The Bonds That Tie
Two months had passed since the day Draco Malfoy willingly went out of his way to help Harry Potter keep from going into a blood rage by letting the newly turned vampire drink his blood and then they made a deal that Harry could feed from Draco regularly to keep himself satiated. Their schedule kept pretty well, feeding three times a week and never too much; Harry didn't feel so anxious about things anymore, but being a vampire still scared him. Harry knew how things were viewed, and he could lose everything if found out. Thankfully, feeding regularly kept him strong to maintain his glamour charm at all times. Harry really did owe Draco his life, and that was weird to admit. The two were friends now, often spending time after feedings to chat and learn more about the other. Harry was glad the defense against the dark arts teacher for this year was gone because she'd been a pink nightmare, or so Harry called her. Dolores Umbridge, an undersecretary to the minister of magic, Cornelius Fudge. At the start of fifth year, it was revealed the ministry was watching things at Hogwarts and Dolores was an awful teacher, but no one could challenge her. Harry's first time landed him detention and writing lines with a blood quill that carved into his hand instead of parchment. And because Umbridge refused to teach any actual defense; Harry formed Dumbledore's Army with Ron and Hermione as co-leaders while he was the teacher. The group met several times a week in the room of requirement to learn from Harry how to use defensive spells.
They were found out and saved by Dumbledore saying that he orchestrated the group in anticipation to battle Voldemort soon. When the ministry officials went to take him to Azkaban; he vanished and Umbridge became headmistress. It didn't last because Fred and George Weasley took charge to get her worked up, but that's when Harry got the visions Sirius was in trouble. When Harry tried to get to Grimmauld to check in, Umbridge caught Harry and demanded he reveal where Dumbledore was; Harry didn't know and didn't care. Umbridge tried to use the Cruciatus curse on Harry and it didn't even work. Hermione then jumped in to talk about a weapon Dumbledore hid in the forbidden forest. All that resulted in was Umbridge dealing with Gwarp, Hagrid's half-brother, and a giant himself, then the centaurs. After that, Harry rushed back to the school to round of the best members of Dumbledore's Army to retrieve the prophecy. Harry learned of it, then all hell broke loose and ended with Sirius Black's death and the prophecy orb destroyed. Also, Voldemort showed up…Then Dumbledore. Those two fought, then Voldemort possessed Harry, but Harry fought back and the man vanished when the ministry arrived to see that he was indeed back. Harry had been quiet since then and it was only on the 18th of June. A week since the loss of his godfather.
Today was Sunday, June 23rd, 1996, and tomorrow marked Harry and Draco's last day of the fifth year. Harry learned that he had the power to destroy the Voldemort, and it was a power Voldemort knew not of. That's what the prophecy told Harry before it was destroyed because Lucius Malfoy, a death eater in Voldemort's inner circle, dropped it and that made it shatter. In the battle, Sirius took a blast from death eater Bellatrix Lestrange, and was killed. Harry was a mess and also angry, so far…His friends were kind enough to back off to let him mourn. Harry took refuge in the room of requirement and only looked up slightly when Draco slipped inside quietly.
"Hey," Draco greeted.
"Hi, Draco," Harry replied softly.
"I heard what happened. I'm sorry about your godfather, Harry." Draco informed gently, knowing Harry had to be hurting. Vampire or not; Harry could feel human emotions. "My aunt was aiming for you, or so she says."
"Bellatrix is your aunt?" Harry asked.
"She's my mother's sister and was Sirius's cousin if I recall the family heritage. My mom, Bellatrix, and their other sister Andromeda were all members of the Black family. Andromeda was disowned for marrying a muggle and having a half-blood child, my cousin-," Draco began.
"Nymphadora Tonks. Yeah, that much I knew. I've seen the family tree at the Black home…Sirius showed me." Harry sighed. "Sirius was technically disowned too, for getting into Gryffindor and running away when he was sixteen, not wanting to follow the families ideals anymore. He went to stay with my family, always being welcome with the Potter's…But since Sirius was the last male still alive, at the time, he inherited everything and left it to me." He closed his eyes sadly. "I wish Bellatrix had hit me…It's not like the killing curse would have killed me being immortal as a vampire."
"Well, there are ways to kill you…But magic won't do it." Draco shrugged. "And if she had, your secret would have been blown, Harry…"
"No it wouldn't have. Everyone would have just assumed I can survive that curse because of my mother's sacrifice years ago. Her love, or whatever Dumbledore told me why Voldemort can't hurt me." Harry muttered. "Anyway, let's just not talk about it…If that's alright with you." He asked gently.
"Just wanna cut this short and feed? I don't mind, I can see you want to be alone." Draco offered.
"I think I'll pass on the feeding tonight…I'm fine. I haven't had an urge to drink since Tuesday, honestly…" Harry admitted.
"That's…Good, Harry. Perhaps it's finally under control with the regular feedings over the last two months," Draco smiled.
"Maybe. But while we're on the subject…What about over the summer?" Harry inquired.
"Do you want me to come see you wherever you're staying to feed once a week or something? I don't mind," Draco suggested. "Or do you want to hunt on the muggles?"
"It's gonna sound weird, but I would prefer to stick to you…You've got good blood…" Harry confessed.
Draco flushed a bit. "I-I don't mind, Harry. How about we set up floo calling between my house and where you're staying? You can let me know when you need to feed? Then I can just pop over to your place?" He offered.
"I'm going to Sirius's place, I did inherit it from him. Dumbledore wants me at my muggle relatives, but I refuse to go there." Harry muttered.
"Muggle relatives?" Draco asked.
"Mother's sister…Dumbledore stuck me there when I was a baby after my parents died. Something about protective wards through my mother's sister." Harry shrugged.
Draco thought a moment. "Blood wards?"
"Yes, those." Harry nodded. "Dumbledore insists they can protect me from Voldemort attacking, but the old fool doesn't see that my relatives hate magic, therefore, hate me…I'm a slave in that house and the times I've gone out of the wards, Dumbledore shows up to remind me to stay in them."
"I've never heard you talk down on Dumbledore before," Draco blinked.
"He's controlling my damn life, has been for years…He decides everything for me." Harry growled.
"How you gonna hide out at the Black home if Dumbledore comes looking for you?" Draco questioned.
"I'm gonna leave something imbued with my magic signature in the house so he thinks I'm still there. I'm going untraceable." Harry revealed.
"Then don't use your wand." Draco informed. "That's how they track you while underage. And since you're fifteen forever now…I don't think you're ever getting rid of it."
"The trace cuts on my seventeenth birthday, regardless of where I stopped aging. If they knew I became the undead two months ago; they'd be on me already. So when my birthday hits in their records, it'll be removed." Harry informed. "Either way…If Dumbledore doesn't cut his crap out, I'll snap my own wand and leave them in the dark of where I am."
"How would you use magic?" Draco asked.
"I'm pretty proficient in wandless and non-verbal magic since becoming a vampire. I wouldn't need the wand and without it…They can't trace my movements." Harry stated.
"Just be careful," Draco told him. "Alright. So if you won't have access to a floo, how about I just tell you how to get to me? If you need to feed, or need help at all. You going off the radar is gonna get people scared and searches will be set off. Even if you're found out as a vampire, Dumbledore probably knows of the prophecy and you'll still be expected to fight him. Dumbledore would probably interpret that power you talked about having as your vampirism."
"Likely." Harry nodded. "Is it…Is it bad that I just don't want to fight anymore?"
"Not at all, Harry. You've fought every year, for others…Never yourself. I wouldn't want to keep doing it being seen as only a weapon." Draco admitted.
"So you see it too, that I'm just the weapon against Voldemort?" Harry asked.
"Pretty easy to see." Draco replied. "Anyway…I'll be at Malfoy Manor all summer. It's unplottable, under a Fidelius charm, and warded heavily. I'm one of the secret keepers. However, you feeding off me as often as you have has inadvertently keyed you into the wards. Basically my blood and energy signature is most of your diet, so the wards will let you right in and you'll be met with one of the house elves. Just ask them where I am and that I'm expecting you; they'll take you right to me. To get there, use Leaky Cauldron, it's connected to our floo and you can just go right to my room for that. I'll know when you arrive there and come right to you. All you have to say is Draco's Room at Malfoy Manor,"
"Got it…I appreciate this, Draco…" Harry smiled a bit.
"You're my friend, Harry. I'll do all I can to help you, same as I would for the rest of my friends." Draco told him. "I'll leave you be for now. And probably see you sometime over the summer."
"Probably. Thank you, Draco." Harry told him.
Draco nodded and left the room as Harry sighed. He needed to think, and he needed to be alone for a while to mourn his godfather. Harry put his head down on his arms, closing his eyes.
. . .
Nearly a month had passed since Harry left Hogwarts on June 24th. It was now July 31st, what would be Harry's 16th birthday. Harry had stayed with his muggle relatives until July 25th, then Dumbledore allowed Harry to go to the Weasley's for two weeks, for his birthday celebration. Harry was happy to see Ron and Hermione, along with the rest of the Weasley's. Harry was surprised his thirst/hunger had stayed where it was. So far, it was holding; maybe it was all about just not denying himself what he needed. Harry would probably never know without the person who made him what he was explaining things.
Harry woke up early today, his birthday, and made his way downstairs for breakfast. He was wished a happy birthday, getting a hug from Hermione, Ginny, and Mrs. Weasley, or Molly rather. Harry had a warming charm on so that no one freaked out over his cold skin. It was a great day and Harry wished he wouldn't have to go back to the Dursley's, but Dumbledore was adamant. Harry hadn't been able to get away with his plan to stay at Grimmauld, Dumbledore told Harry he'd reinforced the wards to reflect if Harry himself wasn't in the house and alert anyone from the Order of the Phoenix about him leaving; they'd be dispatched to find and return him. Harry just minded his own at the Dursley's, and they seemed to know he was different, so they left him alone. As dinner time came around, Dumbledore showed up to talk to Molly and Ginny, and the rest were all doing something Harry hadn't known. So Harry just relaxed in the main room with a book.
Finally, Harry saw Molly and Ginny emerge from the room they had been talking to Dumbledore in. Ginny went right over to Harry, smiling gently and hugged him.
"What was that for?" Harry asked.
"It's your birthday, silly boy." Ginny told him.
"Right…" Harry said. It felt odd to him. Something felt really off; his senses were telling him danger but he didn't know why.
"Harry, can I have a word with you?" Albus asked.
"Sure, Headmaster," Harry replied.
"As you know…Pure-blood families deal in arranged marriages, and I'd like to inform you that tonight, I sat down with Molly and set a contract for you and Ginny to marry once she's of age. Isn't that wonderful?" Albus beamed.
Harry stared at the man. "You…What?" He asked.
"I'm your magical guardian, Harry. The Dursley's have custody over you, physically, because of the blood wards…But I'm your guardian that decides everything else. Since…Sirius left us too soon. He named me to care for you and I think getting you set for the future was best." Albus informed.
"But…I don't like Ginny, not like that anyway. A sister, sure…But not a lover, Professor," Harry informed. "I feel for her about the same I feel for Hermione. A good friend, like family, but nothing romantic-wise." He added. "Could you just…Cancel that contract, sir. It's not needed."
"Contracts are binding, my boy. I cannot simply cancel. Only under extreme circumstances would it be broken…Maybe you don't feel that way now, but you will, Harry. It's still two years off," Albus smiled.
How…How dare Dumbledore do this? Magical guardian? No way. Harry saw Sirius's Will himself and it stated that guardianship went to Remus Lupin. "I'm afraid you're wrong, Headmaster. You're not my guardian, Remus Lupin is. I saw Sirius's Will myself, where he left me everything, including my guardianship to his best friend." Harry said.
"That was revoked because of his condition, Harry. I assure you, all is legal…" Albus said. "Now, I'm sure you're surprised but this is what's best for you. Once you complete the prophecy and Voldemort is gone, you'll have graduated Hogwarts and gone into being an Auror, just as you planned. Then you'll settle down, have a family of your own." He said. There was that feeling again, one of foreboding danger. Harry didn't like it, Dumbledore was trying to do something to him; he felt it in his core and all his senses told him to flee.
Harry's eyes narrowed some. "I won't do it," Harry refused.
"You have no choice, my bo-," Albus started.
Harry shot to his feet, now angry as a wave of magic was felt by all residents. "I am not your boy, Dumbledore. You are neither my father or godfather, stop trying to step where you don't belong. I don't care what that contract says, I don't agree and I will not do it. You cannot make me. This is my life, not yours. Know your place, old man…"
"Harry James Potter!" Molly screeched. "You will not speak to Albus that way, he's been very good to you."
"Good at running my life for me," Harry growled, making her jump some at the feral sound that just emitted from Harry's throat.
"I am your guardian, Harry. I'm sorry if it's not what you want, but I am so I make the decis-,"Albus started.
"YOU DO NOT CONTROL ME!" Harry raged as Albus was blown back. "This is your only warning, Albus…" Harry used the man's first name as all residents in the house gasped, now gathered to see what was happening. "I am not your whipping boy and I refuse to do anything further that involves you as anything other than my headmaster at Hogwarts. That is all you are to me and if you do not cease your pitiful attempts to take over my life…I will go right to the ministry with your crimes of leaving me with an abusive family. Surely the ministry frowns upon their world's precious savior being left in the hands of muggles all his life, and abused and starved by them and it was knowingly done by Albus Dumbledore, who ignored the pleading to not be sent back." Harry glared at the man, who was still in shock of Harry blasting him back. "I'm sure that not even your power would be enough to save you from Azkaban for child endangerment and neglect." Harry paused. "Furthermore, Albus…If you do not back off, I will snap my wand and leave you and everyone else do deal with Voldemort alone. Let's see how you fair without your savior."
"Awful high and mighty, mate…" Ron commented.
"You were there, Ronald. You, Hermione, and even Ginny…Were there and heard what it said. I am the only one with the power to vanquish the dark lord. Not Ronald Weasley. Not Albus Dumbledore. Me…So keep pushing and I'm gone. Snapping my wand ensures you can't trace me, even though I'm underage until next year." Harry threatened.
"Harry, you will stop right now. This is no way to-," Albus started, and Harry's eyes flashed red and the man shut his mouth.
"You don't control me anymore…" Harry told him. "Whatever bloody spell you tried to put on me just now to make me agree didn't work. I felt it…You were trying to use a compulsion charm, weren't you?" Albus didn't speak at first.
"Of course not, Harry," Albus told him.
"Yeah, keep lying. Maybe one day you'll realize your own delusions." Harry snarled.
That's when everyone saw it. The glamour had dropped. Everyone could see Harry Potter standing there pale, with red eyes, and fangs.
"You're a-a vampire…" Ginny whimpered.
"That I am…" Harry remarked.
"But…How? When?" Hermione asked.
"Last year, just a day after I turned fifteen. I've hidden it well, but I guess when I'm angry enough…The spell I used drops so that people can see who they're dealing with." Harry replied.
"Harry…" Ginny bravely walked towards him. "We can get past this. I can…Accept you like this and we can be happy together," She continued, touching his face and flinched at the coldness. "Just…Relax," She stared into his eyes.
"It's never gonna work out, Gin." Harry told her. "Sorry. You're like a little sister to me, same as Hermione…I feel and smell your fear, you wouldn't be happy." He revealed. "Not only that, but if my guardian had taken the time to talk to me instead of control my life to be his damn weapon; he might have learned that I'm gay."
Everyone's mouths hung open. "Y-You are?" Ron asked. "You're a vampire and gay…I don't even know who you are anymore."
"You never did, Ron. Maybe you were genuine on the train in first year, but the moment you realized I was Harry Potter…That's all it's been about. You've shared in my victories and you've gotten jealous of my fame…That I only got because I'm orphaned." Harry stated. "Now…I am done with this. I stand by what I said, Albus…You are nothing more to me than my headmaster and if you should attempt to interfere in my life again…You will be sorry you ever crossed my path. Those of you with me, you will be safe from harm. Those against. The threat applies that I gave Dumbledore. You can let me know at your own convenience." Harry informed.
Without another word, Harry vanished on the spot.