The Next Generation

However it seemed that the trend of strange happenings wasn’t done for the day, Harry and Severus happened to pass the group of first years with the new student in tow at just the right moment. Fathomless black eyes that did hold a similarity to their fathers yet were so different passed over the twins, holding Vera’s for a moment longer than Rave’s and she let out a soft soundless scream;
-Who?!-

Chapter 9:

“Damn it.” Harry swore as the young vampire steadied Vera at the same time inexplicably baring his fangs at the stranger. Ciar seemed to glare right back at the young vampire with a tone of indifference and distain. Sterling’s reaction however, after Vera’s, was the most interesting he seemed to stumble backwards and at the same time try to go forward. His icy eyes were wide open in a mixture of fear and awe, the young Inheri knew what this strange boy was, Harry thought with mild surprise though his following thought was that neither Inheri would tell him anything.

“Vera are you alright?” He asked deciding that for once he could be a parent before their headmaster, after all their friends would understand in this case.

“I…I think so papa.” She whispered eyes still glued to the older boy, who Severus was trying to lead away. Ciar refused to go. Taking in every inch of the young girls face with interest and cataloguing it for later reference. Finally he followed his Ouman’s mate away from the small group of children. Vera seemed to sag with relief against Harry, who looked at her worriedly.

“His eyes were like black holes. Who is he papa?” she murmured. He debated before answering,

“A transfer student.” He said expecting Rave to refute the lie, he always could tell when either parent was lying it had made his rebellious stage very tiresome.

“Screw his eyes,” the other twin muttered to Harry’s surprise, “His mind was a black hole. I’ve never felt anything like that before. Ever.” He continued looking at Sterling, “You know what he is…Merlin. I don’t like this papa.” Rave clutched his head, thoughts and emotions were ripping through him. It had never been this strong before. He’d never been able to feel thoughts too, just feelings. This hurt! Harry stood and lifted his little boy into his arms, a feat that became harder every year.

“Do you want to go to the hospital wing? Either of you?” he asked looking at Rave who blushed harshly and Vera who shook her head. Rave buried his head in his papa’s robes, this was insane. If the first two days were going to be like this then what was the rest of the year going to be like? He was steadily avoiding the thought that had entered his mind when papa asked him about the hospital wing.
‘I want…’ the thought before cutting it off. Sterling was shivering violently and looking around nervously as if he expected someone to barge in. Which sort of did happen, Itzal was coming down one hall at top speed.

“I’m going to start putting mental dampeners on this place, if everyone can sense what’s going on then it’s a wonder we keep anything secret.” Harry muttered. The elder Inheri looked at all of them with a mild confusion until Sterling launched himself at his brother and began babbling incoherently. Itzal seemed to catch enough though; it showed in the paling of his face and startled gray eyes.

“Rave…” Harry said noticing the small form in his arms was shaking uncontrollably, and was clinging to his papa harshly. Sterling looked up for the first time, ceasing his babbling with a look of disappointment that was rather out of place.

“Fai dencou clarim.” He whispered it sounded almost like a spell, though Itzal’s shocked face made Harry think it wasn’t. It could’ve been a different vein of English if you listened close enough he thought but that thought was cut off when Rave shuddered. It was too much, his mind screamed trying to close off the invasion of thoughts and feelings, and it felt like the whole castle was in his mind.

“Headmaster if I may?” Itzal said side stepping his brother and holding out one arm towards Rave, and un-violent gesture yet Harry hesitated.

“What did Sterling say?” he demanded. Itzal didn’t even pause his advancement,

“He renounced his hasty claim.” Was the calm response, Harry frowned though and stepped back a bit again.

“Hasty?” he demanded again, this air of mystery around everything was beginning to grate on his nerves and ignorance was a thing that no one enjoyed.

“I explained to you that your son is unique, but Sterling acted on the impulse of the young he and Raveal are not very compatible. He sees that now and has renounced the claim.” He said, still infuriatingly calm and before Harry could demand more Rave had pulled his head out of Harry’s robes to stare at the Inheri.

“You can make it stop.” There was no question in his statement, though Itzal looked a tad confused. Rave turned back to Harry slowly, as if he were in a trance.

“It’s ok papa. He doesn’t mean to hurt me.” He whispered. Harry nodded confusedly, and put his son down. The younger Snape walked toward Itzal who hefted him up easily, it was strange to look at them. Rave was less than half the older boy’s size. They locked eyes and everyone saw the small flash of magic and Rave sighed in obvious relief. Severus returned eyeing the boy holding his son for a moment;

“If everyone is more or less in one piece then I suggest to bed with all of you.” He said with a fond smile directed at his children and they all complied. Severus practically dragged his mate back to his rooms while ignoring the protests that he had work to do.

“Be quiet love.” He muttered plopping Harry down on the couch. “Why was Itzal holding Rave?” he demanded, something irked him about the Inheri.

“Severus…” Harry tried to begin but his lover’s glare silenced him effectively. Instead of trying to explain verbally he merely opened the link fully and gave Severus the memories. Severus sighed and pulled his lover into a gentle kiss.

“Come on, I’ll stay the night. I have a feeling you’ll need a good nights rest.” He murmured lifting his slighter mate and entering the bedroom.

oOo

“Rave I need to put you down.” Itzal’s voice interrupted his thoughts as Rave looked up at him sleepily.

“I don’t want you too.” He murmured, enjoying the vibration of the elder’s chest as he laughed.

“As much as I want to stay out here holding you, we both need to sleep. I can’t go in your dorms and you can’t go in mine.” He replied, smiling as Rave stubbornly clung to him. The smaller boy took a few minutes to process what the older boy had said,

“Yes I can. I’m a Slytherin too. So there.” He murmured softly, making a face as Itzal lowered him forcing him to stand. The Inheri smiled down at the younger boy;

“That’s fine, but tonight you need to sleep in your own bed. If what ever that was comes back curl up with sterling he should at least be able to help a little.” He said leaning down and giving Rave a soft kiss on the forehead, and waving. The younger boy entered the dorm glancing wistfully at the door to the Slytherin common room but continued up to the dorms to pass out on his bed without even bothering to shuck his clothes.

“Rave…Wake up!” Damien called sounding rather annoyed; “You sleep like no one I’ve never met!” he said shaking the boy. Rave grumbled and rolled over, if the last two days were any indication he did not want to get up. However the day passed without incident, the next few days followed the same pattern of calm peace. However their short lived peace was ended abruptly when Harry introduced the new transfer program and they all met Ciar Doyle formally, though the second time around was far less dramatic.

“Hello.” He greeted them cheerily easing his long frame onto a seat beside Vera who glared at him dangerously. She hadn’t forgotten his embarrassment of their first encounter.

“I wish to apologize for your reaction to me, both of you.” He said looking properly abashed under her glare. Except for his eyes, they looked emotionless as ever. Rave had practically jumped into Itzal’s lap when the other boy had appeared, along with the three other transfers but they were lower on his list of things that demanded immediate attention. It was hard to tell if Ciar actually meant the apology but Rave hardly wanted a repeat of the onslaught that he experienced during their first meeting.

“I didn’t think that my powers would affect you … that much.” He said, amending the thought to ring more truly. Rave could still feel general feelings and thoughts but Itzal dampened the feelings. Typically a relief but now he was somewhat curious. Moving of his, boyfriend’s?, lap but linked their arms he wouldn’t be able to take the full force. The feeling was dampened, presumably because the boy was holding back. Rave had asked Itzal to tell him what the other boy was, and Sterling both had responded with thin lipped fear.

“What are you?” He demanded of the black eyed boy, and felt the surprise in his power as it spied back up slightly. Vera stiffened and moved a little further away from him. It didn’t last long but it was strong enough to give Rave an insight on everyone in the great hall’s thoughts. Some of which he turned green at.

“What makes you think I’m anything but human?” he asked and Rave frowned. There was a lingering emotion that he couldn’t quite grab a hold of.

“Obviously your powers, and total lack of magical knowledge, besides you knew whatever you are was going to affect me and Vera.” He pointed out and Ciar grinned.

“What I am is the same as what you are.” He replied with a smile and Rave felt a dull sense of wonder, Ciar was telling the truth. So which was it? Human or something else?

AN: I seem to be terrible with cliffies with this plot bunny. Interesting. Does anyone besides me love how this is going? =D Try and keep track of time btw, I’m going to have to throw in a few time skips, I honestly can’t write five months worth of interlude without driving myself insane. =S Oh! If anyone cares, I have a twitter. =P It’s not a good idea to let me get bored… https:// twitter (Dot) com / AvivaRiddle