Harry looked at Professor Snape. "What got into her?"
Snape managed to allow the corners of his mouth to shift into an "almost smile". "Harry, I do believe that we will have to work on your…feeding habits. You, my boy, happen to be a very messy eater."
Harry then looked down at himself and saw the blood on the sheets of the bed. He could only imagine what his face looked like.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Mr. Potter, to be perfectly honest, I did not give it a second thought. Seeing a young vampire learn to feed is a rather common site. For now, you must decide, can Miss Granger hold your secret, or do I need to give her a memory potion."
Harry thought for a moment. Out of his friends, Hermione would probably take it best. "Let's wake her. She might as well know the truth."
Snape handed Harry his wand. Harry said a cleansing charm over himself and the bed so that the bloodstains were removed. Severus handed Harry a vial of bat guano. Harry placed it underneath Hermione's nose.
"Uggh, what is that awful smell?" Hermione groaned.
"You can thank Severus for that one 'Mione. It's bat poo."
Hermione looked at Harry. The blood was gone. Was she slowly going insane? "I'm sorry I flipped out on you Harry. I think that I'm starting to have delusions."
"Nope. Sorry, you aren't."
"What are you talking about Harry?"
Severus rolled his eyes. "What Potter is trying to explain, Miss Granger, is that the blood was indeed all over him. But do not be frightened, he will not harm you."
"Harm me? What are you talking about, Professor?" Hermione stared at Snape.
Severus sighed and turned to Harry. "Potter, do your young friend a favor and smile."
Harry did as he was told and smiled at Hermione, revealing long pointed teeth.
"Bloody Hell! Harry, are you trying to give me a heart attack!"
"No, Hermione. Just keep this quiet, okay? Only you and Professor Snape know about it." Harry raised his chin and pointed at his neck so Hermione could see his scar.
"Harry-"
"No, Hermione. Let me finish. I did it. I killed myself. Professor Snape found me just in time. But, the only way he could save me was to make me like him." Hermione looked at Harry puzzled.
"Hermione, Professor Snape and I are vampires."
"What!"
"Hermione, please don't faint again. It's okay. Really. I don't even need my glasses anymore."
"You aren't going to bite me are you?"
Harry looked at Hermione in disbelief. "Of, course not. I'm still the same old Harry; I just have an extra little thing in my diet. Geeze, you act like I decided to join Voldemort or something."
"Harry James Potter! Don't you ever scare me like that again!" Hermione grabbed Harry and hugged him.
Harry shrugged and glanced at Professor Snape who was trying to creep into the larger section of the rooms.
"Professor?"
"Yes, Potter." Snape looked at Harry.
"When do I get to meet your son?" Hermione looked at Harry like he had three heads.
"You have already met him, Potter. And yes, Miss Granger, I do have a child. I am not completely heartless, as some of you seem to think."
Hermione stood, straightened her clothes, and smiled at Harry.
"Now that I know you're okay, I'll let you do whatever it is that you've been doing."
"Oh, come on Hermione, you can't tell me that you don't have questions."
Hermione looked at Harry disgustedly.
"I do, Harry. I would simply rather wait until I have a chance to relax and get used to your new condition. Are you coming to class tomorrow?"
Harry nodded. "Professor Snape assures me that I do not get to sluff off anymore." Snape smirked.
Hermione shook her head as she left. Snape was being nice to Harry. Maybe his aloofness was simply a cover so no one would find out what he was. Hermione was still pondering the situation when she got back into the dorm and went to bed that night. Harry and Snape vampires….who would have believed it.
Draco lay in his bed, wishing for something to change, wishing that his parents actually cared about him. He rolled over onto his side. This was the third night this week that he hadn't been able to sleep. Everyone hated him, and not just a little. He could still feel the punches and kicks. He hated Lucius with a passion. If Lucius had never killed a Weasley, he would never have been in this mess.
He rolled over to his other side and pulled his knees to his chest. Even his godfather had abandoned him. When he woke, no one was by his bed, remotely caring. Every time Potter had ever been injured, he had gaggles of people standing over him, waiting with bated breath for his eyelids to flicker. Draco hated it. He didn't really care about the fame, but he wanted just one person to show some interest in him besides what he could do for them.
He had already decided that as soon as he graduated from Hogwarts, he was going to go study something that was secluded. And maybe, then he would be forgotten. If he was forgotten- at least he wouldn't be second best. And better yet, he wouldn't have his parents ragging on him to be better.
Maybe he should go study dragons…it really would be fitting. Draco laughed at his own pun, but silently wished he had someone to share it with.
Suddenly, a strange smell entered the room. Draco froze. The smell definitely wasn't normal, and he could feel the intense presence of the being that was now standing behind him.
"Young Dragon?" The voice asked. Draco turned to look at the creature and grabbed his wand.
"Now, now, young sir. No need for that. I am not here to harm you. I am here to help."
Draco looked at the creature intently. The creature was tall with long silver hair and long glassy claws, but somehow, with the swirling blue eyes, the creature was also surprising beautiful.
"What are you?" Draco asked.
"I believe the question you are searching for is, who? Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Erasmus. I am a mentor of sorts to your father."
"Sir, I have never seen you before in my life. My father's mentor lives not 3 hours from my home."
"Ahhh, yes. You are a bit confused. The people you have been living with for the past 16 years are not your parents." Draco looked at the creature in shock.
"What do you mean?"
"What I mean is that you are NOT a Malfoy! Why your father ever let that happen is a mystery I will probably never solve…No, young dragon, your father teaches here at this school."
Draco's eyes opened wide. He couldn't remember any staff member who could remotely be considered to be his father.
"Your looks come from your mother. Unfortunately, she passed on while giving birth to you. Your father has never recovered from the loss."
Draco shook his head. This can't be happening. Everything that he was, everything that was ever expected of him was for nothing. Draco looked at Erasmus.
"Who is my father?"
"I believe you know him as your potions master. This has gone on long enough. Come, my child."
Draco took the creature's hand and was pulled into the darkness that was the space between worlds. Before he had an inkling as to what was happening, Erasmus grabbed the boy forcefully and bit deeply into his neck. Draco felt his life pulling away, and then, there was nothing. Everything went black.