The Bonds That Tie
In two weeks, Harry and all his friends would be returning to Hogwarts for their last year of school. September 1st, 1997, would mark their 7th year and all of them were excited that come June 1998; they would be done and heading out into the world as full adults and graduates. The last few weeks since Severus and Draco became initiated into the vampire coven had been busy. The biggest thing to happen was this little girl, now known as Lilium Prince-Potter, becoming adopted by Harry and Severus. This child was a half-vampire born to two people who were killed by rogues, and she'd been very reserved after getting found by Sanguini's hunters. In just the first week of her being at the coven base, she went from newborn to appear two. It was clearly the excelled growth behind that, figured out by Sanguini on how a vampire born would age for about ten years before appearing their final growth. According to the vampire, Lilium would technically be ten years old, but look about eighteen. It was official now, the adoption. Harry was still shocked that he'd adopted a child, and it was admittedly Severus who got him to agree. It was a blood adoption done a week after the agreement was made to take the child in, Severus did the brewing and now Lilium's bedroom was set in what used to be Harry and Severus's sitting room that was off their bedroom. Lilium was still quiet and shy, eventually, her room would be moved to something more suitable.
The other major thing to take place was the annual vampire visitation held at the base. Harry and Severus attended with Draco the first night, and of course, Lilium too. The girl was quite attached to Harry, and Severus found it kind of cute, but Lilium was starting to warm up to him too. Draco went back to Harry's place the next morning while Harry, Severus, and Lilium stayed the entire week. It was a good time, they met a lot of people and made some new friends. Harry had all his things for his final year, but there needed to be one more thing taken care of; him going through his last year with a daughter. Severus was still the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher for another year, but afterward, would be resigning. For Lilium, Harry couldn't simply leave her at his house under Narcissa's watch while he was away, so that meant Harry needed to talk to Minerva and figure out a solution for his final time at Hogwarts. There would be a meeting today, Minerva had replied to Harry's letter a few days ago saying he could come to talk with her about a situation that came up and it involved his schooling. The date was August 18th, and currently 3:00 pm. Harry was due at the school for 3:15 pm.
"Are you taking Lilium with you, Harry? Should I come as well?" Severus asked his mate.
"You can if you want, Sev, but it's just a conversation about how we're going to work the situation." Harry informed. "It's only theory that McGonagall will allow what we thought of doing."
"I don't see how she could refuse it, but you're right." Severus agreed. "We shouldn't assume that she'll be okay with things. What do we do if she says no?"
"I still offer to watch over Lilium while you're both away." Narcissa offered.
"That's kind of you, Mother, but it's been established that Lilium only really tolerates me or Severus. She's still adjusting and won't want to be away from us the length of the school year." Harry informed softly. "I don't know what to do if McGonagall says no, Sev. You said we'd work it out, but if she can't be there with us…I see the only way around things is that I attempt to take my NEWTs early and just leave Hogwarts. I don't doubt my ability to pass those exams now and once that's done, I can be considered a fully trained wizard and graduate. I'm already seventeen; my ass would be covered from anyone saying I didn't finish or that it isn't legal."
"I suppose," Severus shrugged a little.
"I only felt absolutely necessary to be there for the sake of making sure you and Draco are good for feeding times, but…I think you two adjusted to a schedule well and have managed your thirst enough to handle the school." Harry stated. "And you've done excellent in speed and strength training. It is entirely up to you if you want to reveal your status as vampires, likewise for you, mate, if you'd like to tell everyone we're soulmates. No one can do anything about it."
"I believe, it would be fair, given your status being seventeen now to make it known to others that we're bonded and mated. Like you say, there isn't anything anyone can do. Minerva, as headmistress, will definitely want to know why we adopted a child and need to rearrange a couple things for us at school." Severus nodded. "Perhaps I will remain here with Lilium and let you handle explaining things to Minerva. She'll want reassurances from the more experienced vampire, which is you. This doubles for you to also tell her about Draco; it needs to be known, as a courtesy."
"That's fine with me." Harry stated. Right now, Lilium was seated quietly in Harry's lap, her head against his chest and just looking around the room at everyone. "How does that sound for you, little one? Stay with Papa for a while?" Lilium nodded her head to what he said.
Harry was Dada, Severus was Papa. When she got older, they'd likely be Father and Papa. Lilium could talk, she had, quite well for appearing two years old, to Harry after the adoption took place. The child spoke in a young voice, and nearly perfect; she could even read. Sanguini was asking for updates every few days to document the changes as it was new to see such a child. Born from a vampiress and wizard, a half-vampire child. It was unknown where the magical blood lay until Sanguini finished his research on the family. There was also questioning why the family was killed if the woman was a vampire already; it seemed odd. The time ticked by and soon, it was 3:10 pm. Harry stood up and lifted Lilium, passing her off to Severus, but giving her a light kiss on the forehead first.
"I'll be back in a bit." Harry announced. "Oh. Tom...You ever decide on being Sev's assistant for you community service?"
"Yes, I did. As long as Severus doesn't mind, I'll take that job." Tom replied.
"It's fine with me." Severus responded.
"Excellent, then I'll get that set with Minerva too." Harry enlightened. "Alright. I'm off. Play nice kids," He chuckled before giving Severus a light kiss on the lips and vanishing from sight.
. . .
Harry appeared at the Hogwarts' gates out of respect, even though he could have absolutely apparated inside and right to the headmistress's office. Harry walked past the wards and into the school, then right for the office he was so familiar with. Harry found Minerva waiting for him at the base of the griffin that stood guard to quarters.
"Headmistress McGonagall," Harry greeted lightly.
"Harry," Minerva replied softly. "Come." She invited while facing the griffin statue. "Caput Draconis," She revealed as the stairwell began to move upwards and she stepped up, then Harry followed.
"Gryffindor common room password in 1991, first one used when I started here." Harry chuckled.
"Yes, very good." Minerva nodded. Soon they reached the office door and walked in, Harry took in the changes right away from when Albus was inhabiting it. "Have a seat," She offered. "I'd offer tea and biscuits, but I know you don't eat or drink anything besides blood." The woman admitted and Harry nodded while taking a seat and she did the same across from him and behind her desk. "Now, you said there were a few items to go over regarding a recent situation that has to do with your schooling?"
"Yes, I didn't want to go into too much detail in the letter and I do appreciate you making time for the meeting with me, Headmistress. I know you're busy preparing for the new school year," Harry bowed his head gratefully.
"Well, despite all that went down last year…You are still one of my students, Harry. If things are going to be happening, I prefer to be informed in advanced." Minerva said lightly. "So, carry on." She urged calmly.
"The first thing you need to be aware of is that I am not the only vampire you will have in the school this coming year," Harry revealed. "I'm sure you picked up on it at the trial with Dumbledore, but there was an emergent situation to save Draco Malfoy's life and I had to change him to achieve that goal." He stated.
"I suspected as much and that is fine with me as long as I have complete assurance that he will not be a danger to the other students?" Minerva hoped.
"I give you my word that his thirst and feedings are of no threat to the staff or students. I've been training him all summer." Harry promised. "In the same regard, Draco is not the only person I've changed who will be here…" He paused. "Severus Snape is also a vampire, Headmistress. Changed just a week after Draco was."
"Alright, pause a moment. Draco's change, I understand, was emergent to save his life. Why was Professor Snape turned?" Minerva inquired.
"There's…A backstory behind him being turned. I need you to keep an open mind because it wasn't something that could be controlled…" Harry looked at the woman.
"Proceed. I assure to remain calm and listen to all the information," Minerva said, clasping her hands together in the desk.
"Okay…So this starts Christmas holiday of last year, technically. The short explanation of why Severus was changed is because…" Harry gave himself a moment. "He's my mate."
Minerva stared at her student silently, eyes widening just a fraction more than normal to show surprise. "Go on…" She invited him.
"During trial, do you remember when Albus admitted to poisoning my friends, and it magically extended to their families?" Harry asked and Minerva nodded. "The person I'd been feeding from was Draco, at the time. My rings warned me of danger after Albus hit me with the light attack in the corridors, and Severus ran a diagnostic on Draco to find he blood was toxic and if I'd fed from him; it would have killed me. Narcissa offered to feed me and I found that there was still danger, so we deduced that Albus found a way to poison the bloodline so I wouldn't be able to feed." He explained calmly. "Now, I should also inform you that virgin human blood is extremely powerful and an aphrodisiac to a vampire. Severus's blood was not only human, but virgin too and all the times I'd been close enough to catch his scent; it drove me crazy. When I wasn't able to feed during the Christmas holiday, the others sent Severus to me, because he was unaffected by the toxic blood problem."
Harry paused a moment. "However, sending Severus posed its own situation. Because his blood drove me crazy," He didn't know how to say this without being upfront. "Well, let's just leave it at me ending up very aroused. It means I wanted Severus…In other ways, there in the boundaries of sexually." Minerva still said nothing as she'd promised to hear everything. "So…That night, not only did I feed from Severus…We had sex."
"This led to you two becoming mates?" Minerva inquired.
"Unofficially, yes." Harry nodded. "The problem was that our night together formed a bond between us. Bonding as in like married couples, we did not do this ritual. The bond created on its own. Very rare, but self-made bonds signify you've found your soulmate. Everyone's been asking who I'm bonded and mated to; this is who. It's Severus." He told her.
"You're aware that because you were turned at fifteen, Harry, this means Severus slept with a child because you do not age…" Minerva pointed out.
"Yes, Headmistress. But it was not in our control; I, nor Severus, knew that if he fed me; it would send me into a bloodlust. Which is vampire terminology for extremely aroused and want sex. Neither of us understood what happened until the next morning, and it was Lucius who explained the self-made bonds to us because even the morning after…I still wanted Severus, and only him. I've had virgin blood before, it never did to me what Severus's did." Harry revealed. "I promise you that I've informed the ministry of magic about this, and things are entirely legal and there's nothing anyone can do about it. It would have been absolutely forbidden if we bonded by choice, and illegal due to the age factor with me being perpetually fifteen the rest of my life. However, this was a soulmate bonding and because we had sex; we were mated on vampiric laws. But it was an unfinished mating."
"Continue." Minerva told him.
"Vampire mating is a lot like animal mates. They mate for life, and soulmates are supposed to be together their entire lives…So the problem was that I'm a vampire and Severus was human…I can't die of old age, so the only way to complete the mating was for Severus to willingly accept the mating, much like accepting a marriage proposal and then agree to become a vampire, so that our lives would intertwine forever. Unless killed. In this, after being turned…We had to consummate the union again, to finish the mating rituals." Harry explained to the woman. "I-I hope it makes sense, that's the only way I can really word it."
"I understand perfectly, Harry…I'm just surprised, but at the same time, you can't fight fate. If the universe wants you and Severus together, then so be it. I don't intend to tread on true love. Not that I presume you two are in love, but I assume you've both come together willingly to complete your…Mating." Minerva said.
"It…Did take some time for Severus to come around. Understandably so why he needed time to sit with the news. However, we have come to love one another." Harry informed.
"Lovely to hear, but I do hope that this…Relationship will not affect neither his teaching, nor your schooling?" Minerva stated. "You are of age now, and I do not mind whatever things you do as a couple, as long as they don't interfere with either of your work and it's kept private. Light displays of affection are alright with me too."
"I appreciate your blessings and approval of our relationship. However, I am afraid there is more to our…Situation than our status as mates and it happened recently." Harry remarked. "We…Have a child."
"Explain, please." Minerva demanded in a calm tone.
"I should begin with that this is an adopted child. I saw your face contort to shock at the news, but while this child is adopted that we have…I will tell you that as vampires, Severus and I can have blood children of our own. We just haven't yet and didn't plan on such until after I'm out of school. Just for the record to be set," Harry began. "This child was born to a vampiress witch and wizarding father; she's a half-vampire and was found on the day she was born. Rogues killed her parents. The vampire who created me was informed and the child was brought back to the coven's base. Also, Draco, Severus, and myself are part of the coven, but it won't interfere with school for any of us." Harry paused. "During Draco and Severus's initiation into the coven on the 1st of August, Sanguini pulled me aside to ask if I might be about to talk to the child because despite only being born a few weeks ago, she appeared to be about two years old. This is because the aging process of vampires who are born is increasingly faster than a normal human child's. If we're right, this child will appear about seventeen when she's legally ten years old It's a learning process…"
"But I couldn't get her to talk at the base. When Severus, Draco, and I were leaving; she suddenly rushed out and grabbed onto me in the middle of apparating home. At my house, I noticed her and though she was quiet; I understood how she lost her family and she had nobody. Apparently, she latched onto me because I reminded her of her parents. As I said, the development is insane, Professor. She looks two, but she's got the mentality of a six year old, I swear. She can speak in full sentences, already beginning to read and write in basic forms." Harry went on. "What I needed to speak to you about was having this child. Severus and I have already blood adopted her as ours because she refused to return to the coven. When I saw she latched onto me, I mean refused to let go. It took me hours to get her to release me on a promise that I would still be with her when she woke up. She's still very quiet and shy, won't get close to anyone other than me. Severus is only just gaining her trust this past week."
"What are you asking of me, Harry?" Minerva questioned.
"I understand how much I'm asking, and I wouldn't even dare if it wasn't my last year here…But, I'm requesting your permission to bring her to school with me. I give you every assurance it will not hinder Severus, or myself and she'll be on her best behavior. Please?" Harry asked. "The idea was for Severus and I to share his quarters, obviously, our daughter too. I could take her to classes with me, and for things that may be dangerous; she could stay with Severus. We could switch off watching her, but I promise she won't get in the way or cause trouble."
"This is a bit of a tall request, Mr. Potter-Malfoy." Minerva countered. "I understand the circumstances, but still…A young child, regardless of species, in school with a student and a teacher? It's unheard of, certainly never been done before…If she's latched onto you, how will you do your work? Bathe, bathroom…Spell work?"
"Bathing isn't hard, Severus could watch her when I do that. Bathroom, well, that function of my body doesn't work anymore. Not since becoming a vampire, the only organ I have is my heart, and that's to pump blood through my body. As for assignments, she could sit right next to me, or in my lap during most classes. For potions, Severus could take her." Harry suggested. "I know it's a lot, but it's not impossible." Harry replied. "I know what I'm asking, and if you say no…I won't bring it up again, but understand that I'll have to leave school. I'll shoot to take my NEWTs early and hope for the best." He admitted. "I don't want to have to leave Hogwarts without saying I finished my education, but if there's no other way to care for my daughter…I'll bail."
"Do I have your word that there won't be any problems with her being here with you?" Minerva inquired.
"The only things that might come up is Ginerva Weasley's jealousy that Severus and I are soulmates and we have a child together. Aside that, I'm sure it will be shocking, but not a major issue." Harry confessed. "But as far as my daughter goes, she herself won't cause any trouble and her presence will not affect Severus or I working. There's no worry of her needing blood because she's half-vampire; she still eats human food and sleeps. As I said, shy and quiet, but so well behaved, Headmistress. And she's adorable; you'll love her."
Minerva sighed. "Very well, Harry. I will allow your request to bring your daughter to school with you. As well, you and Severus may share his quarters provided you keep to my rules. I will let the staff know that despite your daughter being with you in classes; no one is to make a big deal and keep to their work."
"Thank you, Headmistress." Harry bowed his head.
"Now, was this all?" Minerva wondered.
"There is one more thing…" Harry paused.
"Am I going to like this?" Minerva asked.
"Probably not, but…" Harry started.
And so he went on to bring up the matter of Tom Gaunt, formerly, Voldemort, needing community service and Harry feeling that he would do excellent as Severus's assistant in Defense Against the Dark Arts. Harry knew it was a long shot, but worth a try never the less.