The Bonds That Tie
Harry spent most of his night talking Sanguini and hanging out with others from the coven; it was nice to have a group that he could relate to entirely. Regrettably, Sanguini didn't have any notions on what to do about the piece of Voldemort's soul residing inside Harry, but promised he would do some research of his own and find what he could on removing it as the method Harry used on Nagini would not work. Harry returned to Hogwarts that night a little before the sun rose and got himself ready for classes. Harry wasn't looking forward to Defense Against the Dark Arts, but it was required of him to take as a core class, just like Potions, Charms, Herbology, and Transfiguration were. The week passed pretty quickly and Harry was enjoying the fact Ginny had gotten the message to leave him alone. He sincerely hoped it stayed that way too; he really didn't want to have to resort to getting a magical restraining order. Harry still hadn't figured out how to talk to Severus, it seemed like a hopeless cause, but they couldn't leave things as they were. Harry couldn't block the bond forever, as Sanguini informed. Then there was the fact Harry would need to feed soon too. Of course, Harry was still good friends with Draco and the others; they respected him enough to not bring up the situation from the manor and Draco only promised Harry that it would be okay.
As always, Harry maintained his grades at O level and spent his nights studying or researching. More than a few times, Harry would head down to the Chamber of Secrets and spent hours going through Salazar's library. Harry wasn't particularly looking for anything, just wanting to learn what he could. As a vampire, his memory was practically photographic and he only needed to see things once to remember them. Harry had also spent a lot of time getting what he wanted from his other properties and dropping them off at Malfoy Manor into his room completely undetected, though, if it was early enough and he saw everyone; he'd stay and sit for a bit. Nagini constantly wanted to sit with him and Harry got a kick out of Voldemort seeming sour puss about being forgotten. Harry had also begun the process of selling the properties he no longer needed access to back to the bank once they were cleared out. Right now, Harry only had Potter Cottage and Potter Castle left that belonged to him, and of course, the Chamber of Secrets. Harry was working at taking things out of there, though. Next year was his last one at Hogwarts and then he doubted he would be allowed back inside the halls. Plus, he couldn't tell anyone about what was down in the chamber.
Harry just needed to figure out where to put everything because he was literally running out of room at the manor. The Malfoy's had given him use of the basement too, since Harry told them what he was doing and promised it was only temporary. If he managed to find his family home, he would move it all there and keep it much more organized than it currently was. Harry still hadn't had luck finding Potter Castle, but wasn't giving up. Harry just needed time to actually trace back his family history and he couldn't with everything else he had to do. Since he used his nights at school to move things, and do homework; it wasn't happening while school was in session. He might have an easier time over Easter break, or the summer. Harry had been keeping a notebook with every place he'd tried, and all matter of potential activation words he'd attempted with the ring potentially being a portkey. Today was the 24th of February, a Monday, and classes had just let out. His last of the day was Defense Against the Dark Arts, and he was packing up his things to leave and return to his room; he'd probably get started on his homework that way it wouldn't interfere with his plans tonight. Harry spent nearly every night moving things to Malfoy Manor and searching for his family home, then there were the random nights he just researched.
"Ready, Harry?" Draco inquired as he walked next to his friend.
"Just about." Harry responded.
"Mr. Potter, I'd like you to stay behind…" Severus spoke up.
"What for, Professor Snape? I have no missing assignments, my grades are sitting at O's." Harry stated. "If it's all the same, I'd rather just get to my room to start my homework for tomorrow…"
"Harry, please…" Severus dropped the formality with the last of the students out, aside the Slytherin's. "I just want to talk. Let me explain things from last week."
"Severus, I do not want to talk right now. I have a throbbing headache, and I have work to do." Harry informed. "I gave you your time to settle with and accept things when you learned we were bonded. Now, I'm asking for my time to settle with and accept the fact you kept something major from me about my life. My life gets threatened all the time. The life I keep fighting for. Have turned into a vampire to continue living. My life. And you kept the fact I'm a bloody horcrux from me and Dumbledore has been plotting my death since my parents died. There's nothing to explain unless you want to tell me why you didn't tell me right away. That's big. That's huge. And you knew for a full week, only deciding to speak up when the matter of questioning why a second piece of Voldemort's soul was missing. How did you think I would react, Severus? I'm pissed, okay. Pissed off, betrayed, and hurt that someone I used to look up to has been trying to kill me for years. That someone I call an ally and happen to be bonded to lied to my face." He remarked. "So I need time to get over that. When I'm ready to talk, I'll let you know."
Severus only nodded to Harry, accepting his answer and understanding that he'd messed up and Harry needed time to cope with the information and feelings. If nothing else, it allowed Severus to see that Harry was willing to talk to him, just on his own terms. Harry left the room with his friends following and Draco held back.
"Hey, it'll be okay, Uncle Severus." Draco promised. "Just give him a little more time." The blond teenager then left the room to follow his friends.
What choice did Severus have? If he wanted to fix this, he needed to give Harry his time. So that's what he was going to do, for now. Eventually, Harry would have to come to him to feed, wouldn't he? Severus knew Harry could still drink from Draco, anyone really, but it wouldn't be as good as his. It wouldn't satisfy like his would.
. . .
About a month had gone by. It was Saturday, March 22nd and students were all deboarding the Hogwarts Express at King's Cross to meet up with their parents or legal guardians and head home for the two week vacation. Harry needed to feed, but as it had been since the fight with Severus; nothing was better than his blood and what a turn of events that the man had elected to take the train to London as teacher supervision. Harry felt like it was time for them to talk; he'd calmed down and used his time wisely. There was no doubt in his mind that Voldemort was going to hold a meeting when they go back, despite the fact it was about 7:15 pm and by the time they got settled; it'd be later. Harry was also supposed to meet with Sanguini at some point, but might have to put that off.
"Tom calling a meeting?" Draco asked.
"Of course. I'm sure you can let the others know?" Harry wondered.
"Probably. Why? Where you going?" Draco asked.
"I need to find Severus and feed." Harry stated as he glanced to his hidden ring on his finger that had started glowing a dim red. Harry had put a glamour on it after leaving the coven's castle, but he could see through easily.
"I think he's doing a final check over inside the train to make sure no one fell asleep or gets left behind." Draco informed. "Shall I tell mom and dad you'll be late?"
"Please? See you in a couple hours." Harry stated.
"Couple hours? It takes you minutes to feed?" Draco reminded.
"I have a couple things to do afterward. I'll be home soon, Dray." Harry informed.
"Why do I feel like you're keeping secrets, Harry?" Draco questioned.
"I'm not." Harry remarked.
"Yes, you are. You always have other things to do, and nobody knows what. Like after you and Severus bonded, you were gone four days and said it was the bank, but you weren't there for four days. You said you had other things to do. Learning how to shift into a bat, you did it so flawlessly that night at the manor. Making windows disappear on the train to get inside, even being able to catch up with it? What's going on, Harry?" Draco demanded.
"Nothing is going on, Draco. I spend a lot of my time researching, training…" Harry replied.
"Harry…" Draco folded his arms over one another. "I'm your brother, you can tell me what's happening. Are you in some kind of trouble? You trust me, don't you?"
"Of course I trust you, Dray." Harry said quickly.
"Then talk to me…Why do you keep running off and not telling anyone what's actually going on?" Draco pushed.
"Dray…" Harry paused. "Just…Please understand there are things I can't tell you. Don't push the issue…I need you to trust me too." Harry then hurried off to catch Severus as he was heading to cross the barrier. Draco blinked at what Harry said. So there was something and Harry just couldn't say? He still wanted to know, but Harry seemed defensive and panicked about being cornered. Draco would back off for now, but he wasn't letting this go.
Harry followed Severus as he ended up a side room inside King's Cross. Harry went into the room as Severus was about to leave. "Wait…" Harry stopped him.
"Harry? Why are you doing in here? I thought you'd left with the Malfoy's already," Severus said quickly.
"I told you I'd find you when I was ready to talk. We're just not having that discussion here, nor right this very moment. I do, however, need to feed…If that's alright with you?" Harry said calmly.
"I honestly had been wondering when you might come and ask…But we're not doing it here. There's too many people…Do you want to go to my place?" Severus questioned.
"That's fine with me." Harry agreed. "I can side-along with you, since I've never been to your place before."
Severus offered his arm to Harry, who accepted the appendage by linking his own around it. With a tug at the naval, they were gone with a whoosh and crack.
. . .
Harry and Severus landed in an alleyway between two brick buildings. Harry looked around, it seemed like an industrial neighborhood.
"Where are we?" Harry asked.
"Spinner's End, Cokeworth," Severus stated while leading Harry around to the front of the building. Once they were inside, Harry took sight of the staircase heading upstairs, but off to the left was a sitting room, then behind that was the kitchen. It reminded him of Grimmauld Place and how much he missed Remus and Sirius. All the hanging out they missed out on because of how things went in life. Harry got turned into a vampire, Sirius got killed. Look at his life know; it really was a mess. "It's not much, but home, I suppose." Severus shrugged. "Come on, let's get you fed. Do Lucius and Narcissa know you're with me? Though, I'm sure they don't care."
"I told Draco I needed to feed, I'm sure he'll tell them." Harry stated as he followed Severus into the sitting room, then on the couch.
The vampire moved himself into Severus's lap and straddled his legs. Harry leaned in and kissed Severus on the lips and the potions master returned the action as Harry kept his hands on Severus's shoulders, deepening the kiss and then his fingers shifting to start undoing all those annoying buttons. Harry could have shredded them, but decided to take it slower this time around. The boy easily opened the jacket and Severus leaned forward so Harry could push it off and then down his arms. The teenager then began working on the buttons to the white shirt and repeated the same action, only Harry didn't remove the article of clothing entirely, just loosened so he could clear the neck. Harry broke the kissing to move his lips along Severus's cheek, then let a fang graze over the older male's ear, leaving him to shiver at the feeling. Harry kissed down the side of the man's neck until he found the sweet spot and licked over it.
"Do you trust me?" Harry's breath ghosted over Severus's neck.
"Yes…" Severus replied.
Harry lowered his mouth and Severus felt Harry's fangs graze his neck, then finally pierce down. Surprisingly, Severus didn't even feel the prick this time and relaxed while Harry drank from him. The feeling was extremely pleasurable for them both, but eventually, Harry stopped drinking after about three minutes and withdrew his fangs before pulling back and looking at his mate.
"Dear Merlin…I can't tell if I hate or love the fact it's so enjoyable." Severus sighed out.
"I'm going to safely assume you love it," Harry chuckled as he climbed off the man's lap. "Now, come on…Tom wants a meeting; he's already got everyone else summoned." He added as he stood and helped Severus to his feet. "We can talk later up in my room, or come back here. Up to you."
"Your room is fine, since we'll already be there." Severus agreed. "Ready?"
Harry saw his coven ring flash and heard Sanguini saying they needed help in his head. Impeccable timing, but he couldn't ignore a call from his creator. "Second thought, you go ahead to the manor. I'll be behind shortly. I forgot a book at the school that I need." Harry informed.
"Alright. See you soon then," Severus nodded.
Harry fingered his coven ring unsuspiciously, flipping it around so the top of the ring was turned into his hand and he closed his fist around it, uttering the coven's name in mind; then he was gone in a flash. Severus went ahead to the manor via floo travel.
. . .
Severus walked out of the dining room fireplace and saw the group assembled at the table and he walked around and took his seat next to Lucius. Draco was between his parents, and the other students were sitting next to or between their own.
"Severus, welcome," Voldemort greeted.
"My lord," Severus replied.
"Where's Harry? I was informed he was with you by young Draco," Voldemort questioned.
"He said he needed something, a book, that he forgot at the school and would be here shortly." Severus answered.
"Sounds like another excuse to me," Draco muttered.
"What do you mean?" Narcissa asked.
"I feel like Harry's keeping secrets about something," Draco responded.
"Why do you feel he's hiding something?" Severus pushed.
"Earlier, Harry told me he was going to find you to feed…Then said he'd be home in a couple hours, to let mom and dad know. But…I know it doesn't take Harry more than five minutes to feed, so why would he not return for a couple hours?" Draco mentioned. "I thought maybe it's because you two were gonna finally talk, or end up having sex. That was, at least, until you've just shown up here alone without him and it's only been about fifteen minutes since you left the station. Moving on, when I persisted the matter, he told me to understand that there were things he couldn't tell me. Then he ran off to find you." He explained calmly. "And with you? The two of you were together, why not come together for the meeting? He could have gotten back into the school any time, why did it have to be right now?"
"You've been thinking about it for a while, Draco. You mentioned to us in the common room all the time that it seems odd to you how often Harry takes off and just says he has things to do." Pansy agreed. "Sadly, I have to agree."
"I wanna know how he learned to turn into a bat." Blaise stated.
"That was one of the things I brought up. Before Christmas, he had no idea where to even begin with it. But when he landed here that night in February; he did it so perfectly like he'd been training with the ability." Draco said. "I don't know and I have no ideas on what it could be…But for Harry to say he can't tell me, means there's something he isn't allowed to say…"
"Perhaps we can ask him when he arrives. I can't delve into his mind; it seems to be blocked. Is that you, Severus?" Voldemort asked.
"No," Severus shook his head. "I can't even feel his emotions; I'm blocked too."
"I wondered if he's mastered Occlumency," Bellatrix offered.
"I haven't taught him yet. We argued last month, so he's been avoiding me other than classes. " Severus informed.
"And the day you tried to talk to him, he told you he'd let you know when he was ready to talk." Draco reminded.
"He told me tonight before he took off that we'd talk after the meeting." Severus remarked. "Also, godson…Question for you?" Draco arched a brow. "Harry's never fed from your neck, has he?"
"The neck? No. Always my wrist." Draco responded. "Why?"
"Cause he fed from my neck tonight. Hell, I think the marks are still there…" Severus tried to reach for the spot, finding the indents.
"Also odd because he normally licks the wound to close it." Draco thought about it. "Harry told me the only time he went for the neck was on that random muggle he fed from after being changed. Something about it being a weak point and easier to sneak up on someone." He paused. "Did he drink from behind? How did it feel?"
"No. Sat right in my lap," Severus admitted. "And why does that matter?"
"Did he do that the night you two bonded?" Draco wondered.
Severus shifted a bit. "He…Bit a lot places that night…" The man mumbled.
"Biting on the neck has been compared to being kissed on the neck, which is supposed to feel good and kick up arousal during sex…Though some couples, not vampiric, enjoy that kind of thing in foreplay. So if he was biting your neck, I assume that he was going for a more intimate level of feeding." Draco sat back, arms folded.
"Explains the kissing beforehand…" Severus remarked. "No matter. I was only curious."
"Curious to find out if that was the signal he was gonna fuck you into the mattress," Draco grinned.
"Draco!" Lucius and Narcissa admonished their son's forwardness.
Severus glared, but was also trying to hide the blush. If Voldemort hadn't called the meeting, assumingly through the link he and Harry had, who knows where things could have gone between them. Severus wanted to know; he hadn't wanted it to stop earlier. The feeling had been incredible. Maybe he could ask Harry tonight when they talked? He would; he wanted to know…If Harry knew the answer.
"No matter, we'll begin without Harry. I didn't need him specifically, but I do keep him included. Severus, we'll start with you. Anything new from the Order?" Voldemort asked.