AN: sorry this was so late, but I've had so much to deal with lately. School, mostly, but also some family issues. I would like it if you could check out my new website, tyger66 dot tk, and leave a message in the shoutbox, send me an email, review, etc. Just please, give me feedback. I really need to know if I'm headed in the right direction.

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"You were late getting back."

Harry grinned at Hermione. "I'm always late getting back."

She huffed. "Later than usual, I mean."

He shook his head, recalling the events of the night before. "I got cornered by Malfoy."

She scoffed. "Even that wouldn't keep you out that late."

Sighing, Harry answered. "Okay, I had a short conversation with Snape afterwards. But it wasn't that big a deal."

She gave him a look. "And you didn't mention any of this because...?"

"Because I didn't feel like it."

She watched him for a moment, but when he refused to elaborate, she sighed and walked away. It wasn't worth dealing with him. Harry watched her with an impassive look on his face. He wondered, sometimes, just how much he had changed from the person he used to be...

Hermione was tired of his moods. She had put up with him during their whole fifth and sixth years despite being screamed at more times that she could count. She had been supportive when she found out that he was a vampire, and had even allowed herself to be turned so that the three of them could be friends-and maybe more-forever. So that Harry wouldn't be alone. But now...now, after only a few months of their new life, Harry was changing even more. Those first weeks, after he had been turned, he had changed so dramatically that Hermione had been scared, and had told Ron to find out what had happened. The relationships that had resulted from that had been...unexpected, to say the least; Ron had returned to her, thoroughly snogged, and told her that he had found out about Harry-not through questioning, but more physical means. Hermione had been shocked, but not as much as she should have been.

Since then, things had gotten much better, eventually resulting in their decision to join Harry in eternity. He had mellowed, and had become almost himself again. But now- now, something else was happening. And it frightened her.

But as Ron came down the stairs, she couldn't help but smile. He was exceptionally good-looking. He took one look at Harry and knew something was up.

"What's wrong?" He asked.

Hermione looked around at the few people in the common room, all staring rather obviously at them. 'I don't know,' she answered, lapsing into parseltongue. It was an ability that they had all developed after sharing blood with Harry. The entire room winced, and Ron hid a smirk as they headed up to the boys' dormitory together.

'I think it might have something to do with Snape.'

'Snape? Is Harry still sulking about him?'

Hermione shrugged. 'I think it's more the fact that he's finally realizing that Snape is not quite as greasy as we thought in first year.'

The redhead grimaced at the thought. 'I can't imagine what he sees in the git.'

Hermione laughed, and the conversation gradually turned to other subjects until they reached the dorm, and Ron opened the door, gesturing her inside. She smiled flirtatiously at him, and entered. He smirked, and closed the door, all thoughts of Harry and Snape suspended until later.

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Harry stared contemplatively into the fire. Ron and Hermione had been talking about him, but he really didn't care. He couldn't understand all of what was said, but whenever they spoke in parseltongue, especially around others, it had to do with either him or their vampirism. Added to the fact that he had heard the word Snape, which sounded incredibly strange when spoken in the snake language, and there was no doubt what the subject of their conversation had been.

He supposed he should be resentful, that they were talking about his personal life, even more so that they were now up in the dorm, having sex in the bed right next to his, but even his most primal instincts could find nothing to complaining about. They were his blood, he had no secrets from them, and they were as much in love with each other as they were with him, and he with both of them. There was no room for jealousy, or resentment. But this thing with Snape...this could tear them apart, destroy the very delicate balance they had set up. He might be attracted to the man, could even flirt with him, but he would never truly act on his feelings. It wouldn't work. He wasn't even human anymore, and he had no plans on making any more of his kind. Ron and Hermione had been enough. Any one else could cause suspicion.

He sighed. It was kind of strange, being alone in this group, the Gryffindors, who had always been his good friends, supportive in the worst of times, until this. Until his most horrifying change, into a creature untouched by feeling and friendship.

"Harry?"

He looked up from the fire at Neville, who looked terrified just being in his presence.

"Yes?"

The boy shifted uncomfortably, then compulsively sat down on the couch next to Harry. "I-I was w-wondering, Harry...if-if-ifyoureallyareavampire."

Harry blinked. "Neville...what?"

Neville cleared his throat and pulled at his tie nervously before repeating the question, slower. "A-are you r-really a v-va-vampire?'

Harry stared for a moment, frozen. Then he quickly surveyed the room, taking note of the sudden interest everyone in the room was showing in their conversation. Sighing, he stood up. "Neville-why don't we talk somewhere else, okay?"

Neville nodded, looking positively terrified, then followed Harry out of the room, shaking like a leaf. Harry led him to the room that he had just left a little while ago, then turned around and took a long, contemplative look at him.

"Why did you ask if I was a vampire?" He asked. "Haven't you already heard all about that from the other Gryffindors?" He took a step forward, backing Neville into the corner. "Or if not, from the Ravenclaws? Maybe even the Slytherins? Why ask me?" He was getting closer and closer, and Neville finally snapped.

"Because it's about you! I, for one, don't like it when people believe everything they hear about me, so I thought I might actually bother to ask, instead of just accepting it!"

Harry drew back as if he had been struck. He had expected stuttering, stammering; he had gotten Neville to lash out at him instead. It was...unexpected. He looked away, and backed off.

"Well, the rumors are right. For once. There. Question answered. Now go."

Neville hesitated, then reached out for his shoulder. "Harry-"

"Go!"

Harry growled, baring fangs, and Neville pulled his arm back in fear. He stumbled back, and hurried off towards the common room. When he got there, he immediately up to the dorms, sat in his bed and pulled the curtains closed, ignoring any and all questions from the other boys.

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Harry sighed, alone again. Maybe he shouldn't have frightened Neville off like that...but it was just a little much, this thing with Snape, and then the confrontation with Malfoy, and to top it all off, Neville had finally grown a backbone and asked the question that everyone else was too afraid to ask.

I wonder how much longer I'll last before I someone knifes me while I'm unguarded...before I fall on my own knife...