The Purpose, Rewritten, Chapter 45 DADA Curse

February 14th, 1972

Ruma folded a card she had written for Severus. She really appreciated his friendship and his intelligence. It was far from a love card, and she knew he had a thing for Lily anyway. They hanged out together as often as they could, and Lily was nice to her too. She was thinking too hard on this love thing, and they were way too young.

James had changed attitude towards her ever since day one when she was in Slytherin, and so with Sirius, they did many bad jokes on her, or at least, they tried to. But she could not avoid them all. Her countercurses had limits. Even this morning, her shoes had been colored in yellow and brown and had a sticking spell on their sole. It took her long enough to remove the charms that she arrived late in class, and McGonagall had given her detention.

''She really does not like you. You should tell your father.'' Said Rosanne.

''Pft. As if I'm one to whine to him. Besides, I'm not going to give Potter and Black the satisfaction of going to an adult. I'm impressed they even dare do things like that considering who is my father.'' Replied Ruma.

''You're going to use one of those green goblins that distributes the letters?'' Said Rosanne.

Ruma blinked and looked at her as if she was stupid.

''You want me to humiliate him for some reason? No. It's just a friendship letter, and I'm going to…'' Ruma sighed and left the table, her letter in her hand.

''Hey! We have history in less than half an hour…'' Said Rosanne.

Ruma did not listen to her, she was fast enough to go to the owlery. As she went up the stairs, someone snatched the letter from her hand from behind.

''HEY! Give that back!'' Roared Ruma.

Sirius laughed and moved the letter away from her grasp.

''Try me!'' Sneered the Gryffindor.

''ACCIO LETTER!'' Yelled Ruma as she pulled out her wand.

The letter went back to her, and she refrained herself from cursing him.

''You're no fun, just like all Slytherins.'' Said Sirius.

''And you are a fucking idiot.'' Retorqued Ruma.

''Such a bad mouth for a princess.'' Taunted Sirius.

Ruma huffed then went back to place her letter to an owl. Sirius followed behind, but stayed cautiously away.

''Why do you keep nagging me? I never did anything to you. At least Lily is not from the same mold.'' Said Ruma.

She sent the owl away and went to the stairs.

''Every snake is the same, and I know you will do something, so I'm just taking the advantage.'' Said Sirius.

Ruma scoffed, but hurried back down to get far away as possible from him. If that day could end sooner, she'd wish to have the power to do so.

After classes, she went to McGonagall's office, and knocked three times.

''Come in.'' Said Minerva.

Ruma entered then sat where her teacher told her. There was a parchment and quill on the desk, and she knew she'd have to do lines again.

''What do I have to write, professor?'' Asked Ruma.

''I shall arrive on time and not disturb my peers.'' Said Minerva.

''Yes, professor.'' Said Ruma.

She held her tongue, and prepared herself for hand cramps as the two hours would pass slowly.

She had just written a full page when a loud bang was heard.

''You stay here.'' Ordered Minerva before pulling out her wand and hurrying outside.

Ruma stood and went to the window, trying to see something. She heard McGonagall yell, then a moment later she was holding Rosanne and James by the ears.

''Explain yourselves. Placing a dung bomb in the corridors at this time?'' Said Minerva, irritated.

''He did it! And he's trying to blame it on me!'' Protested Rosanne.

''Liar! You put that in my bags!'' Replied James.

''Twenty points from Gryffindor and Slytherin for littering the corridors and lying to a professor. How about you join Miss Vulken and do some lines.'' Said Minerva.

Rosanne and James dared not say anything more and sat at the same table as Ruma. Ruma knew not to ask questions of Rosanne's guiltiness, since a Slytherin would never do something as reckless as a Gryffindor.

The rest of the detention seemed to pass faster with them both beside her, and the teacher let them go after another hour. It was past curfew, so McGonagall went with James and Lucius was the one to bring them back to the dungeons.

''How dare you tarnish Slytherin's reputation with that behavior of yours, both of you.'' Sneered Lucius. ''How many times did I tell you if you want to do something against other houses, you must never get caught.''

''Black or Potter was the one to enchant my shoes this morning, and it took me longer to remove that than usual… and I got late.'' Said Ruma.

''And you did not think to ask an older student to do it for you?'' Hissed Lucius. No, she was too proud for that, and she thought she could do it herself. As she did not answer, Lucius turned to Rosanne. ''And you, a dung bomb in Potter's bag, you could not think of anything else to blame that brat?''

''I'm sorry, Malfoy.'' Said Rosanne. ''I heard them talk about the curse they placed on Ruma's shoes.''

''Don't. Get. Caught.'' Hissed Lucius between his teeth.

Ruma huffed and went directly to her bed. She pulled her curtains and spelled them to be unmovable by others. She pulled out one of her father's diary from under her pillow and continued where she had left off.

I kissed him and I took his blood again.

There was a blank page before Seth had written again. Ruma knew he was writing about Corban since a little star had been drawn in the margins, like each time he spoke about him.

That servant I killed keeps coming back to haunt me. I do not feel any remorse for a simple muggle servant, but she keeps going back in my mind. I looked at myself, the memory of myself, that took intense pleasure in ending her life.

But today, I did think of something else. Today, I enchanted snow to turn into flowers for Monica.

Ruma had read those pages before, and although the lines further were about how he wanted a book from the Greengrass, the small things he did for her mother were written in this diary. The small things she could know about her mother. She skipped a few pages, even if a long gap separated the part she wanted to read again, then went to the part where he freed her mother from the curse.

He went into every detail, and she blushed as she read. Although as sexual her father had written those lines, it seemed that he also wanted to write exactly how he had managed to free her from the curse, like an enchantment recipe, and it somehow dulled the sexual aspect of it all. She could only imagine what her mother had felt like, before, during, and after.

She also felt some kind of jealousy as no boys or man would ever make her feel like a vampire could do to their lover. She had seen the hunger in Lazarus's eyes over the years, and some other vampires. One had even tried to go after her before Merebelle stopped him. Keith was the vampire's name, she remembered. One that managed the muggle village on their island, along with Galea and Steven.

She has no idea what Merebelle had done to Keith, but he never had set foot again in the castle after that. She leafed through the diary and stopped on a picture of Seth shaking hands with the headmaster Blackwell when he graduated. He was smiling and nodding at the black wizard. How she wished she could have seen that duel he barely wrote about. She closed the diary and placed it back under her pillow.

Her father's diaries were something she prized over many things. Reading them a second time opened her eyes to different meanings as she was older. She sighed and closed her eyes, going to sleep after a long day.

OoOoO

March 17th, 1972, DADA class

Seth had a pile of finished tests on his desk he was correcting as some 6th year students who were not done were scribbling, were still in class. Others who were done had already gone. His eyes were fixed on a copy as his mind wandered about the DADA curse, he would have to very soon find a way around it. He had made progress but still some runes would be fatal if written incorrectly. He would have to modify one, and only one… but which?

''Excuse-me, sir?'' Said Celeste Graves.

Seth blinked his surprised and looked at her. She was the daughter of Wilhelm Graves, the one he used to have so many problems with at the ministry. But, his daughter was extremely smart, just like him, and had ended in Slytherin, although he was sure the sorting hat wanted to put her in Ravenclaw.

''Yes?'' Asked Seth.

She wore her shirt as if she had none, showing the top of her breasts so openly, he thought a sticking charm was on it, which could clearly be the case. She was not like other girls in her year, and mostly running after guys, She had a slutty reputation, and Seth thought she had bad issues at home and having a father like Wilhelm could be a reason. Although, she was one of the best in her year, and he was always impressed with everything she could do, and how fast she learned whatever he taught.

''I'm the last one, everyone else has gone already.'' She said as she twirled her blonde hair with a finger.

''Well, you can go too.'' Answered Seth.

She smiled and sat on his desk. Seth made a mental snort and kept an impassive face. Where was she going with that behavior? Seth grabbed his coffee and warmed it with his magic before taking a sip. Her eyes had lingered a bit too intensely on his coffee.

''Is it okay If you correct my test before I leave?'' Asked Celeste as she handled her copy which strangely smelled like Merebelle's perfume, lavender, and his favorite wine, but… so had his coffee.

He took her copy and his mind went blank. He felt soft and nervous lips on his own and a warmth all over his body. Next thing he knew, a swirl of memories that were not his own invaded his mind.

''I told you to use the love potion sooner than that.'' Hissed Wilhelm.

''He's a great teacher! Better than Callum ever was, and he's just barely alive from that Meadowfields attack. Why do you still hold a grudge on him when he personally killed Grindelwald!?'' Said Celeste.

''How do you know that?'' Inquired Wilhelm with narrowed eyes.

''Merebelle Dumont teaches history, and we learned about it this year.'' Said Celeste.

''He's still a vampire and needs to be out of this school! He's a danger to everyone!'' Said Wilhelm.

''I don't want to do it, I… I could get hurt too, father.'' Said Celeste, trembling.

Wilhelm went to her and took her chin.

''If you don't do as I say, I will disown you and you will never get a dime from your heritage.'' Hissed Wilhelm.

''What if I get caught? Love potion is against the law! And it's super hard to make!'' Said Celeste.

''Don't get caught. I thought you were supposed to be a Ravenclaw?'' Said Wilhelm.

''I'm a Slytherin.'' Mumbled Celeste.

''Prove it.'' Spat Wilhelm.

Boom Boom

The slowly thumping heart barely hit against his tongue as the sweetest blood in the world continued to flow down his throat.

He was hit from behind by a stunning spell and everything went black.

Seth woke up in a panic, surrounded by staff members. He was in the infirmary, and he looked around, trying to feel Celeste's aura and let a breath of relief as he did feel her in the same room as him, alive.

''I did not control myself!'' Seth tried to defend himself. ''There was…''

''Love potion. We know.'' Said Albus. ''And the reason why you are here, and not in a cell.''

Seth fell back on his bed and placed his hands on his face. One of his fears was to kill a student, and he had not touched his coffee until the very moment Celeste had gone beside him as he had been way too invested in the DADA curse. If it continued like this, he would surely be dead, or worse, by the end of the year.

''I'm so sorry Mer.'' Seth mumbled through his finger. ''Dihen- nin''

Merebelle smiled and sat by his hip and took his hand in hers.

''Im ú- dubium cin.'' Said Merebelle softly.

''I thought you were one to watch what you drink, Mr. Vulken.'' Said Dumbledore.

Seth sat on his bed, still holding Merebelle's hand.

''I always did… but I was… a little less suspicious being here.'' Said Seth.

''Pardon my curiosity… How did Miss Graves managed to get bitten by you, if this was a love potion?'' Asked Dumbledore.

He felt McGonagall's accusative eyes on him, the same as the nervous Slughorn, who probably had been the one to give him the antidote. Merebelle knew and squeezed his hand in encouragement.

''When I kiss someone, it usually ends with me wanting to give… pleasure to said person.'' Began Seth.

''She was almost dead. We barely saved her!'' Said Slughorn.

''Let him finish!'' Said Merebelle.

''There is a reason why my father wrote laws about vampires when children are concerned… Before one becomes an adult, their blood is…'' Seth stopped and turned his tongue in his mouth before trying to explain what he meant. ''The best thing that you could have in the whole world, but also something that you would crave so badly that it would almost be impossible to stop taking unless you had the mental strength to do it, which I had not when the incident happened.''

McGonagall placed a hand over her mouth in shock, as Seth would have expected. Knowing this information would put his job at risk. He looked at Dumbledore who nodded in comprehension.

''You have proven to me that you never placed a student in danger, Mr. Vulken. For that, my judgement is to still let you teach, although Miss Graves will be expelled from Hogwarts for endangering a teacher, the students, and using a forbidden potion.'' Said Dumbledore.

''Please, Headmaster… Celeste was forced to do that because her father, who absolutely despises me, would disown her and remove her heritage. If you could let her finish her studies, then her future will be her own.'' Said Seth.

''How exactly do you know that information? This is a grave accusation.'' Said McGonagall.

Seth stood up and pursed his lips.

''Drinking blood is drinking the person's memories, no matter how bad you try to protect your mind. You can't hide anything from a vampire.'' Said Seth in a serious tone.

No one spoke, and Merebelle cleared her throat.

''Isn't that a wonderful skill that could be used in court?'' Said Merebelle, trying to ease the tension.

Seth pulled lightly on her hand and made a snort.

''Vampires have bad reputation now, and I doubt the ministry would ever allow our use like that, considering what it implies.'' Said Seth.

Merebelle shrugged and rolled her eyes.

''Wizards here are so obtuse.'' Said Merebelle.

''Thank you, for this… information. I think it would be time to rest on what happened, and I shall speak with Miss Graves in the morning.'' Said Dumbledore.

''I have one question. Who stunned me?'' Asked Seth.

''Me, silly. A simple stunning spell can't make you unconscious, and besides, you would have avoided a stupefy, but not the Nimgrume curse.'' Said Merebelle.

''Nimgrume…'' Mumbled Seth, trying to remember that curse.

''Well then, shall we?'' Said Dumbledore, showing a hand towards the door.

Seth sighed and went out with Merebelle.

''You keep getting into trouble.'' Said Merebelle as they walked back to their room.

''Trouble keep finding me, you mean.'' Said Seth softly. ''I'm thinking… maybe we should get married this summer instead.''

In case he dies, thought Seth darkly. Merebelle stopped and turned towards him.

''Why? If anything, we should do it even more early. Don't think you will get away from me that easily.'' Said Merebelle before landing a kiss on his lips.

''I need help.'' Said Seth.

Merebelle chuckled.

''You? Needing help? Since when?'' Laughed Merebelle.

Seth made a grunt, but he was facing a real challenge when the best rune user had been Gellert Grindelwald.

OoOoO

A week later he was standing, arms-crossed, in Dumbledore's office. Tapping his foot, Seth waited that Dumbledore went through all what he had researched in the last months and written every rune possible and every rune similar to the ones Voldemort had encrypted on his curse.

He saw the Headmaster rub his temples, sigh loudly, and make every possible grumble he had ever heard coming from him.

''What if you changed Dark rune for… good?'' Asked Dumbledore.

Seth scoffed, irritated.

''No, it would interact with the number of days and possibly kill me instantly. If there is a solution, it won't be blatantly obvious, Albus!'' Said Seth angrily.

''Right, don't get on your high horses. I'm trying here.'' Said Albus.

Albus frowned, then shuffled through a dozen papers, then brought out one, then another and placed them side by side. One of them was written every word about Slytherin and Parseltongue, the same as heritage, blood, and ancestry.

On the other was about rulers, like King, Lords, minister, and presidency.

''Here…'' Said Dumbledore as he pointed at the Runeword for Dark, then another at Lord before shifting to the other paper where was written Parselmouth. ''And here… what's that one?''

''Parselmouth.'' Said Seth, who realized why Dumbledore was pointing at those specific words. ''You've done it… you found it.''

Seth's arms almost went on the floor. The solution had been in front of him all this time, but seeing so many lines and dots every damn night was driving him crazy. A line and a dot was the only difference between Dark and Parselmouth and the combination of Parselmouth and Lord became the meaning of Parselmouth user, which also would mean that Seth could still be teaching and since it barely modified the phrasing, it would not break the curse.

''interesting… does that mean Lord becomes user?'' Asked Dumbledore.

Seth began to laugh as the stress was lifted from his shoulders.

''It does!'' Seth moved his hand in the air and all his papers flew to his hand.

He then proceeded to run back to his office and throw the papers on the table before going to the fireplace where the black box shone brightly. He took and empty quill, then bit his wrist before dipping the quill in his blood. Then, as carefully as he possibly ever could, he made a straight line over another on the Runeword Dark, then a dot at a specific place.

''Change.'' Hissed Seth in Parseltongue as he imbued Parselmagic in his word.

The box glowed even more before going back to a normal hue again. An immense pressure seemed to lift off from his mind. Even the magic itself felt brighter in his own room. Seth laughed again. He was finally curse free…

June 28th 1972, Vulken isle

Seth tried to contain his joy as he looked at Merebelle coming towards him on the long red carpet separating his family and hers. Ruma went in front of her, dropping rose petals on the ground. Many other guests also were in the back sharing either sides they wanted. A servant was singing a French song he thought was so beautiful and appropriate for them.

''Ce n'est pas un songe d'une millième nuit.''

''Coudre nos cœurs pour une même vie.''

Merebelle wore a white dress with flower-shaped embroidery, opened on sides of her belly. Her long blonde hair had been curled, and she wore a crown of real flowers. When she got close enough to him, he pulled her in an embrace and kissed her deeply. People laughed at the gesture, for he could not wait.

''You are supposed to wait, Seth.'' Said Daevion Blackwell.

Seth had asked for Uagadou's headmaster, Daevion Blackwell, to marry him and Merebelle, since it was where he had met her.

''Je suivrais l'effluve… des rivières qui filent vers toi.''

''She's mine already.'' Said Seth with a smile.

''Just hurry up, Headmaster.'' Giggled Merebelle as her eyes were fixing Seth's.

The groomsmen were Abraxas Malfoy and Lazarus Vulken, while the bridesmaid were Melody Theley and Galinos Bastakos. Merebelle did not have siblings, but her parents were sitting on her side as well as many real Veelas. Many vampires were gathered on Seth's side as well as teachers from Hogwarts. He had sent an owl to Danyck, hoping he would come, but he had received a letter only saying congratulations.

''Laisse-moi goûter à tes lèvres devant l'autel. Savourer le sel… du moment internel.''

The song ended and Blackwell cleared his throat. His voice was amplified by a spell he made.

''We are reunited today to celebrate the union of two beautiful souls. By accepting our invitation to our school, Seth met our lovely Merebelle and made immense progress in his magic. I am proud to be here, and from this moment on, if there is anyone that refuses to let those two unite, speak now, or be forever silent.'' Said Blackwell. He waited with a smile to see if anyone would speak, but no one did. ''Now would be the moment to say a few words, Seth.''

Seth couldn't move his lips from smiling so much.

''You want me to start?'' Giggled Merebelle, staring right back at her love, but Seth shook his head.

''I once had no space in my heart for it was already full when I met you. You supported me through everything that happened in my life. You never saw my flaws as something wrong, but rather something to be worked on or used differently. You raised my daughter as if it was your own. You listen to me, to my ramblings, to my problems, and still manage to make me whole, and make me laugh everyday.'' Seth took her cheek in his hand and passed his thumb over her lips. ''I promise to cherish you, my heart, my other half, and protect you with my life, and give you everything that you will ever ask of me.'' Said Seth.

''Mel, I once tried to steal your heart, but someone had already taken it.'' Merebelle reflected Seth's own words. ''You came back to me broken, and I mended what I could. I no longer needed to steal your heart for you had given it to me on a silver platter. I will cherish you, support you, and love you for as long as I live.''

Blackwell opened his arms.

''Then, let me ask you, Seth Vulken, will you take Merebelle Dumont to be your lawfully wedded spouse, to have and to hold from this day forward, in sickness and in health, in poverty and in wealth, for as long as you both shall live?" Asked Blackwell.

''Yes, I do.'' Answered Seth.

''Merebelle Dumont, will you take Seth Vulken as your husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, in sickness and in health, in poverty and in wealth, for as long as you both shall live?'' Asked Blackwell.

''I do.'' Said Merebelle.

''You may k…''

Seth had grabbed Merebelle by the waist and pulled her close to kiss her intensely. She gasped in surprised then laughed against his lips as the crowd erupted in cheers and applause.

Venthyr translation

''Dihen- nin''

''Pardon me.''

''Im ú- dubium cin.''

''I never doubted you.''