Disclaimer: Happy Birthday to me, Happy Birthday to me, Happy Birthday to Katie… and still no rights to Harry Potter. Damnit. I'm holding out hope, as my birthday isn't REALLY till tomorrow, though. Maybe I'll get them then?

//This is Parseltongue.//

Paraselenic

Rancorous // a bitter, deeply held, and long-lasting ill will or resentment

Harry sighed as he slipped out of the library unseen, his hand unconsciously dropping to feel the shrunken bulk of items he had had to confiscate off of Hermione. He ran a shaky hand through his short hair, annoyed at how off balance the encounter had made him. Every time he began wondering how little of his humanity remained, it seemed a situation came up to convince him otherwise. He had thought he had put a reasonable amount of distance between himself and his prior friends, but it seemed he had not done as good of a job as he'd thought.

It had physically hurt him to stare into her blank eyes and tell her that she had, in fact, been researching Vampires in order to have concrete proof backing her statements as she argued with Ron about Dante. That she was not suspicious of him. That she only hoped for his wellbeing and had not, in fact, seen anything to lead her believe him to be anything more than an angsty and brooding teenaged human male. He hated washing away the faint hope that had arisen in his heart as he'd read the analytical slant of her words, hoping that maybe, just maybe, he had been wrong. Hoping that maybe he wasn't going to lose all vestiges of his old life when the truth came out, that Hermione was bookish enough to not let her emotions cloud her judgment.

But he knew that was not the case. Hope was for children and fools, and he fancied himself to be neither.

He had found an entire notebook filled with her neat handwriting, all listing truths about Vampires that she had found in various unbiased books. He was impressed with how much she had been able to find. It hadn't been hard to place a sleeping hex over her and replace the damning paper about him with the notebook after checking it over for anything pertaining for him. He wasn't going to allow himself to slip up anymore. He had done it enough. He would have to be more careful if he was going to make it though the school year.

He had also done a search of her book bag, taking out all texts that would have been irrelevant to her supposed task. Within it he had found a boon, something that very nearly made having to Obliviate the only woman he looked to as family worth it. He was sure it was from the Restricted section, and likely the only copy in existence; it was handwritten and tenuously bound, an unassuming cover leaving him in shock as he'd flipped through it.

Innocuously titled 'Joint Magicks', he had discovered it to be a book about spells that required both a wizard and a participant of a different species, usually Vampire or Werewolf, though Harry had spied spells for use in combination with Dwarfs, House Elves, and Sirens. He had decided to 'borrow' it for further perusal when an entry had caught his eye.

An entry detailing the combination of a wizard's magic with a vampire's, combined with a complicated potion which would create a fully functional Blood Clone.

Harry pushed away all melancholy thoughts and let a wicked grin curve his lips. He had a Potions master to speak with and a Rite to prepare for. He would have free reign over the hols even if it meant suffering Severus Snape.

Harry strode through the dungeons as if he owned them, uncaring if any sneaky Slytherins would witness his passing. He didn't think he would be keeping the truth from many of them much longer, and they wouldn't dare take their complaints to Dumbledore. They would stew with their grievances until the truth came to light.

Harry paused to rap on the door to Professor Snape's classroom, not uncouth enough to barge in unannounced. No matter his distaste for the man, he did respect him and knew he would be a valuable ally if Harry could force him to get over his childish grudges.

"Enter," the drawl came in the familiar deep timber. Harry had found over the years that the annoying voice in the back of the head that alerted him when he screwed up had taken on that same deep drawl; it had been a source of the utmost annoyance for him for years. It usually went unnoticed now, though.

He opened the door and slid into the room, clicking the door shut behind him and ignoring the steadily deepening scowl that was on the sallow man's face. "Hullo Severus, I need you to do a task for me."

The scowl transformed into a snarl, but Harry could see the man reigning in his initial instinct to lash out verbally. Like Lucius, it seemed that though it may take a while, respect and subsequent deference were on their way. "And just what, Potter, do you need of me?"

Harry perched on the edge of what was normally Malfoy's desk. "I need a potion brewed and have little time to work out the specifics to brew it on my own. It is within my skill level, but I would prefer to know your skills were behind it."

Black eyes showed surprise briefly before they went flat once more. "If it is within your own unexceptional proficiency level, then it is likely not worth my own time at all," he sneered.

Harry narrowed his eyes and saw the man flinch back slightly, obviously having known better than to make the comment. It seemed he had made an impact on Snape, though the man's personality was hard to be quelled, especially in the face of James Potter's son. "Perhaps you missed the memorandum, Severus, but I am not the same sniveling, brooding little boy you tossed out on his backside at the end of term. In case my appearance change has not been hint enough, I was in training for a decade before returning for the school year. If not for your own incompetence at teaching, I would have been a fine student, though admittedly never top of the class."

"What gives you the right to demean my teaching skills, you ungrateful little brat?" Snape growled out, knuckles white where they clenched the desk's edge.

"Have you ever heard of Dougal Fraiser?" he asked with a sly smirk, watching the faint color leave the Potions master's face. "You have, I see. It took six months under his tutelage to correct the damage you did on me over the years, and once I was able to hold a blade correctly and actually identify ingredients, I was able to work on my own at a passable level. I will never love it as you do, nor will I ever hold the patience for any long-term brews… but I know what I am doing around a cauldron, Severus, and I would thank you to stop questioning my intelligence. It is not your place," he finished with a growl of his own, flipping his Blackthorn wand from his sleeve and leveling it at the man threateningly. It was an empty threat, they both knew; the wards would not allow him the creativity he would like, but the implication and reminder was there.

Severus swallowed with a pinched expression and tipped his head in a stunted show of submission. "What do you need of me, then, my lord?"

Harry ignored the man's attitude as his love of obscurities surfaced, a smile working its way over his face. "I found a spell to perfectly suit my needs for the holidays. However, it is Cooperative magic and I require a Harmonizing potion to synch up the varying magical signatures. It's relatively uncomplicated but for the careful stirring required."

Harry pulled the book from his pocket and tapped it with his wand, expanding it and flipping through the pages quickly, plopping it down onto the desk and grinning at the astonished looking Potions master. He watched Snape run a long finger down the ingredients list. "What is the purpose of this potion? The jobberknoll feathers associate the potion with memory, the moonstone with emotional balance, and the runespoor eggs with increased mental acumen, but the properties of the asphodel and knotgrass would not be complete enough to serve to create a golem."

Harry nodded fervently. "That is why it is Cooperative magic, it isn't a golem at all. Golems need to be directed and instructed, this allows you to create life!"

He pointed to the opposite page of the potions instructions and lifted himself on the corner of the high desk. "See? It's a minor ritual in a triangular formation, and with Dante and I working as the anchors I just need you to brew and apply the potion at the correct point. It's fascinating. It works by converting both the wizard and vampire magic into a neutral, original magic without roots in any species. Because creating a veritable life form without birthing is impossible to all species, we are creating an alternate life form that will be, in theory, an exact replication of me. The potion is needed to cement a sense of self into the clone and allow it to move without constant direction. The magic creates the body and it can be mentally and physically linked to me to make it have my personality, goals, and memories and look exactly like my fifteen year old form…"

Black eyes were slightly unfocused. "Why isn't this more well known? The mere idea of this is fascinating. Think of what I could do with this: having an assistant that isn't a complete dunderhead to contribute to my experimentation…"

Harry chuckled at the dreamy gaze. "Unfortunately, the clone won't work properly in close proximity to its maker, nor will it function under duress. That nullifies any uses I have come up with in assistance and battle. A person also cannot be linked to more than one at a time, limiting the clones singularly. It is helpful for establishing an alibi, or as in my case, appearing to be where I am not. It is very unknown because it requires a human and a vampire of at least moderate strength to work together, and with prejudices the way they are that is unlikely."

Severus scowled again, though this time it was directed at the wall rather than Harry, surprisingly. "Damn."

Harry chuckled again and nodded. "I know. I spent all last night thinking of what I could use it for… I was rather annoyed to have gotten my hopes up. I will look more into this subject, though, surely."

Severus nodded and scanned the potion list again. "When do you need this done by?"

"At least a day or two prior to the Yule hols. I don't want to create it too soon; I haven't found a stasis spell yet."

Severus again nodded to Harry vacantly, and Harry was surprised to find himself comfortable in the man's company. It wasn't often that the man wasn't imparting his irascible wit onto him, and he found that without the scathing sarcasm the man could be tolerable company. He wouldn't call it pleasant, really, but it was a far cry from their usual interactions.

"I'm only worried about one aspect," Harry said seriously after a few minutes' silence. He hated to bring up this particular subject, as it would surely bring back the Snape he reviled, but he respected the man's intelligence and needed his opinion. "The one thing that will not be carried over to the clone will be my vampirism. As such, its mind will be wide open. I worry about Dumbledore coming across it in that state. I considered extracting the memories of the last ten years, but it would leave months of unknown gaps in its mind and would leave it disoriented. It would cause me to be found out too easily."

"Are you telling me," Severus said in a dark drawl, "that you are so incompetent as to have been unable to master Occlumency after a decade of training? What kind of a brainless imbecile are you?"

"Watch your tone, Severus," Harry hissed. "For your information, I am unable to learn Occlumency. The Avada Kedavra made my mind unable to form defensive shields. Had you not been blinded by your own childish presuppositions you might have noticed that in our lessons. Thankfully, being a vampire has many advantages, only one of them being able to deflect human Legilimency."

Severus's face contorted into an angry grimace. "There is no way your mind cannot make shields. It is a basic ability available to all wizards at birth!"

"And there is no way I could have survived a Killing Curse to the head either. Yet I stand here. I'm sure you've noticed that precedent has never stopped me thus far."

"How could I not notice? The very laws of nature bend backwards to accommodate you."

Harry scoffed. "And there I was for years wishing I could just be invisible. But now…" Harry let a wicked smirk cross his face. "Now I see the benefits of being under the world's scrutiny. I will make sure my messages are heard. Someday I still hope to fade into obscurity, but I know now that short of holing myself away in the Immortal realm, that isn't going to happen."

Severus scowled downward irritably as Harry pushed himself off the high desk and gave a mocking bow. "I will take my problem to Dante, since you seem unable to hold a civil, intelligent conversation. I fear, Severus, that you and I are going to bump heads for many years to come -- assuming you survive that long, of course -- but you would make it far easier on yourself to see that I am absolutely nothing like my father. I really can't tell you, though, since the most I've ever seen of him was the scene in your pensieve. You would be doing yourself a favor to try and look beyond your own muddled sight. Pretend for a single day that you never met my father and see what you think after that. Because if you don't begin to treat me with the respect I command as your lord… I don't guarantee your survival long enough to get out of this school year, let alone this war. While I am content to make you scream a bit, my dear Tom seems to take offense to people insulting me."

He turned at the door and saw the ashen complexion of the man, grinning and giving a jaunty wave. "I want the list of students I should speak with the day I return, Severus. Ta-ta."

Harry left Severus staring at the cracked stone of the dungeon wall in a seething fury… but underneath it all, he wondered if the boy might be at least partially right.

Harry was packed and ready to leave -- all the clothing and supplies he would need for the two weeks away from Hogwarts shrunken in a small trunk in his pocket. Now he only needed to retrieve the Blood Clone from Dante's rooms and set off under his invisibility cloak for the train. He halfway wanted to Apparate, but he had decided it would be easiest just to take the Hogwarts Express and meet up with Lucius that way.

Harry paid little attention to his surroundings, being nearly alone in the corridors while everyone ran around getting ready for their holidays. He was one of a handful of students staying over (so the castle believed, that is) and so it wasn't anything special to see him wandering the halls. After all, if he was really a sixteen year old staying behind for Christmas without his friends, it would only rub salt into the wounds to watch everyone else happily preparing to depart.

When the shoulder of an equally distracted person caught onto his, he turned to snarl out a rebuke when he was caught by wide silver eyes. He raised an eyebrow as the blond quickly bent at the waist and refused to meet his eyes again. "My lord, I apologize for not watching where I was going!"

Harry snorted, amused that Draco had managed to figure it out. "Don't worry about it, Malfoy… and don't bow to me in school. Wouldn't want anyone else to figure it out, after all."

Still the blond would not meet his eyes, though he did straighten. "I apologize for my behavior this year, my lord. Had I known you had possessed Potter…"

He raised an incredulous eyebrow. "Excuse me, Malfoy?"

"Potter… you've possessed him, haven't you my lord?"

Harry let out a short bark of laughter, smirking as the blond twitched slightly in an aborted attempt to cringe away. "Now Malfoy, my memories of you aren't exactly clear… but I could have sworn that you were exceedingly intelligent."

Draco's face turned pink at the insult. "I-I don't understand…"

"I am Harry Potter. Voldemort," the boy flinched, "in no way has possession of my mind or body." Harry paused and smirked. "No matter how much Tom might wish it."

Draco clenched his fists and growled. "Potter… then what in the bloody hell is wrong with you? You aren't the same Potter as before, you're Dark and strong and…" the younger seemed to realize he was inadvertently complimenting Harry and stopped, face screwing up. "What the hell are you?"

Harry smirked and advanced on the boy, stopping only inches away. "Don't worry your… pretty little head over it, Draco."

The word seemed to trigger something in Malfoy, as he paled slightly. "You've got to be kidding me."

A wicked grin spread over his lips. "I can't wait to see your home, Little Pretty. I especially miss your father…"

Harry winked and left the slowly reddening, furious blond behind him as he walked with a new skip in his step to Dante's rooms.

Harry groaned and stretched from his position on the floor of the train's cabin, pushing his neck from side to side to crack it. He had lost track of time, having finally had the time to pull out the materials for the only hobby he'd picked up in the last decade and deciding to put his talent to work on Christmas gifts for his Dante and Voldemort. He snickered at the idea that he was actually had to consider what to get Voldemort for Christmas. How things changed.

He had managed to use his talents to create a gift that each would find acceptable, but he was still at a loss for Lucius. Since the blond was his subordinate and beyond their mini trysts they were far from close, Harry hadn't thought he would be giving Lucius anything. However, now that he had been invited to stay in the man's home, it was only right that he give something to him. He hoped to figure it out while he was there. If Valerian had taught him anything over the years, manners and proper decorum were the biggest.

Putting away his things and carefully packing away the gifts before shrinking and pocketing his trunk, Harry stood and stretched his back out and swished his invisibility cloak back over his shoulders. He had used the Reversion potion almost as soon as he had warded the door, and had to crouch slightly to stay under the cover of his cloak.

The train began grinding to a halt, finally having reached King's Cross. It was an exhausting and time-consuming ride, and he now wished he had just Apparated. However, he hadn't wanted to lose track of time. Since he had never been to Malfoy Manor he needed to enter with Lucius the first time. He sighed and cast a quick Reflection spell to check that he was fully concealed before removing the wards and obscuring charms he had placed on the door.

He watched impassively as the train emptied of its passengers, waiting until it was nearly empty before he skirted his way through the crowds. He frowned as he watched Ron, Ginny, and Hermione run of to the rest of the Weasley party and leave with loud voices. He wasn't bitter, honestly… but he knew that had this been ten years ago and had this moment been happening to his sixteen year old self, it would have nearly broken his heart.

He sighed and slipped through the barrier column into the crowded muggle station, immediately picking out Lucius in a rather unnoticeable alcove behind a column. He smirked and started towards him before another blond drew his attention, the younger Malfoy walking furiously and purposefully towards the elder. "Father!"

Lucius turned slightly, raising a pale eyebrow at his son's loud voice. "Yes, Draco?"

Harry was nearly there now, not even needing sensitive hearing to pick out the words.

"Are you insane?! You invited that… that…"

"What are you going on about, Draco?"

The boy was furious, Harry could tell, and he stopped a foot away just to watch in amusement as Draco nearly shook in fury.

"Do you know who he is, Father?! This lord of yours that you… oh Merlin you let him… and you liked it… he's bloody Ha--"

"Pretty, do shut up your progeny before I shut him up," Harry purred from beside Lucius, still under his cloak but with a hand on the man's arm.

"Be silent, Draco," Lucius said to the fuming boy without even a flinch. "We will discuss this later. My lord? Are you ready to go?"

Harry pushed back his cloak enough to expose his eyes to the two blonds, "Hmm… I suppose so. I should really get some… sustenance before leaving, but I'm sure you won't be adverse to being my donor tonight, would you Pretty?"

He felt Lucius shiver against him. "Of course, my lord."

"Splendid," Harry said with a hiss, focusing his eyes on the silent but obviously livid Draco. "Shall we go, then?"

Lucius pulled out a piece of parchment and waited until Harry's hand was grasping the paper over his own hand before saying the activating word and letting the three of them swirl out of existence.

Revised: 3/19/09