A Vampire's Soul

A Vampire’s Soul, chapter three
Pairings: Harry/Draco, Ron/Harry, slight Harry/Ron/Hermione, Ron/Hermione, Harry/others
Rating: NC-17
Warnings: Vampires, so there’s blood being mentioned; Slash; minor Het, and possible multi-partners.

Words: About 4,750

Notes: Despite the way it starts, this won’t be a Harry/Hermione fic.

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter and its characters nor do I own anything from Dracula.

.-.

Harry stuck out his tongue at the goblet of blood in front of him. He hoped that Remus would hurry up and bring him his new blood. Remus had tried introducing Harry to other kinds, but none of them were any good. Harry shuddered as he recalled the way his last sip of blood tasted. The anteater blood was the worst. Harry nearly threw up whatever he had in his stomach.

Dragon blood was way too strong. The taste was ok, but it was such a knee jerker that Harry couldn’t stand taking more than two sips. Serpent blood was just as potent, but more sour, and it made his stomach do funny flips. Dog’s blood was just as awful, and Harry didn’t dare try any cat blood; the smell alone was horrible.

He sighed, swirling the red liquid around in his goblet. He’d rather play around with this elk blood than drink it any day.

When he heard someone come out of the fireplace, however, he jumped up from the chair in eagerness, hoping for some blood that tasted better than the last batch. Vaguely Harry wondered where Remus had been, because he was about a half hour late. He thought he heard something odd in the sitting room, but then Remus came in before he could check it out.

“Here you are, Harry,” said Remus, holding out a giant plastic bag filled with the unmistakable dark liquid. “Would you like to try some now?”

“Yes, of course I would!” Harry said enthusiastically. Instead of downing the rest of the elk blood, he poured it down the sink, and then rinsed out the goblet. Remus helped Harry fill it with the new blood.

“I hope you like this,” said Remus. “I had it specially ordered.”

“Really?” Harry said, sniffing his goblet carefully. “Doesn’t smell bad.”

“Take a taste.”

Harry sipped tentatively. He licked his fangs, eyes lighting up. “Not bad!” He took a bigger sip and then made a yummy sound. “What is this?” he asked.

“Stag’s blood,” said Remus easily.

Harry paused for a moment in some surprise, and then smiled. “Huh. I should have known.” He took long draft. “It’s very good,” he sighed.

Remus sighed in relief. “Thank Merlin we found you a good substitute.”

Harry set the goblet down, a small frown on his face. “Yeah, well, it’s not as good as human blood, is it?” He sat back down in his chair.

Remus wrinkled his nose. “I wouldn’t know. But you must try to get used to other blood, Harry, otherwise you’ll get too dependent on human blood, and that’s not good.”

Harry shrugged. “I see no problem with having my friends give me some of their blood once in a while.”

Dear Lord, he’s already got a Blood Doll… two of them, in fact! Remus thought, surprised. He decided on talking to Harry about that later.

“By force or given freely?” he glowered.

Harry turned his gaze at Remus, eyes narrowed. “Freely, of course.”

“Of course,” said Remus sardonically. “Because that’s what you’ve been doing before, right? Ron and Hermione just freely gave you their blood.”

Harry snarled. “Don’t start, Lupin.” They’ve had this conversation before, but it was the last thing Harry wanted to talk about. What he did with his best friends was none of Remus’s business. As long as he didn’t kill them or Turn them, they were fine, right?

They had lapsed into silence. Harry sipped more at his stag blood, annoyed by Remus but still glad that he found him some better tasting blood.

“Do you know why human blood tastes better to you, Harry?” Remus suddenly asked. He hoped he wouldn’t get into this discussion, but he couldn’t put it off any longer.

Harry shrugged his shoulders. “I dunno. Because human blood is richer and tastier than the animals?”

“Not necessarily,” said Remus.

“So, why does human blood make me feel stronger and more powerful?”

“It’s not so much as the human blood that makes you feel stronger,” explained Remus. “It’s the magic that flows within a witch or wizard’s veins. Blood really doesn’t matter as far as intelligence and skill goes, but the magic itself within the blood makes it better. I don’t know if I’m explaining it right…” Remus sighed.

“So, that’s why Ron’s blood tasted better to me than Hermione’s,” said Harry, looking both shocked and amazed. “Because Ron’s a pureblood.”

“That isn’t always the case,” said Remus. “It all depends on how powerful the witch or wizard is, too. Say Dumbledore was still alive; his blood would have been an aphrodisiac to you.”

Harry’s eyes lit up. “Damn… it is too bad Dumbledore’s dead.”

“Harry!” Remus gasped. Harry hung his head in shame.

“Sorry,” he said softly.

“Anyway,” Remus sighed. “If you were to bite a regular human, a Muggle, then you’d be able to tell the difference. Vampires crave human blood naturally, and it’s very hard for them to drink any other kind of blood, but with time and patience a vampire can depend on an animal variety, mostly. They say that if a vampire doesn’t get any fluids from a human for at least a week, they go crazy. It is best that you drink as much of your stag blood as possible, get used to it, so you don’t get so crazy when you’re craving a human. And when you feel you just can’t go on without some human blood, you need to let someone know, and we’ll get someone to donate you blood freely.”

“Hmm,” said Harry, staring into his empty goblet. Remus took his gesture for wanting more stag blood and not that he was just thinking, so Remus filled up his goblet. Harry thanked him anyway, and took another sip. This blood really was rather good… he could almost forget about wanting to drink human blood. Almost.

“So, the more magic power in the person’s blood the better I feel…” Harry reflected, seemingly ignoring Remus’s little rant on why he needed to get used to the animal blood. “You know whose blood I should have, then?”

Remus blinked, not sure if he liked the way this conversation was going. “Who?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” smirked Harry. He took another gulp of his stag blood and then carefully set it down. “Draco Malfoy’s.”

Remus gaped, and then shook his head clear. “No, Harry, you shouldn’t go after Draco.”

Harry narrowed his eyes. “Why not? He’d have it coming to him anyway. Besides, it wouldn’t do much to his complexion; he’s already ghostly pale.”

“Absolutely not, Harry,” said Remus shortly. “I forbid you from even thinking of trying to bite young Malfoy!”

Harry glared at Remus, fuming. After a minute, Harry drank the rest of his stag blood, slammed the goblet down on the table, and then stood. “Fine,” he said curtly, “I won’t go looking for Malfoy. I’ll just see to Ron and Hermione…”

He was about a foot from the kitchen’s doorway when Remus stepped in front of him. Harry raised an eyebrow.

“I don’t want you to leave the kitchen just yet.”

“Why?” said Harry. His fangs were humming with the need to have human blood, but he tried to quell it. He wasn’t being too successful.

“Because…” Remus stuttered around for an excuse, but then he decided on telling the truth. Well, most of it. “There’s something in there that I don’t want you to see yet. You should… you should go hide.”

“Hide?” Harry said incredulously. “What the fuck, Remus?”

Remus pointed a finger at Harry in warning. “Don’t take that tone with me, Fledgling. I want you to transform into a bat and hide up in the attic.”

Harry saw red. “I am NOT your Fledgling, so don’t call me that! Only my Sire can call me that!” Harry startled himself from his outburst, but deep down inside he knew what he said was true.

“Ah, but we don’t know WHO your Sire is, do we?”

Harry panted, trying to keep himself under control. “I am not transforming into a bat and hiding!” he shouted. “You know damn well that I haven’t been able to become a bat yet!”

“That’s because you don’t want to be one.”

“Would you want to be one if the mere thought of bats makes you think of Snape?” Harry snarled.

Remus flinched, and Harry wasn’t sure why.

“Well, you should learn,” he said slowly, hoping to calm the young vampire down. “You may need to know how in case of an emergency.” Remus moved to place a hand on Harry’s shoulder, but Harry knocked it away.

“Go to Hell,” Harry hissed.

Remus looked hurt for a moment, and Harry started to feel guilty for saying that, but then Remus took out his wand and pointed it at Harry’s chest. Harry didn’t know what Remus’s problem was, but he wasn’t about to be ordered around by an old werewolf. He clenched his fists, vampire instincts kicking in.

“Don’t make me hex you, Har…”

Remus was cut short as Harry seized his arms and pinned him up against the wall next to the door. Remus struggled, forgetting about Harry’s supernatural strength. His arms were restrained to his sides, and he was starting to lose the feeling in them. His wand was almost slipping out of his hand.

“Strength of twenty men, remember?” Harry snarled, his grip on Remus’s arms getting tighter. Remus let out a surprised gasp at how much it hurt. He tried pointing his wand upward.

“Let go of me, Harry, or you’ll regret it…”

“I think it’s you that will regret it if you don’t let me out of the kitchen.”

Harry was about to pick him up and toss him aside like a rag doll when Remus shouted, “Expelliarmus!”

Harry flew back, over the dining room table, and hit the wall. His upper back and head suffered most of the impact, and Harry was seeing stars for a couple seconds.

“I hated to do that, Harry, but you were getting out of control…”

Harry lunged, knocking over a chair in the process, and grabbed Remus by the front of his shirt. He hauled Remus off his feet and slammed him into the kitchen counter before Remus could get a good bead on him with his wand. Harry snarled; fangs extended as far as they’ll go, and pupils dilated so wide they were glowing.

“You do that again,” Harry said menacingly, “and I’ll bite you.”

“You’d be sorry if you did,” croaked Remus. “Remember? Werewolf blood tastes awful.”

Harry got closer to Remus’s face. “I’ll take that chance, werewolf…” he sneered.

“Provided you can pierce me, vampire.”

Harry took him up on that offer and tried to sink his teeth into Remus’s neck. The older man didn’t struggle, much to Harry’s dismay and pleasure. For a second, Harry thought he had somehow accidentally hypnotized Remus, but Remus wasn’t standing slack. His body still felt wound tightly.

It took a while, perhaps three or four minutes, but it felt like eternity, and Harry had finally broke open Remus’s skin. Remus hissed in pain, but that was an understatement to Harry when he got the first taste of Remus’s blood.

He tore himself away from Remus so fast, Remus had to catch himself.

“YUUUUCK!” Harry yelled, tongue sticking out and Remus’s blood dribbling down his chin. “Disgusting!” Harry ran to the sink and quickly rinsed his mouth out.

Remus held his neck. “I told you it tasted awful,” he said almost haughtily.

Harry spat in the sink noisily. “Quit being so smug about it.”

“Well I did warn you,” said Remus. He healed his wound best he could, and then inched closer to Harry. “Even Sanguini thought it was bad, and he’ll drink almost anything.”

Harry grimaced. “Sanguini bit you?”

“Yes,” said Remus. He leaned against the counter by the sink, watching Harry continuing to rinse his mouth out. “It was mainly because I’m a werewolf and he’s a vampire.”

Harry paused, staring into the sink. Remus turned the tap on to wash the splatters of blood down the plughole.

“Is that—is that why I suddenly got so angry with you just now?” Harry asked quietly.

“Perhaps,” said Remus. “We werewolves and vampires have quite a history.”

“Not a happy one, I presume?” said Harry. He looked up at Remus, anger completely sapped out of him.

“No, not a happy one,” said Remus. He patted Harry on the shoulder. “But, me and you… we’ll be able to make our friendship work. We’ve been friends for quite a while, before you Turned. So, our history helps us instead of hinders.”

Harry’s soul sang, feelings of emotion welling up inside him. His heart may not be beating now, but the blood flowing through him felt warm and alive as compassion and understanding soared deep within him. For a moment, Harry completely forgot why he was angry with Remus in the first place.

He reached up and placed a friendly hand on Remus’s shoulder in return. They smiled at each other.

“I’m sure we’ll stay friends,” he said. “Even if we do end up fighting sometimes.”

“We will,” said Remus. They stared at one another for a bit, and then Remus removed his hand. “So, would you do me this one favor and try becoming a bat and hide? I assure you I’m not trying to order you around or keep you from anything real important. I’ll explain things to you later, I promise.”

Harry felt his anger begin again, but then stopped short. Perhaps there was a way for him to find out what was going on. With an idea in mind, Harry agreed to do as Remus asked.

“Excellent,” said Remus, smiling. “I’ll make it up to you later, Harry, I swear.” He pointed up at a small crack in the corner of the kitchen. “Do you think you’d be able to squeeze through there?”

“Dunno,” said Harry. “Never tried becoming a bat before, so I wouldn’t know how big I am.”

“I’m sure you’ll be able to do it; and if you can’t fit, I’ll make the opening wider for you.”

Nodding, Harry took a deep breath and tried to concentrate, the blood of the stag still flowing within him. The strength of the animal seemed to be enough; combined with the other gross blood he had to endure. This time he had a reason to become a bat, a plan of sorts, so his body slowly began to obey and before he knew it, he was smaller and black-furred and winged.

And nearly as blind. He fell to the tiled floor and squeaked out in surprise. Remus moved quickly and picked him up, along with his robe that he got tangled up in and his glasses, which were now too big for his face.

“It’ll take a while to get used to transforming everything that’s on you, as you can see,” said Remus. He placed Harry’s robe over a chair and his glasses on the table. “Or can’t see, as the case may be. And before you ask, your bad eyesight isn’t because you don’t have your glasses on. Even without your glasses, you could still see, although everything’s blurry. A bat’s eyesight isn’t the best, especially during the day, so they use their sonar to help them get around. Just give it a go.”

Harry did, and sounds vibrated back to him to let him know just how far away the things were. After doing this for a while, Harry began to understand just where everything was.

“Try flying,” said Remus.

Harry flapped his wings and Remus tossed him in the air without warning. Panicking, Harry squeaked and flapped around wildly, sending off his radar system to help him. It took a couple minutes, but Harry eventually got the hang of it, and headed for the crack in the corner.

It was too small, so Remus widened it for him. With a small squeak of thanks, Harry squirmed inside and began to investigate.

Remus sighed in relief. He made himself look more presentable and then walked into the sitting room where his guests await.

.-.

It took Harry about ten minutes of scooting around, but he finally found another hole in the wall in which he could slip out of. He didn’t want to make a sound in case Remus heard him and tried to make him stay in the wall or bring him back to the kitchen.

He was too curious as to what Remus was hiding from him. He didn’t want to use his sonar in case it made noise, so he just used his other senses to see if he was in the right room. The smell of ashes filled his nostrils and he knew right then that he was in the sitting room. He gripped the edge of the hole with his little claws and raised his head, ears moving like little satellite dishes.

“I assure you,” Harry heard Remus say, “he will be quite safe here. The house is protected by many spells, and we have Aurors on the lookout day and night… you can reassure his mother that nothing will happen to him as long as he stays…”

Harry lost his grip on the edge of the hole and squeaked in annoyance. He reacted instinctively and flapped his wings to stay airborne so that he wouldn’t hit the floor or whatever else was below him. The occupants in the room gasped as Harry flew up to the chandelier and circled it.

“Apparently the house isn’t protected against flying rodents.”

Harry thought he knew who the voice of this other person belonged to, but he was too distressed at the moment to remember as he tried to stay in the air.

“Damn it,” Remus swore under his breath. Out loud he said, “Excuse me,” And then he pointed his wand at Harry. “Accio.”

Harry zoomed into Remus’s arms, squeaking in frustration all the while.

“Careful, Lupin. He might bite you and you’ll need to be cured of rabies.”

“Don’t be daft,” said Remus. “He’s fine.”

“He? Do you know this bat?”

Harry didn’t like how they were discussing him as if he weren’t there, so he willed himself to turn back to his original form. Also, he was too curious as to whom the other person in the room was.

Remus didn’t think that Harry would want to transform while he still held him, so he was shocked to suddenly be holding a bigger, human Harry Potter in his arms, who was only clad in a pair of boxers. Nose to nose with Remus, Harry blushed. Remus set him down carefully, almost reluctantly, and then Harry turned around.

“YOU!” Harry shouted, his anger boiling over.

“Good evening, Potter,” said Severus Snape.

Harry narrowed his eyes and then noticed someone behind Snape. “And you!”

“Now, now, Harry,” Remus said, placing a restraining hand on Harry’s shoulder. “Don’t even think of attacking them. Snape had already explained things to the Order, and his story has checked out. He’s really on our side.”

“Our side?” Harry snarled. “What makes you so sure? He’s a fucking double agent, and he killed…”

“Silence!” shouted Snape. “I do not wish to hear any more accusations. I’ve dealt with enough of it during my years.”

“Well, too bad,” growled Harry. “You should have thought of that before you decided to kill Dumbledore!”

“God, will you shut up, Potter?” Draco Malfoy said from behind Snape. “I always knew you were blind… as a bat.” He snickered at his own joke.

“Fuck you!” Harry snarled, trying to get Remus away from him so he could easily attack the git. Remus wouldn’t be able to hold him back forever.

“Interesting Animagus you turn into, Potter,” sneered Snape. “I would have thought you’d turn into something similar to what your pitiful godfather was, or your foolish father…”

Anger coursed through Harry so quickly, his fangs grew. He yanked himself away from Remus and lunged at Snape, knocking Malfoy aside. They tumbled to the floor, Snape grunting from having the wind knocked out of him, and then Harry had a hand wrapped tightly around Snape’s neck, turning Snape’s face blue.

“Harry, stop it!” Remus shouted.

“You take that back,” Harry snarled at Snape. “You have no right to be calling my father and Sirius names like that… you have NO right!”

Suddenly, Snape looked terrified. He must have finally noticed Harry’s fangs. Harry let up on Snape’s throat to allow him some air, but still kept a firm grip. Snape’s lips moved as if he were about to speak, but then he pursed them together. For a moment there, they thought Harry was going to choke Snape to death.

“You’re too proud as well, I see,” said Harry. “It’s a good thing I don’t believe in killing, no matter how much I hate the person.” He released Snape and stood up. Snape lay there for a moment, gasping for air, and then Draco finally moved to help Snape to his feet.

Snape rubbed his throat, glaring at Remus. “So, when were you going to tell me that Potter is now a vampire?”

Remus looked at his shoes and shrugged. “I was getting around to it.”

“What century?” sneered Malfoy. He kept eyeing Harry warily, as if Harry would attack him at any moment. Secretly, that was what Harry wanted to do, but he kept his feet firmly planted beside Remus.

“I was going to explain it to you today, before all this happened, but I wasn’t sure how to tell you,” Remus tried explaining.

“Do the others know?” Snape asked. Remus understood that he was talking about the Order.

“Yes,” said Remus. “And before you get mad at me for letting you know last, it was because I couldn’t contact you yet. You told me in your last owl not to, remember?”

Snape nodded. “I remember that, Lupin, thanks. You could have owled Draco.”

Remus shook his head. “I didn’t want to risk it, since Draco isn’t in the Order.”

“Yet,” said Malfoy.

Harry glared. “You’re not joining the Order.”

“Why not?” Malfoy smirked.

“Because if I can’t, you can’t!”

“Actually, Harry, before you were bitten, I was going to ask you to join,” said Remus.

Harry deflated. “Oh.”

“I don’t know if having a vampire in the Order is a good idea,” said Snape.

“Why not?” said Harry, glaring. “You’re in it.”

Remus sounded as if he were trying to hide a snicker with a cough.

Snape narrowed his eyes. “That’s not funny, Potter. I am not a monster.”

Remus quickly grabbed Harry’s shoulder before he could lunge at Snape again. Harry snarled.

“Watch it, Snape, or I’ll drain you so dry we can stick you in the closet with the rest of the skeletons and no one would notice the difference.”

Snape didn’t reply to that, but he did raise an eyebrow. Whether it was out of indifference or surprise, Harry didn’t know.

“Let’s all calm down now and get on with our business,” said Remus. “Draco can have the other spare bedroom upstairs across from Harry’s room.”

Malfoy shivered, and it only made Harry happier. The thought of sinking his teeth into Malfoy’s pale neck nearly made him drool.

“What if he attacks me?” Malfoy said, shooting an accusing glare at Harry.

“You have nothing to worry about,” said Remus. “Besides, Ron and Hermione each have their own room on either side of Harry’s.”

“What does that have to do with anything?” Malfoy demanded.

“Harry’s already bit them.”

“Just great!” Snape snarled. “Not only do we have Potter as a vampire but his two friends as well!”

“No, they’re not vampires,” explained Remus quickly when he saw Harry’s face go red with anger. “Harry made them…” He stole a quick glance at Harry, unsure if he should continue, but the look on Snape’s face spurred him on. Remus sighed. “He made them his Blood Dolls.”

Harry jerked his head up at Remus in surprise. “They’re my what?”

“Blood Dolls,” said Remus, looking defeated. “You… you use them for blood, but don’t kill or Turn them. You see, sometimes a vampire will use a mortal to get blood from in small amounts. You’ve been feeding on Ron and Hermione, so they’re your Blood Dolls.”

“I haven’t had their blood for a couple days, have I?” Harry argued. “I’ve been drinking that horrible animal blood you’ve been giving me.”

“You’d still try going back for more, though, wouldn’t you?” said Remus. “Your instinct lately has been telling you to take their blood again.”

Harry looked away, scowling. Remus was right; he was thinking about biting them again.

“I will not stay here and become one of Potter’s Blood Dolls!” Malfoy huffed. He turned back to Snape. “I want to come with you.”

“No,” said Snape sternly. “Unfortunately, you’ll be safer here.”

“I highly doubt it!” Malfoy sneered. “Not with that thing prowling around the house at night!”

Harry glared. “Watch who you’re calling a thing, Malfoy.”

Snape pinched the bridge of his nose with a finger and thumb. “Believe me, Draco, had I known that Potter was a vampire I would have tried to find you some other place to stay, but right now you don’t have a choice. If you come with me, you might get killed, and your mother wouldn’t be any worse off. As long as Lupin and a couple Aurors watch over you here, you’ll be safe.”

“What Aurors?” said Harry.

“Tonks will be here,” said Remus. “And so will Mad-Eye Moody. I’m going to try getting a few others to come over once in a while to relieve them of their duties whenever they need a break, and I might contact Eldred Worple.”

Tonks, thought Harry with a smile. It had been a while since he had seen her.

“Wait, who’s Worple again?”

“That author of Blood Brothers: My Life Amongst the Vampires. He was at Slughorn’s party that one time with Sanguini.”

“Oh,” said Harry. “Him.”

Malfoy looked back and forth from Harry and Remus to Snape. “Will I really be all right? I mean, if Potter just sucks on Weasley and Granger…”

“You’ll be fine,” said Snape. He rounded his glare at Harry, but was still speaking to Draco. “You better be fine.”

Harry pretended to be interested in the ceiling.

“I should go,” said Snape almost reluctantly. “I’m expected back… I don’t want to see one hair on Draco’s head to be out of place when I get back.”

“You’re coming back?” Harry glowered.

“Yes,” sneered Snape. He nodded to Remus. “Remember what I said, Lupin: not one hair. Good night.”

He disappeared in the green flames.

“Not one hair out of place…” Harry mimicked disdainfully. “What is he, Malfoy, your guardian?”

Malfoy looked everywhere except at Harry. “In a way, he is… for now.”

Remus surprised Malfoy by placing a hand on his shoulder. “Your mother will be just fine, Draco. Now, let’s get you settled into your new room. You have your stuff with you?”

“Yes,” said Malfoy curtly. “They’re in my pocket. I’ve shrunk them.”

“Good for you, Malfoy,” said Harry. “You get a biscuit.”

“Screw you, Potter.”

“Sorry, I’d rather bite you.”

Malfoy went pale. Harry laughed.

“That’s enough now, Harry,” said Remus. “Go back into the kitchen.”

“Or turn back into a bat and fly around the ceiling again,” said Malfoy, smirking. “That was highly amusing.”

Harry’s temper flared again and his fangs elongated. Malfoy gasped and hid behind Remus.

“Stop it, both of you,” said Remus strictly. “I don’t want to have to break up any fights or see anyone get bit.” He turned to Harry. “I mean it.”

Remus ushered Malfoy upstairs and showed him his new room. Harry sighed and sat down on the couch and stared into the fire. His body was pulsing with the need to drink human blood, but he calmed it by promising some later.

“Tonight,” he whispered in the empty room. “I will feast.”

TBC