Differences

The house was silent for a few beats, bar the sound of Severus pulling out his chair. It was evident both inhabitants of the house were in deep thoughts trying to work out the puzzle that was the other.

Snape had not realised he had been holding his breath before it shuddered out of him at the sounds of cooking returned to his kitchen. His thoughts were a mess, nothing made sense yet everything was crystal clear.

Harry Potter-Black was his mate.

It was impossible yet explained so much. His undeniable attraction to the boy, the possessiveness that gleamed at the sight of him in Severus's clothing, his lack of hesitation to run blindly into the muggles house to protect him, the strange bond the two always shared despite the apparent hatred and...the allure he had to Lily's blood. He should have guessed it from the beginning, there was no other explanation to why Lily's blood was so attractive to him despite her being his sister in anything but blood. She was going to bear his mate.

As with everything in his life, he had to assume his delayed reaction was due to Albus. Harry had bled many times in Severus's presence yet never had he had the reaction to it as he had just moments ago. That reaction solidified that the postponed realisation had nothing to do with his potions. Evidently he should have reacted to Potter's blood years ago. But then why would the late headmaster not want the pair to bond? The Dark Lord cared not for creatures unless they proved useful to his plans to win the war and never discovered that Severus had became one himself. Even if he had known Severus was a vampire, the man doubted he would care enough to look into the magic involved to notice the increase in power Severus would receive if he bonded with his mate. So, if anything, the pair bonding would have aided Harry during the war as he would also gain the boost to his magic and would have been able to draw more from Severus though their bond and vise vera. Albus interfering didn't make sense, the only thing it did was made the pair not reach their full potential before facing a mad man. Unless...Severus knew for certain Albus had pushed Harry into fight The Dark Lord like a lamb to slaughter and he knew Harry was aware of that too. However, Severus could never find a solid answer to how the headmaster felt about him. Albus seemed to have faith in his abilities yet took anything worthwhile from his life as if he believed Severus to be dead at any second and should not form attachments. Well at least today's discoveries cleared that up for him, the man had not expected, or rather not wanted, Severus to come out of this war alive. At least he know knew he and Harry had always had that in common.

Much like this morning, his train of thought was interrupted by nervous shuffling making its way into the room. His eyes drifted up to find Potter carrying in what he assumed to be dinner while very pointedly not moving his eyes from the table where he was going to set the trays down.

"I made steak and new potatoes." Harry said before shuffling around the table to sit were he had previously sat that morning. "I always noticed in the Great Hall that you always had meat heavy dishes and, since you didn't have much in, I called Kreacher and he leant me the ingredients so don't worry, I didn't use much of what you had in, just some rosemary and butter for the potatoes and some other herbs for the steaks." He still believed Severus was mad at him for cooking? Well he presumes he did not give him much of an explanation as to why he acted in that way.

"I didn't know how you liked your steak so I just assumed." Harry had begone mindlessly serving the food to the both of them whilst rambling. In any other situation, Severus may have called the display impressive as he had yet to spill nor drop anything. "I just made it rare, I was just shy of making it blue due to you 'Dungeon Bat' persona," he let out a chuckle as he said that, it obviously bringing up some memories of Hogwarts.

Having also not knowing what to say to the other man, the 'Dungeon Bat' (he also chuckled in his mind as he quite enjoyed the accidental accuracy it held) cut a slice of steak and began eating.

"This is perfect." He had not realised Harry was still amidst his ramblings as he said that so the man looked to have nearly snapped his neck as he whipped it up to face the man.

"Pardon?"

"You made my steak exactly as I like it. The 'Dungeon Bat' persona, as you called it, does have its merits to how I take my food."

"Oh," his face looked dumbstruck as to what to say despite not being able to stop himself before. "I'm glad you like it!" His voice was a bit more chipper while saying that but after the pair descended into silence as they ate.

After dabbing away any remnants of his meal from the corners of his mouth, Snape summoned a vial of his blood substitute, uncorked it and poured it into whatever was left of his drink before swirling it around and downing it in one go. Well aware of the questioning gaze on him, he began to rise, collecting the plates from the table.

"No- Wait- I'll get them! It's your home, I should wash them up!" The smaller man said while reaching to grab the same plate as Severus. Before he could get to it, it was moved just out of his reach so he looked up into black eyes.

"I am more than capable of doing dishes in my own home Potter." With that he swept from the room with the plates he could not carry, levitating behind him.

He came back into the to see Harry looking down at his clasped hand on the table.

"Thank you for the dinner, it was impeccable." Harry's head once again snapped up to look at him (he was going to have to start bringing the boy carefully from his thought lest he one day be the cause of The-Boy-Who-Lived breaking his own neck).

"I- Uh- Thank you sir, I'm glad you liked it. Sorry for the lack of dessert, I would have made it if I had time." Severus's eyes narrowed. The other mans tone was careful as if he believed Severus to be upset at him.

"Severus."

"What?"

"My name is Severus. I believe I gave you permission to use my given name this morning, did I not?"

"You did! I...I just assumed I lost that privilege when you called me Potter..." Now when had he- Oh. When he had been clearing the table.

"Well old habits die hard as I believe the saying goes," he drawled. "I have been calling you Potter for eight years, I believe that counts as an old habit." Harry seemed to think it over in his mind before nodding, his hair bouncing along with it. A look of realisation spread across his face.

"I forgot! You said you were feeling light-headed before dinner, are you ok now? I did not recognise it, but did that potion you took make you feel better?" Severus debated whether or not he should divulge that they were mates before deciding to see how the other reacted to his creaturehood first.

"I was already feeling better before we ate, the potion was for something different." He said while walking around to table toward the living room, beckoning for the small man to follow. "I don't believe that divulging this information to you will end badly." He waited until Harry was sat before pouring himself two fingers of his favourite whisky before seating himself on the opposite end of the sofa.

"I guess the best way to begin this is to say my 'Dungeon Bat' persona does not just have merits in terms of how I take my food." He paused to gauge Harry's reaction thus far only to be met with eyes full of curiosity, urging for the potions master to continue. "The potion I took after dinner was a blood substitute I need to survive as I am a vampire. I became one while on a mission to recruit a coven to The Dark Lord's cause." He allowed another pause to let Harry process the information. When it was clear the other man was not going to ask a question yet, he continued, "I created some potions to allow me and any other vampires, if they so wished, to live normal lives and hold jobs where they would have been unable because they would have had to register their creature status to the Ministry. The Ministry who, as you know, are not favourable toward creatures of any kind regardless of whether they are light or dark."

"You did it so you and others did not have to be like Remus..."

"Yes. As much as the vampire-werewolf feud is still at large, I do regret that I, or another, had not made the Wolfsbane potion earlier. Neither creature is explicitly dangerous to anyone without the potions but the indications of them being a creature are very easy to spot so the potion helps us blend in. I'm sure you would have noticed that when Lupin did not take the potion, his eyes were amber more frequently?"

"Yes..I- Did Dumbledore know you were a vampire?" Apparently the fact his potions professor was a vampire truly did not trouble him. Although he probably should have assumed that as Harry was the only one who openly did not show any bias towards creatures even after his werewolf had attacked him in his third year.

"He did. He did not appear to care much and, if anything, I feel as he threw me into more and more dangerous situations following that discussion." This caused hurt to flash in the youngers eyes.

"Is it bad to say that sometimes I am not at all sad he is gone?"

"Well, I believe you more than anyone have the right to say that Mr Potter."

"Harry." Snape huffed out a laugh.

"Yes, Harry." He corrected.

"So you mentioned you created another potion, other than the blood substitute, to blend in similar to how the Wolfsbane Potion works. I do not know much about vampires so I was wondering what it changes for you?"

Severus chuckled, "I do not know whether to focus on the fact you completely breezed over the fact you had a dark creature that the Ministry classifies as dangerous teaching you for years and is currently seated on the same sofa as you and your are not scared in the slightest or that Harry Potter is asking a question for the purpose of gaining studious knowledge."

"Harry Potter-Black is my proper name Severus. I would write it down and use a sticking charm to attach it to my head so I no longer have to correct you if I didn't know for certain that such a feat would wind me up thrown out onto my arse as soon as you saw it." A cheeky grin was every present on the younger man's face. "Many have told me they liked my arse, so I can't have that can I?" If Severus hadn't known better, he would have believed Harry to be flirting. Other than the grin, the man had leaned closer to Severus, his eyes holding the indecipherable glint for the second time that day but mate or not, Harry had never shown any inkling as to favouring the man in that way.

"My potion leaves Vampires more or less human with a palate for blood." Harry leaned back, visibly listening to the information he was receiving. "It saps our strength and senses and takes away the vampires main trick to lure prey, their allure. And before you ask, no it is not like the allure of veelas, vampires allure is through their looks to draw the prey in, not ensnare it." Harry was silent, rubbing his chin as he processed what he had just heard. His thoughtful look turned to Severus before opening his mouth to speak.

"So without the potion, you look different?" Well, that wasn't what he had expected.

"Yes, I have not been without my potion in a long time so I cannot exactly recall what I looked like but I do know the basics of my features do not change." Something about that had been what Harry had wanted to hear as he lightened up slightly. "Is that all the questions you had?"

"Well, I do not know if this is too personal so feel free to not answer, but you said you haven't been without your potion for a long time, so does that mean you haven't ingested real blood since then either?" Severus's eyebrows raised, this man was full of surprises today.

"I haven't had blood since I found out a certain, in my case, bittersweet benefit to becoming a vampire. I wished to be able to go without real blood for as long as I lived, if possible." Harry could sense there was more to that but didn't pry. Instead, stretching his arms above his head as he let out a yawn.

"I guess that's all I can think of to ask you I s'pose," his eyes turned to the grandfather clock in the corner of the room. "I am going to go to bed now if that's ok sir?" The older man let the sir slide as he could tell he was tired as he slurred his words.

"You are free to go to sleep as you please Harry, I left some of my old sleepwear in a drawer for you to use. Goodnight." A slurred "g'night Sev'rus" was all that he heard as he watched the other pad upstairs to the guestroom.