The Bonds That Tie
The first month of school wasn't awful for Harry being a vampire. He got his peace and quiet living in the dungeons; it was cool and dark. Plus, he loved the green hue of the windows. Harry never wore his Gryffindor colors; he wore the plain black robes,, white undershirt, black pants, and shoes, gray vest, and the patch on his robes was the Hogwarts emblem. It made Dumbledore mad, but Harry told him that he refused to wear his house colors when his house clearly feared and hated him because of his vampirism. No one seemed to mind, except Albus and it got Harry summoned to his office tonight after dinner. It was currently October 3rd, 1996. Harry always sat with Slytherin for meals, and had a tendency to sit with them in classes-often pairing with Draco for potions. In other classes, Harry minded his own and actually got along well with Severus in Defense Against the Dark Arts and the potions master took everyone in Harry's class by surprise by always encouraging Harry. Severus said Harry had a natural talent for the subject and was very impressed with his defensive abilities. Harry found that he liked nice Severus, and definitely still wanted to drink his blood. Just the smell was arousing to him, but since Severus was pretty firm on not allowing Harry to feed from him; Harry continued from Draco, but not overly often like before. Once a week, maybe.
At the moment, Harry was headed to the headmaster's office and got in easily, finding that his teachers were all there, including Severus. Still, Harry remained calm and stepped forward through the doorway that had been left open. "You wanted to see me, headmaster?"
"Yes, Harry…Come in," Albus said.
Harry walked in more and stood before the desk, arms folded. "What can I do for you, headmaster?"
"Lemon drop?" Albus offered. "Tea, perhaps?"
"No, thank you." Harry replied.
"Have a seat?" Albus tried.
"I'll stand. Now, what do you want, headmaster?" Harry asked again.
"It's come to my attention that you aren't adhering to the dress code of the school. Your teachers have reported you wearing this outfit," He motioned to Harry's current robes.
"These were the robes I was required to purchase to come to school with in first year, Professor Dumbledore. I fail to see how they are not the dress code, as I've also read the rules and they only say student must wear black robes, pants, and shoes, along with a white undershirt and gray vest." Harry informed. "I've done nothing wrong by wearing these."
"You are not wearing your house tie, nor emblem and after sorting; that becomes part of your required dress," Albus remarked. "I will need you, tomorrow and on, to wear your Gryffindor tie and robes with the emblem of Gryffindor on them. I would prefer to see you back in Gryffindor tower as the dungeons are Slytherin territory, but I do not presume to think you will return there." He folded his hands together on the desk.
"You presumed correctly. I was moved to the dungeons because I am a vampire and the sunlight burns," Harry stated. "As for wearing the Gryffindor robes, I'm going to have to decline, Headmaster." Harry paused as Albus was displeased, Harry could sense it. "You see, I chose this ensemble because it provides neutral territory as a student at the school. As I am no longer staying in Gryffindor Tower, and the students there have abandoned me for my unwilling transformation into a vampire; I do not see reason to parade around as one of them."
"Be that as a it may, son-," Albus started.
"Do not call me that." Harry said in a firm, but still calm tone. "I am not your boy, nor your son. I would appreciate you not referring to me as either, Headmaster."
"Very well then, Harry…Despite your argument about wearing Gryffindor colors, I'm afraid I must insist and order it of you as headmaster. You were sorted into Gryffindor, and it is required that you wear your house colors." Albus stated.
"My house?" Harry asked. "I disagree," He added after a moment. "If I may quote Professor McGonagall for a moment; while you're here, your house will be like your family. Forgive me, Headmaster, but my house is currently treating me as if I'm an enemy who wronged them and would sooner and rather, see me dead." He informed. "If they are not treating me as family, I will not illude myself with false reality that they are my family." Harry continued.
"It does not change the house you were sorted into, Mr. Potter." Albus responded.
"The house I was sorted into was merely by request to be put with the people I'd made friends with, it is not the house I was truly meant to enter. Therefore, I do not believe I should abide by a false house." Harry enlightened. "If you believe I should wear my house colors, then I'll wear Slytherin. That is where the hat wanted me and how surprising that Slytherin students are the only ones accepting me as I am and part of their house. If what Professor McGonagall says is true, then my house is Slytherin because they are the ones treating me like family."
"No matter where the hat wanted to put you, it chose Gryffindor." Albus said firmly.
"I simply allowed Harry Potter to be placed where he thought he'd do best, with the friends he had made, at the time." The hat spoke from a shelf behind Albus. "It was not my decision at all, Albus." It added. "My decision was Slytherin. I'm overjoyed, Harry Potter, that you finally see what I did five years ago."
"My apologies for not believing you." Harry bowed his head.
"All forgiven, child," The hat gave a small bend of a bow back to him. "I saw your concerns of being in Slytherin, I understood why you did not want to be there…But you've seen now that you would have always been accepted by them because one thing the Slytherin house stands for is absolute loyalty." It informed.
"If you two are quite finished," Albus remarked. "Harry, you will wear your house colors of Gryf-,"
"He will not." The hat interjected firmly. "I've wanted to do this ever since second year, when Harry was in your office before you arrived and asked me outright if I believed I'd put him in the right house. Harry's doubts have been there for the last four years, and always playing at the back of his mind if he truly belonged in the lion's den. No more. As I did not sort Mr. Potter accurately as I do for all students; it's high time to put him where he belongs."
"You cannot simply change a student's house!" Albus stood quickly.
"I can because I am the one who sorts the students. Harry Potter was only placed in Gryffindor by his own admissions to wanting to be with the friends he made before entering the doors of Hogwarts. I sort the students, I made the decision where they go. Harry's current house is not where he belongs and it was not my picking. It was his, so I'm fixing it. You seems so keen, Albus, to force the boy into a place he is surely to be given trouble. You should want every student feeling welcome and safe." The hat said. "Harry Potter, I am resorting you. Slytherin." It announced.
"Thank you." Harry smiled, his fangs visible now.
"Let's see you truly thrive now." The hat nodded as Harry's robes changed, but only the emblem to that of Slytherin, then the green and silver tie.
"Welcome to my house, Potter," Severus said calmly. "I leave it to your decision if you'd like to stay where you are or move into Slytherin common room with the rest of your fellow snakes."
"I'm all set up where I am now, I'll remain there, Professor Snape. Thank you, though. I'm not far from the common room if I want to see them." Harry replied.
"Very true." Severus agreed. "Now, then…Is this meeting adjourned? The topic, I believe, was fixing the situation with Mr. Potter not wearing his proper dress? He's wearing his house colors now. I'd say the situation was remedied." Albus looked flabbergasted at what just occurred and Harry fought hard not to smirk at the sight. "Come along, Mr. Potter…I'll escort you back to the dungeons." Severus turned towards the door and Harry followed him.
. . .
"You risked expulsion by refusing Dumbledore's request, Potter." Severus said as they walked towards the dungeons.
"What's life without a little risk?" Harry shrugged. "Quoted from Sirius Black himself," He added. "He won't expel me, Professor; I'm his weapon against the dark lord, remember?"
"Indeed," Severus agreed. "He is going to try harder to get you to fall in line to his wishes."
"He can try until he gives himself a heart attack for all I don't actually care; it's not happening." Harry remarked. "But come on, tell me it was worth it to see the look on his face when the hat re-sorted me?"
"It was entertaining." Severus nodded. "Still be careful, Potter. Albus gives me the feeling that he's not someone you want to drive to desperation…You're protected from quite a bit as a vampire, but you're not invincible."
"I will bear the warning in mind." Harry assured. "Since it's not too late yet, can I go visit the others in the common room?"
"You may." Severus said.
Harry broke away from the man and headed to the wall where he knew the entrance to Slytherin common room was, spoke the password, and the door appeared to him. Harry walked through and then Severus went on to his private quarters.
"Harry!?" His friends said when they saw him walk in, and wearing Slytherin robes.
"Hey," Harry waved.
"What's all this?" Pansy walked around him, seeing the colors. "You're in Slytherin robes, Harry,"
"I'm in Slytherin now." Harry grinned.
"What?" Blaise's eyes widened.
"No way!" Theodore gasped.
"How'd you swing that, go back in time to six years ago when sorted and make sure it put you in Slytherin?" Draco chuckled.
"No, that hat re-sorted me." Harry replied.
"Seriously?" His friends asked together.
"Sit, tell us what happened?" Draco brought Harry to sit down on the couch with them.
Harry relaxed and told them of what went down in Albus's office, how the old man wanted Harry to wear Gryffindor colors and Harry refused to support the house that abandoned him. The hat jumped in and agreed that Harry was never meant to be in Gryffindor, always supposed to be in Slytherin.
"And that's it. My robes changed on the spot and Severus walked me back here, said I could hang for a bit." Harry shrugged some.
"Harry, you're a snake now, officially. You could come stay in the dorms with me and the guys…" Draco reminded.
"I know, but I chose to stay in my room. If I come here, Albus can access my stuff easily and tamper with it. I can't put the entire dungeons under the spell I used. It's not built for large scale," Harry explained. "It's fine, you can come see me any time I'm there. Or I can come hang here with you."
"True," Blaise agreed. "It's not like you're far."
"And we see each other during meals and in classes too." Vincent mentioned.
"Besides, I wouldn't want to keep you guys up all night with me not sleeping." Harry reminded.
"What do you do all night when everyone is sleeping?" Gregory asked.
"Usually my homework, or practice spells, or read." Harry replied.
"Your eyes, they're red…" Pansy stated. "Doesn't that…Usually mean you need to feed?"
"I'm fine," Harry informed.
"What have I told you about ignoring your hunger," Draco sighed.
"I'm not hungry, Dray." Harry promised. "Dumbledore aggravated me is all, seems to be his mission this year."
"As long as you're sure…" Draco replied.
The rest of the night was peaceful, Harry only stayed until 9:50 pm, then returned to his room to make curfew. Harry worked on his assignments for the next day, then grabbed a book to read until morning where the day began all over again.
. . .
Several weeks went by since that night, and it was now the talk of the school that Harry Potter had been re-sorted to none other than Slytherin. Everyone knew how close Harry was to them, and now, one of them. Some were beginning to come around to Harry being a vampire; it really wasn't that bad. Harry didn't bother anyone and he certainly wasn't going around sucking everyone's blood. In fact, most of it was surreal that Harry was even a vampire because he didn't look it. Aside the pale skin, Harry looked the same as he always had. Sometimes the fangs would show and that would be people's reminder that Harry was in fact, a creature of darkness. It didn't change his heart, though. Harry was still a good guy, who helped when and where he could. Draco was still the only person Harry drank from, and despite all the Slytherin's knowing that fact; they kept it private and to Harry's room for feedings. It was now Halloween as the castle was decorated like always. Harry loved this holiday because it was the time when he could be himself and no one would think otherwise; younger kids got to dress up as whatever and go around to classrooms for candy.
Harry wandered the halls aimlessly, passing the students who rushed by in their costumes. Harry saw little witches and wizards, that was ironic considering all of them were that by blood, and then there were the werewolves, zombies, ghosts, and vampires.
"It's amazing that they can dress up like this and no one says a word, but you're a real vampire and it's suddenly a problem." Draco mentioned to his brother.
"I know, but whatever. If it's one night where I'm not being looked at like I'm a monster; I'll take it." Harry admitted.
A group of kids rushed by and bared their fake fangs at Harry, hissing and giggling. Harry did it right back and they smiled wide. "Can you change into a bat?" One asked.
"I've never really tried," Harry admitted. "I'll work on it," He said as they nodded and rushed off.
"Looks like more people are coming around to you being a vampire," Pansy smiled.
"There's nothing to fear about me." Harry replied. "I keep saying that I'm still Harry Potter, just a vampire. Aside from having fangs, pale skin, and drinking blood; I haven't changed."
"It's just unreal to people that you would end up a vampire." Blaise offered.
"Unwilling. End up a vampire unwillingly." Harry corrected. "I didn't have a choice. If was finish the change, or die…"
"We know, Harry…You don't have to tell us." Draco put a hand on his shoulder.
"Harry…" Sirius's voice sounded from Harry's ring.
"Yeah, Siri?" Harry replied.
"I've been informed you're needed at the manor, if you can get there."
"I'll figure it out. Pass the message I'll be there at some point tonight." Harry replied.
"You got it, kiddo." Sirius responded.
"Now, how are you getting to the manor tonight? Only the teachers can leave the grounds during the school year, and only with Dumbledore's permission…" Draco asked.
"And how's Dumbledore ever gonna know I snuck out?" Harry glanced to Draco. "Don't worry about me." He reassured.
The group continued to walk around and the hours went by slowly. When dinner ended, Harry went right to his room to grab a couple things for tonight's escape from the castle. Harry waited until 10:00 pm, then he set out to leave the grounds quietly. It wasn't hard with his invisibility cloak. Harry went to the Whomping Willow, then he took the passage to the Shrieking Shack and once there, apparated to Malfoy Manor.
. . .
Voldemort had called on the death eaters for a meeting, of course, Severus came as well. Albus always let him leave when called because Albus believed that Severus was his spy into Voldemort's activities.
"We're all here." Lucius told Voldemort.
"We're waiting on one more," Voldemort stated. "He'll come."
"Who?" Bellatrix inquired.
"Potter," Voldemort responded.
"My lord, he's never going to be able to get out of the castle. You should have told me you wanted him, I could have brought him with me undetected because Albus never stops me from leaving when you call." Severus remarked.
"I have faith that he'll find a way." Voldemort informed.
"Your faith in my abilities is astonishing," Remarked Harry. "But don't give me too much credit, I have ways aside powers."
"There you are, Harry," Voldemort smiled, opening his eyes, but not seeing Harry anywhere. "Where the devil are you?"
"On your left," Harry pulled off his cloak.
"Potter, how on earth did you sneak out of the castle?" Severus demanded.
"I have my ways, Professor," Harry chuckled.
"Potter, I don't enjoy games…Now, speak or I'm taking house points." Severus argued. "And a detention!"
"Oh, me alone with you in a detention? Sounds fantastic as I'm due to feed soon and your blood to me is the muggle version of drugs. Don't threaten me with a good time, Professor." Harry smirked as Severus's eyes widened some, then he narrowed them at Harry. "Merlin above, you need to get that stick out of your ass, Severus…" Harry stated. "If you must know…I have an invisibility cloak and a map of the entire school, including its hidden passages out of it."
"You…What? You have a map of the school? How did you get in here? We never saw the doors open. And you can't apparate within Hogwarts walls. The wards don't allow it. Only the headmaster can." Severus said, surprised.
"There's no rules saying I can't apparate from the Shrieking Shack…" Harry replied.
"And how the hell did you get there?" Severus pushed. "Wait a second…You can apparate? Those classes haven't started yet. And you have to be seventeen to get the license."
"My apparition is off the radar. No one can register mine, it's part of my vampire abilities. The ministry laws can't touch that. Also, what part of I have an invisibility cloak didn't you hear me say?" Harry held the object up. "I've had it since first year, how else do you think I was able to sneak around the castle all these years?" Severus stared at him. "I put it on and literally walked out the front door, then across the grounds to the tree and took the passage under it to the shack."
"Show me the map." Severus ordered.
"You've seen it before. Technically…I believe you recall a certain bit of folded parchment that insulted you in third year?" Harry chuckled as Severus's eyes glared.
"So I was right!?" Severus stood up.
Harry laughed as he pulled it out of his robes and set it in front of Severus. "Indeed."
Severus put his wand to the map. "Reveal your secrets, map," Severus said. "Mr. Moony presents his compliments to Professor Snape and begs him to keep his abnormally large nose out of other people's business…" He read. "Potter!"
"Hey, I didn't make the map. Someone clearly didn't want you seeing this…" Harry smiled.
"Revelio," Severus tried again. "Mr. Prongs agrees with Mr. Moony and adds that Professor Snape is an ugly git."
"Do you give up yet?" Harry asked.
"I will not be beaten by a piece of enchanted paper!" Severus glared. "Aparecium…"
"This is mildly entertaining," Voldemort chuckled. "What does it say now, Severus?"
"Mr. Wormtail bids Professor Snape a good day and advises him to wash his hair, the slime-ball." Lucius read as he had glanced over. "Wormtail? But how…He's dead."
"Is it starting to sink in yet?" Harry asked Severus.
"Finite Incantatem." Severus tapped the map.
"Mr. Padfoot would like to register his astonishment that an idiot like you would ever become a professor." Spoke Sirius's voice clearly.
"Nobody asked for your interjection, Mutt." Severus growled.
"Tell me I'm wrong, Snivelly," Sirius grinned. Severus looked at the map and that's what it said. "Tell him, Harry,"
"I don't think I need too. The look on his face says it all; he knows you're Padfoot, Sirius." Harry informed. "Wormtail was Pettigrew. Moony is Remus and Prongs was my dad." Severus's eyes widened. "This is the Marauders Map, Professor. Charmed to insult you if you tried to open it with any spells."
"Would it insult someone who isn't him?" Narcissa asked.
"Dunno. Would you like to try, Narcissa?" Harry offered.
"No, I believe that its charmed to reject anyone who is not them," Narcissa admitted.
"Indeed, cousin," Sirius nodded.
"I think Professor Snape has been insulted enough and has earned the right to see it," Harry stated as he lightly took Severus's wand from him. "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." He said. Everyone was suddenly leaning closer in a group around the map to see it take form. "Messrs Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs; Purveyors of Aids to Magical Mischief-Makers are proud to present-THE MARAUDER'S MAP." Harry read off as the picture showed the Hogwarts castle.