Magical Splendor

Chapter 2 Alone at last

Snape closed his eyes and leaned back, spreading himself out over the top of his workstation. Papers were knocked off the desk, displaced by his body, but for once he didn’t care. The door to the classroom opened and heavy footsteps could be heard entering, closing the door firmly behind them. The potions master knew who it was; only one man had the nerve to enter his classroom without knocking first. The pain that consumed him was so intense that Snape forgot all about his pride and turned only his head to acknowledge the owner of the footsteps.

“Well I have to say I’ve never seen you like this before.” Lucious purred in a mocking tone, his face showing the surprise he really felt.

As Lucious came closer the pain disappeared and only the humiliating weakness was left. It was not like he hadn’t been in similar positions before with Lucius, so the idea of helplessness was easier to accept. The blonde man came to his side and looked down on him with that same mocking smile on his face.

“Dumbledore explained to me what happened and I figured I’d come see you. Shouldn’t you be teaching class right now?” He said coolly, turning Snape’s head to the side and revealing the bite.

“I sent them away.” The dark professor said tersely.

“It looks irritated.”

Snape made a soft sound as Lucius’ gloved fingers ghosted over the twin puncture wounds and the bruise surrounding them. That simple touch caused intense pleasure to course through his body like quicksilver and he shivered.

“Lucius please…”

The blonde man pulled Snape to his feet and held him in place since he couldn’t do it himself. The potions master stayed leaning against Lucius’ chest, appreciating the other man’s superior strength for the first time since they had been together. He felt fingers brushing his hair behind his right ear and then Lucious’ tongue was tracing the line where his fingers had been.

“Are you taking advantage of me?” Snape gasped. The low chuckle that answered him made him shiver again.

“Would you really care if I did?”

“No” Snape said a flat manner. He couldn’t seem to scratch the itch that had formed inside of him at the feeling of Lucius’ fingers on the puncture wounds. All he knew was that he had to do something to make the feeling go away or at least ease up a bit.

“That’s what I thought.”

“I have to take a potion to restore my strength.” Snape said softly.

“No, I think you can take it afterward, I rather like it when you’re helpless.” Lucius replied.

“You’re a bastard.”

“I know.” The blonde said turning Snape around and pushing him slightly. “Hold onto the desk.” He instructed. Snape did as he was told because he knew if he didn’t he would fall flat on his face. Snape moaned, hanging his head as he struggled to hold himself up on weakened arms. He heard the sound of fabric rustling and then Lucius’ hands were on his hips, pulling them out a bit for better access.

Then his own pants were being untied and his robe was being pulled up and out of the way. Snape felt a certain part of his body become slick as Lucius tapped him with his wand and he took in a deep breath. A moment later something large and hard was shoved into him and he bit his lower lips to stifle a cry.

Lucius’ thrusts were fast and ruthless causing Snape to rock forward as the other mans hips hit his backside. Snape’s body was shaking visibly and his breath was coming in short gasps, which made Lucius smile triumphantly. He loved pushing Snape to the limits of his control and then watching him tumble over, knowing he was the only person with that ability. He had wanted to hear Snape cry out, because thus far the older man had been completely silent except for his ragged breaths. Unfortunately Lucius knew he couldn’t last long due to the state of his arousal at seeing Snape so helpless. He vowed silently to make the potions master cry out the next time they were able to share this intimacy.

Snape suddenly stilled and his muscles tightened around Lucius’ cock as he reached his peak. Lucius came a second later and caught the other man before he fell to the ground in a boneless puddle. Snape clung to him trying desperately to catch his breath but finding it wasn’t so easy to do so. He was then carefully escorted to the bathroom in the back of the classroom and cleaned up. After they were both dressed appropriately Lucius did something that was uncommon for him, he leaned Snape against the wall and kissed him. They didn’t kiss often because both of them were sort of afraid of things which caused such a heavy emotional attachment.

Despites the shock Snape felt at the contact of Lucius’ lips with his own it did feel incredibly good. He kissed Lucius back causing the man to moan, a sound which delighted Snape to no end. When they parted they stood there for a moment just looking at each other.

“What was that for?”

Lucius smiled at him confidently. “I just wanted to kiss you.”

Snape smirked back at him. “I hate to admit it but I like it.” Lucius laughed and kissed him again. All of a sudden Snape felt his knees getting weaker and he wanted to melt but when their lips left each other the feeling vanished.

“How can you make me weak with just a kiss?” Snape whispered.

“I don’t know but I felt it as well.” For a split second something about the way Lucius’ eyes shone didn’t look right. It didn’t look human. But just as quickly as it came it disappeared and Snape brushed it off as paranoia.

“I’m afraid its time for dinner we must be going.” Lucius nodded.

Harry, Ron and Hermione had been some of the first people in the dinning hall and they sat at the head of the table to wait. Eventually the entire hall was full of students and teachers but Snape and Lucius, if he was even still around, were no where to be seen. Then they saw them. Snape was walking in front of Lucius, his robes flowing behind him with a majority of his old personality returned. Lucius was smirking like he had done something extraordinary and Harry had a strange feeling that that something had to do with Snape.

He had always found Snape strangely beautiful and he hated to even think it but Lucius was beautiful too. Come to think of it, what had brought on that thought just now? He looked away from the two men in embarrassment like he had said something out loud, but no one had noticed. He had to get those thoughts out of his head somehow.

After supper Lucius mysteriously disappeared but Harry didn’t have much time to think about it because Dumbledore called for everyone’s attention. He walked up and down the center isle as he spoke, instructing all teachers with corresponding houses to count their students. Harry looked around for Snape and found him as he floated past Hagrid and professor Sprout who were standing by Slytherine’s table. He kept an eye on him while the heads were counted but lost him for a few minutes after that. When he found him again the potions master seemed to be unstable on his feet.

Harry turned to look for Hermione and Ron to tell them what was happening, but they seemed to have gotten separated in all of the confusion. Then Dumbledore’s shouting drew his attention back to Snape.

“Severus!” The old wizard called out, making his way over to the dark professor. All eyes were on Snape now as it became apparent that he was having a great deal of trouble staying upright. Then his eyes rolled back and he moaned softly, slipping into unconsciousness. Everyone watched Snape fall like time had slowed down, except for Hagrid, who stepped out and caught the potions master in one of his thick arms.

Suddenly there were screams of terror and astonished gasps as the students became consumed with panic. The slytherins were all standing and trying to get a better look at Snape, they being more afraid than other students since it was their head of house that had been afflicted. Among them all Drako stood out to Harry as being particularly horrified and it looked as if the young Malfoy wanted to run to Snape’s side. All of the teachers crowded around Dumbledore as he crouched by Snape’s body which was now lying on the floor where Hagrid had placed it.

“Hagrid take Severus to his chambers we need to get him out of here. The rest of you take the students back to their common rooms.” Dumbledore whispered before standing back up and ordering silence. Despite everyone’s frenzied state they still had enough sense to listen to the head master.

“Professor Snape is fine he just hasn’t been feeling well lately.” He turned to said professor as Hagrid lifted him into his arms. “I am going to go and tend to him so mind Professor McGonagall.” He exited down the main isle with Hagrid in toe. Everyone watched in eerie silence as the half-giant passed with his fragile cargo.

One of Snape’s arms hung limply by his side, swaying ever so slightly as Hagrid walked.

“He looks dead.” Ron said as he came to join Harry from within the thick crowd of students. Hermione joined them as well to watch. Neither was sure if this was the last time they were going to see Snape alive or not.

That night Harry couldn’t sleep because his mind was restless from the day’s events. He laid on his back staring up at the ceiling for a good two hours before deciding to get up. He grabbed his wand and the invisibility cloak and crept into the common room, but as he reached the door a soft voice stopped him.

“Harry where do you think you are going?” It was Hermione. He turned around to see her sitting on the large couch with Ron dozing lightly on her lap.

“What are you two doing awake?”

“We couldn’t sleep.” Ron said lazily.

“I was going to take a walk.” Harry offered.

“Dumbledore told us to stay in our rooms after dark we can’t disobey him.” Hermione scolded.

“I know but I am just…I don’t know. I have the invisibility cloak.” Just then they heard the sound of harsh breathing and hurried footsteps in the hallway outside.

“Did you hear that?” Harry asked.

“Who was that?” Hermione looked at him as if he was supposed to know.

“I don’t know but I want to go see. What ever it was is heading for the dungeon. Professor Snape’s personal chambers are down there.”

“But…” Hermione protested.

“Wait for me.” Ron chirped, cutting her off. They slid under the invisibility cloak and opened the door.

“Oh wait for me.” Hermione squeezed under the magical fabric with them and they headed out into the hallway. The corridor was dark and empty as they made their way down it against the wall. It was eerie but the full moon shown clearly threw the windows providing them with decent light. The dungeon offered even less light to their young eyes as only a few of the candles on the walls were lit.

As they got closer to Snape’s room they noticed that there was a candle lit and that the door was standing wide open. They peered inside and their eyes went wide with shock as they took in the state of the professor’s room. The sheets were hanging off the bed and Furniture and papers were laying everywhere on the floor. A dark liquid was covering the bed and the wall beside it, continuing onto the floor and between their legs.

“Is that blood?” Hermione asked.

“I’m afraid so.” Harry said softly.

“What happened to Snape?”

“I don’t know Ron but I intend to find out.” He ripped off the cloak and followed the trail of blood down the hallway, up a flight of stairs and onto the bridge linking the sleeping quarters to the outside patio. There was blood on the railing and Harry leaned over to see if he could tell if Snape had taken the three story drop to the ground below.

“The blood continues across the bridge,” Hermione said pointing to the patio, “over there.” They rushed onto the large patio and looked around frantically.

“What are little children out looking for in the middle of the night?” A voice hissed from behind them. When they turned around they were greeted by an empty bridge and silence. The voice was lyrical and dripping with evil and Harry realized that it wasn’t a man’s voice, but the voice of a beast. He thought he recognized something in that voice but at the moment he couldn’t quite place a finger on what it was.

“You will regret ever stepping foot outside your rooms.”

This time when they turned around they saw a tall figure dressed in robes of the blackest fabric they had ever seen. His skin was white as stone and his long blonde hair fluttered in the light breeze slipping away from his face to reveal glowing yellow eyes.

“Yes, fear me.” It whispered harshly.

Then it was coming towards them but at a speed they couldn’t possibly hope to match. The next thing Harry knew he was colliding with a pillar on the opposite side of the patio and looking around. He was hurt and he didn’t know where the vampire was, hell he didn’t even know where Ron and Hermione were. Then something on the wall to his right caught his attention and he studied it. By the time he realized it was the vampire it was too late and he was being thrown across the floor. The vampire towered over him, claws extending to do who knows what when he heard a familiar voice.

“Expeliamus!”

The creature was knocked back into the wall, disappearing with an enraged cry. Harry picked himself up and felt for his wand, relieved to find that it was unharmed. Snape limped towards him panting softly. Harry had to admit that he had seen the potions master in better shape before but he was happy to have him there all the same. There was blood covering Snape’s neck and right shoulder where the sleeve of his robe had been torn. The gash down his side was so horrific that it made Harry feel sick just looking at it.

“Stop gawking Potter where are your friends?” The question wasn’t as vicious as it might have been otherwise and it helped Harry to regain some of his composure.

“I don’t know sir.”

“Well we best find them he’ll be back soon and not very happy I’m afraid.” Snape turned to look over his shoulder as he said this. Then all of a sudden Harry’s mind made the connection. He now knew who the vampire was but it seemed absurd. Lucius Malfoy! He then wondered why he hadn’t thought of it before.

“Smart little boy.” The voice hissed, lacking any human quality it had before and when Harry saw it he knew why. The vampire looked more like a shriveled corpse now, with strands of straw-like grey hair sticking out at odd angles. His eyes were sunken in and fierce, causing the young wizard to tremble.

“What have you done with him?” Snape shouted. Harry had no idea who Snape was talking about.

“Oh he got away no thanks to you.”

“Run Harry!” Snape said suddenly. Harry wasted no time darting in the opposite direction; spotting Hermione slumped in a corner. He stopped to help her up.

“No!” Hermione shouted, looking over Harry’s shoulder. The dark haired boy turned around and fear exploded inside him. The vampire had Snape from behind holding him tightly around the waist with his fangs buried in Snape’s neck.

“Harry we have to do something he’s gonna kill him.”

“Run children I’ll handle this.”

Harry almost died of shock as he saw Lucius race past him. The blonde man muttered something and suddenly the vampire was entangled in roots. Lucius caught Snape as he fell from the creatures grasp and carried him a good distance away. What happened next surprised Harry and Hermione even more, Lucius kissed Snape! When they broke away Snape turned around to face the struggling beast his wand pointed at its withered form. His hair and robe were billowing behind him, animated by the strength of his rage as his voice rose above the vampire’s cries in a vicious snarled.

“Circulus Inferorum!” A giant ring of fire appeared at the creature’s feet and quickly engulfed it. Harry had never seen a spell of that magnitude cast before and judging from the look on Hermione’s face she hadn’t either. Ron stumbled over to them with wide eyes.

“What the hell was that?!” He called pointing to Snape’s wand. Snape didn’t reply as he leaned back against Lucius trying to catch his breath.

“I thought you were the vampire.” Harry said. Lucious turned to look at him.
“Typical Potter uneducated as usual, that vampire possessed my body.” Harry was too exhausted to be offended by the insult and instead turned to watch the creature become a smoldering pile of ash.

“Well while we’re all standing here talking I’m bleeding to death.” Snape said a hint of grim humor in his voice. Lucius lifted the other man into his arms despite his protests just as Dumbledore and the other teachers ran onto the patio.

“You children are very fortunate that Mr. Malfoy and Professor Snape were here for you.” Dumbledore said sternly. The three young magicians lowered their heads in preparation for a good scolding, but then Snape spoke.

“Actually Albus if it weren’t for them arriving when they did I wouldn’t be he right now.” The children turned to look at him in shock unable to believe that the potions master had just spoken in their defense.

“Well in that case you will not be punished even though you disobeyed my orders,” the old wizard said, “come let us tend to you Severus. Children Professor McGonagall will escort you back to your common room.”

Harry, Ron, and Hermione got no sleep the rest of the night. They were too rattled by the events which had occurred only moments ago. The spell Professor Snape had used had Hermione searching through every book she owned trying to find an explanation for it. After all her searching nothing turned up and she paced before the fireplace thinking. Ron and Harry sat on the couch watching her in amusement.

“He must have created that spell. It isn’t in any of my books. Do you know what kind of knowledge and power it takes to create a spell like that?” She turned to look at them and then frowned, continuing her pacing.

“Of course you don’t. I didn’t know Professor Snape was that good. Potions are great and all but if he can do that what is does Dumbledore doing having him teach potions.”

“Boy it sounds like you like Snape now.” Ron said a bit jealously. Harry snickered to himself at Ron’s obvious displeasure over Hermione’s praising of another man.

“I don’t like him Ron but I have more respect for his abilities now. You wouldn’t understand.”

“Yes I would try me. I can learn.”

“Fine then.” Hermione said oblivious to Ron’s jealousy.

The rest of the night continued in the same manner and Harry found his mood lightening as Hermione attempted to educate Ron who more or less missed every other word she said.