The Leader

Chapter 37

Severus didn't hesitate to open the door and enter Harry's study, which he had only been in once before. There was a very familiar desk situated nearby, it was the very same one they'd seen in Burke Manor, Kai's home. Harry was sat at the chair, near the drawers instead of at the centre of it. The goblet of blood was right next to his elbow, half drank already. Severus walked over, grabbing the chair and sitting across from his fellow vampire. He often wondered why he was so drawn to him, was it the fact Harry had turned him? Or perhaps it was curiosity; he wanted desperately to know everything he could about this side. Not that it mattered much, since he had pretty much agreed this side was the best for him. The others were pretty dangerous for his health. Not that he was required to be here anymore, since he was literally free of all shackles, Dumbledore wouldn't dare accuse him of being on Voldemort's side, so the only worry he had was Voldemort but bit by bit his side was being utterly destroyed.

"Does anyone know just how powerful you are?" Severus asked his voice deceptively mild as if he wasn't eager for an answer. Even during the battle at the Ministry he hadn't felt that kind of magic, and he'd been duelling Voldemort for Merlin's sake. He was still reeling over his magical prowess; he'd never experienced anything like it before in his life.

Harry arched an eyebrow at that, "Meaning?" he enquired, he'd obviously impressed Severus if he was actually feeling the need to bring it up and it filled him with a sense of superior satisfaction and smugness. He just wished his mate would get a clue and realize they were actually in fact mates. He didn't believe in destiny and all that, but he did want someone in his life, and hopefully Severus would want him in turn.

"Have you ever released the full extent of your powers in front of anyone?" Severus elaborated, blinking when Dobby handed him a goblet of blood before disappearing. Turning his attention back to Harry, which was quite difficult, since he wanted to devour the contents of his goblet. How did Harry manage to sit and have a conversation without doing exactly the same thing he wanted to?

"Other than today? No," Harry replied evenly, people tended to get intimidated by his magic, and for most part what he revealed did intimidate them - and he was satisfied with that but no, he'd never fully unleashed it, he'd never had a reason to until today. The explosion he'd caused had quite frankly surprised him too, but that surprise was buried under the fear for both his long time friend, Rick, and his mate who had both been in extreme danger by the idiotic Death Eaters.

"I didn't think so," Severus replied, giving in to the urge to drink, which he did, until there was nothing left in the goblet but dregs. The feeling of warmth enveloped him, but it wasn't the same rush you get from drinking from a human, he realized. Not that the goblet had animal blood, it was human, it must be the thrill of the feed or the hunt that caused the full heightened rush he'd experienced in the past while hunting with Harry. It was definitely disappointing, and he couldn't help but wonder why Harry didn't hunt more often. A shiver ran through him, just remembering what happened afterwards, he hated how his body wanted more while his mind protested to the idea. Mostly because of his age and the fact he didn't think Harry would want something permanent and he didn't want to risk his heart for anything less than being someone's fully.

"You don't approve?" Harry asked wryly.

"Actually it's exactly what I would have expected from you," Severus corrected his assumption, "Watching you as I have, I believe there is no other person out there matched for your Slytherin intellect and cunning. Even the so called heir of Slytherin is nothing when it comes to you and the plans you've had in motion for the past decade."

"Don't underestimate him, he did go down the legal route you know," Harry shook his head, picking up his goblet and drinking, swirling it around in his hand as he continued to talk. "He actually tried to make it work, although I have no doubt behind closed doors he was the same as ever but the public persona? He was extremely charming but not enough, Dumbledore blocked each and every turn he made. Making it impossible for him to get anywhere, probably making a few more Horcruxes in the process and losing his sanity along the way. If he hadn't, I have little doubt he would have made it work sooner or later."

Severus' eyes widened at Harry's statement, "You honestly believe that?"

"You tell me, he got three generations of wizards to follow him, he must still have that charisma admittedly without the looks it's lessened." Harry replied, "Don't get me wrong, I don't like him, but I can admire his tenacity, as deluded as it was. Only fools don't give his enemy the respect he deserves… and I believe in knowing my enemy."

Severus grudgingly nodded his head. "Why didn't you give it all you had at the Ministry? A single blast like that…it could have potentially been all you needed to defeat him." Severus hedged along, wanting to know Harry, to understand him properly.

"He cannot be defeated, Severus, not while his Horcruxes remain out there, when I do finally defeat him I want it to be permanent." Harry said, before quoting his favourite author, "If your enemy is secure at all points, be prepared for him. If he is in superior strength, evade him. If your opponent is temperamental, seek to irritate him. Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant. If he is taking his ease, give him no rest. If his forces are united, separate them. Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected."

"Sun Tzu," Severus murmured, "Not many wizards have read the Art or War, in fact until now I've never interacted with anyone who has." that was why Harry hadn't unleashed the true extent of his powers, he was not only immortal until the Horcruxes were destroyed, Harry was making him feel superior in strength, he had also irritated him he remembered, he definitely hadn't pretended to be weak, but considering Harry had people of his own within the Ministry it was probably not something he would do.

"I was really young when I saw Kai reading it, didn't truly understand everything that was said within, but he was patient, explained everything to me, in ways that I would understand at the time, I've read it seven times since, despite the fact I could probably read it in my sleep, there's just something soothing about it." Harry replied, not the words, at least he didn't think so, but rather part of Kai was still with him when he read it.

"When you were still human?" Severus questioned.

"We are still human," Harry quickly corrected him, "We still see, sense, feel and love that is what humanity is, and we're just different now, stronger, even if the world considers us predators."

"We are," Severus stated, but he understood where Harry was coming from.

"Yes, only because we are stronger than them, and that our diet is different, but yes, it was before I was turned." Harry answered his previous question. The first thing he wanted to do was get rid of that damn creature registration form, he was tired of the bad name they all got due to some people's actions, like Greyback but that had only happened because of the damn legislations the Ministry put forth in the first place - he did his homework on all people he interacted with. People might say he was a control freak, but in his opinion it was better safe than sorry.

"What do you plan on doing with them now?" Severus asked leaning back, his goblet on the desk forgotten. He wondered if Harry would tell him, he seemed to be in a chatty mood. It was unlike him, when he first came here he'd be lucky if he got anything out of him, now he was sharing things? He had a feeling that Harry didn't, not even now, so why him? And more importantly why did it make him feel so damn special? He felt wanted without anyone even trying to make him feel that way, and more importantly he felt wanted and welcome with absolutely everyone. They were like a mismatched family here, brother in arms, and he knew they'd be willing to put their lives on the line for each other.

Harry smirked, "What do you think?" wanting to know what Severus thought he would do.

"With you? I never know," Severus replied wryly, a smirk of his own gracing his now ageless features.

"I'm not that unpredictable," Harry replied, well maybe that wasn't true.

Severus just chuckled humouredly, knowing Harry knew he was being disingenuous.

"Amelia Bones got the Wizengamot to agree to the new prison," Harry finally said after a few moments of silence. "I've already given them the location, depending on how competent the wizards or witches they hire are, it could potentially be up and running within three months give or take." giving himself some leeway in case he was wrong on either end.

"You're just going to keep them here for three months?" Severus freely admitted he was surprised.

"The ones in the cells yes, but Carrow…will not survive to see the outside world again," Harry told him grimly, his eyes flashing in true anger. He would need to wait a few days before he approached the wizard to interrogate him otherwise he feared he would kill the wizard.

"Good," Severus stated, his own dark eyes darkening further a sign of his own fury, Carrow had almost killed him and Rick, who knows who else? "I only ask that I be there." knowing better than to demand, although lately he felt he'd get away with it.

"I have no doubt Rick will make the same request too," Harry revealed, sighing softly, the potion had finally settled his magical core; he was feeling more calm and centred now. "First I'll find out everything Voldemort is planning,"

"You like doing that, why?" Severus asked curiously.

"All warfare is based on deception, there is one thing I would never do that the book suggests," Harry said, giving Severus a knowing look. "I'm pretty sure you can figure out what."

"The use of double agents," Severus answered after a few moments of contemplation.

"There is always the chance of it coming back to bite you in the ass," Harry nodded, pride glimmering in his eyes, he understood. "I would never condemn any of my people to go through that, not even to win, especially when there are other ways in which to gain information, and know it's true."

"It would be impossible with your spell," Severus pointed out only slightly confused.

"I didn't always have that means of security," Harry revealed levelly, "I created it only a two years back."

"And what happened when you told them all they would need it on them?" Severus cocked his head just slightly, surprise flickering through him, he was genuinely enjoying this conversation. It was odd because Severus was a man of solitude, the longest he spoke to anyone was either forced conversations at Hogwarts when dealing with the school or real ones interacting with potion masters on the rare occasion he saw them.

"They trusted me, and I do reward that trust," Harry replied seriously, "I ensure they have no reason to doubt for a second that they made the wrong decision."

Dobby popped in interrupting them, "Mail for Master," he said, handing it over, hating interrupting him but Dobby had his orders, if he was in he was to get his mail immediately and he was a good House-elf, he did what he was told.

"Thank you, Dobby, go back to whatever it is that you were doing," Harry said, accepting the mail, rolling his eyes at the letter on the top of the bundle but making no move to read any. It was at the height of impoliteness to read when you had a guest, although Severus wasn't a guest, not anymore, he had been in the beginning though.

"She's stubborn I'll give her that," Harry grumbled under his breath, shaking his head, completely forgetting that Severus would be able to hear his words now.

"She? I doubt you're talking about Poppy or Amelia Bones, so the only other I can think of is Granger?" Severus guessed. He did wonder what she was saying to him though, and wondered if he honestly still didn't hold any feelings of fondness for his one time best friend, the three of them had been joined to the hip all year that year.

"Mmm," Harry made a noise of agreement, she kept begging for a chance to see him, anywhere he wanted at any time he liked. That he had been her best friend, how she had thought the worst for so many years, how she didn't understand why he hadn't responded to any of her letters in the past. That she just wanted to reconnect, get to know one another again, going on about her O.W.L's and N.E.W.T's scores, how the school had been, how things were in the magical world, talking about how the teachers had worried about him, managing to sound extremely condescending and too 'innocent' all in one go. "She's very good at trying to lay on the guilt, if I were a lesser man I would have probably fallen for it."

"She probably had Dumbledore looking over her shoulder helping her the entire time," Severus cautioned, now he was an expect at laying guilt on people, too good in fact that even he had been helpless in the face of it. Even knowing what Dumbledore was like about it he'd still felt very guilty over the things he had absolutely no control over.

"Perhaps," Harry murmured thoughtfully, "Not that it matters overly much, I'm just getting annoyed at the letters and ramblings." he had a much greater need and use of his time elsewhere, Granger was just an annoyance he didn't want to deal with, but unfortunately there was nothing he could do to stop her writing to him.

"How is it that Dumbledore didn't follow the letter?" Severus asked suddenly, frowning in contemplation.

"I have what you could call fail-safe's positioned over three miles on each side of the manor, it would be impossible to follow the owl, it would disappear from sight, sure they'd know the precautions but there is nothing they can do about it, they can't get through the wards to go with it unless they knew the address which of course they don't." Harry explained, "Even Gringotts doesn't hold the address anymore, only the name and its Unplottable, despite that I can still get mail, I tweaked the spells, nobody can get to the manor,"

"You left absolutely nothing to chance didn't you?" Severus said impressed.

"Kai was always stringent about security, he was always enforcing them, not that it helped in the end, and he used it all to hide me." Harry answered him honestly, "I got overly cautious through what happened to him and the natural inclination to have a secure area through Kai."

"Missing him isn't a weakness you know," Severus told him, his tone sympathetic.

"No, but it's pointless, it won't bring him back, I wish I could," Harry revealed, Kai was the only parental figure that had ever been in his life that he'd loved. Leaving the Dursley's had been one of the best decisions he'd ever made, followed by the fact he'd actually gone with Kai when he invited him to his home and out of the cold and rain.

-0 Flashback 0-

"What are you doing out at this time of night young one?" Kai asked, keeping his distance from the child not wishing to alarm him. It was dangerous out here at night, or anywhere actually, didn't anyone care about this boy? One look at him and he knew, he knew that there was nobody who would miss him. The perfect person many vampires would choose as their victim and they wouldn't leave him alive.

Harry froze, his green eyes going extremely large behind his rain splattered glasses, terrified despite the fact he hadn't said one word even slightly threatening. "Nothing," he managed to get out, he was a Gryffindor he was meant to be brave, but he was scared outside at night, and so hungry, as if to back him up his stomach rumbled loudly. Too young to know about vampires having never covered them during his first year at Hogwarts.

Crouching down, Kai stared at the boy, he was scared, "How far from home are you? It's too dark and dangerous to be out on your own at night." once again trying to be as soothing as possible and refrained from reaching out to touch him, not wishing to scare him away. All he could see was wide fearful green eyes, his hair was drenched and covering his head and all the way down to his glasses, causing tresses to hang over obstructing his view just slightly.

"I'll be fine," Harry said squaring his shoulders defiantly.

Kai smiled just a tad, he was trying to come across as defiant but all he saw was a scared child, shaking in cold and fear he'd bet. He barely looked a day over nine years of age, then he saw something poking out of the child's pocket, a wand, which confused him, this boy couldn't be eleven years old…surely? Either he had taken his parents wand or he was actually eleven. He wasn't sure which thought comforted him at the moment. He was dirty, wet, in clothes ten sizes too big for him and scared; nobody would be on the streets unless they had no choice especially not past midnight. He was obviously one of the many homeless children that roamed around, but he was a wizard, he should have a place to stay. "I can see that, where are your parents?" he asked the child, getting more and more concerned.

"Dead," Harry answered honestly, giving Kai a weird look, he was used to everyone already knowing that. His Aunt and Uncle told everyone that his parents were dead and they'd taken him in out of the goodness out of their hearts, and everyone in the magical world already did.

"I'm sorry to hear that," Kai said honestly, but it still didn't answer all the burning questions he had.

"It happened a long time ago," Harry answered, wondering why he was even still there and talking to this stranger.

"And where are your guardians?" Kai asked, his brow furrowing when he smelt a fresh bout of fear followed by panic. Abuse, he automatically thought, there would be no other reason to fear them or be panicked by the thought of them. Anger stirred in his still heart, he definitely needed to get the child off the streets before anyone harmed him.

"I won't go back!" Harry stepped back, he absolutely refused.

"Alright," Kai said in agreement, calming him somewhat, especially when he didn't try to grab him and let him be. "My name is Kai, what's your name?" trying to build trust between them, almost sighing in relief when the rain finally relented and stopped pouring down on the child.

Harry licked his lips, he was so thirsty, even rainwater was better than nothing, "Harry," he whispered, he hadn't spoken to anyone for days, and to hear such concern for him was…was nice.

"Just Harry?" Kai teased softly, still kneeling down so he was eyelevel with the child.

"Just Harry," Harry confirmed nodding resolutely. He didn't want anyone to know who he was just in case.

"Well, just Harry, it's nice to meet you," Kai told him, "I would like it if you came home with me, to get out of the cold and get something to eat and you're hungry."

"No!" Harry protested he wasn't stupid enough to go somewhere with a stranger. So he was somewhat taken aback by his reply.

"Alright, then I'll just follow you," Kai said as if it was a simple solution. "I don't want you to end up hurt, so I'll make sure you're safe this way."

"You can't follow me!" Harry protested again, backing away, with that he started walking, only to find Kai was doing as he'd said and following him. For some strange reason it didn't scare him, he wasn't afraid of Kai. "Stop it!" he complained, but he felt amused despite himself when he walked in silence almost blending in with the night.

"As I said, come with me and get warm, something to eat and somewhere to sleep for the night, or I'll follow you and make sure you're safe." Kai said once again, as they continued walking down the street.

"I don't want to, I don't know you," Harry argued, as his stomach grumbled at the mere mention of food.

"I still cant in all good conscience leave you on your own," the vampire stated, especially knowing others of his kind were out there nearby tonight. "It's dangerous out at night."

Harry stopped and hunched over, he was cold, exhausted, starving, tired and sore, and his feet were filled with blisters, red raw from all the walking and running he'd been doing lately. The prospect of sleeping indoors for just one night was tempting, and the food…the food was the biggest temptation of all. Cold he was used to, going without food also used too but this all consuming hunger…it wasn't a hunger he'd known before, the Dursley's starved him yes, but not to this extent he hadn't eaten anything substantial for a week. "I won't go back, I can't." Harry murmured quietly, his exhaustion getting the better off him.

"I won't make you," Kai promised, "You have my word." and he kept his promises. His heart hurting at the sound of such defeat on a child so young. He should be at home, sleeping, planning what he wanted to do during his summer holidays not out in the streets. He vowed to find out just exactly what those people had done to him, maybe make them pay.

"Just…just the one night," Harry decided.

And with those words, Harry's life changed forever, this time for the better as a whole new future unravelled before him in a single night.

-0 End Flashback 0-

"I know," Severus said solemnly, he could see just how much Harry missed his creator.

"There is a book I wish for you to read," Harry told Severus changing the subject. He wished so badly that Kai was still around, but he wasn't, he'd been taken from him before he got the chance to know just how much Harry loved him, how much his care had meant. He didn't want to risk anything happening to Severus before he realized what the hell was going on. He hoped that it was just ignorance that was stopping Severus and not the fact he actually knew about them being mates, he wasn't sure how he'd cope if that were the case.

Severus arched an eyebrow; "Yes?" it was more of a question than confirmation that he would in fact read it.

"Normally I wouldn't have a problem waiting, but I would rather not wait," Harry revealed finally standing up and moving over to the shelves that held his most valuable books whether in price or the place in his heart.

"And what are you waiting for?" Severus was extremely confused by this new topic of conversation, watching him browse and look for the book he wished him to read presumably.

"You'll see," Harry replied, removing the book from the shelf, it was a first edition, extremely old but very, very accurate, written by a fellow vampire back in the day. Turning back to him, Harry handed over the old faded book, which didn't have a title written over its bound form showing how old it truly was.

"Apparently," Severus replied sarcastically, causing Harry to smile wryly.

"I don't want to push you into anything, but the wait is killing me," Harry admitted, he just wanted to bend his mate over his desk and show him just how much pleasure he could give him. The first and only time they'd had sex was nowhere near enough to sustain him (torture him yes, sustain no). He would never cheat, and yes, he would consider it cheating, Severus was his mate, they were meant to be together. With his piece said, Harry left his study, paying no mind to the perplexed look on his face.

It was thanks to Merlenyn that I got this chapter out :) she was able to stir up some ideas while I was stuck so thank you! :) soon Severus will be enlightened :D will he back away from Harry or will he actually embrace something he wants but is scared to let anyone in? Or will it take Harry a while longer to get through to his mate that he honestly wants him? hmm will Dumbledore go to the vampire sanctuary Harry created to try and get them to help him locate Harry? unaware that Harry is the head of them all? Or will dumbledore just get in touch with Harry himself via letter again? When will Dumbledore be taken out of the picture with the letters being enough to see him in azkaban? will Voldemort be defeated before Harry makes his move taking over while everyone is in upheaval or will the change over happen before either are taken out? will dumbledore realize what he's doing forcing Harry's hand early? R&R please