The Leader

Chapter 27

Decisions

Severus got back to his rooms and jumped down through the hole, no longer needing the step ladder. He was in desperate need of comfort, something familiar. So of course the Potions lab would be the very first place he would think off. He found that the smell was overwhelming, he was used to the aromas of the most disgusting, smelliest potion ingredients - but not with enhanced smell. Flicking his wand he cleansed the air, and cast a variation of the bubble head charm, fresh air was circulated into it but not from this room, making it bearable. This one wasn't for going underwater, and thank Merlin he remembered it, the smell truly was rancid.

Moving over to the table, Severus just stood there feeling extremely lost and a little bereft if he was honest with himself. Harry's words continued to circulate around his mind, on a repeat loop not allowing him to think of anything else. "You wanted this, Severus, nobody forced you into it. During the last hour or so your inhibitions have been lowered, allowing you to enjoy your new life. Stop letting reservations from your old life cloud this second chance you've been given. Let the past lie; you do not have to answer to Dumbledore or Voldemort. You no longer have to put your life on the line for them and get nothing in return. Hasn't it sunk it yet? You're free…for the first time in twenty years; you are your own man."

He had wanted it, there was no denying that. There had been no force. He had initiated it, something he would never have done if he hadn't been…well, for the lack of better words, under the influence of a high. He had never been a coward when faced with what life had thrown at him, but when it came to his personal life…well, things got complicated. He was so accustomed to being used by everyone around him, that he had to wonder what on earth Harry wanted from him. Yet he knew there was nothing, absolutely bloody nothing Harry Potter could get from him that he wasn't getting from the rest of his coven…or clan, whatever he considered them as.

Why? Why would Harry Potter want him of all people? He was nothing; he had no value, no information he could possibly give him…and he knew he was nothing to look at, so he was honestly baffled to the core as to why the vampire had participated and not just flung him across the forest in retaliation. It was what he would have done if their situations were reversed…well, that wasn't strictly true, and he almost wished the roles had been reversed. He wanted Harry, at least on some primal level; did that mean he wanted someone to top? He had never allowed another to do that to him, he was always on top, always in control. A voice in his head reminded him how he'd enjoyed it; liked being able to relax and not make decisions even if his prideful mind lashed out that it was demeaning. He had spent so much of his life bowing down to others…why would part of him want this? He'd never been more confused in his entire life and considering all he'd been through, that said a lot.

Harry had stated it as though he would want it to happen again. That baffled him the most. Severus paused; people had flings all the time, why not enjoy it while he could? There was nothing wrong with that, was there? Could he do that though? Would he be able to let go? Face him every day after what they had done? Wouldn't he be there anyway? It wasn't as if he had anywhere else to go…but as Harry said, he was free; he could leave if he wished to - but he actually really liked it here. If he was thrown aside, he could simply move, go abroad, anywhere…surely he had done his part in this sordid war? He would not let anyone win; he was determined that he would live through and past this war. He was done; he was utterly through with putting everyone else before himself. He had done it for years and what did he get in return? He'd been cast out to die; hopefully he would remain here long enough to see Dumbledore brought down like he deserved.

Back to his current dilemma: how could he face Harry after running off like an embarrassed teenager ― like he had accused Harry of being just twenty minutes prior to that. He just hadn't been able to look at him without remembering exactly what they'd just been doing, how those hands felt on him…his lips, his domineering presence…the care he took…the way he'd spoken, demanding that he was his. It shouldn't have turned him on the way it did ― but it had. Did he secretly want that kind of caring? That sort of relationship? Severus thought, a deep frown marring his newly de-aged face. His actions earlier would definitely indicate a huge 'yes', as opposed to a resounding 'no'.

Severus didn't wish to think on it further, so he began to gather potion ingredients, this would help clear his mind... it always did. He had just laid all the ingredients out, still in their jars when he heard very faint footsteps, and they were coming this way. Frowning once again, he prayed Harry didn't come down here; this was his sanctuary and it was supposed to be his. It hadn't been said but it had been implied― surely that counted for something. Then he was proven wrong when Harry jumped down the hatch, graceful as ever, standing up straight. Just seeing him made Severus feel a cacophony of emotions, most of them positive; there were a few negative ones, but they were mostly his own self doubts. He wanted Harry; he could no longer deny it. Just seeing him there was… overwhelming.

"Do not worry, this isn't something I will make a habit off," Harry said wryly, staring at Severus and feeling the irritation radiating from Potion master in great waves.

"Why are you down here?" Severus asked, half irritated, half curious. He was smart enough to keep his tone not too hostile; this was Harry Potter after all.

"Things are coming to head. Dumbledore has an Order meeting he's currently attending and Madam Bones has set up an emergency meeting, making sure to mislay Dumbledore's notification letter. I am going to the meeting; do you wish to come and take up the mantel of Lord Prince?" Harry told him bluntly, staring expectantly. She was probably just going to ensure the notification letter went to Hogwarts, not to where Dumbledore held the Order meetings.

"Lord Prince?" Severus asked sceptically, staring at Harry as if he had lost his mind, unable to help himself.

"Indeed," Harry replied, nodding his head to confirm that yes, he had meant what was implied.

"How can I do that? I did not inherit the title." Severus turned away at that bitter acknowledgement; his mother had been disowned, cutting her and all of her children ―him― off. He was not entitled to a strand of grass from the manor his mother had grown up in, never mind the title of Lord.

"Severus, you are the last of the Prince line; whether it was willed or not, it is yours," Harry solemnly stated. "Do you not know magical law? It was why Sirius Black was given the Black estate despite the fact he had been disowned. He was and is the last living male descendant of the direct branch of the Black line."

"It doesn't work like that… does it?" Severus asked, unsure now. Had he made assumptions? He knew a lot of information, but obscure wizarding laws? He had just taken it at face of value that he would never get his hands on the Prince fortune. Dumbledore had implied it... Severus closed his eyes and clenched his teeth when he realized what he had just thought. "Dumbledore told me I wouldn't be able to get the money." He had been a teenager at the time, trying to gain his Mastery with barely two sickles to rub together. He had made his own fortune, which he had locked down so Dumbledore couldn't get his hands on. Now he was being told he could inherit more? What would happen to the Prince Estate if he didn't claim it? He'd often wondered that, but never strongly enough to look the information up or ask anyone.

"Smart; he spoke the truth without it being the whole truth. You couldn't just go up to Gringotts and get the money; you would need to claim the Prince seat and Estate at the Ministry, then at Gringotts. You just need to prove that you are the last living direct male heir; you could make sure you are if you so desire before going to the bank," Harry stated sharply. "The Prince seat wouldn't accept you if you aren't first in line. If you stand before the Wizengamot and state your claim, magic will surround you and the seat, confirming your claim to be genuine. Considering you were the only child of Eileen Prince, you should be first in line for that seat."

Severus listened to him, surprised by all Harry's knowledge, but considering all the books he had…and the fact that as a vampire he could retain all the information he read, and read at a pace that would make a humans head spin, the depth of Harry's knowledge shouldn't still surprise him. Then again, when he had first seen Harry at the age of eleven, he hadn't known the questions he'd asked from the first-year book.

"There is no need to look so surprised," Harry added, his eyes narrowed at the new vampire. His face might not show it completely but his scent changing definitely did.

"Why not?" Severus enquired, "You didn't exactly care for information when I last saw you." he pointed out honestly.

"You assume it was out of laziness?" Harry irately snorted.

"Wasn't it?" Severus asked, eyes gleaming; would he learn more about Harry's past?

"No," Harry curtly snapped, "Hagrid found me a fortnight before I was to attend Hogwarts. When I was taken back to Privet Drive with no instruction on how to get onto platform nine and three quarters, my trunk was taken from me and put in my old room."

"Why didn't you go in and read?" Severus asked blandly.

"It was a cupboard," Harry hissed, his eyes narrowed. "I know what you are doing, do not take me for a fool."

"A cupboard?" Severus muttered, eyes wider than normal. It was worse than he'd assumed. He'd thought Petunia would be a little spiteful to Harry for him having magic ― perhaps the same way that she had been with the boy's mother. He had also known they didn't give him gifts, neither at birthdays or Christmas, and had told Harry that his parents had died in a car crash… But a cupboard? For his bedroom? They couldn't have, surely; his life hadn't exactly been all that good but he'd had his own bedroom. The Dursleys... if he couldn't get anything out of Harry, he could go to the Dursleys… Harry might not like that at all. In fact, he had warned him if he invaded his privacy again he would kill him. Was his past included in that restriction? Who was he kidding? Of course it was; Harry didn't speak of his past often for a reason. He couldn't do it again; there was a different between reading documents and willfully going to the Dursleys and really invading Harry's privacy. He was learning more as the days wore on, so perhaps he would learn enough to sate his curiosity over time?

"Are you coming?" Harry inquired, not giving anything further away.

"I do not think that's a good idea," Severus cautiously replied.

"No? How about the fact that being a Lord on the Wizengamot will afford you more protection than you can imagine? Not only will it prevent you from being sent to Azkaban without a trial, you can request Veritaserum to be used. Plus there's the fact that Dumbledore will not be able to say anything, due to the very fact he knows Veritaserum can be used ― hence he will be very reluctant to deny that you were his spy when it was obvious you were. In other words, you'll be able to leave here without glamours or worrying that you'll be caught and killed by the Aurors," Harry said. "All that, added to the fact I thought it would be a nice middle finger to both Dumbledore and Voldemort." He chuckled viciously, sounding more normal now than he had during this entire conversation.

"And the fact I look like a teenager?" Severus asked wryly.

"What about it?" Harry enquired bluntly. "Let them try and guess what you did; they'll never find out…well, at least not the light-sided idiots. The ones who practice in the Dark Arts might have an idea, but even they won't guess the entire truth since Kai invented it; he twisted the original idea and made it his own." They wouldn't know about Kai, and never would. There were only a few people that actually knew; Rick was one of them, and of course now Severus.

Severus couldn't help but notice that Harry hadn't spoken once about them, or what they'd done. Was he giving him his space like he'd asked ―at least non-verbally, or had he already forgotten about it? A sharp stab of hurt pierced his heart, but he refused to give in to it. He would chalk it up to experience. Perhaps he should take up the mantel of Lord Prince, then he wouldn't have to hide here. Especially after just admitting he wanted this relationship, and the prospect of being hurt hung in the air. "I'll go," Severus stated, under the pretext of giving in.

Harry's green eyes narrowed in on Severus', cautious and probing. It wasn't in Severus' nature to give in, not unless he was concerned and felt that he had no a way out. The Potions master wasn't cornered, so he must have either been convincing enough or Snape had something else up his sleeve. The thought of Severus leaving didn't sit well with him; he was his mate after all, and if he did go, Harry would send others to look out for him. He couldn't force his presence on him; even if he did, Snape was stubborn enough to reject him at every turn. Look at what had just happened. Perhaps suggesting this had been the wrong thing, but it was his by right and Severus should claim it. He wasn't Dumbledore and didn't do things just to keep people under his hold.

"How are you getting there?" Severus asked moving forward, wondering about the pensive look on Harry's face. The Master vampire rarely showed any emotion, never mind standing there with a narrowed-eye frown on his face.

"I am Apparating," Harry stated, a blank mask descending over his face.

"Where? The Atrium?" Severus asked.

"No. Outside the courtroom; I know the weaknesses in the wards, remember? So I can get there with minimal fuss," Harry told him. "The fewer people that know I'm there, the better, at least for now." Dumbledore had a lot of people working for him, so Harry wasn't going to risk word of his presence getting back to the old fool.

Severus groaned at the thought of being side-along Apparated; he hadn't been Apparated that way since he was sixteen years old. Ever since he was seventeen and had passed his test he had gone everywhere on his own, but he knew he didn't know the Ministry's wards' weaknesses, so he couldn't do as Harry was planning. It was either side-along, or apparating himself into the Atrium, then spending twenty minutes getting to the courtroom if he went at a human pace, which he would have to, to avoid the Aurors. They would shoot spells first, then ask questions later; he knew what they were like. It was a waste of time, time they probably didn't even have to begin with.

"I assume you wish me to accompany you this way?" Severus said expectantly.

"If you want; it's entirely up to you. You are free, remember? You are your own man," Harry told him firmly.

"Then let's go," Severus agreed, smirking deviously. Now that the plan was in motion he found himself… rather excited at the prospect of unsettling everyone within the Wizengamot, and at the fact that Dumbledore would soon learn he was alive and well. And not only had he survived but he had been turned into a vampire, immortal for all time. If only he was able to see the old coot's face… perhaps Amelia Bones would supply the memory if she so happened to be there. The vindictiveness in him was alive and kicking once again, and his Slytherin side was fully out and ready to play.

Big thank you to Jake and Jordre for editing this story :) thank you guys you're great!