Snape pushed away all thoughts of the infuriating vampire, being in a violent mood would do him no good right now. Instead he went over the facts as he headed toward the book store. There were no straight up 'cures' for his addiction that he could think of. Any physically obtainable solutions that were actually plausible would be in the ministry or St. Mungo's. One such solution might be a vial of Merlin's blood. Housed next to artifacts such as the last alicorn skeleton it would be impossible to get at. Besides, being addicted to the blood of someone who was dead did not change the fact that he would still be addicted.
He could attempt to overload himself with other energy. That seemed plausible. Perhaps another potion, this time concentrating the energy alongside the nutrients in blood? Either way he needed information.
The bell rang as he opened the door to Flourish and Blotts and the clerk looked up with a smile as he was rearranging books on the best seller counter.
"Professor Snape! There you are! Minerva came in here looking for you! Shall I send her a-"
"Please do not," Snape interrupted as his robes came to rest behind him,"the entire faculty is looking for me in an attempt to get me to join them in some foolish party. I am decidedly not interested."
The clerk smiled and nodded at Snape's annoyed voice.
"Oh, I understand. The owner tried to set up a surprise party for my birthday last month. Got me confused with another employee. They love parties, I do not."
"Then you understand why I am here until my classes start so they cannot bother me. I'm also looking for some books. Do you have anything on the basics and theory behind wandless magic? I have some theories in regards to energy in potion making that require more research before I test them."
"Ah! Yes! We have the beginners guide, but I suppose you'll be above that?"
"Undoubtedly, but I'll take it nonetheless. Anything else? Perhaps some more advanced theories about the movement of magic and energy? Have you read much on the subject?" Snape walked forward and leaned over to get a closer look at some small black books whose title was only visible when he stood above them. 'Shadow of Fear, a guide to boggarts'. A shadow below the title shimmered and a vague visage of his dead lord appeared below it. Snape curled his lip in distaste and returned his gaze to the clerk. "For instance, does magic move through blood, does it reside in our hands or our minds?"
The clerk shook his head and his short light brown hair danced on his head. He had an angular but slightly square face that sported a perfect smile which he showed off easily. He was not unattractive as males went, and had a strong steady heart. He was entirely too upbeat and bubbly however.
"I have no idea." He said with another annoyingly brilliant smile as he walked toward one of the shelves. "But I know who does! Seymour Lightfoot! He has a series on wandless magic and magic's origins in the wizard's body. Last book came out only two months ago!"
"I'll take the entire series then as well. Any new DADA books, perhaps pertaining to creatures this time?"
"Still vying for that position huh?" The young man asked as he waved down a set of purple books tied together with green ribbon from high on the shelf. The ribbon promptly came undone and the man cursed as the books fell, having unwisely cast the levitation charm on the ribbon and not what it contained.
Snape recognized the young man now, he had been a student up until two years ago.
"Every year until I obtain it." A partial lie. He applied for it because it was expected, he didn't want it until the 'curse' was removed. He'd surely have to leave Hogwarts before the end of the year if it wasn't, and who knows what catastrophe would accompany it. Although he wasn't sure he trusted many others to teach potions in his stead either. It was a conundrum to be sure, most likely one he'd never have to face. …Although with the new information from Mr. Lee regarding the… blood horcruxes might be an apt term, well there was a distinct possibility of survival. It was concerning and required more thought at a much later date with some type of drink. Snape wished once again, as he had many times over the years, that alcohol still affected him as easily as it once had. Or at least that his tastes weren't as refined. He could easily buy a barrel of cheap booze, but even with his taste buds dulled to all but blood, the acerbic burning smell of poorly made liquor l made his nose curl even more so now. Although that might be his nose hairs burning considering what he was smelling. He returned his attention to the clerk who had steered up the books and tied them together once again.
"Dumbledore ever tell you why he won't give it to you?" Said the clerk as he set the books on the counter on top of 'A Beginner's Guide to Wandless Magic.'
"He seems to think the fact that I was the youngest person to ever successfully brew the wolfsbane potion and won three awards for my veritaserum qualifies me to be a potions teacher. He seems to forget that I'm also one of the best curse breakers in the country and have first hand experience from my years abroad."
The younger man chuckled and shook his head.
"Yeah well, maybe that's why. Have a feeling parents might not be too comfortable with an Ex Death Eater teaching their kids." The clerk waved his wand again almost absentmindedly as he talked, pulling books off shelves and reorganizing them in search of the ones he wanted.
If he was paying attention he'd have noticed Snape's eyes darken a bit. The looming figure of the Professor stepped forward, hand in his robes as he reached for his wand. He was trying to decide if he was going to Obliviate the boy, or shove his blood down his throat. The fact that he had been Death Eater wasn't quite common knowledge, but it wasn't talked about. Not recently. This young man could make it so.
"How do you know…"
The man seemed unconcerned, his back to his former teacher. "Most of those were closed trials. That means it is difficult, not impossible, to get records of it. Didn't stop the prophet though. Most of their shit seems made up half the time however. Still, helps when you're related to an Auror that's super susceptible to puppy dog eyes and homemade ginger snaps. It was hard to find, most people prefer to just not talk about those years, like, at all. Like even if I wanted to discuss those years with anyone the first mention of the trials, or the war, or hell an ice cream shortage during that time, and most clam up and start talking about the weather. Anyway, I lost my macabre fascination in reading the trial records, or talking about them, after finding some of the confessions under veritaserum. It was dis-Who the hell closed last night?! The top shelf is a mess. Where is that book? Well, anyway, I'd think it'd be the best thing ever, but older folks never really listen to younger folks do they?"
Snape raised a brow at the young man. How did all these people just…forgive so easily? Still, many did not, he knew that. Perhaps it was because the young man hadn't even been alive during the events, or not in Britain, his accent was odd to say the least. As for others… Perhaps they believed in Dumbledore that much. They were fools. Forgive him? There were people far more deserving.
Snape watched the young man frowning and flirting about. He was… not innocent, perhaps unburdened was a more apt term. How freeing it must be to be so unconcerned with the world's view of you. A pang of envy was acknowledged and discarded. He was at least convinced the boy wasn't going to discuss it, reading Bellatrix's testimony in regards to the Longbottoms and such would have made any sane person vomit and swear off such inquiry for life. There was a reason those hadn't been made public. Stomach soothers would have gone out of stock.
"Your name is Cecil Lany, correct? If I remember you could have been in my NEWT potions class, but declined. It has been awhile."
"Yup. Fuuuck, I bet it was Sarasponda who closed. I'm gonna kill her, scratch that Villanelle is gonna kill her. Uh, yeah, Cecil."
"You're… American right?"
"Hmm? Yeah. Jesus Christ why is this in with modern classics? Parents moved here when I was 10. Mom's a no-mag, or Muggle, fashion designer. Happily dove into this world. Saw my father in wizard robes going to drop off his sister's kid at the train for Hogwarts. Fell in love with the fashion, then she fell in love with my father. I must have heard the story 1000 times by now."
Snape watched as the young man paused with a frown on his face looking at the bargain bin and a set of pink books that had a rose that wilted continuously on the cover, except one that was blooming.
"Those should not be there, and you, it's day time, wilt." The book cover flashed a deep red before the flower began to wilt, although it did so much more slowly than the others.
"You were decidedly… studious in class." Said Snape as he thought back on the child. He had stood out as a Hufflepuff who wasn't afraid of him, but still seemed terrified in the classroom nonetheless. Currently the young man was scowling and climbing up a ladder when a book he had tried to summon had stubbornly refused to move an inch.
"Oh yeah. I paid close attention to everything. Sorry Professor, but I Hated potions. Hated. Grew up with an uncle who had botched a potion. Near the worst possible outcome, his skin is just constantly see through on his left side, what is left of his left side. I was positively terrified I might botch something and end up like him."
Ah, that explained it. The child had no room to be terrified of anything else.
Cecil paused in his survey of the shelf and smiled at Snape. "So yeah, when kids were always talking about how scary you were I had no clue, I was too busy concentrating on not blowing myself up to notice." He nearly fell off the ladder as he pulled at the book that was clinging onto the shelf with its ribbon bookmark. "Get over here you little shit."
"Well Cecil, would you have a problem with me teaching your children Defense Against the Dark Arts?" Snape asked as Cecil climbed down and put that book on the table only to have it start crawling away.
"Well first off, I'm 19 and gay." Snape raised a brow at the open admission. The wizarding world might be a bit more lenient in their ideas toward sexuality than muggles these days, but they were not open. Most wizards were rather private about such things. It was something one might discuss with those close to you, but to just say it to a stranger, or a teacher you haven't seen in two years? He was fortunate he didn't come from a pureblood family, they placed a large amount of importance on continuing the bloodline, the literal bloodline, through marriage. "I don't have kids yet, don't even have a boyfriend. But if I do, no-no you don't!" Cecil slammed his hand down on the cover then tapped its spine three times and the book went still. He sighed and went back to spinning around looking at the numerous books as if he would be able to find the one he was looking for just by color. "First hand experience is important. I swear to god at least three of the DADA Professors when I was there had never seen a cursed item let alone cast a curse or dispelled one. I learned Protego though, so that's something. Still, where the fuck is that book! Still the only other reason I can think of is that the position is actually cursed. Maybe Dumbledore actually likes y-Finally!"
Cecil waved his wand and a book hanging from one of the ceiling lamps jumped into his hands. "Fucking hell, they rearrange things without telling me one more time I…Sorry Professor, you caught me not long after opening, I haven't really put on my retail face yet. But I suppose you already know I have a pretty bad mouth from all the times I nearly cut myself in your class. Anyway, your books!"
Snape looked at the pile of 7 books on the counter. Five were of the series about magic, one was about wandless magic for beginners, the one that had refused to come down from the shelf was about beings and monsters, and the last one that had taken so long to find was about blood magic. Snape raised a brow.
"That last one was not on my list."
"Yeah, but it's the only thing I could think of that might tie together Lightfoot and Dark Arts. I read it last week, it's good."
"Really? And what interest do you have in such a topic?" Said Snape with a raised brow.
"I've exhausted all other resources in trying to figure out how to undo what happened to my uncle. He's a great guy, love him to death. I'd like to have dinner with him without wanting to throw up."
"Why not glamor him?"
"Not great at that stuff, plus it keeps coming off. It'd cost a lot for someone else to do a permanent one."
"Well, if you can give me a competent summary of the book, I'll see what I can do about his dilemma. I remember your reports to have been above average."
Cecil's smile could have made Snape catch fire it was so bright. He wanted to frown at the overt display, but anything he could do to save time right now, even hints on which chapters to skim, would be helpful.
"Really! Oh that would be amazing. Uhm summary…let's see. Blood is weird, chaotic, and carries a lot of information in it. It also does carry a good bit of magical energy, more so than the rest of the body, except for whatever carries signals from our mind. You'll need a biology textbook to understand some of the things in there, and a recent Muggle one. The author's wife is apparently a doctor for muggles. A Squibb. Friends with Lightfoot actually, I think. Anyway, blood is powerful stuff and it knows where it came from. Any magic with it is dangerous because well, the blood of each person is unique. Removing that from the blood, which is nigh impossible, would remove what makes blood such a powerful ritual component."
"But is it possible? To remove magic or memory from blood?"
The young man held up his hand and rotated it back and forth.
"'Experiments are ongoing.' That was the quote. Basically the gist I got from it was, don't. Just don't. It's way too volatile and unpredictable. Unless you're a vampire."
Snape walked toward the counter and set down 7 quickly summoned galleons and five knuts.
"Did it have a section on vampires then?"
The young man made the same movement with his hand again and shrugged as he grabbed the money and went to the till.
"It had three chapters that amounted to 'they need it to live and here are the encounters I had trying to find out more. I didn't find out more, except that I taste like pretzels.' Guy's obviously smart, great writer. Needs to fire his editor. Those three chapters could have been a best selling short story, they didn't belong in that book. The only information in there that was actually interesting, was that to vampires, each person's blood tastes unique. Like a …. Psychological profile almost. Now there's a horrid thought, vampire therapists."
Snape smiled slightly and huffed out what amounted to a single laugh as Cecil put all the books in a bag. The young man was absolutely at home here, not a care in the world.
"Well, if I hadn't seen it I wouldn't believe it, a smile. Well, no one's gonna believe me, so it'll be our secret." Said Cecil as he held out 3 sickles along with the bag of books.
"You may keep it if you promise not to tell any of the faculty I was here, or discuss me with anyone ever, in fact."
Cecil grinned once again and pocketed the money while Snape took the bag.
"As a fellow despiser of parties, I happily oblige. Have a nice day Professor, you can reach me here by owl if you have any ideas about my uncle an-"
"Try page 25 of Potions for the UnCommon Witch, Issue 3078. I'm sure someone I would have accepted into my NEWT class can manage a pigment potion. Stop trying to undo, and start trying to fix."
Cecil blinked as his old professor turned to leave.
"I-I… What? That's a magazine for witches, and-and cosmetics! I get it monthly!"
"Good. Their lotion base is the best I've come across, it accepts any potion you want to add to it, you can even use it as a potion base instead of water. It is utterly inert. You should be able to order back issues for a knut and find it easily."
"Why… why were you reading it?"
Snape paused and turned around as he walked toward the exit.
"Why not? Discounting reputable information because of its source is idiotic. Besides, I was 13 and looking for a way to… get revenge on a fellow classmate. I needed a base for an itching potion. The pigment potion was on the page opposite from the lotion base, I believe they were intended for use together." It was also the base he used to this day for his sun protection lotion. Snape was not lying, it was the best base he had come across to date. All others had some ingredient that caused interactions with other potions, this did not.
Cecil still looked a bit confused.
"I… don't understand. Itching hands isn't much of a revenge."
"That is not what most 13 year old boys use lotion for though, is it?" Snape said with a smirk.
Cecil's eyes widened and Snape could hear him whimper a bit. The Potions Master half smiled again as he turned to leave. He liked the boy, he had managed to push through his fear in the classroom and focus. It was quite an accomplishment. What was even more of an accomplishment was that the young man's good mood was infectious enough to have spread to him.
"Oh, you are cruel!"
"You have no idea. Be sure to cut the seeds before crushing them, it fails to mention that they explode otherwise. And please, keep this between us. I've learned a great deal more 'cruel' things since that incident."
The undeterred thank you was muffled by the closing door and ringing bell. The sun was shining and it made his skin itch a bit, but it was not enough to break his unexpected good mood. He had a good few books that might actually present a solution. There were more back at Borgin and Burkes as well. He had time and was unlikely to be interrupted. He walked briskly, looking forward to some heavy research.
However Snape had not walked more than a block when his good mood was shattered. Mr. Lee was nodding a thank you to a waiter at the pub they had passed earlier. Under his arm he held a bag and was taking a large box from the man as well.
Snape scowled when the vampire turned toward him as he approached.
"I see your hunt for knowledge has proven fruitful. My own hunt was successful as well. I have acquired an entire pot of mutton stew, I believe that should fill even a half giant's stomach."
Snape took a deep breath as the man fell in stride with him. His mind was in turmoil trying to understand him. He was a vampire, versed at lying and tactics. However he offered up information freely, far more freely than Dumbledore. Perhaps it was lies, perhaps he hoped for a more interesting fight if his opponent was better armed. Or perhaps, none of it mattered for his future plans. Maybe he could test that with an innocuous question.
"Why are you buying him food? You do not strike me as the altruistic type."
"I am not. I do however enjoy watching others eat on occasion. I find it quite unfair that they can crave something specific, and go find and consume it with such ease. I have spent years on occasion searching for a specific flavor. Scouring blood in towns and countrysides just to taste an orange or beef again, because I realized I no longer remembered what they tasted like. Also, it brings me great joy to subvert expectations. Presenting myself as kind to your friend, well, it should be quite interesting for you to know the truth of the matter. Turn here, I have reason to believe we are being followed."
Snape tensed, trying to decide if he wanted to trust the vampire. He didn't, but he wanted to be captured even less. They turned down an alley to a dead end, the stones looking at them from half a block away almost seemed to laugh as Snape remembered that a house had been expanded last year and now cut this street in two. Snape fumed.
"This is a dead end!"
"Now don't be so angry. Neither of us are without defense here. You are a proficient wizard, I am a master swordsman and tactician. I have no doubt we shall come out victorious."
"We are weakened, it is a bright sunny day. And you have no sword."
"We move toward shadow, you will be slower, but not powerless."
"And you?"
"Slightly slower than a regular man perhaps, but I have you."
Snape quickened his pace. "And if I decide to let you die?"
"Well, your half giant friend will have an unpleasant surprise when the clerk there slits his wrists over the vial of my blood I left him."
Snape seethed. "You're bluffing." The man had to be bluffing, there was no way he could have foreseen the need for that, could he?
"Perhaps. Are you willing to take that chance?"
No, Snape was not.
"BASARAB!" They both froze as the yell bounced off the stones down the alley. "I know you're here!"
Snape relaxed, they weren't after him.
"The Ministry is here to escort you from England. You are not wanted here, and you were warned about returning unwarranted. Resist and I will bring you in."
Aurors. Snape tensed again. Flitwick hadn't been lying. That's why the aurors had been about, because of the vampire next to him.
"If you've turned this man, or anyone-"
Mr. Lee slowly swiveled on his heels.
"I haf not. I haf neither the need nor vant to. I am here to assist an acquaintance of mine. And no need to be so informal, I go by Christopher these days."
Snape glanced at the man briefly, his entire accent had changed. That brought forth an interesting question or two. Which was his real accent, the one he sported now, or the one he talked to Snape in. Furthermore, why speak with a false accent at all?
"Christopher then." Said the auror with a sneer. "So, this man here? Show yourself!"
That was also interesting. Another name. Christoper Basarab, Christopher… Lee? Snape was sure he had heard that name before. He was sure he had heard Basarab as well.
"No. And you are being rude. This is Professor Seferus Snape, he vas assisting me vith some shopping before he escorted me to the castle of learning, Hogvarts I belief."
Snape sighed and turned around. The Auror at the alley entrance was old, about 98, but still in fighting shape. Snape recognized him. He was one of the aurors that were there for security at the numerous Death Eater trials. Coltus was his name. He held his wand out before him, pointed at the both of them, ready to fire.
"Good morning. He requested brief respite from the sun. I thought it unwise to take that respite around people, and so brought him here."
Coltus looked at Snape with wide eyes, obviously not having expected him, and was completely confused about how to feel. The emotions and fears about Snape's previous associations were clearly written on the man's face for a brief second before he schooled himself. "P-Professor? What is? What is going on here!?"
"Dumbledore has questions that require my expertise. I am under oath to harm none on the castle grounds, or the adjacent town. If you vish, I shall extend that to this district as vell?"
"You… YOU know Dumbledore."
"Eferybody knows Dumbledore."
The Auror looked rightfully doubtful.
"I am supposing some 200 alarms vent off vhen I arriffed? Ah, that they cannot detect intent. I am not here as I vas decades ago. I am here to help an acquaintance-"
"Prove it."
"As you vish. Ask him, send vone of your… glowing animals and tell him I am here and vill come this efening to Hogvarts with Seferus Snape in tow. Perhaps the half-giant shall accompany us as vell. It remains to be seen. Alas that Albus could not come himself. I shall see him soon enough I suppose."
The auror glared at the vampire but cast his patronus. A large crane flew out of the wand and listened to the man.
"Go to Dumbledore. Tell him …Christopher Basarab is here in Diagon Alley with Professor Snape, and he says they will return to Hogwarts this evening for a consultation on a problem he has. Ask him to confirm."
"And that the half giant may join us."
"And that the half- That Hagrid might join them. Go. Now." The bird flew off, and vanished in a shower of gold above the building. The wand returned to point at the duo.
"It will be a while. What's in the box?"
"Lunch, for the half giant. You say his name is Hagrid? He vent to gather some luggage of mine, and therefore did not haf time to eat. Ve vere bringing him something."
"And before you ask, I have books. On wandless magic. It has little to do with-"
"Show me. Open the box, lower the bag."
"Your distrust vounds me."
"Shut up and open it."
The many named vampire smiled and set the box on the ground, slicing open the wax seal and opening the lid. The smell of roasted parsnips and mutton filled the alley as soon as the magic seal keeping the food hot was broken. The other bag was set on the ground and a glass bottle of water removed.
"See, nothing sinister. The box was efen sealed before I opened it."
The Auror frowned, obviously disappointed, but flicked his wand at the other bag.
"Sorry Professor, but I need to see what's in that one too. This one is tricky."
"You are just doing your job, Coltus, annoying though it may be. It is fine." Snape set the bag on the ground and pulled out the series of 5 books about wandless magic, and the one below it on magical creatures. "Just books. The top ones are even tied together."
"There's more in the bag…"
"More books. Beginners guide to wandless magic. You can tone your paranoia down a bit Coltus. I've been teaching your granddaughter for five years, I know she writes to you monthly. Did she once complain of anything other than me being terrifying?"
"She said you favored your Slytherins."
"I'll stop when McGonagall stops. Now, is there anything else?"
"Where are you spending the rest of the afternoon?"
Snape sighed.
"Once we acquire our things and Hagrid we were going to eventually retire to…" Snape stiffened, there was only one spot that made sense that he could think of quickly that Coltus might not follow them to. He decidedly did not like it however. "- my house. It was deemed far enough away that it would not put anyone in undue danger. I would appreciate it if I was not followed there by a procession. I do live in a muggle town and do not like unwanted eyes. I also do not like Aurors in my house."
"Why? Got things to hide?" Questioned the old auror. He had never trusted Snape fully, not even after Dumbledore vouched for him.
"I have quite a few items I've been asked to break curses on. They are delicate, and I've found that Aurors tend to doubt everything I say. They don't seem to trust me for some strange reason." He said with a small curl to his lips. "I do not wish to be blamed for your death when you touch something I told you not to."
"And you're not teaching classes right now because?"
"Your powers of observation should tell you it is because I am here. Dumbledore considered me the best candidate to watch the man until the students were in their common rooms. Putting a question on the board and having students write an essay today instead of brewing does not terribly mess up my lesson plan." Snape said idly.
Coltus frowned and deeming the explanation satisfactorily in falling with the Ex Death Eater's demeanor turned his attention back to Mr. Lee. Everything Snape had said was true after all.
"And how did you get into the country!? We've been watching the ports for decades! Did Dumbledore apparate you here?"
"Oh no. No vone apparated me here, and I did not take a ship." Mr. Lee chuckled, it was not a comforting sound.
Coltus shifted from foot to food, heavily unnerved. "What!? What is so funny?"
Samuel shook his head and looked back to Coltus. "I do find it quite amusing that a vampire adapts better than vizards. I flew."
"You… you can't fly over water."
"No… I cannot cross large bodies of vater on my own. But muggles can." Samuel reached into a pocket of his suit and withdrew a piece of white paper. It was long and rectangular, and had dates and times and odd lines on it. "I took a plane. Mere hours instead of veeks and I vas here."
Both wizards looked at the vampire as if he had five heads and had turned purple.
"Just because you cannot fathom straddling two vorlds, does not mean I cannot. I choose not to limit vere I can eat."
"The eating of muggles and-"
"I care not for your laws." The vampire said dismissively with a bit of ire hinting at the threat that was implied by such a dismissal. "They do not concern me, I am not efen a citizen of your country. I find your ministry to be a contradiction and full of fools. I-"
A letter appeared above Coltus and floated down. Coltus caught it and opened it, breaking the seal of Hogwarts in the front. His eyes scanned back and forth quickly, and the more he read the harder his hands gripped the paper.
"Fine! Fine. Merlinssaggyleft-"
"There is no need for foul language Coltus." Said Snape in a tired voice.
"I was going to get him! I was gonna bring him in! I-"
The man was in a rage, his disappointment at his sudden impotence obvious in every twitch and syllable.
"Coltus, just because I ate your great great grandfather over 200 years ago it is no reason to hold a grudge."
Coltus froze and turned slowly to the vampire.
"You… ate..?"
"Oh, so you did not know? My apologies." Said Samuel in a sincere but completely unapologetic tone. "I did not take kindly to his attempt to kill me in my sleep."
Snape leaned down slightly at the vampire's comment and whispered to him out of the corner of his mouth.
"Why in Merlin's name are you baiting him?"
"Because he was going to follow us no matter what that letter said. You could see it in his eyes."
Snape glared at the vampire, then at Coltus. It was probably true.
"Perhaps he will now fight us here, and therefore be in the wrong." Mr. Lee… Basarab… bent over and closed the box over the stew as the man at the entrance of the alley twitched angrily.
Snape sighed and made an attempt to salvage the situation. "What does the letter say, Coltus?"
Both of them could hear the grinding of Coltus' teeth as he spoke from behind the parchment.
"You're… here and… Dumbledore knows. He takes… He takes full responsibility if you kill or turn anyone."
"Hmm. So maiming did not come up? The old man is slipping." Said Samuel as he situated the box under his arm.
"Do not worry Coltus. If he does that I will personally turn him into ash."
"No. No. He's mine."
Snape raised a brow at this. The auror was panting and his eye was twitching. "Coltus. Do not be foolish. It's what he wants."
"No. No. I will get him."
"Coltus. I understand you are upset at your quarry seemingly slipping through your grasp, but I thought better of the candidates the Ministry chose for their Aurors." Said Snape as he picked up the bag of books. This seemed to finally reach the man who took a deep breath. "Please also remember he is here to assist Dumbledore on a matter. I'd ask that you do not kill him before that."
Coltus blinked. "Right…right."
"Finally, it would be very conspicuous if we were followed."
"I'll walk beside you then. I need to know that people are safe."
Snape scowled. That had backfired.
"Coltus. Ve vould prefer not to haf a third vheel."
"I can cast disintigratus as well as the next wizard." Said Snape, but Coltus just shook his head. Snape clutched his wand, ready for a fight.
"Very vell. Follow us if you must."
Snape quickly looked down at Mr. Lee's sudden change of heart.
"What are you doing?" Snape sibilated quietly as they walked forward.
"All vill be vell. Just see to your half giant friend." The vampire whispered back. "Coltus. This is the vay I belief? Seferus had purchased some books earlier and they came today. The half giant, Hagrid correct? He vas going to meet us there." The ease at which the vampire lied was just as smooth as his. Snape had a feeling that the man this creature once was, had been impressive indeed, but he had long ago left.
They walked down the streets quickly, Mr. Lee commenting on many things. Noting that a building had two stories now instead of one, or that the shop there used to be a stable. He seemed oblivious to the tension the auror exuded, or perhaps he did not care. Snape still gripped his wand, but with the auror next to Basarab and people all around there was little he could do. So they walked. When they got there all hell would break loose surely, but it would happen indoors. He had time, so Snape thought back on his colleagues.
Whatever the vampire was, he was right about his fellow teachers. After they had chased him across school grounds and were sure the students were safe, they had come out here. For him. They knew he might kill them, or worse. Few of them had any idea about the state of his mind. But they still came. And he had… to Flitwick. To Hagrid. He obviously did not wish to kill them, or turn them. He didn't want to make them into thralls… probably. It would be very nice to be able to tell people to leave him alone and have them actually listen. He just wanted to be left alone and have a steady food source. Apparently though they were willing to give him the second one. Nobody ever seemed to be willing to give him the first.
If he ever did lose control an entire faculty that couldn't fight him would be a very bad idea. It would be a worse idea for his spying. If the Dark Lord ever found out, that was a terrifying thought indeed. How could he have been so foolish? Thralls would have been a catastrophe. And…Did he really want to do that to this group who actually seemed to care about his well-being, despite the detriment to their own?
However, if he didnt…when would be the next time he got to drink from anything other than a vial?
He shook his head slightly, that didn't matter. His own happiness didn't matter. If the school, his colleagues, students…Lily's son…. If they were safe it didn't matter. He had to remember that. In fact he still could not return under possible throes of addiction. He needed time.
"Ah, we haf arrived." They had finally reached the front door of Borgen and Burkes. Snape gripped his wand as Mr. Lee opened the front door. This was about to go poorly.
"Ah! Mr. Basarab! Good to see you again!"
Snape blinked. That was the clerk. But… he seemed half dead when they had left. Snape followed Mr. Lee in and hid his shock deftly when the shopkeep was standing up smiling with a fairly regular, if faint, heartbeat. The man was however wearing a new set of robes that hid his neck.
"Dault! Good afternoon to you. Ve haf returned for those books you said should arrife shortly. The half giant is in the back, correct?"
"Yes, he's in the back. Didn't quite fit in through the regular door. He was asking for you, Severus." Said Dault nodding to the Professor.
"I shall go see to him."
"Ah, leafe your books here and take the stew and vater. It vill be easier for him to eat in there anyvay."
Snape nodded at Mr. Lee's comment and traded him the stew for the books before he headed to the back door as Coltus looked around suspiciously.
"You. Dault. What time did you see them both come in this morning?"
"Huh? Who are you?"
"I'm an auror and you will answer my questions!"
Snape took advantage of the conversation to unlock the door and slip into the back room.
"What's going on Professor?" Asked Hagrid as Snape slid into the room. He was still in much the same position except he had begun tearing some of the pages out of the books as he looked for sketches of creatures and people and any unsmudged pages that went with them..
"Trouble. All of us may very well die or be sent to Azkaban if we are not careful." Said Snape sourly as he vanished the chains.
"What?!" The exclamation was more than a little loud but a glare from Snape made the half giant shrink in shame and nod in understanding. "What's goin on? What's happened? Yeh didn get found out did yeh?"
Snape levitated the food over to the half giant and began returning the room to its original state. Untransfiguring the cauldron, knives, and ladles. While this was going on Hagrid stretched his legs a bit, still on the ground. Standing up would just mean he was hunched over after all. There was silence for a couple of seconds while they both were in their own world.
"No. We have two guests. One is a vampire, a very powerful and old one who is just as likely to kill both of us as he is to buy you lunch apparently. And thank you for waiting for me to return, you could have attempted to escape." Said Snape as he took the leftover ingredients and shrunk them to fit in his vials.
"Well, s'not like I could get back easily with no wand or portkey. An findin a friendly wizard to contact Dumbledore isn't a guarantee, too many people are intimin-scared o' me. The chains won't budge neither, already knew that from earlier. Sides, already knew yeh ain't gonna kill me. Knew that all along. I really do need a bathroom after this though." Hagrid shook his legs one last time In a final attempt to wake them before sitting cross legged and pausing as he opened the box containing the stew to look at it trepidatiously.
"Don't worry I saw the waiter give it to him, and until the auror demanded he open it it had been sealed." Said Snape as he put the vials in their spots on his belt and checked over the room again.
"Auror?"
"Correct. That is the other guest." Snape turned around satisfied with the state of the room. The half giant looked up, concerned at Snape's comments. The look only grew as Snape continued. "If he discovers what I am and what is going on…it would not be good. We told him you had gone to get our guest's luggage."
"But I don have no luggage ter show him. Mighty suspicious."
"Tell him the house elves just brought it to the castle. The vampire Mr. Lee is here to assist Dumbledore with a problem. That has been confirmed by the headmaster." As the half giant finally took a bite of stew Snape shot a healing spell at his neck. It didn't take. Snape cursed. He tried again. It still didn't take.
"Look, nobody's gonna be able ter see it behind my hair. And I'll just keep my sleeves rolled down." Said Hagrid between bites of stew and a gulp of water.
Snape frowned but nodded. That was most likely true, hopefully. He stared at the man as he tried to eat the stew with the spoon provided, it was far too small. A question formed in his mind as he regarded a half giant that was too kind to people who did not deserve it.
"Engorgio. Why are you helping me?"
Hagrid twitched in surprise as the spoon grew to ladle size in his hand but nodded his thanks.
"Whadya mean?"
"Why are you helping me…after all this?" Snape gestured at the now nearly righted room.
"Well, I can't say I'm not mad. Yeh could have jes asked, but I know yeh hate askin fer help. People see it as weak. It's stupid if yeh ask me. I see it as a strength."
"Really, asking for help is a strength?" Commented Snape derisively while he magicked lotion vials into his belt besides the rest.
"Well yeah. Gots ter be able ter admit yeh need help. That's a hard thing ter do."
"It's a dangerous thing to do. The person you've asked knows you are weak, if you ask for assistance."
Hagrid waved off Snape's comment with the spoon, sending bits of stew flying.
"Eh, I say screw em. Give 'em the finger and walk out the door. Well, I used ter say that, until I was round kids."
"Indeed?" The reply was mumbled as he organized the blood replenisher and Draught of the Last Drop bottles. He attached them to the leather cords that held the somnum sanguine and bottled sunlight, making sure the slip knots would loosen quickly if needed. He then returned the table to its previous form as well.
"Well, yeah. Yeh don't curse in front o' the students. Still, going back a bit. I can't say I'm not mad, but I get it. Yeh was jes followin yer nature. Yeh all but turned it off for what… eight years? Don't matter what yer willpower is like. Somethin was gonna break eventually. Makes sense that it happened after the weird potion thingy."
Snape stared at Hagrid as the half giant spoke between mouthfuls of stew. The man was insane.
"This's good. Is it from Ludvig's? Nice man. Anyway, yer not alone. I have to fight off the occasional rage when I'm angry. Very difficult not ter punch Filch in the face sometimes. Gotten better at it, and…eh? What's that for?" Hagrid looked inquisitively at the string of potions.
"I thought it wise if you were to hold onto these. Just in case. We Are in the company of a vampire after all." Snape said smugly.
Hagrid chuckled a bit, then nodded and took the bottles and attached them to his belt.
"Fair nuff. Now yeh know-"
"Sir. Sir!" The clerk's voice cut the conversation and air as he yelled.
"What is going on in here?" Coltus burst into the room and looked around.
Both Hagrid and Snape turned their gaze toward the auror.
"Yes? May we help you?" Asked Snape in the voice he usually reserved for when he was particularly annoyed at a student's stupidity or rudeness.
Coltus looked around the room as if expecting to find some proof of misdeed, some evil contraption or even dead bodies. Finding none he turned his disappointment on the two men within.
"What is taking so long then?"
"I'm eatin." Said the half giant simply, raising the spoon.
"We aren't expected till evening and are in no rush at the moment. It is barely noon."
Coltus sighed and looked around. "Where is the luggage? I wanted to search it."
"House elves picked it up an hour ago. I had ter help uh-"
"Carry it from the muggle airport. Couldn't have house elves picking that up there, now could we?" Said Snape with a sneer.
"Suppose not." Replied Coltus dejectedly.
"Then would you kindly leave us? Your quarry is in the other room." Snape's voice was laced with more than a little venom.
"I think I need another room." Said Hagrid standing up, dusting himself off and shaking some feeling back into his hands. "I know there's a little giant's room he-"
"What's that?"
"Eh? What's what?" Said Hagrid looking around rapidly, sending his mane flying.
"On your neck!"
Both men froze.
"H-how did yeh even see that?" Asked Hagrid as Snape pinched the bridge of his nose.
"I'm fucking trained to!" Yelled Coltus as
Snape shook his head at the ploy. "You didn't really see much did you?"
"No, but his reaction confirms it!" Said Coltus, and Snape glared at Hagrid who smiled sheepishly. "Now what is that!? That's a bite!"
"Uh, he didn't do it." Hagrid blurted out desperately.
Coltus looked back and forth between the two men and Snape cursed silently. Hagrid was just trying to help, however he was nowhere near as quick witted as he needed to be.
"Then who did? Don't tell me there's another vampire here? Did Basarab turn someone!?"
"No. He did not." Said Snape as he stepped forward, his wand held ready behind his back. Coltus turned to Snape with his wand out.
"What is going on? None of you are leaving until I get some answers!"
Hagrid attempted to jump in again.
"Look, I did get bit ok, but I allowed it. S'not like I can feel it, well it kinda tingles on the neck, but he was hungry. Better me then somebody else."
"And how do you know you weren't enthralled hmm?"
Hagrid scratched his chin in mock confusion. "Don't work on me. Half giant, thought everyone in the ministry knew that by now…"
Coltus blinked, trying to find a problem with that statement, but couldn't. His wand lowered, then raised again to point at Snape.
"And you! How about you then!? How do I know you aren't enthralled?"
Snape rolled his eyes with his wand still behind his back. Maybe they could make it out of this without killing the man. Although that was seeming less and less likely. "Master occlumens. I'm sure it is listed in my case file. This is growing tiresome Coltus."
"Yeah. I do need the restroom still, so unless I'm bein detaineed or somethin I'm gonna go find one." Said Hagrid, moving toward the large door.
"No one move!"
"Merlin's beard. Did auror training improve in the last eighty years or are you just truly this bad at your job? Coltus, let the man use the restroom." Snape chastised.
"He can hold it."
"Really can't, been holdin it for a good sev…" Hagrid stopped as he realized that might contradict with his earlier statement.
Coltus had realized it as well. "Seven hours?"
"Several. Long trip from the portair."
"Ah, I do belief he means airport." Said Basarab as he entered the room with hands behind his back. "And I can confirm it is a fery long trip from there to the nearest… vhat do you call the fire transport?"
"Floo network." Ground out Coltus. "And I don't trust either-any of you!"
"Oh…Vell. You are not going to leafe us alone then?" Said Basarab (…Mr. Lee, gods this was annoying) with mock disappointment.
"No!"
Mr. Lee looked at Snape after Coltus' statement.
"And you decidedly do not vish him in your abode, correct?"
"Very astute assumption." Nodded Snape.
"And ve do not vant you here. So…. Half Giant Hagrid, go find the relief you seek. "
"What? You don't have the authori-"
"Let the man find a restroom, Coltus." Said Snape as Hagrid stood hunched over and twiddling his thumbs.
"Go, ve vill deal vith him."
"Uh…" Hagrid was worried, unsure about disobeying authority after his incident at Hogwarts.
"Go!" Cried Basarab at the half giant's uncertainty. Hagrid jumped a bit and then nodded before heading out the door.
Snape stepped in front of Coltus as he moved forward to apprehend the man. He had no idea what was going to happen, but he agreed he didn't want the grounds keeper to see.
"Ho-how dare you! You are all coming with me!" Spluttered the auror, spittle flying.
"No, no I do not think ve vill." Mr. Lee said as the door to the outside closed behind Hagrid.
Snape leaned slightly to the side and looked at the vampire in the other doorway. "If what he said was in the letter is true, Dumbledore will be blamed for his death. I'd really rather that not happen." He said as he sent a wandless colloportus behind him to lock the larger door.
"I agree. I vould miss our chess matches. Very vell."
"Quit talki- I'm right here!"
"Not for much longer. Dault, if you vould? No trace please." The vampire stepped aside and a white bolt flew toward Coltus from the store, hitting him square in the back. He froze, and nothing happened except a slight shimmer as a one time ward was used up.
Then the battle began.
Coltus turned so his back was to the wall and not either opponent, one hand raised towards each of them.
"I knew something was going on."
"Nothing infolfing me Coltus. But they are prifate affairs, and I vould not see my allies vexed by your intrusion into them. Dault! My sword, quickly please!" The air around Basarab's hands shimmered then solidified as a thin scimitar like sword appeared in Mr. Lee's grip. The handle was gold and curled into a knob at the end while the guard was straight and thin. It was swung deftly once to test its weight and then held at the ready before him.
There was the sound of scrambling in the other room but with a flick Coltus closed the door. It rattled as Dault tried to open it, but Coltus' capabilities were beyond the clerk.
Snape twitched at the wand movement, ready to parry or counter attack, but the movement for colloportus duo was easily recognizable.
"I doubt Dumbledore would approve of your actions." Said Coltus.
The air was tense, nobody moved. There was no pretense of a duel here. This would, most likely, be very messy.
"Yes, but he is not here. Vhat the old man does not know vill not hurt him. Besides, I find he does not approfe of most of my actions."
Both Snape and Coltus raised their wands, and blue light exploded toward Mr. Lee only to be blocked by a white shield around the vampire.
Coltus seethed. "Why are you defending him?" The accusation thrown at Snape was bitter and punctuated by a blast of red light which Snape deftly parried into a stone that quickly grew ice.
"What do you suppose will happen when you kill him? I'm sure you have reports?" A sleeping spell was shot at Coltus and quickly sent back with a repercussu that also sent Mr. Lee's side swipe back at his own arm. The vampire allowed the unsharpened side of the sword to hit him, unconcerned by possible bruises.
Snape continued his answer, hoping it might bring sense to the old auror, or at least an opening for attack. "He will reappear, hungry, and slaughter people. As soon as it's discovered he was here at the headmaster's request, who do you think the ministry will shift the blame towards? Many would jump at the chance to discredit Albus, you are quite aware of that." Accused Snape as Mr. Lee lunged down for a slice at the auror's calf. It was parried by a blue gladius made of light that manifested with a flick and a half circle from Coltus' wand. The body of an invisible duelist shimmered iridescent for a second and then vanished, the sword held tightly in its grasp.
"You're the ones who started this fight, not me." Said the auror while sending yet another disintigratus at Mr. Lee. It was blocked yet again by a shield spell from Snape, who did not want to deal with a hungry resurrected near ancient vampire. If what the vampire said was true and he had already prepared a vial here, or had done so on the last visit to England which he had mentioned, it would be an unwelcome distraction. Vampires required very little slanderous press for the wizarding world to rise against them, he no doubt would require even less. Less still if he was outed as a vampire. This was not a situation to be taken lightly.
Coltus seethed and raised his wand to Snape in anger at being thwarted again.
Snape just sneered. "I was not privy to Mr. Basarab's intentions, but I would be lying to say I don't relish the chance to hex the auror who protested to the wizengamot at my exoneration."
Hexes flew from both wands to explode against each other in midair. The swords clanged to the right. Blue sparks of magic and yellow sparks of steel flashed in and out of existence with each strike as Mr. Lee tried to gain the upper hand against the invisible duelist. A true challenge with no body language to read.
Snape and Coltus stood stock still; waiting for a twitch, a sign of distraction. Both attempting to cause one with conversation.
"I didn't know you knew about that… I can admit when I was wrong, but can you blame me? It was right after the war, everyone was suspicious. Although, it seems you still have some… tendencies to side with those you shouldn't."
"I am attempting to get Mr. Basarab to Hogwarts unmolested while not divulging any sensitive information that is not ready to be-"
A yell of triumph cut through their banter as the blue gladius nearly grazed the ceiling. A loud thud and of air followed by a puff of magic let them know the invisible duelist had been felled. Screams cut the air along with the swords as in the next second Coltus' wand hand was severed from his body with a deft maneuver from Mr. Lee. There was scrambling and a thud as the vampire picked up the wand hand which still held the wand and Coltus fell to the floor grasping his bleeding stump.
"NooooaaaaahAAAgivvvvAaabaaack!"
Mr. Lee looked at the panting auror before him, and shook his head.
"No, I am afraid the only request afailable to you is the manner of your death. Sefer- Ah. I see you are rather indisposed? Perhaps he shall not hafe an option after all?"
"You… did that… on purpose." Snape ground out, the shimmering gladius sticking out of his chest five inches deep. He was unable to move as the magic weapon acted as a stake. He stood stock still like a statue, frozen, barely able to talk.
Mr. Lee just smiled, and shook his head.
Coltus stared in amazement, eyes wide with disbelief as he stuttered, pain momentarily forgotten with shock setting in on two fronts now.
"What is going on? Snape, are-"
"Of course… I'm not… ok… You dolt! Cancel… the spell!"
Coltus tried to speak but no sound came out as a wave of pain washed over him. He breathed, panted, blinking through the agony, then gathered himself and looked at his opponent in deep thought.
"Why aren't you moving?"
Snape snarled internally at the question. It was a good one. He had no clue, he Thought it was only wooden stakes and spells meant to mimic them that immobilized vampires in this fashion. Apparently magical weapons did as well. Wonderful. He was going to have to write a damn journal to keep track of all this nonsense!
Mr. Lee sidled over and held up the hand in front of Coltus. He had been watching from afar up until then, as if this were a play for his amusement that he had finally deigned to join.
"Cancel the spell. Or I shall snap your vand like a tvig."
Coltus laughed through gritted teeth at the threat. "And? By your actions you're going to kill me shortly anyway. Why should a dead man care about the state of his wand?"
Snape had to admit he was impressed with the man. The concentration required to keep the spell up while under such duress from pain and shock, and the threat of imminent death, it was quite a feat. It was an annoying feat, but a feat nonetheless.
Mr. Lee seemed less impressed. He just nodded and snapped the wand's tip off, throwing it and its fleshy sheath into a corner amidst Coltus' protests. The sword in the vampire's other hand was released and it vanished as it fell. Mr. Lee headed over to the frozen Snape and used both hands to pull the shimmering blade from its temporary home.
As it left Snape gasped and the false rictus left him as he regained control of his limbs. Still, he stumbled forward slightly before regaining his composure.
He took a breath and glared at Mr. Lee, positive that the vampire had disarmed the phantom duelist in such a way that sent the sword flying directly at him. Mr. Lee however was inspecting the glowing sword, looking at it with disgust before Coltus finally dropped the last remnant of the spell and it vanished.
"Since I am about to die, I'd appreciate a little exposition here."
Both Snape and Mr. Lee smirked at Coltus' request, and Snape immediately scowled upon realizing the fact.
"That is not for me to gife. Beg the Professor if you vish for such details." Said Mr. Lee making Snape's frown deepen.
Snape did not like giving up information, even if it was to someone about to expire. So he ignored Coltus' questing gaze and instead chose to 'answer' by inspecting his quickly closing wound. He pulled aside the numerous layers of cloth from his robes and shirt to frown at the wound that leaked a good deal of his recent meals. It was closing quickly, not as quickly as a wound from steel, but far more quickly than one inflicted with silver. He turned an accusing glare upon Mr. Lee, ignoring the stares from Coltus as the wound stitched shut.
"Did you know magical weapons did this?" He snapped while cleaning his clothing of blood and repairing the holes.
Mr. Lee returned his question with a look of amusement. "I do not know vhat affects you, you are not as I. There are many types of undead, I only know vhat is most likely universal, and vhat affects me."
"But you had suspicions!" Retorted Snape.
"I'll admit, I did. I saw no need to burden you vith them vhen our success vas imminent."
Snape seethed at the vampire while Coltus followed the conversation with increasing clarity.
"You're a vampire."
Both vampires turned their eyes toward their prisoner and Snape blinked as if realizing something and brandished his wand.
"Radicarus!"
The spell hit Coltus, bathing him briefly in yellow light. He paused and then shook his head, a laugh blossoming in his chest.
"I appreciate the compliment Snape, but I am in far too much pain to even attempt apparating without a wand. To attempt anything really."
"I don't like taking chances." Growled Snape, annoyed at the entire situation.
"Vell, the problem remains, ve haf a prisoner that must be disposed of. Shall you do the honors, or shall I?" Asked Mr. Lee.
"Neither. The man could have a charm on him to alert someone if he is bitten." Snape said, crossing his arms to show his objection.
"I thought most Aurors had a crystal vhich faded upon their death, so as to alert their department at the ministry anyvay? I had thought ve vould be adjourning to your abode upon this situation's conclusion after all."
Snape shook his head at Mr. Lee's comment. "That was discontinued ten years ago, too expensive. The charm however, could have been cast upon his departure today."
"I haf not heard of such a charm. But, it should be little trouble for you to find out if it has been cast on the man, or cancel it for that matter."
Snape scowled, it was true. He decidedly did not want to eat the man however, not in front of this monster. Not at all really. He did not want that weighing on his mind every time he saw Tara Coltus in 7th year potions.
"Can we not jus-"
"Vhy vaste the blood?"
"I really dislike being talked about as if I'm not here, you know. Also, you'd better decide soon before it's all on the floor."
Snape saw movement and once again his wand moved in a flash, a partial paralysis catching the man's hand as he raised it from grasping the bleeding stump. The working hand froze in a partial fist, making it much more difficult to work wandless magic. His other arm sat in his lap, red and dripping. Snape shot another spell and Coltus screamed as his flesh burned and sizzled, the wound cauterized none too gently.
"There. Now you're not leaking."
"Bugger you, you fucking undead piece of shit!"
Snape just rolled his eyes. "I do not want him, you take him."
"But you vere the one injured in battle. You should heal your vounds."
"I'm fine."
"Very vell, but I vould request that you not difulge I hafe done such, not efen to Dumbledore."
"Why?" Not that Snape would volunteer this information unless Dumbledore asked, but still.
"I do not vish for people to know I am capable of such during the day. Most belief I am not." Mr. Lee said as he calmly headed over to Coltus. The auror had a sneer on his face, but it hid the fear beneath it poorly.
"I will fight you for every drop you piece of shit."
"As my strength is currently nearly comparable to yours, it vill only make it more painful and overlong."
Snape raised a brow at this, he had known the vampire was weak during the day, but divulging that to his enemy? He had in fact said 'weaker than' the average man. That could of course have been a lie.
Coltus seemed to have no such thoughts or trepidation and he rushed the advancing vampire. Mr. Lee sidestepped, but Coltus ducked low and grabbed the man's leg in both arms and pulled him down to the ground with him.
Snape watched the scuffle with mild amusement. It seemed the fight was not over yet. Mr. Lee lay on his side; his foot in the auror's grasp he kicked the man's face with the other. A resounding crack was the result as Coltus' head snapped back painfully. Mr. Lee shook the arms off and slammed the now free foot down on the remaining hand, twice.
Coltus reeled, head dizzy, hand and empty wrist aflame.
During that trauma Mr. Lee quickly stood up, brushing off his suit before he sent an extremely furious gaze upon the reeling man on the floor.
"I applaud your tenacity, but-"
Before he could get any further Coltus sprung up once again, dizzily throwing a punch at the erudite undead. Mr. Lee blocked it with one arm and spun the man away. Coltus staggered then used his momentum to swing a no longer petrified hand at Snape.
Snape didn't even try to move or block it, and the punch hit him in the side of the face. He took a half step back to brace himself, and then slowly turned his head to look at the auror with distaste.
"Mr. Lee is the one who is infirm during the day. I… am not." He was about to knock the man back when he felt his wand shake in his other hand, an attempt at a wandless summoning spell, but his grip was too strong. His eyes narrowed in fury.
The man had attempted to steal his wand.
"You want my wand? Allow me to give you a closer look."
He grabbed Coltus by the shoulder and thrust his wand between his eyes, casting a full body bind. The auror froze and Snape smirked in his face as he slowly lowered his wand. He looked at Mr. Lee and nodded.
"Enjoy your meal." He said, and stalked out. He had no desire to see this.
"Are you sure you do not vant any, do not vish your refenge?"
Snape sneered standing at the threshold. "Why would I want the blood of a failed auror?"
Mr. Lee paused, then smiled. "Ah, you don't want his death on your hands. Vell, I am sorry to tell you, but it is on yours either way. Or perhaps you would prefer to blame the supposed catalyzing incident for your current condition? It is, of course, a part of this, but your choices since then are what have brought you here, to this man's demise."
Snape kept his face passive, but internally he was quite discomforted. The thought of yet another soul dying due to his carelessness, his choices, was not something he particularly wished to dwell on. His occlumency and discipline kept his emotions in check usually. The potion had cracked his shield, addiction had widened the cracks, and now he was feeling a larger range of, and more intense, emotions than he had since before he left Hogwarts. He was patently displeased to find yet another side effect of this situation.
"You may think whatever you wish." He said with as much derision as he could muster. Then he unlocked the door, left the room, and closed the door behind him, all while avoiding the gaze of the man he had condemned to death.
Dault was in the store. He stood behind the register, shaking and waiting. Snape held in his derision and made for the goblet Mr. Lee had left on the shelf.
"That's cursed."
"I am aware." Said Snape as he levitated the goblet over for a closer look.
The coat of arms had color once, long ago. Now only the images remained. The moon and star, or perhaps sun, on the left and the stripes on the right. Snape turned the cup around. On the back was another crest. Far more complicated. A cross that was sharp at the bottom floated above a bird which sat upon a helmet that had some type of cloth or moss on the back. The helmet itself covered the corner of a tilted shield that sported stripes on the left side.
Beneath it were the letters SA, but the letters on either side had been scratched off. Perhaps it was the vampire's name. Although Snape doubted it. He turned the goblet around and looked for a name beneath the other crest. There was one, a long time ago. Now only a bit remained. 'ESTI'. All the letters in front of that had been scratched violently away, leaving only the end.
"Do you know anything about this goblet?" Snape asked Dault, who shook his head.
"Only that it is worth 500 galleons and will drain your blood to fill itself if you touch it."
Snape blinked. If Mr. Lee had touched it, and it did not have an effect, that meant one of three things. Mr. Lee was empty, which Snape doubted. He did not seem like the man to indulge in self starvation. The other option was that as an heir the curse did not affect Mr. Lee. The last was that it did not affect undead. If the last was true this would be a very handy object indeed.
Well, he didn't want to ask the vampire anything, and the worst that would happen is he'd drink his most recent meal twice. If this was true. Snape looked at the shopkeep.
"You're absolutely positive that is all the goblet does?"
"Yes. We tested it extensively. Also, a customer accidentally touched it."
Snape nodded and returned his gaze to the floating cup. He cast a rudimentary diagnostic spell and was informed that this was true, this was all he would get without hours of testing.
"If anything else happens to me, you'll wish Mr. Basarab had drained you dry."
"I wish you had done it earlier."
Snape ignored the comment and reached for the goblet. He wrapped his fingers around the stem and waited. He felt a tug at his heart, then nothing. He was undead, and the curse did not recognize him as someone worthy of having their blood stolen. He turned to Dault.
"I'll take it. One hundred and seventy five galleons."
"We haven't removed or keyed the c-"
"Which is why I am offering the amount I am for it. As is."
"I… Yes. Done."
Snape summoned a bag and then the appropriate amount of gold from his house safe. It wasn't like he was going to spend it on food, well, he currently was in a way. He set the bag down on the counter and nodded. He was about to shove the goblet into his robes, but he paused and his mouth twitched in what was his version of a smile.
This goblet had so many uses. The main one, well it would be quite a good lesson for students to not touch things that did not belong to them. It took many far too long to learn, and usually they learned after being injured by a protective hex. This would be far gentler than five broken fingers. A simple return spell keyed to him and set to activate after the curse had finished its job would teach the whelps a lesson and provide him with a meal. He could even set up a glamour to deactivate when he held it so no one would be the wiser when he drank. Now he just had to decide where to leave it. Perhaps a charm to randomly teleport it somewhere in the castle?
Snape's lip twitched upward again, and he began casting the charms. He had no reason not to prepare them now. He might even be able to convince Albus to approve of this, his sense of humor was surprisingly dark. They were teachers, and this was a valuable lesso–
The sound of a door handle turning had Snape quickly finishing the last charm and shoving the goblet into his robes. Mr. Lee stepped through the door, his clothing and face immaculate. He held the very limp corpse of Coltus by its robes just over the threshold. The separated hand and wand stuck out of the man's robes. .
"Ah, Dault. If you would please finish the job."
A white bolt flashed from the Dault's wand. It hit Coltus in the shoulder and the body exploded into ashes. They rained down slowly, falling like leaves floating back and forth.
Snape watched as they gathered into a pile for a moment before looking at the vampire.
"Dumbledore will be blamed for this."
"Why? I did not kill him." Said Mr. Lee as he stepped forward and spread the ash around with his foot.
Snape scowled at that, spiteful about what he'd been 'forced' into. He waved his wand and the blood and ash vanished from the ground, leaving no evidence that there was ever a fight.
"Yes, but there will be an investigation and they will talk to the shopkeep."
"Dault? Do not worry about him. They will not find him." Said Mr. Lee, waving off the concern as Snape noticed the change in his accent. He once again wondered which was the real one… if either. He'd have to look into the crests and families later. There were more immediate problems, mainly Dumbledore's public image. It would be tarnished if he was involved in the death of either of these men in any way. Albus' public image was something that held great power, if tarnished it could be a blow to the Order.
"They will not find him because… he will be dead?"
"Not unless you wish him to be. I was considering it but thought it such a waste for the young man to simply take his own life when he could give it to me instead. No, he shall return home with me. We shall secret away on a ship so there will be no trouble with passports and such. Or perhaps we shall use one of those keyports."
"Portkeys."
"Yes those. I'm sure I could convince the headmaster to provide me one. And with Dault gone-"
"Suspicion and blame will fall on Dumbledore. Whether or not it was him would be irrelevant. You would be gone, and so would any proof that it was not you; and if it was you, Dumbledore gave his word that he would take blame for your actions. Innocent until proven guilty is just a phrase." Said Snape with an annoyed look.
Mr. Lee seemed to ponder that for a minute and then nodded.
"Very well. Dault?"
"Yes sir?" The man's voice called out, eager to please.
Mr. Lee turned to regard the man as he spoke. "You shall not be coming with me. You shall expire tonight, we will discuss it further before I depart."
"Yes sir, Mr. Basarab!" Said the man happily.
Snape sneered in disgust at the man who had obviously been turned into a thrall. He was very glad indeed that he had not chosen to do that with anyone. Just a bit more of his blood for Flitwick and it might have been so. Dault seemed almost like a house elf, yet even they had wills of their own. This man obviously barely retained one.
"My dear friend Severus, if you would be so kind as to heal his neck wound? We do not want that to be a spell recorded on his wand."
"I am not your friend." Said Snape as he walked forward and cast a healing spell at Dault. This man's disregard for life was astonishing.
"Ah, but you are. It is too late for anything else."
"I am Not, your friend, nor do I ever have any intention of being so."
"Then we must agree to disagree. After all, how could you be in my company and alive if you were anything but? The only other options are ones you do not seem keen to fill." Said Mr. Lee with a smile and a friendly inane gesture of his hand.
Snape seethed silently as the man talked. He certainly loved the sound of his own voice. Or perhaps he knew it grated on him. Either way Snape marched past Mr. Lee to grab his books from the counter and then returned to the back room to sit on a crate with them next to him.
"I have wasted enough time with this nonsense. I have research to do."
"Yes yes, search for your miracle. I shall amuse myself with the oddities in this shop for now, and if your large friend does not return soon I shall go look for him."
Snape rolled his eyes and picked up the book on blood magic. It was as good a place to start as any.
(Radicarus =bastardization of radicatus which means rooted. Reviews are appreciated. I may even take scene requests.)