Against His Nature

CHAPTER 22

“Oh for fucks sake, get a room.” Harry growled as he wandered into the owlery only to come face to face with Hermione and Draco locked in an embrace by the window ledge.

“We did have a room till you arrived Potter.” Draco wiped the corner of his mouth with a smooth finger as Hermione backed away from him and straightened her blouse, her gaze not quite meeting Harry’s. Harry glared at the blonde who smiled smugly as he adjusted himself with little care of the audience.

“Snape’s doing his rounds, I passed him in the fourth corridor on the way up here.” Harry moved between the roosting owls and found Hedwig in the corner ruffled up and sound asleep her head under her wing. The bird was clearly pissed as Harry stroked her head to wake her, the forceful nip she gave Harry’s finger meant more than just a warning. Frowning at his bird, Harry handed Hedwig his letter before taking her to the window and tossing her out into the night air, a little more forcefully than usual considering the bloody finger she’d left him with.

“What are you doing up here?” Draco watched Hedwig disappear into the night before turning back to Harry who was heading for the door again to leave. Harry got the distinct feeling he’d interrupted something, especially judging from Hermione’s blush.

“Certainly not what you were doing up here, don’t you ever tire of being a man whore Malfoy?” Harry snapped over his shoulder as he pulled his invisibility cloak around his shoulders once again. Draco looked on with mild envy of the cloak but chose not to comment as he replied with a similar insult.

“Don’t you ever tire of being Harry bloody Potter?” Draco glared at Harry who huffed a contemptible laugh and shook his head.

“Yeah Malfoy, all the time. Want to trade places?” That was obviously not the reply Draco was hoping to receive and the boy reached for his wand. Hermione was quicker however and snatched the blonde’s wand before standing angrily between the two immature boys.

“Won’t you two just grow up!” Hermione shouted as she glared at both boys’ still staring at one another. Harry backed down first and smiled as he shook his head.

“You’re scum Malfoy, I hope what ever it is you want in life is worth the effort of being such a bastard.” Harry pulled up the hood of his cloak and disappeared through the owlery door leaving Draco cursing Harry’s name as Hermione tried to placate him.

It had been a little over a week since Harry had agreed to become Snape’s donor and the boy had heard and seen little of the potion’s professor. Harry was beginning to wonder if he hadn’t just dreamed everything that had happened, as Snape had made no effort to acknowledge Harry’s agreement. It was all too quiet in Harry’s opinion and that was what had spurred the boy into writing to Remus, to ask the werewolf what was going on within the Order, if indeed it had anything to do with the current peace. Harry was just turning the corner into the sixth corridor that lead to the Gryfindor common room, when he ran into Snape.

Harry had slammed into Snape’s back and sent the wizard tumbling into a statue of Helga Hufflepuff. Harry froze automatically hardly daring to breath as he watched Snape recover himself and spin around, wand in hand. With the invisibility cloak Harry was pretty sure he was safe but as he watched Snape’s gaze turn topaz blue in the darkness a swell of dread took over his body. Snape inhaled deeply twice, a familiar scent reaching his nose, causing a wicked smile to twitch at the corners of his lips.

“I know you’re there Potter,” Snape lowered his wand as he allowed his eyes to stare at the nothingness, knowing for well that Potter was right there in front of him. “You and your fathers cloak might have eluded me for the past four years but without the potion in my system I can smell you two corridors away.” Snape smiled when he heard a heavy sigh followed immediately by the rustle of fabric before Harry’s bodiless head appeared out of the darkness.

“I needn’t remind you Potter, that curfew is set for a reason and your breaking it violates more than a dozen school rules.” Snape paused as he watched Harry’s darkening expression. “I could have you expelled for this.” Snape’s smile broadened as he watched Harry’s defiance grow all of a sudden.

“Expelled? You’d seriously have me removed from the school, knowing what I’d offered you.” Snape’s smug smile fell immediately, the Potter boy was smart, he knew what the stakes were and had used them to his advantage. With a growl of mild irritation Snape shrugged his shoulders in defeat.

“I knew you had Slytherin tendencies Mr. Potter, but your manipulation of the situation quite surprises me.” Harry smirked as Snape tucked his wand back in the sleeve of his robe.

“Well if you are making the most of your new found confidence, let me demand my half of our deal. I believe I skipped supper, and you will do quite nicely for a late night snack.” Harry shivered from head to toe as he saw the wicked gleam in Snape’s gaze. “Follow me.” Harry nodded and having pulled up the hood of the cloak yet again followed Snape obediently through the school, and out of the front doors of Hogwart’s. It was cold outside, and windy and Harry had to hold the cloak tightly around him to stop it from blowing off. Snape it seemed ignored the wild wash of his robes flapping around him as he strode towards the edge of the forbidden forest. Harry hesitated on the edge, as Snape strode into the darkness his figure momentarily disappearing into the moonless dark before returning when he realized Harry hadn’t followed him.

“Afraid of the dark Mr. Potter?” Snape’s eyes sparkled in the moonlight and the pearly white incisors caught the flashes of reflection from the lake’s surface. Harry swallowed nervously and shook his head.

“Not of the dark but rather what lurks within it.” Harry whispered instinctively reaching for his wand. Snape laughed cruelly and shook his head. The boy might have been a selflessly brave Gryfindor but he was still human, a thought that made Snape shiver with anticipation.

“Nothing that wanders beneath the forest canopy is darker than I am Mr. Potter, even Voldemort himself would think twice before coming between a Vampire and their meal.” Harry’s hands trembled at the deep, resonating tone of Snape’s voice, as the elder wizard removed his own wand and lit the end of it with a cursory flick. The dim glow of the wand end gave Harry a little courage to follow Snape into the darkness but it did not alleviate the feeling of regret that flooded his thoughts, at having accepted Snape’s offer in the first place.

Harry became disorientated in the darkness very quickly and found himself instinctively sticking close to Snape’s side. Harry didn’t care that the closeness of them reignited the strange heat within him or the humming in his ears that had affected him in Snape’s chambers over a week ago. All that mattered was being close to the wizard who exuded a power and confidence that Harry could hide beneath. Snape secretly smiled to himself as Harry’s arm brushed several times against his waist, the boy so close his scent was like perfume on Snape’s own body.

“Here is far enough.” Snape stopped in a small clearing, illuminated by the dappled moonlight shining down through the canopy of the trees above them. “Lean against the tree, I don’t like chasing my prey.” Snape gestured to the trunk of a nearby tree and Harry dutifully leant against the scratch hard bark. Harry’s gaze dropped to the ground as Snape approached him, his cloak still whipping around him in the wind that whistled around the tree branches above them. Harry swallowed heavily as the humming in his ears and the heat in his body increased as the distance between himself and the Vampire decreased.

Snape was practically on top of him within a few steps and Harry closed his eyes and leant heavily against the tree, as he felt Snape’s body heat burning against his own rising temperature. Sweat had broken out on Harry’s forehead and the boy’s nails now dug into the tree behind him as Snape grabbed a hold of the boy’s chin and dragged his head to the side to expose the milky, tender skin of his neck. Harry was shaking his jaw set stiff in Snape’s firm grip as the elder man lowered his face to Harry’s neck and swiped a warm wet tongue over the boy’s pulse point. Snape swallowed a growl of contentment at the first salty taste of the boy’s skin. The boy tasted just as good as he smelt and Snape had to triple his efforts to control himself. Two more swipes of Snape’s tongue across the boy’s pulse point before Snape opened his mouth and sank the two long incisors into Harry’s neck.

Harry screamed.

Snape wasn’t surprised, and was prepared for the inevitable struggle the boy put up as he felt the first sucks of blood from his neck. With his full weight behind him, Snape pinned the boy against the tree as he continued to suck the droplets of crimson fluid he drew from Harry’s body. Snape knew it wasn’t painful, in fact he prided himself on being controlled enough to ensure that it wasn’t. Harry’s scream had come from fear and the realization of what he’d agreed to. Harry’s struggles lessened as the boy’s blood pressure began to drop through mild blood loss. The boy would undoubtedly be light headed by now, and having taken a suitable fill Snape retracted his fangs and licked the bite mark closed with a swipe of his tongue. Without the weight of Snape’s body pressing into his own, Harry’s knees gave out and he collapsed onto the leaf littered damp ground.

Casually Snape removed a tissue from his cloak pocket and wiped a small smear of blood from his chin before he too sat down carefully on the ground, unable to hide his satisfied smile. The boy had been sweet with youthfulness and tangy with the unmistakable taste of virginity. Snape had tasted a few bloods in his time, and the virgin sacrifices had always had the tang, where unknown whores had had the musky after taste of used goods. With his lust satisfied for another week Snape could now focus on the boy, who was just beginning to come to again, some colour returning to his cheeks. Fear flickered in Harry’s eyes as awareness came back to the green orbs now staring at Snape.

“Don’t bother with running Potter, you know you’re safer with me.” Snape’s voice had deepened to a satisfied purr like a contented house cat, as he folded his arms across his chest and silently read the boy’s expressions. Harry was still weak with blood loss as he hauled himself up, to sit properly with his back against the tree. Harry didn’t know what to say and instead reached up instinctively to touch the two pinpricks on his neck. Snape watched with curiosity as to what the boy would do and say.

“Will it bruise?” Harry whispered as he hissed a little in pain as he ran his fingers over the bite.

“Undoubtedly, it would be in your interest to relax next time. The more you struggle the more damage I can do.” Harry nodded in silence his eyes sliding closed momentarily as a shiver ran up his spin as he remembered the soft fall of Snape’s hair on his shoulder and the scent of expensive cologne that the elder wizard was wearing.

“Why do I keep getting to hot, and I hear humming in my head.” Snape twitched, as he considered the question. It wasn’t the time for truths just yet, let the boy handle the current situation before moving on.

“Stress.” The reply was short and to the point not allowing Harry to further ask questions Severus didn’t want to answer just yet. Rising to his feet Snape offered his hand down to Harry and helped the boy to his feet. It took a moment for Harry to regain his balance as his blood pressure adjusted itself yet again. “We should return to the castle, it’s late and both you and I have classes tomorrow.” Turning Snape headed away from the clearing leaving Harry to trail after him closely, stumbling a little on fallen branches and twigs. Harry stared at Snape in the gloom, mildly impressed with the elder wizards imposing figure and confident gait. The man undoubtedly deserved his reputation as fearsome creature and Harry couldn’t argue. As the forest thinned a little and the pair of them exited out onto the lawns of Hogwart’s Harry fell into step beside Snape, comforted almost by the man’s presence. Reaching the quiet castle Harry paused in the entrance hall as Snape went to go in the opposite direction down towards his dungeons.

“Thank-you.” Harry whispered into the silence causing Snape to pause and glance back over his shoulder at the young wizard.

“Shouldn’t I be the one to express my gratitude Mr. Potter?” Snape had turned back into his usual sarcastic potion master drawl as he stared at Harry waiting at the bottom of the staircase. Harry shrugged his shoulders and lowered his gaze, wondering silently why he’d said anything at all.

“Am I only a meal to you Snape?” Harry bit sharply not meaning to sound as bitter as he did. Snape smiled crookedly, in a very Slytherin way amused by the boy’s sentimentality.

“For the time being, yes.” Snape arched an eyebrow in challenge as Harry’s lip stiffened and his expression darkened angrily.

“So I’m not getting anything from this at all.” Harry snapped watching as Snape turned around fully to face him, his arms folded smugly across his chest.

“I made no deal for returning the favor Mr. Potter, should you have wanted something else in return for your services you should have stated it before you agreed.” Snape watched as Harry’s anger boiled over the boy obviously now realizing that despite his assumption of protection he was in fact receiving very little retribution for his service to Snape. “Besides, I believe my leniency towards your lax behavior in school should be ample return on your investment don’t you think?” Snape turned around and headed towards the dungeons, his wand flicking back over his shoulder at the house points board. “…and that reminds me ten points from Gryfindor for being out after curfew.” With that Snape was gone leaving Harry fuming as he stormed his way up to his dorm, cursing his stupidity in assuming Snape would be fair about their arrangement.

Down in the dungeons Snape flopped down in his armchair. Octavia was already reclined in his own chair, a glass of whisky in hand as he smiled at his student.

“There is an old saying Severus, you shouldn’t provoke an already angry pixy. It won’t do to push him too far, your trying to entice him not turn him feral.” Octavia stared at Snape through the amber liquid in the bottom of his glass as Snape laughed and shook his head in smug contentment.

“On the contrary Octavia, the boy can’t resist a challenge. This chase has just begun.”

TBC>>>>>