Chapter 3
Sanguini smiled as he watched Harry and Teddy run about the garden playing tag with a few of the other children. He would miss the two after they went back to the school, but he hoped they would return on their other breaks as well. He watched as Harry ran after Teddy and caught him scooping the young toddler up and tickling him.
“He is a very fascinating Human My Lord.”
Sanguini paused and turned to look at the vampire next to him. He was taller than Sanguini by several inches, long blond hair tightly braided and trailing behind him. He was pale skinned and golden eyed, he looked inhuman even without the glow of his vampirism. He was one of the rare ones, Older than Sanguini, even before he had been turned. “You think so Cornelius?”
The blond nodded and smiled some, the muscles and skin stretching around a long ragged scar that cut across his nose and down the left cheek. “Oh yes. I can see why you have claimed him as a Childe. I can also smell the fae. I have not smelled a fae in a very long time. They do not like what I am now.”
The other nodded, “Yes, but this fae does not shy from those around Harry. He did not seem to be bothered by me. He also makes Harry happy, which is all I truly care about in the end. What brings you from your room?”
Cornelius sneered with disgust, “Those two are at it again like cats in heat. Yowling and moaning, and unlike you I can not cast magic to silence them out.”
Sanguini laughed brightly, “Ah yes, it is around that time.”
The blonde was clearly not a fan of loud love making. “Pleasure is meant to be a private sensual affair, what they do is a ruckus disrespect to love. They have no decorum or sense of self or others.”
The Vampire lord couldn't fight back the soft laughter at his old friend’s distaste.
Harry yelped as the kids dog piled on him and laughed as he wrestled with them carefully. Teddy wasn’t old enough for what some of the older kids were doing but that didn’t mean the toddler was holding back from flopping on his new father figure. Finally when the kids all ran off for snacks he stood up and brushed himself off. Looking over towards Sanguini he noticed another standing with him. He was tall and seemed to command the attention of those around him. It was hard to take his eyes off of the other. That must be one of the higher ups if they stood so close to Sanguini. He noticed the lower ranks tended to give the Lord a wide berth.
Smiling he made his way over, “Maker, they are getting stronger with each passing night. Teddy seems to be enjoying himself so much. I hate that we have to leave in the morning.”
The vampire smiled and pulled the other into his arms, “You will just have to come back during your next break. Ah yes, my manners. Childe this is Cornelius he is my second. Cornelius, this is my Childe Harry.”
The tall blonde looked at him with the liquid gold eyes, his gaze heavy and seemed to penetrate him. Then a small smile appeared and he gave a nod of his head, “Young Harry, A pleasure to meet you. Please call me Cornelius.”
Harry gave a polite bow back, “Nice to meet you to sir, uhm Cornelius.” It was odd, he didn’t look like a normal vampire, he had a sense of other to him that Harry couldn’t put a finger on. What was it.
Cornelius seemed to notice the inquiring look and grinned, “Yes, I am not a normal vampire. I was once a Veela before I was turned. I still carry a few of my characteristics of my Veela blood but I am now vampire.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. I know Veela normally pride themselves in who they are.” Harry spoke softly thinking of Fleur.
The man nodded, “Yes, it was my pride that was my downfall. I thought myself above all other creatures. I was vain and selfish. I was courted by a vampire Lord but I denied to even give him a chance because I thought him lesser than myself. He came back the following night and turned me. It has taken me a long time to come to terms with what I am, and how wrong I was.”
Harry nodded, “I think we have all had to take that fall before becoming better than who we were.”
“Indeed, such wise words from one so young. So tell me Harry, when did you fall?”
The wizard flinched and closed his eyes, the tears threatening to come to his eyes, “The day I lost my two mates and unborn child. I was naive enough to think I could protect them. But I wasn’t and I lost them.”
The golden eyes widened and the vampire was not sure how to respond. Finally he settled with laying his hand on the others shoulder.
Sanguini allowed the two to talk and share their stories while he stepped away, he trusted his second to care for Harry and keep him safe. He had plans to finish. He wanted to make sure their journey to the school went flawlessly. Speaking to servants to make sure to get all their things packed properly and brought to the foyer. He had planned a late night feast so they could all say goodbye. Sadly the sun would be up when they had to leave. He didn’t like it but understood.
Harry laughed brightly at the story that Cornelius was telling him about. He had never thought of a veela losing control over their own flames and setting their own hair on fire.
A few hours passed and soon it was time for the large dinner. The entire banquet hall had been made up to look like an actual dinner party. It took his breath away as he looked at it. The food along the tables suited to all the races that would be present. Though the blood seemed to be served in wine bottles so as to not unnerve some of the other guests or human participants. He noticed there was small squares of paper on plates to dictate who sat were. Looking for his own he was surprised to not he was on Sanguini’s right side while Cornelius was on his left. He had thought the second would be on his right side. But Sanguini did refer to him as Childe, that could mean he was being shown as heirship.
Shaking his head he helped Teddy into the booster seat on the chair next to him and helped situate the cute tux he had put on the boy. He himself was in formal robes of green and blue deciding to step away from his normal color scheme. He found the two colors mixed well against him and he enjoyed it immensely.
“Ah Harry, I see you made it alright. It is still early but we can sit and wait for the others.” Sanguini stepped up behind him and pulled the younger into his arms affectionately and kissed his pulsepoint and then his forehead. He had done this several times over their time here. It was a way of scenting, claiming, and showing affection. He received a kiss on the forehead because he was childe, if it was on the lips it was mate.
“He smiled and finished pushing the chair in for Teddy then took his seat, “Yeah I wanted to get Teddy settled in before more showed up. He can get a little shy or over excited so I thought it would be better.”
A soft smile and a pat on the head, “That is very thoughtful of you, but most of the vampires in my coven love children. He will be fawned over I fear.”
Harry laughed brightly, “Oh he will love that.”
Harry and Sanguini spoke softly while Teddy entertained himself with the small toy Harry let him bring with him to the dinner. He didn’t want the kid getting bored with so many adults around. Slowly people began to enter and took their seats, introductions were made and Harry watched as the three highest took their seats in their chairs. Harry was not sure what to make of the other two. He had already met the beautiful blonde but the two next to him were surprisingly older than he thought they would be. Both were dark haired with grey streaking through their hair. One had soft blue eyes and the other a gentle hazel.
The hazel eyed male looked to him and spoke, “Well met young Harry is it? Sanguini has told us of you. It is a pleasure to meet you. Forgive us keeping our distance. Albert here just couldn’t bring himself to leave our room.”
Albert looked taken aback and smacked the others shoulder, “Cass! What do you want the boy to think of me. I am not some sex fiend.”
Harry bit back a laugh.
Cassidy looked to his mate, “Darlin, when did I mention sex? I simply said you were being shy.”
The other seemed to flush and stammer before clearing his throat and poured himself a glass of burgundy liquid, “Well yes, uhm. Anyways. How have you been enjoying your stay Harry?”
The wizard grinned, “I have been enjoying it. Teddy seems to as well, Sanguini spoiled him with all those toys in his room. The library is wonderful as well, a vast collection.”
Albert nodded, “Ah yes, That is mostly the featherbrains doing. I am banned from the library it would seem.” he gave a dramatic sigh and swirled his glass.
This seemed to finally snap the blonde, “Damn right your banned! I caught you fondling each other in the Dark Arts section, and what you did to my poor collection of classics I can’t even bare to think about.”
It was at this point Harry and Sanguini both lost themselves to the peels of laughter. What Harry wouldn’t give to know more stories about these two. They seemed like quite the pair and a perfect match for the more uptight proper blonde. Sanguini had picked three good balanced minds to help him run the coven.
But alas the party came to its eventual end and soon Harry was bidding them all goodnight while balancing a sleeping Teddy on his hip. The poor Toddler had fallen asleep during the dinner, but the others hadn’t minded. Some of the females even offered to hold him or take him to bed but Harry knew trying to get Teddy from the bed would be a nightmare. It was better to carry the boy to the foyer and hold him till the portkey activated to take them home.
Sanguini sighed and hugged the wizard to him being careful of Teddy, “How I wish you did not have to go. But your education is important. Will you return for your winter break?”
Harry nodded, “I hope to. Unless other things come up. I’m kind of nervous to go back. Rien is still waiting for my answer and I just don’t know what to say.”
The vampire smiled, “Listen Harry, it isn't irreversible. If you get into it and decide it isn't working. Their is no harm in stepping back. I have a feeling this Fae will understand.”
“He understands a lot, but he doesn’t know. I haven’t had the courage to tell him. What if he doesn’t like that I had mates before.”
Sanguini frowned, “If he can’t accept your loss and history then he isn’t worthy of you childe. Don’t let that possibility stop you though. Remember you have to take a chance even if it ends in heartbreak. I will always be here for you as well. If you want to talk, or just need to get away. I am here.”
The two hugged tighter and Sanguini kissed his forehead, his cool lips lingering. “Just be safe Harry.” Then the two parted ways and Harry headed to the foyer while the vampires retreated to the lower levels to lay down for the morning sunrise.
Harry stood among the hall holding the portkey as he looked to his things. He didn’t want to wake Teddy, and it would take a little to get him back into the swing of normal timing. But the vacation was well worth it in the end. He felt the portkey buzz and he tucked his foot and leg against the luggage as it activated and dragged them back to the school. It took all of Harry’s balance to not stumble on the other side with Teddy.
“I’ve got him.” A soft whisper sounded and Harry looked up to see Anute looking very happy to see them back.
“Anute, It’s good to see you again.”
“And you Harry, how was your vacation?”
“It was a good experience. I got to meet new people and I think I want to go back for winter holidays.!”
Harry began talking about the vacation as Charz stepped up to pick up the bags and follow them down the hall. It was still early and not many of the students had returned yet. But just from the atmosphere alone it felt… heavier. Something had changed while he was gone, the gloves were coming off it seemed.