Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.

Darkest Before The Dawn

Chapter 6

Lady Prince

Severus leaned heavily against the wall. Cursing he checked his surroundings. It had been incredibly foolish of him not to return with the house elf. Of course the Dark Lords followers would have tracked his portkey and wait just outside the wards for him. He had planned on feeding before returning to the castle but with Death eaters waiting for him outside his mothers safe house he had to fight just to Disapparate to the forbidden forest. A few dozen cutting curses later and here he was struggling to get to his quarters before he came across any one.

Pushing off of the wall he attempted to make it to the last hall before his quarters. Leaning against the wall four feet from the door to his rooms, panic flooded his senses seconds before the hunger, when the sound of a heartbeat assaulted his ears.

After his meeting with Dumbledore, Harry was given leave to do as he pleased. Which is why he found him self in the entrance hall in time to catch a shadowy figure making their way down the stairs leading to the dungeons. And being who he was he followed.

The figure seemed to be injured stopping frequently, leaning against the wall. Harry followed at a distance. As they entered a part of the dungeon's that he didn't go to often; as it was close to the Slytherin dorms; the figure stopped.

Severus could only watch as his body spun on the boy he had been trying to avoid. His hunger unmanageable from blood loss causing him to go after the first living thing it came across despite his conscious effort to stop himself from attacking the child he had hours ago been trying to protect.

All Harry saw before the figured charged him was a flash of sliver and fangs. Then there was a loud crack and the figure was flying away from him, Dobby standing to his right with his hand raised. "Harry Potter sir, yous need to leave it isn't safe." The small creature said grabbing his hand to pull him off down the corridor.

"Dobby who is that? If they're dangerous why are they in the castle?"

"Professor Snape isn't in his right mind Harry. Please go with Dobby, Madam Pomfrey and I will take care of him." Dumbledore replied striding down the hall, the medi-witch hurrying beside him.

Harry watched as they approached the prone figure of his potions professor. Taking in the tattered state of the mans robes gave him pause. "Sir, he didn't look like that when I saw him last." He said pulling his arm from Dobby's grasp, and walking towards the older wizard. "If he's lost more blood…"

"He has hit blood lust." Pompfrey confirmed after running a few diagnostic scans. "It certiantly explains why he attacked Harry." Dumbledore frowned, looking at his dark haired potions professor. When he shows signs of stirring he casts the strongest binding spells he knows and turns to Harry.

"I want you to find Professor McGonagall, she should be in her office, inform her of what has happened and stay with her until I send for you."

"Sir…"

"No, Harry. I know you want to help, but I need you to do this for me." Dumbledore stared and him his gaze hard. Harry nodded heading off in the other direction at a jog out of the dungeons.

Dumbledore stared after Harry for a moment before turning to Dobby and instructing him to keep any eye on the boy. The elf nodded his head eagerly and disappeared with a pop.

Turning to Madam Pomfrey he casts a levitation spell on the bound man at his feet. "His rooms are closest, and probably stocked for this sort of emergency."

Harry knocked on McGonagall's door, when she opened it she was clearly surprised to see him. After he told her what had happened she hurried him up to the Headmasters office, and made a floo call down to Professor Snape's quarters to inquire about the state of things.

Down in Snape's quarters, Pomfrey was at a loss. Severus had never allowed himself to get this bad and returned to the school. If he had it would have been a massacre. Searching the mans quarters for anything that might help her she wished that the dour Potions Master was sane enough at the moment to tell her what she was looking for. Albus was having a hard time keeping the half-vampire bound. Severus's innate vampire magic canceled out most human magic; when Minerva's floo call came through. "Albus how is he?"

"Not good. he is in full blood lust, and fighting. I don't know how long I can keep him bound. I need you to contact Filius, Remus and Eileen. Send Filius and Remus down as soon they get here. Escort Eileen to Severus's quarters, make sure when she arrives that she knows that her mate had a hand in this."

"What about Harry, Albus?"

"Bring him with you, he will find his way down here on his own at some point. It will be better if we know where he is, and can keep an eye on him."

"If your sure." Minerva said giving Albus and uncertain look.

"I am please hurry Minerva." He said turning way from the floo to concentrate on keeping the irate half-vampire bound and relatively harmless.

Severus struggled to regain control of him self. At least enough to tell Poppy about the secret compartment in the bathroom above the toilet. It took most of his will to keep himself from instinctually breaking Albus's bonds. He applauded the old wizard on his quick thinking. Sending Harry away on an important task to keep the boy from getting in to trouble.

When Filius arrived Albus asked him to cast any spells he knew that might hold a vampire. Between the two of them they managed to keep Severus contained until Remus got their with a sound proof charmed pair of earmuffs. After which Severus seemed to calm slightly, but not enough for them to release him.

Remus reasoned that the scent of their blood must be strong enough without their heartbeats to spur the bloodlust in to feeding mode. They debated the option of using another scent to mask the blood, but Remus explained that a vampire could separate scents like a wolf(werewolf) or dog, so it wouldn't work. The brown haired man suggested that they lock Severus's in his quarters and see if he could help himself. If that didn't work they would consult Eileen when she arrived the elder vampire should know how to help.

In the headmasters office Minerva McGonagall was trying to contact Eileen Prince. She contacted the various vampire colonies in Britain, and a few in France, Germany and Ireland. She was beginning to give up hope of finding the elusive vampiress when the fire flared green and a beautiful woman stepped through. She had long wavy black hair and brown eyes so dark they were almost black her skin was pale and seemed to glow. The dress she wore was black the top tight showing off her feminine curves, the bottom was slit up the sides to the hip so that it fell showing off her well muscled legs. On her feet were a pair of shiny black knee high boots, she made a stunning figure to any young man, but she exuded a dangerous sort of energy that made Harry suppress a shiver.

"You have been looking for me?" She asked her voice soft and lilting, she focused on McGonagall. It took a moment for the elderly witch to find her composure.

"Lady Prince?" McGonagall asked, receiving a slight nod from the other woman she continued. "Yes, we have been trying to make contact with you."

"And what does the Deputy Headmistress require of me that, justifies putting the vampire community in an uproar. It is not often that humans go through the trouble of contacting our colonies, unless a vampire has gone on a killing spree. As far as I have heard all registered vampires have been accounted for." Lady Prince crossed her arms in front of her tapping her fingers on her arm.

"We're actually trying to prevent that from happening." The vampiress rose one slender eyebrow in an overly familiar gesture. "Your son has gone in to a blood lust."

"Severus would never allow himself to fall into such a state." Lady Prince interrupted dropping her arms to her sides.

"Um, ma'm he had a lot of help." Harry said receiving a disapproving look from McGonagall. The vampiress turned her attention to him.

"He's fed from you." She stated moving towards him, McGonagall moved to stand between them but a glance from Lady Prince stopped her. "Not much, but I can still feel his mark on you, two days. What sort of help would cause my son to slip into this state?"

She was standing less than a foot from him, staring at him intently. "Adrian mostly, from the state of his robes when he was found a fight with death eaters."

"On what grounds do you dare accuse my mate child, for such things are not taken lightly." Eileen's eyes flashed sliver for a moment in her anger.

" I was there…"

"And Adrian chose Severus over you? That is highly unlikely knowing my mate."

"Snape wouldn't let him feed from me. Which I am grateful for but can we work out the details of his condition after he isn't in danger of attacking anyone."

"That does sound like my Severus, very well." She spun on McGonagall. "Take me to my son. Once he is safe to be around we will get to the bottom of this. The boy will need to be present."

"Yes of course" McGonagall nodded. "This way please." She said leading them out of the head masters office and down to Snapes quarters.