Against His Nature

CHAPTER 24

“I didn’t think you’d need it again so soon.” Harry stood in front of Snape’s desk fiddling with his potion textbooks, his gaze firmly fixed on an invisible spot on the floor. Last night at Grimmauld place had been a disaster and Harry was decidedly stiff and sore after Lupin had lost his temper, not that it made Harry any less angry just a little more sedate. Potions had been first up and not surprisingly Harry had landed himself a detention, with very little effort on his behalf. Now though he found himself yet again in Snape’s office staring at the professor behind the desk.

“Neither did I to be quite frank but I’ve acquired a taste for you, and why not use what’s at my disposal while I can.” Snape stood up from his desk and having tied a stack of parchments moved to the inner door that Harry knew lead to the wizards private chambers. Harry obediently followed, relaxing almost instantly the moment he passed through into Snape’s little sanctuary. Snape observed Harry closely; the boy had looked tired in class and had sat rather awkwardly on his stool. The temptation to just invade the boy’s mind and find out the problem was ever present but again Snape needed the boy’s trust more than he needed answers to his questions.

“I shouldn’t oblige you, I haven’t decided what I want in return yet.” Harry grumped as he dropped his books by the door and moved to sit in the armchair he’d occupied last time he’d been in Snape’s chambers.

“There’s no need to make me suffer Mr. Potter, when you can not make up your mind on the matter.” Snape had discarded his outer teaching robe and was over by his liquor cabinet pouring himself a glass of expensive single malt whisky. Harry sat down and watched as Snape moved about his living room in his usual homely tasks, such as lighting the fire and candles. Snape knew he was being watched closely but ignored it, allowing the boy a little freedom. Harry sighed quietly as he stared at Snape performing his menial evening tasks. The idea that this man had ever dated his mother was almost a laughable idea. His mother had always seemed so light, so carefree and friendly, where Snape was exactly the opposite. Harry silently wondered if his mother’s betrayal had anything to do with Snape’s current personality. It didn’t bare thinking about and Harry shook his head to try and rid his mind of the thoughts.

“Since we’re in more comfortable surroundings this time, I thought you might like to lie down while I collect. Light-headedness and feinting is unfortunately a side effect I can do little about.” Harry’s eyes widened impossibly as he watched Snape open a small wooden door off from the living room, and gesture inside. From where Harry sat he could already see the large, overly grand bed in the center of the room. The thought of being anywhere near Severus Snape’s bed made Harry shiver in concern. “But if you’d rather stand against the wall, that’s fine by me.” Noting Harry’s hesitation Snape offered the boy an out. Snape had been determined to get Harry into his bedroom tonight, not for anything more than to see what the boy looked liked rolled in the opulent black fabric of his silk sheets. The thought made Snape growl inwardly as Harry reluctantly nodded after careful consideration of the options before him. “Take off your shirt, the blood tends to pool and drip when you’re lying down.” Snape entered the bedroom and lit the few remaining candles, illuminating the room in a warm glow. The room was beautiful, Snape’s taste in furniture of the highest quality evident in the oak four-poster, with matching drawers and mirrored wardrobe.

“Do I have to?” Harry spun around hastily, remembering the bruises on his arms. The glamour cast on his face hid the purple and blue handprint on his cheek but it didn’t reach the finger prints curled around his upper arms left behind by Remus.

“No, if you’ve got too much money to spend on replacing stained school uniforms every week then by all means keep it on.” Snape barked sarcastically as he finished his whisky and put the glass on the table beside the bed. Harry sighed heavily and reluctantly began unbuttoning his shirt, worry clearly etched in his expression as he stared at Snape’s reflection in the mirrored wardrobe doors. Snape watched the boy carefully, quietly observing each tantalizing expanse of creamy white flesh that was exposed to him. Snape’s perusal of Harry’s upper body came to a screeching halt however when the expanse of white flesh was interrupted by the shining purple bruises that wrapped around Harry’s upper arms like armbands.

“What are they?” Harry closed his eyes and swallowed heavily as he watched Snape close the distance between them, to come and stand not more than an inch in front of him to inspect the bruises. Like before the closeness of Snape brought Harry’s temperature up and sweat broke out on the boy’s forehead. The humming in his ears was still there but not bad enough as to block out Snape’s demanding tone of voice.

“Nothing.” Harry whispered shakily not daring to open his eyes and face his professor.

“Bullshit!” Harry’s eyes flew open immediately shocked that his professor had uttered such language. Snape reached for Harry’s chin like he’d done last time in the woods and tilted the boy’s face towards the candlelight. “And drop the glamour Potter.” Snape growled low in his throat, now feeling the tingle of magic that hovered over Harry’s face. Harry whispered the incantation and the magic fell away leaving the stinging handprint on his face visible to the inspecting eyes of professor Snape. “You will tell me now who did this to you.” Snape’s voice was low and barely audible between the man’s clenched teeth. His grip on Harry’s chin however was surprisingly soft, and the fingertips that inspected the bands of bruises on his arms quite tentative and caring.

“I got in an argument with someone, it doesn’t matter with who.” Harry whispered as Snape dropped his chin and allowed the boy to sit down on the trunk that sat at the end of Snape’s large bed. Snape stared at the boy, his rage barely contained within him. “Why should you care anyway, I thought you said I wasn’t getting anything in return for this.” Harry gestured to the fading bruise on his neck that Snape had left last time he’d harvested Harry’s blood. Angry that Harry had turned the situation into the negative again Snape snapped abruptly.

“Cut the crap Potter, you know damn well I have a duty to protect you. Not only now are you my student but you’re the only thing sitting between me and the hundred other students I might enjoy taking blood from, most less willing than you to become a donor for me.” Harry stared up at Snape who was now pacing back and forth like a caged animal, clearly upset. Snape could smell the person’s scent mixed with Harry’s, but couldn’t quite place it and it infuriated him knowing someone had touched Harry.

“I know about my mother.” Harry knew it wasn’t the time or the place to bring it up but Snape’s mood couldn’t get any worse and Harry wanted the truth before he proceeded with his agreement. If what Remus had said about Snape being a dangerous creature was true, Harry wanted out now before things got too complicated. Snape paused mid stride and tilted his head slightly in Harry’s direction. “You went out with her in school, dated her for a while.” Snape’s gaze narrowed suspiciously at Harry who watched cautiously as the obsidian eyes turned sapphire blue in an instant.

“A mistake I assure you I didn’t repeat.” Snape whispered between clenched teeth his unnerving gaze never leaving Harry’s. Harry swallowed heavily but continued nonetheless.

“I know she left you when you told her you were a vampire, she went to my dad for help.” Snape growled audibly and Harry instinctively began crawling back up the bed to get away from the Vampire who had now curled his upper lip up over his extended canines. “If you liked her why did you tell her, you knew she’d get scared.” Snape predatorily stalked around the side of the bed, sizing up the boy who’d automatically reached for his wand from the pocket of his trousers.

“I was guided under the miss apprehension that she loved me. Vampires are immortal Harry, we mate for eternity and I wanted your mother to know that before she committed to me. I was wrong however in assuming how deep her affection for me was and she turned on me, and ran to that blasted Potter and spilled my secret. They already hated me, and the information was just what they needed to make my life that little bit more uncomfortable but I refuse to be blackmailed with my heritage and so beat them by consuming the potion. Without the evidential proof of my heritage their finger pointing was seen by the professors and the ministry as nothing more than school yard bullying.” Harry fell silent as Snape climbed up onto the bed beside him, the closeness of the Vampire once again causing Harry to heat up and the humming in his ears to increase. With Snape’s hand in the center of his chest Harry was forced to lie back into the black satin sheets as the elder wizard straddled him and pinned the boy’s hands with his knees to the bed. Harry closed his eyes and automatically tilted his head to the side quietly replaying Snape’s instructions last time to relax. A smile curled at the corner of Snape’s lips as he bent his head and licked a warm wet trail across Harry’s neck. The boy’s pulse was rapid and his chest was rising and falling erratically, but this time with an emotion entirely different from the fear of the first. One more lick across the flesh and Snape sank in his teeth, causing Harry’s body to jerk up beneath his own with slight pain. The boy relaxed quickly again and Snape slowly sipped his fill of the boy’s youthful fluid.

Harry didn’t know how long he lay still for, Snape’s body pinned to his not allowing his body to cool and making him pant heavily. Finally though Snape retracted his fangs and swept his tongue over the bite mark cleaning it of excess blood and sealing the wound closed. Unlike before there would be no bruising the boy had heeded his warning last time and remained relaxed the entire time. Harry was lightheaded again but hadn’t passed out, although his vision swam a little. Snape smiled down at the boy before calmly extracting himself from the bed and moving around to finish the two fingers of whisky he had left in his glass on the side table. Harry stiffly rolled over on the sheets and stared as he watched Snape adjust himself obviously not aware of his audience. It came as quite a surprise to Harry to realize the Vampire had enjoyed himself so much, and it unnerved Harry a little to wonder if he should have enjoyed it as much as he did.

“Are you going to tell me who did that to you?” Obviously satisfied with his restored state of dress Snape turned back around to face Harry in the bed who was just sitting up, having regained a little of his blood pressure.

“Remus, I fought with Remus.” Harry whispered, watching as Snape’s lips tightened slightly for a moment before thinning out again as the unknown emotion passed. “I’ll make sure it doesn’t happen again. Now I suggest you have a shower, we have company and I don’t believe introducing you to him smelling of blood is such a good idea.” Harry glanced towards the open door into the living room but he couldn’t see anyone. Severus however knew who was waiting having heard them come in via the fireplace fifteen minutes ago. Showing Harry to the bathroom with a clean towel and toothbrush Snape left the boy to his own devices, while he met his mentor in the living room.

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“Do you always pin your prey like that, it’s enough to make the boy shit himself not arouse him.” Snape rolled his eyes as he flopped down into the armchair nursing his second whisky that Octavia had graciously poured for him while waiting for him to finish in the bedroom.

“It amused me.” Snape muttered around his glass as he stretched and purred in contentment at having once again consumed a fresh supply of blood. Octavia rolled his eyes and shook his head.

“Not everyone shares your sick fantasies Severus, I though you might have at least kissed him.” Octavia crossed his leg over on the footstool as he too reclined back in the armchair beside the fireplace and eyed his student carefully.

“It’s too soon he’ll run if I push it, especially now he knows about his mother and me.” Snape downed what was left of his whisky in one go, still careful to listen to the shower running incase Harry overheard their conversation.

“Who told him?” Octavia whispered in curiosity.

“I don’t know how he found out but I believe he went to see Remus Lupin about it afterwards.” Snape growled at the very mention of the man’s name and Octavia arched an eyebrow in surprise at the sudden possessiveness of the Vampire before him.

“I take it the wolf did something to the boy?” Snape nodded his lip curling in anger as he stood up from his armchair and went to pour himself another calming drink of the finely aged alcohol in his liquor cabinet.

“He did. So I thought you and I might pay the wolf a small visit tomorrow evening, to discuss the issue.” Snape ground out from between clenched teeth as he swilled his amber liquid around in its crystal glass. Octavia smiled and nodded in understanding more than willing to help his student bring a werewolf down to size during the full moon. Snape was just about to offer up his plan for tomorrow when the door to the bedroom opened and a freshly washed and dressed Harry appeared in the entrance.

“Potter, I don’t believe you’ve been properly introduced to my mentor.” Snape gestured to Octavia who dutifully stood up and approached the somewhat apprehensive boy in the doorway. It was hardly surprising Harry was scared after the last time he’d met with the other Vampire in the hallway. “Harry Potter, this is Octavius Salazarith Mantithicus.” Harry stared at the elder vampire in shock, hardly believing the mouthful that Snape had just uttered.

“I thought your name was Octavia?” Harry whispered carefully as Octavia smiled at him and offered his hand out in friendship.

“It is, well to Snape anyway.” Octavia spoke as he led Harry into the living room and sat the boy down on the footstool with a cup of tea a house elf had just dropped in. “When a Vampire takes on a fledgling their name is changed to the female form, to represent their status as ‘mentor’ or mother figure. It’s very traditional but Snape prefers it because it’s easier to pronounce. Most who know me simply call me Octavia.” Harry nodded as he sipped his tea wincing a little at the tightness of his bruised cheek. Octavia silently observed the boy’s injured face but said nothing as he glanced back at Snape with an arched eyebrow of surprise. Snape nodded in acknowledge of the silent comment from his mentor and went and sat back down in his armchair so as not to make Harry feel uncomfortable by himself.

“So Harry, I hear you’re rather inept at Potion’s?” Harry turned around to face Octavia, hardly believing that the man had said what he had. Behind him Snape groaned and shook his head, a slight flush rising in his cheeks as his mentor’s thoughtlessness. Octavia laughed at Severus and Harry’s reactions, his voice deep, melodic and hiding a lifetime of knowledge. “No need to be embarrassed Harry, I fear no one will ever live up to Snape’s own mastery of the subject, thus it’s is best for us mere half wits to simply enjoy the privilege of failing under his tutelage.” Octavia arched an eyebrow at Harry whose smile broadened at the sharp insult the man had just thrown at Snape. Snape growled at the comment but chose not to lower himself and reply to it, despite the overwhelming urge to snap.

“I think I like you.” Harry smiled around the rim of his teacup as he watched Octavia closely. In the light of the room, the Vampire appeared far less menacing than he had been in the darkened corridor when they’d first met and Harry allowed himself a moment to appreciate how perfectly sculptured the man’s features were compared to Snape’s weary wrinkles and sallow cheeks. He was handsome in a very rugged way, the slight darkness of a five o’clock shadow on his chin giving him an appearance of wildness in direct comparison to Snape’s starched formal exterior. Harry wasn’t aware that he was staring, or that the two vampire’s were presently reading his thoughts as easily as a book.

“I don’t suggest continuing down your current path of thoughts Mr. Potter.” Snape’s voice snapped Harry out of his stare, only realizing now the dirty little thought that had popped up unexpectedly as he’d stared at Octavia. Octavia was laughing again, his head tilted back as he bellowed loudly in amusement of Harry’s last thought. Snape was less than amused and sneered in anger at his mentor who was thoroughly embarrassing the boy.

“I wish you wouldn’t do that, you know I can’t stop you.” Harry spat a little angry but embarrassed more than anything. To know someone had been reading his mind without him even realizing was rather off putting and upsetting.

“I apologize Potter, we both should have known better than to invade your privacy.” Harry nodded at Snape, in acceptance of the apology as Octavia finished laughing but still shook his head in amusement.

“Oh to be a teenager again, and have nothing to worry about except, sex, school and where the next meal is coming from.” Octavia stretched and stood up just as the clock on Snape’s mantel chimed midnight. “Well I must be off.” Both Harry and Snape stood up as Octavia stepped towards the fireplace readying himself to leave. “It was a pleasure meeting you Harry Potter, I hope you will share more enlightening thoughts with me next time we meet.” Harry blushed at the comment but knew better than to nod. Snape rolled his eyes as Octavia turned to him and smiled. “I will see you tomorrow night.” With a wink Octavia was gone leaving Harry to stare at Snape in confusion.

“What’s going on tomorrow night?” Harry inquired as Snape moved about the living room cleaning things up and tiding the mess.

“Nothing you should concern yourself with Mr. Potter, now I believe it is time for you to return to your dorm. You may use my floo to get into the Gryfindor common room.” Harry stared at Snape, having noticed the twist of jealousy in Snape’s tone of voice since Harry’s dirty little thought about Octavia’s body.

“The floo? I am capable of walking up six flights of stairs Professor.” Harry paused as he grabbed a hand full of floo powder from the silver jar above the fireplace. “Or are you afraid I might follow your mentor if I’ve given the chance to wander the castle alone?” Snape’s gaze narrowed dangerously at Harry, who was carefully assessing the situation ready to run if Snape attacked him for his boldness. Snape shook his head and growled low in his throat.

“It is not you I have to worry about Potter, what I fear is Octavia’s ability to wander alone in the castle as well.” Snape nodded his head towards fireplace and Harry threw in the powder instantly turning the flame green. “Goodnight Mr. Potter.”

“Goodnight Professor Snape.” With a flash Harry was gone leaving Snape to fume to himself, his pride somewhat injured that the boy had thought Octavia was more attractive than he was…..

TBC>>>>>