The Bonds That Tie
The days passed slowly since Harry came home from trial and reported that Albus Dumbledore had been found guilty of everything and sentenced to the rest of his life in Azkaban prison and shackled with the cuffs that blocked magical power. Harry did inform that Albus was out of the picture, for now, before going to bed early. It wasn't often Harry actually slept; he usually had to be weakened, but this time he claimed he was tried from restraining his temper. It was a peaceful night after that, and the next day, Harry was going to tell them all how it went, but called away by Sanguini and was gone for a couple of day with the vampire council. Apparently, there was a string of random people being turned by rogues and needed help. Harry was dispatched with other groups to locate the newborns and give them sanctuary with the coven, if they wanted it. Harry, despite being tired, stayed up to get things done for Sanguini. Files for the vampires turned and chose to stay with them, also reports of who changed them. It was imperative to stop these rogues because they were giving a bad name to all vampires. Harry hadn't come home since leaving Friday morning, but Harry used his link with Severus and Draco to make sure they knew he was fine and just handling vampire business with the coven. So now it was the 14th of July as everyone was waking up, except Draco and Severus, who didn't sleep, and coming together in the family room and the elves were serving breakfast to them, but animal blood for the two vampires.
Harry finally apparated home and appeared dining room. "Merlin, Harry…Way to give someone a heart attack." Ron remarked.
"Not my fault you jump at every little thing," Harry chuckled. "Everyone else is used to me showing up at random." Harry went over to his mate and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Hello, love."
"Hi. Home for a while this time, or just taking a break?" Severus wondered.
"Home until summoned again." Harry informed. "Sorry it took so long."
"What were you doing anyway?" Draco asked.
"Rounding up newborns." Harry stated. "There's been a string of rogues turning them, and newly turned vampires have a tendency to give into thirst when left to their own devices. We can't let them do that because it looks bad on the entire vampire community. San tasked me with finding them with the recruitment groups." He explained.
"Why you? Like, specifically?" Hermione questioned.
"Newborns are good at hiding their signatures, it's subconsciously done to hide out and the senior vampires can't track them easily. I got asked to go along because of my ability to see magic. I can see what the others don't, makes finding them just a tad easier. Then there is determining status of who was turned, who was left, who got killed. Offering a place in the coven, helping people through their transitions. Oh, and dealing with the ministry so they know it's not all vampires doing this. It's really quite the mess to clean up." He sighed.
"So that's what you've been doing for two days? Hunting newborns to help them?" Narcissa inquired softly.
"Sanguini takes command of all vampires in this country. We can't do anything about the rogues except try to capture, and talk them into stopping their behavior. When that fails, in most cases, the rogues have to killed. We can't have them running around do exactly what they have been. Changing people at random." Harry shrugged.
"Have you killed anyone?" Voldemort wondered.
"Me? No, no. If I'm anything in the coven, it's a tracker. I find things or people, be that rogues or information. I guess I'd be an emissary too, messenger or peace keeper between wizarding world and the vampire world." Harry stated.
"Didn't you say you were Sanguini's second?" Severus recalled.
"Unofficially." Harry corrected. "I'm an insider, work from the shadows. I find people or information. A link between worlds. I do work outside the group for the coven, trying to bring the worlds together. Sanguini wants me to be his second, but there's too much going on right now for me to go into full coven work. He won't make me his second until things are settled and I can devote my time to the coven fully. And even then, I won't live there with the rest of them." He explained. "The lone coven vampires such as those turned while their families slaughtered, or families who cast them aside live in the coven headquarters. Children, and those still in training, some who don't have homes. The others have formed little families of their own and live away from base."
"How many newborns did you all find in the last two days?" Hermione asked.
"Seven who wanted to be with the coven. Three who refused to finish the transformation and died. Two who killed a muggles by draining them. Two who tried to turn others." Harry sighed.
"How does the ministry feel about this all?" Lucius arched a brow.
"They understand they can't keep up with us, so Amelia's left it to my capable hands to manage. Muggles who died are found by muggle authorities and we hide the evidence of it being a vampire attack. Muggles who were almost turned get healed and obliviated of the event. The vampires who died, there isn't much we can do about that. It's their choice to allow the transformation or not. The ones who choose coven life are trained properly to handle schooling. There's a project in the works to create a magic school for dark creatures, a school prepared to handle their specific needs and prepare them to live in the world we do. We're trying to end the diversity." Harry informed calmly. "Sanguini has left that to me as I have to work with the ministry to do it."
"How goes things with us being free?" Bellatrix inquired.
"Because of this hunting people down two day affair, I missed the meeting with Amelia to figure out how things will be for all of you." Harry said. "But we're getting together sometime next week to discuss the situation. There's going to be lots of explanations and decision making among the Wizengamot and Magical Law Enforcement. I cannot guarantee everyone's freedom. I can assure safety, as I have…But not freedom. Not even my own. There's no way to say for sure what will happen when the truth comes out. All anyone knows right now is that Albus created Voldemort and I restored the Tom Riddle's sanity. Also, that Albus confessed to all he did, so he's been sentenced to the rest of his life in prison."
"Why wouldn't you be safe?" Draco asked.
"From criminal charges? It can be viewed quite easily that I joined the dark side. Dumbledore's manipulations on my actions only protect me so far. But everything I've done since becoming a vampire was not Albus's doing because he couldn't do anything to affect me." Harry remarked. "I've been using magic under seventeen, wandlessly, for about two years to avoid the trace. I've snuck off campus. I've attacked people. I am housing Death Eaters, and partnered with Tom Riddle, who everyone knows as Voldemort when I was prophesized to be the one to destroy him." He reminded. "There's no guarantee I'm safe from arrest, no matter how good the intentions behind such were."
"B-But you saved people." Hermione stated quickly.
"Doesn't matter. I still broke a bunch of rules to get it done, I don't know how that will be viewed." Harry told her. "You all should be fine, you'll return to school in September without problems. You did nothing wrong, and it's exactly why I told you not to raise your wands during the raid at the manor. You were at the manor, but you weren't fighting. That can easily be played off that you just came to visit me for an end of school year bash and got caught in the crossfire." He mentioned. "For everyone else, I can't guarantee anything. Severus is safe because of his position in the Order, it was known he was a spy and he no longer has the dark mark. It's known Draco is a vampire, that I turned him because of the curse Dumbledore shot at me that he took. No one outside these walls knows Severus is a vampire, and that we're soulmates. It's very up in the air right now, that's why everyone is in hiding. We don't need the public causing a ruckus about everyone going free until decisions are made."
"Hey, none of us are complaining." Rabastan chuckled.
"You're putting your neck out for us," Antonin nodded.
Harry finally sat down with them as they ate their breakfast, and Dobby brought Harry a small goblet of warmed animal blood to sip from. The meal was calm and everyone just chatted lightly. Eventually, they all ended up in the great room/ballroom. It was just bigger and Harry changed it easily with a wave of his hand to whatever was needed at the time. Right now, it was a large living room with a fire going even though it was summer time. Harry, Draco, and Severus always stayed in a place where the sun couldn't reach their skin as both learned how it felt to be burned by complete accident.
"So Harry, tell us…How did the trial go?" Narcissa asked.
"Yeah, you said you'd tell us Friday, but got called away." Bellatrix added.
"Went pretty average until I got put on the stand and made Dumbledore confess everything in a fit of anger that I wouldn't conform to what he believed." Harry shrugged. "All the teachers were there. McGonagall, Pomfrey, Hagrid, Sprout, Flitwick. Most of them were there by Albus's lawyer to defend him. And they did, until Minerva got up there and said that she felt things weren't right when Albus left me with the Dursley's. That she warned Albus they were the worst sort of muggles and Albus's only remark were that they were my only family left." He explained. "This is gonna take too long to tell you everything, so just hold hands. I'm gonna show you a new trick I learned…" Shrugging, but agreeing, everyone held hands as Harry connected his to Severus's and Narcissa's. It took a moment but soon, everyone was seeing the scene from the courtroom play out in their minds. It ended with Albus getting dragged out after Harry told him what he did about love being the power he had that defeated him.
Harry broke the connection by releasing Severus's and Narcissa's hands as they all came back to reality. "What the bloody hell did you just do?" Ron asked.
"I basically just let all of you into my mind to see my memories. That's the easy way of saying it. Most Legilimens need to make eye contact, I just need physical contact to project my memories to you." Harry informed.
"Neat…" Draco said. "You need to teach me all this."
"Takes a lot of practice, brother," Harry informed. "You still don't have your speed control down."
Draco pouted. "Harry, I've been meaning to ask…If you don't mind, of course?" Hermione began.
"Depends on the question," Harry told her.
"Before you created the portal from Malfoy Manor to here, you created some…Black fire. What was that? A vampire ability?" Hermione wondered.
"No, 'Mione. That was a spell," Harry remarked.
"I first thought of Fiendfyre, but the color was different and it was much more controlled. I know Fiendfyre is destructive and uncontrollable, so you wouldn't have used it." Hermione mentioned.
"It's similar to Fiendfyre, but was not. You are correct about that." Harry nodded. "What I used was a shield charm."
"That was a shield?" Pansy blinked.
"It burned Albus, though. Shields deflect, not burn…" Theodore stated.
"And the black fire? Was it a dark shield or something?" Daphne remarked.
"It was Protego Diabolica…" Voldemort said. "Am I right?"
"That you are, Tom." Harry replied calmly.
"Harry! That's a dark charm!" Hermione scolded.
"I'm well aware, but you tell me if Fiendfyre would have been better at that moment? You needed cover, and Fiendfyre would have burned the manor to the ground, along with anyone in its path. I needed strong and effective, not deadly." Harry told her.
"What's Protego Diabolica?" Astoria asked.
"It's a powerful, but dark, shield charm. The caster erects the flames to protect them," Hermione explained.
"But the flames will not harm anyone who passes them that does not wish ill intent on the caster. Those against him, will die if they try to pass the fire. Instantly. Those just burned by it will have those burns forever. No remedies remove the damage." Voldemort said calmly. "It allowed anyone on Harry's side of the battle, who were loyal to him alone, to be protected. Those who were not, suffered burns. It is very similar to Fiendfyre, but as Miss. Granger informed, much more controlled."
"Technically, it was still deadly if anyone tried to cross it…" Blaise commented.
"Notice I didn't let anyone cross it. Burn, sure…Not kill." Harry informed. "Moving on. Let's go you two, training time," He told Severus and Draco.
"What are we working on today?" Draco asked.
"The speed, for both of you." Harry remarked. "You have to get it mastered, Dray…Or you're gonna end up in a stone wall at Hogwarts in two months. Promise you, that between the speed and strength, you're going through the wall." He added.
"It's too hard, Harry. I have no idea how you mastered it right away, but you must be special." Draco muttered as he tried to take a step and flashed towards the wall, but Harry caught him by the collar and kept him from smashing himself into it. "See, it's hopeless."
"Dray, it's not that I'm special. I was determined to fit in, act like nothing had changed. So I put myself in human mindset. You need to do the same. You're too focused on the speed needing to slow. Once you get the feeling, you won't lose it. It'll come naturally." Harry told him calmly. "Close your eyes."
"Why?" Draco asked.
"Don't question me, just do it." Harry ordered. "You too, Sev. You struggle with it as well." His mate stood next to his godson and closed his eyes as told. Draco sighed and closed his eyes. "Stop thinking like a vampire, think like you did before you were turned. Pretend nothing changed. Act human, don't think about the vampire factor. You're still you." He coached. "That's what I did. Focused on still being me, so I wouldn't give anything away. It worked for an entire year and would have longer if Dumbledore hadn't ticked me off on my birthday last year. Don't think about being a vampire, don't think about the abilities. Focus on how it was before you were turned." Harry informed. "Pretend you're at Hogwarts, or the manor even…How it was before. How you used to walk normal, without trying…It was effortless. Remember that. Before." He paused. "Now, walk towards me. Don't open your eyes…"
Keeping their eyes closed, the males walked towards Harry slowly, as if hesitant babies learning to walk for the first time. "Good…Now, pick up the pace. Not a fast walk, just normal." Harry instructed. Draco and Severus were able to walk normally and stepped when coming into contact with Harry's hands. "Alright, open your eyes," He said as they did and then Harry moved over to the opposite side of the room. "This time, eyes open but walk to me just like had a moment ago. Don't lose the focus you just had, whatever images you were using." Once again, Severus and Draco made their way towards Harry at a normal pace. "See, it's not hard. You just have to remember before. Don't let being a vampire trick you into believing things have changed. You're still you, just some extra features."
"Okay, okay…Got it. Think like you weren't changed." Draco nodded. "What's next?"
"You learn to fight." Harry grinned.
"We have magic for that." Draco argued.
"You think so?" Harry asked, folding his arms over one another. "Alright then," Harry waved his hand around in a circle, creating a forcefield around the room to protect those sitting around. "It can be second year all over again, Dray. Pull your wand, throw any spell you like at me." He invited.
"Are you crazy?"
"Might be. Humor me, brother…" Harry urged.
Draco pulled his wand. "Ev-," Before he even finished the first word, Harry rushed him to knock his wand aside to the floor with a clacking and shifted to slide behind the newborn and put him in a headlock. "T-The hell?!"
Harry held him in place. "And from this position, you could have your neck broken and head popped off. Decapitation can kill a vampire. Or," Harry shifted to have Draco's arms pinned behind his back. "Stabbed in the heart with a silver dagger can kill you too." He added before letting his brother go. "You were disarmed and rendered defenseless in seconds flat. Such could have gotten you killed by wizarding vampire hunters, or even rogue vampires. Have you learned the lesson as to why magic isn't your best defense?"
"In battle with another vampire, you won't have a chance to use your magic against their speed?" Severus offered.
"Very good." Harry nodded. "I have a hunch on why the rogues are going turn crazy with muggles, wizards and witches. I believe they're trying to build and army of newborns, and if that happens, we're in for a hell of a fight. Your magic will help you in a normal duel, but not against another vampire." He informed. "Unlike normal armies of both muggle and magical creation, a newborn army doesn't need thousands, not even hundreds. Twenty-five would be enough to do some damage." Harry told his mate and brother. "Like I did to you, Draco…If a newborn got you into that headlock, they have enough force to just pop your head right off."
"Noted…" Draco replied.
"Magic only takes you so far. You have to know how to fight the normal way." Harry informed. "So with your speed and strength under control, we're moving into fighting. This is where speed is necessary, so is your strength and own ability to protect yourself. Newborns are driven by thirst and their human blood still lingering. Confusing time, mostly anger. They're fast and strong. You need to be faster, stronger, and smarter." He told the two. "What I've theorized is only that. A theory. Even if it doesn't happen, you need to know how to protect yourself against rogues. They pick fights pretty often...Despite rogue status, a lot of them travel in groups or create covens of their own, but stick to no rules. Unfortunately, against them…It's kill or be killed. I've never had to kill any of them, but there's been fights to be fought and once contained, the hunters take care of it."
"Would you, if you had to?" Ron asked.
"If there was no other choice, yes…I would." Harry admitted. "Now, let's go. Training time."
Unable to argue, Severus and Draco got ready to learn how to fight normal with Harry. The others really just watched from behind the safety of the barrier, but they couldn't follow it. The speed was incredible, only showing when Harry connected with the two, or just one. Though it was impressive to see him be able to handle Severus and Draco, both were newborn vampires, and Harry easily took them on. That must be why the training was so important, Harry could show them how it would be against newborns, while also showing how he protected himself from them.