The Bonds That Tie
About two months had gone by since school started up again and Harry just minded his own business. Harry would go to his classes and do the work; he would show up at meals and sit with his friends. Harry only saw Severus in classes or the great hall, the two basically avoided one another as it was clear to Harry that Severus still hadn't accepted things. Harry continued to let Severus have his time to settle with what happened between them, and just took care of himself. When it came to feedings, Draco still stepped up to help Harry, but it never held more than a day and obviously Harry couldn't feed from the man every single day. Animal blood was also useless, barely lasting three hours. Harry hated how weak he was becoming over needing Severus's blood, but he wouldn't ask the man for anything. There was already a big request on the table with Severus needed to accept that he and Harry were bonded and the not so secret one of them not being true mates until Harry changed the man into a vampire so that it could be a true life bonding. Harry spent his nights doing homework and reading up on whatever he could find.
Harry had also been using his nights to escape the castle and check out the places he inherited. He'd found all of them, except the Potter Manor one. That was proving difficult, but he wasn't giving up. There had to be a way to find the place. Harry also kept in contact with his creator, Sanguini. They messaged every few weeks. Right now it was around 8:00 pm on February 7th as Harry was sitting with his friends at Slytherin table. Harry was just relaxing with a book in his hands when his owl arrived.
"Hedwig," Harry stated as the bird landed on his arm and nuzzled his face. "Hello my girl." He greeted with a smile. The owl dropped the small note into his hand as Harry gave her a piece of chicken to eat while he checked over the letter.
Harry,
There's a meeting tonight and I would like for you to come with Draco, Nott, Goyle, Crabbe, Zabini, and Parkinson if you're able and they're willing. Their parents say they want into my circle. Oh, and tell Severus. I can't call him through the mark, so I'll need you to pass the message that he's required as well. If he doesn't bear my mark fine, but I need to know if he's with or against us. We're meeting at 11:00 pm at the manor.
-Tom
Harry grabbed a quill and flipped the note over to write on the back that he'd be there indefinitely, and would see about the others. Also, that he'd relay the message to Severus. Harry folded it up and gave it to Hedwig. "Take this back home, please?" Hedwig gave a small squawk and launched from his arm to head back out.
"What was that all about?" Pansy asked.
"Tell you after dinner, in my room." Harry informed calmly. "Meet me there at 9:00 and bring your godfather, Dray."
When the meal ended, Harry went right to his room and got his things ready for later tonight. As 9:00 pm him, Harry was sitting at his desk when there was a knock and he used his wand to open the door from where he was. Draco walked in first, then the group of friends.
"Oh, Harry!" Ginny called to him. "I need to talk to you!" She tried to enter the room and was met by a barrier. "Hey, the others got in."
"They were invited, you are not." Harry informed. "On your way, Ginerva,"
"B-But…" Ginny began. "I-I wanted to ask you if we could get lunch together in Hogsmead tomorrow? It's supposed to be a beautiful day, we could walk around and-,"
"And I could end up burning because of the sun, Ginny." Harry reminded. "I don't go to Hogsmead unless it's cloudy and I don't fancy wandering through the town in my cloak. Nothing screams death eater or dark creature like a hooded figure walking around."
"O-Oh…Well, we could always hang ou-," Ginny began again.
"Ginerva, get it through your thick skull that I have absolutely no interest in doing anything with you." Harry told her. Ginny went to speak again. "Not tomorrow, not the day after, not in a week, a month, a year…Read my cold, dead lips. I do not like you in that way. I do not want to be with you. We are not going to date and I am not marrying you. That contract was cancelled and not to mention, for the hundredth time…I AM GAY. I am only into males and to that, I'm already seeing someone and it's pretty serious right now." He stated firmly. "Now, GO AWAY." Harry snapped at her.
Ginny whipped up some tears. "No! You're supposed to be with me! Professor Dumbledore said we were soulmates and that we had to be together to save the wizarding world from the dark lord!"
"Meddlesome-," Harry sighed. "Ginny. No. We are not soulmates…" He assured. "Now, I'll thank you kindly to stop living this fantasy and move on with your life."
"This person you're with won't love you as I do. I've always loved you, Harry…And I totally accept you being a vampire. It doesn't bother me at all, I think it's cool. Does this person accept you as a vampire? Love you entirely?" Ginny tried.
"The person I am with does know I'm a vampire and does accept me as such. We've not yet reached the love stage in our relationship, but we're still in a serious one…" Harry said as he now saw Severus behind Ginny and wondered how long he'd been standing there. "I'm sure we'll get there with more time, right now, we're just taking it slow." He added. "You don't love me, Ginny. Frankly, I'm starting think your little girl crush on me skipped over full like and love and you've gone straight to infatuation. Your first mistake was believing anything Dumbledore says; he knows about as much as me as you do, which is nothing." Harry paused. "Now, I have people to see, things to do, and places to be. I will not waste any more time on you. Away with you and don't come back down here. There's no reason a little lion cub as yourself needs to be in the dungeon with the snakes." Harry used his hand to send her backwards from the door as Severus walked past the frame. "Goodbye, Ginny." Harry pulled the door closed before the girl could try to get inside again.
Harry rubbed his temples with his eyes closed. "You alright, Harry?" Blaise asked.
"I'm fine…" Harry informed calmly.
"So what was that message you got earlier?" Draco wondered.
"The dark lord wants to meet you all tonight, even though he knows you already Dray. Something about your parents saying you wanted to join his cause?" Harry remarked.
"Yeah, from all we've heard…That's the side we need to be on." Theodore nodded.
"Then I'll bring you with me tonight." Harry informed. "Severus, are you still on the dark lord's side? He asked me to pass the message that there's a meeting tonight and if you're still with him; he wants to know since he can't call you through the mark."
"I am." Severus replied. "How are you getting out of the castle? Dumbledore blocked your vampire apparition abilities, he said he did at the last meeting."
"Have you forgotten my map?" Harry arched a brow. "I get to Hogsmead and I can apparate anywhere."
"What about them?" Severus pointed to the other Slytherins.
"Who is good at reading a map?" Harry asked.
"Draco and myself," Pansy replied.
Harry summoned a folded rectangular object his nightstand drawer and caught it with his readied hand. "This is a special bit of parchment that belonged to my father, and his three best friends which were Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew. At least, Peter was before the betrayal. This is a map of Hogwarts with hidden passages within the castle. My dad and his friend mapped out the entire school during their time here, and this map shows everyone in the castle on it. Where they are, what they're doing at every minute of every day. It shows people in their animagus forms, those under invisibility cloaks, and who people truly are if they're under Polyjuice potion." Harry explained as he unfolded the map. "One passage is caved in, two are shortcuts within the castle, and the other four lead out of then castle and to places in Hogsmead." Harry informed.
"Wicked…" Blaise high-fived Theodore, Vincent and Gregory.
Harry put the tip of his wand to the middle of the paper. "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." Harry said as the ink began to appear on the paper.
"Woah…" The friends admired while the map unfolded itself to reveal everything.
"This map is the secret to my success of sneaking around the castle all these years." Harry stated. 'That and my cloak." He added, then pointed his wand at the map again. "Mischief managed." Harry said as the map refolded and went completely blank again. Harry floated it to Draco. "It's one of my most prized possessions…I'm entrusting it to you tonight to get yourself and your friends out of the castle and meet me at the Shrieking Shack. Harry then flicked the cloak at them. "It'll adjust to fit you all under it as long as you move together and stay silent. Get to the Whomping Willow at 10:30 pm. I'll already have it subdued to not be attacking when you arrive. Follow the path under the tree to the shack. I'll be waiting there for you."
"Will do." Draco nodded to his brother. "I won't let anything happen to these, Harry…Promise. But…How are you going to get out of the castle without the cloak?"
"I have my ways." Harry assured.
"I'll meet up with the others," Severus told Harry.
"No, you'll have an Order meeting tonight and Dumbledore will expect you present. I heard Dumbledore talking about it with Minerva at the dinner table. At 10:50, act like you're being called. Hold your arm or whatever you did in the past when the mark was there. When Dumbledore gives you the okay to leave, then go. Make it believable, we don't need him knowing your mark was removed, even less that it was me who did it." Harry informed.
"Alright," Severus nodded.
"Good, then go on until it's time. I have a couple things to do…" Harry told them as he turned to face his desk and pull out some things.
"See you in a couple hours, Harry," Theodore smiled to the vampire.
Harry nodded to them as they let themselves out of the room, though Harry heard Draco tell Ginny to get lost because Harry wasn't going to come around. Harry had to scoff at the girl's persistence; it was getting annoying. Harry saw that Severus didn't leave right away.
"Harry?" Severus said.
"You ready to talk about what happened?" Harry asked.
"N-Not yet…" Severus admitted.
"Then you may go, Professor." Harry stated.
"Harry, please just…" Severus tried.
"Severus. I have a lot of work to do…Please, if we're not gonna talk about what took place…Just go. It hurts less when we're distanced." Harry didn't even look over at him. "I'll be right here when you're ready to face the reality."
Severus sighed as he backed out of the room and left Harry alone, though Harry did hear Severus threaten to take points for hanging around where Ginny didn't belong at this hour. Harry refocused himself to what he was doing before. Maybe it was harsh to keep dismissing Severus, but it did either of them any good to not be on the same page when they talked. Harry accepted things, what else could he do? But Severus had to feel the same and he had to be willing. Maybe they'd never finish the bond, that was okay, but there was no breaking the bond that already formed. They would have to live with it until one of them died. Harry didn't want Severus's excuses; if the man had listened and left the room when Harry told him to then things wouldn't have ended up the way they were now.
Harry finished what he was doing and then put a protection on his things before going through the window into the great lake. Harry swam to the surface then turned into a bat to reach the whomping willow, where Harry cast Immobulus on it, then he shot into the passageway to make it to the shack. Harry left a medium sized white marble floating in the lower level with a note rolled up floating in front of it. This would be a portkey for the others, if he wasn't back in time to take them himself. Harry then apparated away to his next destination.
. . .
Harry appeared at the gates of a mansion and walked forward when the gates opened right away to allow him in. Harry reached the doors, which opened up into a gothic-style foyer. The whole place was lit by torches and seemed dark. Harry headed right for the main room where he saw a collection of other vampires looking at him.
"Harry, so good of you to come." Sanguini's voice hit Harry's ears.
"I'm on a tight schedule, Sang," Harry informed. "What did you need me for?"
"I wanted to welcome you to the coven, of course." Sanguini put an arm around Harry's shoulders. "Everyone has been dying to meet you, including the council, which you know I am head of."
"You told me when I first found you." Harry replied. "Again, let's make this quick...I got somewhere else to be at 11," Harry told the vampire.
"We'll try not to keep you, but this is a special night. I told you, it's a welcome into the coven, Harry." Sanguini told him with a smile.
"Why, after so long. You changed me almost two years ago…" Harry asked.
"The ceremony doesn't happen until the new vampire finds their way back to us. It has to be a choice to connect with the coven, or be a rogue. You sought me out of your own free will and requested I teach you this way of life. That is your willingness to accept us," Sanguini explained. "I tried to do it over the holidays, but you were busy with…Things."
"My life is a tangled mess of things, that's never gonna change." Harry muttered. "Very well…Let's do this then."
Sanguini nodded and led Harry to the center of the room and proudly stood behind him, hands on his shoulders. "Gather round, my children." Sanguini called as the group of vampires circled around them in a horseshoe. "It's been eighteen months since his changing and now I give you Harry Potter. Let us welcome our brother home into the family." The vampires clapped and raised their goblets of blood after Sanguini gave one to Harry. "It's human blood, warmed up." Sanguini told Harry, who had eyed it suspiciously. Harry raised his with the others, and then clinked it to Sanguini's before they all took a drink. "And now, it's time you receive your badge of the coven…" Sanguini revealed as someone approached with a square case in hand. The box was opened, revealing several pieces of jewelry that all had the same green gem and emblem. "You may pick whatever you desire to wear, Harry…They're charmed, of course. I'll explain more after you select one."
Harry saw a ring, bracelet, necklace and choker-like necklace. No one yet knew he had contact with his coven, so he should pick something that he could hide. Harry chose a ring, it was a rose-gold color with the emblem of the coven inside the stone. Harry slipped it on his left hand middle finger as the gem gave a faint glow. "Just like my lordship rings…" Harry mentioned.
"That was the acceptance of you into the Sanguis Latro coven and connects you to us. It means Blood Marauder. This ring can always bring you here, or us to you. It alerts me if you're in need of help and I determine if the rest should come. Consider it a bond to your coven, I can determine what you're feeling and make the call on what is needed." Sanguini informed. "The enchantments I spoke of are ones that are the obvious portkey to the castle, which you only need to activate by uttering the words Carpe Noctem, which means Seize the Night. To bring me to you, simply touch the stone with a drop of your blood and say either Auxilim for help or Veni, for come. If you need the whole group, just same Latrones Auxilim, which means Marauders Help."
"Okay, think I got it." Harry nodded.
"If we call you, the portkey shifts to bring you to us. You'll see the stone change to red and flash if there's trouble and we need you to come to us. All you have to do is speak the coven's name; it'll bring you to me, which is where everyone else will be. I already told you about the mind link. And know, Harry, that every vampire here is a witch or wizard and I believe I told you that we already excel in magic without a wand. We use them to keep our identities, those who don't know we're vampires, though you've been outed already."
"It wasn't an intention reveal, I swear…" Harry Said quickly.
"Relax, child…You're not in trouble," One vampire informed. "We told Sanguini that him turning you was a risk to all of us."
"I wouldn't endanger you…" Harry promised.
"No, Harry…We want you to help us come out of the shadows. You've seen how we're looked at, but you…Despite the rough start, have more acceptance in Hogwarts and even the ministry because of who you are. Becoming a vampire hasn't changed you completely. If people can see it through you, why not all of us." Sanguini told Harry.
"I mean, I'll do what I can to help bring you into accepted society…But I got a lot going on," Harry informed.
"We know and we promise to give you whatever help we can in your war." Sanguini said.
"Thanks," Harry replied. "Not much going on right now except gathering allies and information."
"Well, consider us allies then." A female vampire remarked.
"Now then…That ring will also latch onto your signature and let us know if you're in need of help and haven't summoned us. Such as needing blood and too weak to get it, we keep a stash here human blood for emergencies. We also have animal blood for casual get-togethers like this, but major ceremonies call for human blood. It's always virgin blood too." Sanguini explained. "Also! Almost forgot…" Sanguini summoned a potion to his hand and gave it to Harry. "We've developed a new potion for vampires who can't eat regular food. Drink it before meals and everything tastes as it should and allows you to digest it as if it were blood. It will not replace blood, Harry…But it lets us vampires eat normal food and make it digestible as if it were blood; it just doesn't give any of the nutrients we get from blood."
"That's…Pretty cool." Harry admitted.
"I'll get you the brewing instructions so you can make more when you want it." Sanguini offered.
"That would be great…" Harry smiled.
"I'll get you a copy before you leave tonight. Now, we've got some time…Would you like to meet everyone?" Sanguini inquired.
"I would," Harry nodded to the vampire.