Guilty as Sin

CHAPTER 18

Harry jumped nervously at a sudden rustling in the dense tree canopy above him. Cautiously he glanced around him for signs of attack and when he found none relaxed again. It had taken them only a short walk to a small clearing in the forbidden forest but to Harry it had felt like a lifetime. Having ignited the magical fire the stranger had then made herbal tea and offered Harry some bread from his duffle bag. While the stranger seemed to be trying to put Harry at ease it had completely the opposite effect on the boy. Now though they sat on opposite sides of the fire in silence all the while the auburn haired stranger staring at Harry in amusement.

“Are you fearful of the creatures this forest hides?” Harry quickly looked back through the flames of the fire at where the stranger was leaning against a fallen log. Harry chose not to answer just as he’d done to all the other questions and comments the stranger had made since they’d been in each other’s company. “You shouldn’t be afraid. We are darker than anything that may live among the trees, it would not be worth their lives to interfere in ours.” The indigo eyes of the stranger sparkled dangerously through the flames at Harry who tucked his hands into the sleeves of his jumper for warmth. “I assume you’re from the castle on the hill.” Harry watched as the Superei broke off another square of his stale bread dipping it into the herbal tea to soften it before carefully placing it in his mouth. The man was nothing like Severus was. He was too nice for a start and completely harmless so far, but he smelt foul like rotting fruit unlike the unique, aromatic scent of his own Superei that Harry was often drawn to. “Not claimed yet either judging from your willfulness, but just to be safe.”

Before Harry could react the elder man had flicked his wand at Harry. The charm instantly dragged Harry’s reluctant body around the fire and over to the man’s side. Restrained by the charm Harry was defenseless as the stranger put his meal aside and slipped his cold hand down the front of Harry’s loose fitting sweat pants. Harry practically squealed with surprise as the man’s cold fingers wrapped around his limp cock giving it a firm squeeze before slipping lower to his arsehole. Harry’s eyes bulged out of his sockets as two cold digits were pushed ruthlessly into his pucker and up into his arse causing a searing pain. Harry helplessly felt the man’s fingers prod his inside for a moment before being pulled free. Wiping his fingers on his cloak carelessly the stranger went back to his meal as finally the charm wore off and Harry was able to scramble away from the man. “Just as I suspected untouched and without young. Perfect.”

Harry drew his wand out of the sleeve of his jumper and aimed it squarely at the stranger’s chest, hardly believing he’d just been violated so casually. The stranger didn’t flinch at Harry’s threat and merely looked up slowly at the boy with a dangerous flicker in his indigo gaze. “I warned you about that, push me and I’ll break that pretty face of yours. Now sit down and we can share the spoils of my evening.” Harry’s hand shook unsteadily as he stared at the indigo gaze of the other man. Harry had never felt so unbelievably helpless before and slumped uselessly back to the ground. “Good boy.” Harry watched through his barely restrained defiant gaze as the stranger opened his duffle bag removing from within it a small rack of magically chilled vials. Harry’s interest picked up immediately as the stranger sat the rack of vials on the ground beside him and slowly uncorked the first. The aroma that instantly assaulted Harry’s senses was amazing and the boy found himself purring in delight as the stranger swirled the vial’s contents around in its frosted glass. Harry had smelt the metallic twang before a million times, sometimes his own but most often than not someone elses. Yet he’d never smelt it before like this, sweet, fresh and with an irresistible aroma of magic. Harry’s entire body was instantly ensnared by the smell and he crawled on hands and knees back over to the man who was holding the precious vial.

“First time?” The man muttered as he tipped the vial a little way allowing one drop of the crimson liquid onto Harry’s parted lips. “Freshly harvested from a young wizard in the village and all yours.” The strangers voice was like liquid velvet running over Harry’s body as the boy flicked out his tongue and tasted the red drop on his lips. “You need a Superei who can provide these things for you my little bathing beauty, I can be that and more.” Harry was too busy tipping the vial of sweet liquid into his mouth to even register that the stranger had begun kissing and licking his exposed neck and throat just as Severus enjoyed doing after a particularly nasty clash between them. Nothing in the world seemed to matter for Harry as the ice cold liquid ran down his throat sending sparks of ecstasy through every vein in his body. The vial however ran empty quickly the euphoric feeling of the liquid settling in his stomach drawing Harry from his aroma induced madness back into reality just as he felt a set of teeth grazing his neck ready to puncture his skin. From nowhere Harry regained his defiant streak and with ease he flung the man from atop him before springing to his feet. With his wand outstretched Harry watched as the stranger shook himself from the shock of being dislodged and looked up to growl menacingly at the boy. Harry knew that look in the man’s indigo eyes, it was the same one that passed over Snape’s gaze a moment before the man struck with force.

“It seems I was mistaken, you are taken after all.” Harry steeled himself as he watched the stranger begin circling him. Instinctively Harry looked for an escape route, he would not win a fight against a Superei but he could at least out run him on familiar ground. “It appears I will have to fight for you.” At that moment there was a loud screeching above the canopy as a huge gust of wind dislodged the roosting winged creatures above them. The stranger looked up and Harry saw his opportunity and took it. With a speed he reserved only for running from Voldemort Harry took off through the shadows of the forest, dodging fallen branches and vines that scratched at his face and body as he ploughed through the thicket. Behind him Harry could hear his pursuer barging through the forest after him. In the darkness and practically blind it was impossible to use any forms of curse or hex without risking a rebound and so Harry was safe if he could just get to the castle.

It seemed like forever until the forest started to thin the flickering of the lights from the castle guiding Harry in the right direction. The stranger was still behind him and had gained a little ground in the thinning edge of the forest. Harry didn’t slow off though and merely kept his eyes focused on the target ahead of him as he stepped onto the soft tendered grass of the lawns leading up to the side entrance of the castle. Exposed now there was nothing holding his attacker back and with a high pitched wailing sound a green curse shot past Harry’s head narrowly missing him. From the years of training with the order Harry began to zigzag desperately trying not to provide a steady target for the man pursing him. The castle walls loomed thankfully above him as Harry continued to dodge the curses thrown at him, his zigzag motion working. However the last hurdle was the stone steps up in through the wooden doors and there was no way he could prevent being a sitting target as he ascended the steps and slipped through the door. Harry made it to the top step of the entrance when the curse struck him in the arm sending him sprawling against the wooden door crying in pain. Harry ignored the agony though knowing his attacker was just a stones throw behind him. Grappling with the door handle Harry yanked the heavy solid door open and pushed himself desperately inside. Falling to the floor inside the castle Harry turned on his back and with a flick of his wand sealed the door closed behind him. Panting like a racehorse after a derby Harry remained poised on his back staring up at the door his wand held out in front of him aimed squarely at the entrance incase his attacker followed him in. Harry wasn’t sure how long he stayed like that staring fearfully and in silence at the door, waiting. Finally though he realized he was safe and collapsed exhausted on the stone floor. For the first time Harry registered the music of the continuing winter feast still going on in the great hall above the rapid beating of his heart.

Harry whimpered painfully as he picked up his limp right arm lying immobile at his side. The curse had hit him in the shoulder and while it had only grazed him it was still gruesome to behold. A crisscross of burns was making their way down his arm and right side from the original point of contact on his shoulder. The pain was excruciating but Harry knew he couldn’t lie here and be discovered by just anyone. Tucking his injured useless arm into the front of his jumper Harry staggered to his feet using the wall as guidance. Blindly Harry pulled his father’s cloak from the torn pockets of his sweat pants and dragged the cool material over his body. Then carefully Harry staggered towards the dungeons and Snape’s chambers.

Harry practically fell down the last flight of steps into the corridor leading to Snape’s private rooms, the energy he was using to fight the curse sapping him of the strength to even walk. On his hands and knees Harry crawled to the entrance and with his feverish forehead pressed against the stonewall whispered Snape’s password. The door opened immediately and Harry dragged his body through into the warmth of the room, sliding the last meter to the carpet beside the fire on his stomach. Exhausted and bordering on unconsciousness Harry with a last surge of energy hauled himself up on to his knees in front of the fireplace and closed his eyes to wait…

TBC>>>>>>>>

A/N *looks around nervously* Damn I think I scared you all off...*Wails pathetically* I\'ve lost you again down the back of the fan fic couch...