The Leader

Chapter 38

Severus closed the book, no longer feeling perplexed by Harry's insistence of him reading a book or the words afterwards. He had admittedly remained perplexed for a good while afterwards, until he actually got half way into the book. It wasn't one he had read, in fact there were chapters of information in it that he hadn't been familiar with and greatly appreciated learning. He'd assumed he knew everything about vampires, but this book had proven him wrong, judging by the author and the way the book was bound, it hadn't been released to the public but actually been put together solely by the author Dex Maddox and judging by the picture he had been or was a vampire. The name wasn't familiar to him, but he didn't claim to know every vampire in existence, in fact before he'd come here to spy he'd been familiar with only one, Sanguini, the Dark Lord had had vampires on his side in the last war, but he had never actually seen or interacted with them.

Vampires mated for life. They were drawn to a single person, whether they were yet a vampire or not.

Severus Apparated away unable to stay in Potter Manor, he needed a moment to think, so it surprised even him where his ultimate destination turned out to be. Who would have thought he'd come to the sanctuary? The guards glanced briefly at him, nodding in welcome before they returned to their duties, which was extremely dull but with so many of them it was easy to spread it out enough that you only had guard duty once a week. The duty was twelve hours long though, but it was no time at all when it came to vampires werewolves were a different matter altogether though. Inhaling sharply, he was able to pick up quite a few scents, which wasn't as easy as you'd assume. He had to spend more than a few moments with the person to memorise their scent and remember who it is.

Wandering through, past the warehouse, further along before turning the corner and making his way over to the pit, ignoring the other building for now. His sharp eyes focusing on the pit, he idly wondered if Azkaban was better or worse…the Dementors only bothered you three or four times a day, kept you weak, but the pit? It was cold, dark and filled with snakes that would make any grown wizard pee themselves in fear, biting at you, making you try and get to the highest point in the pit that had been probably specifically designed for this, just to get some rest - probably to fall back down then start it all over again. He could hear nothing so he assumed that there was some sort of silencing charms woven in too.

A smirk twitched at his lips as he observed the shadow moving around, although he really should call it more than a shadow since he could see Carrow's form, make out the clothes he was wearing, it was truly amazing to him, even now just how much his sight had improved. Expecting it and experiencing it was two different things, did Harry know they were mates before he turned him? Was that why he had tried to hard to find a solution? Damn it, he didn't want to think about this, its why he had come here, to distract himself but it wasn't working as well as he would like.

Pinching the bridge of his nose out of habit, he wondered if he could trust anything anymore, did the people here know? Was that why he felt accepted for the first time in his life? Was it feigned? He didn't like to think so, he got on rather well with a good few of the vampires here, he couldn't help but grimace in distaste, he couldn't avoid the subject, he knew he couldn't, didn't mean he wouldn't rather bury his head in the sand though, he had enjoyed his time here, and it would be difficult to leave. As strange as it sounded, he felt more at home here amongst the rag tag bunch than he'd felt since he was a child, his friendship with Lily which of course was different, Lily had such a sense of what was right and wrong, she definitely wouldn't have approved what her son was doing, he knew she hadn't approved of what he was doing.

"Do you know him?" Wyatt asked, joining Severus and peering down, he had good eyesight but it wasn't as good as the others, he was a hybrid, half-wizard/half-vampire. They hadn't really thought about it, but they were Severus' age, he's bound to know them, perhaps even be fond of some of them. Three sides he'd been on, hell he wasn't sure how he did it, he was bound to be fond of some of the people he'd interacted with, admittedly he tried to keep everyone at arms length, he could see that himself. "You are around their age aren't you?"

"We weren't exactly friends if that is what you mean, and yes we are the same age, I attended Hogwarts with them," Severus replied wryly, glancing over at Wyatt and Rick, who had wandered over, he could see in the distance that the werewolves were training, or rather fighting, play fighting, he noticed the new werewolf that the Alpha werewolf had mentioned before. Merlin he could see just how badly off they were, it was the same as Reg, and Reg wasn't fully recovered even now, but he looked ten times better than the newcomer. They were skin and bone, he was a mostly selfish bastard, but it made him sick to know that if it weren't for this place…these people might not even be alive; it was a harrowing reality that most werewolves don't survive their first transformation and if they did…each one had the chance to be fatal. Especially when they had no home, no shelter, and no food, sick and weak as they got…in the end their hearts gave out. How many people had this place saved from such deaths? Was it what Harry had truly wanted to begin with? A safe place? Harry certainly hadn't lied to him about much so why would he lie about something like that? It just seemed such a stupid lie but if he wanted everyone onside that was the best way to accomplish it, still he'd seen the look in his eyes when he spoke about Kai, how he'd been taken in, perhaps there was a truth to it, two birds one stone kind of truth?

"You were with them for the longest time, you are inclined towards the dark, your magic doesn't lie, so you must have felt as if that was your real side," Wyatt pointed out, removing his wand he conjured a few chairs, and sat down. He was bored of the usual conversation, so anything new was welcomed and a chat with Severus always proved to be enlightening or amusing.

"Just because my magic is dark, it didn't mean I could suddenly tolerate them," Severus pointed out frowning, "Even when I decided my side they were a little too bloodthirsty to me. It was some of the ideals they had that I believed mostly."

"Only some?" Rick enquired curiously, speaking for the first time. They were aware of Voldemort's beliefs, they'd known them long before Harry had came along and helped the people the Ministry was quick to call 'creatures'. During the first war there had been vampires and werewolves who had gladly joined Voldemort, in a desperate bid for freedom, but it had backfired - big time. Instead they'd been hunted down and prosecuted ten times more fiercely than before, nobody had escaped their wrath. Frankly Harry putting people in high ranking positions couldn't have come at a better time, it was far from over but it was much better than it had been in decades. Helped along by the fact no vampire had joined Voldemort this time around, with the obvious exception of Callahan and his newly turned chides. He had been dealt with before he could even think of disgracing the vampire race. Even the werewolves weren't on his side anymore; there was hope for them all yet.

"Yes, I ignored the ones that weren't logically something I'd believe." Severus explained taking a seat, listening to the hissing of the snakes, finding it somewhat soothing.

"And those were?" Wyatt asked his blue eyes peering into Severus' and somehow looking innocent despite the fact there was no way Wyatt was anywhere near innocent.

"The stupid ideologies that Muggle-born's steal magic I suspect," Rick replied instead of Severus, it was definitely one of the most idiotic belief held by the Death Eaters. They were more than aware that there was no such thing as Muggle-born; they were just descendants of squibs who had regained their lost heritage, the lost magic.

"There is that, and the fact they believe they don't deserve to live," Severus replied, did they honestly like talking to him? He was beginning to feel very conflicted. "A very good friend tried to get me to see the path I was going down. Not that it would have mattered in the long run, I believe even if I hadn't joined she would have found another reason, perhaps my own convictions." Lily hadn't liked his so called friends, his dark inclinations; nothing would have saved their friendship it had taken a long time to accept it. He liked to think they could have remained friends though; it was easier to blame his own words and James Potter than to face the idea.

"I think we've all gone though something like that doesn't necessarily have to be a friend, it could be a lover, parent, and a child." Rick nodded solemnly. "There's been too much hate and wasted time over magic,"

"That I concede heavily." Severus nodded grimly, his brow still furrowed.

Rick watched Severus, worried about him, was what Carrow done still weighing heavily on him, waiting until Wyatt met his gaze, he tilted his head just slightly, telling the youngster (and he was a youngster compared to him) to make himself scarce. Wyatt immediately got the message, and smoothly stood up, "Best go relieve Raymond from duty, talk to you guys later." he said apologetically, before wandering away, glancing back only once.

"There's something weighing on your mind," Rick stated, "Do you want to talk about it?"

"What makes you think that?" Severus enquired his face going completely blank.

Rick smirked, "You'd be surprised how many people come here when they're conflicted, and it's not always necessarily to talk to someone either. There's just something…safe about being here, some speculate its Harry's magic, others that it's because it's the first true safe harbour some have ever known."

Severus huffed out a sardonic laugh, "Perhaps both," he replied, not elaborating on what part of the statement he was referring to.

Rick nodded, respecting Severus' decision not to talk about it, he hadn't expected anything else, Severus was a closed off man.

"Did you…ever find your mate?" Severus asked after a few moments of silence.

Rick blinked in surprise, "Only six percent of the vampire population have been lucky to find their significant other," and he meant the actual complete population spread out all over the world. It was an extremely small amount, and those that did were extremely lucky and he did envy them. "As you can probably deduce from that small amount, it's exceedingly rare to find them."

"Even with such a large population here?" Severus asked shrewdly.

"There's actually three werewolf couples, but only one vampire couple who are mated." Rick explained, looking around, his eyes narrowed in concentration, "See the girl with the red hair? Beside Greyback? She's a Werewolf...That is Alison Morgan; her mate is one of the betas of the pack, Brian Mosey. The other two couples aren't here at the moment, Angel and David, as well as Paige and Samuel."

"And the others?" Severus prompted.

"Shade, you've met him, but you've probably not met his wife, Tia," Rick informed him, "Why do you ask?" had he found his mate? He sat up straighter, well he'd be damned, and it didn't take a genius to figure it out. They weren't just bloody attracted to each other they were drawn to one another! No wonder Harry had been distracted for days weeks ago, he'd figured it out as well. No, if Severus had just found out then the chances were Harry had gotten impatient and made sure Severus figured it out.

"You're actually surprised," Severus muttered feeling surprised himself. He had assumed they knew, but judging by the look on Rick's face he hadn't put it together until just now. Could he trust that the surprise was genuine? Merlin this was getting ridiculous his head was beginning to hurt. He didn't want to be so damn suspicious of everyone but it was ingrained. Of course it would rear its ugly head sooner or later go figure. It had kept him alive, this caution, and he couldn't discard it so easily.

"Of course I am!" Rick cried out, that is if he wasn't getting his cards crossed. Flicking his wand out he put a silencing bubble around them to ensure privacy. "You and Harry…you're mates?" he whispered very low so nobody else could hear what they were saying.

Severus nodded curtly, there was no denying it.

"There's nobody more deserving," Rick admitted, relaxing once again, Harry deserved this, he'd put everyone's needs before his own, for such a long time now, he deserved to work on his own life for a short while.

"You truly didn't know?" Severus asked, his gaze never wavering from Rick's.

"Vampire's can sense lies if they know what to look for, Severus, no I didn't know, nor did I even suspect, to think you were almost killed," Rick was aghast by the prospect. "You should thank Merlin and all other deities that you swore that unbreakable Vow." and yes he knew what had caused Harry to spare Severus, anything less he would have been dealt with the same as all others who trespass on their safe heaven especially to spy for Dumbledore of all things.

Severus' lips twitched back into a smirk, "I am not unaware of why I was spared," he stated dryly. So they truly hadn't known, it eased something in him considerably, by the sounds of it Rick approved, since when did the opinion of others matter so much to him? He was going soft; there was no other possible explanation.

"So why are you here?" Rick asked after a few minutes of quiet thoughtfulness. "Do you not believe he's a suitable match?"

"Try the other way around," Severus revealed in a moment of vulnerability, allowing someone in - letting them know who he truly was and that he wasn't completely closed off.

"So you don't believe you are?" Rick was genuinely taken aback. The more time he spent with Severus the more he was reminded of Shade, he was confident in his abilities but when it came to someone - in Shade's case his wife - they didn't believe they deserved their significant other. There was a side to them both that showed what they thought of themselves, and it wasn't what others saw or knew of them. Shade hadn't had the best of upbringings and he would bet Severus was the same.

Severus remained silent.

"It's not about believing whether you're good enough or not, all relationships take hard work just because you're mates it doesn't automatically mean you'll both be happy forever." Rick pointed out, "It merely means you're both compatible, the most suitable match mother magic could come up with. It's undeniable, you fit in so well because you share Harry's belief in a better world…because you are dark but don't want categorised as evil, and if I am right neither of you had a loving childhood…" and judging by the way Severus tensed up he had his answer. "You'll understand him better than most people here, hell Harry might not show it but he can be just as insecure as the rest of us, having someone at his back…will make things easier," most but not all, quite a lot of them had endured horrific childhoods that no child should ever have to suffer.

Severus gazed shrewdly at Rick, wondering if he was actually trying to tell him something.

"It really should be Harry you're having this conversation with," Rick admitted, "You have spoken to him haven't you?"

"No, not yet, the least he deserves is a conversation when I've got my mind around the prospect," Severus revealed honestly.

"What's to think about?" Rick enquired, sensing that Severus still needed to talk it through.

"Are you kidding? He's eighteen years old, I'm old enough to be his father," Severus protested, but it was half hearted.

"His father was two hundred years old," Rick pointed out, "He didn't know his biological father, and no offence he considered Kai his father it's who he means when he talks about him, and he's the only one he's ever known. He's been through more than most people, he's never been a child, Severus, although I have no doubt Kai tried in his own unique way to let him be one, he also realized Harry was in a world where he needed to grow up quickly." he might not have known much but he knew Kai better than anyone other than Harry, so his educated guesses were probably spot on. "Added to the fact twenty years will be nothing when you're both over a hundred years in mentality at least." their bodies would never age, they'd both be in those bodies for however long they were on this earth. Not that they were too young in looks, eighteen maybe nineteen years old they looked.

"Good point," Severus murmured.

"Go talk to him," Rick stated, trying to get the vampire to speak to his leader, it was the only way they would resolve this and do what they'd been dancing around for weeks and actually fuck each other into the middle of next week, that would take some of the pent up anger he was feeling at the Death Eaters away allowing him to interrogate them quicker. He wanted to see Carrow suffering more than just in the pit, which was no picnic itself he was just feeling very vindictive with the pathetic wizard who had almost killed him. He was pretty sure that Severus was feeling the same.

"I will," Severus replied honestly.

"Unless there's something else on your mind," Rick deduced shrewdly. "If it's not about his age…are you intimidated by his power?" Severus was no slouch.

"Not his magic," Severus replied slowly.

"Ah, you think the people here will give you a hard time?" Rick guessed, trying to figure out what Severus was trying to tell him. "Or do you just not want to deal with the problems that come with being the other half of a leader?"

How was it that Rick could see into the very heart of his fears? It was rather bothersome especially to him, who never wore his heart on his sleeve. Rick barely knew him, yet he was able to accurately guess what was wrong. "You're right, it's something I should be discussing with Harry." as much as he actually liked Rick he didn't want to discuss this with him, hell he didn't even want to talk to Harry about it, but he knew he had to. He wanted to know a few things himself, such as when Harry had figured it out and go from there. At least quite a few of his fears had been demolished, they weren't pretending to like him because he was Harry's mate, not that it would matter much…he wasn't the leader, Harry was he wouldn't have much of a say over anything.

Rick just withheld a smirk that had been his plan when he asked those specific questions - there was no way Severus would want to admit anything like that not to him - he certainly wouldn't if the situations had been reversed. "Let Harry know I plan to stay until Carrow has been dealt with."

Severus chuckled dryly, "He already knows."

"I'm not surprised," Rick murmured bemused. Harry knew them all well, him most of all seen as he had been friends of sorts with Harry before he became a leader to all these people.

"I'll see you," Severus nodded curtly thanking him for his advice, standing up, he Apparated away, returning to Potter Manor.

"Go get him," Rick said giving a small rare laugh, Kai would have been getting his kill over this, he would have liked Severus but given him a hard time nonetheless, Kai had the tendency to take any roles he had very seriously, he also had a bit of a mischievous side.

More change was on the horizon, and he had a feeling it was a good change.

Ruefully shaking his head, he stood up and left the pit, since he knew Harry wasn't going to be back within the next few hours he decided he'd go for a hunt, get blood into him, he was rather hungry.

And the next chapter will be the one you've been waiting for since the first chapter :D it will only take me 39 chapters to get Sev and Harry together! but hey it's better than it being unrealistic right?! :P although i think i need to have more focus on the Ministry and Dumbledore since it's been on the backburner for a bit too long... i'm just not sure what I want Dumbledore's first move to be...if he knows Harry's a vampire he won't try to drug him so he'll try and get him onside i think...then there's the fact he'll be worried about Black revealing everything and Lupin too! hmm i wonder should I have Dumbledore track him down to the sanctuary? would you like to see a bit of the chapter dedicated to them and to see how they're getting along with the group? will Remus ever accept Greyback? R&R please