Crimsion Kiss

Recap chapter 13

“Did you ever find it again?”

“No, I still go back to that room when I visit his Manor, but I never searched for it.” Malfoy said as he drifted off to sleep, a smile on his face as he remembered the soft glow of the girl he first fell in love with.

Chapter 14

Harry sat on his bed, frowning as he thought of what he should get Snape for Christmas. What did someone give a… Mate… for Christmas? Harry knew Draco had got a book on rare magical creatures and their locations for Luna; he planned to take her to see them during the summer. Ron had gotten Hermione an engagement ring, but they had been dating for a while already so that wasn’t much help. Seamus had gotten Dean season tickets to his favorite teams and a new broom. But all of those were children giving to children. Snape was older; he had seen and done more with his life. Harry wasn’t sure if he would be able to find something for someone so much more mature then him.

Draco had said that Snape enjoyed boats and art. But how was Harry supposed to know what to get? And it seemed like cheating if he asked Draco for more information…

Draco… Malfoy… Draco…

It still seemed strange to call him that…

Harry frowned as he looked down at his hands, folding them in his lap. He really didn’t know much about Snape… besides the marking… It was all so new to him, the gift giving thing. Sure, he bought some for Hermione and the Weasley’s and Sirius and Remus but that was so much different then getting something for a significant other.

“Harry?” Malfoy asked from the doorway. He looked at Harry with a questioning expression, his hands in the pockets of his dark gray slacks. “I’ll be leaving soon.”

“Right.” Harry sighed. “You’ll be there on Christmas?”

“Yea, the night before. Maybe even earlier if my mom goes to see some of her friends.”

Harry frowned but didn’t say anything; it wasn’t his place. “Are you going to say goodbye to Luna? She was looking for you at breakfast.”

“I have to talk to my father about it first. He knows that I can’t choose my mate but I’d still feel better if I had his blessing before I did anything. And besides, there’s no rush. Luna still has another year before her creature pushes her to start looking.”

“Well, I’ll see you soon, okay?” Harry smiled. “Have a good time at home.”

“Right.” Malfoy laughed. “I’ve got some last minute shopping to do this next week. Do you have anything you want me to pick up?”

Harry sighed. “Maybe some Chocolate Frogs for Stocking Stuffers? I’ve got everything else.”

“Got it. I’ll get the money when I see you. Bye.” Malfoy said as he left the room.

Harry pouted. He needed to find something to give to Snape but everything seemed too childish. And Snape was two different creatures, one of those Harry didn’t even know. But still… Snape was a Vampire. And Draco had said Snape liked other things besides Potions. Maybe something with the Dark Arts?

Yes. Harry smiled as he thought of it. Everyone knew Snape preferred the Dark Arts but the still got him things for Potions.

Not a book. No, that would be too impersonal, unless it was an important book, one that meant a lot to Snape.

But still, a book wouldn’t work.

Getting out of bed, Harry put on his shoes and went into the common room to look at the books shelf there. At the very least, he’d be able to learn a few more things about what Vampires did not like.

---HPSS---

“Potter!”

Harry turned, blushing as he saw Snape come towards him. “Yes, sir?”

“I just wanted to remind you that you are to meet me tonight outside my chambers so I can give you the password to get in.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Very well…” Snape looked at Harry, there was no one else in the corridor. He leaned forward, his lips brushing over Harry’s, drawing him into a gentle kiss. Snape pressed his body in closer, trapping Harry against the wall as he kissed him harder, driving his tongue into the warm mouth. With a gasp, he pulled away. “Right after dinner, Potter.”

“Yes, sir.” Harry panted as he watched Snape leave him. He slid down the wall, his head in his hands and sighed. The break hadn’t even started yet and he was already losing his mind around Snape. He could feel his creature magic pushing against the blocks on his mind, trying to get free. It was pushing for the completion of the bond. He could feel it, like a needy ache that craved the touch… an ever-growing hunger that demanded satisfaction… an uncontrollable desire for its mate to be returned. It ate away at Harry every time Snape was near, and it was only getting worse the more time he spent with the man.

“Hey Harry!”

“Ron? I thought you were going home.”

“I am. Mum and dad said they’d be by to pick Hermione and me up after Diner. They wanted to talk to Ginny alone.” Ron said as he held out his hand to help Harry up. “So what are you doing on the floor?

“It’s nothing, just a little weak.”

“Look, mate, I’m sorry about everything. I only wanted you to talk to Sirius. He really didn’t know about the Creature blood until this summer.”

“He still could have told me.” Harry mumbled as he slowly walked to the Great Hall.

“He wanted to, really! Dumbledore make him take an Unbreakable Oath to not tell you before the feast.”

“Yea, well, Dumbledore’s been keeping a lot of things from me.”

“What’s that supposed to mean? Dumbledore was only trying to find out if it was true.”

“Ron, are you that stupid?” Harry faced him as they stood just in front of the Hall doors, throwing his hands up. “Everything about me, everything that could explain what I am, Dumbledore had banned.”

“Harry-”

“No, Ron.” Harry cut him off. “Come talk to me when you’re willing to listen. “Harry kept walking past the Great Hall, ignoring Ron’s attempts to apologize.

---HPSS---

Harry stood outside of Snape’s office, wondering if he should take those last few steps to his chambers.

It had taken a while to find the perfect gift, a simple gift that had bee right in front of him the whole time. Not that it was so simple that it didn’t take a lot of magic to create. But Harry was still surprised it had taken so long to think of it.

“Harry.”

Harry spun around, coming face to chest with Snape.

Snape grabbed Harry by his shoulders and allowed his lips to turn upward in a small smile. “You’re early, Mr. Potter.”

“Sorry, Sir. I didn’t much feel like eating so I thought I’d make my way here. I hope I’m not too early.”

“Not at all.” Snape smirked. “Right this way. The password is ‘Ashwinder’.”

“Isn’t that a snake, sir?” Harry asked. He allowed Snape to place his hand on the small of his back and lead him to his rooms.

“The Ashwinder is a snake, although it only lives a very short time. They form when a magical fire has been left unchecked. The color of ash with glowing red eyes, they rise from the embers and slither into the shadows to lay its eggs. They live all of an hour but the eggs, if not found and frozen, will ignite a home with in minutes. The eggs are used on Love Potions.”

“Oh.”

Silence feel between them as they stood in front of a large painting of a ship wrecked Island. For a moment, Harry thought he saw a girl with red hair and a white dress, but she was gone so fast he couldn’t be sure.

“Just give the password and walk through the painting.”

“Through it, sir?”

“Yes, it’s a portal to my home. Although it is still under Hogwarts wards, so you don’t need to worry about anyone thinking you have left the grounds.”

Harry nodded once. “Ashwinder.” Nothing seemed to happen, only the winds slowing in the painting.

Now move along, Potter. The thing wont stay open forever.”

---HPSS---

Harry was overcome with the smell of the sea and cool wind on his skin. He breathed in deeply for a minute, humming in delight as it washed over him.

“This way.”

Harry was pulled out of his trance to realize he was standing on an old deck and Snape was holding the door open for him.

“This is Prince Manor, my mother lived here before she married. Before that, her mother lived here. My father owned a small cottage, Spinners End. He took her from here not long before I was born. My grandmother left this place to me. Her only demand was that I not change the name.”

“How many rooms does it have?” Harry asked as he stepped into the Entrance Hall.

The Hall had smooth stone floors, warm golden cream walls, high ceilings, a large stone fireplace, and a large stairway right in front of home.

“This floor holds this room, the kitchens, a small indoor garden, my labs, the storage rooms, and a chamber for the house elves.” Snape said walking up the stairs. “We have the dining room, my personal study, and the library here.”

“Are these…?” Harry looked closer. He picked a random book up and looked at it. “Are all these muggle books?”

“Yes, my grandmother enjoyed reading their thoughts on magic. Most of these are first editions, others are the originals written in hand. She also loved muggle music. She collected most of the original works of Mozart, including one he wrote on his death bed and never finished.”

“Not that I’m aware of, or at least not in the way she liked Mozart. Now here to the left we have the stair case to the third floor.”

“Do you enjoy muggle opera as well?”

“I enjoy it enough.” Snape said. “This corridor to the right will take you to my rooms if you should need me. This room is for lunch and tea. The tree will be set in the far corner once it is chosen. This…” Snape pointed to the double doors just left of the stairs. “Shall be your room. Merely place your hand on the doors and think of a password. You will be sharing a bathroom with Draco when he arrives. Only he is to know what your password is.”

“But, sir, what if something happens and I can’t call for help? How would you get in?”

“The house elves will assist you if you need it. Breakfast is to be served out here by 8:00 am. I will see you then, Potter.”

Harry watched as Snape left, leaving him alone in front of the large stained wood doors. He placed his hand over the door where they met. ‘Mozart’.

A slow creaking sounded as they opened. Light flooded Harry. The room was done in soft creams, the floor covered in a light mossy colored rug. The bed was a slightly darker green with pale butter and sand colored pillows. The walls were the lightest, almost white but with a gentle almond shade in the shadows.

The wall in front of Harry had two windows and glass double doors, all covered in shier drapes of the same color of pale butter as the pillows, as were the two other windows on the left. To the right there was only one door, stained the same as the ones he had came through.

Harry sighed and walked to the bed, stepping up onto the platform that held it. The only other furniture in the room was a large desk in the far left corner with his books set on it.

He wasn’t sure what he was going to do for a week but schoolwork wasn’t it.

Nope.

Nothing could make him pick up a book and quill now.

A/N: Well, here’s the chapter! I will be updating as often as I can, mostly on Saturday nights but I may be updating more if I can get the chapters out fast enough. But I am back for good now and I will have a chapter out once a week. I’m sorry if that isn’t fast enough for some people but I’m still missing a few outlines on several chapters and I have to rework parts of the story to cover the missing information.