Disclaimer: All references to elements in the Harry Potter books belong to J.K.R. Plot, Erasmus, and other tidbits- namely vampire mystique, is all mine.
A/N: Thanks to my wonderful reviewers! DestinyEntwinements, shadowswolf, Ruth01, kears, Izzima, Hilga Pence, and Arwen-Evenstar-Elf!
Erasmus watched from the shadows of Harry's room. The boy was so very foolish. He quietly watched the smoke begin to rise from the skin of the boy and let him burn for a moment before engulfing the room in darkness. Perhaps the pain of the burns would teach the boy a lesson. He grabbed the boy and in the blink of an eye, they were situated in Severus' chambers.
He gently laid Harry on the couch in Severus' main room and began to stalk around the boy. This self-destructive streak was no good at all. It simply would not do. How this boy reminded him of Severus. But, he was simply too innocent to survive in this world, and Erasmus knew exactly what he had to do to corrupt the boy.
Slowly, Harry opened his eyes, finding himself not where he expected- which had been his own rooms, but rather, in what he had known to be Professor Snape's chambers. He looked down at his hands, feeling the pull of the skin; having tightened from the burning of the sun. He heard a soft rustling and looked up to see Erasmus standing like a hawk considering its prey.
"What am I to do with you, little lion?" Erasmus asked.
"What do you mean?" Harry asked as he gingerly raised himself to a sitting position.
"I cannot leave you alone for a single moment. How like Severus you are!"
Harry glared at the ancient vampire. "Do not mention his name." He growled.
"Why, lion! It seems that someone has woken on the wrong side of the coffin this evening! Is the poor little lion feeling abandoned?"
Harry felt the rage rise up inside him. How dare the old vampire patronize him! Harry jumped from the couch, his skin splitting open from the force, and charged Erasmus. Before Harry could do much more than barely graze the edge of Erasmus' robes, he found himself pinned to the wall by an unseen force.
"Naughty little lion…tsk tsk." Erasmus shook his finger accusingly at Harry. "We cannot have that."
Harry was levitated back to the couch. Once Erasmus set him down, Harry found that his arms and legs were seemingly bound by invisible bands.
"Why are you doing this?" Harry demanded.
"Simply because I can. Besides, I owe Severus. Until he and Dragon return, I am to watch over you. I take full responsibility. Do not fool yourself; since it is my blood that flows through Severus' veins, my blood is also contained within you. I know your every move, every breath. Plotting will not do any good, little lion."
Harry rolled his eyes. "If you were such a 'great watcher', then why did you let me burn myself?"
Erasmus glared at Harry. "Foolish boy. Look at yourself. You are scarred, burning, aching. Under my very whim, I can heal you in an instant, or let you suffer for eternity. You are much too young to bear such scars…How do you think your friends will react to you now? You look like a mottled, melted creature. You bear nothing of the semblance of the boy you once were. I am your master, your devil, your heaven and hell. Your soul lies in my hands, boy." Erasmus bent down to Harry, his nose almost touching. "And to think, you dare challenge me? It is your choice. You can either choose to beg and save your vanity, or you can keep your immature little pedantic whims and follow the path of pride."
Erasmus released the invisible bonds from Harry and stepped away.
Harry couldn't believe it. The old thing wanted him to beg. It just wasn't right, but what choice did he have? At the rate he was going, being abandoned by Snape, left without any means to fend for himself, he was plainly sunk.
Harry gritted his teeth and crawled to the floor at Erasmus' feet. "I beg you to heal me, Master." Inside his head, Harry was cursing Erasmus to oblivion, at this point, not caring if the 'old fart vampire' read his thoughts.
Erasmus looked at Harry rather amused. "So, little lion is full of pride, even when bowing to another. Most interesting. Your spirit is not easily broken. 'Tis a shame that you are so weak!"
Harry looked up Erasmus. "Well, it's not exactly as if it's my fault…sir." Harry spat.
Erasmus grabbed Harry by the arm and lifted him back up on the couch. "Now the question is, Lion. Shall I simply fix you, or shall I get rid of that infernal weakness?" He paced back and forth across the room for a moment…chuckling to himself. For the most part, trying to figure out which path would irritate Severus most.
Finally, he knew the answer. Before Harry could have a chance to react, Erasmus was upon him, his fangs buried deep into the side of Harry's neck. Harry cried out in pain; trying to throw the vampire off, but nothing could dislodge the vampire. Finally, Harry felt his life draining out of him…perhaps forever, and slumped against the couch.
Draco slowly lifted himself from the sofa, trying to figure out where he was. Snape apparently was off somewhere, but where, Draco couldn't fathom. He got up from the sofa and walked out of the study. Apparently, this was Severus' home. Somehow over the years, Draco had imagined Severus to live in a crusty little dwelling filled with various potions ingredients. He never expected an opulent manor worthy of an ancient pureblood dynasty.
Once he reached the hall, he simply found himself staring down a long corridor.
Not knowing what to do, Draco stepped out of the study and yelled at the top of his lungs.
"Professor Snape!" Unfortunately, Draco had not known how loud his voice could be and heard glass break. He turned around and saw that by merely yelling, he had shattered all the glass in the windows of the study.
He heard footsteps falling in quick succession.
"Draco? Are you alright?" Severus asked from the opposite end of the hall.
"I just didn't know where I was, or where you were…I'm sorry, I didn't realize."
"Realize what, Draco?"
Draco turned and pointed to the study. Severus peeked his head in and groaned.
"Draco, promise me. You will never yell like that again unless I tell you. I do not think that I could take the strain." Severus promptly slapped his hand against his head.
"Well, being that dramatic is a little overdoing it, isn't it sir?" Draco asked facetiously.
Snape glared at Draco. "Do you even have an inkling as to why you are here?"
Draco smirked. "I imagine that you thought that we should get to know each other, not that it will make any difference."
Snape growled. "Draco, I am becoming quite tired of this game. I am trying to give you what you need for once in your life. I've apologized. I can arrange to have you taken back to Malfoy Manor, you know? Or would you rather a counseling session with the Dark Lord? Do not be so puffed up yet about your powers, you barely know how to use them. Believe it or not, Draco, you are not invincible. The Dark Lord could still kill you."
Draco opened his eyes wide…for the first time in fear.
Severus narrowed his eyes. "Draco, you might have power, you might enjoy testing your limits. But I suggest that you curtail this behavior at once. I will not tolerate it in my house. You have free reign of the manor, minus a few rooms which you will not be able to open. I suggest you take some time and ponder your situation. You get one last chance. You push this one in my face, and you can consider any chance at a home a lost cause."
Snape stormed away from Draco and down the hall.
Draco shook his head. What was he going to do? He didn't even bloody know where he was? He did the only thing he could; he turned and walked down the hall in the direction that Snape had gone. Perhaps it was time to swallow his pride. It wasn't like he had any other choice. At least with Snape, he would not be the subject of abuse.