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Chapter Text

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was emptying of her students, the last few stragglers not already home for summer, with The Golden Trio being the most notable amongst this group staying till the very last moment; the train would be unusually empty as over half of each house had already been brought home through Apparition by a parent or allowed to Floo home by their Head of House. This breach of tradition resulted from losing parents’ trust in keeping their children safe, but how could they not? When faced with direct proof in something as searingly obvious as an invasion by Death Eaters out to kill Albus Dumbledore, and even worse, the esteemed Headmaster had left the School and only arrived after Teachers and House Elves had already driven out the criminals, who quickly realized their target was missing. Harry then delivered the Headmaster to the infirmary before going missing for the next 24 hours, though only his close friends noticed amongst the chaos of scared parents converging on the castle. He returned quietly and refused to answer any questions, but that was nothing new; he had always been very good at avoidance.

All remaining students boarded the train and found compartments at the farthest back. Hermione was leading the way; both males knew she wanted to talk about something she had been working on for weeks, or had it been months? Harry followed his two best friends, sitting with a sigh, mentally preparing to survive several hours confined with a pair of pining friends riling up his senses: sitting close to the door would let him run out quickly! He sank into the seat and leaned back, his eyes closed, waiting for the train to leave. Another year of secrets successfully kept, but how long could he keep this up?

“So, what’s this idea of yours? I’ve watched that file grow larger with dread. If it's another All-Year Study plan, I might throw you out the window right now.” He snorted in amusement at Ron’s jibe, knowing without looking that Hermione was blushing even as she chuckled along. He took a glance at the folder in her lap; damn, that was thick!

“You brat! No, it's not a study plan. This is much more important than education.” He straightened to study her. Her tone had been serious, and Ron was staring open-mouthed with an accusing finger pointing at her.

“Who are you?! Where is the Hermione Granger that thinks death is preferable to expulsion??!” Harry couldn’t help agreeing, but her determined expression held his chuckles back. “Seriously? What could be more important than that to you?”

“Survival of my family and friends and saving students from the Dark.” Neither had a comeback for that. “Good grades won’t matter if we’re dead... if everyone we know goes Dark or dies, we won’t have a future to work and be happy in.”

“Yeah, well, we know that, I just never expected you to say it first.” He held back a chuckle at Ron’s unapologetic shoulder shrug, and Hermione answered with a halfhearted kick to the shin, which landed just short. “So, if it's not a torture plan of studying in that...” He shuddered at the mere thought of such an idea from her, hand waving toward the 2-inch-thick folder in colorful plastic. She opened it, fished out two pages of white printer paper, and handed them one each. “Whaa... A Courting Service focusing on evolving a deep and life-lasting connection...? What is this?” Harry read further silently with half an ear on her answer.

“We need to unite the students and give them something to fight for, and the Headmaster always preaches Love as a powerful incentive, so we take him at his word and create a haven for everyone to bond outside of houses and affiliations. Of course, to make the Snakes partake, we would have to hide who runs it, since they would never pay the Golden Trio to find love.” He glanced at her as he turned the paper to see a table of prices and meeting types. “My parents helped me research prices...”

“So what? You want to open a dating shop in school? I can see it working on the Badgers and maybe Lions, but what about the other two? Why should they? It's not for knowledge nor power?” This time her kick landed hard, and he shouted in pain and rubbed the spot with a grimace. Such an accurate kick, even without looking at Ron! “Damn woman! That’ll bruise...” Hermione pierced Harry with an intense gaze.

“You will survive.... Harry? You understand, right?” He understood her change of mind, as finding love in any shape or form was precious and to be protected; family, friend, or life-partner were well worth fighting for. “It’s even a valid career after school. We could expand outside Britain for a broader client base, and trial-running it on students would be perfect for working out all the kinks. Just imagine how it could change everything!” The idea had merit; he would give her that much, but how could they hide their identity? Even if they wore glamours, their absence from lessons and the Great Hall would be noticed within a week. After all, TimeTurners didn’t just fall from the sky. 

“I imagine you have a plan for our absence when working? I fail to see how we won’t be connected to it.”

“We each hire a house elf that poses as us through the day. I asked Dobby if it could be done, and he assured me no one will know the difference as long as they are bonded with us.” Ron gave a cheerful ‘wicked’ at the thought of skipping lessons. “I’m sure Teachers will let the elf take detailed notes for our self-study, but might make us take a weekly or monthly test. So, what do you say?” She blushed as Ron praised her to the high heavens. “You’ll still have to study, Ron, you just won’t have to sit in a classroom all day!”

“Like you said: grades won’t matter and we can always retake them later at the Ministry...” Ron eeped when she gripped his ankle and dragged him close enough to grasp his shirt. “What now?!”

“What do you mean we can retake them at the Ministry!” She had him nose to nose, and he was going cross-eyed trying to look at her fuming expression. “Why wasn’t I told that?” Ron shrugged his shoulders helplessly. “So what? You just take the NEWTs whenever you like after OWLs? I would have speed run the years had I known!”

“Maybe that’s why.” She turned to him with a glare, Harry’s matter-of-fact tone irking her, but his smirk halted her tirade. “McGonagall probably didn’t mention it, too scared you would run yourself into an early grave trying to pass both OWLs and NEWTs 5th year: remember our 3rd year?” Ron was shoved away as he started laughing at her deep blush. “We can have the elves attend lessons in our stead, but I think we should unofficially drop out. We’ll study the material for classes, but I don’t want to bother with tests and grades if I can take one final at the Ministry after the war; we passed our OWLs, so they can’t take our wands, and I’m the last to turn 17 in a few weeks anyway.” Ron nodded in agreement from the floor, where he landed at her push, not that he looked uncomfortable with his arms behind his head and ankles crossed.

“I might have suggested it had I known when I planned it... But you are right. We should focus on the shop. To do that, we need to create a new identity... here.” She handed them another paper from the folder. “It's a citizenship form for ICW. We should fill these out and memorize them as preparation for casual questions, and my parents have added a list of what features we each need to change so we don’t forget a mole or such, there is room to add other identifying marks.” 

“Just how long have you been planning this? This is brilliant!”

“I first had the idea at Christmas, supposedly the season of love, but I saw zero. I asked around a bit, and I found almost everyone was single or arranged by their parents. The house rivalry certainly isn’t doing it any favors, but with the war, everyone is too scared, and if this continues just a few generations more, there won’t be enough students to fill each house each year; we’ve been in a decline since the First War with Grindelwald.” At their dubious expression, she gave him the numbers on black and white and turned to Ron for a visual answer. “Have you ever thought about why so many rooms stand empty?” Ron shook his head but gained a wondering expression while getting up from the floor. “Classes were cut when there weren’t enough students interested in filling them, teachers were let go, and rooms were abandoned, all because of war, leaving them too scared even to attempt.” Ron sat and put his arm around her shoulders, kissing the top of her head in support, looking excited at the prospect of skipping classes.

"Even I find that sad.” They shared a soft chuckle. “I’m sure it will work out; it's your plan after all.” Hermione cuddled closer to Ron. Her cheeks were stained with a blush. He didn’t need superpowers to see that she was incredibly pleased to be praised by Ron like that. He studied the paper, showing a yearly decrease in student intake since World War 2; this was serious! He looked to his friends as the air slowly got heavy with pheromones, Hermione had laid down with her head resting in Ron’s lap and facing his way - on her back - but the cause were the lack of a robe covering her front: the white cotton bottom-down shirt left nothing to imagination - no bra - with her arm slung over herself tugging down the fabric. Harry leaned back with a grimace. 

‘Here we fucking go again! At school, I could at least overlook it!’ He tried to distract himself by counting the knots in the interior wood paneling, taking only 15 minutes for his sharp eyes, leaving him to the pure torture of observing Ron struggle with himself while Hermione had fallen asleep. ‘Kiss already! Months of this and I’ve done just about everything except locking you in a bloody broom cupboard... wait a second... is she?’ He studied Hermione intently and found her mouth curling into a small secretively and knowing smirk, Ron was too busy trying to avoid ogling her body and keep control of his own to notice, he kept studying them and almost groaned when she began to take calm but deep breathes; hypnotically lifting her torso and breasts. ‘Oh, that little faker! She’s riling him up on purpose! You asked for it, Mei.’ He relaxed back, as if falling asleep too, and concentrated while inching his foot as close to Ron’s as possible without looking awkward; Ron wouldn’t need much, so not touching was perfect. Mentally reaching out, he projected his shadow to stretch out and connect to Ron’s with the barest of a needle thread. Still, the reaction was almost instantaneous as Ron gave a relaxed sigh, a confident smile, and looked down at her, his smile slowly morphing into a mischievous smirk. He silently cheered as Ron curled his back while gently lifting her, forcing him to stretch a bit more to stay connected, and once the angle was right, if uncomfortable, Ron gently kissed her waiting lips. Wanting a bit of payback for months of torture, he pulled away with a snap, which left Ron to deal with his returning self-doubt. He almost laughed out loud when Ron froze up, not even pulling away, and Hermione finally gave up faking sleep and broke the kiss with a loving smile.

“Took you long enough...” Ron blushed at her teasing tone and was about to pull back when her arm flew up to his neck. “Who said we were done? I’ve waited a whole year for this.”

“Huh!” Ron glanced at him and deemed him sleeping before focusing back on her and whispered. “What do you me...umph!” He almost laughed at Ron’s shocked expression as she pulled her new boyfriend in for a heated kiss, and now he was cursing the situation anew at the low moans coming from them; his jeans started to feel tight quickly. “Mia! We can’t. What about...” 

“He’s sleeping, right?”

“But what if he wakes up?” They tried so hard to be quiet that he nearly snorted at that uselessness; he would hear it no matter what, and he heard her move around. “What are....what if someone comes in?!” 

“I’ve locked the door and I have a year’s worth of fantasies to try...” He silently echoed Ron's groan. “He can always join in if he wakes up.” The only answer was another muffled eep as she pushed Ron flat into the seat and straddled her blushing boyfriend. He peeked at them and instantly cursed the bad decision as the sight only made his jeans tighter, sure to be visible if they bothered to look his way, and his mind suddenly caught up with her second comment; did he hear her right? “You wouldn’t mind that, right? I’ve seen you looking...” He held his breath, he needed to listen to what Ron thought, but he was barely hanging on to his control at this point and he couldn’t even pretend to wake up to leave; nothing took down her locking spells and if he used his abilities he wouldn’t be able to avoid explaining like before. 

“No, but I don’t see it ever happening. Has he even kissed a girl?” That brat! Of course he had! “I can’t see his relatives giving him a normal Talk, certainly not the Gay or Bi one...” Well, he wasn’t wrong there. “... and he never joins in when we talk girls.” That was because it involved his secret! “It sure would make us a Golden Trio...” Fuck, he needed to get out! 

“Let's see if we can’t wake him, shall we?” She didn’t wait for an answer and attacked Ron’s neck with kisses, knowing from gossip he had a bit of a bite fetish, she began nibbling gently until Ron was straining to keep moans back. He mentally banged his head into the wall behind him as it would be impossible to join them without letting on his secret; he might have perfect control in daily life, but not with sex involved! Another reason for not fooling around while at school!

“N-Not that Sp-spot... Ah!” She ignored the protest and bid into the crook of the neck again. “Pl-plea...se! Ahh!” He knew he could pretend to wake up based on the noise level she managed to drag from Ron, but he knew the possibility of hiding certain things, if he joined in, was zero. “Mia..!” Did Ron just growl?! 

‘This can’t be happening....I’ll just say I was exhausted, dead asleep, never heard or saw a thing... they’ll believe that, yes. I just need to shut off everything and stay still until we reach London! Think about the Pink Toad naked....eww...!' At least it did the trick for now, and he could focus on - or tried to - making himself go deaf and without a sense of smell. ‘Just ignore everything... We really ought to invent a scent blocker.’ Later on he would examine this very moment and wonder how he succeeded to block out everything to a point of not noticing Hermione moving, he snapped out of his fake slumber when she straddled his lap in one smooth move and rested her hands on each side of his head; effectively trapping him in her arm span. He met her eyes, speechless at the knowing smile she gave him. It was too late to hide the hardness pressing into her, so he focused on holding back with everything he had; Houston, we have a problem!

“How long do you plan on faking sleep? I know when you’re sleeping or not...” This was true as he usually slept on the common room couch at her side. She did not know it was his only sleep, but he trusted her to keep him safe. He tried to press further back into the seat as she leaned closer, grinding her hips ever so slightly, and whispered into his ear; lust and pheromones overwhelmed his nostrils and restrained him better than any rope would have. “.... You have been looking even more than Ron...” It nearly became his undoing when she licked down his ear. “... seems like we want each other. Why are you holding back even now?” 

“Mei... I-I’m trying to...keep you safe...” He sounded out of breath, and he might as well have been, as her grinding hips and pheromones shut off his brain functions. He knew his eyes, most likely, weren’t green anymore, and he fought his slipping control from total breakdown. 

“We are safe as long as we are together, but secrets are the true danger.” He hugged her to his chest, stopping her from looking at him, and she melted into the hug, but it also put her neck much too close for reach. “6 years is a long time to keep secrets, Harry. Yes, we know there is something you aren’t sharing, and it was perfectly fine in the beginning, but we are at war now...” Here she hugged and kissed his neck, assuring him she wasn’t blaming him. “... Are you sure we can’t help carry this one? Just let it out...” He responded almost on reflex, and the next second her arms were pinned behind her back, and his free hand took hold of her braid, guiding her head gently to the side; his mouth and tongue found her neck, and both gave a low moan at first contact.

“Gomen.” He didn’t give her time to question him, and with a sigh, he let go of the last of his control and bit into her vein of calling blood. She gave a hiccup of surprise. Still, it quickly morphed into a drawn-out moan as she rode him with grinding hips. He peered at Ron from the corner of his eye and found him staring open-mouthed.

“That’s your secret?! You’re a Vampire!” He retracted his fangs and licked the wound, finally tasting a drop before the wound closed, eyes scanning his friend for any clue on his feelings; shock and surprise not saying much on their own. “Why would you hide that happening? We would have supported you...”

“Ron, think for a moment. It didn’t happen while at school; he never went through any big changes in habits or personality; this happened before our First Year. He hid it to use against Riddle, right, Harry?” Her statement had him let go of her arms, and she quickly straightened to look at him, and he nodded in answer. “We would have noticed sooner or later.... can I see them?” Her eager expression at something new made him smile gently, but instead of showing, he guided her to kiss him, and it didn’t take her long to explore; he slowly unsheathed them, and her searching tongue began mapping their shape and length.

“Fuck...that’s hot.” Hermione moaned in agreement and pulled back to have a visual look to compare to her feeling of them; they grew out over his regular teeth, molding around his incisors to create the elongated fangs, and it was possible to hide with closed lips. This was when she noticed the blood red eyes glowing at her in the dimly lit room.

“Now that I didn’t expect...” Her puzzled expression of confusion had him chuckling. “It’s not in any book I’ve read.”

“The Ministry lives to misinform, so what can you do?” He shrugged his shoulders, not caring. “I was turned when I was 5 years old with the offer to help me prepare for Riddle and surviving. Would you have refused?” Hermione shook her head at once, something he noted for later examination, while Ron shrugged a shoulder uncertainly. “You have a loving family, Ron. I lived in the forest behind the house until it got too cold. Full time once I was no longer human: it was a much better deal than I already had.” Ron relaxed with a smile. “My Sire has been under punishment since I began school, as turning me at that age is forbidden, but also because the Queen declared Riddle a criminal against Lady Magic back in the First War.” This had the sole Pureblood in the room turn white as a ghost with fear, even worse than facing a spider, and Harry nudged Hermione to look at their friend, wanting her to understand how big of a deal that was to magic users.

“Crimes against Lady Magic herself are near legends, but when it happens, it's obliteration for the one who abused magic. How is he even alive right now?!”

“He split his soul for a fleeting sense of immortality. Ginny was possessed by a mere sliver in Second Year, mostly unhurt while the main piece possessed our DADA teacher in First... it was also the main that was resurrected.” He was elated to finally tell Ron just what had affected his sister back then, maybe now she would be checked for leftover traces, which Dumbledore had waved off as unimportant compared to keeping the soul-thing a secret; if only he knew.

“Are you sure you should share all this? We won’t tell anyone, goes without saying, but that doesn’t mean we can keep it safe, right? Professor Snape regularly scans surface thoughts, and the Headmaster usually brushes against memories unconsciously at the barest eye contact. I’ve been training since you began with Professor Snape, but I can only track when others are there; I have zero defenses.” She crawled off his lap onto the seat beside him, observing with fascination as nails and fangs retracted and red bled away to green in one smooth transition. 

“Could you see yourself wanting to become a vampire in the future? Think carefully.” Hermione did the fastest mental calculation; he could almost see the numbers shine in her eyes, and gave him a solemn nod. “I thought you might. Think of the time to gain knowledge, it would give, right?” She blushed at being caught red-handed but didn’t complain at their chuckling. Harry checked the time before taking off a charm from a chain around his neck, and it turned into a Moleskin pouch. “This is for life once signed and the normal way to join the Coven...” He gave a scroll to her and turned to Ron with searching eyes. “You can sign this without ever being a vampire.” Ron relaxed at not having to answer right now and accepted another scroll. “You would enter the biggest Coven in Japan through me, a General of the Queen's bodyguard squad. This contract will protect the Coven’s secrets, but shields your mind from any interferences.” He fell silent and let them discuss, answering questions here and there.

                                                                                                                             Blood Donor Agreement

Horuda (Holder) 

General Harry Crow (alias Harry James Potter), of Queen Rinshi’s Coven Shinano, Japan.

AND

Dona (Donor) 

Miss Hermione Jane Granger, Muggle-born witch, of London, England. 

1. Definitions

1.1 Horuda (Holder)- The named vampire within the contract. 

1.3 Dona (Donor) - The named Human within the contract. 

1.4 Transformation - The process of a human being changed via Bite into a vampire. 

1.5 Upkeep refers to the Donor’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being. 

1.6 Siren Song refers to the possible intoxicating effect of human blood on a vampire.

1.7 One (1) Year is calculated from the date of signature and the next 12 aligning moons forward.

      2. Breach of Contract 

2.1 Shall the Horuda breach the contract by physical, mental, emotional, or financial abuse 

The Horuda will be required to;

Release the Dona 

Pay out the remaining balance of the Dona home

Sign the home over to the Dona

Face imprisonment 

2.1.1 Shall the Dona breach the contract by withholding blood for an extended period of time, or misrepresenting their health. 

The Dona will face: 

Be imprisoned for the remainder of the contract length left, unless the return of fulfilling duties willingly commences once more

One(1) standard unit of blood will be drawn daily, if necessary, via force

Return of the house in full with back payment for the time used

Have their memories of their time in the Coven wiped at the end of their contract date.

2.2 Shall the contract be breached by;

Transformation - The house deed will be transferred to the Dona, free of clauses and debts. 

Death of Dona - All monies, properties, and donated blood are granted to the Horuda. 

Death of Horuda - Contract will be voided through No-Fault Clause & Dona is offered a Bite or have their memories Locked Away and return to their previous life

The house shall be given to the Dona free of debt

        3.0 Final Provisions 

3.1 The Dona will have 30 days prior to the contract expiring to decide whether to;

Continue the contract or End the contract

Accept a Transformation, through Bite alone or Ritual 

3.2 The Dona has a Six (6) hour cool-down period prior to the contract becoming binding. 

3.3 Should the Dona burn the contract, all the knowledge of;

The Coven 

The Contract 

The Horuda

Shall be Locked Away inside the Dona's mind and can never be spoken of again

3.4 Upon the Contract becoming binding, it shall;

Multiply itself into:

The Royal Contract Vault

The Horuda Vault, which should offer a copy to Dona

By signing below, you agree to the Blood Donor Agreement in its entirety. 

So Agree: HC                                    &  HJG 

Chapter Text

He implored his friends to talk about it with no one and answered honestly when Ron asked what would happen if they didn’t sign: their memories would be replaced with a boring train ride, his secret was that important, but he explained that typically, the knowledge was only locked away from sharing with others. He shadowed out, leaving them to talk it through, and reappeared inside his shelter in the forest behind the Dursley residence within seconds. Crude and small looking on the outside, nothing more than a child’s attempt at hiding from rain, logs and large branches created the support for smaller and leafy branches, and he had lined the ‘roof’ with moss mats. Crawling inside was like going through a portal as the space didn’t match the structure: it contained a bed lining the back wall with a desk pushed up the free side, at the end of the bed stood an old, worn-looking chest with vampire supplies. Everything looked in order and undisturbed, as expected, considering the Goblin Ward placed here letting muggles see the shelter as a child's Play Fort and leave it alone with a smile. He set to work and shrank everything before moving it to the chest, which was shrunk and pocketed. He then set about breaking the ward and enchantments, and with the barest push, the wood disintegrated: held together by magic alone all these years. Finally free from this hellish pretending. 

Entering the garden through the hedge, he was pleasantly surprised to find the house empty, with no car in the driveway. This was perfect! Taking a shadow shortcut, he could not be bothered with the locked front door; he landed in the kitchen. He was met with a mess: it would seem that Petunia had been in a baking rush, and the rest of the house was a repeat of the kitchen, with clothes and accessories thrown on the bed. He figured Vernon had come home with an early lunch slash dinner invitation with some big shot client. Wouldn’t be the first time, after all. He moved through the house, cleaning and tidying up anything he came across while enjoying loud music on the stereo - muggle singers had no match for their ability to express feelings. Once he finished the house chores, he walked into the living room and began practicing his routine. Losing himself to the precise movement and breathing, his attention was consumed fully in this rare moment of meditation and solitude. It might help explain how, despite sharp hearing, Dudley's return went unnoticed by the young vampire cycling through one set to another with fluent movements. 

Dudley stood frozen in the doorway, his pants tightening and pupils dilated, hungrily taking in the sight of Harry’s bared torso covered in a sheen of sweat and straining muscles despite the slowness of his dance. He felt his body heat up with responding lust and determination. This would be the summer he got his second neck bite from this incredible vampire, which was still the best orgasm he ever had, and waiting 2 years was long enough! He had worked hard to improve himself; his boxing at school certainly helped; it had taken all his willpower to keep up his program. Harry had told him it would make it taste better in response to his first bite from his cousin. That time, he had asked for a mouthful, and Dudley had given in without a fight. Why the hell not? He had several friends who would have taken his spot in seconds: vampires are real, and he knew one! Thanks to that day, the summer after Harry’s 4th year, Dudley was now fit and a bit of a catch around town and had turned away his fair share of girls. They didn’t do it for him anymore; he needed pecks and muscles with expressive eyes alighting the very soul... wow, that sounded cheesy even to him! He was so screwed... 

xxXxx Incestuous grouping Scene xxXxx

“Dudley?!” Harry lost his balance and almost tripped face-first onto the couch, catching himself on his knee and hands. He rubbed his bruised knee while looking over his shoulder at his cousin. “When did you become so silent... Kuso!” He was about to stand up when Dudley moved with surprising speed to his side, but not with a supporting hand: quite the opposite. “Knock it off! Dudley, what... ugn!” He was now pinned down into the couch edge, Dudley molded to his frame with his bulging arms around his torso, one hand guided his mouth to Dudley’s neck while the other appraised the available skin. “Fuck...! Don’t..” It was insane and addictive how willingly the blood called to him, a tone of longing and anguish notable, and it took everything in him not to tear into the vein.

“Just give in, little cousin... I’ve made such an effort, the least you could do is have a taste, right?” Harry groaned, the last of his resolve slipping quickly, Dudley’s exploring hand palmed him, and he leered triumphantly at the proof. “It’s clear you want to...” That was it!

“Baka!” Faster than Dudley’s Muggle mind could follow, he was now the one restrained firmly against the couch, and no amount of struggling would get him free. “You play with fire, D...” He licked Dudley’s earlobe but stopped when he reached the pulsing neck. “Such a curious mix of pain and pleasure you want...ha~a?” He bit down without fangs, smirking into the bite at Dudley’s complaining moan, he allowed the tips to prick first for a moment before growing fully in a instant: Dudley screamed into Harry’s hand covering his mouth, the pain of the dry bite drowning in the pleasure essence leaking from his fangs still buried deep, he retracted them to talk and made Dudley groan out. 

“Harry! Stop teasing!” He didn’t, yet. He gave another dry but slow bite, his free hand roaming down to the twisting member seeking relief, and took it in his cool hand. “Nnaarrhg!” 

“I wanna taste you.. Come for me.” Dudley buckled into the jerking hand with a low moan, loving the coolness on his heated member, and the second before release, Harry sank into the vein with a groan. At the same time, Dudley gave another scream and pumped his hips when Harry sucked a delicious mouthful of sweet nectar.

xxXxx End of Scene xxXxx

He pulled away abruptly, surprised he had been about to keep on drinking, and took several steps back; this had been a bad idea! “That was your last freebie, you hear!” Since he was a Muggle, the rule was three complimentary neck bites, but any further, he took a contract of 30 years of blood donation to the Coven, which was very different from Ron and Hermione’s terms.

“I know...” Dudley would never be called feminine, lean, or slim. He was bulky with muscles and largely framed, but as he sat there, spent, he was rather cute. “Would it be so bad?” In a true girl move, Dudley glanced at his cousin through his lashes shyly, face still flushed from his release, and Harry had to admit, the vampire in him wanted to claim this delicious treat as his own.

“Go to that festival I told you about! Find someone else!” This was just not his day. “The bite is the same for fuck sake!”

“No, it's not!” Dudley was standing now, glaring at Harry with eyes full of frustration. “I tried!” Harry’s eyes zoomed in on bare arms, and felt rage rise as he saw faint scars on his wrists: why hadn’t they been healed?! “It wasn’t you!” Dudley blushed but held his ground; he said it, and no way in hell would he take it back now. Harry’s rage vanished at the proclamation and was replaced with sadness.

“Dudley, it wouldn’t work! You would be in danger daily as a mere muggle in the Pleasure District, they will scorn you for not having magic... do you want that?” He sounded just like Malfoy, but Dudley didn’t care about his warnings, crossed his arms, and tensely answered.

“Yes! I would be with you..!” Dudley fell silent as Harry drew his wand, taking a step closer. Dudley tried to back away but hit the couch. “Wh-what are you doing?”

“I’m sorry, D...you will be better off not remembering.” Fear entered sky-blue eyes, but Harry hit him with a quick Stunner and caught him before he could topple over. “What a mess...” Why had no one warned him to be careful with muggles and the essence use, as they got addicted so fast?! Apparently, you should only numb and drink from the wrist on muggles with controlled use of pleasure essence. But even this seemed intense as no Muggle would prefer one bite over another, that was, if the bite was all they wanted. Dobby announced his arrival with his muted pop: a work in progress.

“Master should leave. Let him forget with time.” Harry ran his hand through Dudley’s blond locks, amazed at how much their relationship had changed, going from bullying to affection, after his 4th year and the Dementor attack. Dobby came over with a necklace Harry took and placed on his cousin before cleaning them off with a spell. “Dobby will check on them.” Harry nodded and fled the house by the shadow under the couch, guilt eating him up. Dobby walked up to the stunned human. He waved a hand over Dudley to make the memory of this episode stay fully hidden for all time - unless Dudley truly loved Master Harry and wasn’t just crushing because of the bite fetish - maybe in the future they could take up contact again, which was why the necklace would alert Harry if Dudley needed help. Compared to the human in front of him, the tiny elf leaned closer and, with a voice-enhanced whisper, he sealed his spell. “Prove yourself to be a man Harry Potter can love, and you will see him again.” With that, Dudley woke up gasping as Dobby vanished with a loud pop. Harry returned to his friends - and possible Donors - to find them cuddling, their scrolls signed, and seeing him, Hermione stood up and hugged him. 

“Where did you go? You were gone for almost 3 hours.” He was then pushed into Ron’s lap and waiting arms, and she joined them in his. 

“Surrey, to get my things... I ran into a bit of a mess.” His friends chuckled, knowing he had a bit of a cleaning OCD and couldn’t stand a mess, and Harry didn’t correct their assumptions. “So, any questions? I didn’t expect you to sign it before I returned...”

“No point in waiting. We will be together, maybe forever, so why wait?” Ron followed his promise with a hugging caress of them both. “Do you need blood...?” Vampire and female unknowingly shared a tiny smile at the eagerness in Ron’s question, and Harry twisted himself just enough to gaze at Ron while letting his eyes bleed red and his fangs unsheathed. 

“How could I refuse such a delicious offer?” Ron blushed even as his pupils dilated in lust. Harry made Hermione soundproof the room and had Ron switch places, leaving him in the middle with Harry behind him and Hermione straddling his lap. “Alright?” Ron relaxed into his arms as Hermione snogged her boyfriend, so he sneaked one arm around and under Ron’s loose shirt, caressing his way south leisurely. With his free hand, he captured Ron’s jaw. He held it steady but didn’t hinder their kiss, distractions afoot, he tested the waters. He placed small kisses on the bared neck and got a heated moan as a response, tender fang-less biting resulted in a keening groan and buckling hips, so he sneaked his wandering hand into his pants. Ron pumped with a moan into the cool touch. 

“Please! Fucking tease the both of you...” They shared a smirk over Ron’s shoulder. Harry let her take over the pumping member as he pinned Ron inside his arms and tested his new Donor’s taste for pain, allowing his fangs to prick the skin open - without numbing - and was far from disappointed as Ron pushed back into the bite with a high moan, helped on the way by Hermione going down on him. “Fuck! I-I’m gon....noo!” Harry withdrew to look at what Hermione was up to. He found her squeezing off the orgasm with a sadistic smile and indicated for him to bite again, and so he did: right into the vein, fangs dripping with essence. “AARRHH!” He came down her throat with a scream as the sucking on his neck slowed down, he twitched tiredly at the licking tongues cleaning him, and closing wounds, and didn’t fight when he was put on the floor to rest a bit. Relaxing into the corner of the seat, he tried to calm himself, that was his second mouthful of siren-grade blood, and he was getting a bit tipsy. However, his body was still humming with lust not entirely his own: opening his eyes, he saw Hermione was studying him intently and gestured for her to let off her questions.

“I’m wondering if that’s as far as we will go? The Contract had no mention of sexual encounters of any form. The bite is highly pleasurable, so I assume it makes the blood taste better, yes?” He nodded but added.

“Siren Grade, we call it. It’s the only substance that can give us the equilibrium to be drunk. We also add it to a herbal wine. Donors are in control of if and when they have sex and with whom, even if it’s another vampire, though that’s looked down on unless it is my partner, but allowed as long as contracts are still followed.” He could see her digest the new information.

“Your partner..? You mean another vampire?” He nodded, and she took a moment to organize her thoughts. “If I ask for a turn in 10 years but Ron doesn’t... he can’t be my Donor, right?”

“Legally not, but no one would mind, as long as you had a Donor of your own and he still followed my Contract. I would find another Donor to replace you, so I don’t depend too much on Ron. Is that your plan? You’re becoming a vampire, but not Ron?”

“He’s worried about his family and hiding it from them. My parents won’t even bat their eyelashes if I were to tell them, call it an unhealthy family fascination with the fangs and all, so I don’t feel guilty for hiding it for some time.” She blushed at his teasing smirk at the family admission, remembering her careful examinations with her tongue earlier; well, they wouldn’t be the first or last humans with such fascination for vampires. 

“If you both turn, you can find a donor couple to share. There exist special festivals where vampires meet seeking humans who, for one reason or another, are in the know; you would go there if no one in your network is willing. If taken from the wrist, it would be less sexual, in cases of family members, more affectation than anything else, if holding back our essence.” She stored that information away for later and asked him to explain the last part. “Fangs store two substances, our venom and essence; one turns while the other ensures the bite is highly pleasurable...” She blushed again, remembering her own bite. “I wouldn’t mind a proper taste..?” He reached out his hand invitingly, her eyes locking in on the nails growing out, and looked up to watch green drowning in red. She rose from the opposite bench and accepted his hand: she didn’t fight the pull and twirl, landing back to chest in his arms. Silently praising herself on taming her hair into a French braid, despite the pain in her scalp, as it bared her ear, neck, and shoulder, which Harry was quick to kiss and nip tenderly, but no fangs. “I numbed it before..?”

“Don’t... I wanna feel it.” He hummed appraisingly, his hands steadying her shoulders while finding the vein pulsing under her skin, she surprised him and tugged his hand to grasp a bared breast with a breathy moan: already loving the coolness of his touch. He caressed gently and unsheathed his fangs ever so slowly into her. She panted at the slow sting, but a second later, she shook with a keening moan as essence entered her bloodstream. Ron sat up in surprise but smirked at the sight.

“Don’t you two look lovely...” He helped Harry slide around on the bench, keeping Hermione in Harry’s lap. Ron made himself comfortable between their legs, though she hardly noticed as Harry sucked tiny sips to savor the tangy taste of her blood, he couldn’t help buckling under her and groaned loudly when Ron’s hand touched him. Hermione joined in as Ron’s teasing tongue found her folds, and she reached up to guide fangs back to her throat, and he gladly took the invite and did a shallow bite, just enough to inject essence. He licked around the trickling wound, waiting for her orgasm to suck his last taste - chasing his own in Ron’s expert hand, cursing his clothes - they both felt her start twitching. He took both her breasts in hand to lift her slightly which allowed Ron to free Harry’s member from his constricting pants, lining it up to rub along her folds; Ron’s tongue never stopping and caused her to moan when a pulsing cock entered the mix.

“Mmmnnng... mo-more!” Harry caught Ron’s attention silently with a raised eyebrow. “I’m not made of glass, dammit!” She dragged Ron up to sit besides them, placing his hand on her breast before reaching into his pants, meanwhile twisting her hips slightly and pressed onto the tip of what felt like a huge cock. “Now... make me scream.” Harry closed half of the wound and switched to her other side, Ron was quick to lean in and lick the blood onto his tongue before kissing her deeply, Harry put his arm around her middle for support and pressed inside her: half expecting resistance but her cavern swallowed him willingly till he bottomed out with a hiss. Ron muffled her moans but hooked onto her neck when Harry began moving, finding the blood was mixed with essence, and the simple hand job suddenly felt even more amazing. Ron pumped into her gripping hand with a moan. “Mme...fill me Harry...fill me up...” He obliged her, driving into her and released his seed, his cock pulsing within her tightening walls, his moan was soon joined by two more as both rode their orgasms to completion. He cleaned them all off with a wave of his hand and slumped back to let Hermione get down, he was still hard inside her, a instinct to breed but he was safe from impregnating a human of either gender, Ron was also sporting a semi erection despite coming twice and Harry looked forward to finding his friend’s limits.

“Mei?” He was still bottomed out, and he wondered if she was enjoying the way it twisted and pulsed inside her still; he wouldn’t be surprised if she were analyzing it. “You’re OK there?” He gave a slow roll of his hips, and she shuddered with a moan before scolding him.

“Stop distracting me...!” He chuckled and turned to Ron, sprawled out on the bench and watching his girlfriend with heated but lazy eyes, sated for now. “When does it stop...?”

“If that’s what you’re waiting for, you might stay for hours: it’s a vampire thing.” She sighed, but did move off him with a low moan. Ron groaned when seeing her sneak a taste of the leaking juices between her legs and looked back at Harry, who was twisting a bit to rest his head on Ron’s thigh, and began to nose and lick him. Ron buried his hand in Harry’s hair and moaned appreciatively at the attention. He motioned for Hermione toward the twisting member, hard as ever. She happily followed his request and lined up to copy what Harry did, who was not prepared, and with a hiss, his fangs were out. “Fuck! Mei, a little warning, ha~a?” Ron groaned as he felt the tips scrape his skin without breaching. As Harry talked against his hipbone, he tried pushing him back to his very interested member, but was resisted. “R-Ron..?”

“Please, Harry... try it.” Harry retracted about halfway and started with open-mouth kisses up the length, the short tips just barely touching the tender skin. However, Ron was panting fast - more turned on than ever before in his life - Hermione was still copying Harry’s moves while fantasizing about the days of her own fangs to tease Ron with. They moaned as one as Harry swallowed the head, Hermione copying a second after, Ron pumped his hips a few times and moaned when a fang nicked him: Harry had made sure to numb the whole rod. “Mmh... feels bloody amazing...” Harry shuffled a bit to pin Ron’s thigh and hip without losing Hermione’s mouth and rolled his hips invitingly, letting her go her own pace. He retracted one fang and angled slightly in preparation for Ron’s reaction: he deep-throated smoothly. He allowed a fang to inject a quick shot of essence, and as expected, Ron screamed and pumped into his throat while pressing his head deeper. Good thing he didn’t need to breathe, and he greedily swallowed Ron’s 3rd load and licked him clean. He gave a hum of satisfaction as his body thrummed with Ron’s essence delivered straight to his stomach: male donors sure had a bonus. As Ron was passed out, he sat up and focused fully on the minx still sucking him greedily, she managed about half of his length before meeting resistance - impressive considering his size - and gagged a bit when she tried for more.

“I’ll show you a better position next time...ahhh...” The head of his cock butted against her throat. She swallowed, he felt himself slip further in for a second before she drew back with a gasp, he caught her head and held her steady while pumping shallowly but she fought him and slipped free just as he jerked up; she ended up almost impaled, the constricting feeling of her tight throat had him shooting a minor load off before he quickly withdrew with a apology ready. 

“I’m alright, Harry.” She cast a Tempus and found they were less than 30 minutes from London. “We better clean up and change...” She turned and bent to pick up her panties. Harry rose and stepped behind her, where he rubbed against her folds teasingly. She moaned and tried to press back but Harry laid his hand on her butt cheek to stop her.

“Should I give in and fuck you...here..” He pressed his thumb against her puckered hole and watched as it relaxed under the pressure. She was supporting herself with her arms on the bench and panting. “You seem to like the idea...sucking me in like that, ha~a?” His whole thumb was buried and she was seeking his cock again in her empty hole, moaning as he slid in while adding a second finger. He kept up a fast pace in both holes and had her coming in minutes. He now had three fingers in her, and he was amazed at how experienced she was.

“Please... let me feel you there too...” Who was he to deny her wish, he dripped numbing saliva onto himself and mixed it with her juices already lubing his cock, removing his fingers he was quick to replace them with the tip of his cock and groaned as her walls hugged him eagerly. The slow entering was sweet torture as she wriggled in his grip on her hips, but he held tight, refusing to cause her pain. Halfway in, he stopped to pump a few times and could hear her moans turn a bit strained at the deepest point. He helped her to straighten against his chest, steadying them by holding the trunk shelf. This angle helped him slip an inch deeper, and she was moaning in overwhelmed pants. “Shit...Harry!” He could now reach her shoulder and sank fangs deep, his essence had her relax even more, and he finally bottomed out with her whole weight on him, she was staring at the ceiling without seeing anything in a bliss-blackout, and he rolled his hips to wake her a bit. “...yesss..!” She kept chanting the word as he held the bite and pounded her raw, knowing this was his last shot. He held her close and sat down so he could keep a watch on the glowing time. She panted at the changing position as it made her feel his bulge in her belly slightly.

“Can you manage?” She nodded with a moan and kept it up as he slid in and out shallowly, testing the new angle. He smiled when he found her sweet spot and aimed to pound into it with each movement of his hips, and the second before he came, he bit into her neck again, and they climaxed together. She spasmed deeper onto him as shot after shot entered her from the pulsing organ - what an addictive feeling this was, and she stayed seated on him and rocked her hips, milking him for every last drop before finally falling to the side exhausted and sore. He fed her a sip of a healing potion to take care of her abused body. “We need to wake Ron...” They would arrive in 5 minutes, and Ron was still passed out.

Chapter Text

Harry delivered his friends into their family hands, moving sluggishly, and they both excused it as having slept on the train, so he took advantage of their disorientation and slipped away with promises to meet up soon. He found the nearest hidden shadow and stepped into it, vanishing and reappearing at the special Vampire entrance niche of Gringotts - far away from the foyer - and made his way deeper into the bank, each goblin he passed bowed in greetings but didn’t stop to engage the creepily smiling vampire, and he was just okay with that. He knocked on his Manager's door and only had to wait 5 seconds before being bade to enter.

“General Crow! I didn’t expect to see you for a few days. Have something... happened?” The manager studied the goofy smiling Vampire and noted visible eyes, fangs, and nails: three for three! 

“I found Donors...” Manager Silver Fang suddenly chuckled in understanding and congratulated him warmly; he was drunk on blood and sex, which explained his goofy expression.

“I assume we are talking about Miss Granger and Mr Weasley, right?” Harry nodded. “I will transfer their accounts to me once I receive a copy of the Contracts 6 hours after signatures. I will then activate their payment of 1000 galleons. You have 4 weeks to set up their homes and have their health put on record within one week.” Harry hated the law but understood the reasons behind it. “The payment will repeat every moon phase, aligning with this day. Can I assume I have your trust in appropriately assigning increases yearly?” Harry nodded thoughtfully; he did not need to be stingy with their payments, and the Potter vault alone could support 10 donors without collapsing.

“I haven’t explained everything to them yet; they sort of ambushed me on the train, but I would like them to be given a copy of the contract and placed in their vaults.” Silver Fang nodded and made a few notes. “Any letters?” He was handed over two scrolls. “Thank you.” Harry took a moment to scan each scroll, but as nothing had to do with the Bank, he put them away.

“Anything else I can assist with today?”

“Oh yeah! We are opening a courting service at the school, and I need a business vault set up with some start-up capital: a 100 galleon a month should do with a start-up of a 1000 galleons, please.” Silver Fang leveled his client with a gleaming stare at the new investment opportunity. “We are offering it for all seven years for a set price corresponding to the duration of the arranged and restricted meetings: I expect Hermione to mail her concept in a few days so that you may appraise the numbers. I will contact Dumbledore about space to operate the Service, and I don’t foresee much resistance from the teachers; they would likely be aware of the severe lack of couples among their students in recent years.” Silver Fang hummed in agreement, albeit absent-mindedly, as he made detailed notes, which only made his casual comment all the more shocking to his client.

“General Dante sends his regards. He will be so displeased to have missed you by a day.” Harry drew a forced breath through his clenched teeth to calm his initial reaction of blatant denial to a smoldering, blood fire-glare that could melt gold. Silver Fang coyly glanced up at the tense vampire, knowing he was teetering on the edge, but he so loved riling up his client on this particular subject. “I will pass on your deep regret the next time I see him.” Harry sputtered an attempt at refusal but was simply ignored. “How long has it been, my Lord? About 3 years, yes?” Harry froze in his seat, his hands clenched in fists; this was sensitive ground, and he couldn’t outright refute the question or let on how much he was against the idea, so he took a calming breath and leveled the goblin with a vampire sneer.

“I forgot your fondness for gossip, Manager Silver Fang.” Take that! “As for your question and concern: General Dante can contact me at any time, should he so wish.” Harry relaxed a smidgen as the goblin blushed, hands held up in surrender, but it had been a close call; who knew Goblins thrived on drama?!

“Excuse my boldness, my Lord.” Harry gave a sour glare at the obvious unapologetic tone from his manager. “You should receive a key within a few hours through your Bank Box. Can I be of service in any other way?” Silver Fang finally raised his eyes coyly to his client, a silent dare visible, and Harry looked away in defeat first. “Then I bid you a fine day, General Crow.” Harry swept from the room in a dramatic swirl of his robe, worthy of Severus Snape, but shrank a bit as laughter could be heard the moment he closed the door: damn vampire hearing! Leaving the Bank through another shadowed corner, Harry took off to Diagon Alley, appearing behind a shop and going window shopping for anything catching his fancy. He focused on getting as many order pamphlets as there were shops: they had a whole shop to decorate and alters to create! 

This led him to contemplate how to change himself so there would be zero connections. Should he just go all the way and change gender, too? It would help prevent people from associating Harry Potter with a female matchmaker without a connection to the school: he could even let his vampire side out for show! That would also allow him to make headway on a specific plan. Gender fluency was a more or less common trait within the Court, and why not? With the stopping of aging - and by that any time pressure - gender was no longer as important as the person itself, and he couldn’t deny he had played around a bit with cross-dressing while training at the Queen’s Court. It certainly wouldn’t do a General any good being limited in fighting styles, after all, he might need to go undercover as a woman, so knowing how to fight in a dress or skirt was a huge advantage. He needed to send Dobby to collect catalogs from a few Muggle shops catering to the Japanese-style market.

“Harry!” He had hoped to escape notice, but relaxed at seeing the carefree, and only a few years older, Order member Nymphadora Tonks making her way through the cluster of people reacting to his name being called. “Whatever are you doing alone in the Alley?” Her friendly and protective aura encased him in a gentle hug, and he gave the young woman an enticing and disarming smile. Remembering this was a shape-shifter of born abilities, who quickly picked up on the silent invitation and wondered if the rumors of Potter’s virginity were true. “Why don’t I keep you company on your shopping?”

“Sure, Tonks, and may I congratulate you on your promotion as a Junior Investigator? You are honored to be the youngest, since Headmaster Dumbledore was a student, right?” Tonks blushed slightly. “As for me being alone... certain things require privacy...Though I wouldn’t mind a bodyguard for the remainder of my shopping.” With a cocky smile, he offered his elbow, which was accepted with ease, and Harry realized this would be his first time of skin contact with her. She failed to hide her body shiver. Was his Lure getting out of control, or was she simply sensitive?

“Where to first then? It's a bit early to be shopping for school.” She leaned into his arm and rested her cheek comfortably on his broad shoulder, keeping her balance with his supporting frame.

“I’m getting gifts out of the way. I never seem to have the time to browse while shopping for school stuff...” More like Molly wouldn’t let him dally around alone, and he was getting real tired of catalog gifts: Tonks had no trouble hearing what was left unsaid as she had once joined the Weasley Family the last week of summer and went with them to the Alley and Platform: pure uncontested chaos! “Neville is next on the calendar, followed by Hermione.... Ron can be a bit testy on gifts but he will just have to suck it up this year.” Plus, the Donor payments should temper some of his problems with charity. “Say, now that I have you protecting me...” Tonks gave him a wary sideways glance, tilting her head up, as they walked opposite the Bank. “Could I convince you to make a quick pop down Knockturn Alley? I want to find rare seeds or plants for Neville and old books for Hermione. Pretty please?” He gave his wettest, cutest, and Lure-affected puppy look, almost chuckling as she covered her eyes with her hand before peeking at him.

“That’s so not fair! You are as bad, if not worse, as Snuffles!” Harry didn’t dare ruin his opportunity for a sanctioned escort to the foolishly feared Alley, so he kept up the expression and upped his Lure a smidgen. “Fine!”

“You are the best, Tonks!” His brilliant smile almost knocked her to her bum, but Harry caught her shoulders. “That’s a record, I think, 15 minutes on a busy street. Keep that up and you will overcome that clumsiness in no time.” Tonks got ready to kick his leg, but Harry drew her close and leaned in to her ear, licking along it to her neck, he placed a quick kiss before letting go and taking off in a fast, but human, run. “Got ya!” She chased after him, cursing his name, but failed to hit him with a low-level stinging hex. Their antics drew smiles from the alley visitors, who simply moved out of the way or shielded themselves against the lazy spells.

Meanwhile Hermione suffered a slightly awkward and stilted car ride and dinner at home with her parents, her thrumming body wouldn’t let her relax and kept distracting her with memories of just why she was sore as fuck. Still, they finally caught her full attention when the conversation about selling the dentist's office started: what?!

“You can’t mean that, right? You finally paid it off last Christmas!” Emma gave her loud daughter a warning glare but relaxed with a tired smile and put her utensils down.

“We knew early on that you required higher educational options than public school could give you, and we were very proud of that, so we left the clinic on a low payment plan and focused on the best for you, which includes your boarding school. With the Clinic free of rates and debts, we can increase payments on the education account, but if we sold out and took regular hours work, it would take a huge sum out of the debt.” Dan nodded in silent agreement, they had already rehearsed how to tell her without causing too much guilt in their princess. “We are getting tired of the crazy hours being owners demand, and we are not getting any younger. If we keep the clinic, we might never fully retire, and I certainly look forward to that.”

“Oh...” Hermione gnawed her bottom lip, trying to work out how to explain that her debts would be resolved now without mentioning Harry’s secret: she could feel her throat threaten to close up as her mental attempts were too close. ‘ I really need Harry for this.. .’ She gave up on it and instead pointed out the shop idea. “I can take over the monthly payments. Our pay is very high once we are up and running, so we just need to transfer it to my name. I have enough saved to cover them for a few months in my vault.” 

“That would certainly help, but we will still sell out. I wouldn’t mind an early retirement with some freelance work here and there. Dan?” She turned to him and sighed indulgently at the mischievous smile he gave her.

“What, vacating with you? Oh, what torture you suggest, Dearest, you would drag me across the world to the farthest corners in search of those infernal plants: absolutely no time for little old me.” Dan only succeeded in holding his expression of dreaded accusation for 30 seconds before giving in to laughter. Emma’s glare couldn’t hide the playful glint in her eyes. “Sounds perfect, dear.” Hermione made sure to save this image of her parents’ loving playfulness and promised herself that she and Ron’s relationship would reach the same level of love, care, and trust. “I’ll call the bank in the morning and transfer the payments, your other bank should see and take care of it, right? The two banks are cooperating?”

“They hire people like you as a Liaison to our banks here, and they will see and add the payment to my vault. Just write a short explanation of the debts and say that I’ve asked for the transfer myself.” Dan took his small black notepad from his inner-breast pocket and scribbled a quick note: it was his last Christmas gift from Hermione with eraser-able pens and never ending pages, it had been her Rune Project the previous year and had taken her a whole month, to make it charge ambient magic at the use of the pen: she had gotten tired of his chaotic notes on investment ideas, running tests and retirement plans. Her mother got a journal for her Plant Research.

“By the way, Pumpkin, I think I’ve come up with the perfect image for your working personality... either Freyja if you want the option of an edgy look, now and then, or Aphrodite for the more otherworldly beauty. What do you think?” Hermione gave it some visual thought, but her Dad gave his opinion.

“I vote Freya. Let them see a Viking beauty: don’t you have Scandinavian genes in your family, Ems?” He turned to Emma, who nodded sagely with a fond smile.

“My father emigrated from Denmark to England in World War 2. We never talked much about it, but I know he helped the Resistance Movement.” This was news for Hermione, her grandfather on her mother’s side had died shortly after she was born, and besides a few pictures, not much was said about him.

“Well, we’re opening the Service because of war, I should honor our family now with Freyja, but my hair and eyes will need to be much lighter.” Here she sent her Dad an accusing, but playful, glare: his black hair and eyes negating her mother’s fairness in coloring. Dan shrugged his shoulders without guilt and chuckled at her eye roll.

“I have an appointment with the hairdresser tomorrow. I explained your troubles with frizz and tangles, and they promised a possible solution. I didn’t understand all the steps mentioned, but it sounds like a real chore. Might be easier with a professional wig.” Hermione briefly wondered what the boys would say to short hair; she could always stick the wig with a spell, and short hair would certainly be less in the way of feedings. 

“We’ll see what they say, the place is on the magical side, and it might end up being a simple solution.” Emma nodded, already imagining the changes needed. “I’ve been thinking of creating rings that store the Alter’s image and whatever charms we have used, so just putting it on will activate the change and cancel it once removed. What do you think? Your gift gave me the idea.”

“That would be very handy for quick changes... You think a small ring can handle that much stored magic?” Hermione wasn’t sure and shook her head. “In keeping with the Viking theme, armbands might be more fitting and could work as sets with each their charms stored for different outfits. Do you think Ron could be convinced to be a modern Viking lord? I don’t get the sense he has much interest in clothes and such, huh?” Hermione chuckled.

“I think he would love it. I’ve seen him study his brother’s leather pants.” She tried to imagine what Harry would come up with, but drew a blank; this newly discovered part of him threw her whole foundation of him right out the window: they had expected that maybe he was gay and thought it was wrong to be or something similarly personal and not that he was hiding half of himself from them! “I don’t think Harry would go for it, though.” He had practically grown up in Japan - as it turned out - and it helped explain some of his quirks, like reading Manga as if it was a bible series, which was where she thought his minor use of the language came from as his hand-copies often didn’t bother translating single exclamations and feelings: she tried reading one back in first year but found the imaging and reversed direction of reading distracting and left it alone as Harry’s hobby. Everyone had something they enjoyed fiddling with, just look at her parents, or even her unique interest, which reminded her of something. “Mom? Did you manage everything on my list? I know some of them were a bit pricey...” Emma giggled with glee and rubbed her hands.

“I found everything, Pumpkin, and managed quite a discount by tracking each site for event prices. I had a few close calls at the office computer, but it was fun visiting all the stores.” Dan leaned back in his chair and threw his arm over his eyes, grumbling about women. He was a very supportive father, even though it had taken him some time to get used to his daughter's fascination, which bordered on obsession. “Grow up, Dan. She’s now legally an adult, and she followed your rule and waited till after 15 before exploring with them.” Hermione blushed at the reminder that she had officially lost her virginity today. “She is a woman now and will be treated as such, right?”

“Yes, Dearest.” He refused to meet his wife’s glinting eyes; his daughter wasn’t the only one exploring. “I put everything into your room unopened. I know you love your boxing ritual.” Hermione squealed happily and abandoned the table and half-eaten plate, bounding to the drawers for a knife before racing to her room. “I’m gonna go for a long walk and ignore any thoughts on what’s in those boxes. A cold beer sounds like an amazing idea to help with that, so I’ll be back in a few hours.” Emma’s hearty laugh followed him as he left the house and walked to his hangout. He might even win a bet or two at the pool table: life was good.

“Hermione! Your dad left, so bring everything in here!” Five minutes later, she appeared with a Laundromat basket filled with tiny, shrunken boxes. “Handy spells...” This was her first summer of legally using magic and could finally show her parents tangible proof of her schooling. “You have quite the collection going, Pumpkin.”

“I need to, if I’m going to sell them in the shop. A wide selection is best to test viability: can I even tweak the electronic items, for instance?” Emma had studied her daughter's notes extensively and wasn’t afraid to add her ideas and observations.

“It might be safer to start on the non-powered and simply use the powered ones around magic at school, and see how they do? You discussed finding a rune to isolate the item from magical interference; that would be a good start.” They unpacked in silence: Hermione would pick up a box, cancel the charm, open it, and hand the item to her mother, while carefully setting the bubble wrap aside. Her mom then opened the colorful box and placed the contents neatly in rows on the table. 

“You found it!” She held up the pizza-sized box with both hands, dancing a bit in her seat. “This will be brilliant for lesbians!” Emma tried to hide her blush as images of a similar box in her closet tried to enter her inner eyes. “Did Dad do the numbers on ordering directly from producers? Should be a notable decrease in inventory shopping prices, right?”

“Oh yes, but only for buying in bulk. That’s why I visited stores for a single item. That was the last one, Pumpkin.” They took stock of the colorful selection of sex toys taking up the dining table. “This sleeve thingy and this dildo run on the same frequency to match their vibrations, an absolute favorite of mine, and works with 5 5-meter distance.” Hermione gave her mother a smirking, raised-eyebrow look. “Such a lovely evening at the office...” Hermione broke out laughing, and Emma chuckled at the memory. “You might be able to copy it with magic on this similar set without electronics, right? If you managed to have the sleeve copy onto the dildo, the movement and feelings, couples could enjoy a bit of shared joy on either side of that wall in your drawings. Doesn’t that sound like a good bonding experience without being together?” Hermione flicked her wand and summoned her journal, frantically scribbling the idea down for later testing. “You could do something similar with that harness and double dildo, a sleeve that transmits onto either one or both. You did say Triads were common and not everyone likes anal, you know?” She nodded and added more notes. “I really like this one in the showers...” The next hour was spent discussing each item, and Emma shared her thoughts on the few she got for herself. Hermione loved this start on her summer, last year she had only been allowed her first purchases but had to wait for her birthday to try them at school and so bough basic latex and silicone items, it had been her saving grace all these months riling up both boys and as planned: she was more than prepared for the real deal once that happened without the usual pains of first times.

“Actually, Mom... before Dad returns...” Emma put the toy down and rested her elbows on the table and her chin on her folded hands, gazing at her blushing daughter with a predatory smile. “I’m together with Ron now, but we will swing with Harry...” Emma’s smile widened, and she made a quick go-on motion with her hand. “And I had sex with Harry on the train... I wanted my first with Ron just to be the two of us, so he held back mostly... but I’m certainly not a virgin anymore.” She blushed as her mother clapped her hands in excitement.

“I will filter that down and inform your father later. I wish you all the best, Pumpkin.” They took a few minutes to flatten the colored packaging boxes for future reference and stored all the instruction pamphlets in the compartment in the back of her journal. “Sounds like all your training was a success, then? Good to know.” Neither needed to specify they were talking about her anal training and left it at her confirming nod. “You'd better put everything away before we give your father a heart attack ...” Hermione swiped her wand over the table, shrank each toy, and then directed them into the basket, her mother watching proudly. They hadn’t needed to hurry as it took another hour before he returned, slightly hammered and with a wad of cash. Emma secured the money in their safe and dragged her husband to their bedroom; Hermione quickly put up a silence ward around the door and walls.

‘ Best do that with my own room too .’ She ran to her room and attacked her door and walls with her extensive arsenal of spells.

Chapter Text

Ronald Bilius Weasley had always seen himself as unremarkable, plain, and forgettable. Being the 7th son meant he never had any achievements of his own; it was no big deal being the last son to manage the same as his older brothers. Ginny had, at the least, her gender: the first female for generations! Then he started school and ended up sharing the train ride with another shy boy, even worse than himself, and he had finally managed his very own First: the first ever friend of Harry Potter! The episode of saving Hermione was another First and had only cemented that the Trio could manage anything if they stayed together. He was ashamed to admit they had had high and lows, the latter mostly stemming from his side: his insecurities, but Harry never held them against him and always forgave, after Hermione finally knocked some sense through his thick skull. He realized last night, at dinner, that it was mainly guilt-driven from keeping half of himself hidden from them for all these years, but there had been a motive of hope, too: why else would he carry around two specified contracts ready to be signed? This last year had been the hardest as his feelings for Hermione and Harry fought each other, Hermione always getting him riled up while Harry withdrew more and more: he had been at a crossroads and felt he needed to choose, but how could he? They complemented him; they gave purpose and meaning to his life in a way his family never could, and made him feel whole and powerful.

“Ron! Breakfast’s ready!” Ron rolled his eyes; it was rather obvious, as the smells reached even his high room. “Get up!” 

“I’m up, dammit!” He climbed the stairs with the habit of a lifetime, skipping the creaking spots and steps, and entered the kitchen. Ginny was already eating while his father read the paper with one hand and the other absentmindedly stirred his tea; his mother was minding pans of pancakes and bacon on the stove and seemed to be writing a shopping list. This was a good time to lay out the new law to his parents. “You don’t have to buy me anything for school, or anything really... I have my finances sorted by a manager and will handle myself from now on.” His mother whirled around like a ballerina, mouth already open to shout at him, probably to mind his manners, but she was silenced by her husband, who studied his youngest son seriously.

“I think what your mother was going to say was: you are still in school, so how can you have a job with a pay big enough to afford a Manager and your way?” The calmness in his father's voice empowered Ron; there were no accusations of it being impossible, only serious concern. “I certainly can’t afford one.” Molly was doing her silent stare, which always worked on her kids to come clean about their misdeeds.

“I signed a contract for life, but I’ll likely end it after 10 years, as is my right. I get a house, 1000 galleons a month, with the bonus of fully protecting my mind. That’s at least 10 years of secure pay and a free house.” Boiled down to that, he could appreciate the shocked expressions of his family members, and he could only imagine the thoughts and images they were having at the moment: let's sweeten the deal, then. “I’m also dating Hermione, and we plan on getting married right after school. I might give you your First grandchild.” That should assure them he wasn’t doing anything shady or indecent and was preparing for life with a lovely woman. “I hope to have your trust when I say it is safe and legal, but I can’t explain further.” Ginny muttered, but he still heard her: can’t or won’t. “Bill can’t go into details about his job, Charlie, too, has Resort/Dragon secrets, and the twins are creating patented potions and trinkets. I will simply perform a job that demands a bit more secrecy than is mine to share with anyone, even family: not with lives at stake in the middle of a war. Knowledge is not without its dangers.” 

“That is very true, son, you are also an adult despite being in school another year. I think we raised you to be sensible, caring, and a gentleman, and every father wishes to see his children find their paths. Just promise to be safe.” Father and Son shared a tender smile, totally ignoring the brewing woman fighting the spell. Ginny was studying him intently as if seeing him for the first time: wait... he was the First to lay the law and not flee the country at the first chance! He rose and moved to his mother, flicking his wand to cancel his father’s spell, and before she could begin a tirade at him, he pulled her close. 

“I’m gonna come every Sunday for dinner and attend all holidays you can think of throwing, in a few years, there’s gonna be kids to spoil, and I promise to come clean once the war is over. Alright?”

“You better keep to those promises, you hear?” Ron nodded and was hugged almost to the point of suffocation. “Does the house come furnished? No? I’ll make you some lists of what you’ll need...” Ron didn’t stop her, glad for the help and knowing it was her way of coping with hard feelings.

Miles away, Hermione and Emma entered Chaddesley Hairdresser for their morning appointment, bed-hair hidden under a beanie and unwashed as ordered: something about seeing the problem head-on...

“Miss Granger, right? Come with me, dear...” They followed the middle-aged woman, whose glossy hair reached her butt and moved like a calm waterfall. Hermione held herself back from asking to touch it: It looked so soft! “Take a seat. I had your mother answer a few questions on how you treat your hair daily, and I must say: there is great room for improvement on your routine alone.”

“How so? I wash every other day, dry it with a spell if it's before bed, and brush it several times a day. What else should I be doing, madam..?”

“Ellen, dear... in theory, you are doing everything right if, and this is a big IF, you had hair like your mother. First, wash your hair once a week with a deep conditioner and hair mask. There are no spells; they make your hair frizzy and brittle with time or overuse. This is about the hair’s ability to retain moisture.... let's see.” Hermione removed her hat and blushed as Ellen tittered, examining the damage. “Yup... your hair is dead dry... that is an easy fix, don’t worry. Next on the list is your curls, your mother has straight to wavy strands, right? You must have inherited a bit of curls from your father.” Hermione huffed: again, her dad’s fault! Emma and Ellen chuckled. “It's the brushing, dear. Curls don’t handle them at all. Do you brush it while wet, too? Yeah, thought so.... watch this.” She opened a drawer and pulled out several combs before twisting to take a brush. “Try the brush on only one side...” Hermione did as told and saw Ellen wince at her methods. “Now watch this.” She then used a large tooth comb to detangle from the bottom up. “We are going in a bit of reverse order compared to the routine you are to follow.” Next, she watered the strands through before taking a comb with more teeth. “This is to let the curls come together, and now we use styling cream.” The gel was combed through, and she was asked to scrunch it; it felt weird to bunch it up after combing it so neatly. “It will make more sense during washing.” They waited a bit for it to set. “And now the fun part!” She gently divided the curls into smaller parts before running the big comb. “There.” All this had been done with her back to the big mirror, and Ellen swung her around with a smirk.

“Whaaat!” Gone was any hint of frizz or bushiness; it wasn’t the Tight Princess Curls, but defined and so alive when she moved. “That’s it. Dad’s not getting any candy on Halloween.” The two women laughed at her pouting, and Ellen dragged her over to receive the complete treatment, explaining the process as she washed, conditioned, and soaked her hair in a potion. “The potion helps rebuild the strand's inner structural strength and should be used once a week going forward.... now for the work.” She was asked to bend over a sink, dip her hair into a bowl, and wring out the water in scrunches a few times, then the big and smaller combs, before patting them dry - no rubbing or twisting! Then came another gel and comb, which was left to dry, then divided, and the final combing was done. However, Ellen showed that the newly washed hair only needed fingers. “I will enjoy complaining tonight to Dad.” Emma thanked Ellen and had to drag her daughter away from each mirror they passed, as she kept stopping to swing her head or run her fingers through it. Emma finally bribed her daughter with a trip to the Bookshop, and she quickly led the way.

“Are you sure you can afford all these things? With the payments transferred to you alone... should you really spend this each month?” Emma wasn’t the best at converting galleons to pounds on the spot, but she could easily see that it was more than she ever spent on cosmetics. 

“Harry is the investor in the shop and has put enough in that we can draw pay from the start. I might earn a decent amount on the toys, and I still tutor a few younger students for good rates. I’ll be fine, Mom. It'll be worth it once it becomes a routine, and I know how quickly I run out. Then, I can buy accordingly and space out the purchases. It seems like a lot because it's all at once, right?” Emma agreed; she looked so happy, confident, and just great.

“Of course, Pumpkin. Ellen mentioned a book on hair types and their general care, which might come in handy for the shop if you decide to proceed with the Makeover part you weren’t sure about. I don’t think you are alone in not understanding your hair for years.” They entered the store and were quickly shown to the beauty bookcase. Mother and daughter then reviewed the selection and picked a few for the shop: 30 charms every girl needs. Skincare for Dummies. Makeup and Hairstyles for Every Occasion! The last was the one Ellen mentioned: Hair Types and Their Care. “If we cut and paste a bit, and print them, you could show pamphlets to clients and help them design a wardrobe. I’m sure Madam Malkin has a catalog, too.”

“How about this: you handle all the editing and ordering, and the shop will pay you to handle it and ship the orders to us. You could even turn it into a small side business once it's up and running. Clothes get worn out or go out of style. They won’t even discover some of it is Muggle clothes!” They left the store with hilarious giggles at the thought of purebloods like Malfoy getting dressed stylishly by muggles.

Harry arrived behind the shed, unshrank his broom, and mounted. He flew back down the driveway to a spot no longer visible from the house. Next time, he could arrive here first: that big Oak looked to have a shadow spot no matter what time of day. He put on the dorky, and very much fake glasses; apparently, his parents had him tested before going into hiding. Hence, it was on record that he would need glasses like his father, so fake glasses it was: he couldn’t wait to be rid of them in his Alter - or was it more like his True self? - the person he could have been hadn’t he been Harry Potter? Once he had let her catch him, Tonks had been very forthcoming about her shifts between genders and admitted it sometimes happened depending on her moods and even in her sleep: the fun of being a shape-shifter. He soon arrived at the Burrow, again, doing lazy zig zags and low loops, hoping to convey deep enjoyment in a rare summer moment of flying. Ginny ran out with a big whoop. She tackled Harry off his broom and took off on it, and he suddenly remembered promising her to borrow it this summer to train. He twisted his head backwards and found Ron towering over him with a smirk.

“Would I be right to say you had forgotten she was to have it all summer? Nice decoy though... come on, up.” Ron helped him to stand and brushed off his back. “She’s convinced she’ll become Captain next year...” Harry gained a thoughtful expression and followed Ron to a bench by the shed.

“How about this year? We probably won’t have time to do more than play the big games: I could make her Co-Captain and have her manage all the training, and we just show up and play? You can even gift her a new broom... I don’t think it would be right if it came from me, your mother might get the wrong ideas, ha~a?” Ron snorted at Harry’s scarred glance towards the house: it seemed it was time to let Harry know a few truths about his family.

“Harry... it is not my mother who would get the wrong ideas. Sure, she might begin to dream and set up hinting situations, but that is nothing to the males in the family.” Harry looked at Ron in surprise and quickly paled at Ron’s smirk. “She might be my baby sister, too, but we are less than 2 years apart and grew up together, I’m not your problem. You need to look out for a certain Bank Employee, Dragon Tamer, and Terror Twins. You understand, right? To them, she truly is the baby sister. I know she can handle herself from seeing it firsthand, they haven’t and still think she's all pure... if only they knew!” Harry paled further: he might be a vampire and a General, but those four brothers in cahoots to ruin him for spoiling their angel would probably make even Dumbledore nervous! 

‘ Shit..they can’t find out! Bill knows super secret curse-breaking, Charlie wrestles with fucking Dragons as if they were puppies! I’ll end up a fucking genie pig for pranks the rest of my life !’

“Ohm...Harry? I know you don’t need to breathe, but could you at least pretend to?” Harry didn’t hear him. “Did something happen..? Bloody hell...let me guess.” Ron lightly slapped his cheek to wake him up, and he took a shuddering breath. “She jumped you and gave you several reasons, like getting it out of her system?” Harry nodded wildly; he had nearly lost control when she had started to fondle him while saying her logic calmly. “Be prepared to show that memory; you might survive the encounter, should it happen. I will buy the broom. So, where are we off to?” He needed to have an honest talk with his sister!

“Quick stop in London and then your Health examination. They will hand you a jewel. It will measure your sugar levels until you adjust to the new diet restrictions. I can’t wait to show you our kind of snacks. Do you need to say goodbye..?” Ron shook his head and captured him with an arm slung around his shoulders.

“Did that already. Mom asked if you would join us for dinner?” As they walked down the road, Ron quickly explained what he had told his parents about his future, and Harry praised him with a long snog behind the Oak tree before dragging him into the shadows. They didn’t return for 5 hours, and both parents did a silent double-take at seeing Ron: they couldn’t deny that the Armani suit looked great on him, though. Halfway through dinner, Harry announced Ginny’s promotion. Ron handed over the wrapped broom - no way to hide that shape - and explained she would use the year to build and train a winning team to take over next year. Molly and Arthur congratulated her while glancing at the expensive gift, but Ginny’s beaming smile kept them from commenting. He left Ron with a Journal that would let them write each other and Hermione, a decent folder of house options and a jewel necklace indicating he had some sugar to burn off: a scroll with a list of banned foods was to help limit that and the bag filled with muggle diabetic candies with natural flavors would make sure he didn’t add to it: Ron didn’t even complain at loosing out and had taken to both candies and snack options from Japan with gusto.

The next day was much the same: pick up, go shopping, and shadowing to Japan. Hermione studied his rooms with interest and felt she gained a deeper understanding of this other side of him: his Manga obsession was confined to a small office corner, his bedroom was taken up by a four-poster and four-person-sized bed, and the in-suite bathroom even had a natural hot spring! His living room was a mix of seating by the fire, a small corner kitchen, and a dining table with high bookcases dividing up the room: she quickly noted that it was all fully lit in a way that left no shadows in either room.

“There are no wards or spells that can block us out; we only need a concentrated shadow and know the spots around the world we want to connect to.” He quickly explained how he had arrived at the Burrow. “I can now shadow at your house after visiting today. If I had tried to locate you in a crisis, I would be spit out the nearest shadow to your current placement. Here...” He guided her to the dining table and lined up the journal, a folder with houses, and her jewel. “Ron might have written already. He got his yesterday; it's a 3-way system of instant writing. You just note the name on the lined space or write Private.” Hermione found a short note from Ron, in which he shared his thoughts on houses and suggested that her house be used by her parents and located overseas. With the house being paid in full through the contract, the couple could enjoy traveling as they liked and always have a house to return to, far away from Britain and the war. “Brilliant idea, we can talk with your parents later. Why don’t you look over the options Ron mentions, and I will go and find a female Healer.”

“Why female?” He knew she asked out of habit when a reason was left out. 

“Full body scan and examination, Mei, she will ensure everything is in working order.” Hermione blushed but didn’t mind; it wasn’t her first OB-GYN visit. “If you want kids not affected, it needs to be within the next 10 years. The Healer can explain that part better than I... Mei? You need to stay and not open the door, okay? It's a donor's responsibility to refuse other vampires from feeding on you... That's why you need to learn some hands-on evasion moves. I haven’t been here for weeks, and now twice in as many days, everyone is curious as I’m famous for not taking a donor much sooner.”

“I understand, Harry. Go on.” She waved him off and began sorting the papers. Ron’s options got stuck on the back of a bookcase while she studied what was left, and she didn’t take long to agree with Ron’s selection. He had chosen a small château in France, surrounded by vineyards, which was currently on a lease running for another five years. A cottage in Sweden, right next to a skiing resort, offered a built-in discount to use the hot springs. It seemed that the Potters were long-time friends of the family running it, and they donated a large sum yearly to maintain security on the trails and slopes. “They would certainly enjoy that...” His last pick was a newly renovated villa with a decent plot of land behind it, but what hit her as significant was its location: Copenhagen, a large city in Denmark! Ron probably picked it for the fantastic photos of a pool, gardens, and rooms included in the file: she hurried to write him back, telling him she was pretty sure her parents would agree to the pool villa and that she wouldn’t mind if he wanted the vineyard: hinting it could benefit the Shop with an affiliated supplier. She couldn’t wait to show her parents later! She was now writing her first private entry, detailing how her life had veered off course and how she had come to embrace the change: her own family, security, and endless time to explore everything life had to offer. She heard a faint knock and shouted ‘enter’ absentmindedly, engrossed in her mental recounting of the train ride that was the milestone in this latest development in her friendship journey.

“Mei, I thought I told you not to open the door...” He didn’t inform her of the heavy lockings he had left. “I will move situational awareness to the top.” Hermione bowed, blushing at her foolishness in forgetting where she was. “This is Healer Karin.” 

“Konichiwa. Why don’t we move to the bedroom? General Crow can leave: I heard your father is looking for you. I have no idea how he manages that from the Queen’s bedchamber.” Harry laughed at the Healer’s roll of her eyes. He moved to Hermione’s side but had to guide her chin so she would look at him.

“Remember this, you can never let your guards down inside the Coven unless I’m by your side: it's too risky unless you’re a vampire.” He kissed her tenderly and urged her towards the bedroom. Healer Karin waited patiently in the doorway: she better than anyone understood the need for caution; humans were just too fragile for more extended stays in a vampire castle. “Go on, you can soak in the spring until I’m back: I will lock the door, don’t worry.” Hermione walked to the healer, realizing she had been tested earlier and had failed miserably; never again.

 “Don’t fret, Miss. It’s forbidden to hurt a Donor intentionally, be it your own or others, but accidents tend to happen between humans and vampires when instincts meet resistance. Now, hop on up and we’ll start with the mental health question checklist.” The fifty-ish questions took just under 30 minutes; she could fire off detailed accounts of her thought processes under stress, and the yes, no, or sometimes was even faster. “Am I right in understanding that your Fiancée had his check-up yesterday? Good, good... I will confer with his Healer later then. Have you had time to talk about the future?” Hermione decided she liked this calm, professional Healer who seemed so down-to-earth, despite being immortal.

“A bit... mostly the main points, you know? I will accept a turn in 10 years, no matter what. Ron is still unsure, but I doubt he’s gonna refuse in the end. We agreed to have children after the wedding once we are out of school.” Karin nodded. It was a sensible plan.

“You should know that vampires can’t get pregnant with humans, so kids would have to happen before you are turned, if he stays human. Vampire babies need parents' blood for the first 10 years of their lives, which will be a filtered mix of animal and human. After that, it's animal blood alone through the Blood Bank until 17, where a Donor usually waits to sign their contract.” General Crow had asked her to provide as much information as his donor had requested in their conversation. Still, she didn’t have to volunteer unrelated topics, and it would be on her gamble: it seemed the female Donor Crow was obsessed with all kinds of knowledge and would drag anyone into hours-long discussions, if allowed.

“Then why is Harry famous for waiting this long? He only turns 17 in a few weeks?”

“That is because he wasn’t born a vampire. We don’t turn younger than 17 on principle; the few we allow are relatives of donors who can’t be saved otherwise, and they must drink more human blood than animal while they are still growing and training. Turned at 5, General Crow only had 5 years with his father’s blood - not the full 10 - and was expected to find a temporary donor to draw on, but he refused point blank and simply paid for his extra orders in the Blood Bank. Being the Queen's favorite certainly didn’t hurt his case.” While talking, her wand waved slow patterns over a prone Hermione, scanning from head to feet, who was committing the information to her memory. “There, the scan will take a moment to write out. I now need you to nick a finger and press it on this paper: it's infused in similar potions that Gringotts uses for inheritances, but focus only on illness and such in the family line.” Hermione sat up and accepted the nail file, sliding it gently over her thumb pad. She was surprised when she felt no pain.

“My parents have never mentioned any hereditary illnesses for me to watch out for, they work as Dentists...” The Healer nodded to show she understood the work title. “So they regularly have health checks as they often work with the homeless clients sick with Aids and such.”

“That’s excellent practice. We have quite a few Donors saved from the streets, so I am very familiar with the muggle diseases there: our venom and bodies burn them up before they can even think of taking root.” 

“But not sugar?” Karin laughed musically at her perplexed expression.

“We can handle smaller doses like a mouthful. We might get a bit of a headache and feel hot, but a whole unit of blood in our bank bags? No, we would vomit heavily and need transfusions fast. Vampires are basically like a Diabetic Muggle, but instead of high blood sugar levels, we are poisoned. If transfusions can’t be given quickly enough, the vampire may slip into a coma and never wake up. I think the scan is done...” Hermione barely kept herself from firing off questions, letting the woman read in peace, but the silence was long. “Miss, don’t think I have silly notions about blood - pure hypocrisy in my eyes - but you think yourself a Muggleborn with Muggle parents, right? I’m sure General Crow mentioned it on the way here...” Hermione nodded uncertainly. “... It would seem you are a Halfblood. That means one of your parents should be a Squib: you ought to have that tested at Gringotts. Blood status may not be important, but heritance is everything and should be honored.” Hermione took the wisdom to heart with a nod, adding a bank visit to their list.

Chapter Text

Harry and Ron arrived at Granger House a week later. This was the first time she and Ron had seen each other since the train, but they had written to each other daily in their Journals, planning their life together, with Harry occasionally drawing in. 

“Come in, boys. She’s upstairs getting ready.”

“Thanks, Mr Granger.” Ron took the stairs two at a time and called out for his girlfriend, who answered by ramming into him, knocking them over, and proceeded to snog him silly - luckily outside her father’s vision - Harry had no trouble hearing their low moans and wanted to distract her father. “I managed to push our two appointments together. Ron will bond with the prepared Ledger after you 3 do the test. Three drops of blood each in the cauldron, then pour it in the middle of the paper. How are you and Mrs. Granger feeling about this?”

“The night Hermione returned home, we talked about her shop alter... her mother had two suggestions... I’m sure she wants to surprise you both with it herself, but one choice had me remembering something back when we were dating: Emma isn’t fully English, and that part of the family is barely spoken of. Maybe Hermione’s magic can be traced back to that split?” Harry nodded thoughtfully. “Emma’s father might have been a Squib abandoning his magical family for better opportunities during a war.” They had moved to the living room, taking their seats opposite each other. Harry had a harder time picking up the moans and relaxed slightly.

“I’m sure Hermione is excited to learn more about her family tree. I gained an immense sense of security in learning mine after the years at my relatives, let's just say they were less than truthful before my letter: my parents went from drunks to heroes in one night, and it is one of my happiest memories.” Dan nodded with an understanding and kind smile.

“One’s roots are sacred. I’ve always meant to have a private investigator look into my father-in-law. I knew him a few years before his death, after having Hermione, but he refused all questions about his family members and homeland. Emma only knows he helped in the war in the Resistance.” Harry was interrupted from answering by Ron’s high-pitched scream.

“What is this ?!!!” Harry was about to get up and run upstairs, but Dan laughed while waving him to stay seated. “What do you mean it's your hobby?!!!!” Much lower, Harry could hear Hermione happily explain her toys, and he had to fight hard not to blush at her eager descriptions and give away that he could hear her. “What do you mean they are for couples too!!!” Dan was still laughing, face reddening as he could easily imagine the poor boy’s horror. Harry chuckled at Ron’s naivety. “ Harry! I’m marrying a bloody obsessed nymph!” Harry winced a bit as Ron walked nearer, but shouting, his voice still high-pitched with disbelief, he entered the living room, with Hermione following innocently; her eyes, however, twinkled madly. “Unbelievable...”

“Ima, ima. Calm down, Ron. It’s only healthy for a woman, hai?” Harry patted his friend on the shoulder, and Ron gave a smouldering glare, so Harry decided to play unfairly. He leaned in to whisper in a blush-red ear. “You might even enjoy using them on us...” Ron hiccuped in surprise and his blush deepened, glancing worriedly at father and daughter, who were talking as if one male wasn’t about to snog another male! Harry drew a breathy gasp from him as he licked Ron’s ear. “Think of all the fun we could have, Magi?” Ron’s brain stuck on a single word, repeating in his head on a loop: us. 

“Wh-what? You mean...?” Harry pulled away and smirked. Ron’s pupils were blown with arousal, so he discreetly put up a muffling barrier.

“Why not? I haven’t yet, but now that you know about me, I was hoping you’d be my first..?” Ron closed his gaping mouth with a groan, pretty sure he just had a dry-cum moment. Harry said the magical word: my first. The first to claim, to love and worship, the first to see him give in....fuck, he might just cum for real if he didn’t stop his train of thoughts right there! He refocused on Harry, who looked at him with that eager puppy eye look he had perfected over the years.

“How can you sit there with a straight face!” Ron groaned and wished his future father-in-law wasn’t sitting in the room with them right now! “Wipe that smirk off! Who even brings something like that up in a situation like this...”

“You did. Screaming, stomping in here and groaning about a little innocent ...” He ignored Ron’s disbelieving expression. “... toy collection.”

“That basket was anything but innocent! You should see the size of some of them!” Harry was again interrupted, not that he minded, as Emma entered the house.

“Hello, everyone! My client was a wimp today, so it took much longer. Have you waited long?” Emma hung her things before joining them in the living room. Harry had removed the barrier, and Ron was calming down. Hermione moved to sit between them, and Harry easily shifted to make room for her.

“Not long, Mom. We do have something to offer you.” She withdrew a shrunken, slim folder and handed it over as it grew to full size. “Harry owns more land and homes than he knows what to do with...” Her parents hadn’t opened the folder yet, but they saw a sheepish Harry scratching his neck. “He has offered Ron and me a free pick with a 10-year wait on payment. By then, the shop will be cemented and earn a lot, and we’ll have set up savings for when we reach the end of the waiting period.” Dan could just imagine the numbers and realized Harry must sell it at a low price. “I’ll be paying the bills from September 1st, even though we’ll be at School, so I was thinking: why don’t you move in and use it? You could have it as a base between your traveling and if you sell the house and clinic...” Emma watched her husband do some quick calculations, and his twinkling eyes told her it was possible; not having monthly house bills would certainly free quite a sum.

“So this would be your suggestions? You are letting us pick? Why?”

“Ron will also get a house, and I’ll be there most of the time to help. It's a vineyard in France: with the Floo Network, distance doesn’t matter. It would be your home more than mine, as I would rather it be used than stand empty, costing money anyway.” She could see her father wanted to refuse or negotiate, but she locked eyes with her mother. “It's time to leave, Mom. It will give me the peace of mind to focus on the war.” Emma put a calming hand on her husband's leg for a moment before opening the folder. Seeing a file on a cottage in Sweden, she gave that to Dan, her eyes focused back on the folder, and she was drawn to a large picture of a white villa: why did it look familiar?

“You wouldn’t mind going traveling alone, right, Dearest? This resort discount is amazing!”

“Sure, dear. I’ll travel alone, end up falling in love with another country, without you there to drag me home...” Dan chuckled at her absent-minded answer. “Look at that! This is in Denmark, what a coincidence!” Hermione smiled, and Dan stole the file. Several pictures slid out onto their laps. Emma snatched one up and stared at it with wide eyes. “Impossible..!” She threw it on the coffee table and flew out of her seat, stamping her way upstairs with a continued low grumble only Harry could hear. “... surely I’m mistaken. It can’t be the same house! How is a teenager even the owner of so many houses... inheritance, sure, but even then...” Harry filtered her out when she began huffing with strain from lifting and moving boxes in the attic. He could see that Dan knew what was happening up there, but not why. Hermione was studying the picture for clues.

“She’s looking for one of the older boxes, it seems. That sounds about as far back as they are stored... the floor should creak about now...” Harry heard a loud creak two seconds later, and Hermione heard it too, but at a lower volume. “Yeah, that is back there. That's her parents' stuff she held on to after they died. I don’t think she has looked at those since you were a toddler, Pumpkin.”

“Why would she need them now? Why did this freak her out? It's just the house from the back garden, showing the villa has a pool...” She fell silent as her mother came back down, and it seemed she was carrying something heavy. “Do you need help, Mom?”

“Not at all, but you can help me empty it...” Mother and daughter gathered in the open area and began to fill the space with the contents of the box. “I know there is a small photo album of my father’s childhood; he showed it once when I was a child: we were doing a theme week at school about our family, and I wouldn’t stop pestering him. He finally showed me 1 picture in the album and explained how he had come to England... where is it...” She cheered a moment later, pulled out a thick, notebook-sized photo album bound in black leather, and motioned for the colored picture to compare. Flipping to the first, she peeled back the shielding sheet and put the new, bright-colored picture next to the faded black-and-white Polaroid photo.

“This is getting freaky... You really think it's the same house?” Emma flipped the album around to let Hermione take a look herself: it didn’t take more than a close look to see angles and sizes matched, though the old one didn’t have a pool but a pond. “Gringotts will know the details, but I would say it looks like the same house in an old & new version.” Emma took it to show Dan while Hermione flicked her wand and had the things return to the box in seconds. “We could see if they are willing to meet an hour early?” Harry agreed, Silver Fang would be willing: a tiny bonus could soothe even the worst moods.

“How are we getting there?” Harry answered Ron with eagerness in his eyes. “You think the Knight Bus is alright?” He glanced at the couple. “Why not one of those Taxi cabs?”

“Morning traffic will be horrible. The Knight Bus skips over all that and is the fastest mode of transport available today. Hermione can always spell them to the seat.” Hermione quickly warned her parents of the bus’s special way of driving, how it sprang forward or screeched to a complete stop within a few feet. Dan looked intrigued while Emma mostly looked resigned. “I used to ride all the time in summer; there was nothing better to do, and it did wonders for my reflexes: I never trip or stumble now. You should try it, Ron & Hermione.” He gave her a kind smile and she was reminded of her need to train her awareness, trying to follow a bus’s movements like that of the Knight Bus - with its moving beds and chairs - would certainly keep her in the moment and not get lost in her thoughts: she gave Harry a solemn nod of accepting his challenge. “Why don’t you get ready to leave, and I’ll go and call it, I’ll explain that you are trying my Challenge: I’m excited to see the Leader board this year, Kate and Angelina wanted to try it again...”

“Why am I not surprised Harry turned the ridiculous and horrible ride of the Knight Bus into a balance challenge and got the whole bloody school involved?” The three family members laughed at Ron’s resigned statement, and he followed after Harry as if he were walking off to his death. Hermione and Emma took their purses while Dan took the keys and locked the door after them. Her parents stared at the double-decker in fascination.

“Welcome to the Knight Bus. I understand we have some contestants for the Challenge. Let me explain the rules quickly. You have the option to stand or kneel. We added the latter as a few daredevils of higher ages wanted a try, so we now have two scoreboards. You must stay on top of the bed, and your hands may not touch any surfaces. So find a bed and get ready!” Emma and Dan walked upstairs for a better view of the teens; they were assured that they would stay in their seats. Harry took bed number 3, Hermione number 2, facing away from Harry, and Ron chose to face them so he could watch the Creator at his own game. Harry flashed his crimson eyes for less than a second, shaking his head slowly, and Ron nodded: there would be no use of his vampire abilities. “Great! You can fall as many times during the ride as you do, but each fall takes a sum of 50. Stumbles from feet to knees take 25 points while hand-touches take 10. You begin with a 1000. Knee-standing starts with 500, full fall is 25, while hand-touches is 5.” They looked to the side and saw the two boards. “Harry Potter is still No. 1, but Fleur gains on him in each attempt she has made: once a year since the Tournament. We began running a record of contesters and their data.”

“Bloody Hell?! McGonagall has a perfect score on the Knee-Board!” Harry cackled with glee at Ron’s disbelief. “That’s just freaky...”

“She’s a cat Animagus, Ron. I’m sure it has aided her balance and center of gravity, even as a human. We should look into doing the ritual.”

“Old Minnie suffers from a bad knee, or I’m sure she would be on the other board. Now, get into positions. I will warn you that we’ll jump forward, and most will fall at least here, so don’t feel bad. This is your first attempt. The floor is cushioned, and the board watches the point scores through sensor runes. With all the business from customers trying out the challenge, we have managed quite a few upgrades.” He beamed at Harry, wondering if that had been the plan all along: he was too caring. He never failed to ask about his life, something Stan was far from accustomed to: before getting this job, he was a nobody, but now everyone knew him, and those returning had quickly begun discussing how to improve their points; he was included as the most knowledgeable on the game. He had, after all, watched Harry develop it back in his summer after the 3rd year. “Aaaand here we go!” Hermione tipped over backwards at once while Ron fell to his knees. He watched as Harry made a back flip to the bed behind him, which freed up his previous bed for Hermione to fall onto before all the beds rolled to the back of the bus. 

“How can you even think about jumping?!” They were both back on the beds, standing up. Ron was now sideways. He understood the usefulness of that, as the motion of the bus did most of the work: maybe he should try jumping up at sharp movements? “I felt terrified just falling backwards!”

“Mei, I’ve done this for over 2 years, I know the warnings of creaks and the Driver’s habits. I know how to respond within my surroundings at a given moment.... watch out.” As he said, the bus driver pulled a lever that made a whoosh sound, and three seconds later, the beds flew forward - they stumbled a bit - but the instant break on the spot ten seconds later did them in: minus 50 each. Harry was another bed further back and had simply jumped on the spot and landed on the next bed under him. “You can ask Stan later about my first many attempts... listen.” Metal groaned seconds before the bus swung to the right, and Hermione took a knee while Ron’s sideways strategy aided perfectly at turns. He only lost 10 for bumping his elbow to the metal bedpost framing the bed around his shoulders. “Ernie! Take the long way!” 

“Aye aye, Sir!” Harry cackled at their groans. “Inner city, here we come!” Hermione sobbed but prepared to listen closely for groans signaling another turn; the inner city would certainly offer enough. 

“Hold on. It’s gonna be a bumpy ride!” The shrunken head assisting Ernie to see began giggling. “Come on, Ernie. You know this, speed up!” Harry followed the speed increase and landed smoothly on the last bed, which was always the best for series-turning.

“It will groan a lot in a bit, but ignore it and feel the direction your body moves. You can close your eyes; it might help you focus.” Hermione didn’t dare and tried to follow the road out the front window. Ron took it as a man-on-man dare and stayed sideways but closed his eyes. “Here they come.”

Hermione survived the first few turns with knee or hand losses, her legs straining, and a full stop right after a turn had her on the floor. Ron hadn’t fallen since his change of position, but was tired of all his losses to hands, elbows, or shoulder touches. It wasn’t his fault that he was so tall that metal poles surrounded him! Then again, it was a much lower point to lose in the end. He was a bit miffed to see Harry barely breaking a sweat, panting, though faking it for appearances' sake. He was switching between beds at speed changes and crouching low at some turns, or jumping against the motion. It looked so natural, making him think that this game wasn’t the only way Harry had been training; how strong was he without using his abilities? With them?! “Last stretch!” His thoughts were jerked back to reality as the bus swerved to the right, then directly to the left, before making another sharp turn to the left. The double turn finally threw Ron to the floor, and he slipped off the side of the bed, landing right in the path of a startled Stan, who managed to catch him slightly. Hermione barely managed to get up before the subsequent motion tripped her again. Harry wondered why she stubbornly kept to the same position when it wasn’t working: was she trying to follow the road with her eyes? That would never work! He knew that after his 3rd fall on his first go. He knew the bus would break in a few seconds. Using just a bit of his speed, he took the three beds in a skip. Just as the bus stopped, he caught them both, and they stumbled onto the pressed-together beds.

“Now, wasn’t that fun?”

“You are certifiable, insane to have thought up a challenge like this... that was torture! Mom, we are going for a spa day tomorrow with a massage!” Emma cheered happily as she came down the stairs.

“Final scores are as follows: Hermione Granger leaves with 255 points. Not bad for a first go, congratulations, Miss.” Hermione groaned; that was less than she had hoped, and she knew she had much training in her future. “Ronald Weasley leaves with 640 points. One of our higher first go’ere, congratulations, Sir!” Ron blushed as they walked to the bar.

“Don’t feel bad, Pumpkin. You never could get the hang of sports.” She thanked her dad, silently scolding herself for not putting more effort into physical activities; carrying books everywhere only lent her a strong back and stamina for walking. 

“Why don’t I convince them to an early meeting? Have something to drink first before following me, ha~a?” Hermione nodded gratefully and ordered water. Harry walked away with fast strides, finding a blind spot with a nice shadow, and he almost ran to his manager's office. “Silver Fang? You in there?” The door opened on its own, and he hurried inside. “Arigato! I need to beg for an earlier and longer meeting, some new interesting information has come to light: how would a personal bonus of 100 galleons suit you?” He knew his puppy eyes would do no good here, so he pressed his right fist to his heart and bowed deeply.

“I shall arrange the transfer. You should know...” Harry kept up the bow but lifted his head to look at the smirking goblin with dread. “Had you been near your Box, you would have seen a letter asking to move the meeting to now.” Harry sank to the floor with a resigned groan; well played. “How do you plan to handle your status and their contracts with Miss. Granger’s parents?” Harry explained the version they had been told, about them getting to pick, how Emma freaked out over a photo, and her going box hunting.

“We are almost sure it's the same house her father grew up in, which he refused to discuss. Hermione’s blood test shows she is Halfblood...”

“I see. No apparent magic in either parent, but a Halfblood child, it’s possible both are Squibs.”

“Not just one?” Harry checked his watch.

“Depends on how many generations the squib line ran for. We shall wait for the test. Bring them. I won’t mention I am your manager.” Harry nodded gratefully. “I’m bringing home wine; this needs celebrating!” A bow from the young General Crow, not too bad for a goblin his age.

“Harry... did you succeed?” She had been spying for him and was now staring at him hopefully, wringing her hands anxiously. His answer made her eyes flash, but she held herself back and smiled innocently: just a bit further...

“Of course, Mei. It is me, after all... itai!” He rubbed his bicep where her punch landed with speedy accuracy once he was within reach. “Kuso!” He tried to guilt-trip her with teary eyes, but she aimed her fist for another blow, and he quickly skipped backwards, out of her reach with a pout.

“That’s what you get for posturing like Malfoy.” She brandished her fist at him, but was held back by her father, who grasped her shoulders. He bent a bit nearer her ear as they began walking.

“I keep hearing him use that language in such natural tones. How come? Did he grow up around it?” She felt her spine stiffen with anticipation. This was not good: her dad never let go of a mystery! “You said those Dursleys were a normal British family, with an emphasis on normal, and so I find it hard to believe they were the ones to influence him... also, he calls you Mei?” Dan studied the boys. Harry had his arm slung over Ron’s shoulders, a typical bro-hug, but his hand was interlocked with Ron’s instead of hanging free. 

“It’s just a nickname he picked, Dad. Harry reads Manga like it’s a bible, it is just his hobby.” The problem was that he sounded far too natural: his first reaction was a short Japanese word. “Let’s get to the meeting.” For now, he let the subject drop, and she feared the meeting would only add to his suspicions.

“Welcome. I’m Manager Silver Fang. I understand you have questions about the house you are considering picking? I shall do my best to answer them.” Harry fought to hold back the snort threatening its way out. His goblin manager was overly courteous and friendly: he was up to something. “I understand Mr Weasley picked the French vineyard.” He took a file from a small stack. “The villa stands empty, has for years, but the vineyard has run smoothly for the last 15 years with an elderly couple and a small army of elves. Their grandchild finished their contract last year and signed her 5-year lease.”

“I have no plan to dismiss the lease. Should she show up to the task these five years, I might be willing to hire her on a life-tenure contract.” Silver Fang smirked, pleased. This one would definitely provide new investment venues. 

“I’m sure that would please her very much. Like yourself, she may be young, but she grew up in those fields and worked with the art since she could walk. And your choice, Miss Granger?”

“The renovated villa in Copenhagen, but... I would like some background history. Who are the previous owners? Why did they sell the house?” Emma and Dan stayed back and let their daughter do the talking; she was more accustomed to dealing with bankers. “Is there a way to contact them?” She tried to sound less eager, but her eyes gave away her true feelings: hope.

“We don’t often bother with business reasons as long as they happen. In this case the reason is connected to the answer of your last question: the original family was killed during WW2, sadly near the end and inside the house, this left the house on the market for a very long time as any new owner abandoned it after starting renovations: muggles have no tolerance for real ghosts, if you ask me.” Here, the goblin gave the assumed Muggle couple a considering look. “A young daughter decided to stay as a ghost in the pond she was drowned in, and would make trouble when someone tried to alter the house too much from the original.” 

“Then how did she accept the change from pond to pool?” Emma couldn’t stop asking and tried hard not to shudder when those beetle eyes fell on her. “The whole house has been modernized?”

“The file says that James Potter bought the house unplottable, meaning he had the Fidilus Charm added, as a safe house during the war, and struck up a deal with the daughter ghost: he would only ever restore the house, not change, except for a single thing. The pond became a pool, and new owners must accept that she plays in it at night.” Emma nodded in agreement; she wouldn’t mind living with a real ghost. “Her parents were prominent members of society, and she stood to marry into nobility, but was killed at her wedding along with her parents and guests.”

“What is her name? I think she’s my aunt...” 

“Laura Hansen. If you follow me, we may discover your family tree, please.” He led them to a side door and into a smaller room filled with file cabinets and a table in the middle. “The potion needs three drops of blood, and as you are a parent and child, we can combine them into one potion. If you please, a small nick is more than enough.” Soon, the potion was poured onto a square paper, but as black print appeared down the page, the length grew into a scroll in a minute.

“That shouldn’t be this long if we were muggles, right?” Dan studied the neat writings, starting with Hermione and themselves, but the surprise was his parents and their lines. “They were both squibs?! They never said a word... maybe they didn’t know?” Dan looked like a man questioning his whole life.

“It says my father was one too, but his sister, as were his parents, was magical. No wonder he fled... I want this house. I need to meet my aunt and learn about my family.” Hermione quickly signed the deed, Ron keeping her parents slightly distracted so they wouldn’t try to read the contract, which mentioned conditions stating her contracted status. “Damn... I just remembered how much I hate packing!” Hermione assured her mother that it would be a piece of cake with magical help.

Chapter Text

A month flew by faster than one would think; their endless list of things to do or look into never seemed to diminish, despite their daily efforts. Harry was beginning to suspect Hermione was adding to it before bed, as each morning it seemed just as lengthy as the day before. Emma and Dan were now safe in Denmark, the clinic and house sold off in a packet deal to a young couple with family money backing them, and they paid a higher sum for a speedy deal. With magic, they managed to pack the whole house down to several trunks in a week. Setting them up took 2 weeks, and every other day they went into town to explore, they agreed to research if Squibs could take a Language Potion, as they had a core but not enough magic to cast, the potion should work in theory: they wanted to make sure the lack of magic wouldn’t negatively affect her parents, like a splitting headache.

His birthday had been held at the Burrow, with guests kept safe behind brand new goblin wards, and only those without ill intent could even see the house: Molly and Arthur had, of course, protested, but fell victim to one of his Logic-Persuasion they had heard their children talk about. Since he was a well-known friend of the family, he put them all in danger, and it was no secret that he spent summers with them, so now that Riddle was back and actively hunting for him, he would be the worst friend if he didn’t try to protect his loved ones to the best of his abilities. Plus, it wasn’t like the price of a simple Intention-based ward was outside his means, as he now had the full inheritance from his parents, failing to point out about his multi-vaults and that the small sum of 30.000 Galleons would be but a drop in a pond. The guest list was a mixed bunch, from teachers to close friends, and there was even a surprise in the form of Severus Snape showing up right behind Albus, who was fashionable late as always. Trailing behind the Headmaster, as the elder man greeted everyone, Severus kept his head down and curled in on himself when someone got close: the usually proud potion master looked so fragile, and he had to beat down his urge to use his Lure.

He barely managed to stay focused on the party, eyes tracking his professor trailing resignedly around after Albus. Why did he come? But he knew why: to claim he gained valuable information at the Saviors’ Birthday party, that he had been dragged there by Albus, showing the trust put in him. That should certainly please Riddle and give Severus some much-needed reprieve. It was sickening, the tight line he had to walk between 2 masters, each as cruel as the other, but in their own unique way: Albus used guilt while Riddle used fear, what a pair they made. Everyone gathered when the Twins declared it Present-Time and dragged Harry to the table and plunked him down at the end. A massive pile of gifts quickly appeared, and he opened them, with everyone calling out when it was from them. Ron, Hermione, and her parents had collaborated on a tailored black Armani suit and an open-style, short robe flaring from hips to knees with silver stitching, and he knew it was part of the plan to introduce Muggle clothes; he was to wear it on Hogshead weekends, and Ron too. He was badgered into changing, not that he minded the short break from the loud party, but as he came down into the kitchen, he almost stumbled into Severus, waiting for him with crossed arms and a more normal expression of disdain on his tired face.

“Professor?” Obsidian orbs flicked to him but quickly turned into a full stare, eyes rowing down his body. He had to remind himself to breathe and act normal, but the lack of a classroom made it harder to slip into the Potter persona. “I wanna thank you for coming, this is the biggest party I’ve had and it’s been great to see everyone enjoy themselves... Thank you, Professor.” He smiled kindly and wanted to fist pump when the man relaxed his arms, even if it was to pinch the bridge of his nose. 

“I hardly need thanks for getting dragged here...” The words lacked the usual sneer, venom, or sarcasm typically directed at him. Releasing a breath and his nose, Severus looked at him with those calculating eyes, his hand reaching into a pocket and coming out with a small wooden box with a Lily painted on the lid. “You should refrain from letting on that you possess this, and it’s for emergencies only. Here.” He took the offered item, making sure not to brush skin as he wasn’t confident in his control; he could easily guess it would be some rare potion: he could smell it. “Happy 17th Birthday.” As if shielding himself, his teacher crossed his arms again and observed silently as he lifted the lid.

“Huh..?” He stared dumbfounded at the shimmering potion in the small vial. “You’re giving me Liquid Luck..?” He looked up and found the potion master avoided looking his way as he answered.

“There are three doses. You have shown remarkable luck thus far, and with this, you might stand a better chance when it counts most.” He nodded in understanding, but he was stopped from thanking him for the gift with a glare. “Just survive, that will be my thanks.” Severus then took his leave of the party through the fireplace beside them, leaving him vibrating on the spot: the man cared! He dashed to the bathroom and stored the precious gift with everything else in his Moleskin pouch. This was one of the few potions that worked on all magical beings with a core and would be a brilliant failsafe to have in a pinch. The party continued with gifts, and several complimented his new style. The girls were throwing appreciative leers his way, and he thought he understood why: a suit showed off the body much more than loose genderless robes. People began to say their goodbyes after the cake, thanking him for the chance of a carefree day of festivities in these troubled times and wishing him a calm last year.

They doubled down and began going over their Alters in August, spending hours each day for a week filling out the citizenship papers and testing color combinations of hair, eyes, and skin. Emma was over the moon at Ron plunging into the Viking character with interest. He could stay a ginger if he chose a shade different from the recognizable Weasley trademark. Hermione considered going with sandy blond and bright blue eyes, the Scandinavian trademarks, and studied models in Danish catalogs and shops for facial structure. Ron took the visual route, watching everything Viking-related on the newly discovered television, especially intrigued by the tattoos and complicated-looking hairstyles; he found the Viking religion interesting.

Harry spent time meshing his Japanese-side vampire with a female version of Harry Potter, which should be enough to put most of the Coven outside the Inner Court at ease while keeping the rest of the world none the wiser. He was allowed to search the Archives for any ritual or such that would allow gender-shift of some kind; he had hoped to avoid potions altogether, and he had been close to giving up when the perfect option was discovered: tattooed runes that sank under the skin, after the first activation! He quickly hand-copied the general design, instructions, and the few recommendations offered, all in all, a one-page document. He was surprised at the zero first-hand accounts from those having used it in past times, he shrugged it off and left to locate a magical tattoo artist and rune expert: the Coven had plenty of members either dabbling in tattoos or working full time, a Rune expert would usually be tricky to track down, but as a General he had access to a whole team but therein laid another problem. This team was to be cautiously approached, and the request had better be interesting, or you ran the risk of a visit to the Infirmary for an overnight stay. 

In mid-August, he loaded Hermione’s plastic folder and shadowed to Hogwarts. It was time to bring their plan to Dumbledore. Ron and Hermione were bonding with their elves: a middle-aged couple with two adult offspring. He came out behind the Gargoyle and was up the stairs before they reached the door. He knocked the moment he could reach.

“Come in, my boy. If you wanted to talk, you should have sent a letter: I would have had Hagrid pick you up.” He entered the office, letting his body shudder before fully opening the door: the Giant might be a gentle, innocent soul, but his obsession with dangerous beasts kept him from ever letting the man know his secret: how much more would his adoration of Harry Potter rise if also knowing he was a vampire? Nope, never ever! 

“Headmaster. Taking the Knight Bus is perfectly safe. No one can attack while it's moving, and the short walk here is safe enough for students to walk in pre-planned and announced weekends: my unplanned visit, just now, would be impossible to predict or plan for.” He walked to the set of lounge chairs by the fire and claimed his usual seat, with his back to the door, facing the elderly wizard, who offered far more danger than a mere entrance could ever pose.

“I see.” There it was again, that slight warning tone of logical reasoning he couldn’t dispute, and previous attempts of empty placations held him back from even attempting now: know when to stand your ground and give in, as the Muggle saying went. “Would you like to join me for tea, then? I’ve just finished the morning owls and could use a break. I do find myself drawn to the colorful plastic in your hands..?” Albus joined his favorite student by the fire. He called for refreshments, slightly miffed at the sugarless selection of cucumber sandwiches and ginger tea; at least a bowl of sugar had been included. He never noticed Harry covering a sneer: accepting food without laying eyes on the elf delivering it, he was placing too much trust in his control of the School. He mentally praised Dobby for switching the usual selections to less poisonous options.

“Hermione dropped a bomb on the train ride home, and we have been preparing all summer, so I hope you will take the time to read this before dismissing it.” Albus took 20 minutes to review the comprehensive folder, tittering at a few points. Harry observed him touching his glasses at each new page, a natural-looking adjustment but far too often to be needed, and Harry couldn’t keep the smirk from showing: that certainly explained how the man read so fast. 

“This is a brilliant solution to a growing problem within British borders. I can certainly find space to use, elves to help in the shop…” Albus pierced him with calculating eyes. “I must insist that this Service continues within Hogwarts as long as you three are alive to run it. Hogwarts’ seven years is where teens connect with peers and form themselves; it should be here that they learn that finding love is precious, not once they have become hardened adults. Wouldn’t you agree, my boy?” Harry held back from rolling his eyes at Albus’ merry twinkling.

“I see no problem keeping a Service here even after we leave. Vetting a team to run it should be a breeze if they accept questioning under Potion.” Harry silently begged Lady Magic to corral this Trickster of a mentor in front of him, but the hearty chuckle from the Headmaster did nothing to stop the feeling of dread from settling in his stomach.

“I fear you misunderstood, my dear boy… I want the Golden Trio to come out after the war and run the shop yourselves. I can see the advantage of Alters during a war. Snakes would never trust the Service if they knew, but once it is over, you can proudly step forward and say you never discriminated between houses, even with your role in said war. That would be seen as the ultimate unity.” Harry called Dobby, even as he sank deeper into his seat, and he then gave Dobby a vial with the memory and sent him off to Hermione and Ron, much quicker than explaining! “Have you acquired a Pensive? Or Miss. Granger, perhaps?” Albus gave him a bemused expression, and he answered with an innocent smile.

“You do know there are more ways to view someone’s extracted memory, surely ? Hermione has become very skilled in ordering her mind, so she can merge and store the memory inside her mindscape: she’ll explain it to Ron.” He ignored Albus’ shocked expression. Really, what was there to be surprised about? Go near her with knowledge she didn’t already know, and she was bound to dig headfirst into the subject. “I think it's more than enough if we train another three people to take over after us? Why are you insisting we bind ourselves to the school for life? You wouldn’t happen to hide one of your little schemes within a scheme? I’m growing tired of them…” Though the friendly and overbearing tone, his eyes glinted like flint struck, and Albus had the decency to blush, embarrassed. “So, what is it this time? Last time you attempted it, you set up your death at the hands of Snape, to spare poor innocent Draco Malfoy. If not for my delaying our return, purely by accident, mind you , from that Cave, you would be dead this very moment, and so I ask. What are you plotting?” He gave his mentor an icy glare, daring him to contradict.

“I’m only trying to secure the school's continued prosperity, my boy.” Harry turned to the appearing Dobby with a hidden roll of his eyes, like he was going to believe that pile of dragon dung! 

“Missy Granger agrees to a 10-year plan, as a start. If Bumblebee refuses, she says you leave school and open a Service in Diagon Alley, so take it or you don’t return.” Harry waved the grinning elf off, turning to Albus with a patronizing smile. 

“The Lady has spoken, Headmaster. This is the offer: I will allow a minor vow to my involvement, but I’m not bargaining for Ron and Hermione’s future to focus on having a family.” Albus folded his hands and accepted the deal, truth be told: he only really needed Harry to remain at school to guide future generations as the Savior. 

“We can return to that in 10 years. No hurry is needed, and the shop's viability should be well-proven first. Would you be so kind as to wait while I make a few notes on the folder content? I think I know the perfect spot, we can look it over together: I should be able to rearrange the walls and such easily for Miss. Granger’s designs.” Albus moved to his desk and Harry sat back to form his vow silently; it had to be loose enough to work around his future status in the Coven, but also sound tight enough that Albus wouldn’t question it. With each male deep in their thoughts, the opening of the office door went unnoticed at first, but Harry heard it click closed, and a testing whiff of the air had him mentally hissing even as he shielded himself in the armchair.

“Albus…” Harry almost whined as the smell of tortured blood invaded his nose, wailing for someone to catch the drowning soul. Harry held himself back with all his strength as Hogwarts’s potion master made his slow trek to the chair by Albus’s desk. Harry winced at each step; the uneven gait and sound of grinding bones rubbing against each other made him nauseous. He took a silent but shuddering breath to calm himself as Severus sat down only a few meters away: if only he dared to touch shadows, like with Ron, to give even a minute of peace to this breaking man. 

“Severus. I wasn’t expecting you for a few days…? Should I call Poppy?” Why did you even have to ask, you crazy old goat! Of course , he needed a nurse!

“No need, Albus. I will heal once I return to my chambers. My report is more urgent.” Harry had to allow himself to imagine everything from torturing his mentor to the satisfying feeling he was going to get, barely a month away from now, when Albus Dumbledore learned just how all his carefully laid plans were going to crumble. This was a brilliant mind being used for no gain, with his life on the line every hour of every day, arriving here half-dead but only worried about his fucking report! You had to give the elderly man a bow: he knew how to train them. “The Dark Lord is losing his patience at my continued failure to provide the potion to restore his human body. He talks about heirs, but the current body lacks the necessities, and more errors on Wormtail’s part are beginning to show themselves… the constructed body can’t maintain itself, and it won’t be many weeks before another ritual needs to be completed.” He cheered mentally and did several fist pumps in celebration at this news, which meant that his vampire blood and venom had interfered with the ritual and would continue to do so in each new body, as they would be based on the blood in the first body. Take that, you disgusting coward! “He has given me until the Fall Equinox or face my death.” The mentor and the hidden student froze in their seats for different reasons; Albus feared losing his valuable spy, while Harry had to fight himself to keep from jumping over and kidnapping the injured human.

“Most unfortunate news. Is it possible to build in a fail-safe in the potion?” Even Harry heard the tone, grasping at straws for time, and Severus’ sneer must have said it all. “I see. Thank you, Severus. Please get yourself sorted out.” Professor and student hid a grimace at the man’s dismissive tone, as if being tortured was somehow Severus’ own fault and certainly not a big deal when Severus had refused a nurse. 

“Of course, Headmaster.” Harry mentally ordered Dobby to follow the professor and pop him home if he looked close to collapsing; he might already have healed the worst with potions before walking in here. Still, Harry feared the conditioning Dumbledore had laid on the man over the years: he wouldn’t be surprised if Severus’ primary focus had been to return quickly to report and nothing else.

“Harry..? I’m sorry you had to witness that.” Harry could hold back no more and flew out of his seat to level Dumbledore with a murderous glare, his mentor paling at unknowingly seeing the human version of an enraged vampire. 

“If I didn’t know Snape better, I could almost suspect you of having arranged this… your guilt-tripping has been slowly increasing since Cedric died, but I know the Bat would never agree to put his vulnerability on display to anyone but you , but know this, Albus…” The man was gripping his wand under the desk, outwardly looking calm, but Harry could smell the sweat building on the mere human. “I will finish this war soon, and once I have, you are retiring. Write your biography, enjoy knitting, open a strip bar for all I care. Forget about being the Light of Britain: it’s time for younger minds and new ideas, right?” Whether he agreed or not, Albus nodded with a strained smile and didn’t relax until his progeny had left the room. Conversations like this made him question his conditioning of his two favorite boys, but as always, he firmed his beliefs and doubled down. After all his work and sacrifices, it had to succeed! 

Harry spent 2 hours in the Simulator, burning off his rage and urges, only stopping when Dobby appeared and assured him the Potion Master was asleep and healing. Deadlines were set, and he had better meet them; expectations were high, and many lives were at stake. He thanked Lady Magic, from the bottom of his dead heart, when he found the Rune Team in a rut of utter boredom, and they jumped on him to get the page in his outstretched hand; having three grown vampires land on him was not a pleasurable experience. The Leader, who appeared to be a 25-year-old, was over 500 years old and liked to boast about himself as the leading expert. His right hand was a 30-ish woman nearly as old as he was. She was a researcher at heart, like Hermione, but hated anything social and only tolerated her teammates for more extended periods. The newest addition to the Team was a 20-ish punk of newly turned, who was a genius at constructing complicated rune chains, he was so Emo it should be a crime, and barely uttered a sentence since his Ritual: officially he was allowed the Ritual for free on his academic abilities but rumors kept floating around that he had signed over his free will to the Leader to pay for it, they had been seen walking close in the palace gardens in serene silence. His tattoo session had been hijacked and fully arranged by Yuri, the female right-hand, and the artist she found demanded to design a new pattern. Emo Boy assured them that the design was unimportant as long as the runes were precise. That didn’t stop the artist and newborn from arguing for days on end in a one-sided yelling match, but Emo Boy made up for it with his expressions alone. Finally, the day before returning to Hogwarts, he spent 9 hours bodily paralyzed, naked, in a barber chair for his tattoo session. Bodily paralyzation didn’t mean his nerves were unaffected, just that he was held back from twitching, and after the first hour, he silenced himself before taking the next dose and enduring nine more hours. He would have drowned in his hot spring, had he needed to breathe, as he collapsed briefly in the tub: the tattoo might have been magically healed, but his nerves had screamed at the slightest movement. He barely woke in time to meet up with his donors and bring them to Hogsmeade, keeping the illusion of using the Knight Bus intact by walking to the castle wearing large, heavy robes to conceal their identities, and had only altered their frame to match their Alters. 

“If we weren’t so late, I might beat you silly! What were you thinking? We barely have 3 hours before the train arrives… should we change before going to the Headmaster? To save time?” Hermione was already heading to the bathrooms, and Harry barely caught her arm. “Huh?”

“Freyja, we should use the shop and have the elves pop us. It turns out that the Headmaster is not too fond of our chosen image, and he demanded that only he know. Come on.” They hurried through the Shop and separated once in the office. Harry had his bedroom inside the entrance, while the new couple shared a suite in the far back. 

“See you on the flip side!” She then dragged Ron off to their suite, where their change mostly consisted of applying charms and jewelry, and dressing up. He entered his room, heavily and freely influenced by his Japanese roots, from the low-seated eating table to the flat bed on the floor, with added comforts that had developed over the decades. He was a bit apprehensive doing his first Shift, the short entry in the Archives only instructed that it needed a strong desire and will to activate the runes etched into his skin, and as the first inkling of his intentions formed: he fell to the floor with a hiss of pain as bones shrank to a more female frame, skin tightened and body-hairs smoothed or vanished altogether, muscles lightened and his chest grew heavy. He was on hands and knees when an indescribable pain entered his senses, located between his legs, and could best be termed along the lines of peeling a banana and showing it up : he vowed to contribute his first-hand account, if only to spare future males from this torture! Please don’t ask how he knew, but he even grew a womb with tubes and all! 

“Anso!” He didn’t recognize his voice and briefly wondered if his loyal elf would respond.

“Mistress! Are you hurt?”

“Not hurt, Anso, hurting. There is a notable difference, you know.” The small elf huffed with annoyance at his Mistress’s weird humor at times like this. “I feel kind of bad, Freyja put so much work into our list of changes, and here I go and skip them all with an untested rune tattoo…” Dobby floated his Mistress to the bed, but even that slight movement had her groan, and Dobby almost dropped her in surprise; that hadn’t been a moan of pain. “Kuso..! Put me down!” She was let go mid-air over the bed and, with reflexes, twisted for landing, only to crumble on the beddings with a moan. “This is not happening!” But it was, she wasn’t just a skin-deep illusion of a female but an actual bodily version of himself, and his cock-turned-pussy was hyper sensitive to the slightest stimulation.

“Mistress should walk around and get used to it before meeting Bumblebee… in 90 minutes.” The elf then fled the room, nearly severing their bond to emergency levels.

“You coward!” That was it, only a single sock as a Christmas present! She did get up and practiced her gait and grace with her Tai Chi routine. All it really taught her was to minimize her visible reactions to the small tremors running down her spine. She took comfort in knowing that most humans would view it as her feeling cold. Highly likely, if believing she wasn’t used to the castle’s drafty halls.

Chapter Text

Hogwarts Express arrived at Hogsmeade Station at the stroke of 7 PM. Hagrid, as always, was standing ready to guide the new First Years over the lake, offering Hogwarts from its best angle, to impress the youngsters. As the Hogwarts Express emptied of students, the Trio was transported into Albus’s office, where he was going over their files. Albus looked up and must have expected something very different as he began smiling with twinkling eyes. He observed one of the females shudder slightly, with every few steps, and her groan when sitting might as well have been a low moan. Albus chuckled at her bashful blush, barely visible in her downcast head.

“Ah, the wonders of the female form. I’m assuming you used a potion, my boy?” She grimaced at the pronouncement but nodded in response. “I suggest you be escorted until you have become accustomed to this new body. Also, I think staying female is prudent to hasten the process.” She tried to cross her arms in exasperation, but struggled with the posture and gave up with a sigh.

“I was certainly planning to, Headmaster.” All eyes in the room fell on her, specifically on her shapely bosoms and body. It was a well-known fact that a potion gender shift was restricted from any alterations by spells, so it wasn’t possible to alter her size. The same applied to this Rune-Tattoo, with warnings of fatal complications. “Do glamours count as an altering spell?” Freyja gave one of her usual lengthy information dumps, and the idea was abandoned as a precaution. She had rolled her eyes at one point and didn’t notice her mentor’s reaction to her exposed face; his stern question then took all three by surprise.

“I don’t think I read anything about you portraying a vampire? A last-minute addition, perhaps?” His blue eyes, like ice, zeroed in on the crimson eyes, fangs, and long nails. 

“I needed something drastic besides a change of gender to distract from the truth.” Their eyes met and held like magnets, the younger daring the older to attempt anything as foolish as breaching a vampire's mental defenses. “Everyone knows Harry Potter is neither woman nor vampire, yes?” Albus sagged in his chair, feeling his age for once, silently praying: This could ruin everything!

“I need names. You left those out...” She quickly explained the trouble with picking, besides Freyja. “I see. Freyja and Rollo, very Scandinavian... I’m unsure how to pronounce this?” She said it slowly twice and once normally, to let him get a sense of it. “I sensed a certain Japanese theme in your dress, Eiko. We should head to the Great Hall.” Moving quicker than believed possible, Albus was at her side almost before she was out of her seat. “Allow me...” Eiko gave a tight smile, and with an iron grip on her Lure, she accepted the offered elbow of her mentor, resigned to her fate, and concentrated on not allowing her Lure to explore. “Congratulations on your engagement, Freyja, Rollo. I would be delighted to host your wedding at Hogwarts. It has been years since a wedding was held within these grounds, and with the Service here, it seems rather fitting, wouldn’t you agree?” He graciously ignored Eiko’s slight shudders as they made their way to the stairs. 

“That’s most generous of you, Headmaster. We might take you up on the offer, but let’s get this war out of the way first.” Freyja leaned into Rollo’s arm, picturing a grand, fairytale forest wedding where her life would change so much; it would be perfect in the Coven.

“Certainly, Freyja.” They exited the staircase, making their way slowly with the Viking couple leading. Albus swished his wand, and a muffling ward sprang up around them, and Eiko sighed. “I understood that no spell or rune existed to imitate a real vampire. Have you stumbled upon new knowledge?” So, he wanted to play at denial. “I would be most curious to learn about this discovery and the amazing charm work involved.” He chuckled darkly at her resigned groan. “Thought so. I expect the entrancing account of how this came to be tomorrow.” She tensed, prepared to grip the couple and shadow out. “Should we say after breakfast?”

“Oh. I thought it an order, not a request: how silly of me.” He refused to respond to her jibe and just kept walking. “I sometimes forget we are but pawns in your Master Plan, but alright: I will give you my life’s story. Who knows, you might just learn a thing or two...” The ward was removed as they stopped in front of a door. Distance-wise, it shouldn’t take them to their destination, but that was Hogwarts for you; it reminded her of the Shadows. It wasn’t hard to see that her mentor was slightly chastised at her pawn comment, and a feeling of dread invaded her senses: what was he up to now? 

“A life story.” Eiko flinched, beating herself up for showing a card too soon. “Alive for over a hundred years and still able to be blindsided so easily...” 

“It only looks like that from your side of the board, Headmaster; it certainly wasn’t from my side.” This seemed to delight the man, who gave a hearty chuckle. Freyja and Rollo went through the wide door, where they were met with hushed whispers. 

“That calms my soul to hear, my dear.” Eiko huffed, preoccupied with thoughts on what to reveal the following day: all cards on the table, and if not, then what did she hold back? So consumed in her thoughts, she never registered just where her mentor was guiding her. Her mind finally caught up with her surroundings: This was petty, even for him! Stiff as a board, she glanced out the corner of her eye at the staring and slightly confused Potion Master. “Severus, meet Eiko. She and her friends will run a Courting Service this year. Please do your best to make them feel at home. I will see you, my dear, tomorrow.” He walked away and left her there, at the end of the table with only Severus beside her, and she mentally banged her head into the back of her chair: this was clearly to get back at her for keeping secrets from her mentor, but the joke was on him. She had just been given the perfect opening to activate her long-awaited plan! It had always looked so hopeless to get near the Potion Master as Harry Potter, but maybe Eiko the vampire could succeed? 

“I am surprised the Headmaster has allowed a young vampire into the school. Wouldn’t you end up posing a threat to the students?” She poured water calmly, as much to see if he would expand on his question as to give herself a moment to sort her mind. “If you need any potions, my door is always open. I make an excellent Blood-Imitation.” She graced him with a grateful smile, putting her petite hand on his left forearm. He flinched; she knew she was touching the Mark, but he wouldn’t want to call attention to it and didn’t pull away.

“I don’t doubt your proficiency and skills; after all, you are the Youngest Potion Master on record, but I don’t take such potions. There is no need to, as I live on animals.” His eyes widened. “The British Ministry is determined to misinform its citizens on more than just Vampires for unknown reasons. Human blood is only needed to heal injuries...” She removed her hand to take a sip of water. As she put it down again, she looked at him and licked her lips to catch the last moisture. “We do enjoy tasting, though.” She gave him a slight leer, but it was cut short as Albus stood to introduce the Trio. She did see Severus try to suppress a shudder.

“Welcome to another year at Hogwarts. I’m excited to announce a new addition to the school and hope it will be a permanent installation. First, let me introduce the new faces at the Head-table; they will function as Assistant Staff and can assign detentions and take points for bullying.” What was the old goat up to? She wouldn’t be surprised if it were some lame attempt at getting on her good side, and it certainly was time to rein in several bullies. “They will spend most of their time running their Courting Service. As a result, you will find your schedules slightly different tomorrow, as I have rearranged them. Monday to Thursday are full days, with each house's year groups in the classroom, which leaves the weekend open to enjoy the services offered, including a Makeover Shop. I have also instructed Teachers to refrain from assigning detentions on Friday, Saturday, and Sundays, but heed this warning.” The hushed whispers were silenced in anticipation of his next word: you had to give it to the Old Goat; he knew how to command a room. “Should your grades fall below what's acceptable, you will be banned from the Service and serve detention while everyone else enjoys themselves. Your Head of Houses will call a meeting and explain what is acceptable and what is not.” He invited the Trio to stand. “Rollo and Freya are engaged and want to see others find their life partner. She will handle the Makeover shop while Rollo handles payments.” Freyja curtsied, and Rollo bowed his head. The student body was disappointed to learn they weren’t singles, but everyone soon turned to Eiko. “This is Eiko, she is the manager and will be handling questions and appointments. You will find posted information in your dorms, a pamphlet, and your timetables at breakfast. Bon appétit!” 

“It seems we will be colleagues this year. This was news to you, yes?” He offered a plate of chicken, and she accepted, taking a leg while nodding.

“A lame attempt on his part to get on my good side. We have disagreed for years on the running of the school.” That should relax her teacher, that she wasn’t a total stranger to the Headmaster. “Forgiveness for the sake of forgiveness is dangerous and lends only to resentment. Forgiveness should be earned and freely given.” She employed rusty lessons and held her posture as she cut her food, taking barely a nibble’s worth into her mouth, and making sure to dab her lips for messes regularly. Severus observed this covertly, seemingly focused on his own plate, but she saw his lingering glances when she took a bite: he was likely wondering how she could eat food. “As long as I mind my feedings and stay clear of high levels of processed sugar, I’m free to eat for taste's sake. Hogwarts cuisine is truly renowned even outside Britain.” She was surprised at how little acting on her part it required to talk with the man; usually, she had to act tough and arrogant to meet the image forced on her by the Harry Potter image, and now, without the reminder of his father, the potion master was studying her without hostility. 

“How do you know my record?” His expression was one of wonder, like he found the notion that anyone could be keeping track of his achievements an impossibility.

“My Coven always keeps track of academic progenies; our latest admission is a Rune genius.” She let him chew on that and enjoyed her chicken, glancing from the corner of her eye, she could see him staring at his forearm. “My Queen likes to add those contributing to the Coven; she’s always saying that abilities should be rewarded.”

“So, you are close to the Queen?” 

“I’m her youngest Bodyguard, my full title is General Eiko Crow. I earned my place just last summer. When my friends approached me with this idea, my Queen allowed me to join them and correct the misinformation and fear towards Vampires. Did you know it's been almost 500 years since we needed to hunt human blood? Queen Rinshi and the Vampire Council made a plea to Lady Magic; they had suffered greatly in an all-out eradication of the Covens, and their desperate cry for help was answered, and the need for human blood was changed to healing. It must be offered freely, and in exchange, we now only need animals.” Severus’s plate was long forgotten, food going cold, and he was twisted in his seat towards her. “We raise a diverse selection of animals for more than just Blood.” Lady Magic had played them a tiny trick. She encouraged them to develop a preference for certain animals, and her personal favorites were deer and rabbits. As a result, each Coven had a whole building with rooms, enclosures, and the animals' natural habitats, as well as entire herds of animals. It was clear that she had his full attention. 

“Are there other potions you use? Is the need for Sun-Blocker also wrong?”

“No, we still need that, but not the one you know about. Our Sun Blocker has undergone several upgrades, and it’s only the old ones we give out to the public: it still works, but we use a much better version ourselves.” It wasn’t hard to see he was disappointed at this news; it was probably torture to know that discoveries were out of his reach. “I need to brew a batch in a few days. I seem to have forgotten to pack some ingredients, so I’ll have to order them.” Bait set! 

“What ingredients might that be? Though I’m proud of my inventories, I shall be the first to admit it is hard to buy the rarer types on a teacher’s salary, but I do my best. If they need to be fresh, we have many rare plants in the greenhouses for lessons.” He took a sip of wine as she answered, looking calm outwardly, but she could sense his excitement in his aura.

“The Aloe Vera gel doesn’t need to be fresh, but it's more effective. Rose Petals and Dittany need to be freshly picked, though.”

“Our greenhouses have both. If you let me know in advance, I can harvest them with little trouble. I might even be of assistance in the brewing process?” Bait taken! She placed her hand on him again, this time on his knee, and thanked him with a grateful smile.

“As I’m unfamiliar with the school and its greenhouses, I will be very grateful for your trouble of harvesting, but... as for assisting in my brewing... Unfortunately, outsiders are not permitted to participate. Unless they take a vow of silence, of course.” She suddenly stood up, glaring hard at the far end of the room for a second; only the head table had noticed her and tried to figure out what she was observing: she raised her arm and, with a flick of her wrist, had her wand in hand. She fired off two spells in rapid succession and was moving before they even landed. She phased to the far end of the Slytherin table where the 7th years sat. In five elegant and unhurried steps, she stood behind Draco Malfoy and glared at Markus Flint across the table, who was stuck to the seat and silenced. “I thought the House of Snakes was subtle, refined, and true gentlemen and ladies. Even if you harbor such abhorrent thoughts about your classmates, you should have better sense than airing them in public and certainly not within my earshot.” The room was frozen in their seats, and her voice carried to the head table. “Allow me to enlighten you with this, as one with actual knowledge: blood is blood. It’s the same, Muggle or Magical, Pureblood or Muggleborn. It is exactly the same.” Markus tried to argue, but nothing left his lips, and he gave up with a glare. “Glare all you want. Should I have a taste and tell you just how stale and inbred your family tree has become?” He now tried to flee the table to no avail, and she turned to the hall as a whole. “Clean up your act. Bullying and badmouthing will no longer be tolerated. This student is experiencing the consequence of his first breach: 2 hours of silence since he has had nothing nice to say for 30 minutes.” A flick of her wand, and Markus was free. He fell off the bench, but no one dared to laugh as she returned serenely to her seat and smiled at Severus’ raised eyebrow.

“What was that about?”

“I just stopped him from uttering that ridiculous word anymore tonight. If anyone’s blood is muddy, it's the Pureblood, as even isolated ponds are renewed each time it rains.” She managed to subtly edge her chair closer to his, without it being evident to the room, but allowed her to reposition her hand on his knee. “Sorry to rush off like that.” She had expected Malfoy to be the one mouthing off, but had been the lone Snake telling Flint to knock it off; she had heard his heart try to beat its way out of his chest the longer she stood behind him, and she wasn’t all that sure it had been from fear. 

“Just how good is your hearing? That group was whispering at the other end of the room... I can barely read their expressions from here!” He accepted her easy shrug; there likely wasn’t a scale, and it might even be individually graded. He stayed silent while she filled and drank from her glass, wishful thoughts on having such abilities swarming his head, which made him remember her comment, before setting her example to the student body: he was slightly miffed it had been one of his Snakes calling for it, but what could you do with a house like his? “You mentioned something about a vow? To partake in brewing? What does that involve?” Hook, line, and sinker! He tried to sound nonchalant, but his eagerness was evident in his expressive eyes, if you knew how to read them.

“Well, that hinges on several factors, dependent on your choice. You have a few to pick from...” She scanned the room, finding that almost everyone had finished eating their desserts, and estimated that the Feast would conclude soon. “I can sadly share little here, but I would happily discuss it privately.” She smiled warmly, even as she wanted to rush over and strangle a particular old goat when Severus hesitantly glanced at their mentor. She felt the need to help her teacher become independent and placed her hand on his arm, drawing his eyes back to her. “If you want to learn more, you must promise not to discuss this with anyone. This process is yours to go through and decide on.” Determination entered his obsidian orbs like an inner glow.

“I promise. May I escort you back to your chambers? I would very much like to hear more about these choices.” He covered her hand, still on his arm, with his own bigger one. This could be his chance to survive by brewing in hiding for the war with a whole new arsenal.

“Yes, please. The Headmaster has asked that I be escorted: something about easing the students into my presence here... if the misinformation is this dire, I can understand his request much better.” Of course, she had always known this. “If we leave now, we can avoid the rush. We were placed beside the Grand Staircase, and I’m sure everyone will try to have a peek. My room is right inside the entrance, so we should get there first.” He stood and moved behind her, pulling her chair back, before meeting her at her side. He offered his elbow stiffly; he hadn’t had a woman on his arm since the days of his friend Lily, and even then, they had been more siblings than friends. “Thank you, Professor.” They left the suddenly silent Hall calmly, out the door she had come through, she tried to stiffen her spine to minimize her shudders, and it worked for the most part: as hoped, it looked as if she felt chilled. 

“Please, call me Severus. I am not, nor have I ever been, your Professor.” Eiko hummed and leaned into his shoulder, as between her shudders and her iron grip on her Lure, she was struggling a bit to walk. 

“Of course, Severus.” She noted they were walking the route from Albus’ office to the entrance hall, a 10-minute stroll. After her third shudder, Severus halted them momentarily, slipping his arm around her shoulder and letting his cape cover her. “Thank you. Back in Japan, buildings are well isolated...” They were walking again, and to avoid stumbling, she put her arm around his back and held on to his hip in a one-arm hug. She now had to try to hold her breath as the closeness brought his scent too close.

“It helps the first 3 years to burn off extra magic, keeping them warm, and the older years learn to utilize warming spells and later runes on their clothes. It can get tedious with time.” This tidbit was totally new to her. “Albus forgets to share the little things, that mind of his is always multitasking, and I’m afraid he focuses more on the bigger pic.... shit...” Suddenly, she supported his weight as he tried to curl in and around his left arm. She looked around in panic and quickly dragged him to the nearest shadow. “..why would he…extend the ward…this far...?”

“Hold on and don’t freak out.” She didn’t give him time to question her instruction and took them into the Void. She let go of his arm around her shoulder but tightened her arm around him, and with a few signs, she had a one-time-use path to her room. Severus was stiff beside her, left totally without his senses other than the feeling of her holding on to him; he gasped in surprise when she picked him up in bridal style. “It’s safer this way.” For his sake, she walked normally but hurriedly; she allowed her Lure out to touch, and he relaxed instantly.

“What did you do? Where are we?” It wasn’t hard to hear that he was thrown off kilter, but not necessarily scared, and she could see him try to look around: he would only see blackness.

“My Lure took the pain. Humans usually refer to this place as the Void; a few Muggles have likened it to a sensory deprivation chamber. This is the Realm of a Kitsune-Demon, as old or older than Lady Magic; they can’t seem to agree.” She then exited and found her room dimly lit. She put him down and gave him an apologetic grimace, and at their separation, he tensed up in unexpected pain. He clutched his arm while she phased over to a painting. Flipping it with one hand, she bit her finger and used the blood to write out his name and activated it with a push of magic: she was by his side in a second to catch him as his body gave up standing. “Forgets the small things...hai!” Severus accepted her help and sat at the low table, watching her walk to a cabinet. “What was he thinking! You have to pass that regularly...” She returned with a silver tray with two clear glass decanters; the only difference between them was the glass stopper, one colored green and the other red. She poured from the green into a delicate crystal chalice and placed it in front of him, but he waited to see what she would do: she poured from the red into her own.

“Why two bottles?” She demonstrated by sniffing her glass before offering it to him, smiling. He sniffed, and an unmistakably tangy scent caught his nose. He took his glass and gave it a sniff: no tangy scent.

“Mine contains blood, while yours is the human-friendly version. I can drink both, but yours are merely juice for me. Please, don’t mistake it for a weak wine.” Sensing his trepidation, she topped her glass with the green decanter and took a long sip. Putting her glass down, she flicked her wrist and summoned a folder from a dresser. Severus, meanwhile, took a testing sip and found it to be a sweet wine that almost enticed one to keep drinking, but he remembered her warning. “Your first choice is rather simple. Do you only wish to brew and help improve our potions, or more?” He felt this was asked as a sort of test, the temptation of more being dangled in front of him, her mischievous eyes watched him patiently as she sipped her wine.

“I would be interested in more than partaking in brewing, though I fail to see what can be offered to me...” His left arm twitched with pain at the traitorous thoughts running through his mind. This mark of shame would forever taint him; he flinched when she covered the area he was glaring at. 

“You have a unique opportunity: Become a vampire and be a Brewer, your Mastery offers this, and our Ritual Transformation will break this...” She squeezed his forearm. “...all oaths cease at death. You would be free.”

“And what will that freedom cost me?” He took his arm away and clasped his hands in his lap. “My last attempt at freedom left me a spy...”

“Entering the Coven is a simple oath to follow the law. Our Queen has spent decades perfecting them to let us live in peace. A Brewer takes another oath of silence to safeguard our recipe archive; you can only discuss it with other Brewers and officers. If you only wanted to brew, you would simply vow not to share the knowledge gained.” 

“You left out the cost..?” He tried glaring at her, but she merely answered with a sly smile.

“You are halfway there. You know an officer, me. To get there, most humans go through several years of networking, as for repaying myself...” She wrote a list on a piece of paper and handed it to him. “A supply each month of this list for this year? I doubt you would accept it if I demanded nothing, hai?” She giggled at his expression. “Why are Snakes so uptight about debts?”

“They usually come back to haunt you if left unattended.” He inspected the list again, mentally calculating brewing times versus quantities. “Most of these are low-grade beauty products, for the makeover shop, I assume?” She nodded, sipping the last of her wine. “Shouldn’t take more than a day...” She tried to smile innocently at his raised eyebrow. “This is too little: why?”

“I have no other needs. Your potions’ quality is without current measures, even for something as simple as beauty products, and a year’s worth is nothing to dismiss so easily.” She held his gaze and dared him to argue her logic, and by that diminish his accomplishments. She was impressed; she could barely discern the blush on his face at her acknowledgment of why his potions were the best quality on the market. “Becoming a vampire would, sadly, negate that.” Severus nodded with a small sigh.

“Everything comes at a cost... but even then... Albus will never allow it, and without his support, I would be in Azkaban within the hour.” He buried his face in his hands, rubbing hard at stinging eyes, and tried to regain control. He never noticed the murderous expression on Eiko, but sat up in surprise when she charmed forth a Howler.

“You lying, manipulating, shameless bastard! Just wait until tomorrow. I will bring hell down on you with truth alone! How dare you leave a man in the belief of impending prison sentences at the whim of an Old Goat like you!” He could only blink sluggishly in shock as she added a strong, stinging hex to shoot the target. “That’s just the beginning, believe it! I will cut down your beloved pedestal to the ground for this!” She sealed the spells. “Anso! Take this to our esteemed headmaster and make sure he gets the message.” Anso, a disguised Dobby, not that he needed much, appeared and gladly took the red envelope.

“I'm making sure he stays seated, Mistress, have no fear. The mistress should take a Bag soon.”

“I will, Anso. Thank you.” Dobby bowed and popped away. “Serve him right.” She poured herself another glass and didn’t sip, but took a mouthful. 

“What the fuck just happened? Did you really send a Howler to the Headmaster?! He’s surely going to ban you from Hogwarts!”

“After tomorrow’s meeting, I would be shocked if he’s not entertaining retirement plans; he has had it coming for years, and don’t you go and defend that man! Did he tell you the Ministry only pardoned you as long as he could vouch for you, in case you should switch sides again?” Severus nodded, dumbfounded, a pit growing in his stomach. “Severus... a pardon is never given with conditions attached. You either get it or you don’t.” He shook his head. It couldn’t be. “We never could figure out why you stayed...”

“He told me it was a condition: continued supervision, he said!” The hurt and betrayal were evident in his voice. “I’ve wasted 16 years teaching idiots, who couldn’t care less about the fine nuances in their potions... and for what?!” She reached out and took his hand, cradling it between her own. He didn’t fight her and just stared as she caressed him with her thumb.

“Join the Coven, claim control of your life: as a vampire, you will gain endless time, and these 16 years will soon be but a faint memory.” A life of bad decisions held him back from agreeing on the spot.

Chapter Text

“What happens? Should I not accept any of this?” He instantly regretted asking as her calming caress halted. He looked up from their clasped hands and found her crimson eyes studying him with a serious expression. As their eyes connected, he could feel her hands change the way she held him slightly.

“I remove this entire conversation. You would only remember my comment at dinner about a vow and that you refused; everything in between is erased.” He appreciated the almost emotionless delivery. “Donors are offered contracts, and if they refuse, the knowledge is locked away from sharing what they learned from it. Giving you a Transformation offer this way, without being a Donor first for 10 years and networking your way to it, by necessity lends more information on the inner workings of the Coven, and it is much harder to lock away.” He looked down at their hands, breaking her intense stare, and studied her grip: it neither felt nor looked like a grip, as she was supporting with one hand and the other rested ever so gently on top of his, but it was one; he had little doubt she could tighten her petite hands and keep him pinned with little trouble. Age, wisdom, and experience meant nothing against the power and speed of a vampire: he wanted... no...needed that kind of power for himself, but did he dare? Did he dare not? “I can only give you hours, not days, to think.” 

“I understand.” He didn’t really, but he hardly needed days to decide; it was a question of courage to seize his chance even though he didn’t deserve it. “What now?” He tried to pull his hands from her gentle grip and relaxed when she easily let go, distracting himself by sipping wine.

“Would you like to see the Inner Court? I could introduce you to a few Brewers?” He looked over in alarm and put the chalice down.

“Shouldn’t that wait? Until I accept? Less to erase, right?” Would they even talk to a human? Or be jealous of his fast-track offer? 

“You don’t have 10 years of being a Donor behind you, so how can you make an informed decision without any context? You deserve all the information I can offer, considering I’m cutting down the usual week to hours; you only need to ask.” Her earnest smile was almost too much to look at, and he turned away to look at the room, his mind sorting through his long list of questions: what to ask?

“You call it a Coven, but invited me to an Inner Court? Are there differences?” He found the dimly lit room hard to see, the burning candles casting light and shadows randomly. She must have sensed his troubles, as her wrist flicked upwards, and a matted glass orb above them lit up, bathing the rectangular room in bright luminescent light that reached every corner.  “Does it hurt your eyes?”

“Sunlight hurts in the beginning; you learn to contract and expand the iris as needed. This orb is fake, for lack of a better word, and don’t hurt, but it can be tiring to shield your eyes all day, and we are creatures of the darkness, after all.” He hummed in agreement. He had come to appreciate it through his years of brewing, as several called for it. His survey of her room drew his eyes to a dresser with a frame containing a feature he had never seen before: a slideshow of pictures changing every 5 seconds. “You haven’t seen a Slide Frame before?” He shook his head, entranced by the pictures. “Here...” She summoned it to him, letting him study the silver frame. “You place the pictures in the back, and it gets absorbed. You have to clear the memory card to remove even one... this rune.” She pointed to an indentation on the back. “Then it spits out the pictures, and you can reload in a new order. Press this corner and the image freezes until you press again.” What he didn’t know as he studied each picture was the nifty charm work the Rune Team had done to switch the image of Harry Potter with Eiko Crow right after the ritual, so each one was an actual photo taken at one point through his life with the Coven: he watched her grow up in fast-motion from her first night with Alex Crow and to her Officer Ceremony a year ago. “Coven is the name of our gatherings. Queen Rinshi’s is the oldest and was created by the leftover members of other Covens back when Lady Magic was called. Rinshi and the Counsel are our oldest, with the Queen being almost 1000 years old.” 

“And the Inner Court?” He froze a few times to study the backgrounds.

“Those living in the castle. Officers, Brewers, Healers, and the secretary force behind us all, Court Ladies and Gents. You will also see Concubines, private Cooks, Gardeners, Nannies, and so on, minding the castle. The rest of the Coven lives outside the castle, divided by the Pleasure District between us. I grew up in the castle as my Sire is also a General, so I haven’t been much past said Pleasure District.” She indicated a picture of herself walking down a road with houses on either side; lanterns overhead bathed the whole scene in dim pink light. He nearly blushed at the scantily clad people in the background: that was too much bare skin to be called decent! “We live inside a Dome, much larger than it looks from outside. Available space in the mountains is sparse as is, and being the largest Coven takes a lot of space.” 

“What will my being a Brewer require?” Even if he had to brew all day, every day, it was still an improvement to teaching dunderheads.

“What you make it into. Besides supplying the Infirmary in conjunction with the other Brewers, you are free to invent, experiment, and learn. This is not another life sentence of servitude to a master; you are joining a community to live as you wish: no strings attached. Brewer status gets you inside the Court, you gained that right through your Mastery, you pay a General for the Transformation - a year’s supply for the Shop - that’s it. What you do in the Court builds your path forward. Just remember this: though ageless, we are not invincible.” He snorted.

“Who is?” They sat in silence, each sipping wine, and he appreciated her calm presence amid his chaotic mind. “About after... Albus will be far from pleased, and what do I say to the students? I’ll teach until summer, but even then, Albus might need to hire outside Britain...” He grimaced at the reminder of how few picked Potion as a living in Britain.

“Don’t worry about him. Next year may end up not being his headache at all. As for the students... There is a solution for that once you can control it.” She demonstrated by retracting her long nails. “Same goes for eyes and fangs. Use a glamour until then, or tell them the truth: you were rewarded.” His outrageous expression made her giggle. “Nani? You are! Please give them the shock of a lifetime and teach them that hard work pays off. Excuse me a moment, will you?” He nodded and, curiously, followed her with glances until she removed the outer layer of her thin robe with oversized sleeves, baring her shoulders, arms, and even her lower back and belly. She threw it on the bed before opening the chest at the foot of said bed. She returned with a few items. “You are welcome to taste, or I can call Anso.” He studied the snacks and noted a red thread through them all.

“Blood snacks? Why?” He kept his eyes plastered to the table and fought the desire to look at her; her top may be covering, but it did little to hide her shape. He was not used to seeing that much skin. He had hardly thought even to try to look for years and years: why was she different? But he thought he knew: she was setting him free, offering him incredible power, and she hardly asked for anything in return, with no hint of willful deceit from her.

“I still miss eating as a human. Snacking through the day helps, animal blood is added as a sweetener, and preference for taste combinations. I’m addicted to these rabbit lollies with seaweed, while my Sire swears to the chips with berries and bear.” She took neither and reached for what looked to be a juice box, but it lacked the usual cartoon imagery. She inserted the straw and sipped a bit. “Deer blood mixed with my Donors’.” He blushed at being caught staring, but she either ignored it or didn’t see, as she opened the bag of chips before doing something he had never seen. She used chopsticks to pluck up a chip and caught it with her lips; she didn’t touch them to her lips and rested them on a dish he had ignored before. “Have you used chopsticks before?” He shook his head. “No worry, we all hate them.” He snorted, amused at her playful whisper behind a hand. “You just need Batty...” He held back questions as she stood up and walked to a glass cabinet. He listened with interest as a melody began playing: it reminded him of a lullaby. She returned with a case and handed it to him, holding it out with both hands. He got the sense this was something important when her head bowed as he accepted it, but then the momentary tension vanished, and he pressed the silver case open.

“What is this?” He picked up the rather cute silicone bat figurine. 

“That’s Batty, it's a practice tool. His wings hold the chopsticks. You get used to them without the trouble of dropping them.” This made him pick up the silver chopsticks resting in a bed of velvet crimson. “Hold them to him, he’ll grip onto them.” He followed the instruction and offered the ends to the small bat, which animated and hooked its wings around the silver with a little happy-bat sound. “I haven’t used him for years now. I’m sure he feels abandoned, and it's nice to pass him on. He’ll adapt to your grip over time, and you have to press his belly for him to let go... might take a few tries: he’s a little clingy.”

“So he’s sentient?”

“Only enough to entertain kids. I had him on a chain when I first got him. He can sing a few lullabies and will hiss at you if you do something wrong while using him. It’s a bit of a guessing game for kids to figure out what makes him mad. I used to slouch a lot.” A glance confirmed she certainly didn’t any longer. He pressed Batty’s belly and kept pushing until the figurine dropped the chopsticks with a squeal and rubbed its belly, as he packed both away. “Aww.. You figured out the trick...” He smirked at her pout.

“If his purpose is to educate kids, it would only make sense for him to teach kids to be more confident in their request of him.” He placed the small case in his inner breast pocket and held a hand to it. “Thank you, Eiko. I promise to take good care of him and will return the case as soon as I feel confident in my abilities.”

“No hurry. Usually, they lie unused for years and years before being passed on to our children. My Sire gifted me this Batty, but it was not his heirloom, only mine. I gifted a new set to Rollo and Freyja to begin their heirloom. Rollo had never used them either. Freyja was a pro when I met her and is obsessed with Tandoori Chicken.” He felt his heart warm at the show of trust Eiko put in him; it didn’t make much sense to him after hours of meeting, but it felt good.

“My parents never ordered take-out, and living in the School doesn’t offer much exploration in cuisine. A few years back, we held a Tournament, and several new dished was served. I think the elves somehow kept track of favorites as I still see a few offered.” She listened with a smile, snacking on her chips daintily and sipping from the straw: if not for the faint smell of blood, her vampire traits visible, she almost looked like a normal human. “How much can you imitate us?”

“Fully, if needed. Newborns - be it born or turned - first learns to call it to the surface, and there is no right answer for how long it takes. There is no sun sensitivity, and sleep will still be needed. When all three remain without struggle, the next step can begin: hiding them.” Severus watched as her long, pointy nails shrank to newly trimmed and rounded; she smiled enough that he saw her fangs shrink before vanishing altogether. His gaze moved from lips to crimson eyes, curious at her human eye color: as the red bled away, he gasped. “Is there something wrong?” Her worried expression jerked him back from memory lane, and he shook his head, giving a small smile to calm her.

“You just reminded me of a childhood friend... Her hair was red, though, but she had the same emerald eyes as you.” Why was it that Eiko made him remember Lily more in a few hours than in the last 16 years? Potter never reminded him of Lily despite having the same eyes; he only saw the glasses and hair so like James Potter.

“What a coincidence, ha~a? Shielding will hurt at first, but you'll grow used to it, and it will be one of the few things that make you feel tired. I sleep about 2 hours every other day, but that would double if I have to shield for several days at a time. With enough time passing, the need for sleep fully stops.” He breathed a little easier as her eyes returned to red. “That’s why I suggested telling the truth. I can’t tell you how long it will take you to gain full control of Shield; it depends on the person, but forcing it is not recommended and will be very draining. You would need a strong donor to even attempt it unless you, like me, have enough gold to pay the Blood Bank. I was waiting for Freyja and Rollo to become adults.” 

“I see and will take it into consideration.” Sadly, his vault stayed on the verge of being empty due to his purchase of potion things. “You said human blood heals injuries. Does it happen a lot since you need a Donor on contracts?”

“It used to, in past decades, we now mostly use it for wine before it expires. How much one drinks from a Donor is strictly regulated, and if abused, you will lose your donor, your status, and do prison time.” He listened intently while she explained the payments and what else was required to sign a contract. “If you don’t push your control training, unlike me, the Bank will support your human-feeding needs for free, until you gain full control. Past that, you can always find a quick taste in the Pleasure District until you find a Donor. I managed up to 3 weeks between visits with just a mouthful. This...” She held up the juice box of blood. “...only has three drops of each’s blood for taste, bled from the wrist.”

“There is a difference in where and how it is taken?”

“Yeah... I help them numb and slit their wrists without scaring them, and it is then sent to the Blood Bank and stored for emergencies. I put the request in my monthly order of animal blood. When close to expiring, it is stabilized and added to my next order; it doesn’t do anything but add an extra taste. If used before that, it will rejuvenate. Never drink expired blood, be it animal or human.” She indicated the corner of the juice box. “The box has runes, so it doesn’t matter how you keep them, but you should always check the date.”

“Good to know.”

“That’s for the donating days where I don’t feel the need to drink. It's also how parents feed children, no biting, that’s reserved for Adult Stuff: as my Sire called it for years.” He raised his eyebrow in question. He understood she was talking about sex, but wanted her to elaborate further. “We can hold back venom when biting, but it is much harder to hold back our essence. Its purpose is to give pleasure, so that the blood reaches Siren Grade and we, in turn, can feel tipsy.” So, fang biting meant arousal for the human while slit wrists were platonic, noted.

“Getting drunk will be a notable loss.” She giggled.

“The trade is merely a different kind of drunk but no less effective, trust me.” He smirked a little when she tried hiding her blush by sipping her blood box. 

“You don’t go hunting at all?” She shook her head with a smirk of her own. She rested her elbows on the table and her chin on her hands, giving him a teasing leer.

“The need to hunt, to chase and stalk, was another kind action from Lady Magic: She twisted that into a huge sex drive.” He tried to avoid her mischievous gaze and was saved by a knock on the door. “Enter.” Freyja slid the door open and smiled warmly at the sight of them.

“Just saying goodnight. We sent the last students back to their dorms. It’s curfew in 10 minutes.” Eiko rose and walked to her. “We refused all appointment requests for now; they should use a few days to think about the information. I did take three clients for the Shop, mostly hair and makeup help.” He tried not to stare, too obviously, as Eiko leaned in and whispered something that made the Viking woman’s eyes widen, likely what he was being offered. “Seriously? He lied about that?!” Ah, he supposed it was only fair to share what the Headmaster was willing to do now that they worked for the man.

“I’m taking care of it tomorrow. Go and torture Rollo; that should calm you down. Kiss him goodnight for me, hai?” Eiko kissed her Donor, a tender corner-of-the-mouth kiss, before pushing the fuming woman out the door with a giggle. “Poor Rollo... oh well.” She shrugged a shoulder and waved a hand dismissively, as if shooing away some thoughts. 

“Do I need to prepare in any way for this Ritual?”

“Most of the work is after the Ritual, for registration, which is a paperwork nightmare. You only need to pick a Mentor. That’s why I suggested meeting a few of our Brewers, you would have most in common with them. Can I come with recommendations?” She was back to snacking on her small chips, and he nodded. “Skye is patient, that is, as long as it is a rare potion taking days to brew. Otherwise, he is very high-spirited but always kind and friendly.” He wondered why she didn’t mention age, but maybe that was a rude thing to do? “Kai loves to invent and improve. He grows the easier ingredients himself, and trades for the rarer types or buys them from the Greenhouses. The last I know is not a Brewer, Laban. He was my Mentor growing up when my Sire was away on the Queen’s business, which was sadly often. He loves to see things grow, be it plants or people; he has a knack for helping others, and he is very trustworthy.”

“I would be willing to consider Kai and Laban, Skye sounds too much like a pair of Twins I taught.” He grimaced with memories of the special kind of chaos they excelled in. “How are you so sure one of those two will accept?”

“It’s an honor to be a Mentor. I mentioned those two as they are both without a newborn to help. You get a Handbook when you wake up after the ritual, and it will have all the information you need. Your Mentor helps with the practical things, like making sure your monthly order is placed and explaining the laws. A Mentor is usually of the same gender as the newborn. A male may ask for the opposite sex if it is his sister and vice versa.” He understood and accepted the custom with a nod. “Does this mean you will accept the offer?” He found himself longing for his armchair; this low seating on pillows did nothing good for his sore back. He shifted in his seat with a sigh. 

“It sounds like there are hardly any downsides if I do accept...If I save up my teacher salary for a year, I should have enough to pay rent until I find paid work.”

“Oh...did I forget to mention that being a Brewer is paid? You are paid by the quality of the potions you brew for the Infirmary; this gives you a rating, and that will draw orders from the whole Coven. I doubt you need to worry about money.” She scratched the back of her neck in embarrassment at her omission, and he stared a moment before pinching the bridge of his nose.

“Next time you give this offer, may I suggest it be one of your leading points? My biggest worry was finding a steady income that at least matches what I have now. I’m not a greedy man and prefer a simple home... what now?” Eiko snickered again.

“I’m the worst… Brewers live in the castle, I did mention that, hai?” Severus nodded. “Meaning, you get a private chamber in the castle. Your mentor will help create the pocket space, and you have almost free choice about where to put it... Sorry.” His back gave a twinge, and he threw posture and manners out the window, putting his arms on the table and letting his head rest on them. “So it’s a yes?” Her eagerness forced a smile out of him, luckily hidden.

“Yes. I accept. Albus can threaten to fire me all he wants; it doesn’t seem to matter if he does.” He turned his head to look at her, a sigh from her in disappointed tones.

“You still care about his opinion? After learning he has lied to you for 16 years? You owe him nothing, not after that stunt. Please remember this.” Her expression imploring him to listen, her eyes alight with righteous anger on his behalf, and he felt his heart skip a beat. He flinched at the sensation, so foreign to him, but in his bent position, it made his back flare up and spasms. He sat up with a hiss and tried to stretch out the kink. “Are you hurting? Do you need to lie down?” He fought the blush her worried, caring expression caused, and tried to lighten the mood.

“It is only my back. There is no need to look like I am dying.” He had meant it to be a joke, but a twinge had him grimace. She rolled her eyes, flicked her wrist, and the bag of chips resealed itself, then she rose with natural elegance. He knew he was going to look stiff and awkward. 

“Let me change into something more practical, won’t take but a moment, then we will go. I need to arrange for the Ritual Chamber, where you can soak in the hot spring.” Back pain was soon forgotten, as he realized she was changing behind him, he closed his eyes and attempted to ignore the sounds a few feet away. He still heard the rustle of fabrics, the sound of accessories dropping onto wood, then came a moment of silence. It was broken by mumbled words and the rummaging of a dresser, with drawers barely making any sound as they were pulled and pushed. “...Dokodesu ka..? Wakatta!” It wasn’t long before she returned, unclasped a necklace pendant that morphed into a Moleskine pouch, cleared the table of snacks, and put the pendant back on the chain: a Rubin butterfly.

“Is that Dragonhide?” Though fully covering, the shimmering scales might as well be painted on her slim legs.

“No. Basilisk.” This shocked him. “As I mentioned at dinner, we breed for more than blood. They are manageable in small sizes as long as they understand you. Parseltongue and Parselmagic are far less feared and rare outside Britain. They are super comfortable.”

“Do I need to bring anything?” As foreseen, standing was embarrassingly slow and uncomfortable. Eiko busied herself with writing a note and sticking it on the outside of her door.

“You are not the first, nor the last, visitor arriving with the clothes on your body.” He took that as meaning no and walked to her side. “We won’t need to walk in the Void this time, this path is already made, so once we pass through, it is but a step to be in my bedroom. Hold on.” She guided his arm over her shoulder, her own around his middle in a hug. She put out the glass orb and candles, leaving one over the door so it cast a shadow in front of it. The moment of darkness was less than a blink of the eye, the lack of a solid feeling under his feet a mere second, but no less unsettling, and then they arrived beside another door. “Welcome to my home. Let me find you a Visitor-Basket for your soak...take a look around.” His tour barely took 5 minutes; it was spacious for a single person, but nothing flashy. Elegant yet simple, decorations enhanced the natural wood furniture and black leather nicely without being overly feminine. “Are you ready?”

“Yes.” He followed her back into the bathroom, unusually steamed. The front part of the room was divided down the middle by natural, heated stepping slabs of polished granite. On the left were a closet, a sink, and a mirror, then a section of tiled floor with a low stool. Standing close were a bucket under a tap, a scrubbing brush on a long handle, and a cloth inside. On the right was a 2-by-4-meter pool, where the steam came from. Water trickled into the pool at the door and out of the room at the opposite end. “What’s behind that?” He indicated the thin, paper-looking walls at the back.

“The sauna, Vampire-style. Meaning, too hot for humans. A chance at feeling warm, it feels a bit like the sun without the light. Now...you wash and rinse on the stool before entering the pool, the soap is all natural, so there is no risk of visitors reacting right before a dinner party with the queen: that would be the year’s biggest scandal, you see.” He snorted, sounding like this inner court thing here was no different from human courts. “There are slacks and a robe in the wicker basket. I should be back in about an hour, maybe longer. I’m locking the door: that lets everyone know I’m not here and they will come back later.”

“You don’t use shadows inside the castle, then?”

“Oh, we do, but not into someone’s private chambers. That’s just rude.” He could only nod to that. “Etty!” He blinked a few times in surprise at the beautiful house elf appearing, wearing a cotton version, and undecorated, of the type Eiko wore to dinner. Weren’t elves supposed to be hairless, no matter the gender? “Hello... Etty! How many times must I order you to stop doing that?!” He didn’t need to see the female elf’s expression to know she was smirking, holding her bow but looking up at a blushing Eiko; it was clear to hear when she answered.

“Etty serves Castle and its royals, including you, Mistress, who can accept or be frustrated. How can Etty serve?” Eiko glared at the still-bowing elf.

“Bad elf!” Etty snickered into her hand. “I should refuse to babysit that little devil you call a daughter.”

“Etty would very much enjoy watching you try, Mistress. Ditty is just going to stick to your back for hours, like last time.” He pinched the bridge of his nose as Mistress and Elf continued bickering like sisters. He decided to get rid of his heavy robe before overheating in this sweltering room: Hogwarts certainly never got this hot! “Fine! I’ll still babysit the devil. Where is Kai?”

“He be away on business, no return date.”

“Kuso! Is Laban home? And Dante?” Etty nodded. “Tell Dante to prepare the Chamber for Grade 3. I’ll talk with Laban then.” Etty popped away silently, another surprise compared to the usual sound at Hogwarts. “I really wanted to avoid that bonehead...”

“So, you are a royal? Princess, perhaps?” Eiko swung around, as if she had half forgotten he was there, she blushed a little and fiddled with her high collar.

“Don’t be ridiculous. Rinshi was a Muggle, so no magic. She was turned on her wedding night when a jealous Duke refused to accept her choice of husband; no one knew he was a vampire on top. This means she can’t have children of her own, so she has this list of candidates to take over from her, and I, unwillingly, made the cut. I keep telling her to pick someone else, but then Dante started planting ideas in her head about him and me being the new power couple. My response of ‘In your dreams!’ didn’t sit well with Bonehead. Who cares less about me and more about the throne. How Rinshi doesn’t see this, I’ll never understand. Take your time and relax, don’t open the door.” She left the room with a wave, which also closed the door, and he was finally alone since dinner. He was going to die tonight, become free of oaths, and wake up to a new life.

Chapter Text

First order of business was to strip, after making sure the door was locked securely, he spent a moment to study his body in the mirror: he had new scars on his back, the Dark Lord’s latest punishment had been a vicious lashing between bouts of Crucio. He had healed what he could, numbing the rest, to return and give his report, but it had taken Draco half a day to fix him. He was free from calls for a fortnight yet, as if it would make a difference in him creating the desired potion: that monster couldn’t be allowed a human body and have heirs. Thoughts on the kind of rituals and magical manipulation the Dark Lord would put the kids through shook him from his image, a chill running down his spine.

He sank onto the low stool with a small groan. What was wrong with regular benches? Filling the bucket, he reminisced on his feelings upon waking up today: time was counting down to his death, at the fall equinox, when showing up without the wanted potion, he had little doubt of his fate. He would be thrown to his so-called family, to be broken in all possible ways, and should he survive, the Dark Lord would torture him to death. He had accepted it, maybe even longed for the end, and then at dinner, opportunity came knocking. He thought the Vampire Archive might offer new knowledge that could help the war, so instead of going to his death willingly, he could brew potions in hiding, but the frail ember of hope had turned into a blazing fire in his chest: he would be free of his life’s biggest mistake! He was gaining barely imaginable powers, a place to enjoy his art, and it looked like he had found a true friend in Eiko.

Washing off while sitting down, with a cloth and not just hands, was relaxing. His usual hurried showers only enhanced his irritations in the mornings; even with a fireplace in the room, it stubbornly remained chilly: the curse of living in the dungeons. This room stayed steaming hot, so even though the water in the bucket was cold, he didn’t mind; it was rather refreshing. The action of soaping his hair and rinsing off, by upturning the bucket of cold water over himself, repeated a few times, to remove the protective gunk he always wore, became a very cleansing process.

Feeling cleaner than any previous showers in his life, he checked the curious Rune display on the wall and saw he had spent about 30 minutes washing. He wrapped a towel around himself and rummaged in his basket of items: he found a hair band and a set of hairpins, he left the latter and secured his hair in a ponytail. He was slightly miffed to not find any swimming trunks but accepted it: when in Rome. A testing toe-dip had him rip off the towel and all but jump into the water, nakedness forgotten. Resting his head on the edge, he allowed himself a deep moan of pleasure: this was nothing like the bathing pools at school! 

‘That’s it. I’m never leaving this...’ He was curious how this would feel next time, after the ritual, but why would they have it if it did nothing for them? He looked to the side, trying to imagine what the sauna looked like inside, but pushed the question away for now: he would see soon enough. Relaxing into the slanted seat, he was quickly lulled into a sedate trance; the trickling water sounds completed the atmosphere. He lost track of time, waiting for Eiko to knock on the door to end his moment of peace, so when a sense of danger came out of the blue, it was jarring and made him freeze. 

“So this is the famous Potion Master...” He slowly turned his head and found a young handsome man glaring, arms crossed, and he silently praised himself for bringing his wand into the water: ready if needed but out of sight. “... What’s so special about you to be allowed the ritual without 10 years of service, ha~a?” He never got a chance to retort, seeing Eiko emerge from a shadow behind the intruder, and within seconds, she had the vampire by his long hair and her other hand threateningly gripping the throat: long nails digging into skin.

“You cretin!” She tightened her grip and dragged a groan from the man. “This is a new low, even for you, Dante!” Severus had to strain to catch her words as she whispered to the named Dante. Eiko caught his gaze and raised an eyebrow. He nodded his head to say he was fine. “You dare breach my rooms and ambush my honored guest!” Severus stared wide-eyed as she threw Dante into the locked door, hard enough that it sprang open on impact, and stalked towards the dazed vampire. “You can be certain that Rinshi will hear about this! I will kill you next time you try something like this: I will find and end you, you hear! Get out of my sight, now!” Dante needn’t be told twice and fled through the front door with her stalking after him. She slammed the door shut. “Son of a bitch and hell-hound cursed offspring!”

“Eiko?” Looking over her shoulder, she saw Severus clad in just a towel, hugging the door frame, not exactly hiding but prepared to take cover. He was watching her with wonder. “Should you have done that? He just talked... won’t he cause major trouble now?” 

“Not at all. He was caught red-handed breaching my chambers, my bathroom, even! This will be a stain on his record. If he can do it to a fellow General, what’s to say he won’t try with the Queen’s chambers in the future?” 

“This is something to lose status over, like you talked about gaining status through my conduit in the Coven, yes?” She was now by his side and studying the door.

“You can lose status in the eyes of others, without actually losing anything. Should this leak into the rumor mill of the Inner Court, he could end up demoted or sent on a hard mission as punishment.” She indicated for him to go dress, standing with her back to him as she fixed the door. “Reparo... that will be up to Rinshi. It felt good to remind him I’m not one of his weak conquests.” 

“Clearly. That door was locked...answer me this: how am I supposed to close these robes without bottoms?” She turned to see him clothed, showing off his chest with the open front. 

“You only close the inner robe... like this.” She phased to his side, ignoring his minor flinch at her sudden movement. “Excuse me.” She gently guided his arms up, asking him to hold them there. She then tidied the collars, the drape of the shoulders, and straightened the sleeves to be even. She then plucked an ignored ribbon from the basket and proceeded to wrap fabric and ribbon around his middle, securing it all with a loose bow. “There. Usually you also wear an undershirt, but it’ll be quicker without for the ritual.”

“Am I expected to change my style of wardrobe?” He let himself be guided to her bedroom and to sit at a dressing table, gracefully accepting his fate when she took out a brush. 

“Not really, if you don’t want to, but as a Brewer, you do get a robe that shows your status, it’s only needed for special occasions like a party or talking to the Queen. Most end up with a very mixed wardrobe of several cultures. It is always best to dress like visiting convoys to make them feel at ease. Rinshi lived around the time these types of robes were worn, a Hanfu, so she favors the style over the rest. Servants in the castle always wear a simple Hanfu with colors based on their station or affiliation. Just look at how decorated it is to discern their Master’s status. Those wearing all white are castle servants, virgins sent here from other Covens by their families to learn a trade while protecting their virtue: they are born vampires, so they have only tasted human blood through their parents and animal blood between 10 and 17. Once an adult, they are taken to the pleasure district for their first taste, which awakens the aforementioned sex drive, hence the district.”

“And those turned young?” He was actually relaxing under her ministrations of braiding his hair up and away from his neck. 

“We need more human blood while growing. Born vampires awaken the traits with almost full control on their 17th birthday: it’s an easier life.” She finished the two tiny French braids over his ears and used the loose ends to wrap around a low ponytail. “There... should keep it blood-free, so you won’t have to wash it again. If you feel ready, I will escort you to the chamber. Laban will be there and bring you back here.” She put the brush away, leaning over him, and he twisted in his seat and caught her hand.

“Can I ask you to attend? Or is that not allowed?” She sat beside him on the bench, sitting the opposite way to him; she had a curious sort of smile in the corner of her mouth, and avoided his searching eyes. 

“Well...you see...normally, only the officer doing the ritual is present. The chamber enhances everything and well...” He lost his patience and reached out, gently gripping her chin and guiding her to look at him. “... it is a private affair, only family and close friends should see.” His hand moved to cup her face, and she leaned into the touch, eyes closed.

“I have neither, yet.” Her crimson eyes opened after a moment, sadness visible by a lone tear rolling down her cheek, and his thumb brushed it away. “Don’t mourn what has been by design: spies are too much risk for such things.” He dropped his hand and covered their clasped hands between them. “You are giving me a chance at a real life; it only feels right to have you there through the whole process.” She got that curious curl of her lip again, this time with an added blush. “Will you be by my side?”

“Hai. Itsumo.” Her promise was sealed by a kiss to his hand. “Shall we?” She ignored his raised eyebrow of inquiry, fixed her hair with a hairpin, and stood up. He would just have to find the answer on his own, but this moment would join the drawer of his most precious memories. “There is something you need to read first on the wall of the Chamber. Laban will be there soon.”

“Will it hurt?”

“No. Laban is going to drain you of blood. At a point, your body will begin to shut down, and you slip into a coma, of sorts. The altar keeps your soul from passing on. Once your oaths have left you, Laban will then bite you with venom while feeding you back the blood he took, which has by then been filtered through his body, altering it in preparation to accept the venom coursing through you. Turning without the ritual, there is no need to drain the human, and we just inject the venom, but it is painful that way: the last pain felt as a human.” He paled a little as he remembered just how young she had been when turned.

“Is the ritual only used as a way to break oaths?” He trusted her to guide him, as his eyes were busy studying the hallways they walked. 

“The answer to that is on the wall, but no, for your oath, we’ll do a Grade 3 Transformation as I just explained. The altar does more than hold your soul from passing on, you’ll see.” She led him across a courtyard, young teenagers clad all in white Hanfu joined their hands and held them up in front of their faces as they walked past them. “Don’t expect them to answer you; they only talk amongst themselves. Adults are scary beasts, you know.” As an adult virgin, he could kind of understand their viewpoint and promised himself to look out for them somehow in the future.

“Was that why they shielded their faces?”

“No, that’s just the way servants honor status. A good servant blends in; that is easier if faces remain vague, the best servant is the one through their abilities you remember. Ladies of the Court uses small fans, which helps enhance their eyes, style, and dress: details are everything here.” Severus stored that tip behind his ear; at least some of his spying abilities would come in handy. “Laban was a Donor at Court for 40 years; he accepted the Transformation when sudden sickness threatened his life; he is now married to a Seamstress and has a pair of young twin girls.” Her tidbit of information failed to distract him from the next courtyard, the open greenhouse of magical plants. “Laban will give you a tour soon. We are here.” It was a hallway going into the ground. It started out looking like the rest of the castle, but as they went deeper, stone soon replaced constructed walls. “Put your hand on the door, it reads what language you use.” He did as asked and shuddered at the icy temperature against his skin. It opened, and they walked into a white stone cave with a high altar in the middle: Rune arrays crisscrossing all surfaces except the altar.

Transformation by Ritual is the gift of Youth bestowed, 
Abilities earned in Life may jump Species, 
So go forth and find your Fortune.

“I would hardly call that a riddle.”

“It’s not meant to be.” They both turned to the male voice. Eiko took a step to block him from Severus and didn’t relax her stance. “General Crow, though it has been a while, I see much has changed, but you remain a delight to behold.” She rolled her eyes at his flirtations, dismissing him as harmless, and turned to join Severus by the altar. Fast as lightning, the male was behind her and encircled her smaller frame with his arms, leaning in and whispering something: his red eyes leering at the frozen potion master. His human ears couldn’t pick up on what the handsome blond male was saying, but going by Eiko’s expression, it didn’t look pleasant. With an effortless movement of her arm, going fluently from her hip and up slash backwards, her fist impacted with a forehead: knockout!

“Etty, please help Frankie find the pleasure district. He seems to have forgotten the way. Thank you.” The elf and the fainted vampire vanished from the room just as another entered. “Laban, thank you for coming.”

“I see Frankie once more tried his luck with a coming newborn. I never thought he would dare with you, though.” Severus observed as they greeted each other, Laban went for a bow like the Virgin Servants, while Eiko blushed. 

“I really wish everyone would stop doing that...” Studying his mentor-to-be, he felt relief that he wasn’t some teenage-looking god, but a comfortable middle-aged human; he had the aura of a competent and calm individual who held himself with dignity.

“It’s far too late to bemoan your station, Eiko-kun. Preparations are in motion for the fall equinox, and too late to stop now.” With that, Laban ignored her and walked over to stand in front of Severus, bowing shortly before holding his hand out. “It’s an honor to meet you, I’m Laban Lan.” At skin contact, Severus tensed up as a feeling of recognition passed between them: it suddenly felt like they had known each other for years. “Excuse me for not warning you, but I find it much quicker to experience than explaining, don’t you think so?” He could only nod with intrigue. “Discovering your gift will be most precious.”

“Gift?” He glanced at the wall script. “My first focus will be control.” Laban nodded easily, like he expected an answer like that, and maybe he had.

“It will show itself on its own in time. If you feel ready, please disrobe and lie on the altar.” He undid the ribbon and looked around for where to put the robe. Eiko answered his question by vanishing after taking the bundle from him, then she took him by surprise and hugged him. He returned the warm hug hesitantly, glancing at Laban, who observed with a patient smile. “Do you take any medication?”

“One of my own inventions. I was to take it tomorrow at breakfast...hey!” Eiko lifted him onto the altar and looked at him innocently with a playful glint in her eyes. 

“The altar will burn off any leftovers of both potions and spells; it won’t be pleasant.” He accepted that with a nod, he was not afraid of pain, and shuffled to lie down, eyeing the shackles with trepidation. “They will prevent self-harm.” Laban strapped the feet, waist, and wrists. “Eiko-kun, the light.”

“Hai.” He tried not to panic as the chamber went dark, for a moment, but then the many runes lit up with a golden glow, and he couldn’t see or hear the two vampires. Through scent and size, he sensed Eiko join him by his head, and she leaned in close. “It starts slow but will feel like you're in flames... the less you resist, the quicker it will be, so don’t hold yourself back.” He wasn’t quite sure what she meant, but figured it would make sense in a bit. He thought he could feel the altar start to heat under him, but maybe it was just his body heating the surface. “I’m staying here with you...” She rested her head on his shoulder while her arms reached out to cross over his breastplate and grip his biceps, effectively trapping him against the warming stone.

“Thank you.” Twisting his head slightly allowed him to place a kiss on her temple; her only response was to tighten her hug with a small sigh. The heat was now as hot as the pool had been and beamed into his body, but it didn’t take long before it went past pleasurable to uncomfortable, and he panted with discomfort, appreciative of his high pain tolerance. Her description was accurate, the heat moving through and over him like licking flames seeking nourishment, and he now understood her comment of not holding back: he gave in and groaned in pain. It felt like his blood was starting to boil, bubbling inside his veins, and he bit down on his lip to stop screaming.

“Sev... don’t resist.” She freed his lips with a gentle hand, prying his tense jaw open, and pressed her middle finger between his teeth. “You won’t hurt me...” True to her word, she didn’t even flinch when he bid down unwillingly as the heat increased to new highs: how much longer?!

“... nnarhh!...” Seconds from screaming his head off, he finally felt the heat recede to the altar, leaving him shivering at the sudden sense of coldness. He released her, expecting her to be hurt and move away to tend to it, but she only moved to his side and crawled onto the altar. He stiffened as she cuddled close, her head over his heart and her arm over his middle: it wasn’t from the cold, but he still shivered. “W-What are you doing?”

“Being by your side, till the end and beyond.” Laban made his presence known by his bound wrist, trailing fingers ran up his bare arm with a tender caress, leaving goosebumps in their wake. 

“Shimeru.” He gasped in surprise as the shackles tightened. She hugged him comfortingly and turned to look at Laban, who put a hand on his head and the other on his free shoulder. Hands then slowly guided to bare his neck, putting him face to face with Eiko, but all he could see were her glowing eyes observing her fellow vampire, her body inadvertently responding to their mentor’s actions. He shivered again, his own body awakening now that he was without his trusted potion. She did say the chamber enhanced everything as he felt far too sensitive for it to be normal; their not-needed breaths danced over his skin in sync as Laban leaned in, placing a trail of kisses from his ear to his vein.

“Ah!” He panted as a cold tongue licked him, Eiko shuddered beside him, and he wondered: did she wish to taste? Laban began to nibble between lick and kisses, raising his heartbeat; he strained against his bonds with a moan. He had no sense of pain, only slight pressure, as a pair of fangs sank into him, but a second later, he had almost stopped breathing: pleasure as he had never felt before coursed through his body straight to his member, which sprang into action and begged for attention. “Aaahhhaa...arhh!” Laban was sucking now, and each pull sent shock waves through him; it was almost too much to take, and his hips buckled against the bond. He sobbed with desire for something he could barely name. “Ple...please...!” He moaned with relief when her hand found him. It didn’t take more than a few tugs for him to come with a long groan. He felt a spell clean him off before she was back to hugging him, as if she hadn’t just given him his first hand job, but he couldn’t muster any embarrassment at the moment: too relaxed, sated, and getting tired. The pleasure was ebbing away, and Laban wasn’t sucking as hard; it reminded him of something. “..you can... taste. If you...wish...” She sat up to look at him.

“Are you sure?” He nodded, as much as Laban’s grip allowed. “Arigato...” He closed his eyes and relaxed. She cupped his cheek and leaned in to lick his bloodied lip. She then shifted a bit, and Laban moved away from his neck. He wondered what they were doing until Laban moaned, and kissing sounds reached his ear. From angles, he knew it was her now licking his neck, the cold tongue felt the same after all, he gave a low moan as she latched on to him without fangs and sucked for a few seconds before pulling back. Laban returned and sucked deeply; his eyes were now too heavy to keep open, and he was slack under them. “You taste divine...” He gave a little pleased hum, but it was getting hard to focus. “...That’s right, just like falling asleep...I’m here when you wake up.” Darkness swallowed him just as the chamber lit up from the altar, glowing.

“Why didn’t you just do the ritual yourself?” He was wiping his mouth, a tad miffed at her interruption.

“He can’t feel indebted to me. Once he learns the truth about me, just who I am, he may demand distance and want nothing to do with me...I almost expect it.” 

“Then why are you allowing yourself this much involvement? You are setting yourself up for heartbreak.” She avoided his gaze. “I’m not sure now was the right time for this...”

“Riddle will kill him at the fall equinox. I couldn’t wait. Let’s get on with it.” Laban slit his wrist and put it to Severus’ slack mouth before biting into his neck, he poured a full shot of venom into the half-dead body and pulled away, careful to avoid the remaining blood. 

“Kowasu!” Eiko draped herself over Severus as he began to shake, the Dark Mark writhing as it burned off and left the skin blackened. She flicked her wrist to free him as he stilled, just in time for his body running on new instincts to grip onto Laban’s arm and suck deeply. “I made a pouch ready for him, should last him a week, depends on how much he pushes it.” Severus was shivering now and only half-awake.

“He will push: that’s just who he is. Freyja might agree to help, Rollo will be plenty for me...”

“I see. I shall warn the Blood Bank as a precaution, then.” He hissed as Severus passed the threshold of drinking back his own blood, and he pulled his arm free of the weak newborn. “If you leave now, you might avoid our Queen: she’s been dying to meet.” Eiko groaned and quickly gathered her resting professor in her arms, phasing over and opening the door gave her a shadow to enter. “Good luck.”

“Arigato!” She managed, somehow, to make the hand signs without waking Severus further, who was changing before her eyes: they got to her room, but she almost lost her grip in shock. “My Queen!” The otherworldly beauty that was Queen Rinshi turned at the call and smirked. 

“I used the door, just so you know, and stop calling me that. Your Sire is my Lover of 7 years and you still won’t call me Okāsan...” She excused herself and walked to the bedroom, and put Severus on the bed. “Oi! Are you trying to hide him from me? Seven years I’ve heard about this human twice your age, and now you ...”

“Ōkē, ōkē!” Rinshi clapped her hands like a child facing a big present, but that was the Queen for you: an ageless child at heart. “The ritual went as it should...” Rinshi jumped on the bed, hardly jostling the sleeping man, like a child she couldn’t look without touching, and traced his lips, jaw, and brows.

“Lan has good genes on him: he’ll certainly become a looker.”

“He already was.” Rinshi straightened and folded her hands near her cheek, cooing at her step-child. “Please keep your Bōirabu fantasies to yourself, thank you.” Rinshi giggled, jumping off the bed.

“You are no fun, Eiko-kun. I just want you to be safe, and I know Dante is not the perfect match, but he is strong.” 

“So is Severus!” Eiko blushed at her outburst and covered her mouth in horror. “Gomen'nasai! But... I will be strong enough for us both; he will catch up in no time.” She flinched when Rinshi phased in front of her, taking her chin in hand.

“And if he rejects you? Upon learning your double identity, that you have another role to play after this fall equinox that would affect him too, you really think he’s strong enough to stand at your side, ha~a?” She smirked at the stubborn glare.

“Hai. If he forgives my deception. I know he will contribute greatly to the Coven, by my side or far from it.” Rinshi smiled and kissed her forehead with love.

“That heart of yours is what will continue this Coven in prosperity. You have trained for it for 10 years, and time is running out. Stake a claim, my dear child, before you run out of choice. The Oracle proclaimed a couple and a ruling couple; it must be.”

“I know...Okāsan.” They hugged, Rinshi cooing as Eiko sobbed into her chest. “I’m gonna miss you so much.”

“Lady Magic will bring us together someday in the next world. Live, love, and help the Coven into the electronic age and don’t let the Counsel trample all over you.” She nodded as they separated. Rinshi gave another kiss before shadowing away. She walked over and sat on the bed, undoing his braids gently to keep him from a headache: she knew he rarely did more than ponytails when brewing. She caressed her fingers lovingly through his hair while wondering how long he would sleep. She should probably get them back to the school before more visitors appear. She put out all the lights and shadowed them to her other bed. She then cuddled into his cooling body with a sigh: tomorrow would be the day of truths, but at least he was safe now.

Chapter Text

xxX Sec Scene Xxx

Severus slowly woke up in an unfamiliar bed and position, a foreign situation for him, spooning with someone: he had heard tales of hangover mornings and figured this was as close as he would ever get to such a state. Based on the room, visible despite the lack of light, he concluded the body in his arms had to be Eiko. Still, he could only see the back of her head: the left arm trapped under said head, and the other taken hostage, held in place around her with their interlocked hands resting under her breasts. Surprisingly, he still needed to allow his body the mechanics of breathing, though it became evident that he could now hold it for much longer, which he did. He wondered why she seemed so fast asleep; had the ritual drained her just by being present? He stiffened as Eiko tightened the spoon, even entangling their legs, and he was now suddenly faced with another normal morning situation he had never encountered but had heard of both embarrassing and pleasurable tales: the morning boner. He tried to angle his hips away, hoping reciting potions might help, but that idea was abandoned as the little minx in his arms merely followed, as if attached, before tightening their tangle. It forced his face to rest pressed into her neck, their joined hands now cupping a breast, and their hips pressed together: this had to be a violation of her trust, in some way or another, right? Right?! He might be a virgin over 30, with no experience to draw on at all, but it seemed his body had no such problems and ached under his restraint. 

“Sev’rus....” His swollen member twisted with desperate interest, drawing a gasp from him, and his hips rolled of their own accord. He became powerless and continued the instinctual roll of his hips, adjusting a bit, his left arm bent around her torso and cupping her other breast through her cotton blouse. He silently begged her forgiveness, simply too unprepared to control his body with a vampire sex drive behind years of potion-suppressed hormones: he was going to make a note of this as an arguable negative to his invention, though if handled right, it could probably be enjoyable for those involved. It took him a few moments to register, his mind focused on containing himself to slow and gentle pressure, but her hips began matching his movements, and she panted with awareness. “Sev...? Are you conscious?” He could only nod with shame, and maybe she sensed that. “You think me angry, ha~a?” He couldn’t discern her tone of voice, but she tightened his arm-lock before throwing her leg over his thigh. “Here... let me show you...” She slowly moved their joined hands from her breast, down along her ribs, stomach, but he stopped her before the waistline.

“Don’t force yourself... make me stop, please..!” But their hands moved again, guided by her firm grip and his slackness.

“I don’t want to...” Her nimble fingers helped him to her folds, imploring him to explore with gentle, encouraging hip movements, smiling secretly when it became apparent he realized she had come to bed in only a t-shirt. “Mmm...” Her hand left his on her mound, and a snap of her fingers had him return her moan: they were now naked! “I want this, so don’t hold back.” He latched on to her shoulder with a groan, one hand cupping her breast, shifted to rub a nipple, his other hand gripping her hip. 

“You are... certain?” She gave the same answer as when promising to be by his side, a heartfelt ‘Hai. Itsumo’. She reaffirmed her answer, angling her hips and gripping his member. She aligned him against wet folds and cupped him in place, drawing a heated moan from them both. At his continued hesitation, restrained avoidance of the right angle for full penetration, she pushed him on his back and restrained him easily with one hand on his chest while turning to look at him: crimson fire drawing him in like a moth.

“Do you trust me, even a little?” He didn’t take long to answer with a nod, eyes roaming over her perfectly proportioned body on display. She mounted his prone form but kept contact to a minimum, for now at least. “Lift your arms...” He did hesitantly, unsure how to hold them, but ribbons caught his wrists and slowly pulled them over his head: her red eyes dancing with desire. “Just relax... all virgins deserve some pampering.” He panted as she made her way down with teasing licks, open-mouth kisses, and raking tiny blunted fangs over sensitive areas on his torso, belly, and hips. Was he about to have his first blowjob?! “This is my favorite part...” Panting, he silently wondered how many fetishes he would discover, as being bound certainly added a sense of trepidation. 

“Eiko!” Her tongue teased his slit before taking him in with a long, vibrating moan that had him buckle for more and nearly missed what she was doing, nearly being the key word. “...E-eiko..?” She was pressing his knees up a little and wider, expertly distracting him with a deep throat, and more ribbons secured him in the position. He then jolted with a gasp, as magic shot through his butt and straight up his spine. “Wh-What did you..?” He cursed himself for asking something that required a verbal response; his hips strained to prolong the enjoyment of her mouth around him, but her hand took over as she answered.

“Just adding to your enjoyment.” Her teasing tongue then trailed from head to sack, her hand moving along his length in unhurried but strong tugs, drawing a string of moans from him. Slick coolness at his pucker had him shudder with a groan; he couldn’t escape the sensation as that pushed him into her hand and to enjoy that, he’d go back on her exploring tongue, sending shock waves through his trapped body. At a point, he was pressing onto the tongue as much as into her hand with a continued moan: kink 2 discovered! Almost faster than he caught, hand and mouth switched places, her deep throating distracting him from thinking too deeply on what she had in mind for said hand. 

“Aaarrhhhhaa...” This time her spell left a slick feeling, but her throat didn’t give him a chance to think; he felt it twist around him and took advantage of his bonds to press deeper. “Fuck!” Something metal then snapped close, around the rod of his member and sack, before shrinking to a snug fit: it wasn’t unpleasant nor painful and was quickly ignored in favor of her moving mouth. He barely noticed her hand seeking lower, but quickly tried to escape the finger rubbing: wouldn’t that hurt?

“Trust me.” He panted hard but relaxed, breathing deeply through the alien sensation of her finger smoothly entering, not a hint of pain. “See...I could never hurt you, watashi no ai.” She set up a slow rhythm, pulling out as she swallowed his length, which encouraged his hips to match her movements, growing used to her exploring finger: it wasn’t too bad a feeling, but he failed to see the point, the blowjob made up for it, though. As if sensing his thoughts, he felt her go deeper, nudging something that had him shudder with a drawn-out moan. He then felt her add a finger, and now she hit that spot with each swallow of his weeping member: he was understanding the point now. 

“E-ei-ko! Please... I want... I need...!” He didn’t care that he was begging; this was amazing! His legs sank to the mat, the ribbons hooking around his ankles, and they stretched his legs while she straightened and bit into her wrist. “What are.. you doing?”

“Venom kills sperm.” Ah, that made sense: pregnancy prevention. Further thoughts ceased as she straddled him, hips grinding with teasing motions as she bent close, she cupped his face and kissed him deeply with a moan. His arms were moved down and to the sides, putting him in the same T position as he had been in the ritual, and he had powerful flashbacks as she nuzzled his throat while her hand found his member.

“I wanted to do this at the altar...” Her moan mingled with his hiss as he entered her slick channel, his bonds straining under his tension to hold himself still, he never noticed the moment of resistance and wince from her, and when she bottomed out, he almost sobbed from the pleasure: he silently begged for her to move but refused to voice his desire and held himself still with an iron will. “Sev’rus.... You won’t hurt me.” Arms and legs were freed with his stern but straightforward silent wish, and he was quick to take advantage of the freedom, rolling them over. “Aaarrhh...” Once again, his body instinctively knew the movements needed and pumped into her willing channel, momentarily wondering how much losing his virginity would affect his potion’s potency. She guided his panting mouth to her shoulder, mirroring her own to his. He felt her smirk a second before little needles pierced his skin, coated in essence.

“I...can’t! Please...!” It spoke to her experience that she translated his begging pleas to coherent sentences, as he felt the metal release him, which allowed him to cum buried balls deep, encouraged by her mewling sounds. He withdrew and collapsed on his side, mystified by his continued erect member despite cumming. A spell washed over him, and he felt clean, but still only half sated, though much calmer now.

xxX Scene Over Xxx

“Are you getting hungry?” He opened his eyes; she was watching him intensely.

“I think so..?” He observed as she, without looking, raised a hand and Accio’ed a Moleskin pouch from the table. Opening it, she called for a black blood box. “Why black?” He tried to adopt her casual attitude, as if this was the new normal, and maybe it could be?

“It’s half human and not a special order like my silver ones. Laban prepared a week’s worth of different animals so you can find your preferences; he will place your orders when he visits soon. Here.” He accepted it, straw already put in, and took a tiny testing sip, but the moment the warm liquid ran down his dry throat, he hummed with appreciation. “Take note of that feeling in the future. You should drink at least one a day, maybe three if you push yourself.” She gracefully overlooked his little sounds of pleasure as he emptied the box. She pulled two books out and put them between them, titles facing him: Vampire Encyclopedia 101 & The Vampire Potion Archive. “Both are self-updating, and the edited or added parts will glow golden until it senses you have read them.” She gently halted him from touching them with a smile. “Once you touch, it bonds with you and expresses your Oath.” At his questioning eyebrow, she elaborated. “I’m already bonded with mine. Officers get something like the Archive that records our training, stats, and rankings.”

“That’s some serious spellwork.” They were both lying on their sides, casually resting, and he was starting to relax.

“The Coven has centuries worth of knowledge, and Rinshi has always liked to handpick prodigies, giving them endless time to perfect their chosen art while keeping tight records of the process. Touch it...” She pushed the Encyclopedia to him. “You don’t have to say it, just read and smear blood at the bottom: a copy will appear in the Hall of Citizens. Last I heard, they are updating the system to allow the owner to write questions in the back and have the book highlight pages and paragraphs.”

“So the book is blocked from the normal Search spells on topics and such?” She nodded, a slight, proud curl of her lip visible. “It might be better if the owner and book bonded more deeply, allowing for a mental draw on the content once read through. It would require an Occoluted mind...” He touched the book and flinched a little at the magical scan, running through his body and back to the book.

“You should mention that to the Rune Team; they should find it interesting enough that you won’t stay overnight in the Infirmary. You can ask Etty to spy on them to hit them in a bored rut for optimal interest.” His newly awakened hormones supplied several suggestions for why an overnight recovery was needed, and something in his expression must have shown, as Eiko smirked. “Rune Sex is truly exhausting, best to avoid for health's sake.” She giggled as he opened the book, a pinkness on his cheeks, and he avoided her teasing giggle by reading the short oath.

I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty, of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the Shinano Coven against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the Castle and Coven when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service to the best of my abilities when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me, Lady Magic.

“May I?” She asked for his hand and got it. “It’s usually the Mentor or Sire’s task to assist...” She swiped her tongue over his thumb; he could only assume she was coating numbing agent on him. He was still prepared to wince with pain as she gently pressed the tip of her nail over his thumb, but though he felt the pressure and logically knew it should hurt, it didn’t. “You will still feel pain at major stuff, though, your mind will take time to retrain itself: that’s why your biting my finger couldn’t hurt me.” He accepted his new reality with a spy’s ability to adapt on the spot, honed for about 20 years, pressed his bloodied finger to the page, and swiped to the right: his writing direction, a telling detail for future researchers. “There. The next one is a bit more detailed...”

A Brewer will broaden their horizons through this Gift offered by Vampire Queen Rinshi of Clan Shinano, located in Japan. 

To provide their service to the best of their ability and expertise. 

To not use the acquired knowledge to the detriment of the Clan.

This I vow, as Potion Master Severus Tobias Snape Prince, may my Word, Will, Magic, and Blood bind me to this promise I now make. 

The knowledge I earn shall only be shared with those deserving and faithful to Their Vows. 

My body shall share nothing, even in death. My mind is a Crypt to any Thief. My Lady, bind me to this vow I speak. 

Let not my body, mind, magic, or soul betray that hidden knowledge for this life and eternity, and may Lady Magic keep me to my word or let Death end my very existence.

“How accurate is this scan?” His sudden agitation had her flinch in surprise, and before she could answer, she learned the reason. “This should NOT list Prince as my last name! We were disowned, dammit!” He was sitting up now with the potion book in his lap. Without a second thought, he demanded a nail to grow, reopened his thumb, and smeared the page before snapping the book closed: too upset to read this sacred knowledge.

“Your assurance seems to work even on your body, like with Batty. I think it’s likely the fastest a newborn has called them out. Yuko yatta.” Her attempt at distraction didn’t work, not that she had expected it to. “I must advise against traveling alone for the time being…” She halted his protests before they started and sat up with a calming smile. “I know you can take care of yourself, that’s not in question, but until you can control your Lure, you should travel by Shadows only.” His feelings of being insulted vanished on the spot; he turned to her with alarm.

“My Lure? Why, what does it do?” He returned both books to the pouch she held up. 

“I’m not the right one to explain that, my gift showed itself as a Lure-upgrade, for lack of a better word, but as the name says, its purpose is to entice those around you. I hadn’t expected it to be this powerful for quite some time yet, and if I didn’t know better, I would say you were a 17-year-old born vampire awakening.” Her praising tone hardly penetrated the growing wall around him, shame and self-loathing clawing at him, threatening to drag him lower than ever before, and he forced himself to confirm his fears.

“So, I was enticing you… earlier.” Her musical giggle chased away his beginning gloom before he could drown entirely, and his heart went from stillness to figural pounding in seconds at her answer.

“You only enhanced what was already there, I assure you.” Shuffling closer, she leaned in to kiss him, tenderly cupping his cheek. She drew back, and her crimson gaze caught his with reassuring warmth. “My upgrade makes me immune if I genuinely want it to. The older vampires will ignore it, Laban will hardly notice as your Mentor, but humans will be powerless around you until you can hold it in. The first step is to draw it back in as a shield around you; right now, it's flowing out. My gift allows me to see the Lures of others around me…” He observed curiously as she removed her hand to play with the air around him, a serene smile on her lips. “It’s very gentle… almost shy.” He looked away with a blush, which she graciously ignored, and picked up the pouch again. “I’m sure Laban can take you to the bank tomorrow, but he will be recuperating all day today after the Ritual.” Meaning, he was ransacking the Pleasure District for mouthfuls of blood and sex from, at least, five humans: Severus didn’t need to know that about the calm man, just yet. “You should take today to think and read your Handbook; the first chapter is an introduction…” 

“What are you looking for now?” She removed another sturdy book, entirely crafted of metal, even the pages. 

“This is your potion vial storage. Make sure to keep it updated after use. There is 1 of our specific items for Vampires for various ailments and Human blood under an intense Stasis Rune.” She opened it and flipped it around to show him. “You might need this sooner than I thought.” The metal-plated page spelled out "Sun Blocking Gel" in raised black letters. Under it was a small window-like square, and he could see the top of a potion vial. Under that was a Japanese Kanji. “The glass pane pulls back when you press it. It may take more than the Sun to kill you, but prolonged exposure will hurt like hell…may I ask something personal?” He raised an amused eyebrow, indicating their naked bodies, and she giggled. “Laban asked if you took medication, and you mentioned an invention of yours?” He nodded and had an idea of where she was going, but no idea why. “Its purpose is to block out something in your body, right? Could it be adapted to target something else in the body? Like the sense of smell?” She blushed deeply at his surprised expression. “I’ve had several long months of Freyja riling up Rollo and me, before I told them and they accepted my contract, and I could have used something to kill all scents… from a tactical point of view, it could offer immense advantages on the battlefield.” She relaxed into his shoulder and arm. 

“I might be able to combine it with the sun-blocker. I made it to cancel out the hormones from affecting me, taken once a week. How often is the Gel needed?”

“You apply after showers, maybe a refresher if you have been in the rain, so maybe daily? It wouldn’t need to be long-lasting; even 10 minutes could complicate a fight. If immune, you’d only need to throw something truly stinking, and your opponent would be incapacitated while you waltz over and finish it. It could even be a quick getaway for the Castle Servants; we do lose a few each year to assaults when a Lure gets out of control.” She felt him freeze up, turning her head to look at his profile; she found it ashen. “Sev, calm down. It’s often a case of the Servant seducing someone about a year before their 17th birthday. Last year, their commitment and control were tested, and with minimal supervision from those around them, you will spot them on their only colored item: a hairpin of their Family Crest.” She coaxed him to lie down and cuddled up to his side. “If they don’t remain pure, they won’t get a blessing from Lady Magic, and their family might disown them: your hormone blocker might help too, should you adapt it to us.” She was back to playing with his flowing Lure, and he wondered what it looked like to her.

“What about my classes in two days? It won’t be safe for the students.” Her hand moved to rest on his chest, Lure-Playing forgotten, and his growing panic poofed out of existence, replaced by reassuring calmness. “How are you doing that?”

“That Lure-Upgrade I mentioned? I can manipulate how it affects others at contact: I can tweak what emotions are already there, diminish or enhance … right now, I’m pushing down on your panic. My shadow is also an extension of my Lure for moments when skin contact isn’t an option.” Her lack of panic or worry finally calmed him, and the unfamiliar feeling of calmness receded. “I’m gonna put up a barrier, you just have to stay behind it while teaching. If you truly follow a born vampire’s awakening patterns, it might calm down within a week or two with some work.” 

“So, I’m confined to my chambers and a barrier when teaching. How am I to explain this to Albus?” He felt her tense up at the mention of the Headmaster, belatedly remembering his mentor’s betrayal, and was surprised at the numbness he felt when thinking about it. “Calm down, please. I’m only referring to my Teacher duties like patrols and detentions.” She sighed in defeat at his logic, stomping down her growing hate of her mentor; she could hardly wait for breakfast to end, and it was time to give the sorry excuse of a man a piece of her mind. 

“Detentions can be handled from behind the barrier. Hire a personal elf to patrol for you. You can pick from the Inner Court’s line of elves, like Etty or her daughter, though she’s a bit young for full-time duties; she could easily start with your patrols of sending students back to bed. I think she would make it into a whole game.” Severus smiled at the mental image, and the mention of Etty the elf reminded him of her unusual beauty.

“Not to talk ill of Hogwarts Elves, but why was Etty so…well, beautiful?” 

“She’s a descendant of the elves who pledged themselves to the Coven back when the Plea to Lady Magic was done; her ancestors accepted the bite from Rinshi and became a subspecies of house elves. Time has shown that being beautiful makes it easier to find donors and lovers, it just happens to jump races, and now it's seen as an honor to be employed and pass a period before having the bite themselves. Anso is currently on his last stretch and looking forward to being allowed into the Coven.”

“I prefer my independence, but I can see the advantage one would have in the future. Once I leave teaching for full-time brewing, I won’t have the same time. Are you sure Etty would allow it? You said she was too young?”

“Ditty should leave her mother’s side within the next year and take up her position in the castle; I know Etty would appreciate her daughter being allowed a proper bond. Ditty is too clever to be held back at the castle’s menial jobs; she’s very skilled with plants for her age. She’s watering mine while I’m here.” 

“Can they travel here from Japan? Can I meet her?” She nodded into his chest, and the idea was growing on him. She would not be a servant but a personal assistant at his side in the coming years, and she could guide him through this new world he was a part of. “Did she really stick herself on your back?” Her chuckle was confirmation enough, but she elaborated, and his smirk grew as he listened.

“I was stuck with her for a full day. Nothing I tried worked, and I had to admit defeat to her dare before bed. She threatened to blind herself and join me in the shower.” He chuckled. “I had to bake her favorite, a lengthy Japanese recipe.”

“How do they travel? Won’t it be too far to pop for them?”

“They use the Void as their playground growing up. They play this game of Tag with a little more sense than a human, so total blackness, but they know there are Paths and aim for those despite only feeling them. Once an adult, they can remember most of the older paths kept up.”

“So what’s the Tag part? Is it an all for all or..?”

“Oh no. They try to avoid being pushed off the edges by Kiko-sama, who tries everything to trick them - and us - into falling and end up far from our desired destination. It's a true nuisance for us but good training for our inner vampire.” She sat up and stretched her arms, earning a few pops. “I'd better return you to your chambers and set up that barrier…” He got the feeling she was reluctant to part ways. “Your private rooms lie behind your classroom, hai?” He sat up and followed her as she put on a robe. He nodded when she looked to him for confirmation. “Then you can still have visitors, but they won’t be able to pass the barrier.”

“Acceptable.” He found the Hanfu from the ritual neatly folded on his shoes. “Minerva and Albus are the only ones to invade my rooms regularly, never on my request, mind you.” He had a moment of pure enjoyment while standing, no stabbing pain or straining muscles; it was smooth and lightweight, which reminded him of the main reason for the ritual. “It’s truly gone…” He was staring at the unmarred skin of his left arm, the scarring from his futile removal attempts was gone, revealing a birthmark he had almost forgotten. “Why is there no scarring?”

“The Ritual erases any blemishes gained as a human. The training to perform it for others usually takes years: draining someone without killing them is our most challenging task, so it is reserved for higher-ranking military personnel. Laban is the exception to the rule, as his gift offers him a unique ability to guide Newborns.” He couldn’t see her, and had he been human, he wouldn’t have been able to hear her, but he easily picked up her soft voice from her walk-in closet. He tied the Hanfu almost like the night before, but it lacked the finesse she had managed.

“How will the Void look to me now?”

“Well… still dark, at first… once you begin to forge your paths, they will be what lights up the realm. You will be able to feel my path under your feet, so that’s improvement, right?” He snorted at her guilty giggle. “I was bitten before my first trip…” She came out of the closet, dressed in a gorgeous but straightforward kimono and wooden sandals that added a bit to her height, her hair hanging free and held back with a hairband. “I can’t help you learn to enter. I was taught through a parent/child process, but Laban will show you tomorrow, it’s like flipping a switch: once you find it, you won’t ever forget.” She stopped before him, smiled approvingly at his clothes, but still reached out and tidied him. “Remember, this style: It was used when everyone had a maid helping with dressing.” Her assurance soothed any raised bristles her mothering had caused, and he instantly felt guilty about the sort of retort he had been about to give. “Relax. Everything is new, and you will meet some bumps on the road, but Laban will guide you right.” She finished the tiny corrections, and Severus took careful notes on the changes, but silently, he wondered: was she trying to limit their contact? After giving the short answer, she always offered their mentor as the teacher, but never herself. “I’m more fit to guide the born vampires as I was young enough to follow that process despite not being born. I’m here for questions, itsumo, you only have to ask. I may be able to do the ritual, but I haven’t had further training to mentor everyone yet.” That calmed him immensely; she was young, after all, for a Queen’s bodyguard.

“Good to know. Thank you for everything.” She shook her head with a bright smile.

“Thank yourself. I only showed you the door; you unlocked it on your own merits.” Her proud, teasing smile had his stomach full of butterflies. “May I open a path between our rooms?” Her hands began to fret with the layered clothes, smoothing and correcting, her eyes intent on her chosen task, not his questioning gaze. It sounded like a logical request to bring him back. Still, he sensed an undercurrent reminiscent of the episode with Batty: it looked and sounded innocent enough, though hinting at some underlying meaning he had yet to learn. “I will leave it open until Laban has visited. You don’t need to be cooped up in your rooms all day, I’ll be back after lunch.” He nodded his acceptance and caught her restless hands with his.

“Show me how you do it.” He was then pulled to her door, and she once again put out all the lights, except the lone candle above the door, casting a big shadow over the doorway. “After you, Princess.” In revenge for his pet name, he suspected, she practically dragged him into the darkness with a snicker, but did steady him on solid grounds.

Chapter Text

Past the threshold, the buzz of ambient magic and the hum of hundreds of children vanished suddenly. He hadn’t been aware, last time, but the Void was soundless and without any light; he could see Eiko was now kneeling in front of him, though she looked to be floating, but the solid feeling under his bare feet comforted him. He observed as she lifted a copper plaque, setting it aside for now, and to his great confusion, she reached out and grasped his ankle, beginning to tug at him to lift it.

“What are you doing..?” He refused to balance one-footed without a good reason and managed to resist her tugging.

“I need your footprint for my Stamp so that you may see…come on, lift.” He finally did as she said, and she then painlessly opened the sole. She coated his whole foot before pressing it to the solid but invisible surface underneath him. “Kyoka shimasu.” He gasped in surprise as colors came to life under his foot, sprawling out in interwoven paths expanding outwards, each path framed in luminating iron wrought metal in a vine & grape design that complemented the colorful glass pane it supported; depicting a peaceful Koi pond with a lazing current and marine life minding their own business. She lifted his foot and cleaned it of blood before releasing him. He took a step back to observe his bloody print being melted into the glass plane to rest beside her smaller imprint. “You can now see and walk my path freely until you unlock your way to enter here on your own.” She sealed the melting point with the copper plaque containing a Kanji, which he suspected was her personal identification mark. 

“Why use blood and not a magical signature?” The Void looked endless, with paths as far as his vampire eyes could reach. His ears picked up on an almost ignorable undercurrent of life: not actual breathing or a heartbeat, nor movement. Just enough to suggest some life around them.

“Vampires aren’t the only beings to have, shall we call it a taste? Kiko-sama demands a small blood sacrifice left in her Realm; it gives her sustenance, and we are forever updating our paths and stamps with new blood. Of course, being older than even Lady Magic, Kiko-sama tends to get bored easily, which the pledging coloni of house elves saw as an advantage: throwing their offspring in here to burn off energy and hone their skills. It doesn’t hurt to fall, a bit freaky the first times, sure, but it’s mostly just a time delay for the amusement of a Kitsune Demon.” 

“Understood.” Not understood! What did she mean by a demon?! “Do we ever see her?” He watched as her hands flew through 3 hand signs that made the path disconnect and move off so another path could take its place. She then did one last sign, holding it, looking over her shoulder at him with a smirk and knowing eyes.

“Oh, you already do... the blackness around us is her.” That did nothing to settle his nerves, but they were soon forgotten, and he flinched back as the path now connected to the platform splintered into a thousand shards, clinking like glass breaking, and vanished into the blackness beneath them as if sinking through water. “Why did you break it?” She motioned him closer while answering.

“To show you an idea of what you need to unlock… watch my hands closely: the signs are universal, but what you put behind them depends on yourself, alright?” He nodded eagerly and focused on her delicate hands. He could see she was forcing herself to go slow as her hands fluently flowed from forming an A-Prayer into hooking the tips of her fingers: something built in her cupped palms, and she released the hook by throwing out her hands with open palms. “Eizoku!” He studied with amazement as the platform began extending the glass with the metal supports just a smidgen faster. She took his hand, interlocking their fingers for a steady grip, and then she took a step backward. Once he touched the pond surface, he felt them move through the Void, even as they stood still; he sensed it only as a feeling of weightlessness. “If the path exists as you enter, you barely feel it, but that’s when Kiko-sama likes to catch you off guard.”

“Duly noted.” They exited into his living room beside the door to his classroom. “How will this barrier work?” He opened the door and offered her through.

“In 2 parts. The classroom door will stay shut until you are behind the barrier, where it then opens, and it won’t shut before all humans have left the room. As for visitors, they can open the door outside of classes if you are in your rooms.” Severus nodded with obvious approval, very intrigued as she pulled out a pouch of Rune instruments and proceeded to carve the doorway to his private rooms with unusual, tiny runes. “If you want to copy the setup in the future, the order of runes is important. I’m making them small to hide from human eyes to protect our knowledge.” Severus wondered, though seriously appreciative, at her ability to voice and answer his thoughts when he could barely manage to decide on one: she understood how his mind worked and what he needed. “Why don’t you call for Etty? This will take some time…” He retreated to his kitchen and prepared tea, recalling Eiko’s comment that details were everything. He wanted to start the meeting off on equal footing, discussing a Win-Win situation. It was clear that this vampirish sub-race of house elves was intelligent, capable, and highly skilled, even among the young.

“Etty, of the Coven. Can I ask for your presence?” He had ensured that several shadowy spots were available, and new interior designs were simmering in his mind; he would probably end up sleeping in a bare and fully lit room. Etty appeared from under the table, eyes scanning the room, and landed on him. 

“Brewer Snape-san. How can Etty serve?” Aiming for casual, he indicated the seat across from him and busied himself with pouring tea, observing her response covertly. “Thank you. A splash of milk, please.” He almost smiled when she daintily levitated herself to the high seat and had the chair raise its legs to reach the table comfortably. “Etty was called for Tea Talk? No one but Eiko-san does that, Coven not look at this kindly, Brewer Snape-san should be careful who learns of this.” He met her stare head-on, the challenge in her blue eyes not to miss. “Many newcomers try to change old customs and have been met with scorn, ridicule, and even hate.” He chuckled darkly at her attempt to discourage him.

“I’ve lived with that from teenagers and adults alike for 30 years. It’s going to take much more than petty words and covert attacks to take on this spy, I can promise you that.” Focusing on his cup, he never noticed Etty and Eiko share an intense look over his shoulder. “I find myself confined to my rooms, for an unknown period, and as part of my Teacher Duties, I have patrols every other night. Eiko suggested I acquire help and mentioned that your daughter, Ditty, was close to looking for employment.” Etty nodded, pretending she overlooked their silent observer. “Her only duty until summer would be patrolling the halls for students out of bed. She will have the power to take points, though I will review them first thing in the morning to approve: Eiko said something about Ditty making it into a game.” Mother chuckled at the accurate assessment of her wild offspring.

“She most certainly would that.” 

“I hear she likes plants. My chambers have an empty room, usually for any children the teacher might have. Ditty would have full claim to that and can do anything she desires, even if it's an indoor greenhouse; Hogwarts would be most accommodating.” It was obvious to Eiko that her teacher found Etty's intense stare intimidating, but she was proud to see him power through, although it looked difficult. Though her gaze wasn’t accusatory, she was sizing him up and his intentions with her daughter; a sadly needed precaution for those granted even a smidgen of beauty. While she knew Severus had no such thoughts in his request, she hoped that Etty would come to understand this.

“Awful lot offered for such a small duty. Young she may be, but not that young, and idle hands are the devil's playtime.” And wasn’t that the truth? Severus nodded in agreement but held his ground.

“I’m not looking for a maid. I grew up as good as a Muggle and know how to take care of myself and my chambers, so until she reaches the proper age, I refuse to demand more than the patrols, but what she does with her free time can be… negotiated.” Etty indicated for him to continue. “We could further her knowledge of plants, and anything she grows, she can trade as she likes. Once they are of a certain quality, I will be most interested in her products.” This calmed her penetrating stare, and she resumed her timid demeanor. “I’m willing to teach her potion, should she wish to learn along with plants. She could become my full assistant with time, as I plan to open a small, exclusive school for those with true passion and preferably virgins. I was thinking of recruiting among the castle servants for starters.” He didn’t quite manage to suppress the flinch at Eiko’s sudden input.

“That's a fantastic idea, Sev. You can easily demand only virgins; we have a school for everyone, but the truly talented drown in the masses until they find a private teacher in the field of choice.” He tried to hide his blush in his cup, but she only needed a bit of water and walked out after a quick squeeze of his shoulder in encouragement. Etty, on the other hand, was trying to hide a knowing smile at the bonding couple. “I’m off to chat with Albus. The barrier is up and running, and I’ll be back after lunch. Sayōnara!” Taking the ready-made opening by his door, she only took a moment to form a path to Albus’ office: right inside his door, Kiko-sama could be most accommodating at times, if it meant drama from the owner of the invaded space. She entered the office in a corner behind a bookcase, in the far back of the room, and almost sneezed from disturbing the dust on the shelves: not needing regular air had its advantages.

“...Why does this happen every year?! Don’t the idiots know that School starts today! Why do they insist on sending all these last-minute? They’ve had all summer!” She barely managed to stop her snort and silently stepped into view, wondering how long it was gonna take him to notice her. Any decent vampire would - or should - notice intruders within 10 seconds. “I’m half of a mind to retire and let them scramble…” Nothing would have held back this snort, and the Headmaster flinched and managed to knock over the high stack of documents, obscuring his view, and his blue eyes landed on her calm expression in flabbergasted shock. “How did you get in…?” Instead of answering, for now, she gave her own statement. 

“It's comforting to see even the great Albus Dumbledore get irritated from time to time.” She smirked in victory at his faint blush. 

“I’m human, after all, I would think even Merlin would have lost his composure if dealing with our Ministry’s curious need to argue senseless nonsense as budget cuts while war is brewing...” He gave his usual benevolent, overbearing gaze. “Let us not waste time on Cornelius’ shortcomings... I would much rather be regaled with the tale of Harry Potter becoming a vampire right under my nose; that would be a much better time spent, don’t you think?” Answering, she gracefully moved to the fireplace and sat in her usual chair, indicative of a serious talk needed. He nodded sagely and moved without question; it might be more appropriate in the end. “Tea for 2, thanks.” A tray appeared, and Albus made to fix his tea without any caution for the items on it. Luckily, she knew it had been Dobby delivering, as evidenced by the selection's limited sweetness, though plenty of sugar cubes had been added. “I’m particularly interested in the how and when.” His tone made her glare hard at him. Who was he accusing here?

“Don’t be mistaken here, dear Headmaster.” Her icy tone and eyes conjured little beads of sweat on his forehead; it seemed he realized just what was in the room with him, good. “This was your fault. Had I been raised in the magical world, I would have known to flee even from a friendly vampire, and the three meters from the forest to the garden might have been possible; we will never know, now will we.” She ignored him, wiping his face of sweat, sipping her tea daintily. “Because of you, an abused boy met the first friendly face as a five-year-old, and he promised to protect him forever, he promised strength, speed, and family; was I to refuse that?”

“Bu-but…the blood wards! I had them monitored, and you were powering them as plann…” His hand flew up and covered his mouth in fright. “Wh-what I meant to say wa-was, I expected they were connected to you… Your mother was a brilliant witch, you know.” His grandfather's smile lacked the usual convincing twinkle.

“She was that, true, but brilliance can be twisted, you know. Instead of being powered by the love from people around me, as intended, you twisted it to hitchhike on my core when it became apparent that no love was coming. My Sire has documents of yearly scans of the ward and is prepared to use them.” She wandlessly silenced his pathetic attempt at denial. “You left a child to fend for himself from the moment he could walk, and to find even a sliver of peace, he hid in the forest behind the house with a snake for company. I was a toddler, Albus!” He paled, but she plowed on. “You tried to keep me meek and ignorant, and guess what...” She didn’t let his teary eyes stop her from speaking her honest mind; this was all his fault! “I went willingly, spending 5 years learning how to pass for the ignorant human you expected....” Albus still fought the spell placed so rudely on him, surprised at how strong it was, but his trusted wand finally broke it.

“I’m sorry... this was not what I had in mi...” She refused to hear his excuses and rudely interrupted him, irritated that he had managed to cancel her spell. 

“You miscalculated. Simple as that, old man. Queen Rinshi sends her insulted greetings and wonders why you never sought her assistance. You are, after all, a mere child in her eyes.” Albus tried again to defend himself, insisting it was unsafe to allow strangers in on the prophecy; it was their only ace against Voldemort. “Wrong, Albus, the prophecy was never meant to be hidden in the first place. That prophecy was an open threat to Riddle from Lady Magic, and you were chosen to be the one to deliver it, and you failed miserably. You have spent almost 16 years doing nothing against the threat other than testing me at every opportunity... oh yes, I know Albus.” She reached up to trace the scar on her forehead, at the moment hidden, and gave her mentor a sly smirk.

“Impossible! No one but me knows!” She banged her fist on the armrest in frustration at his stubbornness, making cracks appear in the wood.

“Wrong again, Albus! I’ve known about the Horcrux in my head since my turn. Queen Rinshi has archives dating back to the founders and Merlin, with a whole department dedicated to tracking all Dark Lords and their paths to power. Let me tell you that Riddle is far from being the first to try to cheat Death. Admittedly, he’s the first to go past 3. The Coven will always step in when Lady Magic demands it. We know of them all and their locations.” He could hardly breathe, clutching his racing heart, fear coursing through him from the knowledge that a Vampire had direct connections to Lady Magic. “Human’s greatest weakness is being pressed for time, even having longer lives than muggles, you become... limited.” He sagged under her truth; the theft of Life Elixir in the first year, before its destruction, was a main highlight of his life's low points. 

“What am I to do now…” Her snort had him focus back on her icy expression.

“You will continue to do absolutely nothing but sit here in your cozy office and prepare your retirement plans while I’m waiting for Equinox. The day when Lady Magic and Death are equals and at their strongest, they are gonna drag his cheating ass back to Hell. Even now, the altar is being prepared for the ritual to ask the deities for help by sacrifice.” She wished it could be different.

“But who would be powerful enough to call them to earth?” She gave a dry bark of a laugh at Albus’ saddened expression as he looked at her with teary eyes. 

“Guess again, Albus. Thanks to your meddling, I’m not simply giving up my life but my freedom; Rinshi will trade her immortal life to get the help down here, and I will take her place.” Here, she allowed a small smile. “At least I live for certain this way.” She called for Dobby and asked for the Green Wine, pouring each of them a glass. He watched helplessly as his whole foundation for extending his life crumbled beneath him. “It's regular wine from Japan and sweet.” At his hesitation, she chuckled. “Seriously, Albus... would I have shared everything only to kill you now by poison?” He blushed and reached for his glass, smiling apologetically. She relaxed back and sipped her own while wishing she could have had her red bottle, but hadn’t wanted to agitate her mentor by drinking a different wine.

“I suppose not... forgive me. This is a lot to take in.” That wasn’t to say he drank calmly, taking miniature sips, but she allowed him his cautions. “From Japan, you say? It's quite unlike any wine I’ve ever tasted.” She nodded in agreement.

“Aversion to sugar made vampires creative. It’s made from herbs and flowers more than fermented fruits. You normally wouldn’t taste unless on an envoy visiting Rinshi, but she’s rather miffed with you at the moment... say the last 12 years?” It had the opposite effect she had gone for; instead of frightening him, his eyes filled with calculations.

“Why now? You choose that Alter, knowing full well I would find out... I assume Mr Weasley and Miss Granger also know? Is that safe or even wise?” She answered his superior tone with coldness.

“Safer than ever. A vampire contract is unbreakable and tested through the ages.” Albus gasped and had to know.

“What contract? What did they sign?!” Her pleased smirk gave him a pretty good idea.

“They are my Donors with a Coven and me to protect them. Can you offer the same, huh?” He sagged back in defeat; he knew full well how airtight a donor contract was, having been offered one in his youth, though certainly not from such an old Coven, it would likely be even more so. “I have one last information for you, but also a thank you to give. You see, in your pettiness at dinner last night, you gave me the perfect opening.” She poured herself another glass, subtly observing as he tried to understand, and merely raised her eyebrow with a lazy smirk when he gasped.

“No... You made Severus a Donor, too?!” She gave him an irritated hiss.

“How low you think of him. You have kept him here in misery, doubt, and hatred with the sole purpose of spying once more when the time came. You forced him to teach idiots unappreciative of the art while withering away in his chambers with too few resources to follow his true passion.” He was sure he could physically feel the piercing arrows her crimson eyes were shooting at him. “Were you trying to break him?!” Though it contained no S syllables, she managed to hiss the sentence with barely controlled rage. “You weren’t content to simply hire him, oh no… You lied to keep him in your control for 16 years! And that’s after ignoring him for seven school years, when my Father and his friends mercilessly bullied him right into Riddle’s Camp! Was that your plan all along, huh?! Push a brilliant potion prodigy into Tom’s hands? He was hardly going to refuse such a gift, right? So what? Before you could offer him promises, he came on his own, desperate, and you, the great Albus Dumbledore, weighed his worth as nothing but a useful spy.”

“But I thought...”

“Yeah, you thought. That would be the problem, Albus. You thought you knew best, that nobody could know as much as you, given your age and knowledge... You hoard information like a Niffler hoards gold. Pathetic.” Her expression said everything, and he bowed his head in shame. “I set him free from the masters of youth and vows born of fear. He will now experience praise and passion as a Vampire Brewer under Queen Rinshi.” Taking her bottle, she stood up and found the nearest shadow, but his teasing comment stopped her in her tracks.

“Don’t you mean under you, my dear? After all, the fall equinox is only weeks away. Have you told him yet that you have another face?” There was that pettiness again! She couldn’t even retort, as she had not indeed. “Maybe I ought to inform the teachers of the three of you… What are..? Now hold on a second!” She had whipped around with her wand aimed straight at him. He was stuck to his chair in seconds and wailed in despair as she disarmed and caught his wand. “Nooo! What have you done!” She couldn’t hear him over the magic thrumming in her body, rising to connect with the core in her hand, and at the collision of the two, she had to raise her arm as light and sparks, and two resounding dings filled the room.

“You had it this whole time… all these years…” Her voice was slowly building from shock to outrage. “How could you sit back and do nothing all this time?! You had a fabled wand, and you did nothing! You couldn’t even bother to destroy a few of the easily accessible containers. You couldn’t even find and kill the Basilisk in the second year! For fucks sake! You could have overpowered the Goblet back to normal and have a redraw, but nooo; you found the situation advantageous for another of your tests of me!” Faster than Albus could wandlessly evade, she threw a silence-containment ward on him, surrounding their Alters, her true identity, and the revealed secrets. “Heed my warning, dear Albus. If you are not retiring by this summer, My Sire will unleash his file and drag you through the mud until no one remembers the good deeds. Save your reputation and leave with dignity intact, far from Britain and politics.”

“But the Ministry will need guidance after Tom’s downfall! Cornelius won’t make the changes needed; he will need my help!”

“Lady Magic will do more than capture Riddle; she’s gonna make the necessary corrections to current laws for the betterment of her children; all of them. This is a rare opportunity for her to express her wishes in clear and concise terms.” He was now clutching his chest and wheezing, fear and desperation in his wide eyes. “She might even pay you a quick visit.” The last thing he registered was her musical chuckles as darkness filled his vision, and he fainted. She walked past him to stand by his desk, ignoring documents and knick-knacks filling the surface. She lifted her head and scanned the nervous paintings, finding a few missing. “You have 5 minutes to call back the missing, or they will be banned from their frames.” After the display with Albus, they weren’t looking at her with superiority or disdain, but respect, and scampered off with high alarm. 

“What are you planning to do?” Headmaster Dippet was looking at her with slight hope.

“I’m going to cancel whatever spells he has put on you. You are coded to rise alarm when a Headmaster goes outside his power base and acts against the students' interests, but you haven’t said a word for over 50 years, so something must be holding you back, right?” Dippet nodded sadly.

“He bound us to the school and puts silent wards over us, if he doesn’t outright spell us to sleep. You holding the wand connected to the spells allows me to answer your questions. Albus lost his way way back, the death of his sister left deep wounds, and his failure to oust Tom before it was too late sits heavily on his shoulders. Hearing the Fraud utter that damned prophecy was the last straw, and he began his plans by trapping poor Severus in the school. I can’t tell you how pleased I am with his new path. Life was against him from birth, but maybe in death, he can find peace and happiness, yes?” He gave a kind, grandfatherly knowing smirk, fully aware her feelings were anything but fleeting. “He may explode, at first. You have to stay calm and let him rant. Then he will demand answers, proofs, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he pulls out a bottle of truth serum.” Her calm nod had him smile proudly at her.

“I’m fully prepared to accept any demands he gives, even if it's never to see me again.” Dippet nodded sagely, acknowledging her commitment to her promise. “I will tell the truth tonight and pray he forgives me.”

“Give him time to see it was the only way to free him. That brilliant mind of his will do some calculating of pros and cons, walk through all his interactions with you to find the lies and catalog them in severity and reasons behind. Give it to him straight and be prepared for the rant of the century. I wish you luck, my dear.” He fell silent as everyone returned, falling over themselves, they moved to their frames and sat on the armchair in the foreground, listening avidly. 

“You will return to your coded conduct of reporting anything out of order, be the advisors for the coming Headmaster or Headmistress, and never again will you be silenced or locked away. This I decree as the rightful owner of the Elder Wand through family ties, as Hogwarts heir Griffindor by birth, heir Slytherin by conquest, and as the future Regent of my Coven under Lady Magic. So mote it be!” The wave of magic was almost visible as it expanded out through the school’s halls and grounds to the borderlines, leaving a refreshed feeling.

Chapter Text

Entering the Void and resisting the usual auto-glide, she stood firm on the pedestal and took a survey of her sparkling paths: time for a bit of cleaning, but instead of using the inbuilt method of tearing down the path, she opted for a more direct approach. She blasted the glass and metals into dust with elation not her own. ‘What was he thinking? Hiding away with one of the Three behind hundreds of students for several decades! What if someone had found out and come for it!’ She left the path from Albus’ office to her room intact for later usage, as well as the one between her room and Severus’, but everything else was destroyed, and she was left feeling energised: no wonder Albus always held his own in a fight despite his age. ‘I’m going for the Ring… I did not need it until now, as I had no clue where the Wand was, but now… This might just save Rinshi! I have to see the Oracle… urg…!’ The old bat might not be so horrible if everyone began visiting outside needing his Sight. As it was, he truly enjoyed prolonging the visits. Queen Rinshi had once been locked in for three whole days.

>> Inform that old bag of dust of my blessing onto you. He should be most cooperative going forward.<< 

“Ha! If it doesn’t chase him right into his grave!” Eiko giggled as ghost fingers found her ribs and mercilessly tickled until she laughed fully. “Okasan! I give, I give!” Fingers turned into a full-body hug of motherly warmth and support, but she knew that was as far as her bonded mother-figure’s abilities reached: she existed only in this Realm of shadows and did not follow the regular timeline; the current Oracle was the second oldest, right under Rinshi and the apprentice of the former and first vampire Oracle, who had been sacrificed to call Lady Magic to Earth the last time. Oracles had a small bond with both Kiko-sama, allowing free passage without bother, as well as Lady Magic for communication. A blessing meant she was directly connected to the Kitsune, which had altered her Gift to expand and now worked through her shadow as well. This meant her demon mother had access to her memories and an unusual opportunity to be in the know about current events.

>> Go on, Child. Your Chosen is waiting.<< She clung to the ghost-feeling hugging her, suddenly desperate for even the faintest assurance.

“You know him as well as I… will he forgive?” She could feel the Kitsune roam her recent memories of Severus and held on with desperation.

>> Stay true to him. He will understand even if it takes time.<< Ghost hands circled her torso and lifted her from platform to platform. She was now on the path to Severus’ room and gliding along it. She felt the demon return to her normal state of unawareness; she was pushed out, and the portal was temporarily sealed. Her Okãsan was gently forcing her to face her problem head-on.

“Eiko? Is it Lunch already?” She smiled at the sight of his arms full of what looked like heavy boxes, probably too heavy for a human; it looked like he was testing his new abilities with practical labour. 

“I’m not sure… Albus fainted on me, so it cut the meeting short, you know?” She phased to the couch and sank with a sigh, attempting to relax. Even without the Wand in hand, she still felt it thrumming against her wrist: begging for more usage.

“You made Albus…faint? Should I be worried? Maybe call Poppy?” She waved off his concern as unnecessary and took a long swig from the decanter in her hand. “Should I worry about you?” 

“It’s only the Green one. Didn’t need Albus freaking out about two bottles after what I told him.” This had the intended effect of intriguing her fellow vampire; he put the boxes down and spelled them out of sight before joining her on the couch.

“And just what did you tell him? I’ve never even heard of him fainting before…” He tried to sound nonchalant while lifting her feet into his lap, rubbing them gently, but she could still hear his genuine surprise at her feat.

“Being told all his plans for dealing with Voldemort were contradicting those of Lady Magic was sure to shake him. Tom Riddle was declared a criminal against Lady Magic after his 4th Horcrux and the Prophacy was given to Trewelany in the presence of Albus, trusted to deliver the threat to Riddle openly, and what did he do instead?” She was keeping careful track of Severus’ feelings. With the skin-to-skin contact, he might as well have announced them verbally, but so far, he was calm and following her. 

“I’m surprised his heart didn’t give out…”His voice conveyed his great surprise at the survival of his former Mentor, at such devastating news.

“Oh, that’s the Phoenix Tears and Life Elixir he takes. They won’t allow his body to give up as long as he stays dosed up.” This time, she felt his shock and outrage, prepared to dampen them, but he managed to control himself. “At least since 1991, the tears might be much longer… our intel is shaky before he becomes a Headmaster at Hogwarts: he is very good at hiding his life.”

“He had the Stone guarded here in Potter’s First Year so he could steal the Elixir?!” She was certain that was the reason, besides tempting Tom into showing himself, but she shrugged her shoulders as there was no proof. “I had to beg for 1 Tear a year, and you tell me he has had Bottled Life for years?!” His outraged expression might have been hilarious at any other time, but right now, all she felt was compassion for his former hardships. “Why hasn’t Fawkes left him by now?”

“Fawkes is as twisted as his Wizard. I’m surprised one of his Burning Days hasn’t turned him into a Black Phoenix yet, but he’s sure to be one someday soon if Albus doesn’t pass on: Phoenixes aren’t meant to be bound to 1 person this long. They usually find a companion well into their elder years to keep company for around a decade, but they found each other at the start of WW2: that's four decades too long.” Severus nodded his understanding.

“The decay must have happened slowly. Pressure twisted them both over the years of having to have the answer at every crisis. I suspect the Dark Lord to be the final catalyst.” She nodded in agreement, her thrumming blood finally relaxing under his strong fingers' expert handling of her tired feet. “Just how is the Dark Lord being handled according to Lady Magic’s plan, then?” His feeling of inquiry turned into worry when she froze, uncertain how to broach the subject in the best way. She straightened, folding her legs under herself and gazing pensively at him. “Eiko?” Worry changed into equal pensiveness. “You can’t tell me, right?” She was hard-pressed to contain her proud smile: her Beloved was genuinely brilliant.

“I can, and will, I’m just trying to think of how… Riddle’s demise involves so much more than his end… I’ve not been entirely forthcoming on certain facts about myself, based solely on security of the Coven, but I fear the intention won’t matter to you.” She saw him fight his initial reaction of anger. “I never intentionally lied to trick you, but I had to protect the Coven and myself: I’m hoping once you learn the full truth, that you will understand my reasons and forgive me… I understand if you never wish to talk with me again, and I will do my best to follow your wishes.” His worry returned, ebbing towards her in slow waves of uncertainty. 

“If you have foreseen my likely reaction to your truth, why then approach me in the first place? Why have you stayed by my side in support?” She looked up in surprise from her lap, hands wringing themselves, but her expression felt like a punch, and he almost flinched away from its intensity. 

“Because you deserved to be free! It was the only way left. I tried for years to find my opening in my other form…” The mere mention of her proper form had her cringe with apparent discomfort.

“So, this …” He motioned towards her body. “...is a Persona?” Instead of a nod or shake of her head, she tilted it to the side in introspective thought.

“More like the other way around, actually. This is who I would choose to be, what feels like the true me… I have been more true to myself since entering the ground this Feast… but you have known me for years as someone else, who was a forced image. One way or another, from the moment you met me.” She longed to touch him, to read his emotion, but she respected his space, and he wasn’t leaning away in distrust as before. “I use a rune tattoo to shift between genders, so that no one would suspect my identity. Albus and my Donors are the only ones who know… if you don’t count the house elves, that is…” She smiled, relieved when he snorted in slight amusement, knowing full well there was no way to trick an elf from knowing one’s identity. He gained a thoughtful expression, and she waited patiently to see where his mind took him.

“That’s why you seem to know me so well, right? You have known me for years…” She nodded with a guilty, but open, expression. His thoughtful expression turned pained as he concluded that she was a former or current student who would undoubtedly have intimate knowledge of his teaching style and behavior, but drew a complete blank on whom it could be.

“I, too, had a role to play, just like you were set up to uphold: I understood.” She truly did; he could see it clearly in her passionate crimson eyes.

 “So, you were born male…?” She nodded again, patiently letting him set the course. “I don’t mind that part, if you are wondering, personality always meant more than gender.” She smiled with relief.

“I like being a female; everyone underestimates me more, you know.” Severus could only nod at that fact: she did look absolutely petite and weak, until she handled males twice her size with ease. “So, would you prefer a few memories of mine that slowly explain who I am in backward order? Or should we rip off the bandage in one go, with me shifting? Right now, without touching you, I can’t see your preference…” She reached out her hand, silently offering clarity without pressure. 

“That’s your Gift? Empathy? Certainly explains a lot…” He clasped her small hand between his, squeezing in what he hoped was encouragement, but his feelings were an inner storm out of his control. “Please, tell me which I prefer… I can’t discern myself.” She held his eyes, nodding slowly, her free hand lifted to cup his cheek tenderly. He saw the second she allowed his feeling to invade her senses, the panic of what was coming showed clearly in her crimson eyes. “Bandage off, then. Go on…” He was momentarily surprised when her first reaction was to spell her dress into a full-body spandex suit, but logic quickly followed: a male might not fit into such a tight dress, after all. “Is it painful?” Her head tilted again.

“Not sure… This will be my first change back since getting here.” He nodded, mentally preparing to observe the change for later research. “Remember, we are spell-resistant: if you want to harm me, use the creature inside you.” He scuffed at her comment, though very apprehensive as she pulled away. “Gomen…” She curled in on herself with strain as her body slowly expanded in volume; the only thing staying the same was the long hair; everything else doubled in size. “This is who I’ve been the last 12 years…” The hiding face lifted to look at Severus with soul-deep angst at his reaction, flinching at his gobsmacked expression. He was speechless, no other word for it, the person freeing him for a lifetime to make his own decisions was the perceived thorn in his life, sitting across from him with undeserved feelings of fear.

“How did I not see…….” Severus reached out, cupping a cold cheek tenderly, a small smile curling the side of his lip. “You kept reminding me…Let me see.” Harry withdrew his trait slowly, allowing Severus to conform to his new reality in steps: green connected with black, and despite the long hair, he was utterly recognizable. “Harry..? You saved me for a year's worth of potions despite my atrocious behavior towards you… You had every right to hate me for life, even with an understanding of my reasons…” He allowed Harry to grasp his hands in a firm but gentle grip, begging him to understand his own worth, least of all to Harry.

“I should have saved you years ago. I failed, but I won’t claim all or most of the blame: Albus did us a true disservice for any connections, even a secret one. I tried for years to approach you with the offer, but each year something happened that widened the distance and the perceived hatred between us. This summer, I learned of your deadline by accident and had to resort to slightly extreme measures. Opening the Courting Service was the perfect cover I needed to find myself and approach you.” It was clear that Severus still didn’t understand the reason or need that had driven his student and voiced his doubts.

“B-but why?! Why would you go to such lengths? I can understand the gender-shifting as a way of finding yourself, but why was approaching me so important? Why risk your own safety? The Coven?! If the Dark Lord were to learn of this, he would annihilate every creature possible! Why tell me now, you could just have delivered the offer on behalf of the Queen and left me with Laban!” Harry took a deep, unneeded breath: gathering his resolve and longing for this amazing man into his eyes, almost thrumming with the honesty behind it as he pressed one finger to Severus’ temple, his feelings expanding into the older man in gentle waves impossible to convey any lies.

“I love you. Simple as that. I wanted you alive and safe.” Severus froze in his seat as feelings not his own invaded his senses. “You risked your life for years for tiny slips of information. Why shouldn’t that be rewarded? The Ministry may be too pigheaded to see and nurture brilliance, but I have been training to take over after the Queen since I was 8, and the first thing she installed was to recognize talent, passion, and pure intentions in someone.” He had no answer to that and gazed in wonder at the younger male. “I may have had the means to free you earlier, but I doubt you would have believed my feelings back in First Year or any year before now, right?” Severus shook his head, still lost for words, at the realisation that this young man-woman could truly love him that much, but it was the simple truth that had been transferred to his soul, leaving an echo as the finger was removed. “Dobby, I need my frame and Pensive.” Both items appeared on the coffee table within seconds. “I still think you should see a few memories, the frame was charmed to show Eiko: I thought you’d like to see the true pictures?” Severus nodded eagerly, needing the visual proof to merge the 2 into 1 person. 

“Yes, please.” He fiddled with the frame for a moment, whispering a curse at the unnecessarily complicated security measures the Rune-Team believed were needed: he had to give blood for identity confirmation, press a sequence of points as a password, and finally, a verbal confirmation. “Crazy bunch, those people, I tell you…” Severus found himself chuckling, a stark contrast to the slightly tense overall situation, and he handed over the frame, anything but calm at the older man’s response.

“How were you found? Albus always assured no creature - not even Lupin - could pass those wards as long as you called it your home..?” Harry snorted with dislike. After all, had he been welcome in the house or even on the grounds, Alex would never have stumbled over his makeshift shelter, and he explained as much to a gobsmacked Severus. “Five years old… You were thrown into the forest to survive on your own?!” Harry could only nod with a neutral expression; it was old news after all, and his life certainly was better for it despite specific hardships.

“I think Lady Magic intervened to have my Sire find me. I would have died by next winter. Vernon was researching diy shelters but disregarded their summer designs. Alex saved me, but as with all positives, it must be balanced with something negative: I gave up my future freedom instead of my certain death. Will you view a memory? It's right after your Ritual before I move us to my chambers, where Queen Rinshi ambushed me… the conversations might help you understand more deeply the need for secrecy in my approach to you.” 

“Yes. Will you stay with me?” Harry repeated the words Eiko used twice, just as heartfelt and genuine. “What does that mean? Itsumo? Wata-shi no ai?”

“Always, my love. I have loved you secretly from the moment I met you. You didn’t see the fame, quite the opposite, and you held me to normal standards for a student. Something Albus never felt was needed for the Savior. You pushed for me to be better, to think before action - in your own special way -  as all I allowed you to see was what Albus expected: the quintessential Griffindoor running to save everyone.” Severus could only nod; he would be the first to admit that Albus, despite outward appearance, was quite biased towards the Houses: Gryffindor was top, followed closely by Ravenclaw, then Hufflepuff, and Slytherin, very last and barely counting. “Shall we?” He indicated the basin with a swirling memory already stored. “We start as you die on the altar. It’s not often ritual users have the opportunity to watch the last part.” Severus relaxed his wringing hands and interlocked their fingers in a firm grip. He squeezed gently, trying to project what he couldn’t yet verbalize, and knew the younger man understood at the beaming smile answering his feelings.

XXXXXX Pensive Memory XXXXXX

“...That’s right, just like falling asleep...I’m here when you wake up.” They landed while she uttered her reassurance. Watching himself pass on was somewhat disconcerting, even if the altar held his soul at bay.

“Why didn’t you just do the ritual yourself?” Laban wiped his mouth, sounding a tad miffed at her interruption. Severus stepped closer, and Harry allowed himself to be pulled along and silently offered support.

“He can’t feel indebted to me. Once he learns the truth about me, just who I am, he may demand distance and want nothing to do with me...I almost expect it.” He glanced at the outwardly calm, and younger, yet so mature, man beside him. Harry didn’t avoid the searching eyes and answered with a, dare he name it, a loving smile?

“Then why are you allowing yourself this much involvement? You are setting yourself up for heartbreak.” She avoided their mentor’s gaze. “I’m not sure now was the right time for this...” His panic was short-lived. How close had he come to truly dying, but Harry helped him by feeding him the younger man’s calm. He calmed further at Eiko’s furious glare and determined voice.

“Riddle will kill him at fall equinox; I couldn’t wait. Let’s get on with it.” Laban slit his wrist and put it to memory-Severus’ slack mouth before biting into an equally slack neck. He pulled away, careful to avoid swallowing the smeared blood around his mouth.

“Kowasu!” Eiko draped herself over memory-Severus as the prone figure began to shake violently, the Dark Mark writhing as it burned off and left his skin blackened. Severus lifted his arm to stare at the healed arm, truly understanding how amazing the ritual was. Eiko flicked her wrist to free him as he stilled, just in time for his body running on new instincts to grip onto Laban’s arm and suck deeply. This brought to mind drinking human blood this morning. How had Laban been feeling, draining him? “I made a pouch ready for him. It should last him a week; it depends on how much he pushes it.” Memory-Severus was shivering by now and half-awake.

“He will push: that’s just who he is. Freyja might agree to help, Rollo will be plenty for me...” Severus gasped as realization hit him. Eiko’s Viking donor couple was Miss. Granger and Mr. Weasley!

“I see. I shall warn the Blood Bank as a precaution, then.” Laban hissed and pulled his arm free of the weak newborn. “If you leave now, you might avoid our Queen: she’s been dying to meet.” Eiko groaned and quickly gathered memory-Severus in her arms, phasing over and opening the door, which gave her a shadow to enter. “Good luck, follow your heart, and stay true to your purpose.”

“Arigatou!” They followed her move to the chambers. Severus was impressed that she managed to make the hand signs without waking memory-Severus, who was changing before his own eyes, they all arrived in her room, and Severus jumped almost as much as Eiko, who was close to losing her grip in shock. “My Queen!” The otherworldly beauty that was Queen Rinshi turned at the call and smirked. 

“I used the door, you know, and stop calling me that. Your Sire is my Lover of 7 years, and you still won’t call me Okāsan...” Eiko excused herself, nearly running to the bedroom, and put memory-Severus on the bed. “Oi! Are you trying to hide him from me? I’ve heard about this human twice your age for seven years, and now you ...”

“Ōkē, ōkē!” Queen Rinshi clapped her hands to Severus’ great shock. “The ritual went as should...” The Queen suddenly jumped on the bed, hardly jostling his past-self. Like a child, she didn’t look without touching and traced his lips, jaw, and brows. Severus blushed, close to feeling shame: how was he worthy to be appraised with such care and interest from a Queen?

“Lan has good genes on him: he’ll certainly become a looker.” His blush intensified, and he tried to shield it from Harry.

“He already was.” The Queen straightened to her knees, resting above memory-Severus’ lap, and folded her hands against her cheek, cooing at her step-daughter/son. “Please keep your Bōirabu fantasies to yourself, thank you.” Queen Rinshi’s giggle was like tiny musical chimes, full of life, a stark contrast to her 1000+ years of life. She jumped off the bed and neared Eiko with a chastising smirk.

“You are no fun, Eiko-kun. I want you to be safe, and I know Dante is not the perfect match, but he is strong.” Severus was getting better at predicting Eiko’s responses, but he would never have seen this one coming as her eyes lit with a defending fire and her voice rose higher than he had ever heard from her: this was her Queen!

“So is Severus!” Eiko blushed at her outburst and covered her mouth in horror. At least she knew when she crossed a line. “Gomen'nasai! But... I will be strong enough for us both; he will catch up quickly.” Eiko and Severus both flinched when Rinshi phased before her, taking her chin firmly, though not unkindly, in her hand. He felt Harry lend him a smidgen of calmness as feelings of indignation on Eiko’s part swelled up: she called herself Eiko’s mother!

“And if he rejects you? Upon learning your double identity, that you have another role to play after this equinox that would affect him too, you really think he’s strong enough to stand at your side, ha~a?” Severus wrote this behind his ear to ask about back in his rooms; he didn’t want to miss even a blink or smile.

“Hai. If he forgives my deception, I know he will contribute greatly to the Coven, by my side or far from it.” Queen Rinshi smiled and tenderly kissed her forehead. It did wonders for calming his growing dislike of the older woman.

“That heart of yours is what will continue this Coven in prosperity. You have trained for it for 9 years, and time is running out. Stake a claim, my dear child, before you run out of choice. The Oracle proclaimed a couple and a ruling couple; it must be.” This was added as question no. 1!

“I know...Okāsan.” They hugged tightly, the Queen cooing softly as Eiko sobbed into her chest. “I’m gonna miss you.” Was the Queen somehow dying? Poison maybe? Added to Question list, done.

“Lady Magic will bring us together someday in the next world. Live, love, and help the Coven into the electronic age and don’t let the Counsel trample over you.” Eiko nodded as they separated. Queen Rinshi gave another kiss before shadowing away. Eiko then moved over and sat on the bed, undoing braids gently, as if she knew he rarely did more than ponytails when brewing. She then caressed her fingers lovingly through his hair for a moment before she put out all the lights and shadowed them to her other bed. She then cuddled into his cooling body with a sigh of happiness while Harry tugged him out of the Pensive.

“I know I should be furious, get you dose up and question you for hours….” He looked anything but furious, his expression open, with a hint of elation in his beautiful young features.

“But..?” He mentally asked Dobby for some tea and snacks, and quickly became busy preparing them each a cup, and gave a pleased smile at the sight of a box for them both. 

“But. I feel relieved, 16 years of weight gone. I’m finally free, thanks to you.” He accepted the cup of tea, intrigued by Harry adding a single drop of blood to his own before he could ask; Harry answered with a fond smile.

“It’s my Sire’s blood, it helps me feel close to him. Turning me that young and interfering with anything Riddle-related was a crime. Since my first year, he has been under chamber arrest, serving as the Queen's full-time lover. He couldn’t leave the rooms for as many years as he robbed me of growing up human. Rinshi will release him at the fall equinox: it's impossible to be lovers with a corpse, after all.” Harry drew his newly acquired wand, and Severus instantly recognized it as Albus’. “Are you aware of the true identity of this wand? Besides being used by Albus since Grindlewald?” Severus could only shake his head, an uneasy feeling creeping in on him: the Dark Lord had come to covert it with a desperation not seen since going for the Potters. “This is one of the 3 Deathly Hallows. The Master Wand.”

“Impossible! That’s a children's story, a simple myth…” He lost his fight at Harry’s smirk. 

“I have the invincible cloak and Riddle, without realizing, once held the resurrection stone and foolishly used it as a Horcrux ring. I’m gonna use these fabled items and their ancient powers to call Lady Magic to earth, she will deal with both Riddle and the Ministry, and by that save Rinshi from sacrificing herself for the same purpose.” Harry put the thrumming wand away in the Moleskin pouch, getting it off his skin. Severus’ mind was running wild as hints and comments suddenly made sense in the conversation between Eiko and the Queen.

“The Queen is going to die in a ritual on the fall equinox willingly, and you are her chosen Heir.” Though a statement, Harry still nodded in agreement. “That’s what you meant by giving up your freedom, her other Heir is General Dante, right? She expects the two of you to get together? Don’t you have a choice?”

“Not until now. This summer, the Coven was already preparing for a royal wedding at the fall equinox, right after the business with the Ritual. Dante certainly behaves as if he is already the King, with endless lists of his suggestions for changes focused on betterment for him as the ruler. Etty has been helping me with a bit of spying.” Severus snorted with a smirk: never underestimate a house elf. “I hope with the Hallows, Rinshi can stay alive and lead for centuries, so I won’t have to take over ever.”