FAMILY TIES

Chapter Three


Harry turned around, his voice drawn as he faced the unknown. His eyes teared and his wand hand shook as he thought he was losing his mind. “Mum?”

“Yes, Harry, it’s me . . . or what you know that looks like me from your pictures,” she smiled.

“But . . . you died,” Harry whispered taking a step back, shaking his head.

“Yes, Harry, I am not of this earth anymore. This is kind of a one-time deal,” she said taking a step forwards.

Harry reached out his hand for it to be grasped in hers. “How can this be? Are you a ghost? Why can I touch you?” Harry asked, his voice breaking as he freely cried.

Lily reached out her hands to pull him into her arms. “You feel good,” she softly said into his ear.

Harry tightened his hold on his mother, not ever wanting to let go. He reluctantly pulled back to look at her smiling face. “You said a one-time deal?” He asked.

She brushed her thumb along his cheek and leaned in to kiss his forehead, then led him to a bench by the sphere. “When I died, I was granted one last request . . . and no, I couldn’t come back to life,” she said, smiling sadly. “I wanted to be able to talk with you, explain things to you when you were ready. After we are done here, my spirit will go on.”

“You’ve been waiting all these years?”

“Well yes. And no,” she grinned. “When you came into the cave, my heart told me it was time, so I came. There’s a place that is truly beautiful for our kind when we pass this life. Your body may die, but your spirit . . . your essence lives in a whole different realm.”

“Has anyone else been in this cave?” Harry asked.

“No. It was only open to you Harry. Afterwards it will seal itself closed.”

“Can I see what you look like naturally?” Harry asked.

Lily closed her eyes as a soft glow surrounded her. Harry closed his eyes against the brightness, then opened them when she squeezed his hand. “Not much different,” she grinned.

Harry saw that she was still beautiful in her elven form. Her hair hung down to her waist in soft waves in a dark auburn color, the sides braided and tied at the back to show her pointy elf ears. Her face was a pale creamy color, with a spattering of freckles across her nose. Her eyes were the same green as his that smiled back at him.

“Everyone always told me that I had my mother’s eyes,” Harry smirked.

“And your mother’s ears,” she laughed. “James always loved my ears.”

“Is father there with you?”

“James is there also,” she replied then grasped his hand in hers. “There are some things that you need to know. Things that have been kept from you for your own safety.”

“Like what?” He asked, his voice pained. “I’m not going to like this, am I?”

“It will . . . take some time to adjust,” she admitted.

“Well, I know that I’m an elf, and a prince . . . which I’m still trying to grasp,” he said reaching up to touch one of his ears.

“You are very handsome with your ears. Of course I’m kind of biased, being your mother,” she grinned.

“So why were you hidden when you were younger?” Harry asked.

“My Uncle Tyrial, your grandfather’s brother, used to be a kind caring elf a long time ago. I used to eagerly await his visits when I was younger, but something happened to him when I was about five years of age. His mind was not his own. When he visited, his eyes would not leave me, his gaze lecherous and greedy. When I was into my first year at Hogwart’s, he had taken me. When my father came to rescue me, I was close to death from the severe whipping he gave me. He had tried to rape me, but my magic warded him off. Unfortunately, it didn’t ward the pain from the barbed slashes of his whip,” she sadly said, “then my Uncle escaped.”

“When did you go to live with the Evans’s?” Harry asked.

“When my father brought me back home, I was put in a healing coma for several weeks, while everyone else thought I had died. After I was on my feet again, he placed me with the Evan’s family and gave me the name Lily. The Evan’s knew I was magical and accepted it . . . all except Petunia. I was brought back to Hogwart’s under a different name than when I started the year before. My first year I was an elf. My second year . . . a witch with a heavy glamour on that not even Professor Dumbledore could see through,” she grinned.

“Why did you go to Hogwart’s in the first place, when they have instructors here?” Harry asked.

“My older brother, Gaidon had met up with some wizards and become fast friends. Father couldn’t turn down his pleading to join his friends. Also, back then we didn’t have as many elves that were qualified to become instructors to the younger ones. My brother would tell me tales of his days at school, and it urged me to go there also. Hogwarts helped me broaden my magic, make me become stronger,” she smiled as she reminisced about those days.

“I was told about the glamour that was placed on me after I was born. Why?”

“When you were born, you had the distinct elven ears. The glamour needed to be put in place to hide your true heritage, as my uncle was still out there somewhere. We placed the glamour on you so you looked like James . . . so there were no questions.”

“I’ve noticed I have no resemblance to father now that the glamour is off. I have some of your features, but why not his?” He asked.

“Because . . . ” she hesitated, “James was not your father.”

“What?!” Harry exclaimed.

“James was your father in his heart, but was not the one that sired you.”

“Who then?”

“After graduating from Hogwarts and starting my life together with James, we started Auror training together. We quickly finished our training, as the threat of Voldemort was escalating. James and I got an anonymous tip on a death eater meeting and went to check it out with our team. It turned out to be an ambush, set up to capture James and I. Two other Aurors were killed, while James and I were thrown in separate cells in the dungeons. I heard James being tortured in the next cell, while I was pretty much left alone at first, but not for long. Three death eaters came into the small cell, then proceeded to smack me around a bit. I was then held down by two of them while the third whipped me, bringing back a lot of painful memories. He then raped me repeatedly. The last thing I remember before passing out was glistening fangs dripping with my blood,” she quietly said.

“Fangs?”

“Yes. I was raped and bitten by a vampire.”

“Were you changed after the bite?” Harry asked remembering some of the lessons in Defense Against the Dark Arts classes.

“I was told that he didn’t drain me, or have me drink his blood. He was interrupted by another death eater that came into the room.”

“What happened then?”

“The vampire that was raping me was interrupted by his son, with a summons from Voldemort. The son came forward after the other three left and sealed the wound on my neck by licking it, healing the bleeding punctures, just as Sirius and some Aurors came bashing through the door. I had opened my eyes to see my rescuer after the wound was healed as he placed a medallion into my hand, port keying me to the Hogwarts infirmary.”

“Who was the rescuer?” Harry asked.

“Severus Snape.”

“So,” Harry began, the event going through his mind, “you became pregnant from the rape?”

“Yes,” she replied, grasping his hand tighter as he thought it out.

“So . . . I’m a vampire too?” He quietly asked.

“Yes,” she sadly replied watching his expressive face.

“Will I have fangs and have to drink blood?” He whispered.

“Your other part of your inheritance will come on your birthday. You will need blood to sustain you and keep you strong. The fangs, and possibly wings will be part of you also.”

“Blood?!” Harry exclaimed. “I’ll have to kill to survive?” He asked worriedly.

“No, Harry, you will need it, but you don’t have to drain a person for it. There are actually blood banks for the vampiric community, as well as blood donors that will let you drink from them,” she reassured him.

“What type of vampire am I?”

“When I found out I was pregnant, James and I researched the race after finding out the family name. You will be a daywalker; so you can still go out during the daylight, and your skin will still tan, although your eyes will be more sensitive to the sunlight. At night your eyesight will be enhanced. You will only need to drink blood once a week or when you feel especially weakened. Popular muggle beliefs like garlic or the sign of the cross will not kill you,” she smiled.

“And the wings?”

“The wings, as well as the fangs will be able to retract at will, unless highly angered.”

“Wait a minute,” Harry started, suddenly realizing something, “you said the son of the vampire that raped you rescued you, and his name was Severus Snape . . . ”

“Yes,” she grinned, “he’s your half-brother.”

“Merlin! I’m related to the greasy bat,” he muttered.

“He’s not that bad Harry,” she laughed. “He and I became somewhat close friends in school. He’s really nice once you get past the snarky git persona he portrays to everyone.”

“And the tattoo on my hip?” Harry asked.

“Snape family marking. Severus will most likely have one on the same spot. Also, there is one other thing you will need to know,” she said.

“Can’t get any worse,” Harry sighed.

“With your vampiric and elven heritage, you will have but one person that makes you feel complete. This person you will be able to drink from as many times as needed without them needing a blood replenishing potion. The blood will taste sweeter, and will heighten your body senses even more as you drink. You will know when your mate is near when you feel your fangs wanting to break through the skin of you gums,” she smiled.

“So one person for life?” Harry asked.

“It won’t kill you or your mate if you have sex with others, but you’ll find you won’t want to after you’ve bonded physically with your mate.”

“Merlin,” Harry sighed, “I can’t believe I’m talking about sex with my mother.”

“Well, when James and I . . . ” she started with a smile on her face.

“Enough!” Harry laughingly interrupted. “Too much information.”

“Is there anything else you need to ask me Harry?” She asked.

“I really have no choice in all this do I?” He asked quietly as it all sunk in.

“No, Harry you don’t,” she said brushing the tear from his eye with her thumb, “but know that you have friends . . . and now family that love you no matter who or what you are. I wish I was there as you grew up, to be there when you needed me. James and I love you and are very proud of you.”

Harry leaned forward to wrap his arms around her, holding on, not wanting to let go. “Love you too mum,” he whispered against her neck.

The two of them sat holding each other until the sun was making its descent. Lily soothingly rubbed Harry’s back as he softly cried onto her shoulder until he drifted off to sleep. “Love you my son,” she quietly said, kissing the top of his head.


tbc