A/N: Got one review would like to respond to: no worries about the updates, the story is already finished (I hate waiting for updates too so I don't post it if its not finished). So, while I will try to space them out a little, all the chapters will probably be up by mid next week. :)

Harry wasn't sure how to respond to this. Shock, anger, didn't even begin to scratch the surface of what he was feeling. Mixed in with his negative reaction was also a bit of hope and curiosity. He'd never had a mother, but he'd always wanted one.

"What does that mean, exactly?"

She smiled a little, "For the most part nothing. You won't be affected to the same extent that I will. I will feel this bond deeper than you will. I will be very overprotective of you, will care for you, and you feel the same for me. We don't need to spend any time together, though, as I understand it, I will feel a terrible sadness if we remain apart for too long. We will always be able to find one another. It is possible that an empathic link will form later, but it doesn't always happen. Then, I have more creature blood in me than just vampire, and that will affect you."

"That's doesn't sound too bad, I guess. What other creature blood though and what will it do?"

She was silent for a moment, seemingly searching for something in Harry's eyes.

"Just a touch of dragon's blood."

Harry gaped at her, unable to speak for a moment. He blinked, trying to gather his thoughts. That had not been what he'd been expecting at all.

"Are you serious? Dragon?"

"Yes. My great-great grandmother was a dragon who fell in love with a wizard, a snake speaker."

The queen's eyes had a far off look to them.

"She loved him so much," she continued, tone subdued. "And when she felt there was no way she could be with him, she wanted to die, rather than live apart from him for eternity. She was a favorite of the gods. One of their most treasured creations; they could not allow her to die. So, they granted her a human form and blessed all her children with the same gift."

"Wait, a snake speaker, does that mean you're related to-?"

"Yes, unfortunately. Salazar Syltherin was my uncle so Tom Marvolo Riddle, or Voldemort, as you know him, is my, I think, though I might be skipping a generation or two, eighth-great cousin."

Harry shuddered at this news. It meant he was related to the vermin as well. Though, he guessed it was better than being related to Dumbledore. At least Voldemort was honest about wanting to kill him.

"Oh, and that little thing about you being a horcrux…"

Harry found himself gaping yet again. Was there nothing she didn't know? "How the fuck did you know about that?"

"Language!" She snapped irritably. Which Harry couldn't help but snort at; a vampire that didn't like swearing.

"Alright." Cough. "How did you know about that?"

"Vampires, being as close to death as we are, can see death magic. I knew the second I saw your scar. It had a rather disgusting essence. But not to worry, since you 'died' when you became one of us, it has left your body."

"Is that why-?"

"Yes, that is one of the reasons I insisted you become one of us."

"Could've mentioned that a hell of a lot sooner…"

"I do not give out vampire secrets to non vampires. You won't mention this to any of your little friends either. It's a strictly need-to-know basis and if you're not a vampire you don't need to know."

Harry glared down at his hands rather petulantly.

"Stop pouting I've more to tell you. Since you now have my blood you will be able to take on the form of a dragon. Until you've trained up a bit more, I recommend only doing it when the need is most dire, it is very draining when you're not used to it. Also, you will have a true mate. Actually, it's possible with both creature bloods inside you that you will have two."

"Really?" Harry liked that, he'd always wanted a family of his own. The idea of two mates didn't really both him. It was just another blessing.

"Really." She smiled. She remembered the hope she had felt when learning of the possibility of having mates. She just hoped that he had more luck at finding his.

"Well, where are yours?"

It was the wrong thing to say. A deep sadness had entered her eyes. She turned away slightly, and her words, when she eventually spoke, were stilted.

"One is dead." She faced him again, her eyes blank. "I hadn't even sensed his presence in this world. Then one day, about two years ago, I woke up in agony. He was gone. The worst part is, I don't even know his name or what he looked like. I might never know. It kills me. But, I know that I have another one out there somewhere so I keep going in the hope that one day I'll meet him or her."

"How do you know you have another one?"

"I'm still alive. Your mate or mates will be as immortal as you are once you bond with them, but if they die before hand, or are somehow killed afterward, you will follow them into death. Two mates may survive the death of a third, but one will not survive the death of both."

"So I could die never knowing them?"

"It's possible, but I believe you've already met them."

"Why?"

"Your lack of blood lust. You were hungry, but didn't try to attack me to get to the bags. All vampires are ravenous when they first awake. It takes years of practice to control the thirst. Once you've found your mate on the other hand, it leaves you on its own. Blood simply isn't as important to you anymore. Your fangs might still emerge when you're aroused, but you won't feel any urge to bite."

"How will I know who it is?"

She was rather abruptly nose to nose with him. He pulled back, blinking in surprise.

"Scent." She breathed. "It will hit you like a ton of bricks. It's the one thing that werewolves and vampires have in common. We find our mate by scent."

She pulled back, "Sorry."

"It's alright."

She smiled at him and ruffled his hair a bit. "I think I covered everything. Any questions?"

"One."

She raised a brow at him, waiting.

He swallowed a bit nervously. "What's your name?"

Her lips quirked a bit and she chuckled. "Kerri. Kerri Tiamet Ophiuchus. Anything else?"

"No I don't think so." He chewed on his lip. "Well, I do want a few more details about the mate thing, but it can wait."

"Yes. If nothing else, vampires have plenty of time. Now, I know you're eager to get back to your friends. I need to train you first though. It shouldn't take more than a few weeks. Owl them, and we will begin."

A/N: Kerri Tiamet Ophiuchus = Dark and mysterious mother of life, serpent bearer. Idky I just thought it fit…