Prince Consort

I'm sorry about having to edit this story again, but I truly wasn't happy with it, that and it was all over the place and there were too many plot holes. It was either edit it or it continue to sit there without being completed. I do not like to abandon my stories, so this was the better alternative. Now the first six chapters have remained mostly the same, the changes truly begin from chapter 7 onwards. All chapters will be posted in the next few days and hopefully, with a fresh look, it will be a much better story for you to enjoy. So please if you've just opened this one and not the others, go back and re-read them, I've changed quite a few important facts regarding the story, especially how Harry came to be in Prince Castle.

Chapter 9

Severus nodded at the 'My Lord' his people gave him along with a short bow as he passed them, those who were on guard remained at the end of the corridor, it was as close as he permitted them to his rooms. He had dealt with the urgent duties that were required of him, but no more than that, he did not want Harry to wake up alone - it was going to be quite a confusing time for him. Damn Dumbledore, he should have listened to Alfred and at least written a letter to Harry. Pursing his lips as he sat on the chair beside the bed, observing his mate, he was completely stunning and mesmerizing. There was no doubt he was physically attracted to Harry, considering Severus felt desire for him upon seeing him enter the room in his white robes. He hadn't reacted quite that way when he'd seen Harry last, but why should he have? Harry had been a child, merely thirteen years old. He had wished to meet him, but refrained, quite worried what his enemies would do should they find out.

His fingers moved the long silky strands of hair from Harry's face, there was a superficial resemblance to his father there, but not enough he couldn't identify Harry as his own man. If truth be told, he actually looked more like Lily. He didn't let himself worry about Harry's reaction; he'd deal with it when the time came. He hadn't been surprised when he learned Harry was his mate. Instead he'd just been amused by the irony, yes, he'd loved Lily, she had been the only person in his life, the only pure person, to stick up for him, to love him back (even if it was only platonically), to treat Severus as he'd always wished to be treated - normal. Not as a freak or as if he was shit someone had trod on. There was a reason for everything, and it had hit Severus upon seeing Harry for the first time. He was the reason it would never have worked out. It had been Harry all along who he was supposed to be with. The age difference mattered little to him; in fact, he preferred it that way. Harry would always be his; he'd know no other pleasure by someone else's hand. Harry was his to mold into the perfect lover, the perfect mate, willing though he'd never take him against his wishes. It was going to be extremely difficult through. He made such an enticing spectacle, spread out on his bed, covered in his scent, his pale skin shining like a beacon against the dark colors. He was perfection.

"Enter," Severus called out before a knock sounded the door, doing so quietly not wishing for Harry to wake up before he was ready; it was going to be quite a tiresome day. "Thank you, Anne," he said as breakfast was placed on the dining table at the side of his room via a levitating charm, a warming spell imbedded keeping it at a good temperature for them.

"My Lord," Anne said, giving a curtsey before closing the door once more, leaving Severus and Harry to their privacy. The rooms were covered in spells, including partial silencing charms, you could hear out but nobody, not even his vampires could hear in, he could adjust it so that in an emergency his men would hear him.

Standing up, Severus moved over to the dining table and sat down, sighing softly, and thinking once again on the same thing that had plagued him all night. If Harry had not consented, why had he gone through with it? Anyone in their right mind would have protested, made their thoughts clear on the subject. Harry was a Slytherin, perhaps he saw some good come out of it for himself, and did it for power, the prestige that came with it. Part of him wished Harry had spoken out against it, this was his mate, and they weren't exactly getting off to a shining start now were they?

Harry stirred his conscious returning to him, the first thing he noticed was a beautifully decorated ceiling, and not that he was able to admire it overly much as the pain returned. Certainly nowhere near as severe as before, in fact, he would say it was pretty damn mild. Clutching at his ribs, he shot up regardless of the pain and began to look around, wondering where he was. The last thing he remembered…Harry gritted his teeth, Dumbledore had blackmailed him; he only hoped the bastard lived long enough for him to rip him to shreds. He would do everything in his power to see that his retribution was fulfilled. Then he noticed the vampire, he scrambled off the bed to the other side, green eyes watching him carefully, grimacing at the thought of being touched or watched while he was unconscious. His hands automatically begun reaching for a wand, worrisomely it was not there. His breathing hitched, he had no wand.

He stared at the vampire, defiantly and with no small amount of fear, "Where is my wand?" he questioned, his breathing a little loud in the otherwise completely silent room. It wasn't ethical to remove someone's wand unless they were a criminal and being sentenced, or a danger to themselves and those around them, of which he was neither. Well, he had received a letter from the Ministry of Magic for underage use of magic, had they snapped his wand?

"Calm down Harry, breath deeply, you are only irritating your ribs by panicking," Severus said soothingly, he had been observing the teenager. "You do not have it?" he asked seriously, already knowing the answer but needing confirmation that he hadn't missed it in his panicked state.

"No," Harry choked out, he felt very vulnerable and naked without it. Breathing harshly, feeling as though he was back at the Dursley's and utterly defenseless. To make matters worse, he hadn't even seen the Dursley's since he turned eleven, and started at Hogwarts five bloody years ago. He had sworn never to feel that way again and he hated himself for reacting.

"Calm," Severus said, approaching Harry, plucking the vial from the table as he went, and getting the teen to swallow the concoction his fingers brushing soothingly down the back of his neck. Harry would come to trust him, rely on him, need him but he would need time to build that trust. "Breathe through your nose, that's it, do you remember where you had it last?" his smooth tone easing Harry's fears further.

Harry felt nothing but relief coursing through him at the words; it meant that the vampire wasn't deliberately keeping his wand from him. Closing his eyes, he thought on the last time he had his wand; it came to him pretty quickly. "Dumbledore took it," the calming draught stopped him getting worked up over Dumbledore, prevented the rage he felt from being displayed.

Severus nodded, guiding the teen back onto the bed before he moved towards his door, opening it he called down the hall to his people, "Go to Hogwarts and get Harry's wand, summon it if you can." They wouldn't come back without it, nodding at them as they acknowledged their orders, giving a quick curtsey before they were gone.

"Why am I here?" Harry asked after the door closed again, green eyes never wavering from the vampire, who he assumed was the vampire Lord.

"I will explain everything soon, you have my word," replied Severus, inhaling his mate's scent mingled with his own, Merlin he could get lost in it for days. "Once you have had something to eat and your wand returned to you." That should ensure that he had Harry's full attention and the fear should also lessen. He did not blame Harry for his reactions; he too would have felt extremely worried if he had woken up without his wand.

Severus wanted his mate in his arms so badly, for so many years, he'd wanted someone to love him, that person had been Lily for many years. She had been the only one in his life who didn't seem to care he was poor, or scrawny and underweight, she had been so pure. From what Langdon had told him of Harry he was like neither of his parents but with some attributes from Lily shining through, his work ethic, his kindness, even for those who did not deserve that kindness. "Join me for breakfast," he finally said, gesturing towards the meals.

Harry stayed still for a few seconds before his stomach rumbled loudly, he was hungry; he hadn't eaten for what felt like weeks. In the days since his birthday, he'd only eaten small bits here and there, too worried about Dumbledore and what he could want. Go figure nothing he had thought up was anywhere close to the reality, his imagination had truly let him down in that regard. There were so many things he wanted to ask, such as if he could write to his family at least, for they were his family, they'd given him the only joy he'd ever known in sixteen years. Merlin, what was Remus doing? Did he even know? Was he worried about him? Of course, he was worrying about him…but what if Dumbledore lied? What if Dumbledore actually went ahead and turned Remus in? Werewolves and Vampires didn't get on if they knew he might never get to see Remus again or write to him.

Both of them sat in silence, Harry paid no attention to anything as his mind ran amok with fears and questions that remained unanswered. The promise to have his wand and the answers eased him enough so that he could actually eat some food though. Truthfully he hadn't expected this when Dumbledore all but blackmailed him into going through with it. He didn't need to be in perfect health if the vampire wanted to drink from him…he could see no other reason for his presence here so it was the only logical explanation.

Harry was jerked out of his thoughts by an abrupt "Enter," from the vampire opposite him; there hadn't even been a knock at the door. Yet it opened, vampire hearing, he had to remind himself, he would have heard them coming a mile away.

Storm and Corin curtseyed smirks adorning their faces, conveying their success without needing to speak.

"Is Dumbledore still breathing?" Severus asked them, amused.

"Of course, My Lord." said Corin answering Severus' question, holding the wand out but a gesture from Severus led them to handing it over to their Lord Consort, who snatched it with a look of relief plainly written across his face, they curtseyed to him as well, not insulted by the way he had taken it, for they would have reacted the same way.

"With a sore back," said Storm with a straight face, "We couldn't summon it, I think he must have had plans for it." as they said, they'd tried summoning it to no avail. They'd had no choice but to confront the Headmaster and get their Lord's mate his wand back. He'd been stupid enough to leave it in his cloak pocket, then again it didn't matter where he left it, and they could smell Harry's scent on it. They'd have found it anywhere the old fool had placed it.

"Well done," said Severus wryly, "You can go; I won't need you for the rest of the day."

"Yes sir," said Storm speaking for both of them, before giving a curt nod of respect and leaving. They didn't need to be told twice, they were going to spend the rare day off with their significant others.

Severus turned and faced his mate again, just as smug if not more so than the two women, even if he didn't express it. He had his mate here with him, so why not? He had the right to feel a little smug, didn't he? Even if the circumstances that brought him here weren't exactly ideal. His heart lurching when he saw unshed tears in those green eyes. He could have dealt with anger, but tears - even ones of relief just made him feel like a total failure.

"Why am I here? Who are you?" asked Harry in a soft voice that conveyed vulnerability. Who could blame him? He'd been practically kidnapped by Dumbledore in the middle of the night from the only family he'd known. Manipulated and blackmailed into a handfasting, with a vampire. Then woke up in a strange place with only Vampires for company. He might have been considered 'Slytherin' but in the end, he was a sixteen-year-old boy who's life had never been stable, at least until he was twelve years old. When Harry realized that he'd always be welcome in Zabini Manor and that Remus wasn't just going to up and leave one day.

"You are safe here, at Prince Castle, and I am Severus Snape, officially Lord Severus Prince," Severus informed the teenager, mentally preparing himself to tell him everything.

"Severus Snape? The Potions Master? You give my dad his Wolfsbane potion!" Harry cried out in shock, he hadn't known Snape was a Vampire, Remus had never mentioned that. Did that mean he was truly safe here? Snape had given his dad the potion, for nothing…surely that was a good thing. He prayed to Merlin it was. Which meant that he knew who Remus was; he'd been giving him it for two years, how long had Snape been planning this?

"Somebody had to," said Severus wryly, he suspected Harry was beginning to understand the full scope of the situation. The one word that stood out was the word 'dad' it made him feel physically sick. Well, it could be worse, it could have been Black his mate was calling dad. There was still time for that, for all he knew Black and Lupin were still together. Who would have thought he'd be wondering about them? He hadn't thought about the idiots in fifteen years or anyone from his schooling years - Lily was the only exception and an understandable one.

"I'm not allowed to go home am I?" asked Harry voicing his worst fears. He wasn't stupid; he knew he was missing a great deal of information still. Nobody went through all this just to let him go back home, no, and he was surrounded by vampires at all sides, he wouldn't be able to do a thing without Snape knowing. At least it wasn't Dumbledore; he supposed he could live with that, at least he hoped he could. Only time would tell, but right now he was being treated fairly.

"Aren't you more curious as to why you wound up here?" asked Severus avoiding the question, but he knew that wouldn't work with a Slytherin.

Harry's green eyes glared into his, giving Severus very optimistic hope for their future. Way to avoid the question, but avoided or not he knew the answer was no, "Actually I am." he said his voice filled with honesty despite his glare, which was already gone replaced with anxiousness. He desperately wanted answers, he felt adrift at sea with no life vest in sight.

"Very well, but you must promise to listen to everything, and not interrupt…I shall answer any questions you may have in the end is that understood?" said Severus, his voice, and face serious. There was nothing he hated more than being constantly interrupted. Especially with conversations like the one he was about to have.

"Yes sir," said Harry subdued staring at the floor reminded once again that he was stuck, and would literally have to do what he was told to survive here. He had survived ten years at the Dursley's with constantly changing rules just to trip him up; he would do the same thing here if he had to. If he played his cards right, he might just be able to see his family again.

Severus leaned over and lifted Harry's chin, his thumb delicately stroking back and forth, giving him a small measure of comfort. "Do not fear me, Harry, I will never harm you," he promised, Harry wasn't one of his subjects and shouldn't be staring at the floor. He wanted to see Harry's beautiful green eyes always and never filled with anything but love and devotion. That time would come, he'd be patient.

Harry stared at Severus almost blankly; the touch grounded him and stopped him falling into despair. His thoughts were a dark place to be indeed, even Harry didn't want his own thoughts. For some strange reason, he believed the vampire when he said he wouldn't hurt him. The fact Severus had returned his wand was probably the deciding factor on Harry trusting Severus right now. Harry nodded once, feeling rather bereft when the touch stopped. Severus was a stranger why did he seem to crave his touch? Normally he didn't like people touching him, other than Blaise, Maria, Teddy, and Remus.

"Come," said Severus, holding out a hand for Harry to take, he felt great satisfaction when Harry took it without question. He wanted this over with so he could officially start 'courting' his mate. He wouldn't accept no from Harry, he couldn't bear it if that was his answer.

Harry was led to a very spacious sitting room there was a fire roaring in the fireplace, which was surrounded by marble. A large coat of arms was atop the ledge, with expensive engraved candlesticks. The room was done in a royal blue color, if he'd known who Severus was he would have been greatly amused by it. Taking a seat he watched Severus move over to a corner cabinet and open it, and remove an item. Not just any item, but it looked to be a handmade, personally designed Pensive. It made the ones he had seen in the shop insignificant. He gazed at it in awe; it was truly a beautiful piece of work, exquisite really.

"Harry I must warn you the contents of this memory will be extremely…" Severus tried to think of a word to convey how distressing it would be, so he settled for one he'd just thought. "…heart wrenching for you to watch. If it gets too much just say the word and I will bring us out, do you understand?" he didn't want to distress his mate, but he also knew there was absolutely no way in this world anyone would believe him if he was to say they survived a killing curse. That it rebound onto the Dark Lord and destroyed his body.

"Yes sir," said Harry staring at it with apprehension, what kind of memory could be in there that would make him scared? His brow was furrowed, nothing was making sense.

"Very well," said Severus, reclaiming Harry's hand he touched the shimmering surface that made up a memory. Dragging them both down to the depths, so they were able to see it. Severus kept a tight grip of Harry; he alone knew just how hard this memory would be for him to view. He wondered perhaps if he should have just discussed it with Harry. He shook his thoughts off; they were here now, no point in thinking any further on the subject.

Harry looked around the memory, he saw Severus in it, at least it looked like him, they were the same age sure, but he didn't have the more aristocratic look he did now. He was running into a small cottage, one that looked oddly familiar but Harry couldn't place it. He looked around, as he was led in, rather curious as to why he had been invited to see this memory in particular. What would it reveal and what did it mean? Then he saw him lying there.

Harry paled swallowed thickly, feeling as if he could sick up his breakfast. Now he knew why Severus had said it would be bad. It was his father, James Potter laying there dead his eyes glazed and unseeing. Not that he saw it for long; regardless a tear worked its way down his face. Dumbledore had caused that, Voldemort may have said the spell but Dumbledore and his stupid Order was behind it. He was soon led up the stairs by a guiding hand. His hold tightening on Harry when he almost tripped at the same moment he heard his mother call out.

"Not Harry, please! Don't hurt my baby, kill me, have mercy!" even after all the times he had seen it, it still hurt to hear Lily so desperate.

"Stand aside!" they heard another voice demand.

"Never," cried Lily once more, just as the memory Severus made it to the top stair.

"Avada Kedavra," yelled Voldemort.

Severus moved them into a corner where they could see the rest of the conflict taking place. His arms came around Harry giving him some form of comfort, even his own heart clenched upon seeing Lily dead at Voldemort's hand. Harry had tears freely running down his face; he didn't want to see this. He turned to the only person there, refusing to watch it; he had never experienced this kind of pain that was lancing his heart right now.

"Harry, you need to see this, you need to understand," said Severus as he wiped away the tears. He heard Harry taking a deep shuddering breath before he turned back to what was happening right in front of him. Then he saw Severus casting the curse, it had been him all those years ago who saved his life? Then he saw it…the second killing curse rebounding of him and hitting Voldemort just as Severus' hit his back. He forgot everything as he stared unseeing. What had just happened? How the hell had he survived a damn killing curse? A curse that's said to kill anything, absolutely anything breathing in its path.

Having seen what Severus had wanted him to see, they found themselves evicted from the pensive. Severus led Harry to the comfortable couch yet again, sitting the stunned sixteen years old down. Giving him time to come to grips with what he'd seen. It wasn't until he'd been turned into a vampire, after that night, had he realized what really happened. He had pretty much the same reaction as Harry.

"H-how is that possible?" asked Harry finally able to speak and think coherently. He could barely believe what he had seen. Yet he knew had known for years things showed inside a pensive couldn't be faked, not even by the best of Legilimens and Occlumens.

"I do not know," said Severus quietly, regarding his mate contemplatively. "When Langdon told me about Dumbledore keeping a close eye on you, I suspected he may know or suspect, something more than what he was told went on that night," replied Severus ignoring the startled look on Harry's face by the mention of his teacher. He was in no way prepared for the look of pure loathing that crossed Harry's face at the mere mention of Dumbledore. It was rather daunting, especially since Severus recognized the look all too well; Voldemort had supported it when mentioning Dumbledore. There was something going on that he didn't know about.

"When Dumbledore came here, hoping to negotiate for help, I made a decision." said Severus, "I told him in turn for help, I wanted you."

Harry's eyes widened upon hearing that, clutching his wand tightly, feeling very angry again. He had been an idiot to believe he'd be safe here; he'd been traded like bloody cattle between them. His eyes automatically looked for any exit, but this was a castle, and there were others here. They'd gone for his wand, his heart sank, and it was just like the manor with Dumbledore all over again. Only this time he was trapped with Vampires who could move faster than him, not just an old man. Why give him his wand? Harry had never been more confused in his entire life.

"We made a vow, the stipulations were, that you were to be brought here for your sixteenth birthday, be willing to come, to do the handfasting, and more importantly you were to be uninjured," said Severus seriously, ignoring the fear emanating from Harry. "In turn, he would receive twenty of my best-trained vampires."

"Your best-trained?" asked Harry warily, so Severus Snape was the vampire Lord after all.

"Yes, Harry. I am the Prince Vampire heir, and Lord to my subjects." Severus informed Harry.

"What do you want with me?!" Harry asked, he'd read a book in Zabini Manor about the Prince Vampire line, somewhere down the line the two families had connected via marriage. Then again most families, at least pureblood families, were interconnected. They married their own cousins and such, just to keep their line 'pure' as can be. They had more money than sense, more power than they could use more political power than actual power levels in regards to their magic. Why on earth would Snape want him for Merlin's sake he was just a sixteen-year-old teenager, why would he care if he was willing and unharmed?

Severus sighed in exasperation at the worry and fear unconcealed from those green eyes before he spoke, "Harry, I have already promised never to harm you, and I do not break my promises."

That didn't comfort Harry in the slightest, he was only getting pieces of the puzzle, the majority was either eluding him or he still hadn't collected all pieces yet.

"Do you know about vampire mates?" enquired Severus.

"A little," said Harry, not much about mates was discussed outside of vampire covens. Not how they were chosen or what they did to them, or what their traditions were. He did know that vampires all had mates, and could potentially have more than one, but once they chose, they mated for life or immortal life as the case may be. He knew they were revered, coveted, loved, cherished and protected. His dad still hadn't found his; he would never be complete until he did.

"You are mine," said Severus. It was as if time had stopped as if it had been waiting for this very moment. It all came down to how his mate would react; all he could do was make Harry believe him. All he needed was time, patience and he would win Harry's heart.

"You went through Dumbledore to get me," said Harry, sounding disgusted, hurt thrumming through him. "Your supposed mate was traded like cattle,"

"Yes, yes I did. I was unaware that you knew nothing; I was prepared for you to be sullen at feeling duty bound to come. Not prepared to have to tell you everything, especially in regards to what Dumbledore has done. He will not get away with his actions, nobody hurts what is mine and gets away with it." said Severus unable to curb his possessiveness, to make matters worse - Severus didn't know the whole story but he soon would.

Harry's eyes flashed eerily green, in complete agreement with Snape, if he did nothing else but bring Dumbledore down...then he would die happy. Unfortunately, his dire thoughts began circling his mind like a vulture once more not letting him have the satisfaction that Dumbledore would be taken down.

Edited 2/6/17