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"Severus, just the man I wanted to see."
The vampire in question entered the large office and sat down in a chair situated in front of the headmaster's desk. He kept his face blank, but, internally, the vampire grimaced. Dumbledore had ignored his traditional offering of lemon drops and gotten right down to business. He was in no way happy.
"I see that Harry has returned. For that I must say, good job. However," Dumbledore added, and Severus had to consciously keep his body from tensing. "I question why you let Mister Malfoy bring him to the Hospital Wing. Do you not remember your vow?"
Severus grit his teeth in anger. Bringing up the vow that Dumbledore had forced him to make in a moment of weakness- even if he didn't mind having it now- was a low blow. Unfortunately, it could be expected from the wily headmaster.
"My godson would never go against my expressed direction," Severus half-lied. "I deemed him the most capable for bringing Potter to Poppy without excess fanfare." That, at least, was the truth. It was tricky lying to Dumbledore, with his mastery of legilimency, so Severus always tried to stick as close to the truth as he comfortably could.
Dumbledore, not expecting his controlled spy to betray him, did not question the surly professor's words. The old man reclined in his cushy chair and popped another lemon drop into his mouth as his gaze roved the bookshelves behind Severus, his mind churning through information. "That may be so," the headmaster hummed. "But I would rather you entrusted Harry to someone safer next time, such as Hagrid or young Mister Weasley."
The vampire almost scoffed, but hid his disagreement by responding, "Of course, Albus." It was easier to just accept what the man said and disregard it later than argue.
"I would also like to ask the reason behind your absence? You are lucky Minerva noticed and notified me. However, I was not pleased at the addition to my already large work load."
Like he does any of it, Severus thought snidely as he pointedly ignored looking at the many stacks of papers covering the headmaster's desk.
"I apologize," Severus stated smoothly. "I was severely injured and needed time to recover. During the retrieval of Potter, I had surprised the coven while they were distracted by their feeding, but they began attacking quickly and their magic user caught me by surprise in turn. But do not worry, it will not happen again."
Dumbledore stared at Severus shrewdly, but he shook his head lightly after a few moments. "I would expect it to," he said. "Even though you are an excellent duelist, Severus, vampires can move even faster than your mind can process. It is extremely lucky you even managed to surprise them at all."
Severus wanted to roll his eyes, but he was minutely pleased the headmaster still thought he was human. It would be extremely troublesome if he found out he was not. But the vampire had spent enough time in the old man's presence, he needed to get to the main reason he was there.
"While we are on the topic of Potter, I would actually like to request your help, Albus."
The headmaster's eyes sparked with curiosity as he leaned forwards on his desk, almost toppling one of the paper stacks there. However, it was an expected reaction, as Severus hardly ever asked for help. "What can I do for you, my boy?"
Severus gestured towards where Fawkes watched them from his perch as he began to speak, "It has to do with the ingredients for a healing potion I found- the Summaculoi Potion. It is an old eye sterilization and restoration potion that may be able to recover Potter's sight, now that his hearing has returned. I have all of the ingredients but one- phoenix tears."
"That is wonderful, my boy!" The headmaster exclaimed. "Getting a tear of two from Fawkes shouldn't be a problem at all. Do you have a flask he could put them into?" Dumbledore questioned. He then reached forwards and grabbed the uncorked vial the Potions Master had wordlessly offered him, his blue eyes sparkling. The headmaster stood up quickly, as if his creaking bones weren't a problem he commonly bothered Severus about, and walked over to Fawkes.
The bird needed no prompting, as he bowed his head over the vial as soon as it was presented to him. Tears started to fall slowly from the majestic bird's eyes. The liquid caught the rays of the afternoon sun and sparkled like diamonds.

-

Draco yawned deeply as his consciousness rose up from the depths of sleep. The blonde hummed lightly as he kept his eyes closed, just enjoying the warmth of the bed he was in. Stretching lightly, Draco accidentally knocked his arm into something, and that something shifted with a small hum.
Flickering his eyes open in curiosity, Draco rubbed at them a moment later to make sure he was seeing clearly. His lovely little submissive, the same one who had been a whimpering lion cub the last time he saw him, was lying peacefully next to him, snuggling a pillow.
Cooing softly, the veela moved closer to Harry and started carding his fingers through his petit's messy black locks. Looking at the cute little thing lying before him, Draco knew he would never know why someone could hate
Said cute little thing shifted lightly at Draco's touch and moaned. "Dray..," he whispered.
The blonde blinked before he groaned and covered his face with his hands. His little mate...

"Draco..," Harry whined. The blonde frowned from where he was checking his hair in Severus' bathroom and went over to his submissive sitting in the main bedroom. Draco gave him a hug as he asked, "What's wrong, Petit? You've been sad ever since you woke up."
Harry buried his head into his lion's chest in response, wanting to share his inner thoughts, but also not wanting to burden his mate.
"Come on, baby. Please?" The veela coaxed. He kissed his submissive's messy hair lightly as he waited.
After a few minutes of internally debating, Harry whispered, "I don't want to do this anymore."
Draco understood immediately. "Oh, little one," the blonde whispered, hugging Harry closer. "I know it's hard, and I don't like hiding our relationship either, but we have to be strong. For our mates."
The little brunette was not comforted as he whimpered lightly.
Draco rubbed Harry's back as he struggled to find words of comfort.

-

Severus had never felt more anxious than he did in that moment. Full of nervous energy, the vampire cast an invisibility spell on himself as soon as he stepped past the gargoyle guarding Dumbledore's office and sped down to his private potions lab. He had all the ingredients to get started on the potion Tom had found, and he wouldn't be wasting another moment. Harry would be healed soon.

-

Alexandru obediently stood still as his leader sucked a decent amount of the Ricercato's blood from his body. The young vampire was a little angry and reluctant, but he had to obey his sire. The elder vampire could use it better anyway, as the power infused in the Ricercato's blood he had drank had not even increased Alexandru's strength to that of his leader- that was the enormous disparity in their strengths.
Only when he felt his leader release him did Alexandru open his eyes. They stared duly at his sire as the vampire swallowed the last of the Ricercato's blood and licked his thin lips.
The Lord Tepes started cackling as the power infused in the precious blood was absorbed into his body. Alexandru could tell his leader's limits being expanded and his strength increased by the aura he released. However, the powerful individual paid the young vampire no mind, as he looked at his clenched, clawed hands, hissing, "Just you wait, little outsider. With the help of the Ricercato, I'll tear you apart limb from limb, sinew from sinew, for the deaths of my childes. And then I'll take your silly little castle for myself."
Alexandru smirked as his own bloodlust piqued at his leader's words.
Lord Tepes chuckled to himself, his blood red eyes widened in glee before he tilted his head back dramatically and cackled into the darkness of the Forbidden Forest.
The Ricercato was as good as theirs.