The Leader

Chapter 7

Shock And Awe

Severus was tempted to believe he'd knocked his head, and was having some sort of absurd dream of some kind. Why else would someone that looked remarkably like Harry Potter be standing before him. His hair was long, but how long Severus didn't know― it was long enough to tie back at the nape of his neck. It wasn't the hair that made him think of Harry, but rather the green eyes, which seemed to stand out against his face. Green eyes of that kind were rare, even amoung the wizards or witches; it definitely was an older version of the child he remembered at Hogwarts. He was a vampire; if the pubic knew they'd crucify him. 'Dark creatures' weren't tolerated, and due to the fact Harry Potter was so revered by the population, the knowledge would make them react very negatively. Somehow he knew Harry cared little about that. His magic was singing again; this boy… young man was the Leader of the coven. He didn't know what shocked him more, that Potter was here, a vampire, or the Leader. He was young, very young compared to most vampires; how he successfully became the Leader meant he was vicious and ruthless. What had happened to him to create this vampire before him? And more importantly, why the hell was he still alive? He hadn't been kind to the boy, hell, he hadn't been kind to anyone― it wasn't in his nature.

Harry withheld a smirk at the look on his old Potions Master's face. He didn't have to wonder if he knew who he was, since it was pretty obvious he'd worked it out on his own. Moving from the door, his gait powerful, relaxed and very self aware, he walked around the bed and sat in the seat beside it. His foot idly came up and rested on the side of the bed frame. He sat quietly, waiting patiently for Snape to begin, because Harry knew him well enough to know some sort of comment would leave the man's lips.

"Why did you keep me alive?" asked Severus, his glare ferocious and suspicious. He decided against even touching upon Potter's parentage or what he was now. He was a leader, the chances of him getting any answers were slim to none, and no doubt this was a young man used to getting his own way and answering to no one. If he thought for a second he'd get any insight he would ask, plus he really did want to know why he'd been kept alive; they obviously wanted something from him.

"I will be asking the questions," said Harry his face impassive.

"Then speak," barked Severus snidely, just wanting to test the waters, see what the boy had the guts to do.

Harry inhaled sharply, "Do not test me," he said his voice frosty, his magic flaring in warning.

Severus bit his tongue, his heart beat erratically through his ribcage, feeling nervous and hating himself for it. He'd spent so much time around Voldemort and Dumbledore that he no longer truly feared them. He feared torture and pain, yes, but death... when you face it on a daily basis it just seemed insignificant. Death was a comfort to Severus, sometimes when things were at their worst, he wished for it. It helped when he didn't have a single thing to live for. Ever since Lily had abandoned him, he'd just got through the days as they came, then when she died…he began to simply exist to see Lily's son survive and perhaps get her forgiveness. He stared across at the vampire; some job he'd made of his vow, but considering what people had said over the years about Harry Potter ― it could have been worse. He had refused to believe Lily's son was dead, when others were quick to give up hope. In a way they'd all been right―Harry was dead, strictly speaking, yet still alive. What had happened? Why hadn't he returned to Hogwarts? And how had he become a vampire? A leader at that.

Sitting back, Harry observed Snape, his beating heart was pounding away like a drum. Yet he couldn't smell fear from him; normally those who encountered him and his magic did fear him. None of his clan did... well, in the end anyway, when they realized he wasn't a complete maniac and didn't torture or kill for fun. Their fear gave way to respect after a few months, and a deep seated need to impress him. He wondered what the wizard was thinking; he didn't dare try and delve into Snape's mind, for he was probably quite a fierce Occlumens. He would have to be, if he'd successfully duped Voldemort into believing he was a Death Eater.

"Tell me, Snape. Why did you swear a Vow of loyalty to me?" asked Harry, keeping a keen eye on him for any reactions he had towards his words.

Severus stiffened further still, how the hell did he know about that? It couldn't be mind reading abilities, otherwise there would be no reason to ask why. He had told no one; Dumbledore was the only one that knew, and as part of the vow he'd sworn that nobody would know about anything they'd discussed. Including how he felt for Lily; to him, loving anyone was a weakness; never knowing love, well…it was hardly surprising he felt that way. Lily had been the only one who had ever been kind to him his entire life, it was little wonder he'd loved her. Everyone else around him just used him: the boys to get him enticed to the Dark Lord' service, the Dark Lord himself, then Dumbledore when he'd gone to him begging him to save Lily. Curiosity, that's what was keeping him alive; typical.

"Who told you?" demanded Severus. Had Dumbledore set him up further than he realized? No, that was stupid wasn't it? Unless he expected him to infiltrate this group and send information back. Did Dumbledore know this was where Harry was? He wished he had answers, but he knew he wasn't going to get them. If this had been Dumbledore's plan then he could forget it; he was tired, of the games, the spying, the lies, and more importantly, the torture. The latest bout of it, despite the scars being gone, had left a permanent mark on him; he had come inches from dying, and dear Merlin he was exhausted mentally, physically, and emotionally.

"Nobody told me per say," said Harry calmly, he saw no reason to keep it from him; it made little difference to the situation. "One of my men has the ability to read magic; we are connected via the Vow. If it was just an oath it would have been attached to your magic; the fact it's connected to your heart tells us it's a Vow." Oaths drained magic if they were sullied; Vows stopped the heart and killed them if they were dared to be violated. Those with the ability to see magic were very rare, and he was rather fond of Rick and glad he was part of the movement.

"I see," said Severus inwardly impressed. If the Vow had been the only reason Potter was keeping him alive, it stood to reason he shouldn't tell him anything. Unfortunately the boy had worked most of it out on his own; it still made no sense healing him like this. He could have got his answers without doing it; he did not like being confused. People were always predictable, perhaps that was why life was so boring all the time, but now…he found himself irritated by it. The potion was expensive, very difficult to brew…and they were wasting it on him? If they had plans of killing him then they were downright stupid. From what he was observing the boy wasn't stupid, he was cautious, suspicious, and too damn powerful. What had made the boy he knew into this warrior? Back then the boy had been an open book, easy to read and even easier to rile up.

"Why?" asked Harry sitting forward now, his green eyes demanding an answer.

Severus said nothing, merely stared at Harry as if he wasn't there.

"I assume you know what this is?" said Harry, removing a vial of clear liquid from his pocket, watching as some sort of emotion he could identify filled those black orbs. "I'd rather not have to use it, but I will if I have to."

Severus glared at him, still remaining silent. Veritaserum, while it was a powerful truth potion, only worked best when the victim of it was unaware and caught off guard. There were means to fight against it, including Occlumency; it also didn't work against those who were clearly insane. The answers were only the victim's beliefs of what were true; in reality it may be a lie but they were only telling what they thought was the truth. The Potion was controlled strictly by the Ministry of Magic, but they were fools if they thought they were the only ones who had it. Even he carried a bottle around with him, or had until his potions had been removed from his person before being tortured nearly to death. Veritaserum wasn't used during trials; it was 'unfair and extremely unreliable'. Then there was the fact the wizard or witch could have taken the antidote. If the boy didn't know any of this…well, who was he to burst his bubble?

"This potion, however, differs from the published version," said Harry his green eyes gleaming. "Nothing and nobody can get around it, not even a good Occlumens such as yourself will be able to fight it. It's one of my finest inventions. It works on all creatures; it acts more like an Imperious, forcing rather than compelling you to answer the questions. There is no known antidote, but the effects wear off within forty five minutes. The question remains, Severus Snape… whether you are willing to risk spilling your guts or answering one simple question?"

Damn the boy to hell, he didn't know whether he was being truthful or not. If he risked it he could ask anything and he would have to answer. He was essentially being backed into a corner, figuratively since his backside was still stuck to this bloody bed. Anyone else would have flinched back and wet their pants at his look, yet the boy just waited expectantly. Fisting his hands, he gritted his teeth, acknowledging he couldn't risk finding out if he was bluffing or not.

"I swore a vow to protect you, to keep you alive," said Severus bitterly.

"Yes, I get that, why?" demanded Harry.

"Because Albus Dumbledore demanded it," replied Severus, a sneer crossing his face.

"Why did Dumbledore demand it?" asked Harry.

Severus blinked, the way the boy said 'Dumbledore' was reminiscent of the way he spoke about James Potter. Why would Harry feel that way against the Headmaster? During his first year, he'd seen the boy gazing at Dumbledore and worshiping the ground he walked on. It was disgusting really, like a puppy following its master. "To prove my loyalty to the light side," he told him truthfully, still puzzled by Harry's distaste for Dumbledore. He had his own reasons, but what could he have done to offend Harry so badly that the hatred ran so deep?

Harry stood up, pacing the room. There was something more going on, but what? How did he go about getting answers out of a very reluctant Potions Master? He was answering the questions, but only as much as he had to say, the true mark of a spy. The pieces of the puzzles were jarring, never completing and it was doing his head in. Why would Albus Dumbledore make Snape swear to keep him alive? What was so special about him? Bursts of magic sprang from him as his emotions heightened further. He had all the information he could get from papers and archives, but it wasn't enough. Scowling darkly, he continued to pace, irritated beyond belief. Oh, he was very tempted to just give the wizard the Veritaserum.

Severus warily watched the powerful vampires pace; he was obviously extremely angry if the outburst of magic was anything to go by.

"Why was he so determined that you should keep me alive? Why? What the hell was so special about me that he needed you to swear to protect me? What the hell am I missing? I've known he was desperate to get me back, but never wondered why…until now…What does he want or need me for?" snapped Harry, stopping at the end of the bed, staring at Snape hoping he would be able to answer. "Damn it, Snape, just bloody answer this question…I'll give you whatever you want as long as it's in my capacity to get it." It was obvious threatening him wasn't going to work.

Severus withheld the smirk, the shoes were now directly on his feet; obviously Harry was used to negotiating and realized no self-respecting Slytherin would give out answers without it. Although if he asked for too much, he knew he'd more than likely just be bound and drugged. Harry wasn't patient, that much he had observed. "Let me off the bed, return my wand to me and give me your assurance none of the others will try anything when I leave," stated Severus calmly.

"Where exactly are you going to go, Snape? The three sides will see you dead before you could claim being spy," said Harry bluntly, reluctantly returning the wizard's wand. At the same time he used his Wandless abilities to remove the charm keeping Snape stuck to the bed.

Severus froze feeling the magic washing over him, his black eyes going to each of Harry's hands and wrists but seeing no sign of a wand. He was capable of Wandless magic, complex Wandless magic, and without his wand nearby. He could kill him without him even knowing what was happening, Merlin that was just a scary thought. Perhaps it wasn't his people that he had to worry about but the boy himself. The shoe wasn't on his foot at all, that had been a warning. What Harry said was true; all sides did wish to see him dead, although if he returned to Hogwarts all that would accomplish was his arrest at the hands of the Ministry, who would love that. He would have to get to Gringotts and get his money before he was declared dead. After that, he didn't know what the hell he was going to do, go into hiding he supposed, there was nothing much else he could do. A spy―the boy knew what he was; how? How did he know about him, but not how important he himself was?

"Well?" said Harry, he'd done what he'd asked for, now he was more than ready for his answer.

"Breakfast for Master Snape," said Dobby appearing, placing the large breakfast on the bed before disappearing, realizing he'd interrupted something and not wanting to stay around.

Both men ignored the food, despite the fact Severus' stomach growled harshly at the sight of the filling food. He stood up, grateful that he could move once more, and without pain. He felt like pacing himself, but instead moved towards the window, inhaling the cold air before turning to face the powerful wizard before him. He might just be breathing his last after all, and he wouldn't blame the boy.

"Before you were born, I was at the time a genuine Death Eater. I had been asked by the Dark Lord to get close to Albus Dumbledore. I followed him on a dark wet night; it led me to the bar above the Hog's Head Inn, a bar run by Aberforth Dumbledore. I listened to whoever he was meeting with; that someone was Sybill Trelawney, the great-great granddaughter of a very famous and gifted seer…" said Severus.

"Cassandra Trelawney," stated Harry nodding his head, he already knew about all the teachers at Hogwarts.

"Indeed, turns out she had the gift of Prophecy, and that night she predicted something. I only heard part of it before I was caught and kicked out of the premises. Regardless, I immediately told the Dark Lord of what I had heard, something I deeply regret to this day," Severus said, his voice hollow.

Harry didn't like the sound of where this was going, at all. Regardless, he listened intently, curiosity getting the better of him.

Staring Harry in the eye, he continued on. "What I heard stated that, 'The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches, Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies'. When that time came, it was a close call between two children, Neville Longbottom and yourself. Alice and Frank as well as your parents had defied the Dark Lord three times. Technically speaking, both of you were born as the seventh month dies, but your birthday is on July 31st. Longbottom was born on July 30th, but he considered you both a threat. In the end the Dark Lord chose a child closest to himself, a Half-Blood," replied Severus, surprised to see no shock in those eyes―did that mean he knew of the Dark Lord's blood status or that he didn't care either way?

"What does the rest say?" asked Harry.

"That's it? I'm responsible for your parents' murders and you ask about a prophecy?" said Severus genuinely baffled, who was this boy?

"I know who's responsible, Peter Pettigrew won't live to see another birthday," said Harry, his voice going stone cold furious.

"I see," said Severus shuddering. He was tempted to feel a little bit sorry for Pettigrew, but after what he'd done, well, he'd dance on his dead corpse. He actually contemplated staying around to see it; it was certainly not something he would like to miss, that was for damn sure. How did he know it was Pettigrew? There was a spy in the Order; it was the only explanation he could come up with. He wanted to laugh at the irony of it. If he had a spy in the Order, why didn't he know about Dumbledore only wanting him to end the war? He had so many questions and not a single answer.

"What does the rest say?" enquired Harry.

"I honestly don't know. Dumbledore heard it all, but hasn't shared it with anyone, especially not me," said Severus truthfully. "However, The Dark Lord greatly desired to hear the full prophecy, and sent people after it, going so far as to use the Imperious Curse on an Unspeakable to get it for him. What he didn't know was the prophecy could not be collected other than by those it was about. Only you and the Dark Lord could claim it. Since the Dark Lord does not want the wizarding world to know he's back, he cannot just wander into the Ministry to retrieve it. The record is in the Hall of Prophecy in the Ministry of Magic, perhaps the most protected part."

"The power to defeat the Dark Lord, no wonder he's kept fucking looking for me," said Harry, and no wonder he'd manipulated him in his first year. Everything made sense with a clarity he'd never seen before. He'd known Dumbledore kept looking for him, knew from Bill that Dumbledore thought he could kill the Dark Lord…but this? This prophecy was the reason behind everything: the attack on his family, him surviving, the manipulations. Harry huffed in disbelief, barely able to believe it.

"He will never stop," said Severus. "Even when he knows what you are, he's put too much faith in the Prophecy and believes it with the whole of his being."

"I need to hear that damn thing," muttered Harry, speaking mostly to himself.

"It's in the Ministry, it's not so easy to break in," scoffed Severus.

Harry's head snapped up, a vicious grin spreading across his face. "Ah, but I happen to know three vampires who helped place the wards around the foundation of the Ministry of Magic. A foundation that has never been upgraded, since its construction." That damn Prophecy was his; he just had to find a way to make a copy so nobody was any the wiser. The entire prophecy wouldn't be going into it― the grin became a smug smirk― if the Dark Lord eventually went to the Ministry to retrieve it, and he would only hear what he already knew.

"You know I'm a spy, why would you reveal something like that to me? What's to stop me leaving and informing Dumbledore?" asked Severus. It wasn't very smart in his opinion.

"You could try," smirked Harry, "You'll find you cannot talk, write, or sign about it, through any means of communication. Just as Remus Lupin; no doubt he's frustrated about it as well."

"Lupin?" sneered Severus, "That's your spy?" His distaste for Lupin aside, it was admittedly smart, he was close to Dumbledore…close enough to make him sick.

"No, I tried to get him to see what Dumbledore was really like; he made the mistake of calling me a liar. He's lucky I didn't kill him, which I was sorely tempted to do. It's only lately he's come to his senses; in fact he tried to save you," said Harry, sitting back down and observing Severus curiously. He was wondering what Snape thought about the fact he couldn't talk about him or his comings and goings. Honestly, the wizarding world was happy with the way it was, stifled, without anyone trying to advance magic the way it should. Too busy keeping to the old ways, with their clothes, quills and parchment yet, when it came to magic they only wanted one kind, 'light' magic; it disgusted him. Anyone or anything that didn't fit in with their ideas were shoved aside; he should know, he'd taken in a great many people who were pariahs in the magical community for being different.

"Save me?" asked Severus grimacing; Lupin was the reason he was alive? He didn't like that thought at all.

"Yes, he very adamantly advocated for you, insisting you didn't know what you were getting yourself into. Begging, should I not wish to do it for him, then I'd do it for my mother since you were best friends. Insisting she'd do anything for you. Neither changed my mind of course, I have a position to uphold. As a leader it would have been a sign of weakness if I changed my mind. I told Dumbledore before witnesses if he sent anyone, they would be killed. The vow is the only reason you were spared; I could use someone like you on my side. You are powerful, I'll give you that, but the insistence you have of pretending to be light sickens me to the core. Your magic is as dark as they come; when was the last time you cast anything worthwhile? Other than a fortnight ago."

Him? He wanted him to be part of the group, when he had vampires on his side that had laid the very foundation of the Ministry? Next to them he looked like Mickey Mouse; what the hell did he have to offer him? He was completely mad, but even as he thought this, his mind traitorously wondered what it would be like to be accepted for who he truly was. It looked like his thoughts had been originally right― Dumbledore had wanted him killed. Sent him to be slaughtered; he did wonder if he would have been able to get past the wards undetected…from the looks of the advances this group had made…to potions, spells, and wards, he very much doubted it.

Edited thanks to Jordre :)