The Leader

Chapter 39

Harry sat in his study, a folder open but his eyes remained unseen, he had felt Severus leaving the manor and going to sanctuary. He tried to close off his feelings, but he wasn't quite as successful as he wished, as the hurt began to squeeze a hold of him. Merlin was he so dislikeable that Severus felt the need to leave when he found out that they were mates? Maybe Severus hadn't been ready for the information, he hadn't been able to wait, and it had backfired on him obviously. If Severus didn't want to be with him, he couldn't force it, and if he left he couldn't convince them they were a good match. Kai would be kicking his ass if he gave up without a fight, and he would be disgusted with himself too, but if someone just didn't care about you there was no way to change that.

He should be reading about the process of the prison from Bones and the updates from those in the Ministry as well as a detailed report from Bill Weasley regarding all activity on the Order of the Phoenix and Dumbledore. He couldn't help but scoff only Dumbledore would come up with such a name, it sounded like an award not a secret organization. It wasn't even that secret either, all sides knew about his so called Order, it was ridiculous really.

Sighing softly, he forced himself not to dwell on Severus, not until he could gather additional data. Opening the folder from Bones, he began to read the details, nodding in approval, the warding was going great, the people he had recommended were making greater progress than she'd anticipated. It was a company he had created actually, but under his pseudo name Darnell Raven Thorn, the Ministry probably had no idea they were actually hiring vampires to do the work with the obvious exception of Bones. The Ministry had offered them a mere pittance in comparison of what they should be making, but he'd known they wouldn't splash out the money to get it done - since quite a few of them didn't want the new place to be a prison. The joke was on them, Harry was also paying his own people double the amount of money in a bid to get it done quicker. It wasn't going to be easy to do either. They were changing the entire layout of the building, adding additional layers and securing it so nobody could get in or out once it was completed.

Those in the Ministry were still reeling by the attack, except more than suspected Death Eaters at this point. Apparently the Minister wanted to have him visit to repair the damages he'd done by being too hasty with him at the Wizengamot meeting. To try and get him onside, which explained the letter from the Ministry with the official seal on his desk amongst the other letters he'd yet to read. The paperwork was annoying but necessary, very necessary how can one expect to control things if they didn't learn and know all they could?

Placing the folder aside, he picked up the one from Bill, which was thankfully short and to the point, so much so it was almost curt but Bill knew him, had spent years here at the sanctuary building up a new family. One that definitely didn't include the rest of the Weasley's. Dumbledore it appeared was becoming increasingly agitated each day that went by, Bill presumed it was his inability to find him, that the Order was divided due to…affliction. Which was an affront to Harry, he didn't have an affliction thank you very much. Half were supportive and believed it wasn't his fault; he was just a child of circumstance. The other half abhor him, but realized they needed him, and was willing to 'compromise' as long as he did as he was told. He sneered at the thought, did the Order think him so desperate for acceptance that he would adhere to any rules they put down? There was absolutely no chance of that happening. Although it amused him deeply that they would assume him so complacent. They had seen what he was capable of, or rather a little of what he was capable of while fighting Voldemort, didn't they share a single brain cell between them?

The wards signalled Severus had returned, was his only warning, a seconds warning before the newly turned vampire was next to him.

"How long have you known?" Severus asked immediately as soon as he Apparated into the study, his tone blank as he regarded Harry, who was sitting with a goblet of blood on the table untouched reading from folders.

Harry turned to face Severus, surprised he had come back. "I'm going to assume you are taking about how long I've known we're potential mates?" hope began to trickle in but he refused to give into it.

Severus nodded curtly, yes it's exactly what he meant and Harry knew it too.

Harry leaned back, staring at Severus pensively, if he'd decided to go then there was no way he would be here looking for answers. "Sit down," he said making a gesture and the seat flew from the corner of the room to opposite him. Once Severus had sat down Harry began speaking. "I began to suspect while I was looking for ways to remove the Dark Mark from your forearm." Harry informed him evenly, "Every time I saw it, I had this urge to removed it by any means possible, seeing it on your skin made me extremely irrational perhaps even jealous. Not emotions I was experience to that degree and definitely not for no apparent reason, and I began investigating as to why I felt them in such a manner. I am not an emotional person unless pushed to the extreme as I'm sure you've noticed."

"You knew when we slept together?" Severus asked his tone inscrutable.

"Yes," Harry stated, wondering if that had been a mistake and if Severus felt as though his choices had been taken from him.

"And why didn't you explain when you found out?" Severus asked trying to rein in his terse tone.

"And make you feel as if you had no choice in the matter? You were and still are a chide, your senses haven't developed enough to know you had in fact met your mate. You aren't used to them to differentiate them, frankly, Severus; I wanted you to figure it out on your own. My own impatience may have jeopardised that." Harry replied.

"And sleeping together didn't activate something?" Severus pointed out cautiously.

"Activate something?" Harry asked slowly, "I probably should be offended by the implication but no, being mates isn't about bonding or anything activating. It's just an indication that two people are compatible, they can still walk away after all is said and done if they aren't happy. I've not seen it done, those who meet their mates seem extremely happy with their choices they aren't just mated either, they bonded, which is permanent." if Severus had read the book properly he would know that, indicating he was testing him or just trying to annoy him.

Silence reined in the room afterwards. Surprisingly considering the conversation the silence wasn't an uncomfortable one.

"You're obviously not against a sexual relationship, considering that when your inhibitions were lowered you were all too…enthusiastic." Harry settled for a word that could give it accuracy. "You are obviously conflicted about something, fishing for a reason to leave would be my guess?" judging by the way his left eye twitched just slightly let Harry know he was right in his assumptions.

"You're not just an every day vampire, there is no way this would be easy." Severus admitted he owed Harry that much didn't he? After all he'd done for him, spared him, given him his life back, bought him so much expensive equipment, let him into sanctuary, given him his freedom, and made sure he had everything he'd need like the Prince accounts to which he had been completely obvious about. He had ensured Dumbledore wouldn't and couldn't touch him.

"Are you trying to tell me you'd deny yourself a relationship based on what I want to do?" Harry couldn't hide his surprise no matter how much he tried. "Everything I've done, everything I want to do is endangering the chance of having a mate?" he knew he would never stop, he had come to far to pack it all in and just call it a day, it would hurt to see Severus leave but he couldn't stop his goals, he'd been doing this for so long and he was so close to the outcome he wanted, the one Kai had dreamed of happening. Was he missing something?

"You are smart, ruthlessly intelligent and powerful, you could have anyone you wanted! I am old enough to be your father for Merlin's sake." Severus snapped out.

"Hardly, my father was over two hundred years old," Harry said dryly, "It sounds to me like you're trying to come up with reasons we shouldn't be together."

Despite himself Severus' lips twitched, he had forgotten what Rick had said, apparently he was right.

"Severus, if you don't want a relationship then just say that, the excuses are quite frankly insulting to both of us." Harry stated sharply, "In my experience if you want to be with someone, then you be with them, through the good times and the bad times. You can't pick and choose, but when you pick it will be permanent." he didn't share, and he wasn't going to be played around, he wasn't going to go running to Severus if and when he decided to change his mind somewhere down the line. He had been celibate since he had found out Severus was his mate. It had felt wrong to engage in casual sexual encounters when he knew. Vampires were sexual creatures, very sexual, if Severus said no where would that leave them? Severus' senses weren't developed enough to notice, but he…would he always feel wrong when sleeping with others if his mate rejected him?

"They aren't excuses," Severus replied darkly, a frown marring his features.

"No?" Harry questioned, "I believe you are as smart as myself, and you've proven to be ruthless and powerful, perhaps not up to my speed but it isn't that far behind. If I didn't want you I would not have slept with you, what do you suggest I do? Court you? That is a way to prove that I am very serious about us, it will also give you additional time to see if this is what you want out of life." truthfully all he wanted to do was have Severus writhing under him, make him beg, make him realize that nobody else would ever be good enough.

"That is an extremely old practice," Severus muttered quietly, he was beginning to realize that Harry truly wanted him, that he would do anything to convince him he did. The courting would restrict any sexual contact until it was complete, Harry truly just wanted him and he couldn't understand why. He'd been thinking on things that made this wrong, without thinking on the good things that would come with it.

"Yes, it is," Harry said, "Something I hope to bring back; it would help partners decide on what they want before they commit to a bonding or marriage. Arranged marriages, are just barbaric, so I am hoping to replace them with courting process but it isn't on the top of my list." it could come later. Finding it easier to discuss business than it was to discuss the fact Severus wanted nothing to do with him. Standing up, he walked over to the door before giving Severus one last piece of advice, "Stop trying to punish yourself for something you did when you were a teenager. It isn't difficult Severus, if its something you want them grab it, if I learned anything from Kai is that life is unpredictable and always too short no matter how old you are." there was always something someone wanted to accomplish. With that Harry left, making his way down to his potions lab. Refraining from going back inside and showing Severus what he would be missing.

"How long have you known Harry?" Sirius asked Rick, sitting down next to him, his eyes staring intently, his desire for answers written all over his face. They were in sanctuary, they had helped him and Remus build a cabin on the property, which couldn't be seen from the front or back of the sanctuary, they were hidden by the trees, an added precaution or just something the werewolves liked, being one with nature and all that. They built mostly everything with wood, but had other things inside too; using what money they had to afford it. They were like one big family, and Sirius absolutely loved it, he was fitting in easier than Remus and that was saying something since Remus was amongst his own people well a lot of them were.

"A lot longer than you," Rick said dryly, still riding the high from consuming blood.

"What was he like when he was younger?" Sirius pressed on, his eyes unknowingly begging Rick for an answer, any answer.

Rick sighed but sat up straighter, "He's always been determined, strong willed, even before his father took him in."

"His father was James Potter, he's dead," Sirius blinked blankly.

Rick shook his head, "When he says father he means Kai, Kai is the vampire who took him in and protected him."

"Why would he do that? Why didn't he contact anyone in the magical world?" Sirius questioned.

"Because he didn't trust anyone in the magical world, after what you've been through recently surely you understand why he wouldn't want anyone contacted?" Rick pointed out shrewdly.

"What did they do to him?" Sirius dug for answers.

Rick gazed at Sirius incredulously, "Other than the fact they abandoned him with magic hating relatives and ignored his suffering? There are many other factors but surely that should be enough for you?"

"But the Dursley's were all he had, if Dumbledore manipulated everyone, it isn't really there fault," Sirius sighed, closing his eyes tiredly.

"Right and you don't blame the Aurors that came for you? The Ministry for NOT giving you a trial? For sending you to the depths of Azkaban and left you there to rot? You don't blame Dumbledore for not even asking why? Yes James and Lily died, but everyone else you knew just stood aside and let the travesty occur…tell me has anyone even been in touch with you now that you've been proven innocent?" Rick enquired, leaning over just slightly.

Sirius shifted uncomfortably, "Quite a few people," he admitted, seeing where Rick was coming from. "But Harry was eleven, I was a grown man, I just don't understand how he ended up with a vampire for a father…"

"He did what you did, only five years earlier," Rick replied.

"He ran away?" Sirius' heart sank, was it that bad that Harry had actually ran away onto the streets? Merlin he was a failure, a total an utter failure. "You knew I ran away? How did you get that information?" he was deeply uncomfortable with that, he didn't know Rick.

"Brecon is very good at retrieving all information Harry needs, some of it ends up getting around," Rick shrugged indifferently.

"Does he blame me for his life?" Sirius asked sombrely.

"Why would you think that?" Rick enquired, slightly amused.

"He hates me," Sirius admitted bluntly.

"Hardly, if he did you wouldn't be here," Rick chuckled dryly.

"He's barely spoken to me, I searched for him night and day after I got better from being in Azkaban…Remus knew years before I did…he knew about me he obviously didn't care…or just blamed me for everything." Sirius told him, rubbing his eyes tiredly.

"Ever thought it was because you were on opposite sides?" Rick informed him bluntly.

"He's family, my godson," Sirius protested profusely.

"Yes, you also abandoned your family for their values, and they weren't Death Eaters," Rick stated sharply, "Well at least not your parents." he amended.

Sirius grimaced, he felt like he was being punished for something he did when he was sixteen years old. "I would have stuck with Harry; he's my godson and my best friend's son,"

"Would you have?" Rick questioned seriously, plopping his legs up on the pool table, nobody was playing at the moment they were all doing their chores. "I mean honestly, would you have stuck with Harry seeing he was dark if you hadn't been betrayed by Dumbledore? We know from experience that the same couldn't be said of Remus Lupin. We gave him all the evidence he needed to see Dumbledore for what he was but Remus refused to believe him." he had gone crawling back to Dumbledore, refusing to believe what Harry had told him.

"Dumbledore's been like a grandfather figure for Remus, someone he looked up to for a long time." Sirius said, trying to get Rick to understand. "Remus was bitten when he was just four years old, just like that his life as he knew it was over, but Dumbledore gave him a reason for living, a whole new life he hadn't foreseen. He was allowed to attend Hogwarts, which admittedly came with its own problems but he was at Hogwarts he didn't care about anything else. He felt he owed Dumbledore everything, and Dumbledore used that, he got Remus to go on some really dangerous missions trying to get other werewolves to join his side."

"The only reason he wasn't killed was because Harry knew what Remus was doing and made sure he wasn't harmed. The other werewolf communities respect Harry, respect his power. They knew if anything happened to Remus they'd be killed. They might not have joined but they always said they would join forces if a need arose." Rick scoffed, honestly, how stupid were they that they didn't question why he'd never been hurt despite the fact the werewolves absolutely loathed Dumbledore and by extension Remus? There was only around nine werewolf communities/packs in the whole of the UK, eight if you didn't include there's. They ranged from five to a total of twenty-nine werewolves at last count. All rouge werewolves had been given a choice, fall in line, join a pack or die, Harry didn't want anything putting a bad name on werewolves or vampires. "Because believe me if it weren't for Harry he would have been killed. They all hate Dumbledore and Remus going there spouting for his caused made them hate him by extension too. He promised them for decades to make things better, and he never lived up to that, never made a single legislation to try."

"He always expressed a frustration in the lack of progress he made on legislations like that," Sirius grumbled under his breath, another lie apparently.

"Gullible fools," Rick snorted derisively. It wasn't difficult to get your hands on a copy of any legislations, anyone with a little bit of money and power could see it done.

Sirius stared pensively, it seemed as though Harry had been protecting them for far long than he anticipated. Did Remus even know what Harry had been doing for him? He shuddered at the prospect of Remus being torn apart by furious werewolves at the audacity of an outsider trying to get them to join Dumbledore, to join wizards, who they detested. He would have lost him years ago, over five years ago if Harry hadn't stepped in.

"You," Remus growled, coming across Greyback, his amber eyes flashing furiously. The only thing keeping him in check was the fact Greyback's child was there. No matter what he felt for Greyback, he would never risk injuring a child, and if he let himself go that was exactly what would happen.

"Take Aaron for something to eat," Fenrir demanded, his tone remained soft but the order was clear.

"But Alph-" Michael protested, his blue eyes filled with worry, he didn't want them getting thrown out if his alpha beat Lupin to a pulp.

"I do not want to repeat myself," Fenrir informed him, his gaze never wavering from Lupin's.

"Let's go get something to eat little Alpha," Linus said, picking the child up and tickling him mercilessly, causing him to shriek in laughter as he was carried away by the two betas. Successfully keeping him distracted by the tension brewing between his father, their alpha and the omega Lupin.

"You keep your disgust at our kind away from my son," Fenrir growled, his own blue eyes flashing in anger.

"It's not disgust at our kind, it's you that disgusts me," Remus spat bitterly.

"I bit you get over it," Fenrir scowled, "Stop acting as though you were the only one ever bitten." it was decades ago.

"I was four years old!" Remus howled out, his fists clenched as he bore holes into his creator.

"I was nine, I survived," Fenrir barked out baring his teeth ignoring the others that were milling around trying to eavesdrop on the conversation without being too obvious. "I did it without parents." he spat. "Or staying in a house acting like a wizard instead of a werewolf that you are!"

Remus roared in anger, his fist raised he ran at Fenrir and punched him in the face, due to his weakened state; Fenrir didn't exactly fall under the weight of his fist. It did however, triple his anger, as he used Fenrir's chest as a punching bag and pummelled into him, each grunt of pain causing him immense satisfaction.

Fenrir lost his own patience; he punched out at Remus with one meaty fist and had the man on his back. "Do not get up boy," Fenrir growled out, warning him, his eyes flashing wolfishly.

"You destroyed my life!" Remus shouted getting back to his feet despite Fenrir's warning and began to punch at him again. "FOR WHAT?"

Then they were all out brawling, kicking and punching at each other, no holds barred, they just vented their frustration on each other. Everyone watched not daring to cheer, they never fought like that, and as Jack said they saved it for the enemy. They'd known it would happen one day; there was just too much tension between them and not the good kind. They didn't interfere either, knowing that anger could be transferred to them within seconds. This was an alpha fighting, alphas wouldn't respond to betas or even omegas trying to stop this. If Jack tried to interfere it might cause another fight between them both of them battling for dominance…for the position.

Fenrir got a grip of Remus' neck, choking him, ignoring the hits that came his way, eventually they began to weaken as Remus began to grasp desperately at Fenrir's' hand trying to get in that much needed oxygen. Only when Remus was about to fall unconscious did Fenrir lit up, whether it was a conscious decision or not, nobody knew. Fenrir was straddling Remus, his neck in his grip, raising it slightly as he leaned over and growled. "I was eleven years old when your old man declared me a monster, outing me as a werewolf, said I was soulless, so yes I wanted revenge, I was a teenager, what I did was wrong but I don't regret it. Your old man was the leader of the hunters, but I'll bet your old man changed his tune when you became one of the very things he persecute and killed for being different. It kept werewolves safer, even at the expense of my own freedom. They used what I had done to you to make it seem as though I was biting and turning children for my own benefit. Like I was the only werewolf in existence! Unless it escaped your mind there was no Wolfsbane back then even if I had wanted to take the filthy poison, I had no control over my wolf any more than you did. When I did bite anyone I would make sure they were alright, I was an alpha it was my duty, if I needed to I'd take them with me kept them safe, showed them how to survive, showed them how to evade wizard hunters who would kill them before claiming they were being attacked."

Many werewolves winced, rubbing at different areas, some hidden some not, all bearing scars courtesy of the wizard hunters who hunted down werewolves and killed them, all outside the general knowledge the Ministry liked to portray. If they were 'caught' the ministry refused all knowledge with them, if they weren't they got paid to take care of the dangers to wizarding society. Many of them were victims themselves, it was part of the reason that they rarely left sanctuary and relished in the knowledge that they were safe - nothing was going to get through the wards, especially not hunters.

Remus was forced to listen as he gulped in much needed air panting in pain and exhaustion.

"I hope you got it out your system boy, because the next time I won't stop." Fenrir swore, before shoving his neck and head back down onto the grass before he stood up over Remus' crumbled form, still managing to look intimidating - or rather more intimidating bloody and beaten.

With that Fenrir walked away, his head held high, leaving behind a devastated and broken werewolf behind.

Remus stared at the sky, which was dark and cloudy, so nobody was surprised when it suddenly started to pour down with rain. It did cause everyone to scatter to get out of the sudden downpour - well not everyone. The rain hid Remus' tears as he lay there. He'd heard of hunters before, but he hadn't believed they were true, he assumed they were just scary stories spread to keep werewolves from doing anything stupid. He didn't want to believe Greyback when he said his father was the leader of a pack of hunters who tracked and killed werewolves down, it was just too terrible to contemplate. How many werewolves did his father kill? It would explain his parents first meeting which he had committed to memory. Why else would his father be in the woods? Other than if he was tracking down werewolves…had his mother known what his father did? Did she approve? Merlin his life and all he knew had been shattered…and the way Greyback had told him made it obvious that Greyback had known he didn't know, he could have told him spitefully at any time yet he hadn't…not until he'd pissed him off…perhaps he deserved it.

Did the others know? If they did why the hell would they give him the time of day? They knew now…would he be blamed for it all? Merlin he felt a hundred years old.

His life continued to go from bad to worse without reprieve.

"Remus! Remus!" Sirius shouted bolting over, skidding forward, causing the water to spray everywhere. "Oh Merlin, are you alright?" he asked in a panicked garbled voice, afraid to touch him, he was a bloody mess literally!

"No," Remus croaked in a broken voice.

"Hang on," Sirius said, conjuring a stretcher over Remus and levitating him, trying to get him back to their cabin as quickly as possible, getting him out of the rain so he could get him checked over. He thanked Merlin there was always potions lying around, so Remus wouldn't need to remain in pain until the injuries he'd sustained healed. "Why did you have to start with Greyback?" he groaned as he opened the door kicking it aside as he got Remus through the door. He would never win against Greyback he was so much stronger and more lethal than Remus. A sign of what a werewolf could become if they didn't use the published version of the Wolfsbane potion.

Damn I had been hoping to get another section of Harry and Severus in there at the end! but it's too late and I want to get something put up today! Severus has never been one to make a rash decision anyway, so i guess it will be the next chapter and perhaps a few days later just the two of them, since I've managed to get the others in for once, maybe have Dumbledore in the next chapter but hopefully just a small portion, I just need to figure out what he would do...now that he knows Harry's a vampire whether his tactics would change or if he would get a vampire of his own onside to try and lure Harry in that way! R&R