Harry Potter and the Vampiric Inheritance

Hey guys!! Ok so this took awhile coming but I had a little trouble with it and I’m really quite nervous to see what you think.

I hope you like it because from now on there is more story than setting the scene (if that’s the right way to think about it o.O)

Anyway ENJOY!!




Remus came up to the portrait of large wolf resting on a boulder and bowed respectfully. He waited for the wolf to change forms and then spoke clearly.

“Lahasta”

As he waited for the man to go tell Severus who was at his door he bit his lip lightly. He’d just come back from his meeting with Dumbledore and the other Aurors. It had been a mixed reaction between all three of them at what he had told them and he wanted Severus, cool-headed and logical thinker, to tell him what he thinks of all this.

“You may enter. He has other guests.” The painting changed into the door and he stepped though.

It was truly an odd sight the met him as he walked through; Severus was buttoning his shirt back up Lucius looked as though he was sulking and Harry was on top of Draco, apparently, tickling him to death. It oddly warmed his heart and yet didn’t quite look right.

“S-stop Harry!haha…no…no! Agh hahaha. Ok-ok..I-I give!” Draco was trying to curl into a ball to stop Harry attacking his sensitive sides.

“Now Lucius, don’t sulk like this. It’s not our fault you forgot I had that scar.” Severus said with a smile on his lips. When he looked up and saw that Remus had come through he walked up to him and put his hands on the man’s waist.

“Is everything alright? I thought you were doing something for the Order tonight.”

Remus just kept staring at the weird scene that was coming to an end when they noticed the visitor. Severus looked behind him then back to Remus and smirked.

“We were discussing the bruise I caused on Harry’s wrist and then we got onto who had the biggest scar…I won, then Lucius, Harry after that and Draco was last with just a small scar behind his ear. So now Harry was trying to make Draco smile and Lucius is sulking because he forgot about the one on my shoulder and though he was going to win.”

Remus smiled and then buried his head in the man’s shoulder. Sighed deeply and then hugged him. He frowned when Severus put his arms around him a little awkwardly, they really should be past awkwardness.

“Awwww! How cuuute!” Harry’s teasing voice rang out. Remus had to smile, that must have been why Severus had been so hesitant.

Remus was kind of glad that Lucius, Draco and Harry were there. It meant that this wouldn’t have to be repeated fifty times before everyone knew. Severus went to his book case and opened it to the door that led through to the memory room. They all went through and Severus explained to Remus how it worked.

Taking his cue from Severus, he thought about the meeting and opened his mind so that it filled the room.

Everyone else watched as the smoke that had been like a blanket on the floor was now swirling around and rising above them. Suddenly voices could be heard and then the memory was crystal clear.

Dumbledore sat in his office chair, Moody was sat on a trunk of to the side, Tonks was sat on the backrest of one of the chairs in front of the headmaster with her feet up and Remus was pacing recounting all he knew.

“…So then Severus said that I could stay at Greenfield manor and he would contact me when he could. Then him, Harry and Draco left for Hogwarts, Lucius left on business and Narcissus showed me around and how to get in touch with the house elves.”

There was silence round the room and everyone saw that Tonks was smirking, Moody looked ready to explode and Dumbledore looked indifferent, but the sparkle wasn’t in his eyes anymore.

Moody stood up suddenly, glared at Remus and stalked over to Dumbledore’s desk where he slammed his hands down and leaned over the desk.

“Albus, I told you taking that risk with Snape was going to cause trouble! Taking him out of Azkaban was the worst thing you could have done!...A vampire?! Severus! He’s twisted Harry’s mind! Making him believe that he’s Harry’s real father! Like James would have ever treated anyone like he says Lily was treated! They have warped his mind, I mean remember Lily? She could never have been one of those filthy inbred heathe-”

He stopped abruptly as Remus growled savagely and leapt to his feet, wand drawn and aimed at Moody.

“Watch it, Alastor! None of you knew any of them like I did. Lily was a kind and sweet girl, but she WAS a vampire she told me so herself. James was always a pretentious ass; he would fight bravely and do right by the wizarding world yes, but ONLY the wizarding world, he didn’t care about anything else. Be it muggle, dark creature, elf or vampire. If it wasn’t for the fact that Sirius liked all things his family didn’t I wouldn’t have even been hanging with them.” He stepped closer to Moody, his wand going to the middle of the Auror’s neck.

“And Severus is Harry’s father. I can smell it, you floo pot! Severus is trying to help Harry. Trying to get his life sorted before the war fucks it up anymore. He’s the only one doing Harry any good so far!”

Everyone outside the memory smirked at the memory Remus as he blew his top. Remus just turned to view the memory, pretending not to notice.

But Severus caught his arm and Remus actually stopped the memory.

“Look, Tonks doesn’t seem fazed by any of this…Could she have known before?”

Remus studied his female friend carefully and hmm-ed as walked over to her. She had a knowing look in her eyes and a calm smile. She looked nothing like the boisterous girl that she was.

“She’s still just a child her self…She may have been through a lot with being an Auror but in the end she still hasn’t been corrupt by the propaganda of the war with the vampires. She’ll have heard stories from her family but look at who her family was. Most of them were probably host to vampires; they wouldn’t have been evil vampire stories.” Lucius said, smiling slightly.

“That and she thinks I’m adorable. She’d follow me just because I’m cute, wouldn’t matter what race I was.” Harry explained smugly. But then he frowned and ducked as his father went to slap him over the head form behind him; it was definitely good to have extra sensitive senses.

“Well, at least that’s one more person we don’t have to fight along the way.” Draco said ignoring Harry as the brunette dodged behind him.

“Yes but now that Moody knows and doesn’t look too happy about it, he might back the ministry at have Harry and Severus taken out of school. Severus could even be sent to Azkaban for being a vampire working with children and not telling anyone that he was.”

“I don’t get what the big deal is! I mean so we’re vampires, what’s it got to do with anything?!” Harry rounded on his father.

“Because when the muggles who wished to harness the magic of elemental and learn from it made the deal with the gods; The First, they had to give up a part of their soul and have a minion of the god replace it. That way they could channel the powerful magic with out it burning their original fragile souls. As time went on, since we can no more stop the growth of our souls as the minion can stop its presence, our souls began to mix and become unique to us as we procreated. If you wish to know more then you will have to talk with Hyperion, but it is this minion like soul that scares wizards and witches and turns them against us.”

“Ok, so do we really need to see anymore of this memory? We get it; Dumbledore is sulking, Moody hates you and Tonks is still on my side. I don’t want to know any more Vampiric history today and you promised that if I came and spent some ‘quality’ time with my family that we wouldn’t mention any conspiracies or war stuff.”

Remus laughed and dropped the memory, they all moved back into the living room and sat down; Lucius and Severus in the armchairs, Harry, Draco and Remus on the sofa. Lucius looked a little uncomfortable with the way Draco seemed to be almost sat on Harry’s lap and content with being so close.

“So, Severus actually asked you to come down for some father son time?” Remus asked slightly disbelievingly as they were each passed a drink by the house elf that had appeared the minute they sat down.

“Well, yeah. I mean we need it.” He said casting his father a knowing smirk that was returned just the same. “We get along now I suppose, even if he does still whack me on the head in potions. But we haven’t had a proper moment were we have both just been our selves around each other. At the party I was all; the heir and his host greeting guests and proving my worth and since then it’s just been school.”

“And Lucius and Draco are here because…?” He cast a glance at Severus who sighed.

“Lucius has a tendency to show up whenever he feels bored or wishes to know how Draco is doing; knowing that my wards deflect any ward from the cast that search my chamber for any presence.”

“Does Dumbledore know you do that?” Harry asked with a confused frown.

“Yes, when I was released from Azkaban and sent back to The Dark- Er Voldemort. I was quite paranoid and refused to go there unless the ward was taken down from my chambers; knowing the ministry would love another reason to send me back to Azkaban.”

Harry looked at the grandfather clock in the corner and gave a deep sigh.

“Well, I have charms soon and I promised Ron we could have a game of chess before then.” He clipped Draco on the head when he noted that he had a free lesson now and was in no rush and said goodbye to the rest before heading for the Gryffindor Common room.

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Harry looked around his charms class. Ever since the bloodlink had been opened he has been able to pick up spells easier; usually finding it works first time as long as he has understood the process.

He looked at Ron next to him who was still having difficulty charming his book to translate the text into English. He needed to speak with Ron privately, when they had been playing chess they had talked about Ron thinking about getting Pansy a Christmas present, Hermione and Blaise already writing letters home about hooking up with each other and the fact that Blaise had even invited Hermione to spend Christmas in Italy with him and his folks, which she had to decline because her parents where taking her to visit family in Wales.

They had even talked about what Harry could get Severus and how weird it was trying to pick a present with ‘meaning’ for his potions professor. They had never talked about Draco and when the subject was brought up, mainly by Harry, it was swiftly dodged or only taken so far before the subject turned a bit too suddenly.

“Ron…Can I ask you something?” Harry asked tentatively keeping an eye on Professor Flitwick.

“You just did but go ahead. This spell is lost on me anyway.” Ron propped the book up so it looked like he was still working on the spell while he read over the instructions. Harry shifted in his seat. He didn’t really know why he was even bringing this up! If he did Ron might realise what he is doing and then blow a fuse. But he needed to know.

“Do you have a problem with me seeing Draco?”

“Yes” Was Ron’s immediate response, still not look at Harry as he read over what he had to do for the charm they were practising.

“What!? You do? Why haven’t you said anything? I mean, no offence but, you don’t hold your temper well and well…I don’t know. I figured you would have yelled and sulked and brooded.” Harry looked slightly shameful for thinking that of his friend but…this is Ron we’re talking about.

“Yeah, I know. So did I and when I realised that you had started liking him I told Hermione that we needed to stop you and show you that he wasn’t right for you. This was at the beginning of term when we just started hanging out with them. But then I sort of found Pansy pretty cool for a Slytherin and Hermione started going out with Blaise. Don’t get me wrong I still don’t like the idea of you with a Malfoy and I was surprised with myself for saying I’d help you with your little Christmas project. But four and fifth year were pretty hectic and I didn’t want you facing any of that alone so I just grit my teeth, deal with it and hope that if you guys last I can let it go…but Harry…There is a lot to let go.” Ron spoke calmly and didn’t seem bothered that Harry had asked the question or that Harry hadn’t noticed sooner.

“So, let me get this straight. You don’t like Draco, or the fact that I want to go out with him but you will keep your mouth shut and even help me win over our parents?” Ron nodded and tried the spell again.

“Did I ever tell you you’re my best mate in the whole world and I love you for it?” Ron just smirked and Harry helped him with his wand movement to get the spell right.

The next day Harry had been pushed off the bed again as he wouldn’t listen to Ron’s wake up calls and was now sulking in the Great Hall pushing around his breakfast.

“Harry, mate is something wrong? It’s not about this morning is it?” Ron asked, concern colouring his voice. Hermione looked up from her notes she had for the Fraternity sharply and glared warningly at Ron.

“Why? What happened this morning?” She asked with suspicion. They both watched Harry as he seemed to either ignore them or not have heard them. He took a deep sigh and squinted his glasses-free face. Hermione’s frown deepened.

“Harry, I know you said you didn’t need your glasses since you came into your inheritance over the summer but…you have been squinting a lot lately.”

Harry shook his head and smiled at his friend’s true concern. They really do help him through a lot.

“It’s not that it’s just too bright in here. And no it’s not about this morning, I just feel really hungry but nothing is appealing to me and my throat feels dry. That and I feel so tired lately.”

Ron still looked concerned for him but Hermione looked thoughtful and then went a little pale. She looked around the table and found that they were mostly the only ones at this end of the table.

“Harry, when was the last time you fed? You know, drank from Draco. You’ve been using a lot of magic since that weekend you drank from your relative Hyperion, what with the fraternity and trying to control the extra power. Maybe it’s wearing you out.”

Harry smiled at her, she was brilliant! Of course that was it. Miss Kostova had been helping him with his control over his new power and encouraging him to use it more so it was draining him more than it might normally because he didn’t have total control yet.

This was also the perfect way to show everyone that the rumours where true and force everyone to recognise it. He would walk over to Draco now and drink from him. The teachers would be forced to believe the rumours they had heard from the children and the students would know that it wasn’t as gruesome as, no doubt, some of them had been told it was.

He had to admit today was a good day to do it; the Hall was mostly full of the more important student to Harry and the rest since everyone wanted to be off to Hogsmeade or the shack for training. Plus even though he might not feel a hundred percent, he looked it.

He had a pair of dark blue jeans on with a white hooded sweater which had a purple logo of some sorts half across it, as well as a dark purple thin hooded jacket on. His hair was pretty flat after some serious taming treatment from Ginny this morning and his fringe was the same colour as his jacket…as was his nails courtesy of Hermione. He loved these girls; he didn’t have to keep up with fashion or anything because he was like a living doll to them, they would never make him look bad now that he was a little style conscious.

He had also noticed that Draco was looking pretty damn good himself this morning; He was in a pair of grey denim, drainpipe pants with a black hooded jacket that had some tribal design on the front left side, you could just see that he had a bright pink t-shirt on under it.

He got up and walked over to the Slytherin table. He still got a few dirty looks from some of the less friendly snakes but when he got to Draco he smiled a little apologetically and crouched so he wouldn’t have everybody hearing what he was going to do.

“Draco…I think I need to er…drink…you know…the whole vampire thing.” Now Draco was smart and was always classed as the Model Slytherin so he realised straight away how this would work to Harry’s favour and what the golden boy wanted to accomplish by this.

He stood up and unzipped his jacket, letting it fall to his crooked elbows. He took a deep breath and smiled at Harry who was waiting for the go ahead.

“Just try not to get any blood on my t-shirt; my mum got me it from Tokyo.” He whispered as Harry moved forward.

They couldn’t afford to look new to this or nervous; they needed to be seen as a united front and one that no one had a chance of messing with. It would show those in the fraternity how the whole vampire thing worked, show the teachers that he would not cower from their discrimination, show the other student just what was really going on and that it wasn’t as violent as most of the rumours.

Harry took hold of Draco’s neck as though he was going to kiss him and Draco held onto both of Harry’s arms as the other one pushed his face lightly so he could get to the vain he had been taught to bit into.

He let both sets of fangs elongate and watched as the vein began to show more prominently, he could feel a memory from his ancestors past reminding him that with the link they both shared the showing of the vein happened when both were conscious of what they were about to do. He aligned his top fangs and sank them into the vein. He felt Draco grip his arms slightly and then he sunk his bottom fangs into the muscle so it would numb any pain.

They didn’t make a sound. There was no splashing of blood across the table, no screams of pain from Draco and no disgusting slurping noises from Harry, it looked so intimate. Like a passionate kiss.

Harry could feel the magic thrum through him and give life to his weakened muscles, he knew he had to stop soon or he would start draining Draco of his own energy.

He could feel Draco pant slightly near his ear and slowly retracted his fangs, first the top then the bottom. He licked over the spot softy and just for good measure kissed the rapidly healing wounds.

Draco sighed and pulled away, smirking at Harry as the teen let him go. Before Harry retracted his fangs he smiled over the Great Hall. Everyone got a look at his fangs and blood red eyes that had changed without his knowing.

Harry looked across at his father and saw his exasperated look for his dramatics. But he could also see the pride in such a confident and clean feeding. He had only had one lesson in it but it showed that he could also sort through, manage and apply the memories he was getting from the bloodlink about his ancestors.

“Well…Thank you. I actually feel like I can finish the day now. I’ll see you later.” Harry said as he took hold of Draco’s hand and squeezed it lightly before letting go and leaving for his own table. Harry got his bag together and Hermione and Ron followed him out of the Great Hall, obviously going to check that everything is in order at the shrieking shack before people start to arrive.

Harry looked around the field they had crossed to get to the shack and saw nothing but frozen mud and wilting plants. But Harry wasn’t fooled; he closed his eyes and thought about the memory that had just flashed past mind. In that instant he felt something close over his eyes like a second set of eyelids, but these didn’t fold like his outer eyelids. They came from the corners of his eyes and stopped shot of fully covering, leaving a slit uncovered.

He opened his eyes and kept the second set covering him. If he had seen his eyes he could have seen that it looked like the whole of his eyes had turned black. But he was focused on searching the field again. This time he saw two people stood on the outskirts of the village and three just past the edge of the forest. Obviously Aurors but they weren’t doing any harm and this was why he wanted everyone to come here first; so he could through them of the trail of where they were training.

“Wow! When did you learn to do that…? What are you even doing?” Ron asked while shifting his bag. Hermione seemed to be studying his eyes too.

“I’m checking for anybody being around. Apparently I have different set of eyelids, this one lets me see concentrations of magic at work…Like the three Aurors with disillusion charms over by the forest.” He smirked and let his other eyelid fold back.

“Come on, Lucius will be waiting and my dad will be here soon….My dad, I still haven’t gotten used to that yet. Its easy enough to just say but hearing me say it is weird.” They all shared a small laugh and walked in to the decrepit shack.

Lucius was dressed in a blue tunic and fitted black pants. He had his ever present cane and had his hair tied back with a silver ribbon. He must have transfigured on of the broken chair because he was sat in a high backed padded armchair, twirling his cane in his right hand.

He’d seen a lot of the man over the past few weeks but had never seen him so relaxed and zoned out. He feel back on formalities that bombarded his mind on how to greet respected people.

“I trust we didn’t keep you long Lucius? We were checking the area outside.” The blonde shook his head and stood up to greet them all with a nod.

“I see you manners have started to improve since the bloodlink opened. Come, I must show you the chambers before the others get here. It’s a good job you asked me to do this. That place was a wretched mess.”

Harry stared at the man for a moment and then shook his head.

“I know remember? I had to fight a bloody Basilisk down there because someone gave a child a stupid magic book remember that?!”

Lucius looked lost for words but then shook his head and turned to Ron.

“I truly am sorry about that. I swear to Merlin that I didn’t know the dangers of the book. I was told it would lead Harry to know of the chamber of secrets and that is all.”

Ron didn’t look at the man and just moved over to the window. He sighed and looked over to Harry, who gave him a blank look. No show of how he felt about the situation and in a way Ron appreciated the look; Harry wasn’t expecting him to just suddenly like the Malfoy and disregard everything. He was letting Ron decide what he wanted to do, regardless of the fact he was dating the Malfoy heir.

“Lets just move on shall we.” He said and looked back out the window. “I’ll wait here for the others, you go down and see what its like.”

Lucius moved to Hermione and put a hand on her shoulder, he nodded to Harry who was also ready and they all apparated back to the castle, but this time in Salazar’s secret chambers, where the wards of the castle are deflected and cannot pick up on who or how many are there.

Harry looked around in wonder. The main chamber definitely looked different. The walls were covered in white and pale blue silk drapes, the floor had been cleaned up and was now a light grey stone. The large pillars had been cleaned and apparently each pillar had a different coloured snake wrapped round it. The statue at the back had walls built around it and also had the drapes over them. There were chairs pilled up to one side as well as two movable blackboards. On the opposite side where swords, daggers and dummies that looked an awful lot like the ones from their D.A.D.A class.

“The drapes are woven with a spell; it will absorb the magic that will, no doubt start to leak once you all start to put spells to work and stop with castle wards picking up on interference. Colours were picked to be from neither house so there will be no bickering, we covered Salazar Slytherin up so it wouldn’t be damaged and so the other houses didn’t feel as though this meant the Slytherin had the upper hand. Chair for meetings were you need to discuss things and blackboards for plans and explanations. I do believe that is all you wanted for the room correct.” Lucius said as he check over everything.

“Lucius…it looks amazing! How many house elves did it take to get all this down?”

“Harry!! You let him use house elves to do this!?! This place is huge and just think of all the work that has gone into this…!”Harry sighed exasperatedly and turned to face her with a very serious and no nonsense face.

“Yes! I let him use the house elves because they are the only ones that could get this down in such short time! They have much more power catered to doing this sort of thing than any witch or wizard could and they wouldn’t get as magically drained as a wizard would! I suggest you find out more about this whole cruelty to house elves thing before you start spouting off because I know for a fact that ALL house elves live to work and most families treat them right! So will you just drop the hard done to act for a small second so we can get on with this!?” Hermione looked thoroughly scolded and stepped back. Showing Harry she wouldn’t say anything else. He sighed and turned to Lucius.

“I was hoping to ask you something before the others arrived.” Lucius turned to him and raised a slender eyebrow in question.

“I believe that to truly excel in Defence Against the Dark Art we should really know at least the basics in Dark Arts. I was hoping you could provide that for us. Draco told me that you would always have your nose buried in a dark arts book and would have liked to study the subject further. Could you teach us what you know, you and father could work together on it and Remus could counter it with the proper defence lessons…What do you think?”

The was a quiet moment were nothing was said and Harry was beginning to doubt his idea when Lucius patted his shoulder and chuckled.

“Actually, I think it’s pretty obvious that you should be learning the dark arts. It’s a fantastic idea that would ensure that, even if you don’t use it, you know what the death eaters will be most likely using.”

Harry smiled and turned to Hermione who looked as though she wanted to protest but from the hard words Harry had spoken already she decided to stay quiet. He sighed; he knew that it would be a miracle if anybody was speaking to him by the end of the day.

Draco wouldn’t want his father round his friends while they trained, He still needed to talk to Ron and Hermione seemed to be keeping a distance now. The Joys of being the resourceful, responsible hero.

There was a popping sound and Snape was appeared behind them with Ron.

“People are starting to arrive. I suggest you and Lucius come back so that we can start bringing them down here.” Harry looked between Ron and Hermione and saw Ron cast a concerned look at the girl.

“You two stay here and start putting the chair out. We’ll need to explain rule and what to expect from the room.” With that the three who could apparate went back to the shack to start bringing people.

Severus brought the last of the group through and stood at the back with Lucius who seemed to be relating what Harry had asked of them before the group arrived. Harry took a deep breath and smiled at his friend as he took centre stage.

“Well I’m glad to see so many of you back. I didn’t really know weather or not to expect most of you to show up but I thank you for doing so. Right, so here’s the thing, as you can see we- Mr Malfoy and his house elves, have cleaned out what used to be the chamber of secrets and put up these drapes. There not for show; they will absorb our background magic so it doesn’t alert the Hogwarts wards. I don’t want anyone messing with them or testing them out.

I’ve decided that we should start learning the basics of Dark Arts so that we can understand some of the stuff we’re gonna be fighting as well as learn what we can. I have asked Lucius Malfoy to take this up and teach us what he knows. Professor Snape will be helping to and Professor Lupin will be teaching along side them with the counter attack stuff.

I’m going to send a letter to my cousin Bran and ask if he could get a few people together that could teach us Swordsmanship. This is where we are going to be coming for the meetings. Do not wander off. Do not bring any grudges in here and do not think this is to fill up your weekend time. I have no time for petty arguments of mindless attitudes.
Today were going to teach you how to Apparate. The next weekend I want you to scatter out round Hogsmeade and the surround area and apparate here by eleven o’clock. Dinner will be provided so you won't have to bring anything or go back out to Hogsmeade.
Snape will explain the whole apparating thing and then Lucius, Draco and I will help you get the hang of it and explain anything you dare not ask Snape.” He nodded to his father and stepped back into the crowed of people near Draco…Who refused to look at him. See? Now Draco was mad at him.

Severus had explained the process, background information, pros and cons of Apparation and then showed them how it was down from one end of the room to the other. They had then spent the next two hours helping students get it right. Lupin, Lucius and Severus went round every now and then fixing anybody that had been splinched.

While Severus went over the amount of magic needed and for the distance travelled with the rest of the group, Harry took Ron to the back and they sat on the two armchairs that Lucius and Severus had transfigured from two normal chair.

“Ron I need to talk with you.” Harry said in all seriousness like he had been all day. He vaguely wondered if anyone was taking him as seriously as he was sounding with the clothes and look he had going at the moment. Ron nodded concerned both his friend where acting weird today.

“Does this have something to do with Hermione too? Because she’s been acting weird today too.” Harry looked confused for a moment.

“What?...No that was because I spoke a little harsh to her but it was necessary and I think she is a little afraid of me now.” Ron looked a little miffed at Harry but didn’t say anything since they had to work it out and he wasn’t involved.

“But what I want to talk to you about is that I might have to leave Hogwarts, that or I wont be aloud back after Christmas. The ministry knows I’m a vampire and you of all people should know what they think about that. Severus will be leaving as well for his own safety from the ministry as well as the dark lord…

And that’s what I wanted to talk to you about. Lucius wont be threatened by the ministry because he is only a host, the same for Draco but it’s Voldemort that will want them. Lucius can hide away in the manor but Draco is left at school…once Voldemort knows that Severus has been keeping this from him as well as Lucius he will try to get at Lucius through his son…That mean Draco is going to be in danger.”

Severus got the distinct feeling people weren’t listening. He scanned the crowd and saw Harry and Ron sat at the back he smirked and opened his link to the elder Malfoy. The blonde looked to where Severus had said and saw the two teens sat like a couple of warlords arguing over a peace treaty. Little did they know that wasn’t far from the truth.

“You want me to protect Malfoy from the death eater wannabes? Are you serious? Didn’t we just discuss yesterday that I didn’t particularly like Malfoy and now you want me to be his bodyguard?” Ron asked incredulously, barely keeping his voice down.

“No. He’s perfectly capable of looking after himself and he will tell you as much, but I mean if things get too much, or if you notice something he doesn’t then yes, protect him, just like you would any of our friends, like you would anyone on the fraternity. I’m not going to be around so I need you and him to run this stuff in school, make sure it all sticks because I’ll only be able to come see you all here.” Harry could tell his friend had taken too much now.

He slowly started to turn red and his breathing deepened. Suddenly he stood up and walked over to the new apparation point. Within a few moment he successfully apparate out of the chamber and back to the shack.

Hermione got up out of her chair to go after him and talk to him, as did Pansy a little after her. But Harry’s voice caused them to stop.

“No!! Leave him go!” The girls turned to him, as did everyone else. “He has a difficult decision to make, the first of a few I’d wage we all will have to make, but make the decision alone him must. It’s his choice and I have every confidence that he will make the right one. Lets get back to work.” The girls immediately sat back down and the group turned to the adults who all seemed just as surprised as they did.

At the end of the day Harry watched as Pansy gave him a small, scared smile before apparating with Hermione who didn’t even look at him. Then he nodded to Blaise as the guy left with Draco who once again didn’t look at him.

He sighed; everyone had been avoiding him since he had spoken to the group about Ron, which would have been fine if he had had someone to talk to at least. As it was Remus had left to rest with it being close to a full moon. Lucius had shooting him praising looks but was busy helping the student, as was Severus. Not even Dean or Seamus had come over to talk to him.

He felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up to see his father who looked proud of him and had an easy smile on his lips. He just bumped his head against the back of the armchair he had sat on and closed his eyes.

“I didn’t want them to be afraid of me.” He said quietly. Lucius came over and transfigured another chair for Severus as he took the other.

“They won't for long. You have just shown for the first time to this lot that you mean business and it is that business that scares them. Once they realise that this isn’t going to be a bunch of friends in a secret club they will realise you are their leader and respect you as such.” Severus said as he sat down.

“And it’s a good job you did it now. They now have an established leader and will feel safer continuing this than they would without one. And don’t worry Draco is embarrassed and probably a bit miffed you didn’t ask him about it but he will come around.” Lucius said as he gave a sharp click of the fingers and a house elf appeared.

“Coco, some of my aged whisky please, three glasses.”

“Yes master Malfoy, will the Willton be a good choice to serve, sirs”

“Quite and do tell Mrs Malfoy that I will be home shortly and she had better not be in the gardens again.” The house elf bowed and left the room.
“Narcissa has been wandering again hasn’t she?” Severus asked knowingly. Lucius shook his head and sighed.

“She says it’s good for the baby, helps it move or something like that. Blasted women and their magazine fix-it cures.” Harry and Severus chuckled at the man.

“I know Draco has a younger sister but does he have any other siblings?” The house elf popped back and handed out the glasses.

“Mistress Malfoy said I am to remind you that she is the one pregnant and will do as she wishes while your mother is round and insulting her décor tastes while you are trying to hide from her.” Harry was amazed that this house elf didn’t seem afraid to be re-telling it’s master such a sarcastic remark and just handed the drinks out and waited for Lucius to dismiss it.

“I swear that women get more aggravated each day with the littlest of things. Coco, what is for dinner tonight?”

“Tonight Bunkie said he will be cooking the lamb and doing potatoes with a mint sauce and steamed vegetables. Dessert will be a selection of sweet cakes and hot sundaes for mistress’s sweet tooth. Bunkie is also asking for new knifes old ones are growing dull and do not chop as cleanly as they should.”

“Very well, you may go now and do make sure Lint stays away from the stove this time.” The house elf bowed and popped back out of the room.

“In answer to you question Harry; Draco is the eldest child and has a younger brother, Caleb as well as Jessica his sister and then there is Aidan who is on his way. I think I’m going to draw the line at four children. Narcissa seems to always want more yet she never remembers the pregnancy in those moments.” Severus laughed and shook his head.

“Lucius you are just the same. Who is Lint by the way? Did you buy a new elf?” Severus took a sip of his drink.

“No Tilly came into season and Bunkie took an interest and now I have a new house elf. Lint hasn’t figured out that the stove can get too hot. I swear that elf is just going to be another Dobby, I can see it now.” Lucius said frowning at the name of his old house elf.

“Why? what was wrong with Dobby?” Harry asked slightly defensive of the little guy.

“What wasn’t! When we had parties or held events at the manor he would act like the perfect little house elf until he overheard someone bad mouthing us or even disagreeing with something about us, then he would attack the guests and say that they shouldn’t be doing that and they will pay for say anything like that.

It was a mess! The house elves job is to respect and be a respected part of the family. If he had heard anything he was to tell us and let us deal with it. When we were arranging to have him serve a different family, selling him. He decided he didn’t want to serve anyone but us.

He came to you because he knew that if he help you you might help us out of this war. I don’t see how since you didn’t know that the family he spoke of was his new family and the reason I was angry that you set him free was because at least with a family he was bound and could be given limits. But it doesn’t matter, he’s working here now and seems to keep in control.” Lucius finished his drink and cast Tempus.

“Right I’d better be off for dinner, Bunkie does so hate wasting food. I will see you gentlemen tomorrow.” With a nod to them both he disapparated.

There was a silent that fell that wasn’t all uncomfortable. They both just sat quietly, letting the hustle and bustle of the day drain away.

“Are you going to tell me why none of your friends stayed to wait for you?” Severus asked quietly as he vanished his cup. Harry sighed and Severus thought it was far to bone-deep and wary for a teenaged boy.

“I had a go at Hermione for getting on peoples backs about house elves when she didn’t know anything about them or the majority of the families they serve. I asked Ron to keep an eye on Draco when we got shucked out of school and I never told Draco that I was going to ask his dad to teach us dark arts.”

“Granger does need to know more about the wizarding world before she starts tearing up traditions and ways of lives. It is very unbecoming for anyone to just assume they must be right and never ask a primary source, especially someone who is the smartest in most of her classes.”

“I know but she is a good person and just feels that if she wants to be treated like an equal compared to the pure-bloods then she should wish everyone to be equal. In the muggle world we have people like the house elves but they call them slaves and it’s not right to have one.”

“But still there are many things her young mind, although smart, will not grasp until she has experienced the world more. Draco will come around as Lucius told you. He just needs to get over the shock that his father is teaching his friends. But Weasley? Why would asking that of him cause such a rift?”

“Because I know that he doesn’t like Draco or the idea of me and Draco together. I asked his help with something over Christmas and he agreed but I think with me asking him to keep an eye on Draco, helping me over Christmas and have to hang around with him just was too much. To be honest I don’t know if he will come back this time or Hermione because of the things I said.” Harry sighed and stood up but before he could go anywhere Severus grabbed his sleeve.

“Harry…Give them time and they will grow up. You have had to do so and they need to realise that you need them to grow up as well…I’m…Sorry for all this.” He said looking down at his knees. Harry smiled slightly and turned his hand so he could grab it. Holding tightly, he shook it.

“Thanks for listening to me moan. And…you can stop saying sorry now, I forgive the whole not telling me thing and screwing with my head at school. Just…don’t make me fail potions; I’m doing a good enough job with out your help there.”

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Harry walked into the Great Hall and saw all the jack-o-lanterns and orange and black coloured foods. When Had Halloween come about? He remembered the light dusting of snow yesterday in Care of Magical Creatures but Halloween already?

He looked at the Slytherin table and saw Draco look away from him and back to start a conversation with Pansy. He walked over to his house table and sat down near the end. He hadn’t missed that Ron was sat between some seventh years and Hermione opposite him between Ginny who look concerned and a fourth year.

So he was to have a lonely Halloween. He frowned at the sugar coated food in front of him and passed for a sandwich instead. Harry looked up at the teachers table and put on a smile when he saw his father looking at him. He looked back and decided he didn’t feel hungry now anyway.

He got up as discreetly as possible and left the Great Hall. Outside in the corridor he decided to go for a walk round the lake.

The night air was biting and he had to take a deep breath to get air to his lungs, but after a while his body seemed to warm up and he had a suspicion that it was his Vampiric blood doing that.

He saw the lake come into view and just stood watching it. It was awfully calm to say there was a wind blowing. But he couldn’t bring himself to care. He felt so sure that he was doing the right thing. That he was right in what he had done…but then he felt bad, he knew he hadn’t really done anything wrong be that didn’t stop that fact that he was stood outside alone feel any better.

He sat down on the hill just before the shore line of the lake and pulled his knees up and resting his head on them. He took a deep breath and watched as it danced out in front of him in a swirling mist.

He might have just lost his two best friends and because of that he had no one to talk to. It was alright Severus reassuring him but that was different, the man just thought of them as having a childish argument. But to all three of them it felt bigger. They might not want to be friends anymore and he couldn’t do anything about it because he couldn’t let this distract him from the war.

Harry swallowed as he felt tears fill his eye. He was too old to cry over stupid crap like this!

He could feel Alucard try to soothe the loneliness he felt but it wasn’t working. He had a headache and his back hurt as well as all over pain and it was annoying because he hadn’t even done anything strenuous.

Suddenly he got the feeling of eyes on him and looked up. There, by the edge of the lake lay a mermaid. Her long green hair stuck to her back and shoulders. She had silvery skin and glittered as the slightly scaly skin picked up the moonlight.

Harry could see that she felt his pain. Her eyes held the sorrow he couldn’t shake off. He stood from his spot and walked over to her, as he did she smiled and floated further into the lakes depth. He toed off his shoes and pulled off his socks. When she nodded slowly, he took off his jacket and jumper.

“Harry!!” The teen turned round and saw Draco running towards him, he smiled at the blonde and walked into the shallow water.

“Harry no, don’t!!” But the plea landed on the waters rippling surface as Harry dove in.

Yeeees well what is our lonely boy up to?? Tell me what you think about the story so far!! Bye for nowxx