The Leader

Chapter 14

Seeing Harry Angry

"I found a way to remove the Dark Mark," stated Harry, nodding firmly, "Although somehow I cannot see you wishing to go down this route," he added honestly. If Severus was anything like he had seen him in the past and of course during his time here, he wouldn't want to do it. It would leave him vulnerable for a period of time, and Severus Snape did not do vulnerable well. There was only so long he could keep removing the poison from the wound, before his body would start to be affected by it. He would begin to tire, hurt, age... and really, he was only living on borrowed time right now. This was something he was sure the wizard knew.

"May I see it?" asked Severus, his tone cautious and low. For some reason he didn't doubt Harry when he said it was probably not something he wanted to do. For a spy he was sure as hell out of his depth in reading Harry Potter, but the vampire seemed to have no trouble reading him.

Harry handed the book over opened at the appropriate page, eyeing him with those impassive green eyes of his. Sitting back down, he continued to watch the wizard, keeping an eye on his reactions. Harry was curious about Severus, he didn't give much away, and he couldn't get a read on him. He'd known from the first day that Severus was an Occlumens like him; he could shield his mind from people reading it or influencing him. Although that hadn't been difficult to deduce as such, he wouldn't have lasted this long as a spy if he left his mind wide open to penetration. He still wouldn't have minded a peek around his mind and thoughts, he was intriguing. He hadn't met anyone who could hold his attention this long, or get deeply into his mind and refuse to let go. He'd tried going out, meeting someone, but during the entire half hour conversation his mind just continuously drifted towards Severus. In the end he'd given up and left, going to Rick and giving him orders to watch Severus and introduce him to the others. He was hoping that now he'd found a solution― whether the wizard accepted it or not ―that he wouldn't be on his mind so much.

"De-aging?" croaked Severus, as he looked at the page almost blankly. He could barely believe that was the solution, but it made sense... too much sense. Then he realized a blip in the radar, and quickly began to gather up his wits and began talking. "It would only work short term; as soon as I passed the age where I took it, it would reappear. The potion would inevitably begin to lose potency and last less long than it should."

"I agree, which is why the potion would be mixed in with my blood," stated Harry, in agreement. "My blood would prevent you aging again; inevitably it would turn you into a full vampire after you drink it…undiluted."

"You expect me to become a vampire?" snapped Severus, furious with that assumption.

"No, that decision is entirely up to you, I wouldn't presume to tell you what to do. Despite what you may think, I do not force others to do my bidding. They do it because they want to, and if that ever changed I would ask them to leave. I do not want or need reluctant people. You must be aware by now the more magic that is cast around you and by you causes the poison to run its course quicker. You do not have long to choose before your body begins to be effected by the poison running through your system continuously," replied Harry, not the least bit perturbed by the abrupt shifts in Severus' temper. He'd always been irascible, or what he could remember of him anyway. Both during his first year at Hogwarts and even now.

Severus had to swallow his own words, whatever he'd been about to say was gone just like that. It was irrefutable proof that Harry was nothing like Dumbledore or Voldemort. They would have either just sprung a vampire on him to turn him, or manipulated him into it by way of the vows. He hated that, everything was all Topsy-turvy and he wasn't used to things being different from his views of the world. He wanted to curse at everything, get furious, but in reality he couldn't even work up the anger needed. It was as if the recent torture by the Dark Lord's hand had broken something within him. He was tired, not with the need to sleep, but a bone aching tired.

"I must warn you, however, if you choose to go down that route it is painful, perhaps more pain than you are accustomed to," warned Harry, his tone grim and serious. "And I will have to drink from you, before putting it into the potion for you to drink."

"I have no doubt," said Severus dryly, in fact he wanted to read up about vampire blood and its effect if consumed. Thankfully if anyone had those kinds of books it would be Harry, so he was definitely in the right place (and room come to that) since they were still in the library.

"Oh for fuck…you might want to stay here," grumbled Harry, "Especially if the rumours are anything to go by." Standing up he left the library using his vampire speed to get to his living/sitting room. His eyes flashed in green anger as he saw Remus Lupin with an unconscious Sirius Black in his home. He knew he should have changed the wards, but he'd gotten so sidetracked.

"What are you doing here?" snarled Harry, in full vampire mode. He didn't like people encroaching upon his territory, Lupin was one thing but bringing strangers was going too far. He didn't care if Sirius Black was his godfather or not, he wasn't in the mood. Especially considering he hadn't had anything to eat lately, so needless to say he felt extremely on edge.

Remus cowered back, baring his neck submissively as his nature dictated to Alpha males, even if he was a vampire and not a werewolf. Harry was a leader, which made him an Alpha to the werewolves, the top dog so to speak. It was the first time Remus had felt the need to do this, and right there and then he hated his nature even more.

"Dobby?" called Severus, as he entered the room and observed the scene in front of him. He couldn't deny he got a lot of satisfaction seeing Remus Lupin so cowed. He was always a coward, but there was always that disgusting Gryffindor bravery attached to it. Right now there was a wizard who was being dominated by his werewolf instincts, knowing as he did how much Lupin hated his infliction just made him even more amused.

"Yes, Master Severus?" answered Dobby, glaring at the interlopers knowing his Master didn't like strangers in his home.

"Bring some blood, immediately," said Severus, not going near Harry who was still growling lowly at Remus. He wasn't about to turn the angry vampire's attention onto himself, he wasn't a suicidal Gryffindor like the two others in the room. Well, he might have been suicidal a few days ago, but things had changed enormously. He was curious as to why Black was unconscious though. Had the wards done it, or had something happened to the Order?

Dobby had disappeared without him even hearing him while he was lost in thought. Had there been an attack? Was the Order hurt? Captured or killed? No, it couldn't be the Death Eaters, and the Dark Lord was still mostly laying low. Unless of course he had decided to come out into the open. Were his students alright? Had Hogwarts been the focus of the attack, was that why Lupin couldn't take Black to Poppy Pomfrey? He desperately wanted answers, but Lupin was in no position to answer and Harry was too out of it to think rationally. Only blood would pull him back from whatever had angered him by their appearances.

Dobby reappeared with a goblet full of blood; you could tell it had been hastily put together. Blood was dribbling down the side of the goblet. Well it was definitely fresh; a morbid part of him wondered if it was animal or human blood, and where he got it. He could tell the second Harry smelt it, his nose twitched and he abruptly spun around, but he had enough control of himself to take it delicately from the House-Elf. Then again, what vampire would want to miss a drop of the nectar that kept them alive?

"Sit down," said Severus, testing the boundaries a little, to see what he could get away with... plus he just wanted to stick it to the others, if he was honest.

"Don't test me," growled Harry, but he nonetheless he sat down, and begun to drink the goblet of blood.

Severus' lips just twitched; Harry's bark was worse than his bite…well, right now it was.

"I warned you about coming here," said Harry, glaring at Remus who had straightened up out of his crouch but wasn't standing upright quite yet. Remus sat down delicately on the edge of the chair, looking quite out of sorts. "Especially with him." The growl worsened.

"I had no choice," murmured Remus demurely. "Forgive me, Harry, I didn't mean to disregard your feelings on the matter." Severus looked a lot better; he was glad he had warned Harry. Although it seemed his patience was wearing thin with him trespassing on his property at odd times.

Harry wasn't fond of Sirius Black? That was extremely unprecedented, that he hadn't expected in a million years. Why was he so adamant about finding Pettigrew then? Of course, Severus thought to himself, feeling like an idiot. Pettigrew was the reason the Dark Lord had succeeded in killing his parents. How could he have forgotten the conversation they'd had when he first woke up in Potter Manor? The fact the boy―no, vampire didn't blame him was just as shocking and confusing. Would he ever understand Harry Potter? Or would the vampire always remain a mystery to him?

"You did by bringing him here, I warned you time and time again," said Harry smoothly, no emotion showing which by the way Severus didn't like. He preferred knowing exactly how someone was feeling; it helped him anticipate their next move.

"I've only been twice," protested Remus, but he had no bite to it.

"Once was too often," stated Harry, finishing the goblet, his lips and teeth bloody red.

"I had nowhere else to go, neither does he, and I…will have to go away to change," said Remus grimacing in distaste.

"You're a werewolf, not a bloody leper!" snapped Harry; oh he hated Lupin's distaste for what he was. It grated on his nerves, and the fact he continued to take the Wolfsbane potion irked him more.

"It's a disease, not something to be proud of!" argued Remus, he hated what he was.

Growling low in his throat, he stood up; before anyone could see what he was doing, he had Remus by the neck, holding him by the scruff in an extremely demeaning way before he Apparated away. Severus pointed his wand at Sirius Black and bound him where he lay; even a dragon would find it difficult to get out of those bindings. He Apparated to the back of the warehouse knowing instinctively that was where Harry was taking him. He wasn't going to miss this for all the potions and gold in the world.

Once he regained his bearings he realized he was right, Harry had dragged Remus over to the pack of werewolves. He wandered over, wanting to hear everything, noticing the others from yesterday were all there although a few were missing. Rick was noticeably absent, but since he was hunting for Peter Pettigrew he probably wouldn't be lounging around here.

"What did he do?" asked Wyatt quietly, watching his Leader drag Remus towards the Alpha of the pack.

"Pissed him off, what else?" chuckled Severus wryly; he wanted to rub his hands together in glee but thankfully retained control of himself.

"By saying or doing what?" he wondered, gazing at the scene before him as Harry forced Remus to his knees in front of them.

"That being a werewolf was a disease," whispered Severus, so none of the werewolves could hear, he didn't want them getting the wrong impression and thinking it was what he thought.

Wyatt winced, oh yeah, Harry was pissed.

"Take a look at everyone around you, LOOK!" snarled Harry, ignoring the curious looks he was receiving from all the other werewolves. "Are you calling my people a disease as well?!"

That got the werewolves riled up, especially Jack, the Alpha of the werewolf pack. He growled furiously, causing Remus to cower or try to, since Harry had a good grip of his neck. If he'd been human it would have hurt but since he was a werewolf he could take more damage than a normal wizard.

"WELL?" roared Harry, when Remus didn't reply.

"No," whispered Remus, shame deep in his voice.

"I should fucking hope not," said Harry sounding disgusted. "These are the werewolves that need help, not you, who tries to coexist with those fucking arseholes that treat you like shit when they find out. Accepting the horror of it every day as if you have no choice. Everyone that came here lived outside, ostracized by society, living on the meagre animals they have to offer in our forests. Foxes mostly, which isn't enough for a grown man! Never mind a bloody pack. It's about time you accepted what you are, Remus Lupin and lived with it! You are not a wizard; you are a werewolf, and it's about time you bloody acted like it! Instead of a spineless coward, chugging down that Wolfsbane Potion that's slowly killing you!" With that statement Harry shoved the werewolf away from him, his skin crawling with revulsion. Wandlessly he summoned Lupin's wand so he couldn't leave.

Remus remained where he was; whether he was overwhelmed by Harry's statement or the fact he was surrounded by so many werewolves he didn't know.

"Look after him and try and help him accept his wolf," said Harry, speaking to Jack, "No matter how useless it seems at the moment; I think he's capable of it."

"He smells of Greyback," said Jack, looking conflicted.

"That's who bit him when he was five years old," said Severus joining the conversation.

"That explains it," Jack said looking slightly relieved. "Will he come looking for his Cub?"

"I doubt it," answered Severus dryly, "He's shown no interest in him before."

"It was a revenge bite," said Brecon, from where he sat against the wall watching the proceedings amused. "Lyall Lupin called all werewolves soulless creatures that should be killed. They just happened to have Greyback in custody, not that they knew that. Greyback didn't have his wand upon his person, and they were debating whether he was a werewolf or just a Muggle tramp. He successfully, might I add, made them believe he was just a clueless Muggle. It wasn't until years later they realized their mistake. Ironically enough, when they tried to get Lyall Lupin back to head the committee, he wouldn't have anything to do with them. They assumed it was because of what happened, him being let go like he was... spite mostly. They never considered the thought that he had something to hide, like his son's affliction; either that or he had changed his views on werewolves."

"Where the hell do you get all your information?" Wyatt asked shaking his head baffled.

Severus inwardly agreed with the young vampire, although he looked older than Harry by a few years at least. He still had a more youthful appearance; Harry had a more aristocratic appearance.

"It's my job to know," said Brecon smugly. "Harry wanted all information he could get on Lupin, as well as any of his known associates."

"Take your time with him, he's not used to a pack life," warned Harry. When Jack nodded the vampire took a hold of Severus and Apparated them back to Potter manor.

"I see where you get your information from, he is good," said Severus honestly.

"He is, it's why I use him," said Harry smugly. That was until he caught sight of Sirius Black on the floor; then he grimaced.

"You do not like him do you?" stated Severus, smirking.

"I do not know him to like or hate him," said Harry, "If he's anything like Lupin, he is a complete hindrance. He was never good at his job even before he ended up in Azkaban; the reports stated he constantly got heavy-handed with the prisoners. 'He would have been a better Auror if he could keep his head down and mouth shut' was written in nearly every monthly report by his superior Alastor Moody and the head of the Auror division Rufus Scrimgeour."

"I'm not surprised," replied Severus, Black had been a bully as a student at Hogwarts, why would it change out in the world if they continued to let him away with his behaviour? "He's used to getting away with murder, quite literally as the case may be."

"Meaning?" enquired Harry, cautiously.

"He sent me to the whomping Willow when I was a student at Hogwarts. It was the night of the full moon; I'm sure you can guess what happened," said Severus bitterly, distracted by the thoughts of James Potter and how the wizard had saved his life against his own wishes.

"You had an encounter with Remus Lupin in wolf form; tell me, what did he look like?" asked Harry, sitting down and staring at Severus curiously.

"Disgusting," replied Severus without thought. His thoughts were already off on James Potter and the fact he'd saved his life.

"Mmm, I'm not surprised, that is what someone looks like when they don't accept themselves, it shows the madness within," Harry told Severus. "All my werewolves look like normal wolves, with smaller snouts and bigger bodies to distinguish them from the normal wolves. They are quite beautiful if I am honest, although I've only seen them three times to replenish the wards."

"You would allow them near you? Without their right minds?" asked Severus, not sure what the hell to think and not for the first time either.

"They cannot get past the wards, plus I cannot be infected with lycanthrope... no vampire can. Burns like hell, but it doesn't affect us. Just like we don't really affect werewolves, although I'm sure it hurts worse for them than it does us." stated Harry. Vampires were able to withstand more pain than werewolves.

"I see," said Severus surprised, he had always believed that to either one it was fatal. Then again, the books said vampires and werewolves were enemies, which obviously wasn't the case. "What are you going to do with him?" he asked, gesturing towards Black.

Harry grimaced, "Give him a dreamless sleeping potion, and keep him out as long as possible. Afterwards I have no idea; I really should just send him away. Unfortunately it isn't in my nature to leave them to fend for themselves in this society. I'm sure I can think of something given time, as long as I don't have to deal with him. He can remain at the warehouse or go back to the wizarding world, it's his choice."

Severus felt oddly relieved to hear that, he didn't want to be around Sirius Black any longer than he had to. Why did he feel so relieved? Was he truly coming to think of this place as home? Staring over at the vampire, he felt that tendril of longing wash over him.

There we go edited :)