I didn't get there by wishing or hoping for it, but by working on it.

The Purpose, Rewritten, Chapter 22 Renewal

July 16, 1945

Anton felt sick and vomited the blood he had swallowed a few hours earlier. Gellert's laugh echoed in his mind. Disgusted by his attitude, and the taste in his mouth, he whispered several curses and looked where the portkey had taken him.

"There is a house, two streets away. I don't believe the Aurors found it." Gellert said through his thoughts. "But I want you to go straight to the blind pig bar. If there is anyone who will know if Vinda Rosier and Normand Abernathy are still alive, it is Gnarlak.''

Anton watched the cars pass on a street further. He shivered and sniffed the heavy, damp air. He was no longer in the deserts of Egypt. He put a hand on the brick wall and walked quietly. The streets were crowded, and the hubbub could have drowned out any sound of his appearance.

"You are in an alley. Still glad you don't have your ridiculous red hair color anymore." Gellert said.

Anton growled. Gellert had changed his appearance, such as his hair color to black, and he had cut it, then gave him clothes where he would go unnoticed on the streets of New York. He hugged his long coat tightly as the rain began to fall lightly.

He followed Gellert's directions until he came across a poster of a woman.

"Let me in, please." Anton muttered changing his eyes to black.

The woman's face nodded, and the door opened for a brief moment as he slipped inside. He saw parchments of criminals of all kinds on the wall and Grindelwald's face could still be seen as wanted, but they were dangling, or half torn.

The jazz music was loud, and the pub was packed. He felt Gellert surveying the scene through him. His presence was stifling, and he tried not to think too much. He made his way to the bar where a goblin was serving several people at the counter. When the goblin saw him, he approached and climbed on a stool.

"Hey, your eyes… are you a vampire? You are new here. We don't serve blood, man. Your kind does not come here enough to be kept. You're free to try your hand at the clientele, but if you cause trouble, you'll be out.'' Said the goblin.

Anton nodded.

''Of course. Do you have any idea where I can find Gnarlak?' Anton asked.

The wizard who sat at the counter next to him chuckled.

"I'll take care of it, Teebs." The wizard said before turning to Anton. "My name is Alexander. Go sit at the empty table over there and he'll come see you." He added before getting up and heading to a door in the back.

Anton thanked Teebs and went to sit as mentioned at the empty table.

"Vampires are also respected by goblins, in America." Mentioned Gellert. ''Who would've believed that?''

''If our king has known Leadzurm for a long time, it doesn't surprise me.'' Anton thought.

For some reason Anton didn't know, Gellert started laughing again. Gnarlak came up behind Alexander and they went to sit at the table. Gnarlak was on the end where he had pulled up a chair and Alexander got in front of him. Another goblin went to serve a brandy in front of Alexander and hurried away.

"You're not one of Angel's minions, nor of Sanguini. Who are you, tell me?'' asked Gnarlak while lighting a big cigar.

Gellert didn't know the names of the vampires Gnarlak had named, but Anton sensed his curiosity in his thoughts. Anton saw that Gnarlak's fingers were all curled up and he wondered if it was painful. Gellert entered his thoughts more intensely.

''No. I come from Egypt. I am an acquaintance of our respective kings.'' Anton said.

"Pooh. There is no king here. What do you want?'' said Gnarlak before smoking his cigar.

"I'm looking for two people, and I've been told you're the best at finding things or people." Anton said, feeling Gellert taking up more and more space in his head.

"Heh. Names?'' asked Gnarlak.

Anton grimaced as warmth spread through his body. He would have thought Gellert was speaking for him.

"Vinda Rosier, and… N-Normand Abernathy." Said Anton. ''What are you doing? You can't do that! I do whatever you ask of me!'' thought Anton.

Alexander started laughing, but Gnarlak narrowed his eyes.

"That's a pretty specific request as these people are still wanted, Mr. Vampire." Gnarlak said taking another puff from his cigar. "How can you think I know where they are when a pretty promising sum of galleons is waiting for the person who has the answer to your question?"

Gellert now had control over Anton's body who could only be a spectator as Gellert closed in on Gnarlak.

"Because a rather promising sum has already been given to you to keep this information away from everyone. Except one, single, person, Gnarlak Leadzurm." Gellert hissed, mentioning his last name.

Alexander had stopped laughing and looked at Gnarlak.

"That person is not here, and it is certainly not you that this information should be divulged to." Gnarlak said in a snarling tone.

Gellert stood up and gripped Gnarlak's left hand with his vampiric strength. His eyes were now black. Alexander wanted to get up to defend Gnarlak, but realized he couldn't move and that's when he saw the rune carved on the table, where Gellert had had his hand a moment before.

"Repellat esse tempore et dolorem impedit." Chanted Gellert.

Gnarlak moaned and groaned and tried to free his hand, but when he saw the fingers of his left hand straighten again, he stopped struggling, staring in amazement at what Gellert had just done.

Other wizards had rushed towards Gnarlak upon seeing the scene, but Gnarlak raised his right hand towards them, stopping them in their tracks and Gellert sat back down, smirking. Gellert crossed the rune on the table with his fingernail and Alexander was able to move again.

''Unbelievable! No vampire can do that! Gnarlak…'' began Alexander.

"Shut up!" thundered Gnarlak, while bending and curling the straight fingers of his left hand. He looked back at Gellert. "I'm...curious, of course...I don't know everything I know without being curious, but there..."

"No." Gellert cut in. "You don't have to know who owns…this body, but if you want me to remove the curse on your other hand, tell the two people that I asked you to owl…Grindelwald, yes?'' Gellert said before smirking and getting up to walk out of the bar.

Gnarlak watched him go, looking at his demeanor.

''Sir... do you want to...?'' asked one of the wizards.

''No. Don't follow him. I don't think he'll be in New York for long.'' Gnarlak said.

"Was that him?" asked Alexander hurriedly. "Was that Grindelwald?"

Gnarlak looked at his hand again.

''I think so.''

OoOoO

July 19, 1945

Seth stared at himself in the mirror, trying to find the perfect outfit for an interview. After leaving Uagadou and saying goodbye, he was now back home, in his castle on Vulken Island.

"An interview?" Corban asked behind him.

Corban bravely faced the headmaster and held out for over twenty minutes before he was awkwardly given a stunning spell and lost the duel.

"Yes, I received a letter from his secretary, apparently. Mr. Sharp is ready to see me this afternoon.'' Seth said as he adjusted a forest green tie.

"That color looks good on you," Corban said. "I still can't believe Tom works at Borgin… I would have thought he would have gone into politics. You heard Abraxas like me, right? He was the best in everything."

Borgin and Burke was a store in Knockturn Alley known for dealing in illegal and dangerous artifacts. Lots of dubious wizards and witches used to go to this place to get rid of all kinds of items. Seth remembered that Tom had mentioned wanting to separate his soul into seven parts and knowing Tom, it wouldn't have to be just any object and he was probably looking for something specific by going to work there. Either way, he had other fish to fry, and if Tom had put aside all his plans for artifacts, then he wouldn't be waiting for him to help his nation.

"Yeah, but that's his problem." Seth said before turning to Corban and kissing him.

Although he never confessed that he loved Corban, he didn't stop himself from showing love to him and that satisfied Corban, who didn't care about anything else since then. Colpy appeared in their room and bowed down.

"Masters, the vampire François has arrived and asks for an audience." Colpy squealed.

"Francois? How did… oh, Lazarus.'' Seth realized as he wondered how François could have known he wanted to talk to him.

''He's in the ballroom, sirs.'' Colpy said before disappearing.

''What's so special about this François?'' asked Corban.

"Hmm. It's a long story. You can come and listen to what will be said.'' Seth said as he opened his door.

Corban shrugged and followed Seth to the ballroom. He saw several maids passing, laughing, one hand over their mouth. When he opened the doors of the ballroom, he saw François surrounded by three maids and he was whispering in the ears of one of them before descending into her neck and sinking his teeth there briefly.

Seth raised his eyebrows and walked over to the sofas by the window.

"Someone likes to have fun with servants.'' laughed Corban.

The doors were opened again, and it was Lazarus who entered, then had a big smile before going to see François, not without pushing back the two servants at his side. Francois let go of the woman in front of him and was hugged by Lazarus.

"My dear Francois. Although I would like to speak with you, our prince has an appointment in a few hours, and I will wait until he has spoken to you.'' Lazarus said.

''Ah. Veree good. I'll meet you lahter then. We 'ave a long time to talk to each ot'er.'' Said François.

Lazarus and François kissed each other, and Lazarus left after nodding to Seth. Francois went in front of Seth and bowed before sitting down with his arms on the backs.

"Nin Còon, I came 'ere as soon as I got the messahge t'at you wanted to talk to me. I'm sorry 'ow long it took for me to come, but it's still war among 'umans. I was in Berlin, with Hitler… who is dead now.'' Said François with a smirk.

''Berlin? And you've come all this way without magical transport?'' said Seth.

Francois smiled wider, tapping the sofas with his fingers.

''Non. I don't need any magic devices, your majesty." Francis said before glancing over to Corban who was sitting next to Seth. ''Who are you?''

"Corban Yaxley. A... a friend." Corban replied, looking at Seth, then at Francis, suddenly feeling uneasy.

"A friend..." said François before licking his lips. "Nice tamtam, your little wizard 'eart."

"Is there a problem with Corban's presence, Francois?" Seth asked.

Francois looked at Seth for a few seconds and grimaced.

''Non. Bien sûr que non. I don't like wizards. I only saw you once, my prince, but I 'ave never seen you ot'er t'an this once, in this court of justice, filled wit' t'ese Dhaeraow... t'ese wizards where all t'ey wanted was only one thing: to cast us off like crap.'' said Francois before placing his arms on his knees while leaning down. "Tamtam… tamtam, your 'eart beating… maybe every… t'ree seconds. A vampire. A wizard. A prince. A future king. My future king.

Seth had never had a problem with vampires, because they had all seen him grow up or knew what he had done for them or intended to do for them.

"Corban has the desires of our nation very much at heart. Anyway, I just needed to ask you a question." Seth said, slightly irritated by the vampire's attitude.

"I am an action vampire, my prince. I've always been into 'uman wars ever since I became a vampire, courtesy of our dear Lazarus. Although the bond between us 'as dissipated, 'owever, I 'ave definitely felt his incessant call ringing in the back of my mind, just like the time I was called upon to have this 'einous mark placed on my hand, but then to 'ave eet removed, t'anks to you… and eet is for this reason alone that I am responding to this call from you. This only reason why I 'ad to surrender to you despite my precarious situation. Ask this question, and I will go back to France with my passions.'' Said François.

"The Greengrass family has a curse on their daughters. Lazarus told me you might know the reason.'' Seth said.

Francois raised his eyebrows and looked back at Corban with a smirk, then at Seth.

''Tell me. T'is Greengrass woman… she loves you? Tell me she loves you!'' asked François eagerly.

Did Monica love him? He thought back to all the times they'd spent together and her gestures at the Yule Ball, but he wasn't sure.

"I don't know…why?" Seth asked.

Francois crossed his arms and legs and ran his tongue over his teeth.

"Dis curse was… a real delight and a beautiful revenge for what a woman dared to do to me. She did absolutely everything to make me completely crazy about 'er, like a bee attracted by 'oney... but when she saw... what I was... she destroyed me, without any remorse and leaving me for almost dead. Lazarus got me back on my feet with Emrick, the king from before. Eet wasn't for many years that I knew my skills...with my venom and the force of my intentions as that venom runs t'rough their bodies...I ensured that all of 'er children would be doomed to die in extreme weakness without being able to give birt', so the only offspring they would have would now be t'rought males.'' Said François who seemed to take pleasure in every word he breathed.

"Is there a way to remove this curse?" Seth asked. "You asked me if she loved me."

This time, François addressed himself to Corban.

"I don't know your story, but if my prince 'as you by his side and since the beginning of dis conversation, I am only feeling this emotion of love and I 'ad observed so well for hundreds of years, what I am about to say may not please you at all, because if my prince asks me dis question and that he wants to remove dis curse, eet can only be for the good of our nation, right?'' Asked Francis looking back at Seth.

"It's for a promise, because I respect the Greengrass family who support our nation if I can get this off her daughter." Seth said.

''Ha! De support… of De… wizards.'' said François, weighing each word. "That's what we need, isn't eet? To break dis curse, eet's quite simple actually, but I never t'ought t'at one day eet could happen or be necessary. All eet takes is for t'at woman to fall in love wit' a vampire and for dem to copulate." Francois said standing up and approaching Seth, placing a hand on his cheek. "And let dis vampire whisper to him: Cin na- lain." François withdrew. "You don't 'ave to love 'er, on de contrary… nobody 'as to love witches." He added with disgust. "After dis moment, dis only moment, you can drink her blood. Feel free to enjoy it.''

With a last look at Corban and a bow at Seth, Francois turned on his heels.

"Oh, I forgot… only dat woman will no longer 'ave the curse, but if she gave birt' to a girl… de cycle would start again." François said in a mocking tone.

Francois left the ballroom. Seth sighed and rested his head on the back of the sofa, staring at the chandeliers on the ceiling. Glad he had never drank Monica's blood before. How was he going to be able to accomplish that? He heard Corban clear his throat and felt him approach.

"It never bothered me…well, not really…to know that you were seeing other people. What bothers me the most is knowing that you would give your heart to someone other than me.'' Corban muttered.

Seth lifted his head and looked at Corban with a frown. It was one of the reasons he hadn't told Corban he loved him. He didn't want to be trapped in a relationship where he wasn't free to use his sexual abilities on others in order to get certain things. If there is one thing that a human is not able to resist, it is the pleasure of the human body, among others. Just like money.

Seth turned and tucked his leg over Corban and pressed his lips to his, running his hands through his hair. Each time, Corban knew what it took to make him completely crazy about him. Corban understood that. He couldn't have a better life partner than him.

"Corban..." Seth muttered, forehead against his. "Do you… do you want to be a vampire? Do you want to be by my side...forever?''

Sudden fear appeared in Corban's eyes.

"I...I don't want to lose my magic..." Corban hesitated. "I'm scared...I don't want to die..."

Seth placed a hand on Corban's cheek.

"You won't lose your magic, mel." Seth said, knowing full well what he had done for Gellert, but Corban didn't know. "And you won't die... you will live in me, with me." Seth added before kissing Corban again.

Somehow, Seth knew he was special, apart, and part of him thought Corban wouldn't die of this change. Corban wrapped his arms around Seth and Seth felt him shiver. His mouth moved to his neck, dotting it with kisses.

"Seth...I..." Corban huffed. ''I love you.''

Seth felt the desire for his vampire side to take over. His original intentions, wanting to make Corban a vampire, filled his mind. To want to possess him, to take him entirely. He ran his tongue over the bare skin of the blonde beneath him and his fingers closed around the hair more vigorously. He sank his teeth into his neck, feeling his venom rush through Corban's veins and the blood flow into his mouth.

'I am scared.'

'You won't lose your magic, mel.'

'Does it hurt… to die?'

'You will live in me.'

boom boom

boom boom

Corban's heart was beating more and more slowly. Seth instinctively knew that Corban's body was ready to receive his blood. He pulled back, staring black eyes at Corban's ocean blue eyes, who was almost unconscious. Seth ran his tongue over his sharp teeth and his blood began to flow into his mouth. He leaned towards Corban again, pressing his lips to his and pushing the blood in his mouth towards him. Corban's hands tugged at Seth's clothes, trying to cling to something, to life.

boom boom

The sounds of drums were heard around them, inside them. First one was faster than the other, then they beat synchronously. A presence entered Seth's thoughts, hanging there, suspended, as if waiting for a decision from him.

'There will come a time, when you will want to make a vampire. You will feel a presence in your mind and you will have the choice to bind yourself to this person, or not. There will be consequences in both choices, although the priority will always be to make this connection with your childe.'

His father's words came back to him, and it was with happiness that he completely accepted being linked with Corban. Corban's mind was filled with questions, all about the new sensations he was experiencing. Seth was surprised to find that many of the questions had answers that came naturally to him, like hearing every possible unimaginable sound that he had to learn to isolate. He saw himself through him, he felt himself through him.

He shone like a thousand lights.

Was that how Mijuu Me saw him? That the Basilisk had seen him?

"He shines… He shines… I am hot… I am cold… what is this drum? Why is he looking at me like that?' thought Corban. "This presence… so reassuring…"

Seth caressed Corban's cheek, smiling, feeling that deep love that Corban had shown him so much. Corban's heart beat in unison with his.

Corban was a wizard vampire with a beating heart.

"Corban. You're like me." Seth whispered.

"What?" Corban asked, his blue eyes now clearer as ice.

Seth put a hand on Corban's chest.

"It's your heart you hear, Mel." Seth said.

''Mel…'' repeated Corban. "It means love… you call me love."

"You call me love."

OoOoO

Seth and Corban had a long talk and there was even a moment when Corban used a servant to familiarize himself with his venom. They shared a meal at which Corban was delighted to be able to really, really do everything as before, even eat. His questions were quickly answered, and they decided not to reveal what had become of Corban to any other wizard. A simple spell on his eyes changed the color.

"My ears?" Corban asked.

"The color of your hair and the length of your ears won't change for several decades, and no one will see anything." Seth reassured.

"But…all the others…"

"Have hundreds of years of... life to get to that aspect." Seth replied.

"So, nobody can know who is a vampire or not, then? Apart from the eyes.'' Corban said.

"You will know...by their hearts that don't beat, but they will know too, what you mean to them...to me." Seth said. "You're more than just a wizard now."

"Hn." Laughs Corban humorlessly. "What if my father knew."

"Then he would miss knowing that he has the most wonderful son in the world." Seth replied in thought.

Seth had a meeting in a few minutes with Dominic Sharp, so with a final smile at Corban, he Apparated from the living room to the Ministry.

The ministry was crowded, and he made his way through the wizards. Arrived in front of the door where it was written, Dominic Sharp - Director of International Magical Cooperation, Seth knocked three times where a "Come in!" was heard. Seth could sense Corban's emotions and he figured they both had to learn to close their minds when necessary, like in this case.

"Keep busy, Corban, go see the marina, introduce yourself to the others. Stop focusing on me, you'll be fine.'' thought Seth.

''Sorry, it's stronger than me... and it's new...'' Corban answered.

Seth smiled, also somewhat distracted by Corban's thoughts, but since it was centered on him, he thought he was thinking double. He gently tried to put on his Occlumency barriers, as he had done so often before and saw that the bond seemed to weaken and Corban understood then, being able to go and do as Seth had asked him.

A woman was writing down the instructions Sharp was giving her and taking a parchment from her hands before turning on her heels, apologizing as she walked past Seth and closed the door behind her.

"Well, look at you! A dashing young wizard, who looks every bit like one of his purebloods born with a silver spoon in his mouth. At least you can prove to me that you have some social etiquette in you, yes?'' said Dominic, hands closed in a fist that held his chin and elbows on his table.

Seth smiled at him, thinking he was going to have a blast with this wizard.

"Yes, sir." Seth replied.

"Winning a duel isn't all it takes to get a job, but..." Sharp began as he got up and went in front of Seth. "I must confess I am impressed with your resume, Mr. Vulken." Sharp added, shaking the hand Seth had extended to him as he approached. "And even then… you are already someone important, is it not?''

The quick change of tone and respect had pleased Seth, not without also appreciating the fact that Sharp had to look up slightly to see his eyes due to his shear height.

"Yes, sir." Seth repeated.

"So… let's see if you can follow me." Sharp said before pulling a wand out of his sleeve and making a move towards his desk where the scrolls came into order.

Without waiting, Sharp emerged from his office, Seth hot on his heels, but he wasn't the only one. Sharp was already followed by several wizards and witches who told him reports on scrolls which he passed on to Seth. Seth first listened to everything they said, and thanks to his eidetic memory, he knew he would remember absolutely everything.

These reports were about all the wizards coming and going in Britain, what portkeys were to be made or confiscated or what personalities were coming shortly. Several dates were mentioned, several dinners and celebrations at which he had to be present. The transportation of goods via Britain, France, and the Americas also figured in reports.

The reports never ended, but Seth remembered absolutely everything, but was still very impressed by the sheer overload of work for a single wizard. The reports even concerned the new students who would be returning to Hogwarts that year, as some were from other countries, and he had to welcome them properly and ensure that the child could go to Hogwarts.

"You will not be able to go to dinner with the French minister on August 14. It just so happens that there's the graduation celebration for the final students on the same evening." Seth mentioned.

The witch who had just spoken looked through her papers and Sharp looked at him with raised eyebrows.

''Another day for this minister then…?'' Sharp asked and the others fumbled through their notes while Seth rolled his eyes.

"August 17th, if that agrees with the French minister, yes." Seth replied.

"An owl for the minister, Miss Khan." Sharp replied before continuing forward.

"Yes, sir." Khan replied before hurriedly walking in the other direction.

Another wizard with a serious face came running up to them and delivered a report to Sharp. His expression changed from sadness to anger, and he opened his mouth to speak, then closed it again before taking a deep breath.

"Send the Obliators..." Sharp ordered and the wizard nodded before heading back in the other direction.

Seth didn't know what was on that parchment because Sharp kept it in his hand, but they kept walking until all the wizards following him had handed in their reports. They walked past Vincent Vulken's office where he smiled at him and nodded.

"Vincent, the Obliviators are going to the Fern muggle family." Sharp said handing him the parchment.

"I'll take care of that, sir." Vincent said.

Sharp nodded and walked back to his office, still with Seth on his heels. Once there, Sharp took a quill and a parchment and wrote a letter while Seth put the reports on his desk and sat down. He did not dare to read what he was writing, and his thoughts diverged towards Corban who was deep in conversation with the villagers of his island.

"In my job, there are situations where I have to make decisions that tear my heart out and some situations happen way too often." Sharp said as he finished his letter.

"Obliviators on Muggles?" Seth asked.

Sharp chuckled. He folded his finished letter aside and stared at Seth, folding his hands on the desk.

"You saw Cooper's expression as he handed me the latest report. It was, in fact, the 1358th magical child murdered by their Muggle parents since the creation of Hogwarts, and that's only an estimate… that's not counting those whose existence is unknown or who are in other countries. We are talking about Great Britain and the sons of Europe here, since Beauxbâtons only take girls. "Said Sharp.

Seth stopped when he heard the number of children being killed by muggles and his mind went blank, suddenly unable to absorb any further information.

"Seth?" thought Corban.

Not knowing what to say, Seth suddenly received an outpouring of love from Corban.

''Mr. Vulken. Sit down, please." Sharp asked in a soft voice.

Seth came to and sat back down, a throbbing pain in his hands. He looked at his hands and saw that he had dug his fingernails into his palms. His gaze went to Sharp who had a sympathetic face.

"Sorry…" Seth muttered.

"I dare not imagine… if you react this way with wizarding children, what could happen if something happened to your nation, although I have a small one idea, because you've already stepped in and freed your own from this orb that never should have been." Sharp said.

Seth was silent for a moment, then dared to ask the question that was bothering him.

"Pardon this question, perhaps inappropriate, but does the ministry..."

"Act in a way to make it stop? Yes and no. The magic quill that inscribes the names of child wizard unfortunately has its limits. Sometimes it's a matter of distance, sometimes old magical barriers or just a flaw in its creation, but it's also the lack of resources of the Ministry, and its employees.'' Sharp replied.

"I see." Seth said.

Sharp leaned back in his chair.

"I've had to make the decisions for quite some time...and every time I'd like to say something other than sending the Obliviators. But then we have to ask the question: who are we to decide who should live or die? Would we be better off ending their lives, or giving them that innocence by making them forget about the child they created? How much is the secret of the magical world worth it?' Sharp said.

An awkward silence settled. Seth knew very well what he wanted and the answer to these questions. It was clear to him that Muggles should pay for their crimes and that their places were none other than under his feet.

"You'll excuse me, Mr. Vulken." Sharp said. "These questions are probably too much for a young man like you and your first day. I hope you are ready because I expect you tomorrow at 6:00 in the morning.''

Seth smiled: yes, he was ready.

Translation from Latin

"Repellat esse tempore et dolorem impedit."

"May this curse return in time and the pain cease."

Venthyr Translation

Dhaeraow

Traitors

Cin na- lain.

You are free.