The Purpose, Rewritten, Chapter 39 Born this way
If Merebelle was in the castle, that is the first person he would want to see.
''She apparated? Or came by floo in the village?'' Asked Seth.
''If you mean miss Dumont, she arrived at noon, and we had time to speak a moment before I did know someone broke into my office.'' Said Dumbledore. ''I believe she was fascinated by the forbidden forest before I came here.''
Now knowing where she was, Seth hurried down the stairs, then out the castle. He immediately felt her aura and went in her direction. She was looking at some flowers by the edge of the forest, and when he was close enough, he went behind her and grabbed her by her waist before he spun her around.
''Wouahhouu!'' She laughed. ''Seth! You are here?''
He put her down and smiled at her.
''Please… forgive me, Merebelle. I can't thank…''
Merebelle placed a finger on his lips.
''You had your way of grieving, even if it took you a long time. I am happy you came back. Even more happy because you are there for your daughter now.'' Said Merebelle before frowning. ''So, why are you here? Did you come to see Dumbledore?''
''Yes, I did, but he just offered me to teach defense against the dark arts.'' Said Seth.
''You accepted?'' She asked, still frowning.
Seth knew why she was worried. He was still in withdrawal from what he took in the last seven years, and he could not eat solid food yet.
''I'll… manage. Slughorn is the potion master… still.'' Said Seth.
''You think he can find a solution with a potion?'' Asked Merebelle.
Seth exhaled loudly.
''Well, I hope so.'' Said Seth.
They walked on the stone path leading back to Hogwarts.
''How do you feel?'' Asked Merebelle.
He knew he would be lying if he said he was fine. The constant headache and his muscles stiffening every step he took was a reminder of what he was going through.
''I'll manage.'' He repeated.
Merebelle made a disbelieving face.
''You would need more time, not discipline young fiery students.'' Said Merebelle.
They arrived in the great hall.
''Did you meet all the teachers?'' Asked Seth.
''Maybe not all of them. I saw the half-giant Hagrid outside; he is very nice. Too bad you don't have centaurs as teachers too.'' Said Merebelle.
''Hagrid is a caretaker, I believe, unless it has changed. There are centaurs, but they live in the forest. I believe there are three different tribes, and they don't like wizards much, but it's the only place they can be.'' Said Seth.
''Hm. If they did remove the stick from their asses, they would be wonderful to be with. I understand why Galinos never had a good opinion on Hogwarts' centaurs.'' Said Merebelle.
Seth made a snort at her comment, then remembered he didn't have anything to stay here at Hogwarts.
''I'll go get some things at home… some clothes and some books. I'll be back for the sorting. Perhaps you can tell the teachers I'll be coming and if Dumbledore has not yet spoken to them…'' Said Seth.
''I don't even know them myself! This will be a great conversation.'' Said Merebelle.
''Right. See you later, Merebelle.'' Said Seth.
Seth stepped back, smiling at her, then ran fast towards the edge of Hogwarts' wards. Even if he could apparate within, he preferred not to test it. He apparated in his castle, then asked for his house elves to help him make some luggage. While they did, he spoke with Lazarus and Galvin.
It took longer than he thought. They talked about the current vampire situation, and a ministry worker actually asked for entry permission within his wards. After a clear, it was the minister herself, along with Jonah Shacklebolt, and Abraxas Malfoy. Seth's old friend stayed courteous, his head high, and not showing any favoritism about anything. The minister explained she had received a last letter from Dumbledore about the mark and they had reached the decision to help get back the vampires into the community.
His wealth and influence had been mentioned indirectly as she had explained what departments had been crucial to get back again, and for that, a smug smile appeared on Seth's lips.
''It reached the board as to how you are the Defense against the Dark Arts teacher?'' Asked Malfoy.
''News travel fast.'' Said Seth bluntly.
''Lucky Miss Dumont is there too.'' Added Malfoy, rubbing mindlessly his right arm.
Never would Seth think that his friend would be saying a silent threat against Merebelle since he knew he invited her for every birthdays, parties and celebration with every pureblood that existed in England. But he understood that right instant that Abraxas meant Voldemort would know what he was doing and where he was. Seth had not answered Voldemort's allying attempt, nor would he.
It was the first time he defied Tom, and it left a bitter taste in his mouth.
When they were gone, Seth fed on a servant before he used the floo system, and arrived in his own village, Meadowfields. He would have stayed a bit to see what changes occurred, but he looked at the time, and knew the sorting was really close to begin. He hurried to Hogwarts's wards, who let them in again before securing and he ran to the great hall. He went around the main doors, not really wanting to make a big entrance anyway, and tiptoed to sit beside Merebelle as McGonagall was calling the first student.
''If Miss Dumont had not told us, you were now a colleague, I might have had a heart attack, my boy.'' Whispered Slughorn on his left.
''Figured Dumbledore would not have had the time to tell you, right?'' Said Seth, half-smiling. ''I'm glad to see you again, Professor.''
'HUFFLEPUFF!'
''Call me Horace, Seth. I believe we do the same thing.'' Answered the potion master.
''Oh, no. I'm dreadful in potions.'' Said Seth.
''SLYTHERIN!'
He clapped with others as a young girl was heading towards the snake's table. Horace chuckled at what he said and shook his head.
''Ah, that I do remember. The only NEWT you got an Exceed Expectation.'' Said Horace.
''Don't need to remind me. But I did do better in Africa… I think.'' Said Seth.
'GRYFFINDOR!'
''There was no potion usage in that duel though.'' Said Horace.
''Not directly, but they were useful… after.'' Said Seth, remembering the terrible wounds Blackwell and him had had.
'GRYFFINDOR!'
''Ah, yes indeed.'' Answered Horace.
Seth looked at his daughter, still waiting her turn to get sorted. She seemed quite bored by the sorting or was it because she looked at Sirius Black who had gone to the Lion's table instead of the Snake's. She had butterflies floating around her head who even emitted light every few seconds. It was really beautiful. A simple charm, but what would normally be a third-year spell, and he was already impressed by her.
It was with no surprise she went up when her name was called, and the hat barely touched her head before shouting 'SLYTHERIN!'. He clapped like everyone else, but he thought she would have been the last one, until 'Yaxley, Rosanne' Was called by Minerva.
Not being close to Callum, Corban's brother, made Rosanne birth's undetected by either of them. He had a niece… kind of. She was also put in Slytherin, and Seth's eyes landed on Lucius Malfoy, his godson. He was the spitting image of his father at his age. He had two years left in Hogwarts from what he remembered. His daughter had sat beside him, and he saw him saying something to her and she stopped her butterfly charm, making him frown. Why would he tell her to stop doing magic? Lucius's eyes landed on Seth's glare, and he looked away. Seth heard his heartbeat going a faster pace.
Good. No one will ever tell his daughter what to do except him… and perhaps Merebelle. She had earned the right to do so, after all.
Dumbledore had begun a speech about the rules and the forbidden forest, and he introduced Merebelle as the new History teacher. She stood up and everyone clapped for a few seconds before she sat back down. Some students, especially boys, were still clapping vigorously before Dumbledore told them to calm down.
''And you being a Veela has nothing to do with it, hm?'' Whispered Seth beside her.
''No idea what you are insinuating, Mr. Vampire.'' Said Merebelle.
''And now, as our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, please welcome Seth Vulken!'' Said Dumbledore.
Seth stood up, making a charming smile, and among the claps were girls making more sounds than boys this time. But he did notice a lot were also concerned or had heard bad things on him. He brought up his hands in front of him, pouring out his magic out of them, making bright green, blue, red, and yellow swirls flowing out and going in the center of the room where they took form of their respective animals from the different houses, then they bursted in thousands of miniature lights before they disappeared.
Ohs and Ahs were heard from everyone, then loud clapping and cheering.
''Well, are you trying to impress someone?'' Asked Merebelle as Seth sat back down.
''Trying to ease the ones who are afraid of me.'' Said Seth in a serious tone.
By the look Dumbledore gave him, he knew he had done the right thing. The Headmaster brought back the attention to him and elevated his hands.
''Let's eat!'' Said Dumbledore.
A feast appeared in front of everyone. While everyone dug in their plates, Seth excused himself and decided he should go in his quarters to settle before classes the next day. Upon arriving at destination, he immediately felt something was off. He placed a hand on the DADA doorway, and something shook in his magic. He frowned, then closed his eyes, concentrating on the magic that he had felt… or more like, a long-time curse that was placed on this room.
Oh, how good it had been created. It was subtle, and only someone who knew what Tom's aura felt like would know it's creator. He tried to know where it was placed… where it was cast. It was in the very wall of the room, going all the way to the office in the back.
Parsel magic.
He softly spoke in Parseltongue, casting the long spell for revelations. He slowly followed the links travelling through the walls, the to the fireplace of the office. The fire was not lit, and he moved the embers to reveal a metal casing where it had been blocked by multiple runes. No one would have been able to find it, except perhaps Ruma if she knew how to use Parsel Magic.
He carefully passed a finger on the runes.
301 days.
Dark fate.
Defense Magika.
Deny Dark Lord.
Blood.
Did he read the runes correctly? He frowned and looked for a piece of paper and quill. He wrote down the runes on the parchment. He moved his head up and down, and side to side, thinking about the different runes he knew of and how subtle they could be changed to fit a desired will.
Overall, it meant that only Voldemort could teach Defensive magic in this room. Any other would suffer a terrible fate after 301 days, a magical number dividable by seven. He sighed as any modification of these runes could result into potential catastrophic harm. The countdown had begun on him.
''Clever fucker.'' Cursed Seth under his breath.
A swooshing sound was heard over the desk in the office. It was a parchment with the timetable of his classes. Had Minerva already given the timetables for the students? He made a quick Tempus, noticing it was almost curfew. Had he spent two hours looking at the runes?
''Hey beautiful.'' Said Merebelle in his doorway, startling him. ''Oh wow, you did not feel me? You must have been really focused.'' She walked to him and looked over his shoulder at the parchment. '' Runes. Never was great in that. What's it say?''
''Apparently, I'm cursed to have a dark fate at the end of this year… unless I do something to prevent it.'' Said Seth.
''What?'' She looked at him, confused. ''What do you mean, cursed?''
''Well… that Dark Lord, Voldemort… placed a curse on DADA class.'' Said Seth. ''He used to be my friend when I was here. You would know more than me about his… activities.''
Merebelle made a grave look.
''Last year… last Christmas… Ruma and I went to Malfoy manor, like we always did every year, but this time it was… different. There were not the usual purebloods we used to see every now and then. It was more sinister… and Voldemort made a speech. I still feel it inside of me… a small compulsion to listen to his all very beautiful ideas and be okay with everything he said. Of course, he mentioned the extermination of muggles, not directly, which… many were fine with that.'' Merebelle stopped, taking a breather. Seth placed his parchment down on his desk, then placed a hand on Merebelle's cheek which she grabbed and closed her eyes briefly. ''It made me doubt, Seth…, I-I agreed with what he said… all magical creatures would never have to hide and use their powers like all they wanted… to claim the earth as ours and build a new society which had to start with the annihilation of the ministry…''
Seth shut her mouth by kissing her. He did not want to hear that another wizard wanted world domination, or that she was agreeing with any of this. His old habits from the last seven years wanted to take over. He gripped her by the waist and sat her on his desk, biting her bottom lip, then going for more red-hot kisses as his hands were going through her shirt. He unbuttoned it quickly and passed his hand under her bra while his other hand caressed her back with soft fingers.
She moaned against his lips, and he only kissed harder, bringing his tongue in her mouth, wanting to taste the dinner he forbade himself to take. Her shirt fell down, then her bra. His mouth found her chest and he sucked a nipple and pinched the other before going back to her mouth again. The sound she made only encouraged him to continue. She removed his large cloth-belt that was holding his dark green tunic, also unlocking the sticking spell preventing his clothes to easily fall down or open as it now did. His upper shirt fell down in a thud.
He grabbed her by her back to remove her from his desk. Her hands slid down her pants, but she kept her red and thin underwear. Seth also let down his pants and tossed them aside with a foot. His shoes had been gone ever since he mindlessly always removed them where he knew he would stay the night, and it was his office after all.
He placed her again on his desk and moved his hands on it, adjusting magically the height of it so she was perfectly in place for him. Merebelle was such a body perfection, mainly because of her Veela blood.
''You are beautiful, Mer.'' Muttered Seth, pushing on her chest and making her fall down, her back on his desk.
She smiled knowingly and crossed her legs behind Seth, bringing him even closer to her. His raised member was right against her dripping sex.
''And you are the perfect man.'' Said Merebelle.
He bent down to kiss her, moving a hand behind her head and softly pulling on her hair. His kisses went to her jaw as he moved his basin, slowly guiding his cock inside of her. He moved her panties to the side before entering her. She moaned loudly, mixed with his own growl. His hand tightened on her hair, and he moved his other hand behind her back, elevating her from the desk and he opened his mouth, licking her neck before sinking his teeth in her skin.
He moved his hips faster and listened to her cries of joy, slowly drinking the happiness he had missed… one of his most desired habits. Taking the happiness in others, one drop at a time, and this was no different. He took… harder. His grip tightened. His movements went faster, with more vigor.
He saw his friend's memories, her desires, and the many conversations she had with the Purebloods in flashes. Her taste changed as she came in complete extasy, and so did he. He took a deep breath, then growled fiercely, planting his nails in her skin.
Out of breath, he licked her neck in a swift motion, then slowly removed himself from her, while he took her hand and brought her sitting on the table. He kissed her softly and ended it with a lick before he grabbed his pants and put them back on.
''I'm sorry you had to go through Voldemort's influence, but if you cross paths with him again… It won't be in good terms.'' Said Seth.
''Did you get yourself another enemy?'' Asked Merebelle with a soft giggle as she was putting her clothes back on, too.
Seth sighed.
''He tried to bribe me with what I once wanted… or to still get what I had in the last years… I can't fathom my head about what he did to himself… He is but a shadow of what I once knew of him.'' Said Seth, softly taking her chin between fingers. ''But he threatened to hurt the ones I love, and I have a feeling Dumbledore guessed it and it was a reason he asked you to be a teacher here.''
''Oh… so it's not because of my super knowledge about the history of magic?'' Laughed Merebelle cheekily.
Seth chuckled and shook his head.
''You should go to sleep. I believe a first day for both of us teaching something is going to be intense.'' Said Seth.
''Did someone tell you who's on night duty?'' Asked Merebelle.
''Uh… no.'' Said Seth.
''Don't stay up all night. I know you want to try to figure out that curse, but it won't help if you are sleep deprived.'' She said before kissing him on the cheek while tiptoeing and leaving his office.
Seth sighed again then looked at his office to see what books there were. He sat down for a couple more hours and made plans for each year and what he would teach. He would have to figure out a way to remove the curse or modify It so that he can still be there the next year.
What was he thinking? Worrying about teaching while his life could be in danger. He grunted again and flipped through the Book of curses he had already read twice.
His stomach growled and he winced at the idea of trying to find a source of blood while he was busy. He made a quick tempus, and it showed three in the morning. He closed his book and made his way out of the castle.
He heard some noises close by. Students were already fooling around even on the first day, but he ignored them as he had more pressing matters. He went directly in the forest and hunted three rabbits, drinking their blood without satisfaction. He tossed their bodies and thought about Miami. He missed the pleasure he constantly felt when he was drugging himself.
''Nothing has changed.'' Whispered the quiet thoughts of Danyck.
''What didn't?'' Asked Seth back.
''The way you are feeling.'' Said Danyck.
And it was true. The pain might have dulled, but his thoughts always went towards Corban. He missed the soft songs he constantly played in their minds.
''I miss him.'' Said Seth.
Danyck said nothing more. Seth did not blame him. Danyck seemed to love chaos and bask in whatever pleasure he could have, on top of being someone important and he had been in Seth's shadow back then, not that he was very demanding.
He went back to the castle, thinking he should have at least a little shuteye before classes.
But the nights he laid down were the worst of all. Nightmares crept up back in his mind and he had forgotten to take dreamless potions with him. He woke up covered in sweat and screamed Corban's name. Luckily, he did place silencing charms on his door. He made a tempus, and it showed only 5h22. He rubbed his face and went to the loo, wiping his face with cold water.
He looked at his face in the mirror. It had been a while since he ever looked at himself. He always looked as if he was in his twenties, with not even a single mark on his face. He had no scars and the black veins he once had because of the cursed potions had been long gone when he had stopped eating food, and now he wondered if the cursed potion even did something to his body so that he no longer could eat food. He had not discussed it with Dumbledore either.
He passed a finger on his chest where a burn mark from the timeturner had not gone away. It was a reminder of the day he had lost his parents. He had never asked Corban for another timeturner, for he knew messing with time was so dangerous. If he had never used one in the future to prevent something, then that might have been for good reasons too.
He swallowed with difficulty, remembering how he had gone completely crazy over his husband's death, and even meddling with necromancy to turn him into an inferi. He had finally placed his body to rest after a long month, seeing that he could never have him back. But also, because Danyck succeeded in making him see reason, for all that was worth before he dropped into a bigger hell.
He had even thought about the resurrection stone that was once on Tom's ring, but he had no idea where he would have placed it. Asking him now would be out of the question, and if that madman even knew about it, it would just be another tempting prize over his deep desires.
Just to see Corban again.
He sighed and went to dress himself with black pants and a dark green tunic and silvery threads. He was a Slytherin through and through after all. He looked at his feet, and thought, for once, that he was not obligated to wear shoes, which he did despise. A simple covering spell on his feet prevented any damage, should he step on something that could hurt him.
He stared at his reflection in the taller mirror, and knew he looked good. He had always been someone important, and if he could have influence on kids by teaching them whatever he knew was right, then perhaps he could focus on that reason as of why he was born this way.