Chapter 6 Story Time

"My last thoughts as that snake came towards me were to crudely put it 'Let Potter scare this abomination of a man till he realizes his imminent death and cries like the pathetic fool he is." Falling down and seeing Potter I knew that he needed the last piece of the puzzle, somehow I immersed my memories in my blood and made a bottle manifest, allowing Potter to scoop this up and leave for the pensive in Dumbledore's office. Knowing my job was done I let my body slip into a state of near death unconsciousness to wait for death or the small chance that someone would save me. As it would happen someone did save me, but now I think I should let Bella describe the next part as I can barely remember it." Snape spat the last words, apparently angry that he should not be able to remember any part of his life.

"Well the same time this was happening" began Bella as attention turned to her, even Snape seemed to be listening discretely. "I was eating dinner with the count when my ring started glowing. The count knew of my promise to Dumbledore and nodded knowing I'd want him to tell my friends and family where I was. I then waited for the portkey to take affect. Not ten seconds later I was standing in front of a very pale, tall, dark, and bloody man that was near death. I knew this instantly, and instantly I was pissed at Albus and myself; myself, because I should have known better than to say yes to one of Albus's schemes, and Albus, because he knew I didn't want to turn anyone but he knew this would happen and knew this would be the only way I could save the man in front of me. I had to consent in order to keep my promise.

"I turned him, though it disturbed me how little blood the man had left, it was like his wounds wouldn't heal, I know now it was from the snake venom. I quickly slit my wrist to transfer the blood that would bring him back, he latched on immediately and I felt his growing canines pierce into my skin, it hurt a lot, but it hurt even more when I tried to wrench away and I couldn't. I couldn't even use my control as his sire to make him let go he was so thirsty, I finally just had to give in and wait. It took three minutes before he came back to his own mind, during which I did some strong yet crude magic to connect him with his quickly fleeing soul, so that he could find it again and it wouldn't go… wherever souls go. Then I just waited. Finally Snape's mind returned and he spluttered the blood he was drinking out and started to yell, well more of that deadly whisper I find so charming…" Ron looks at Bella as if she's insane, and asks Harry how anyone could find Snape death whisper charming. "I think Snape can take over from here, it will be interesting to hear his side." Snape scowls as Bella leans back in her seat folding her hands across her lap and smiling. Snape snorts in disdain.

"Very well. I remember that I felt a hot liquid going down my throat, Miss Granger, I am doing you a favor, I am explaining the turning process in detail since I know you love to understand these things, you will owe me another pint for this though…" Snape mutters the last bit while glaring at Hermione who nods sheepishly and says a quiet "Thank you" before Snape nods and continues as if nothing had happened. "The liquid caused a burning sensation throughout my whole body, it felt like a mild cruciatus for a moment before dulling to a slight tingling sensation not unlike the one caused by pepper up potions. The liquid pouring into my throat for some reason gathered all my attention; I realized it tasted quite delicious and enticing. My body immediately started to become addicted to the unknown substance, and though I would like to deny it, my mind was partial to the flavor as well. My mind, which I hadn't noticed until then that it was clouded, became clear, and I opened my eyes and realized that an unknown woman's arm was in my mouth and that I was drinking her blood. I of course spit out the remaining liquid and proceeded to put distance between my self and the now smirking woman.

"I immediately asked her what she was doing and to state her purpose here. She said that Dumbledore had asked her to save the life of whomever the ring portkey took her to, and save the life by whatever means necessary. She told me she was a sort of vampire and that she had turned me. I was, of course, outraged. I had been cheated of peace once again. Seeing the look on my face she said that I didn't have to, couldn't even, return to the world I had known. She told me that a select few, and her friends and family with whom I would be staying, would know that I was alive. McGonagall, the cursed woman, was one who would need to know, along with other key members of this order she had heard about. She said that in the meantime though, probably to distract me from my growing rage at Dumbledore and her, I would need to feed unless I wanted to kill someone I did not. I refused outright to feed upon a living creature. The lady sighed and entered my mind, without legilimency, and I could not stop her. She took control of my mind and forced me to walk behind her. She also took control of my mouth so I could not yell profanities at her, but I still muttered them in my head. Apparently she heard them and turned to me and told me to shut up in a menacing voice that awoke a feeling I had not felt for a while, a slight bit of fear. Since I did not care if I lived, I did not fear death, and therefore did not fear the Dark Lord as much as I should have, I did not fear pain, because by that time I was as accustomed to it as I was accustomed to brewing a simple sleeping draught. By now I have become quite accustomed to the looks of menace she throws at people though." The trio looked at Bella, someone who could scare Snape, even only slightly, was someone to be respected. Bella smiled at them, and winked as Snape scowled again.

"Yes, continuing with the story, I was forced to follow her to a clearing, where apparently the Dark Lord was waiting for Potter. I heard heartbeats and smelled blood, but the lady's hold on my body prevented me from dashing into the clearing and betraying my new life. I wanted them so badly, I didn't, couldn't register that this was not who I was, what I, myself, really wanted. Some small part of me knew this, but I somehow didn't care. The lady screamed and the Dark Lord and the Death Eaters looked in our direction, the Dark Lord pointed to a lower ranking Death Eater to check out the noise. The lady, Bella, backed away from me and released her hold when the young man was deep enough into the forest to not be seen. I jumped on him and nearly tore his head off in my haste to get at the blood. My hand clamped over his mouth so he could not scream." Snape pulled his short beard and closed his eyes remembering the next events, when his eyes opened his pupils were slightly dilated and his irises red. He continued.

"When I felt the blood and tasted it in my mouth, I cannot describe the feeling of ecstasy. Having a small amount of vampire heritage through my mother's side I had known the taste and pleasures of drinking blood, and yes the lady's blood was wonderfully exquisite, but the blood flowing into my mouth caused pure euphoria. It was all the feelings I hadn't let myself feel in years rolled into one moment of perfection. I felt safe, relaxed, calm …free. The moment I let go of the man's body, a relative of Knott's I believe, I wanted more. Bella had to, yet again, stop me from running into the opening to satisfy my hunger. Luckily the Dark Lord had sent in another Death Eater to investigate the first one's absence. The second time was exactly like the first, only more savory and slow, I took my time, and came back to reality sometime during the middle of the feeding, but I didn't care, it tasted, it felt, too satisfying. I unceremoniously dropped the second body, I don't know who it was, and crept up to watch the Death Eaters before me, hoping another would be sent to investigate. Bella allowed me to sneak up, knowing I was mostly in control now. Part of me was sickened by what I had just done, but the rest of me just reveled in my new life.

"The Dark Lord was about to send another, higher ranking, Death Eater to investigate, when Potter appeared. Potter's appearance completely ridded my mind of any thoughts of eating. I watched in horror and anger as Potter allowed himself to be killed. I knew that this would have to happen, Dumbledore had told me. That did not mean, however, that I had to like it. When Potter fell to the ground Bella had to restrain me from barging into the field to kill the Dark Lord. She told me to listen. I did, though angrily not knowing what I was listening for. All my thoughts were on the Potter boy. I started to hear a drumbeat; it was rather irritating, until I realized it was Potter's heart. My first thought was 'Thank Merlin!' My second, 'That boy is either extremely lucky, or protected by some higher power, for he is certainly a medical miracle!'" Even Harry couldn't stop the chuckle from escaping at this piece of information, though everyone stopped giggling under Snape's murderous glare.

"Of course I followed the group back to the castle, along with Bella who showed me how to stay hidden in the shadows. I could only watch as Potter battled the Dark Lord, and won in exactly the way Albus had intended. I could not enjoy the festivities however as I was supposed to be dead, and Potter would question my appearance and others would probably try to kill me on sight. The only thing that surprised me was when Potter decided not to use the Elder Wand; I know I would have. But I must say it was very noble of him.

"Bella told me to retrieve what I wanted to bring with me because we were going back to her house. I went to my dungeon and found the belongings I wished to take and left. On my way back I met Albus in one of the portraits and he told me that Bella needed to try for the Auror tester and trainer of group C12 the following year. I wished to converse with him more but he abruptly left the painting. I left and relayed this information to Bella. She should take over the story from here." Snape said evilly. Bella sighed.

"Well, I guess I'll just continue where he left off. I have come to know that anything Albus says a person should do, barring a favor to him, is worth doing. So I knew that I had to delay my trip back home long enough to apply for the position. Severus showed me to the public entrance of the ministry, he could obviously not come in with me so he waited in a nearby ally; well I more trapped him there and then told him to perform a ward that would make people afraid to enter the alley. I typed in the correct sequence of numbers and went down. I procured a button and was then asked to turn over my wand. I told the man I did not have one. He asked me if I was a squib and I said no, he asked me if I had lost my wand, and I said no. He asked me if had broken it and I told him I don't own a wand. He looked at me suspiciously and called for two aurors. When they appeared they searched me for a wand, and obviously did not find one. They checked my magical signature and found it to be present. They continued to run tests and scans and I waited patiently for 15 minutes, until someone stabbed me with a needle. I couldn't help it and growled at them, and they saw my fangs.

"The idiots immediately started casting spells at me and I just stood there until they stopped. When they did I was encased in a block made of metal. I waited and looked at them and they asked me what I was here for and why they shouldn't kill me now. I told them I was asked to apply for being a tester for Auror group C12 next year. They asked me why they should let me, I was a monster, didn't have a wand, and had no qualifications. I smirked at them and broke the metal casing before banishing it. They looked at me and I raised an eyebrow at them. I told them I was asked to apply for this position by Dumbledore's portrait and they immediately calmed down a bit, not enough to put away their wands though. They told me I obviously had the qualifications, but they wanted to make sure I was telling the truth; I told them that, being basically some type of undead, I'm immune to veritaserum. They didn't believe me and I told them to administer it and ask an obvious question. They did and asked me what time it was showing me a clock that said 1:30 Pm. I told them it said 12:00 Am. They believed me, but now didn't know how to check if I was telling the truth. I told them to ask Dumbledore's portrait discretely and contact me by the address he would give them if they asked. I nodded and took my leave. I retrieved Severus and we used the ring portkeys to travel back to my house. We got him settled in and… well that's basically the end of that story…" Bella smiled at them, but it quickly went away at the sight of their faces. The trio was awed, but scared too.

"Snape tell them that I would never hurt them, they trust you." Snape sniffed and went back to reading. "Snape…" Snape sighed and put down his book.

"Very well. In the short period of time I have been acquainted with Bella she has never hurt anyone who did not deserve it, and did not hurt them more then they deserved it. The only other time I have seen her hurt people is on Halloween when she pulls stunts with her family, it looks painful but the painkilling potions they have are so strong it's unearthly. I am loathe to say this, but Bella is a good person, and… I trust her." Snape looked uncomfortable at this open display of emotion and went back to reading. The group looked at Bella and then Snape not knowing what to do. Hermione decided this by canceling the muffliato spell and pulling out her book. Everyone else found something to do soon after.