Blood and Magic

Chapter Three: Pomme de Sang

The next day, Harry didn't even get out of bed before flicking his wand, activating the charms on the house to start up the chores needing to be done. By the time he'd showered, dressed and come downstairs, the animals had all been fed and let loose, and breakfast was already on the table waiting for him. He felt bad for not doing them himself, but after last night Harry just wasn't in the mood.

His mission to convince the vampires that he wouldn't be useful to them (originally a plan to convince them he was inedible) had not gone very well at all. The reason for that could probably be pinned on Jean-Claude, who'd ignored Harry's protests and arguments and insisted he needed to "soothe any ruffled feathers." After which, Harry had been invited to spend the evening at the club he'd obliviously strolled into.

Oh Merlin... the club. Harry groaned and shoved his plate away. He hadn't bothered to read the glowing wash of red hanging over the building before he went in it, but if he had Harry was sure he wouldn't have gone in at all. He might have noticed the sexual innuendo much sooner too. Guilty Pleasures indeed.

Harry had ended up spending over an hour sitting stiffly at a table next to Jean-Claude, drinking an endlessly refilled glass of coke and trying to pretend that naked men weren't dancing about five feet from him on the stage. A feat made much more difficult whenever said naked men decided to try and entice him to slip a bill down their pants-- not that Harry would call the strings they'd been wearing proper pants.

The only one who'd enjoyed himself was Jean-Claude, laughing every time Harry shook his head rapidly when a 'dancer' approached him. Even when Harry escaped the strip club, Jean-Claude had insisted on "escorting" Harry home, leading to an even more awkward two hour drive with Jean-Claude sitting too close next to him in the back seat of a taxi and making comments every now and then that Harry wasn't really listening to.

When the vampire had gotten out with him at his house and allowed the taxi to drive off, Harry had been worried that maybe he was going to get eaten. But all that happened was Jean-Claude walking him to the door of the house and bidding him goodnight before moving off into the darkness. Harry had stared after him until one of the thestrals, Azeilah, had nosed him, having come out of the barn to see what was going on. That woke him up enough to lock the wards in case Jean-Claude, or any other vampire, decided to come back. Then he'd gone to bed.

All of which led to him groaning over breakfast now and pressing his forehead against the table. He was supposed to get the vampires to leave him alone! Instead he went and did magic in front of them and made them even more interested! Now, even if he put up more wards to keep them away, they were aware of him and would probably remain on the lookout every time he left the farm. He didn't think anything that had happened so far warranted calling in Obliviators either. They hadn't threatened him really, and despite his spellwork, the secret of the wizarding world was still safe.

As Harry got up to set the dishes in the sink to be washed, food mostly untouched, he wondered what he could do to fix this. It was too late to avoid drawing attention, the vampires all knew he was magical, but maybe he could convince them he wasn't as useful for magic as they thought? He could try botching a few spells in front of them, see if they lost interest. Or maybe he could just come off as so boring they wouldn't want to bother with him anymore?

That was one thing Jean-Claude had kept repeating last night, that Harry was "fascinating." So, if the vampires were interested in him because he was interesting, then even if he proved incompetent at magic they might continue to hang about. If he wanted to be left alone, he would just have to come off as the most useless, boring wizard in the whole world.

Harry sighed. He should have listened to Hermione when he had the chance...

- - -

Later that evening, Harry was again cutting up dinner for the thestrals when he felt the wards begin to hum. But this time, Harry had set them to just keep everything out, so whoever was trying to reach him was stuck on the outside, pacing along the barrier and making the wards shiver as the intruder pressed against them. Harry took the half a goat out with him and dropped it in the yard, the thestrals that followed him, immediately lunging for it.

When he walked around a bend of trees on the dirt road leading from the house into the woods, Harry saw none other than Jean-Claude waiting further down the road where the wards marked the edge of his property.

"What are you doing here?" Harry asked tiredly, stopping a meter shy of the barrier.

"I came to visit you, Harry." Jean-Claude smiled lightly.

"Yeah? Why?" Harry didn't want to be visited anymore. He hadn't figured out a good plan yet and decided it would be better to just avoid the vampires altogether until he came up with something.

"Why to continue our discussion from last night, of course."

Harry stared at him. "I don't remember having a discussion with you." All he remember actually, was being embarrassed and pretending he was somewhere else. Oh, and Jean-Claude talking to... well, to Harry actually, but surely the vampire would have noticed that Harry hadn't been responding to him. He couldn't be calling that a discussion!

"You wished to be 'left alone', no?" Jean-Claude flashed the slightest edge of fang as he smiled. "Don't you want to know the terms for that?"

"There aren't any terms," Harry said indignantly. "You just leave me alone! That's it! How hard can it be?"

Jean-Claude tutted and shook his head. "Mon emeraude sorcier, surely you do not think delicate matters such as these can be casually brushed aside?"

Well, yes, Harry did think that and he didn't like the implication that he was an idiot for thinking it.

"The Master of the City does not give up so easily as that." Odd that Jean-Claude didn't look particularly happy when he said that, even though he was still smiling.

"Why does she even want to bother with me?" Harry asked flatly.

Jean-Claude looked away for a bit, staring off into the dark trees around them. "Before the laws changed, we stayed hidden and avoided drawing attention to ourselves, to each other. Now, the benefits of being legal are drawing more of us here. There isn't enough room and there are too many who long for power." He turned and stared into Harry's eyes. "Many have challenged my Master in the past year and she grows tired of it. Her lands are much larger than simply the city of Saint Louis, so it is easy for new vampires to move in to try and claim a portion for themselves."

"This, sounds like a war..." Harry said uncertainly. There hadn't been anything in the muggle news about this!

"It is, rather like one, but much quieter," Jean-Claude said as he raised a finger to his lips and smiled. "If one with your power were to ally with my Master, fewer would challenger her claim. Fewer humans would be killed in skirmishes."

"Killed?" Harry jerked. "Hold on-- people are getting killed because of this?"

Jean-Claude didn't answer, only standing there in the dark, smiling at him. Harry clenched his fists beside him.

"So, what then?" Harry changed direction. "This master of yours has too many people to fight, so she wants someone with magic at her side to do what exactly?"

"To intimidate her enemies of course."

"And would I be fighting anyone, or would it just be a bluff?"

"You would not be bothered needlessly, you would be left alone as you wish. After all, simply having a witch to call upon would frighten most challengers." Jean-Claude nodded as if agreeing with him.

"But not all of them?" Harry asked suspiciously. "Would I have to fight anyone?"

"You might be called upon to give aid once or twice," Jean-Claude smiled and stared into Harry's eyes. They seemed exceptionally blue again, which was odd considering how dark it was out. The only reason Harry could see Jean-Claude at all was because he was standing inside the wards and they were helping him see in the moonlight.

Harry thought a minute as he stared into those blue eyes. "So, how would I be intimidating people, then?"

Jean-Claude blinked. "Excuse me?"

"You said I'd be intimidating her enemies. How would I do that exactly? There're lots of witches around, her enemies could have their own." Harry watched Jean-Claude carefully. The vampire didn't seem to have an answer for that and was merely watching him intently. The blue of his eyes seemed to be glowing, even with no light around.

"The Master of the City would of course reward you for your allegiance," Jean-Claude said quietly, after several minutes of neither saying anything while they stared at each other. "Her gifts can be... most desirable."

Harry felt a shivery feeling go down his spine. He must be misunderstanding, there was no way the vampire was talking about himself as a gift... But, wasn't that exactly what the other vampire, Theresa, had said?

"Hey," Harry said, suddenly desperate to know. "You don't mean yourself, do you? As a, a gift, I mean."

"Am I not to your liking, mon emeraude sorcier?" Jean-Claude didn't even blink at the question, or the answer. Harry felt his stomach knot.

"That other vampire... what happened to her?"

"Pardon?" Now he seemed pleasantly confused. Harry pressed further.

"Theresa-- what happened to her after I turned her down? What'll happen to you if I turn you down?" Harry asked seriously.

Jean-Claude regarded him quietly while Harry waited for an answer. "You are most peculiar, Monsieur Harry," he said at last. "But most fascinating as well." Harry frowned when the vampire only grinned up at him.

"Why won't you tell me?" he demanded angrily. After telling him so much, the only reason to avoid talking now must be because it was something bad.

"If you refuse, it will not be your concern, will it Monsieur Harry?" Jean-Claude said placidly.

Harry just stared at him, horribly confused now. He hadn't wanted to get involved with vampires and now that he was, he felt like it would be wrong to just make Jean-Claude leave.... Harry didn't know what would happen to him then, and he didn't want anything to be his fault. The fact that he'd gotten someone else in trouble already bothered him too.

But this was silly to worry about. After all, they weren't really punished, were they? Just because Harry refused to accept an allegiance with some vampire he'd never met? That wasn't their fault! But....

Harry looked more closely at Jean-Claude and the perfectly blank smile he was wearing. It was... odd, to hear someone talk about being given away like some sort of object without... without looking upset. If anything, Jean-Claude looked as though he did this sort of thing everyday, like it was a chore. But he didn't really... did he?

"How many other people have you been sent to like this?" Harry asked quietly.

Jean-Claude's eyes widened before falling half-closed. "Are you so displeased with me, Harry? Would you prefer someone, fresh?" Despite the teasing tone Jean-Claude used, Harry got the distinct impression he was angry.

He winced. He hadn't meant to offend the vampire or anything. It probably would have been better to mind his own business. After all, if what he thought was true, what could he do about it?

"That's not what I meant," Harry muttered, staring at the ground to avoid looking into eyes that accused him. What could he do about this?

"Uh, well, it's sort of bothersome to have to come all the way out here," Harry started. "So, I guess the least I can do is feed you..."

Jean-Claude shifted before him, his gaze on him becoming a heavy weight. "Feed me, monsieur?"

Harry flinched. He was trying to apologize and Jean-Claude only seemed to have gotten angrier. "Well, if you just want to go-"

"No, no, Monsieur Harry," Jean-Claude waved a hand. "By all means, feed me." As he said that, Jean-Claude opened his arms wide, as if welcoming Harry into a hug. Harry stared at him. Vampires seemed to have pretty quick mood swings.

"Er, okay," Harry said awkwardly as he sent a pulse out to unlock the wards. "Come on then." With a wave, he turned around and headed back to the house. After a moment, he heard Jean-Claude following him.

When they walked across the yard, Harry was relieved to see the thestrals had finished the goat, and even taken the bones over to the side of the house to be collected. That was lucky. He wasn't actually sure what a muggle vampire would see when confronted with a thestral. Would they see the creatures themselves, or the charm to make them look like normal horses? Either animal tearing a bloody corpse apart would be disturbing, Harry thought.

At the door of the house, Harry had to invite Jean-Claude in again and led him to the kitchen after closing the door. Jean-Claude seemed amusedly curious as he sat at the table, watching Harry rummage around in a cupboard.

"Do you plan to pour something for me in a bowl, Harry? Would you like to see me lap up blood like a cat?" he whispered heatedly.

Harry turned his head as he stopped pulling things out of the cupboard to stare at him incredulously. "Wh-what the bloody hell are you on about?"

Jean-Claude laughed and Harry felt that odd magic ruffling the vampire's voice over his skin just like last night. He shivered and blinked. "Why else should you have brought me to a kitchen, mon emeraude sorcier?"

"Wait, what?" Harry asked, thoroughly confused.

"If it is not a bowl you want, there are better places for this," Jean-Claude said lowly. "If you are preparing food for yourself, you needn't be so worried." Jean-Claude stood and came around the table to smile down at Harry, leaning against the counter beside him. "I should be pleased to take care of you... afterward." He leaned down to breathe that last word against Harry's cheek and Harry flinched, yanking more out of the cupboard than he meant to as he jerked away from the vampire.

Several boxes of cereal, a bag of flour, and the container Harry had been searching for all fell out to hit Jean-Claude and the floor. Cereal went everywhere, flour exploded over Jean-Claude's head in a white cloud, and candy-red apples rolled out of a box across the floor. Harry coughed as the flour settled over everything, turning it all white.

When he looked up, Jean-Claude was standing perfectly still at the counter, covered in flour. Harry snorted as he tried not to laugh. Opening his eyes, Jean-Claude looked blankly at Harry before smiling back at him. "Ah, this has been an evening of surprises, hasn't it?"

"I suppose," Harry said wryly. "Sorry about that-- here, evanesco!" With a wave, the kitchen and everyone in it were clean once more and the apples were returned to their box. Jean-Claude inspected a sleeve with mild amusement.

"Your shirt is white as the flour was, how could you even tell?" Harry asked with a grin.

Jean-Claude's lips twitched as he held the arm out for display. "I could certainly tell, mon sorcier. My shirt is a shade whiter than the flour was."

Harry laughed.

"Now, we have your apples, shall we find somewhere more, suitable?" Jean-Claude walked towards him and Harry realized as he looked up, that the vampire was back to flirting and moving as gracefully as any veela.

"Huh?" Harry said, backing up to hit the table.

"You did offer to feed me, mon emeraude sorcier," Jean-Claude murmured into Harry's hair. "Do you not intend to keep your promise?"

"Wait, wait!" Harry said quickly, sliding away and waving his hands. "That's not what I meant! I wasn't planning to feed you with- with me!"

Jean-Claude turned slowly to follow him and Harry was startled to realize his eyes were actually glowing blue. "Then do you intend to feed me someone else?"

"No!" Harry said quickly. This was starting to turn into as bad an idea as going to find a vampire had been. "No, no! I'm not feeding you a person!"

The glowing eyes flashed and narrowed. "Did you perhaps expect me to feed on an animal before you, monsieur?"

"No!" Harry shouted. "Just, just here!" Harry pulled the box of apples off the counter and held them before the vampire.

Jean-Claude'e eyes slowly faded back to a normal blue as he regarded the apples being offered to him. Finally, he sighed. "Mon sorcier, I do not believe you fully understand the concept of feeding a vampire."

"Yes I do!" Harry huffed and he stalked forward to place the box on the table, gesturing for Jean-Claude to resume his seat. The vampire did so, but with obvious doubt. "Look, I know you drink blood, well that's what this is! Blood."

Jean-Claude blinked at Harry before taking an apple out of the box to inspect. "This, is heavier than it should be...."

"Yeah, well, blood is heavier than apple juice," Harry said snidely. Jean-Claude turned the bright fruit over and over in his hands, feeling it carefully and staring at it's surface.

"This, this is a pomme de sang?" he asked with a bright curiosity. Harry was surprised at how child-like he was acting. It was only a blood-apple....

"How did you know what it's called?" Harry asked instead. Jean-Claude turned to look at him sharply.

"It is truly called that?"

"Uh, yeah," Harry said uncertainly. At that, Jean-Claude began to laugh. This one didn't send any shivers along Harry's skin, rather it seemed deeper than Jean-Claude's previous laughter, more breathless. "What's so funny?"

"Ah, mon sorcier drole, a 'pomme de sang' is an 'apple of blood!'" Jean-Claude gasped out between laughs.

Harry scratched the back of his head. "Well, that's what it is, I don't see why that's so funny..."

"Oh, but there is more!" Jean-Claude turned to smile widely at him, fangs glinting blatantly at the corners of his mouth. Harry's eyes widened. "Pomme de sang is the term vampires use for their favored... donors." 'Donors' was drawn out, as if the word wasn't long enough to include all Jean-Claude wanted it to imply. Harry stared at the grinning vampire before shaking his head.

"Are you going to giggle all night or are you going to eat the thing?" Harry propped his head on his hand to look at Jean-Claude.

"Oh, I shall eat it mon sorcier. I do not believe I have ever been offered blood as unique as this, although," he trailed off as his eyelids fell half-closed. "I would still enjoy having a taste of you, Harry."

Harry jerked off the table and leaned back in his chair to glare at the vampire. "You get the apples. That's it!"

Jean-Claude merely smiled at him before turning to bite into the blood-apple.

- - -

A/N: I decided to be nice and post chapter three. Unfortunately, I'll be very busy over the weekend, so chapter four won't be posted until sometime next week. Hope you enjoy!