Le Frère de Sang

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GENERAL DISCLAIMER - I do not own Harry Potter or Anita Blake Vampire Hunter, and I do not make any money from these writings.

NOTES ON THE CHAPTER - This isn’t an especially interesting chapter, hence the reason you are getting this as well as chapter 29 despite me still not having finished 34. All that happens in this is that Harry’s idea for Asher gets moved forwards a step. We also meet some characters again briefly.

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I found my seat in biology class and pulled out my text book and note pad. We were meant to be starting a new section of the book now but since the teacher is slightly weird and never tells us what we are moving onto. Apparently it’s the teacher’s way of stopping people from reading ahead.

The others on my table kept shooting me strange looks. I knew where they were looking, they weren’t exactly being discreet with their staring. They were blatantly eyeing my neck. It had been several days since Micah came over and we spent the evening together but the bite he gave me still hasn’t faded. You could see teeth marks still and there was a bruise their too, it was still a dark bruise too. It was Thursday and I’d not done any of my washing yet so wearing high necked tops wasn’t possible unless I used cleaning charms and I prefer to put my clothes in the washing machine.

“So Harry…you and your boyfriend like it rough huh?” I rolled my eyes at the jock across the table.

“Not really but we got carried away with the moment. I told him he shouldn‘t channel vampires but I‘m not exactly going to stop him.”

“Fucking liar, bet you do like it rough. All faggots do.”

“And you are speaking from experience I assume?” Some people laughed at my response and the jock reddened.

“Pah, you‘re pathetic. I can‘t believe we ever let you hang around with us. Blaise was so much cooler, you should have died instead of him.” Anger and hurt welled up inside me and I glared at him.

“You seem to forget something you pathetic excuse for a muggle! Blaise was bisexual, he would sleep with anyone regardless of gender and the only reason he hung around with me all the time was because he disliked everyone but me. He was above you, so far above you that you‘d die of exhaustion trying to reach him. He was better than all of you! And the only reason he died and I didn‘t was because he was taking his newest shag home and a group of pathetic idiots who used to be jocks but got turned into lycanthrops ambushed him and his partner and raped and murdered them both. So before you try to taunt me about Blaise I suggest you remember that in comparison to him I might be less ‘cool’ but everything he knew, I know, and anything he could do I can do.”

“You…”

“Alright class! Sorry I‘m late but a younger year decided to try and blow up the chem lab so I had to deal out her severe punishment of cleaning the lab with a toothbrush. Of course she protested till I mentioned the alternative, expulsion. Turns out she has a bull of a mother who would kill her if she was expelled.” A collective shudder went through the class. My biology teacher was good, good at his job and just a good person all around. If he had to be compared to anyone in my history I’d say he was Remus with a bit of Snape mixed in. He has a wicked tongue when provoked but all together is well respected, clever, soft spoken and full of humour and kindness.

“Now!” He dumped his books onto the desk and flipped the top one open. “Newest topic is…DNA! Joy. Lets get started shall we? Turn to chapter eight and pens at the ready! DNA is the foundation for everything in us, it tells us what hair we will have…” He droned on and we all scribbled notes as he talked and occasionally wrote notes onto the white board.

I read the section he gave us to read and answered his questions from the sheet of paper he gave us as well as the questions in the book. Some of the words just stuck in my head. The DNA cells are contained all over the body, in every cell. It contains the blueprints, if you will, for your body. It contains your height, shape, eye colour, skin colour, hair colour, skin texture everything. If the same was true of…I put my hand in the air, excitement bubbling inside of me.

“Sir?”

“Ah yes Mr Black. Problem?” He came over and I could almost see his excitement at being questioned. He could have been a male Hermione for that characteristic alone. His eagerness to be tested was almost inspiring, as much as it was intimidating.

“Not really a problem, more of a question. Would Vampires still have DNA even though they are…well they‘re dead?”

“Yes they would because without DNA we‘d not exist and I know for a fact that police when they try to track murderers and lawbreakers they can detect Vampire‘s who have been at the place because the DNA of vampires has a certain formula, if you like, a structure that is different to humans but essentially it is still the same.”

“If a person got badly hurt, say burned badly which caused scarring, would that effect the DNA?”

“No. Your genetic make up is set and won‘t be re-written just because you get burned. Scars and things aren‘t part of your body‘s blueprints, just like wearing make up doesn‘t change it and getting a sun tan isn‘t part of your genes.”

“I see…” It could work! It could! My mind ran a hundred miles an hour and the excitement inside me was almost unbearable. Of course I’d have to do more research and perhaps contact Percy and Julien to help me but…but it could work and if it did then I’d be able to help Asher and he wouldn’t feel so down! “Thank you sir. That‘s all I wanted to know.”

“Okay then Mr Black. I see you’ve finished all the questions. Why don‘t you read ahead to what we‘ll be doing tomorrow? There‘s not long left of the lesson but it‘s best to keep busy hm?”

“Oh yes sir.” The teacher nodded and walked away. I felt a grin sweep across my face. I tore off the pages of biology work I had done and grabbed my pen scribbling down my plans. I’d have to get potions books, only books with that one specific potion in it. It should work. Of course I’d have to test it, and…and…if it worked it could be my Christmas present to Asher…I could test it on him though first else it would ruin the surprise. I’d have to ask another vampire to test it. Perhaps Jean-Claude would…but then again he might slip up and say something. Perhaps Damian would! He might, if I asked him. Of course with both Jean-Claude and Damian there’s the risk of Anita finding out and going ape shit at me. Then of course if I used any of the other vampires to test the potion on I’d need Jean-Claude’s permission and then risk the surprise. No…I’d ask Damian first if the research turned out to have positive results. Course, then I’d need someone to help brew the potion because despite all my practising I’m crap at brewing.

“Oi Faggot! Bell‘s gone! Did your boyfriend bite your brain too? Or are you just that stupid naturally!” I rolled my eyes and packed up my bags.

“MR BRIANT! DETENTION! For your horribly insulting language! You can help clean up the chem lab for your foul language and you‘ll be doing it on Friday! Now get out of my classroom!” I shot the teacher a smile and he smiled back once he finished glaring the jock from the room. I threw my bag onto my back and almost bolted out of the class room.

“See you next lesson sir!”

“Bye Mr Black.” I closed the door behind me and rushed to my next class, casting an coughing hex on the jock who was waiting with a bunch of his friends. They all broke out into harsh coughs as I walked past.

“Perhaps you need some water?” I mentioned as I walked by. The jocks glared at me through their coughs. I made it to my last class of the day, English Literature cancelling my hex mentally so they could make it to their last lesson which, incidentally, was Literature with me with a nasty teacher who was a Snape through and through and any late arrivals would find themselves immediately in a lunch time detention.

-

I sighed and leaned back onto the bed. It was five past one in the morning. I’d studied from the moment I got home yesterday until eleven and then again today from the end of school till now, course I’d also taken some books to school to look at in break time and lunch time. I’d exhausted all the materials at home now and things were, so far, looking positive but I needed to do a lot more research first. And to do more research I’d have to buy more books. That meant a trip to Diagon Alley. Going back to England for the weekend could also help me kill two birds with one stone, I could see Julien and Percy as well as do research.

Then again tomorrow was Friday and on the weekend I’d have plenty of free time. It was the full moon Friday night…tonight I suppose I should say and then Micah needs to stay with his pard Saturday night too because that might be a full moon too. Then I know Asher has got to work and stay all evening at the clubs to supervise the vampires because the were dancers would be indisposed. So I’d have the week end’s evenings completely free and if I claimed sickness and too much work then I’d escape seeing Micah…not that I want to escape seeing them both, I love them, but it meant I could go to England for the weekend and they’d not notice because they’d be busy.

So…I could skip school, I wouldn’t have enough sleep to make it through the day and be sane and coherent. I could pull another sickday, I haven’t had one in a while. I’d have to tell Richard I wasn’t feeling too well and had decided tostay home and sleep it all off. Then I would have to tell Micah that I was ill and that I didn’t want him to come around because I was just going to sleep it off. I’d have to let Asher know somehow that I wouldn’t be in contact and that I’d be fine on my own. I could ward the house to keep away visitors, like the ward around Hogwarts makes people suddenly remember they had an appointment and had to be elsewhere. Of course in case that didn’t work I’d leave a note telling them I’d gone out for ingredients for the dreamless sleep potion and I might not be back until late. How would I dodge Asher if he decided to visit? I’d just have to risk it, he’d understand…come Christmas if this worked I’d tell him everything.

I sent all my books back into my trunk with a wave of my hand and picked up my notes. I’d pack tonight, set my alarm for eight so I could call Richard and Micah before they go to work. OH! Duh! I could call Nathaniel too…he could tell Damian to make sure Asher didn’t check up on me…I’d have to tell them the truth but I’m sure they wouldn’t mind. I wonder if they are up now still…

I ran to my mobile phone. I hardly used it but I’d need too tonight. I turned it on and waited. Eventually it had turned on properly I hunted out the texting thing. ‘I need a favour. Call me when you get this. Harry.’ was typed in quickly then I sent it to Damian and Nathaniel. Then I went to get changed. I had just finished pulling on my pyjama bottoms when the phone went. ‘Nathaniel’ was flashing across the screen.

“Hello?”

“Harry? You okay? You‘re up late.”

“Hi Nathaniel. Listen I need you and Damian to help me with something. Is he there?”

“Uh…no he isn‘t here but he‘s listening.” Ah, their bond.

“Right. Well listen. You know how Asher is so unhappy at the moment, since Anita‘s kidnapping anyway…”

“Yeah…”

“Well I think I have found something that could help him. A sort of magical Cinderella deal but I need to do some more research first and I‘ve exhausted all my books here. So what I was going to do was call a sicky at school and get a portkey to England to buy some more books. The favor I need is to keep Asher and Micah from discovering that I am not there. Mostly it would be Asher who I need to have kept distracted. Micah should be busy with you and the pard and the full moon but I don‘t know about Asher. I should be able to get back Sunday morning but until then I need your help.”

“Well I‘m not sure about you running off like that Harry…neither is Damian.”

“Please Nathaniel! I‘m coming back! I‘m only going to spend a few days away and I need to do this for Asher. I need to try to help. Please Nathaniel!”

“Well…okay but when you get back you are taking both me and Damian out and you‘re going to explain what‘s going on in detail.”

“Wow Nathaniel! You‘ve been practising being bossy!” I could almost see him blush atmy words and laughed.

“I‘m just…repeating what Damian said.”

“Oh…well, you sound good telling me what to do. Sure, I‘ll take you out. I‘ll take you anywhere you want to go and I‘ll tell you everything too. Might not be able to do it Sunday night though. More like Monday or something.”

“Sure. Now though we‘ve got things to do so good luck tomorrow and we‘ll take care of Asher and Micah for you.” I grinned though he couldn’t see it.

“Thank you. Both of you. I‘ll bring you back a present too. Night.”

“Night.” We hung up and I couldn’t resist shouting my excitement. He’d do it! I could go to England!

“Right then Harry, you‘re going to need your notes, your money, your clothes…” I summoned things to me and stuffed them all inside my rucksack. Once I’d finished packing I set the alarm and dived into bed.

-

“Oh bloody hell! I should have gone to bed earlier!” I rolled out of bed, tripped over the blankets and eventually made it to the alarm clock. I hadn’t slept well. I’d had nightmares, both my own and from Asher’s past. Still, I couldn’t go back to bed yet. I grabbed my mobile from the bed side table and dialled through to Micah’s number, since I was practically half asleep it would be best to phone him now.

“Harry? You okay?”

“Mm. Listen I‘m not going to school today, I don‘t feel brilliant and I slept badly. Nightmares and things.”

“You sound bad. Listen I‘ll come over before work and…”

“No no, I‘m going to sleep. I just need to sleep it off. I‘m fine on my own.”

“You sure?” I nodded then verbalised it. Bloody hell, I better not be coming down with something, the irony would be too much.

“Yeah, I‘m sure. I‘m going to sleep it off, perhaps brew some potions so you might not be able to get hold of me. I‘ll check in later if you like.”

“Yeah, it would save me worrying.”

“Okay. Lets say about four do you think?” That would make it about nine or ten o’clock in London. “Let your shields down and I‘ll talk to you ‘kay?”

“Sure.”

“Hm. Love you. Tell Asher I‘ll check in with him at 10 if you hear from him?”

“Will do. Love you too. Get better.”

“Yeah. Bye.”

“Bye Harry.” I sighed and hung up. It’s a shame I had to lie but if he didn’t find out then it wouldn’t hurt him. I had Damian and Nathaniel helping me out and nobody should suspect anything. I dialled out to Richard and he picked up immediately.

“Hello?”

“Hi. I just thought I‘d let you know I‘m not going in today. I‘m not feeling well so I‘m going back to bed to sleep it off. I‘ll call the school but I thought it would be better to let you know than let you find out.”

“Okay. Thanks for telling me. You gonna be alright on your own? Or should I pop in?”

“Nah I‘m good. I‘ve already told Micah and he‘s gonna let his shields down at about four so I can check in with him. I‘m just gonna sleep and perhaps brew some potions. I‘ll be fine alone.”

“Alright then. I‘ll let the school know for you. You rest. I‘ll see you when you‘re better.”

“Alright Richard, have a good day.”

“Go back to bed Harry. Bye.” He hung up quickly and I put the keypad lock on and put it in my bag. I showered quickly, the water stinging my eyes. Then I dressed in jeans and a button up shirt with an open robe draped over my shoulders in black. Then I hoisted my bag onto my back and left, skipping breakfast entirely.

I apperated straight to the airport from the hall way of my house and made my way to the wizarding check in. The goblin was different to the one before but again I got a big thank you, discreetly put of course, and then given a place on a portkey. The portkey was, as usual, horrible. If I had eaten I probably would have brought it back up again. As it was I just pulled myself together and apperated straight to Grimmauld place.

“MASTER HARRY POTTER SIR! You is home!”

“Hello Dobby. It‘s nice to see you again. Don‘t suppose I could get something to eat do you? I‘m starving.”

Dobby nodded excitedly and scampered off into the kitchen where I heard him tell Kreacher something. Kreacher emerged from the kitchen and bowed to me.

“Hello Kreacher. How‘s everything been here?”

“Fine Master.”

Breakfast was so huge I couldn’t eat it all. Once I was finished I asked Kreacher to fetch me some parchment, ink and a quill so I could write a message to Percy and Julien and then I asked him to deliver it while I wrote a message to the manager of Flourish and Blotts getting Dobby to deliver that for me. I retired to the Black library and started flipping through the various potions books.

“Master Harry Potter sir? These are the books the manager is giving me for you.” I looked up and smiled at Dobby.

“Thank you Dobby. Could you just put them down there?”

“Oh yes Mr Harry Potter sir.”

“Dobby…could you also warn me when it‘s coming up to four o‘clock in St Louis? I need to check in with Micah.”

“Yes Mr Harry Potter Sir! I is going now.”

“Okay Dobby. Thanks.” Dobby’s eyes welled up with tears, again, and he popped away.

I continued to look through the books for ages. I took all the notes I could, trying not to repeat myself but often my hand just had a mind of its own. All the books did, however, point out the same facts. This particular potion took the genetic blueprints from the DNA put into the potion and changed the drinker’s body to look like the person from whom they had the DNA of. It changed everything, making the new body just as real as the other person. There would be no signs of scarring, because scars weren’t written into the genetic code. It just changed the body to match the new genetic structure. Of course it only lasted an hour. And, on top of that it took a month to brew and it was a hard potion, not to mention all the ingredients were expensive.

“HARRY!” I jumped and looked up at the door. Happiness and excitement filled me. I threw myself out of my chair and moved towards Percy embracing him. I hadn’t especially missed him, at least I didn’t think I had, but after all this time of not seeing him it is wonderful to see him again.

“Percy, how are you? How‘s Julien? Evcerything going okay at home and stuff?”

“Everything‘s fine Harry.” Percy laughed and drew me over to the sofa. “I‘m more excited to hear about you! Did everything turn out okay back at home?”

“Yeah, more than okay. Well, there was a bit of a problem a while ago that has made Asher really depressed but I think I‘ve found a way to help him which is why I’m here.” Percy raised an eyebrow and opened his mouth.

“Oh really? Lets hear it then!” I frowned, that wasn’t Percy’s voice. Percy’s eyes snapped to my side and then he rolled them.

“Julien, what happened to your manners? You were trying to correct mine yesterday and now you‘ve forgotten them yourself you hypocrite!” I craned my neck around to see Julien walking into the room with a cheeky smile on his face.

“Well around family manners aren‘t important. Now, tell me about this problem of yours.” I shared a look with Percy who rolled his eyes again.

“It‘s nice to meet you too Julien. I‘ve been wonderful, how are you? Lots of exciting things have been happening to me recently, how about you? How was work?” I teased and Julien groaned and shook his head.

“Alright, alright. Sorry for thinking you wouldn‘t mind s,ipping the pleasentaries. I‘ve been in good health thank you Mr Potter. Work has been tolerable, my private life booming. I…”

“Uh huh.” I interrupted with a grin before rushing on and completely changing the subject, I really didn‘t like the pleasentaries all that much but as a brother in law it is my job to tease Julien. “Now my problem is with Asher. As I said, there was an incident about a week before Haloween where Asher got insulted and since then he has become incredibly self conscious about his scars, you know the burns?”

“Yes we saw. He didn‘t seem so self conscious about them when he was here though.”

“No he didn‘t. I don‘t know why that was, I just hope it was because he felt happy and loved around Micah and me so he didn‘t have to worry about them. But now he has been reminded of them and the person insulting him called him all the things he had been calling himself over the years after he passes a mirror. His sef confidence has gone down the pan and he has taken to hiding both his scars and his personality. I‘ve tried, as has Micah, to get him to stop. I‘ve been loving, angry, silent, persuasive, comforting…now I‘ve kind of given up hoping my love for him will change his views on himself.

“When I was in school though I got the idea of glamour charms, I thought they could help him conceal it. You know, I figured anything to help him feel happier. Then I did some research and I realised you could still feel the scars and that Asher would hate that just as much as seeing them. So I gave up again. But in Biology class, don‘t worry you don‘t have to understand it, the teacher told me about DNA and how it is the blueprint for how th body is made. It holds the instructions fo what hair colour and thickness you‘ll have, how tall and fat you will be, what colour your eyes will be, how good your eyesight is, what skin colour you will have and what skin texture you‘ll have. He also told me that scars and things aren‘t written in the DNA. I asked him whether it was the same with vampires and he said yes. So I thought of the poly-juice potion.”

“Ah.” Julien hummed and then got a serious look of concentration on his face. Percy nodded his head enthusiastically though.

“Yes! No that potion would definitely work but there‘s a new potion on the market now…well, it‘s kind of on the market. It works exactly the same as the poly-juice potion but it lasts for twenty four hours. It was made for the aurors who needed to go undercover to try to find out which Death Eaters were lying about their alegiences during the war. It helped us track loads of people down, who would other wise have got away.”

“It works for twentyfour hours Percy?” I asked with a frown.

“Yes. Well they tried using the normal poly-juice but they had to keep taking a dose every hour and that looked very suspicious, not to mention it blew their cover. So this new potion was brought in, and it has worked. It is the poly-juice potion but it lasts longer. I can get the instructions if you like?” I nodded.

“That would be brilliant! I‘d really appreciate it if you could! Gods, just think Asher can have a whole twenty four…well, it would be less than that but…”

“Not really, there‘s a spell that vampires can use to help them go into sunlight for twelve hours. The Ministry vampires use it.” Percy interrupted again and I stared at him in amazement.

“You mean…wait, if vampires need a spell to go into sunlight then how come Blaise didn’t and he was a vampire.” Percy frowned for a moment before shrugging.

“I don‘t know. Perhaps he did have a spell. Or perhaps it was because he was half a vampire. I don‘t know.” Percy admitted. Julien grabbed his shoulders and twisted his body around so they were face to face.

“And how is it, husband mine, that you are able to get these things without loosing your job?” Percy put a hand on Julien’s cheek and kissed him briefly on the lips. I felt uncomfortable watching but just as I was about to look away Percy pulled back.

“It‘s simple. As the secretary to the Minister I have to type up all sorts of legal documents and I get lots of documents come through me before moving on to other people. I could find the instructions, copy them discreetly, and then bring them home. So long as I don‘t take the document itself, just a copy, I can get away with it. Besides which, everybody trusts me and I married a Slytherin so I should be smart enough to get away with this.”

“That is…”

“Besides, you need to do your bit too. You have to brew the potion because I‘m good at potions but you have the best grade and Harry here is rubbish.”

“Hey!” I protested but laughed in agreement anyway. Percy, Julien and I plotted for a while longer that evening then went to bed. Percy said he could have the spell for me by tomorrow but the potion instructions and ingredients list might take a while to get. I gave him a letter telling Gringotts that Percy was under instructions to purchase several ingredients for me and would require money from my vaults to purchase them.

“Mr Harry Potter Sir?” I turned in my seat leaving Percy and Julien reclining against each other on the sofa laughing at one of Julien’s tales.

“Yes Dobby?”

“It is being four o‘clock in St Louis nows.” I nodded.

“Thanks Dobby. Percy? Julien?”

“Mm?” They looked at me, their eyes shining. Micah’s eyes always looked like that when we were together. I guess Julien and Percy really did have a love match, as strong now as it was when they married, if not stronger.

“I‘m going to go to my room now and turn in for the night. It‘s about ten o‘clock in St Louis and I didn‘t sleep so well last night. Would it be okay if I had Dobby and Kreacher see you out?” Julien pushed Percy ever so slightly so he had enough room to stand up. Then he pulled Percy to his feet.

“No need Harry, we can see ourselves out. There‘s obviously something you have to do in private before bed so we‘ll leave now. Come to our house for dinner tomorrow? That way we can plan out how we are going to do the rest of this idea.” I nodded and, after a quick round of hugs good bye, went up to my room. As soon as the door closed behind me I sat on the bed and opened my mind link.

“Micah?”

“Harry? How are you feeling?” I smiled slightly, opening my empathy to him. I could feel worry and love all at once, the coldness of worry and the warmth of love clashing strangely.

“I‘m okay. Is everything okay with you?”

“Yup. Nothing strange happened here. Everything as boring as ever.”

-

NOTES: So, you get this chapter today as well as chapter 29. Now I haven’t finished 34 yet and as you should know I like to keep about 5 chapters in front of what I’ve already downloaded. So I’m sorry for the wait, I had hoped to have finished the story by now but I’ve not had the time to work on it. I blame university, it has honestly messed up the whole timetabling for this term. Stupidly, 5 weeks into term we have 2 presentations and a performance (the performance is obligatory but ungraded) and straight after we are on our placements. Seriously, I have had 4 classes for one module and not even begun covering what we need for our presentation. If you are thinking of going to uni, do not go to UWE Bristol.

Sorry, rant over!

Thank you for the reviews for the last chapter!