Crimsion Kiss

Recap of chapter 1:

"I wouldn't open that without someone here to assist." Snape said.

Looking closer, Harry saw there was a rat inside. "Sir...?"

But Snape was gone and Ron was a looking at Harry like the world had ended.

"Blimey Harry, that's Scabbers!"

Chapter 2

"Sca - Scabbers?" Harry stuttered as he looked into the cage again. Sure enough the rat was missing a toe.

"That's one hell of a birthday present! Now you can free Sirius!"

Harry looked up at Ron's words... Severus Snape, the man who thrived on making his life hell, had just given him Peter Pettigrew as a birthday present? "Ron..."

"I know, Harry... I'll... uhh... just go get Siri and Remus... Right..." Ron mumbled as he headed to the door.

"Ron?"

"Yeah mate?"

"Don't tell them Snape gave him to me..."

Ron looked at him strangely but nodded anyways and left to wake up the others.

"You really are something else, aren't you?"

"Harry?" Sirius asked as he came into the room and looked down at the cage. "So it's true?"

"Yeah, we can free you. It's really Wormtail."

"Wow... I..." Sirius seem stunned, his eyes not moving from the cage, as if afraid it would vanish before he could claim his prize. "I... How?"

Harry smiled. "I guess you could say I owe someone a really big favor now."

"Harry-"

"Sirius... what I want most, if for you to be free and for to find a way to defeat Voldemort. With Wormtail, we can have both! Wormtail was always Voldemort's side, Voldemort never considered him a threat. Wormtail will be questioned with Vertiaserum and then we'll be able to find out what Voldemort is planning!"

"Oh, pup!" Sirius exclaimed, throwing his arms around Harry. "I'll be free!"

"It's true..." Came a soft voice from the door.

Sirius turned, dropping Harry back to the floor. "Moony! I'm free!"

Remus laughed and pulled Sirius into his arms. "It's true, it's true..."

Harry smiled a little and ducked out of the room, closing the door softly behind him and made his way down to get something to eat.

"Oh, Harry dear, here you are." Molly smiled sweetly at him as he walked into the room. "Now come get something in your belly, goodness knows you're too thin."

Harry smiled and walked into the kitchen, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny already at the table. "Good morning."

"I guess it is." Hermione said. "Ron told that Wormtail showed up this morning. I'm sure you'll be happy to se able to see Sirius during school weekends and not have to worry about him getting caught."

"I sure am, after we'd get done seeing him, I would read the Prophet to see if he had been spotted again. It was hard to think of him going back to that place."

"And I think Remus is happy too." Ginny blushed.

Harry smiled, looking at Ron. "Yeah, I'm not sure I want to go back to the room anytime soon."

"Ew." Ron made a face and ducked when Hermione went to smack him. "Not something I needed to think about at the table, Harry."

"As if that ever stopped you from eating." Hermione huffed.

Ron grinned, showing a mouthful of half eaten food. "But, 'Mione, I thought you said you liked me plump?"

"Gross." Ginny gagged. "Not all of us can eat like you."

Harry laughed and scooped some of the eggs onto his plate. "Yeah, Ron, not all of us can 10 times our body weight at every meal."

Ron tossed a biscuit at Harry, who easily dodged out of the way. "Shut up, Harry."

"Now, now, boys, don't waist all your energy. We still have to get your school things today." Remus said as he walked into the room. "While we're out, Arthur and Kingsly are going to be taking Sirius and Wormtail to the Ministry for questioning."

"That's great!" Hermione said, standing up and pushing in her chair.

"Yes, so lets get started, if we hurry, we should get back around the same time as them." Remus smiled, not waiting for them to finish as he walked to the fireplace and picked up the floo powder. "Come on, Hermione, you and Ginny first."

Ginny stood up and grabbed her bag, giving Harry a small kiss on the check.

Harry blushed a bit, forgetting that Ginny still had such a big crush on him.

"Okay, Hermione, you go first. Professor Snape will be waiting for you at the gate." Remus said as she took the floo powder and tossed it in.

"Diagon Alley!"

Ginny grabbed some floo powder as well and was on her way.

"Okay, Ron. Your turn, and here, Molly said this was for yours and Ginny's stuff."

Ron nodded his head, and with one last look at Harry, he was gone as well.

"Harry, this is a key your father gave to me right after you were born. It's a key to the family vault. I'm not sure what the difference is between this one and the one you have now, but James seemed to think it was important."

"Thanks..." Harry said as he held the key close to his heart and got in the fireplace. "Diagon Alley!"

---HPSS---

"You okay, Harry?" Remus asked as he stepped out of the gateway and helped Harry to his feet.

"Never could get a decent landing on those things." Ron said as he smiled at Harry. "He's almost as bad at that as he is at dancing-OW!"

"You're one to talk." Hermione said as she elbowed Ron in the side.

"As enlightening as the present conversation is, I feel it is prudent that we discuss what the plan is for our day." Severus said as he came up beside Remus and glared at everyone.

"Well." Remus said, a smile still one his face. "Molly already gave Ron and Ginny some money for their things, but Hermione has to exchange some of hers for galleons. And I think, Harry, has to go visit his new vault."

Severus grunted but started walking towards Gringotts.

Harry glanced back at Remus before shrugging and walking after Snape. He didn't understand what was going on, but he knew something was.

He thought, maybe, that Remus was just worried about Sirius, but that didn't really fit. Maybe it was that he didn't trust Snape... no, if Remus didn't trust him, he wouldn't be here. Hmmn... maybe it was the fight they had. Ron said that Malfoy Sr. was a vampire. Maybe all the Death Eaters were... That could be why Remus never got along with Snape. Hermione once told him about the rivalry between the two groups and that it had lead to a lot of wars around the time when Hogwarts first started.

Yes. That had to be it. Snape was a vampire... Snape... Vampire... Snape... "Ahhh!"

"What's wrong, Harry?" Remus asked, looking worriedly at Harry as Hermione and Ron hurried to keep up with Snape.

"Nothing, just thinking."

"Well, come on, can't keep the day waiting for us now can we?"

"Right." Harry mumbled as he followed the others inside the building, missing Remus' fearful look.

---HPSS---

"Hermione, why don't you and Ginny go exchange your money, hmmn? I'll take Harry down to his vault but Ron and Severus will be here waiting." Remus told the two girls, not even looking at Ron as he gulped. "Come on, Harry, give your key to the goblin over there and we can start shopping."

Harry nodded and walked to the goblin in bright green. "I'm here about my vault, it's under the Potter family name."

The goblin looked him up and down. "Very well, Mr. Potter, do you have anyone who will be coming along?"

"Yeah, Remus. He'll be with me."

"I'm sorry, Mr. Potter." The goblin said. He looked around Harry to see which one it was he was pointing at. "The vault resides on the lowest level, it would not be safe for your... wolf, to join you for this journey."

"What? Why not?"

"Mr. Potter, the lower levels are top security. They are made of goblin forged silver, the purest type of sliver next to water sprites' silver."

Harry gulped. "Silver? So it true?"

"I'm not sure I understand what you are asking, Mr. Potter."

"The muggles, they say that... you know... sliver, it can hurt... well, people like Remus."

"I'm sorry, Mr. Potter, I do not follow muggle theory. But, yes, silver, undiluted, can harm many magical creatures when exposed in such high amounts."

Harry nodded and walked back over to Remus. "He said that you couldn't go."

"Why ever not?"

"It's on the lower levels, and that part of the bank if made out of sliver. He said it would hurt you."

"I'll take the boy." Snape replied as he grabbed Harry's arm and walked with the goblin to the cart.

It wasn't such a bad ride down, Harry decided as he got into the cart. He had done this before. But then, something about the way Snape said he'd take him... well, Harry couldn't help but blush at the memory of it, of how Remus' eyes had become wide and a bit pained.

"Make room, Potter." Snape said as he got in beside Harry, his leg pressed against his.

"Sorry, sir." Harry blushed again.

The cart took off with not so much as a notice, turning this way and that. And a few times, Harry found himself pressed up against his teacher. But only once was it that he was able to look into those eyes. They were deep and Harry was overcome with the feeling that they were sucking the magic right from him. They had glowed black, if possible in the darkness of the place, and Harry felt as if he couldn't breathe.

He was still looking into those eyes when the cart stopped and he was flung forward.

Snape still looked at him with the glowing eyes before he seemed to snap out of it and acted as if nothing had happened. "What are you waiting for, Potter? An invite from your dear, dead, father? Stand, now, I wish to get back to my brewing."

Yeah, brewing... Harry was sure something was brewing but he didn't think it was a potion.

"Mr. Potter, enter your key here." The goblin said, pointing to a small, carved knob on the left side of the large door. "Now, you must place your right hand here, and you sir, must place your left hand here."

Snape grunted but did as asked, waiting for Harry to do the same.

Putting the key in and pressing his hand to the door made Harry a bit nervous about what could be inside. But he knew it was worth whatever cause, this was his only connection to the Potter family, other then his dad.

The door opened with a thick scraping, dust falling from the almost white sliver. Inside was nothing like Harry had thought. It was filled with books and gold, blank paintings and old jewel encrusted swords. "Wow."

"To open, you need only press you hands against the door as when you came in." The goblin said as he pulled the door closed, the boom shaking a few galleons from their pile.

"No!" Harry screamed as he charged for the door, reaching it just after it locked. "Professor, help me get out! Professor--?"

Snape was looking at him oddly again... torches had lit when the door closed, giving the room an eerie glow. But Snape's eyes, they were glowing brighter, Harry was sure of it. Almost as if he had no more white to them... Harry gulped. "Sir?"

Snape said nothing as he backed Harry against the door, his body blocking his movements. He didn't seem to be aware of anything else in the room.

"Sir, I think something is wrong with you."

Snape bent his head down, his lips just brushing over the skin on Harry's neck, and breathed out.

Harry shivered at the gentle caress of lips and breath, making his legs weak. Just when he thought he would fall, his arms were pulled above his head and held in a firm grasp. Harry whimpered at the sensation, not knowing if it was from pleasure or fear. He was breathing fast, his heart racing, his head spinning. And then he almost screamed as a warm, wet tongue licked along his jaw. A soft humming sound buzzed around him as he was swept away, not noticing as one his hands was released and pressed to the door behind him.

"Soon." Was the only he thing said as the door was jerked open and Harry fell out onto the stone path leading back to the cart.

Harry looked up, fear clearly etched on his face.

Snape was back to normal, acting as if it had never happened... again. He picked up a scroll from near the door and dropped it in Harry's lap. "Do get up, Potter, one would think you raised by animals."

Harry gulped and nodded, stuffing the scroll in his bag and grabbing a bag of galleons by the door. Getting into the cart was more unnerving the he could have imagined, the ride back, even worse. There were a few times Harry thought he saw Snape's eyes glow, but then it would be just as quick.

He had never been as happy as when they came to a stop and Harry saw Remus waiting for him. He ran over, completely forgetting that he had not wanted to give away what had happened in he vault. "I want to go back home." He whispered harshly.

"Harry..." Remus pulled Harry away from the others to whisper to him. "Did something happen down there?"

"No." Harry said, a bit too load and way too fast. "No, I... I just want to see how Sirius is."

Remus looked like he wanted to say something else, but he held his tongue and nodded. He looked up at Severus. "Can I leave you with Ron, Hermione, and Ginny? We can order Harry's stuff. I think we need to go to the Ministry to see how Sirius is."

Snape grunted but he didn't seem like he was going anywhere so Harry tugged on Remus' sleeve and ignored the betrayed look from his friends. He knew they were worried too, but he had to leave. Now.

He pulled Remus away from the group and out of Gringotts. It wasn't that long of a walk to the Floo gate but to Harry it felt like a lifetime.

Taking out some floo powder, Harry bumped into Draco Malfoy, his father just coming out of the floo.

"Well, look at what we have here. If it isn't Potter and his pet wolf."

"Shut it, Malfoy." Harry growled as he stepped closer to Draco, getting between him and Remus.

"My, my, Potter, what do we have here?" Draco said as his gripped Harry's chin and titled his head to the side. "You've been Marked. Tell me, what kind of creature did this? I know it wasn't your wolf, maybe a vampire? But no, a vampire would have bit you."

Harry shivered as he thought of what Snape had done, it was almost as if he could feel his tongue on him still.

"Hush now, Draco, I'm sure Mr. Potter is well aware of what would happen if someone were to... find out about this." Lucius smirked, looking between Harry and Remus. "We should let them be on their way."

Draco huffed, letting go of Harry's chin and following his father, leaving the floo open again.

Harry tried to calm down as he stepped into the gateway. "Grimmauld Place!"

---HPSS---

Once again, Harry was on his back, staring up at the canopy covering his bed.

Remus had just left his room. He wanted to talk about what had happened in the vault. Harry had denied everything, of course, but Remus said Harry had a burn mark on his neck and jaw, a Mark he had called it. Harry didn't understand what he meant by that, but he couldn't see anything in the mirror. Maybe they were seeing things. No one had asked out it at dinner, not even Hermione. Thankfully Snape hadn't been there, Harry wasn't sure if he would have been able to keep anything down if he had.

-Knock knock-

Harry looked up as the door opened. Ron and Hermione came into the room, sitting on Ron's bed.

"Harry, are you sure you're okay? I thought you would be happier now that Sirius is free. I mean, Dumbledore gave him the Defense post this year, you'll get to see him all the time now."

"I am, Ron, but..."

"But what, Harry?" Hermione asked.

"I ran into Malfoy today. He said I had a burn or something on my neck. Remus called it a Mark."

"I can't see anything." Ron said as he looked at Harry.

"A Mark is just that, a mark left by a magical creature while binding someone to them. Mostly, it's in the form of a bite, and can only bee seen after the bond has been consummated. I've never heard of it being described as a burn."

"Then why can Malfoy and Remus see it?"

"Because, Ron, they are magical creatures themselves. They have to be able to see when someone has been claimed so that they don't try to bind someone who has been chosen by another. It can cause a war of sorts when two creatures have tried to claim the same person. Not that it would matter, the person would die right away if anther creature tried to claim them after they had been Marked."

"Wonderful, that makes me feel better. Now all Malfoy has to do is Mark me and Voldemort doesn't have to worry about a thing."

"No, it can't be done like that, Harry. If one creature kills another's mate, well, they have to fight... to the death. Malfoy wouldn't take that chance. They may serve Voldemort but they are Slytherin's too. They would never do anything if they knew it lead to their death. I don't think you have to worry about anything at school."

Harry nodded. "Malfoy said that it didn't look like a vampire, but..."

"But what?" Ron asked.

"I'm really not sure the one who did this isn't one."

"The only thing we can do is research it. When we get back to school, I'll get Sirius to give use passes to the Restricted Section. I'm sure they would have stuff in there."

"Yeah." Harry said as he looked away from Hermione. "Guess, I'm just over thinking it."

"No way, mate. It's better to over think it then to just forget about it. This way, you'll know to expect something." Ron smiled.

"Yeah but... what?"