. Considering how low a temperature his body ran by comparison to most, Vlad's mouth and tongue were surprisingly hot.

His hand stayed around the base of Harry's shaft, stroking and squeezing as his mouth closed over the tip and his tongue swirled around the sensitive head. Vlad already knew where Harry was most sensitive, having dedicated many hours to learning his responsiveness to every touch and using his tongue where fingers had once explored.

"Merlin Vlad, that feels good."

His technique was still a little sloppy, saliva pooling at the side of his mouth but Vlad seemed to have learned not to breathe or something, never faltering in the slick, wet suction of his mouth as he stroked what he couldn't take in his mouth. Harry struggled to keep his eyes open as his body shook, letting out some probably unappealing needy sounds of desperation, placing a hand on Vlad's head to try and steady himself as he trembled.

Words failing him as he felt his climax near, Harry tugged at Vlad's hair in warning but Vlad stayed fixed on, sucking harder and humming encouragingly until Harry let go and spilled into his mouth. Vlad swallowed him down, lapping gently to ensure he missed none and only pulled off when Harry whimpered with oversensitive shudders.

"Wow. That was... unexpected."

"Was it ok?"

"More than."

Harry dropped back into the bath with lax muscles, watching as Vlad wiped his mouth and bore swollen lips. Given Vlad's typical 'Dracula' pouting lower lip, it made his mouth even more enticing than usual.

"I uh-"

Vlad knew what he was going to say before he even started.

"You don't have to do it back. If you're uncomfortable, I'm uncomfortable. Nobody would be having fun."

Harry nodded, smiling gratefully at Vlad not pushing him to overstep his comfort zone. He was more than happy to run a hand down Vlad's torso, circling his grip around Vlad's swollen cock and stroking. Vlad never took much to topple him over the edge when Harry had come, his pleasure and arousal almost hardwired into Harry's now. He gripped the side of the sunken bath, hips rocking into Harry's grip until the rush finally eased, all sated smiles and relaxed muscles.

"Good job we were done bathing, huh?"

"Yeah, you soiled the bathwater."

Vlad shrugged, chuckling as they dried off and got dressed. He noticed Vlad was no longer nervous to be naked around him, regardless of whether it was before or after they were fooling around. Harry liked it.

Draco was an absolute explosion of excitement and energy the next day, touching silver things indiscriminately and staring at the blank skin where his scar had once been. Harry really hoped that everything had gone to plan, and that the future full moon would hold no sway over his brother.

-YDHP-

halfway through summer holidays and they might have cured werewolves... Not a bad use of their time off right?