Before Snape could move a muscle, Draco had situated himself between the two elder vampires and opened his mouth. The piercing sound that erupted from his mouth was like no other Harry had ever heard. It seemed to resonate throughout Hogwarts, almost as if it were a sound of demonic reckoning. Harry and Snape cowered from the noise, Erasmus simply smiled.
Draco began to stalk around the room, stealthily like a very large cat, his eyes glowing red.
"Enough. I have had enough. I don't need two sniveling examples of cowardice trying to fight over my childhood. I don't need a father. I have never had a true one, dear old Dad took care of that!" Draco spat and glared at Snape. "I have a notion to get rid of the lot of you. I have no use for any of you!"
Erasmus stepped forward and calmly placed a hand on Draco's shoulder. "Dragon, calm down. Your father set you in the hands of the Malfoy's out of love, believe it or not."
Draco turned and glared at Snape. Snape closed his eyes, almost as if meditating. Large black bat like wings suddenly burst from his back. When Snape looked up, Erasmus twitched his lips. Snape rushed Erasmus and placed his large hands, now equipped with black tipped claws, around his Master's neck.
"You have done nothing for me but make my life hell. I no longer care if you kill me for sheer insolence. But what you have done tonight is uncalled for. How dare you change my son!" Snape pitched Erasmus into the air. Erasmus caught himself before he hit the wall and smiled at Snape, bearing his fangs.
Harry grabbed Draco and huddled them both into a corner, hoping that they would be out of the way.
"Severus, you dare challenge me? I am surprised." Erasmus threw Snape against the far wall of the chamber with a minute flick of his wrist. "Unlike you, Severus. I am not bound by the laws of the natural order."
Snape jumped to his feet, panting in anger. Before anyone could focus on what he was doing, Snape threw his wand like a projectile hitting Erasmus squarely in the throat. His wand staked Erasmus to the wall. Erasmus began to laugh.
"Well, it seems that you have finally learned, Severus. It is about time that you stood up to me rather than crawling about the floor like a worm." Erasmus pulled himself off of the wand, when he walked towards the middle of the room, Harry could see that Snape's wand was still stuck in the bloody stone wall!
"Erasmus, did it ever occur to you that I was simply biding my time until I found a way to end my existence. I did not care what you thought of me. And at this moment, you have stolen from me my last hope- my son. For that, I will do everything in my power to ensure that you pay dearly."
Erasmus suddenly burst into applause. "Severus! You are making me proud! I would never have guessed that you had that much gumption within you. For that treat, I will give you a gift."
"No, Erasmus. I've had enough of your gifts over the years. I have seen what power can do to a slightly dark wizard, and I have paid for that mistake in the past. Do not tempt me. "
Erasmus' expression changed to one of amusement. "Do you think, Severus, that I would let my progeny cease to exist while I was still walking this plane? You always did have a knack for brightening my day." Erasmus charged to Snape, grabbed him before Snape could stop him, and bit deeply into his neck. Draco and Harry watched in astonishment as Erasmus grabbed Snape's head and forced Snape to bite into his neck. Draco and Harry took one look at each other, nodded, and ran from the chambers and out into the hall.
"I have never seen anything like that in my life!" Harry gasped.
"Count your blessings, Potter. What do you think a Death Eater meeting resembles?"
Harry simply stared at Draco openmouthed.
"What, Potter? Admiring my beauty?"
"No, you stupid git! Go find a bloody mirror will you!" Draco reached up and touched his face. Everything seemed to feel fine, until he felt his ears. They were now slightly elongated and pointed like the ears of a bat.
"What did he do to me?" Draco asked quietly.
Harry shrugged. Before Draco was able to completely go insane, the door of the chambers opened bearing Erasmus.
"Boys, I think you'd better come inside. It is not safe for you in the halls yet."
Seeing as they didn't have much of a choice, Harry and Draco entered the chambers they had fled mere moments before. When Harry saw Snape he choked. Snape was still Snape, but he looked a bit younger. Before he could ponder Snape's appearance for and length of time, Draco lost it.
"What the bloody hell did you do to my ears?" Draco yelled at Erasmus.
"I do not know what you are talking about, Dragon."
"You did something to them. I did not have bloody bat ears this morning!"
Snape began to laugh, truly laugh. "Draco, you really will need to learn to control your newfound talents. I believe that in the course of your anger, you began to change into your animal form."
"You mean I'm a bloody Animungus now?" Draco asked with wide eyes.
"No, Draco. Vampires have always had the ability to transform into several shapes. Usually, vampires can become wolves, bats, and mist- at least according to Bram Stoker. But folklore tells tales of our kind transfiguring into a multitude of animal forms. You, need to calm down. As soon as you calm yourself, your precious ears should regain their normal form."
Erasmus patted Draco on the shoulder. "I will leave you now. Your father is certainly capable of your protection." And with that, Erasmus apparated into a cloud of green mist.
"Is he always that dramatic?" Harry asked.
Snape laughed again. "Yes, I suppose so. But honestly, this is the worst it has ever been."
Draco sighed, threw himself on the floor of the room, and buried his head in his hands. Severus allowed the boy time to grieve. He knew intuitively that if he tried to touch him right now, Draco would run from him. And that would be the worst thing that could happen. Especially since Draco had no idea how to harness his power. Hogwarts was never going to be the same again.