Follow Me

A/N: Thank you to all that have reviewed the story so far, and a thank you in advance to all those that will continue to do so. I have to admitt it does an ego good to see the number of people that are enjoying this story.

[...] or {...} = mindspeak
~...~ = parseltongue
'...' = thought
**...** = phoenix speaking

CHAPTER 6


Draco watched curiously as Severus, Remus and the attractive stranger spoke. There was definitely something between them, although he wasn’t sure exactly what. He would have to ask Snape later. As he watched the three of them walk into the school together Draco realized what time it was getting to be and decided to head in up there as well.


Professor Dumbledore had arranged for Norische to wait in a small room off of the great hall while the others were sorted into their houses. After the first years were placed, the exchange students were sorted. Norische was beginning to get a little nervous when the door to the room opened gently and his father was staring at him. With what Norische was beginning to see was the typical Snape mask…Severus placed his hand on Norische’s shoulder and gave it a reassuring squeeze then led him into the great hall.

Before he took his place by the stool, Norische walked over to the Headmaster and whispered something in his ear. Dumbledore nodded and smiled then waived his hand to where he wished Norische to stand.

“Tonight we have someone special joining our sixth year students. I would like each of you to welcome, Norische De LeNoir Snape to Hogwarts.” Dumbledore’s voiced through the great hall, and the teacher’s started clapping, which was followed quickly by the student body. Although the entire room was murmuring and whispering Norische just looked over at his father and gave him that typical Snape raised eyebrow, which matched the look that he was getting from his father.

All eyes were on Norische as he walked around the table towards the stool sitting in the middle of the floor. He took the hat that Professor McGonagall handed him, sat down and placed it on his head. Harry ignored everyone and waited for the hat to speak to him.

“Interesting, very interesting. There is cunning, and bravery and intelligence…my yes… but where to put you. You use your intelligence well to achieve your goals and your bravery is matched only by your stubbornness. Well there can be no where else but …. Slytherin….”

The Slytherins were alive with excitement. Norische got up from the stool and handed the hat back to Professor McGonagall. Then walked proudly over to the Slytherin table. He glanced up and down the table, not sure of where to sit, he then saw Draco and walked up to where he was sitting. “Do you mind?” Norische asked.

Draco answered by shifting over and opening up a space for Norische to sit down. As soon as he was seated Norische received several pats on the back and handshakes from Slytherins in his same year, including Blaise, although he wasn’t sure but Norische thought that Blaise was the one that gave him a pat on the butt and not the back. Norische just grinned at him then turned to the main table looking at Severus and Remus. Severus was sitting there with his arms across his chest watching Norische, shaking his head. Norische just grinned and shrugged his shoulders looking innocent.

As the feast began, Norische was bombarded with questions.

“So are you related to Professor Snape.” Draco asked.

“He’s my father.” Norische said as he took a bit of baked chicken.

“Your father? I didn’t know he had a son…” Draco sounded somewhat cynical.

Norische just let it slide, he knew the curiosity was killing Draco but Norische liked having an air of mystery around him.

“Where are you from?” Blaise asked.

“The Americas, Chicago, Illinois to be exact.”

“America, so is this your first time in England?” Pansy was next.

Norische nodded to answer her question but he didn’t expand on the question he just looked at her and grinned … putting another bite of chicken in his mouth.

“Oh, the strong silent type right?” Blaise teased.

Norische shrugged his shoulders and winked at the raven-haired boy. Hiding a smirk as Blaise almost dropped his glass of pumpkin juice.

Through most of the meal, Norische kept his answers to a minimum, and it was driving Draco nuts.

“Crap!” Norische wiped his hands quickly and got up, not saying a word to any of the other Slytherins and went up to the main table. He bent over and whispered something to his father who nodded. With that Norische headed out of the great hall and down towards his father’s area.

Thirty minutes later and rather flushed Norische walked back into the great hall. Most of the students were still eating and getting to know each other so not too many noticed him walking back it. Except for the Slytherins that is. Norische walked right up to the main table and leaned over handed Severus two matching amber stone orbs that had been encased in decorative gold and placed on a rather simple golden chain.

“Pari had these made for you and Remus. I don’t need one but I told her I would pick them up an hour ago, so she was a little pissed. They are set to be able to link together or to link with me, also if you are within five hundred yards of the larger orb these can link directly to Pari, but they are not strong enough to do it on their own. By the way all you have to do is concentrate on the person you wish to talk to and it will link immediately, and if you want to block that person, just close the link or remove the necklace. They have also been set up with a couple of spells, one for location…so if you need to find me it will guide you, the other is empathic, if any of us are feeling really strong emotions then it will automatically open and connect empathically.”

Severus admired the pendant and listened intently, reminding himself to contact Pari later and thank her. Severus nodded and slipped his gift inside his robe. Remus who was sitting right next to Severus had been listening as well, although for anyone that happened to be watching he was having a rather dull conversation with Professor Fritz. He noticed that Severus had left one of the Pendants on the table, so Remus began playing with it very nonchalantly and then after a few minutes, he also put his within his robes. Nodding to Norische, to indicate that he had heard everything his son had said.

“I need to get back, by the way…my stomach is better.” Norische smiled to Severus, then stood up straight and walked back over to where he had been sitting.

“Problem.” Draco asked.

Norische looked him in the eyes and smirked, but said nothing.

Draco narrowed his eyes ever so slightly. Wondering what Norische was up to. Everyone hung around for a few more minutes and then started heading to their perspective housed. Norische gave his father one last glance and headed out behind Draco, who was the prefect for his house.

{Norische, you behave yourself, and if you get feeling sick let me know.}

Norische could recognize Remus’ voice even in mindspeak. [Yes dad, no problem. I will probably be by to pick up my trunks when I find out what room they have put me in.]

Norische smiled, glad that Remus had already began to sing softly to himself “Werewolves in London.” {I hear that.} Remus said…apparently amused.

[Hey your not suppose to be listening in on that.] Norische laughed, before he realized it.

{What can I say I am still learning how to use this thing. And by the way that was not funny.} Remus reprimanded softly.

Apparently, Draco had heard Norische’s laughter. “Something funny in what I said Snape?”

Norische pasted a cold smile on his face. “Actually I wasn’t listening to what you were saying, I was thinking of something my Dad said.”

Draco glared at him.

Norische realized that things were getting a little too serious with Draco, and decided he had better fix it before it got out of control. “Sorry, I didn’t mean that to sound so snarky. The last few days have been a little ruff on me, and I am not used to someone being nice without wanting something from me…so I guess I am a little on the defensive right now.”

Draco softened a little. “Apology accepted.” Draco let it go at that for now. Soon they were at the painting for the Slytherin House. “pureblood” Draco called out the password and the painting opened allowing them to enter.

The commons room was exquisite. Huge overstuffed leather clad chairs and full cushioned couches were strewn about the room. Rich deep greens, silvers, and black was the general color scheme. Everywhere Norische looked there was a touch of elegance. From the elaborate tapestries to the grand fireplace that decorated almost one entire wall, everything had a touch of grandeur about it. Huge chandeliers lit the entire room with a soft subtle glow.

“First years, and new members may I have your attention please.” Draco announced. “This is the Slytherin commons room, this area is open to all members of this house and is available at all times so feel free to utilize the space as you see fit. Now boy’s dorms are up the stairs and down to your left, girl’s dorms are the same on the right. Each individual’s property has already been placed in your room and your names are posted on the doors themselves so it shouldn’t be too hard to find. As you know our Head of House is Professor Snape and I warn you now he does like to make the occasional appearance so do keep that in mind. We have study sessions down here from eight o’clock until eleven most nights so if you are needing help in a certain subject feel free to join us. Also, one other thing I would like to mention. First years, you do have a curfew. While the commons area is available at all times, all first year students much be in their dorms no later than eleven o’clock. My dorm is the first one at the top of the stairs so if you have an emergency feel free to come get me. Pansy Parkinson is also one of your prefects this year and her room is the first door on the right in the girl’s section. Both doors have a prefect badge on the door itself. I would like to say though, we both have room mates just like everyone else so please keep the banging on the door at four AM wanting help with your potions test to a minimum please.”

Pansy got up and began speaking. “If all the first years will come with me we will go upstairs and find your rooms.” With that she lead the eleven first year students upstairs to their perspective rooms.

“Draco, I am sorry I didn’t mean to interrupt but can you tell me where my room will be?” Norische asked.

“Yeah, you are sharing a room with myself and Blaise Zabini and another guy, I am not sure his name but…he wasn’t at the ceremony so who knows.”

“Great, I will just have my father…”

“Speak of the devil…” Draco looked over his shoulder as Snape walked into the room, escorting a young man.

Norische turned around expecting to see Severus, but what he saw took his breath away. There he was standing beside Norische’s father… Norische turned and walked slowly towards them. The young man was about 5’8, slender although who could tell under the cloaks, with dark brown wavy hair and black eyes. His skin was light but not as pale as Norische’s although his facial features were definitely that of an aristocratic nature. Not saying a word, infact Norische was barely breathing. Severus tilted his head slightly and started to introduce the young man to the group of Slytherins that were present.

“Everyone, I wish to introduce to you Rashira LaCroix he was unfortunately delayed and unable to make the sorting ceremony. He is also one of our sixth year transfer students and hence will be staying I believe in Mr. Malfoy, Mr. Zabini, and Mr. De LeNoir Snape’s room.”

Norische was no more than three feet from them when he stopped, waiting for his father to finish what he was saying. The young man had not taken his eyes off of Norische since the minute he saw him from across the room. Everyone in the room was watching the two of them, trying to figure out what exactly was going on. Norische looked into those ebony colored eyes and whispered… “Chris?”

No sooner had he said the word than the other young man collapsed to the floor. Norische was beside him before he fell limp. In one swift movement, Norische picked the boy up in his arms and turning to his father, he merely looked him in the eyes. Before anyone could move, both boys apparated out of the room, everyone including Draco gasped at this. Severus looked around shocked, then turned and headed out the door presumably to find his son and Mr. LaCroix.

Draco stood there with his eyes narrowed. Being able to apparate within the boundaries of Hogwarts was impressive enough, but being able to do so without a wand was unheard of. He definitely needed to learn more about Norische.

{Norische, Norische! Were in BLOODY HELL are you!!}

[Your rooms, come quickly father, please….] Severus could hear the desperation in his son’s voice and couldn’t be angry with him right this moment, he simply had to find his son and find out what the hell was going on.

{Remus, I need you to meet us in our rooms as quickly as possible.} Remus was running towards the dungeons before Severus finished what he was saying, he definitely did not like the sound of Severus’ voice.

Norische lowered the young man onto the couch in their suite. Then ran into his room and grabbed a blanket and his medical bag and ran back to the boys side. When the young man did not wake immediately Norische ran back into his bedroom and grabbed a towel from the bathroom, soaked it in cold water then ran back out into the living room. As he knelt down next to the couch, Norische could not stop the tears from falling. Norische ran the wet washcloth over the young man’s delicate features. His nose was long and slender, yet not too big. His cheekbones were high and dignified and his chin was strong and perfect. The young man’s eyebrows were shaped and delicate, and his eyelashes were thick and long, resting gently on his cheeks. Norische brushed aside a loose strand of hair so he could run the damp washcloth over the young man’s forehead.

Norische could hear someone running towards the door of the suite and prayed that it was Severus and Remus. The door to the suite flew open and both men were inside within a moment. Severus was about to explode when he saw his son’s tear streaked face as he looked up at his father helplessly.

“Norische… what exactly is going on?” Severus asked quietly.

“Father, help him please. He passed out. I can’t get him to wake up. Please father….” Norische looked up at his father, truly terrified.

“We need to get Mr. LaCroix to the infirmary then.”

“NO!”

“Norische, if something is wrong with him, he needs medical attention.” Remus stated. Surprised at the level of emotion he was feeling coming from Norische.

“NO!”

“Why Norische… why should we not take him to Madam Pomfrey?”

“NO! Father PLEASE! Just help him…” Norische was sobbing now.

Severus took a deep breath. It went against his better judgment but he didn’t want to distress his son any more than necessary. Severus nodded and then went over to one of his cabinets and picked out two bottles, taking them back over to the where Norische knelt. Uncorking the first bottle, he waived it under the nose of the unconscious boy.
As soon as the scent from the bottle hit Mr. LaCroix’s nose he started coughing and starting to wake up.

“CHRIS!” Norische grabbed the boys head gently, “Oh gods, Chris, can you hear me?”

“Nori… but it can’t be.”

“Mr. LaCroix, I need you to drink this if you please, it will make things a little clearer.” Severus handed the young man the vial. The dazed young man took the vial and downed the content then handed it back to Severus.

“Chris, are you ok… what happened?”

“Nori.” The young man reached up and touched Norische’s face gently almost as if he were afraid that if he did Norische would suddenly disappear. “You really are here… but… you are suppose to be dead.” Tears were threatening to fall as he said it.

“No, I’m not dead. Why would you think that?” Norische looked at Chris confused.

“Pops said that you were attacked in New Orleans and that you took out several but that you died. I couldn’t feel you any more so….”

“Blood Hell, I am going to kill that bastard this time!” Norische’s eyes started to flicker black fire and the pure fury within him began to swell to the point that it was almost a tangible thing.

“Norische what is happening. What is Mr. LaCroix talking about?” Severus asked.

“Chris is my mate, we have been together for over two years. Pops… ah, Chris’s stepfather, hated the fact that we were together because I am a half-breed, and Chris’s family are purebloods. Since the day we bonded, he has been trying to separate us. Thankfully, the law is on our side and he couldn’t do much. This summer he demanded that Chris go with his family to Canada, instead of going to New Orleans with me. Chris didn’t want to upset his mother so he agreed to go. About two weeks after we were separated, I couldn’t feel him any more. I could only think of two reasons, either something had happened to him and he was dead, or he had decided to break our bond and have it annulled. I immediately had Pari check into it and she stated that Chris was alive and with his family in Quebec. So, I assumed that he no longer wanted to have anything to do with me. That was the reason that I was in the bar the night I was attacked in the first place, trying to drink myself numb.”

“Nori, no… I never would leave you. I didn’t know you were still alive. Since I couldn’t feel you any more I had no idea you were still alive if I had known I would have come to you immediately.” Tears overflowed Chris’ eyes as he caressed Norische’s cheek. “I love you with all my heart, I would never leave you.”

Chris kept trying to sit up so Norische got up on the couch and put his arm around him, allowing Chris to lean against him.

“Father, I don’t understand it. Why can’t I feel him, why can’t I hear him? Even when he was on one side of the continent and I was on the other I could still feel him within me…now I am sitting right next to him and I feel nothing. I can’t hear his thoughts or feel his emotions, but I know he is real….” Norische leaned over and sniffed his mate’s neck, releasing a small moan as he did. “This is definitely my mate, I can smell my own blood within him. This is his scent, his perfect scent.”

Remus walked over and sat down on the couch next to Chris. “Do you mind?” Chris looked at Norische. “It’s ok, this is Remus Lupin, he is my Dad, my father’s mate.” Chris looked at Remus and nodded. Remus leaned in and sniffed Chris then leaned over and sniffed Norische.

“He’s right Severus, this young man does have some of our son’s blood in him, however faint, probably due to the length of time since they have shared blood. He definitely has Norische’s scent on him.” Remus stated.

“Father how can he be here, and I can’t sense him?” Norische pulled Chris close to him, loving the warmth of his mate, allowing his mate’s scent to fill his senses.

“It could be a spell to block the connection, although it would have to be black magic in order to block a blood bond. Let me see.”

“Finite Incantatun Maximum!” Severus waived his wand at the two young men.

“Do you notice any difference?” Remus asked

Norische looked within himself. “Not really, well sort of. It is like I can feel him, but he is too far away to be tangible.” Norische looked down at Chris who nodded agreeing.

“That may be a side effect of the blocking spell. It may have weakened the bond between the two of you to the point that you may need to be rebounded.” Severus stated.

Norische looked sad, but leaned over to Chris and whispered. “Would you be willing to be my bond mate again?”

“In a moment’s notice Nori.” Chris rubbed his check against Norische’s chest.

“Well we can redo our previous bonding ceremony pretty easily. It was a fairly private ceremony and I have the rites written down in my memories book, we should probably redo the same ritual we did last time.” Norische looked down at Chris who nodded. Then he looked over to Severus and Remus. “Ah, I don’t know how much you know about Vampyric rituals but the one we chose was simple but traditional.” Norische hoped he wouldn’t have to explain it further but seeing the blank looks on his father and dad’s faces Norische took a deep breath and began explaining.

“Like I said it was a traditional ceremony, there was only the two of us and our two witnesses, Butch and Philippe. The ceremony was done in the nude basically. First, the two witnesses cast the circle of power. Once the circle was cast, they removed their robes, ah… green ones for them, and invoked the four watchers. Once the circle was prepared, my witness who was Butch came over and opened the circle for me, then removed my robe, which was white, and led me to my place to the east of the circle. Then Chris’s witness opened the circle for him and took his robe, which was black, and led him to his place in the west of the circle. Then they took their places to the north and south. Chris and I read our decree and then after we kissed, our witness made a small cut on the palm of our left hands and drained a little blood into a goblet, the blood was mixed with herbs and red wine then we drank it. Then the bonding was consummated and it was over with. There was a ritual bathing of course and then the bath water was poured on the ground to the east to encourage a fertile relationship.”

Chris snuggled close to Norische smiling remembering their ceremony.

“That doesn’t sound too difficult, do you have to have the same two witnesses or will Severus and I do?” Remus asked.

“Ah…” Norische blushed. “Well like I said it has to be done in the nude, being nude signifies absolute trust. Also…ah… the witnesses have to well… witness the consummation of the bonding.”

Remus blushed as well when he realized what Norische meant.

“I mean it would be hard enough to see my dad and my father naked, but to have you two watch us…. That … ah… no.”

“Well could we turn our backs and simply be present, you could even put up a privacy ward so that no sound would come through?”

“That wouldn’t work, the main reason that the witnesses are there is so that they can verify that the bond it complete. I mean whose to say that when your backs are turned that we don’t decide to just jack off, and leave it at that. No unfortunately, that is a big part of the tradition, as much as I hate it.” Norische looked a little green at the idea of his father watching him have sex.

Severus did not like the idea of seeing Norische and his mate consummating their union, but he honestly didn’t see any options. “Is there a possibility you could contact your original witnesses?”

Norische shook his head, “I don’t know where Butch is… I haven’t seen her in maybe four months. Now give me a week or so and I can find her, but I honestly don’t want to wait that long.”

Chris looked up at Norische “I haven’t seen Philippe since last year so I have no clue of where he is. Is there any of the others here that we could ask?”

Norische thought about it. “Not really, the only ones I have really spoken too are Draco, Blaise and Pansy…but I wouldn’t want any of them at our ceremony. There was also one guy I think his name was Harry Potter, but same thing. I don’t know anyone well enough that I would want them to be a part of my bonding with you. It is far too precious to me to allow just anyone to be there. The only other person that I know would be Pari, and… ah… HELL NO!”

Both Norische and Chris nuzzled each other as they thought for a few minutes. Severus broke the silence “If you are wishing to proceed with this ceremony quickly then I see no alternative, Remus and I will have to be your witnesses.”

Chris kissed Norische, “Are you sure you can do this? I mean these are your parents after all.”

“No I am not sure. In fact I am pretty sure that having sex in front of my father and dad is somewhere on my I never ever want to do this list. But I don’t want to wait, and like I told you a long time ago… I will do anything for you. I will say right now though that you are going to have to be the one on top, there is no way in Hell I would ever be able to get hard with them watching.” Norische went back to snogging with Chris.

“Well then it is settled. What all do we need. A black robe, a white robe and two green robes. A goblet, the herbs needed, and some red wine, oh and a knife. Anything else?” Remus asked.

“Ah yeah we need a platform, preferably sturdy, that is six by three by four. Six feet long, represents the six points to the seal of Solomon, three feet wide represents the three stages in life, child, mother, crone, and four feet high represents the four watchers. Other than that nothing really. I think I still have Chris and my robes and I know I have the recipe for the herbs and the knife we used, I should still have the goblet too.”

“Well if you can get those things I can manage the rest of it.” Severus stated. “While I had thought perhaps someday attending your unity this is not exactly what I expected.”