Chapter 3
Chapter 3
Severus awoke throat burning with a primal hunger that he could not identify. Severus had never felt anything like this before in his whole life. It was not comparable to anything he had ever experienced before. The only thing it came close to was when his drunken father and broken mother forgot to feed him for a number of days. But it was nothing like this.
Severus did not open his eyes but he could hear so much more than he could ever before. All of Severus' senses seemed to be heightened. He could smell something delicious on the table Severus could sense beside him.
Severus moved quicker than he thought he could move to reach for the smell that his whole being craved. Severus crabbed the bottle and guzzled the thick liquid down not caring for appearance or that the liquid was dribbling down his chin. Severus was acting with primal instincts not thinking about what or why he was doing this. It was only later when he came back to himself that Severus would understand what had happened to him before he woke or why he was behaving so out of the rigorous control that Severus lived his life by.
'Easy there, Severus,' a soft masculine voice said.
Severus still had his mouth around the bottle drinking the delicious substance looked towards the deathly pale man opposite to him with a low growl glowering and retreating with the bottle of delicious food. If Severus had been acting with his usual control he would never had acted like this and later would be ashamed of his lack of his control. However, the man didn't react to growl seeming to have expected it.
Flashes of memories flowed back to Severus as though through a very long, dark tunnel. Severus and the deathly pale man had fought Severus knew. Severus had lost. He'd attacked the man – the vampire's – castle.
Severus suddenly realised he was in a room with a vampire that Severus – and the other Death Eaters – had tried to kill along with his entire coven. And he was still somehow alive? The knowledge of the danger Severus might be in kicked in Severus' survival instincts which caused his fangs to drop but thankfully to Severus brought his mind back to himself. Severus began to organise his mind behind his Occlumency shields which had changed become thicker almost overnight.
Severus had an inkling what had changed and what the liquid he had just drunk like a starving man was. But he didn't want to think like that. He had one encounter with a Being before as a child and it had given Severus a lifelong fear of Beings of all shapes and sizes especially ones that saw humans as food. No matter how civilised they may be under normal conditions.
'Why am I still alive?' asked Severus.
The vampire smiled but it didn't reach his pale green eyes making for a decidedly creepy effect. If Severus hadn't been used the Dark Lord and his Death Eater army Severus would have probably been far more affected. Fortunately of unfortunately depending on your view point Severus had been so didn't react to that chilling smile.
'You're not,' the vampire said simply.
Severus knew he had been right he was a vampire; a bloodthirsty vampire, a bloodthirsty, feral, out of control vampire. He knew that Dark creatures weren't evil as Dumbledore, the Ministry and the whole bloody Light claimed nor were they little better than slaves as Voldemort thought of them. But he still feared them and to be one Severus didn't know what to think about himself.
'I'm a vampire,' Severus said coolly.
Severus may have received considerably shocking news but he wasn't going to start acting like a stupid Gryffindor and show his feelings. Severus may feel but he rarely showed emotions around people unless he trusted them. Severus didn't trust people easily.
'Yes,' agreed Thiadred sagely. 'I am Thiadred, Severus, your sire and your teacher. You are, of course, free to go whenever you wish.'
'But?' Severus asked warily knowing that this was too good to be true.
'All I ask is you wait until I say you are ready to go,' Thiadred replied cryptically. 'You saw how you reacted to that bottle of blood. How do you think you would react if it was one of the children you care so much about?'
If Severus' blood was still flowing it would have flown out of his face. He understood that the vampire – his sire – was correct. He couldn't risk meeting humans especially the children he had spent so many years protecting until he had control over his newfound powers and lusts.
Severus nodded unhappily, 'I'll stay.'
'Good,' Thiadred for some reason seemed genuinely happy about this. 'There are no humans present so you do not need to worry about that. You are the only one who needs to learn control. It's always better that way or you have two young vampires struggle for dominance meaning a lot of fight. You are an Occlumens I believe.'
It wasn't a question Severus could tell by Thiadred's tone but still he nodded anyway. Thiadred looked pleased by this skill. Severus wondered why after all he knew that Thiadred was an Occlumens. He wondered if there were clan secrets he would be expected to keep.
'Good, that means you'll have natural inbuilt control from your human life always good when it comes to getting a grip on your primal instincts,' Thiadred explained. 'Hopefully your response to insults and challenges won't be to snarl and bite as a lot of young vampires are. Still don't be surprised if you growl or hiss at times.
'What do I do all day – err – night?' asked Severus not wanting to just sit around waiting for his sire.
Thiadred smiled, 'you are not one who will sit around doing nothing, good, I do not tolerate laziness. There is a library on the second floor. I am sure as a Potions and Defence Master you will be able to continue your research from there. You could produce potions for the creatures in our society which will keep gold in your vaults. Goblins do not condemn you for your species! I will not and cannot interfere in your accounts. My job is to teach and protect you.'
'You say as if it is separate to the Wizarding World?' asked Severus curiously.
Thiadred smiled, 'we were excluded from the Wizarding World long ago so we have created our own structure among the different species that were once allied to the Wizarding World. We have a school which you may work at if you so wish when you are ready, shops and towns.'
Severus liked the idea of returning to teaching, eventually. He enjoyed teaching. He couldn't tolerate lazy students but he had no problems with those who tried their best as long as they put in their effort. The only problem was with children of Death Eaters he had to pretend to be hateful to anyone who wasn't Dark. Severus hated it. This might be a chance where his reputation wasn't know to become the teacher that the children needed.
'We'll have to see if there are any jobs when the time comes,' Thiadred said.
'I'm a spy,' Severus began.
'I know,' Thiadred said. 'I saw your memories when I took your blood.'
'Is that the case with all vampires?' Severus asked scientific mind taking over once more.
'Naturally,' Thiadred said crisply. 'Now down to business: Lord Mac an Sagairt has sent Dumbledore a letter decreeing your death. I am sure by now that he will believe we were have joined the Dark Lord and fed you when the Dark Lord discovered your duplicity. The Light always expects all Dark creatures and wizards to ally together despite the fact that not all of us are tolerable of each other or agree with each other's beliefs. It is like saying all humans are going to ally together because they are of the same race,' Thiadred finished passionately. 'Lord Mac an Sagairt has also sent back MacNair's head – he always did have a fondness of taking creatures head's off now the same has happened to him,' Thiadred smirked in a very satisfied way that was full of bloodlust that Severus remembered seeing on his fellow Death Eaters and the Dark Lord's faces on countless occasions. Severus wondered if he'd had the same look before. 'The Dark Lord will now be of the impression that we have killed everyone he sent. He does not know or need to know about your survival or Changing. Naturally the Change has removed any imperfections from you including the Dark Mark and it's bond to a human,' here Thiadred sneered.
Severus was shocked but not displeased at how things had turned out regarding the Dark Mark at least. He was no longer bound to the Dark Lord! It was something Severus had spent almost twenty years regretting and wishing he could tear his arm off but now it was gone and never coming back. If Severus was any other wizard he'd be jumping for joy and shouting jubilantly. As it was Severus' lips quirked a bit in what in Severus Tobias Snape would be counted as a smile.
His oath to Dumbledore had broken since Potter had died due to Dumbledore's mistakes and manipulations regarding Lily's son. If Potter miraculously did turn up alive after all these years Severus' oath would still be broken as Dumbledore had failed to protect the boy. Severus' wording was to "help" Dumbledore protect Potter as Dumbledore had failed to protect Potter it made the vow null and void Severus no longer was bound to him. Unfortunately it didn't affect Dumbledore as he had not vowed to protect the boy.
'For now we have a Clan Meet to attend,' Thiadred said, 'since we have just declared war on the Dark Lord and most likely Dumbledore and the Ministry of Magic it will be a full blown war council. There was a Clan Meet and a Council Meeting at the Dark Lord's return. The conclusion was that we would up our protection but not get involved in a human war where neither side will increase our relations with British wizards. You have a wealth of personal experience with the Dark Lord that will come in useful which will help us in the upcoming events.'
Severus wasn't left with any choice but to follow the vampire to what the war council as he was requested. They arrived in a large dining hall where an old round table inscribed with a Celtic design that enough seats for them all had been laid out for Severus and all who had been in the battle – slaughter – yesterday apart from the few sentries that Severus had seen yesterday.
Severus wasn't surprised to see the majority of the vampires glaring at him mistrustfully. He would have done the same in their position. After all he had been with the group of Wizards who had launched an attack on them just yesterday even if he was now a vampire. Still Severus couldn't control the growl that ripped out of his throat at their glares. Severus who had always had a very good control over his emotions was ashamed of his outburst and quickly quieted down.
'You will sit next to me,' Thiadred ordered not commenting on the growl.
Severus did as he was told as he was well out of his comfort zone here it was best to follow his sire's lead. Severus was surprised at how comfortable doing so was. Severus supposed it was his newfound instincts to naturally follower his sire.
'What's he doing here?' growled said vampire with thin red hair and green eyes flashing her fangs.
Severus growled back at this vampire woman not liking the challenge and feeling the urge to fight but knowing it was instincts forced them down. Thiadred laid a calming hand on Severus shoulder causing Severus to scowl. He wasn't a child and resented being treated as such. He supposed that by vampiric terms he was a child considering he was only newly turned. It wasn't like he was going to attack the woman. He had more control than that! However, it wasn't Thiadred who answered the woman's comments.
'He is here on my invitation, Niamh,' Lord Mac an Sagairt had sat down.
'He's a Death Eater,' Niamh said outraged.
'Spy,' Severus spoke for the first time. 'I was a spy.'
Severus wasn't stupid enough to mention Dumbledore's name – not to vampires who Dumbledore had condemned and persecuted for what they were born as. He had always wondered why Dumbledore the champion of prejudice was the person who condemned whole races to exile and discrimination for what they were born as because of their natural Dark magic. Not that Severus particularly liked Dumbledore since he had found out about Lily's son at the hands of his relatives or even before because of his own childhood.
It was then that Severus had compared Harry and his life stories; both children from abusive households who Dumbledore needed. Severus had seen many times in his course of his career as a teacher how many abused children longed for a caring adult figure. Dumbledore had been that figure to Severus as a child even if he never removed Severus from his father.
And he was sure the same could be said about what would happen if Potter hadn't been abandoned in the woods and left to die. Severus knew that the chance of the boy surviving was next to nil especially as he was no longer on the List of Names. Minerva blamed herself for not stopping Albus leaving the child because she knew what the Dursleys were like. Severus, however, blamed Dumbledore and only Dumbledore.
The only reason he remained was for the children that had come to depend on him, the way that Severus had never had anyone to depend on growing up. Severus had with Minerva made sure that children from all four houses were in safe homes from then on in. The only consolation was that Dumbledore was no longer trusted in handling children's home life by the Ministry so he couldn't stop Minerva and Severus from removing children from abusive or neglectful homes. He worried what would happen to the children now that he had "died".
He hoped Minerva would be able to keep Albus at bay without him. But that thought left him almost immediately. Minerva was the most stubborn woman Severus had ever came to meet. She had all the good qualities of Gryffindor; loyalty, bravery, chivalry without the recklessness, rule breaking, lack of respect for authority figures. True Severus had never heard anything about what she was like as a child but he couldn't see her much different. Probably like a Granger who loved Quidditch.
'I saw Severus' memories when I bit him,' Thiadred said. 'I saw what lead him to become a Death Eater and what lead him to betray them. No I will not tell you before you ask,' Thiadred said sharply as mouths opened. That is Severus' business and no one's elses. I have told my mate and Lord Mac an Sagairt Severus' story. They are the only one's who need to know. If you want to know more ask Severus but if he doesn't want to answer then that is up to him.'
Severus scowled at this point. Severus had always hated anyone knowing an iota of his life. Opening up to Lily had been the hardest part of his life. The fact that three vampires knew didn't sit well with Severus one bit. But Severus couldn't do anything about it. The fact that Thiadred hadn't announced his story to the whole Clan made Severus respect him a little. He supposed that Thiadred would have had to tell his mate. Severus hadn't had a relationship but he knew that secrets did the relationship no favours. He had to explain his more than questionable reactions to his Lord if Severus was to stay so he supposed that Thiadred had no choice but to tell.
Lord Mac an Sagairt nodded, 'I know the story. Severus is under my protection. If there are any arguments you will bring them to me. Understand?'
'Yes, Lord Mac an Sagairt,'s and 'Yes, Ruaidri,'s filled the chamber but Severus saw scowling, fanged faces obviously nobody was happy about the Lord Mac an Sagairt's decision.
'Good,' Lord Mac an Sagairt said, 'now down to business. I am sure you have heard that I have declared war with the Dark Lord.'
'I am not sure if that was the best idea, Ruaidri,' said the pale woman beside the Lord.
'The Dark Lord would have taken your response to the attack as a declaration of war despite sending MacNair's head back,' Severus spoke up trying to prove to them by action that he wasn't going to betray them to the Dark Lord. 'He considered your rejection a declaration of war which is why he sent an attack to make an example to all Vampires that rejection would cause slaying. Hopefully causing the remaining Vampires to fear him and join him out of fear. The Dark Lord is of the opinion if you are not with him your against him. I do not know if implying to Dumbledore that you have joined the Dark Lord was wisest decision, my Lord.'
Severus tensed up knowing that if it had been the Dark Lord he had said this to Severus would have already found himself on the floor under the cruciatus curse. To Severus' surprise the vampire Lord didn't react but to smirk.
'Misinformation,' the vampire Lord said. 'The Light Lord believes that there is only one other side. He has no idea that there is a new side being formed.'
'A new side?!' Severus asked surprised he hadn't heard of a third side to the war.
'Last night I attended a meeting on Avalon organised by the new King Dlartanseer-Shadowmage of the Light and Dark Elves,' Lord Mac an Sagairt announced.
'He will have personal reasons to want to defeat Voldemort,' Thiadred muttered.
Lord Mac an Sagairt raised his eyebrows, 'have you go more information on the Elvin King, Thiadred?'
'No, but Severus does,' Thiadred said.
Severus frowned at this point. Severus hadn't even known that Pure-Elves still existed in the British Isles. A witch or wizard hadn't seen them since the fifteen century which coincided with when the House Elf trade began. People said that House Elves were Elvin criminals bound and sold by the Elves themselves which had made Elves the topic of much disgust. To sell your own species even if they were criminals was seen by many as the proof of their Dark intentions which was the reason used to arrest Elves on sight. But the fact that House Elf trade and the disappearance of the Elves coincided was suspicious to say the least to Severus. Severus had long since suspected that the Elves had retreated in fear of Wizards.
'Thirty-five years ago the Dark and the Light Elves were in the midst of a bloody war between themselves,' Thiadred explained mainly for Severus' benefit. 'When both Kings conceived a child they sent their children, Elvin magic and heritage bound, to human society so that they would only be registered as wizard and witch by the Wizards as they still had some magic unbound. Their magic would become unbound upon turning fifteen, however, they chose to reject their heritage in favour of their human magic and bound it again until the Wizarding War caused them to unbind their magic so that they could use their powers to their full advantage for the good of the Wizarding War and the Light side. They were smart enough to never reveal their heritage to their human friends and allies especially the should be Queen of the Dark Elves. The Heir to the Dark throne and the Heir to the Light throne never returned to the Avalon home of the Elves before they died by the killing curse. Their only son and heir was brought up in the Muggle world by abusive non-magicals. In August 1987 he was found by the Dark Elven Longstreak Clan in Alice Holt Forrest where he had been abandoned.'
Severus froze at the tale of the young Elvin King that Severus had thought he'd never heard of before. He knew why Thiadred had thought he knew about the Elvin King. The young Elvin King had been lost and found in the same place as Harry Potter had around the same time.
Severus recalled everything he knew of Lily and Potter. Lily had never looked like any of her family. Mr Evans was a short, thin, tanned, brown haired man with eyes of the darkest blue. Mrs Evans was a tall, curvy woman with blonde curls and pale blue eyes. Petunia was tall, blonde with pale blue eyes like her mother but with the thin face and body of her father.
Lily, on the other hand, was tall, slender, pale with curly fiery red hair and eyes of the most emerald green that Severus had ever seen. It explained a lot if Lily had been adopted especially the fact that there was no record of Squibs marrying into either side of the family. Lily had looked up her family tree when they were thirteen trying to find out what House she belonged to. Severus wondered if that's where some of Petunia's bitterness towards her beautiful younger sister came from because she was adopted.
Severus didn't know James apart from his schoolyard tormenter. But at the way he went on about his parents Severus couldn't believe that James knew he was adopted. James must at the very least be Magically adopted otherwise he wouldn't have become Lord Potter when his parents died when he was still a teenager. It was that or the Potters had a lot of secrets.
'Harry Potter?' Severus asked sharply.
'Unless a young elf and a young wizard were both abandoned by abusive non-magicals at the age of seven in the same forest in the same month,' Thiadred said drily.
There were snorts of disbelief at this point. Severus hadn't felt this light in years. Lily's son whom Severus had long believed dead was alive. It had only taken giving up his humanity to find out the truth about what had happened to Harry Potter.
Severus knew that Potter unlike his parents would never have chosen his human upbringing over his Elvin blood. His human upbringing was full of pain and hatred whilst his Elvin blood was a connection to the family he had lost and Severus doubted that the Elves would have brought up their future king in anything but splendour. All in all the Wizarding World would never see Harry Potter again only King Dlartanseer-Shadowmage. It would most likely help the Being image of having Harry Potter as one of them. The Ministry would bend over backwards to gain the Prophecy Child as an ally. It was only getting Dumbledore's support at a half Dark child that would delay that fact.
'It would certainly appear that Potter and the Elvin King are indeed the same people,' agreed Lord Mac an Sagairt. 'It would mean that without the appropriate treaty and compensation that the Elves could not by their own laws stand with the Dark Lord. Never mind Potter's own feelings for the loss of his parents. It certainly explains the reasons that as soon as King Dlartanseer-Shadowmage came of age he began gathering alliance against the Dark Lord and forming a third side.'
'He'll only be fifteen,' Severus pointed out frowning.
'Elves come of age at fifteen,' a blonde woman said.
'The boy has been prophesised to defeat the Dark Lord,' Severus added in.
'What over alliances have we?' asked the dark red haired woman.
'All six Elvin factions have united under Dlartanseer-Shadowmage's banner,' Lord Mac an Sagairt said. 'The MacDonalds, the Bréifne, and the Dobunni vampire clans have allied to Dlartanseer-Shadowmage. The largest the werewolf packs apart from Greyback have allied,' growled Lord Mac an Sagairt eyes glowing.
Severus couldn't help the growl that came out of his chest but several others did the same so it didn't matter too much. Severus didn't know if it was his new vampire instincts or his hatred for Lupin that made him react that way. Considering most vampires in the room reacted in the same way Severus would guess it was the Vampirism.
'The Sprites have also naturally joined the alliance,' Lord Mac an Sagairt.
'They often ally with the Elves,' a red haired girl said.
'Indeed, Molly,' Lord Mac an Sagairt agreed. 'The Goblin King has financially agreed to support them. However, they will not risk their banks until they are clear that they are on the winning side. The Old Dwarfan Kings have supported us with gold, weapons and warriors. The few Nymphs and Satyrs will prevent Death Eaters from entering their lands and send them to the nearest outpost but will not fight themselves as they are a peaceful folk. They will offer their Healers to us should our own healers fail.'
'What do you reckon Apuli will do?' asked Molly.
Severus had heard of Apuli the Transylvanian vampire who overall leader of vampires worldwide. Dumbledore had sent him a letter requesting him to stay out of the war which so far he had done so. Severus had pointed out that it would be more advantageous to have the vampires on their side and not just sitting out of the war. Dumbledore and the majority of the Light refused to ally themselves with Dark creatures. Only Alastor had felt it would be a better strategy to have powerful vampire warriors allied to them. The wolf outright refused to be in the same room as a vampire. Severus and Alastor – for once in agreement with each other – hadn't agreed but couldn't convince Dumbledore to change his mind.
Lord Mac an Sagairt, 'the High Lord has already sent warriors to that alerted us to the Death Eater insurgents and picked them off from the outside. They are still guarding us as we talk. He may not wish to get involved in a British problem personally. However, the Greyback allied with the Dark Lord and the new Alliance of Beings may force his fangs.'
'Molly, you trained as a warrior in Alba Iulia,' Lord Mac an Sagairt. 'Make contact with Apuli and his clan to see what affect this second attack on our people due to the High Vampire's refusal to ally himself with a human Dark Lord who seeks to control us yields.'
'Yes, Father,' Molly said.
'Do we have any alliances on the international front?' asked a vampire with matted black hair.
Lord Mac an Sagarit nodded, 'yes, Gabriel, several vampire covens and Elvin clans have supported us especially those in France who do not want the war to spill over to their territory.'
There was more talk on what the current plan was before the Clan meet moved onto trade, feeding grounds, blood banks, money and other such things. Severus listened attentively wanting to know more about the civilisation and Clan he had just joined. However, it was Potter and a desire to meet him that dominated Severus' mind.