Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
And the chapter we’ve all be waiting for; Harry and Severus finally meet. Should I be worried that they’re meeting in chapter 13?
‘I am not going back out there!’ Severus said sharply.
‘You have to!’ Thiadred equally as sharp.
‘Oh, so you want a human dead!?’ demanded Severus.
‘You can’t just avoid humans forever!’ Thiadred said sharply. ‘You have to learn how to be able to be around humans without losing control and to be able to feed yourself! And I’m sure you want to do without accidentally killing your meal. Do you think we have unlimited supply of bottled blood? To get it someone has to Hunt and I'm sure you don't want to rely on others to feed you forever!’
‘It’s been three and a half weeks,’ Severus argued.
Thiadred laughed, ‘impatient aren’t you. Severus, you are not going to gain control overnight. It is going to take time, patience and exposure. The first year after I was turned I tore through half the country. It wasn’t until I ran stumbled across the Mac an Sagairt territory did I get the help and lessons in control I needed. After they almost killed me. It was only after Lord Mac and Sagairt realised I was an out of control fledgling rather than a enemy that he took me under his wing.’
‘Now back to meditating - it helps,’ ordered Thiadred.
That was when Severus heard a voice being cleared behind them. Severus twirled around to see the flaming red head of Ruaidri smiling at the two of them. Severus could just see the hint of a fang beneath bloodless lips. Severus was still trying to get used to seeing them.
‘Not interrupting am I,’ Ruaidri said but did not pose it as a question.
Thiadred laughed, ‘would you care if you were? And quite frankly I could use a break than this obstinate childe!’
That was another thing that Severus had to get used to besides the blood thirst, fangs, and being unable to see himself in the bloody mirror. The whole clan treated him like he would treat the more mature seventh years. Not that surprising given he was one of the youngest two in the coven and the other one had been a vampire all his life so had no issues with control.
Still Severus found it exceptionally frustrating to go from teacher to student especially when he struggled with his newfound powers and lusts so much. Hence, the reason for yet another argument over him not wanting to go out to hunt. He knew he needed to learn how to hunt effectively if he was ever going to be anything but a burden to them.
However, it was proving to be the most difficult thing that Severus had ever attempted to learn even learning Occlumency he had made more progress this far in. For Severus to restrain himself to just a pint from the individual. Every night Thiadred had to pull Severus off the poor soul he was feeding on before Severus killed them.
The first time that Severus had gone out with Thiadred he was queasy about the idea of feeding on a human being. Abstractly he knew that was where the blood in the bottles came from. And that if he ever wanted to be able to live independently he needed to know how to hunt and feed.
That was when he caught the scent of the first human being he had seen since being transformed. Severus had lost all sane thought and went on the hunt paralysing the young shop girl who had been on the way back home from the late shift. As soon as her delicious blood touched his lips he gained the young girl’s memory. Thiadred had pulled him off her healed her with his saliva, erased her memories and sent her on her way. Thiadred hadn’t looked shocked at the lack of control Severus had displayed but Severus was too busy feeling horrified at what he had almost done. He knew that had Thiadred not been there he would have killed the girl. It cemented in his mind that he could not go back to his students until he got control over his bloodlust.
‘Still struggling with the blood lust,’ Ruaidri said.
Snape scowled but didn’t say anything. Severus hated failing, being weak and out of control. Yet he felt he as though he was free now from both those who wished to be called his master. For the first time in his life he felt pity for what the wolf had to go through being a monster.
Lord Mac an Sagairt didn’t seem worried, ‘King Dlartanseer-Shadowmage has called a meeting. I want you to be there.’
Severus didn’t need to ask why the Head of the Coven wanted him there. Severus had been in Voldemort’s Inner Circle and privy to Dumbledore’s plans so naturally his information could be very useful for those who wished to overthrow the wizards. From what Thiadred and Conan had said that seemed to be the way that things were going.
Not that Severus could blame the non-human society at all. If you looked at the way that elves were enslaved, Dark creatures were discriminated against and outright killed if they were threatening enough to the wizards. The wizards had ruled long enough bringing only prejudice, discrimination and fear to their shores.
‘Yes, my Lord,’ bowed Severus.
Of course, Severus would have gone even if he did not agree with what Dlartanseer-Shadowmage wanted. Severus wanted to go to see for himself that Lily’s son was alive and well. Severus had believed he had failed Lily for seven years. To find out the boy was safe and protected took a load off his weary soul.
‘You will not reveal your past affiliations and knowledge until I volunteer the information,’ instructed Ruaidri.
Severus kept his neutral expression only due to years of dealings with both Dumbledore and Voldemort. Oh he knew why the vampire Lord wanted him to keep his secrets. Lord Mac an Sagairt wasn’t a hundred percent sure he wanted to commit to the alliance. He wanted to make sure that the Mac an Sagairt Coven was in a position of importance should either way.
‘Yes, my Lord,’ Severus said emotionlessly. ‘But won’t it be suspicious that you have brought me along?’
Ruaidri shook his head, ‘no. Others will have brought their consorts and heirs with them.’
Severus grimaced as he realised exactly what people would consider him as. After all, they would know that he was not Mac an Sagairt’s Heir as that was Molly the eldest of Ruaidri’s children. Severus did not like the idea of being considered as anyone’s consort.
‘Who else will be coming?’ asked Severus.
‘Molly, naturally, as my Heir, Thiadred, as my advisor, and Ragnailt who oversees my warriors,’ Lord Mac an Sagairt said calmly.
Severus nodded, ‘when will we leave?’
‘At dusk,’ Mac an Sagairt said calmly.
Severus glanced out of the windows to where only darkness reigned inside of the wards. Yet despite that Severus somehow knew that it was night now. One of the instincts that came with being a nocturnal creature of the night.
‘Thiadred make sure he is presentable,’ Mac an Sagairt said. ‘We’ll leave in half an hour.’
Sure enough half an hour later the five vampires convened in the Healer’s quarters all dressed in their finery. Severus was relieved to find that he was not the most richly dressed. Actually, he was probably the one with the cheapest and most demure clothing although that was not saying much considering what Molly Mac an Sagairt was wearing.
Lord Mac an Sagairt gave all three of them a once over before he nodded apparently satisfied. They then made their way to a large ornate white carriage emblazoned with the red crest of the Mac and Sagairt picturing three white lions. Severus wondered what Black and Potter would have said that Severus now wore a lion on his crest.
Ruaidri, Molly, Thiadred and Molly made their seats in the carriage whilst Ragnailt went to the front of the carriage where he would be directing the midnight Pegasi. Severus was quiet observing the three older vampires in their interactions. Severus wondered what it would be like to live for centuries and yet have centuries more to come. Severus, internally shivered, not liking that idea at all. Truthfully Severus had never expected nor wanted to survive the war but now it looked like he might just have an eternity.
About an hour later Severus felt the carriage jolt as they landed. Glancing out at the night outside Severus saw that they had landed in an empty field that had mud tracks that proved it had been used for landings before. Then they were off with Severus taking in the sights of the capital of Avalon.
Then they reached a bridge over a large lake was a beautiful palace made of white and gold that glowed in the night sky. Severus had gone to school and spent most of his adult life in a castle and was currently residing in a fortress. But this palace put them all to shame with its beauty. Ragnailt slowed down as they joined a queue of several other carriages who must also be here for the meeting.
A young male with elven features and dragon like wings directed them to where they could park and enter. Ragnailt nodded his thanks and did as instructed. The five of them then got out and followed the glowing pave stones into the palace. Ruaidri was at the front with his daughter to his right and Thiadred to his left. Severus was stood behind Thiadred with Ragnailt to his right as they entered the palace.
Severus entered the great hall of the palace to find a long corridor with floors made from rich mahogany wood. The ceiling was tall with beams arranged so they resembled flowers. There were large windows that in the day would bathe the whole room in light. Now, however, the light came from glowing silver orbs sat in the centre of the flower shapes on the ceiling turning the whole room silver.
‘Lord Ruaidri Mac an Sagairt with Heiress Margairt Mac an Sagairt, General Ragnailt, Advisor Thiadred the Bloodthirsty, and Master Severus Snape,’ an elf announced.
The five of them entered a large ballroom which had to be at least the size of the Hogwarts Quidditch pitch. The main floor was made of black marble which people were mingling and speaking at. There were tables covered in white cloth filled with food and drink to suit all the species that were present. At the other end of the room were a set of steps also made of marble this time white leading to the upper balcony. Each of the balcony alcoves had ornately carved stags’ heads so that they leaned over the main floor. Draped on the walls were banners alternating between royal blue banners with a golden stag’s head pride of place emerald green with silver Celtic ruins.
At the landing at the top of white marble steps stood a beautiful throne made of what appeared to be an oak stump. Only it had a back that was about six-foot-tall curling up carefully carved. There were runes in an alphabet Severus had never seen before carved all over the back. Standing just before it in animated conversation with a petite male whose head appeared to be on fire was the young Elven King himself. Haralith Dlartanseer-Shadowmage a.k.a. Harry James Potter. Lily Evans’ son whom had been missing all these years.
The Elven King was tall perhaps a few inches taller than Severus himself was. Like his father, he had thick, silky black hair but unlike Potter it fell half way down his back and a fringe that covered up his scar. The boy’s eyes were as piercing as his mother’s had been. He had aristocratic high slanted cheekbones and the tips of his pointed ears could be seen under his dark hair.
As soon as Severus saw him it felt to Severus like the whole world fell away. All that was left was the handsome elven king who was the most beautiful creature Severus had ever seen. Severus forget Thiadred behind him as he was drawn closer to the unearthly beauty before him.
‘Severus!’ said Ruaidri sharply.
Severus was pulled back to reality sharply. Severus blinked wondering what had come over him. However, he couldn’t help but notice that the young King was looking right at him. Severus felt a shiver run down his spine of pure delight.
XXXXX
‘Mine,’
Harry felt a jolt of pure elation rush through his bloodstream as he spoke to Lord Fen Sunfly. Suddenly the Sun Fay Lord’s issues with the Water Elven Clan whose territories overlapped seemed unimportant. All that Harry cared for was the burning in his blood.
Harry looked around desperately for the individual who was inspiring these terrible wonderful feelings. For Harry knew exactly what these feelings were. Harry’s Uncles had described the feelings of the Meeting to Harry so he would know what was happening when he finally met his True Mate.
Not that Harry had expected to meet his True Mate less than a month after his inheritance. Not when an elf could literally wait centuries to meet the partner of their Heart like his grandfather had. On the other hand, his parents had Met, Courted and Mated before they were out of their teens. Most like his Uncles took a few decades to find their Mate.
No one knew how the phenomena of Mates worked although for Elves at least Bonding to your mate stabilised their naturally chaotic magic. It was even less known why some would find their mates quickly and others it would take several human lifetimes to do so. Most cultures whom had True Mates attributed it to the Gods or the Fates deciding when it was needed.
That was believed to be the reason why even a Seer as powerful as Harry could See their Mates before they had Mated. It was so that a particularly powerful Seer could not See their mate before it was time. Harry had been worried as he had struggled to see anything beyond the vampire’s arrival. Harry was relieved to find out that it was because his Mate was here not because his powers had been bound by someone.
‘Mine,’ Harry’s mind whispered again.
Harry had finally located the man his Mate must be who was staring at him. He was tall – six foot one to Harry’s six foot three. He had silky black hair that fell around chin length. He had the blackest eyes Harry had ever seen which contrasted with his deathly pale skin. He was dressed in glossy black robes that seemed to bring out the colours in his eyes. He was absolutely gorgeous and all his.
‘Lord Sunfly,’ Harry said politely as possible. ‘I shall speak to Queen Boldwater.’
Harry was about to make his excuses when a chime signalled midnight meaning that the meeting was set to start at. Harry held back a sight at having the chance to talk to his Mate denied him. Yet he was the King so needed to put the needs of his people before his own.
Harry stood up, ‘if you would all make your way up to the council chambers.’
Harry waited until the room had been cleared before joining them in the council chambers. Harry found his seat at the head of the table which was naturally where the biggest seat was. More of a throne than a seat really.
Harry located his vampire easily who was standing behind General Ragnailt of the Mac an Sagairt Clan’s seat at the bottom half of the table. As soon as Harry entered the room the vampire’s eyes snapped to his. Harry momentarily forgot to breathe as he fought his way through his powerful, almost overpowering instincts.
‘I thank you for all coming,’ Harry said making sure to look at everyone individually. ‘We have all experienced the cruelties of humans for too long. So I say no more! No longer shall we suffer the indignities they force on us! No longer shall we fear for our children! No longer shall we watch as those we love are taken from us!
‘The so called Mistry of Magic is now weaker than they have ever been. Destroyed internally by fools, bigots, corruption and externally by a civil war. The people have little trust in those who lead them. It will only take one more push for the Ministry to collapse completely.
‘And when it does. It will be us who take it over. It will be us who decide the new laws. It will be us who make it fair for all those who reside in Britain. Not just the foolish humans who believe they stand above us all!’ Harry said passionately.
‘Yet it was you who attempted an alliance with said fools,’ a Revitalised said.
Harry knew that she had been hunted by humans since the day that she had consumed the soul of her husband. She had finally found safety but had become very bitter to all but especially humans. Harry was actually surprised to see her here as she tended to be more than a bit of a recluse.
‘Indeed,’ Harry admitted. ‘I proposed a truce amongst the Wizarding factions in order to get them to hand over at least some of my people. Yet I knew that they would never keep up their side of the bargain so I was able to free my people without binding myself to the humans would use me and throw me aside at a drop of a hat.'
'And it worked,' Lord Adwraek said black eyes burning. 'My twin sister has been returned to us after almost a century of being enslaved.'
‘Not only that but I have caused enough of a scene to gain public sympathy for our plight. As well as offering them aid in dealing with a monster that is destroying everything they love. The ones responsible for me not following through in the side of the bargain are the fools that have managed to get into power.
‘When the time comes to rebuild the Ministry of Magic from scratch they will remember that. They will remember that I was the one who saved them. That I am not there to oppress them as the Dark Lord. Not there to lie and gain power for myself as their current administration is doing. But am there to make the world a better place for everyone!’
‘And how does that help the rest of us?’ asked Darkback but he did not seem angry. ‘The humans will still view the rest of us as monsters.’
‘Do you really think I’d create new laws that continued to condemn other races?’ asked Harry softly. ‘And if you were seen to be aiding us and stopping the Mutt from attacking any more children it would change the perceptions of some. Changing the laws is one thing but changing the perceptions of humans is what will take time.’
‘So how when are we going to take over the Ministry of Magic?’ asked the French Light Elven King.
‘We are not,’ Harry said softly.
Almost immediately there was public uproar at this. They had believed that finally they would be able to beat the humans into submission. Now Harry had effectively removed that hope from them. Harry held a hand up and waited for silence to return.
‘To take the Ministry at this point would be easy,’ Harry said softly. ‘To destroy the Dark Lord Voldemort too would be simple. To hold the Ministry and all those wizards and witches that would be impossible for we would be see as oppressors and as history has shown us time and time again that people do not like to be oppressed. That one day – maybe in one year, maybe in a thousand someone will rise who will defeat and oppress us.
‘It is a revolving circle of violence, hatred, blood and death. The only way to end this once and for all is for us not to invade and take over the Ministry of Magic. No we wait until the Ministry falls to the Dark Lord Voldemort because it will fall that has been Seen.
‘Then when the plight of the humans is too much we come that is when save them from their own race despite everything they have taken from us. We won’t be seen as oppressors but liberators – heroes. We will then rewrite the laws that make it fair not just for us but the humans too for that is the only way that we all can live in harmony.
‘The Ministry of Magic will be once again there for all magical beings not just the humans. The Wizengamot will be disbanded and the Council of Magic will be reinstated with a representative from each of the races that call Britain home including humans. The laws enacted will be for the good of all not just one race.’
‘So we’re just going to wait?’ growled out King Fireshield of the fire elves the dark grey smoke as hair getting thicker. ‘Our children are being taken! Abused! Raped! You may have freed a good deal of them but as long as there is even one elf enslaved we should be fighting!’
Harry wanted to roll his eyes at the lot of them. He was the youngest person in the room. Yet it was he who had to solve the human problem. It was he who had to make plans and follow them through. They may complain that he was just sitting around and waiting but what had they done for the past four hundred years other than argue amongst themselves!
‘I said that we would not be taking the Ministry of Magic,’ Harry said quietly but firmly. ‘I said that we would not be doing anything obvious. I said we would be patient and smart with how we play this. However, I said nothing about just waiting and doing nothing!
‘I said that at this point the Ministry of Magic is primed for falling to the Dark Lord! However, it still stands despite this. Do you know who is the one person standing between Voldemort and the ultimate collapse of the current regime?’
‘Albus Dumbledore,’ Harry said quietly.
There were mutterings around the room at this. And for good reason. Albus Dumbledore had betrayed more than one of them. Unlike the Ministry or Voldemort who were pretty upfront with their feelings Dumbledore pretended to side with them. Pretended to want to help them as long as they were useful. But as soon as they outlived their usefulness he tossed them into the gutter and put into place harsh laws that he had obviously spent years making.
‘As long as Albus Dumbledore is around the Ministry will not fall,’ Harry said quietly. ‘But take Dumbledore away and the Wizarding World shall fall in a matter of weeks.’
‘So we are to kill Albus Dumbledore,’ Darkback said.
‘No,’ Harry said sharply. ‘No Being can be seen to have anything to do with Dumbledore’s death. No it must be at the hands of humans. We will just help.’
Harry watched as his Mate murmured something into the ear of Lord Mac an Sagairt. The Vampire Lord had been quiet over the meeting. Not that was unusual for Mac an Sagairt who had a habit of observing before he decided whether or not commit to them.
‘This is Master Severus Snape previously Professor of Potions at Hogwarts,’ Ruaidri replied. ‘He was a spy in both the Dark Lord and Dumbledore’s camps until we turned him.’
Harry drank in the new information about his mate. He must be intelligent to have gained a Mastery and Professorship even if it was at Hogwarts. Brave and clever enough to lie to a Dark Lord’s face. Able to withstand the pressures placed on him by two masters.
‘How can he be trusted!?’ demanded Darkback with a sneer.
Harry’s eyes flashed fury building at the werewolf who had just insulted his mate. Harry so wanted to challenge him right there for the comment. However, he knew that it would help nothing if he attacked. No he had to calmly and rationally respond to the fair comment on how you could trust someone who had been trusted by Dumbledore and the Dark Lord.
‘Lord Mac an Sagairt would not have let anyone into the clan who would betray them,’ Harry said calmly. ‘Now what information is it do you have?’
‘The Dark Lord has ordered Draco Malfoy to kill Albus Dumbledore,’ Severus said an angry, protective look appearing on his face.
‘Draco Malfoy?’ asked Harry.
Anger burning in his gut as he realised who Severus was referring to him. After finding who had hurt Draug so terribly he had found out everything he could about the Malfoy family. He knew that Draco Malfoy was the fifteen-year-old heir to the Malfoy fortune. Still a boy who had yet to sit his OWLs was not the natural choice of assassin for one of the most powerful wizards in the world. Unless he had some rather astonishing powers not known to the rest of the world.
‘I wouldn’t have thought a fifteen-year-old human would be able to kill Albus Dumbledore,’ Harry mused.
‘The Dark Lord expects Draco to fail,’ Severus said.
‘Ah a decoy,’ Harry understood.
Severus nodded his head, ‘yes but also I think its to remind Lucius who his Master is.’
‘Who did he expect to actually complete the task?’ asked Harry.
‘Me,’ Severus said.
‘You must be very powerful,’ Harry said causing his mate to preen. ‘And now that’s no longer an option? Are there any loyal Death Eaters in the school?’
‘None above the age of seventeen,’ Severus said. ‘However, there are now two positions open so he could sneak one in.’
Harry felt very satisfied at this knowledge, ‘and if he can’t.’
‘Then it will fall on Draco – to succeed, die trying or he and his family pay the price of his failure,’ Severus said.
Oh, no that wouldn’t do at all Harry thought. The Malfoy family were his! No human Dark Lord would get the privilege of torturing them exactly how they had tortured his little brother. No that honour fell to Harry – and his Uncles if they so wished to join in.
‘Would Draco necessarily know that the Dark Lord had sent someone else to aid him in his task?’ asked Harry quietly.
Understanding flickered in black eyes, ‘not if the Dark Lord did not wish him to.’
‘That means that we can sneak someone in to aid the Malfoy boy and do the job if the Malfoy boy cannot do so,’ Harry said satisfied.
‘Who would you send?’ asked King Fireshield.
‘We would need someone we could trust. Someone who could pass for as a human. Someone who has human records of some kind or the other. Someone who has experience enough to teach either Potions or Defensive magic,’ Harry said quietly.
Harry smiled when he realised he had someone in mind. A child of both worlds who was half human and half Light Elf. He was a Magizooligist by trade but had plenty of experience in Potions for healing and caring for them. He was deemed eccentric by humans because he could see more than any human hoped to see. Yet, he let them think of him as nought but an oddity because no one felt the need to look beneath the surface.
‘I think I have just the man,’
Happy Christmas