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Crimson Regret	By : CrimsonRegret Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Harry/Snape Views: 78118 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 15
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- 17
THANK YOU all who reviewed!!!

I have decided to dispense with author�s thanks for the moment but promise that in the last chapter (that isn�t so far away) I will thank each and every one who reviewed me!!!

Sorry!!! For the delay it�s just this is a CRUCIAL chapter and I had to make it perfect! Plus it�s longer than the rest! So I hope that�s a tiny consolation!

Enjoy!

***

I can feel you pull me down
Fearing you
Loathing you
I won't let you pull me down

Harry could hear the school trembling around them as they burst through school corridors, bathed in moonlight, pictures screaming and moaning around them as there portraits were jolted in their frames. Scarred, grey torsos could be seen pressed against the windows as by the sound of it, the giants pounded on the roof with gnarled knuckles, trying to beat out the magic holding it up.

Below them piercing screams could be heard from unfortunate students who had missed the excited crowd when they ran to the roof. Harry shivered in sympathy for those poor souls who had no clue what was going to happen.

They flew down staircases and pounded through corridors, all the time Harry�s still painful arm being wrenched out of his socket because Severus refused to let it go and Harry didn�t have the breath to protest.

Where they were going he had no clue, as the route was so complex that he hardly knew which way he was facing any more and he wondered what they would do when they got to wherever they were going.

Eventually he had to protest as his lungs and throat felt like they were in shreds due to the air that was roaring through them and he smacked Severus on the arm to let him know that he needed to rest.

Without even pausing in his head long flight Severus swept Harry up into his arms and carried on running, his boots pounding on the stones like foreboding drums and Harry could barely catch his breath they were moving so fast, the wind they made rippling through his hair and his eyes watering even behind his glasses.

Pounding down the last corridor before the entrance hall, they rounded the corner and on down the marble staircase�and stopped dead.

Before them, lay a siege, a one sided massacre. Unfortunate students were fighting for their lives and failing as they were swarmed by a never ending sea of dark robed men, flying curses rebounded off the walls and terrified screams bounced off the ceiling as many fell in the face of such darkness, such pitiless horror.

Harry barely had time to gasp in shock and horror before his mate turned and fled back up the stairwell, diving into the first corridor they came to they followed it for a while before Severus began rifling behind a tapestry, and suddenly they were sweeping through a tiny door hidden behind.

It was utterly dark, and the air was wretched with the stench of staleness as they crept down a tiny passage, heading who knew where. It was dark and close and unimaginably tiny, just big enough for Severus to stand up in and Harry�s body width to fit through and still he could feel the very tips of his hair brushing against the stone behind his head.

Harry simply clung on to his mate, too stricken with fear and wracked by guilt to do much more as the pitch black caressed them like cloying velvet. Severus was strong and silent, speaking volumes by saying nothing and Harry wept silent tears for the massacre to come.

Soon a light formed in the dark, growing stronger and brighter until it formed into a flaming torch and stopping before it Severus stroked the nearest brick in a caress, speaking a muttered password as he did so.

The wall slid aside with an ominous grating noise and they emerged into a poorly lit dungeon corridor, their ears immediately assuaged by the sounds of prowling vampires.

Silently they melted into the shadows and Severus hugged Harry closer still as their growls reverberated off of the walls.

Trying to remain as quite as possible and highly aware of their enhanced hearing so much like his, Severus brought his lips to Harry�s ear.

�Harry, these creatures will not hurt you, drop the glamour and they will know you are marked, they will care little for the Dark lord�s vendetta and so that the fact it is my mark will not change that� but there are other things they can and will do. They are dangerous creatures Harry; they are a vampire cult called the Luminou, most effective on the full moon, most dangerous on the full moon. Which is tonight.�

Harry nodded and despite the conflicting feelings of fear and comfort running though him he noted Severus�s words and filed them away for later use.

Slowly the growls receded and when they were sufficiently dulled, Severus turned and swept down the corridor. Soon they were in the main corridor outside his rooms and creeping to the door of his classroom he peered in.

It was in ruins, workbenches overturned and ingredients spread far and wide, something dark and red dripped from the walls and the stench of blood was heavy in the air, but the potion, the precious and worthless potions, lay in ruins upon the floor.

Severus closed his eyes in despair; it had been useless anyway as it could not have been ready on time. But the hope, the hope it had carried had kept him going.

Gritting his teeth he straightened his back and entering the classroom set his dazed mate on his feet by the door.

�Lock the door and run through to me, if you here the slightest noise!� He barked lifting his robes and picking through the ruins of his workplace towards his office.

�Where are you going?� Harry asked, standing small and alone by the door.

�To get some weapons, we must get out of here and we must survive.� Severus said without a backward glance sweeping through his office and into his rooms.

Running feet were heard behind him before his mate came barrelling through the door and into the room behind him.

�NO! I have to fight him! I have to stop this! Look what�s happening Severus.� Severus didn�t acknowledge him, simply swept the contents of his meagre breakfast to the floor and flung open the chest he usually used as coffee table, to reach the weapons within.
�LOOK AT ME!� Harry screamed wrenching him round via the arm and shaking him where he stood. Severus growled in warning but Harry paid no heed to it.

�Look what I�ve done! This is all my fault! I have failed time and again to kill the menace who is bringing destruction to the school, I caused him to attack us by stealing you away from him! I am causing this merciless massacre by simply EXISTING and you expect me to run from it like a frightened coward?!�

His face was red and his breathing laboured as he stood his ground, his fists clenching spasmodically and tears, desperate tears coursing down his cheeks.

Severus snarled, �The potion is ruined Harry! You know this as well as I! You think I am going to allow you to face him and die, you think I�m going to lose you so soon after I�ve found you?�

A terrible growl ripped from his throat as he in turn grasped Harry�s arm, �You�d be wrong! This ship is sinking fast Potter! And I�ll be damned if we�re on it when it hits the bottom, now come on.�

Harry�s jaw dropped, and then shut with a snap as he tried valiantly to control his tremulous expression.

�Potter now is it?� He asked softly, unable to disguise the slight hitch in his voice.

Severus sighed and stopped what he was doing to cup his mate�s face, �I am sorry, truly, but I refuse to lose you, I REFUSE! So please�please understand that right now my only instinct is to protect you, I NEED to do this.�

Harry nodded, swallowing heavily and resignedly.

Smiling reassuringly and grasping as many daggers, swords and other weaponry as he could Severus hid them under his robes and thrusting a dagger into his mate�s hands with a serious, �Conceal it!� He snagged his hand and dragged him to the door.

As Harry concealed the small but deadly weapon, he unlocked the door with a flick of his wand and carefully stuck his head out sniffing the air as he did so.

It appeared that they were safe for the moment so quietly he led them out and hugging the wall they headed down deeper into the dungeons.

Despite the lack of bodies or evidence of torture, the scent of blood lay thick in the air and even Harry picked up the salty tang as it crashed upon them in putrid waves.

Soon, little could be heard as the hallways grew darker and the torches dimmer, silent tears tracked their way down Harry�s cheeks as the guilt of many deaths lay heavy upon his heart and he couldn�t help but feel resentment towards his mate at this time as they fled like ghostly rabbits in the gloom.

Suddenly Severus froze, his innate hearing picking up the tiniest of sounds. Silently perusing the darkness around him his gaze fell upon a tiny huddled figure upon the floor.

A sniffle erupted from it and quietly he bent down and lifted the hood of the figures robes to reveal a wan little face with the darkest eyes he had ever seen.

�What is it?� Harry whispered from behind him.

�Simply a Vamperie,� He said dismissing it quickly and turning to move on.

�A what?� His mate said curiously, stepping around him to get a closer look at the tiny bundle upon the floor.

�A vampiric child, now come we must move on!� But he could see it was little use as Harry�s face melted into an expression of awe and wonder.

�Oh, oh isn�t it beautiful, why would the Luminou bring a child here?�

Gritting his teeth Severus bit out, �Because they protect their young with their lives and do not leave them totally alone for a second until they reach a certain age.�

�Well obviously they aren�t that protective-�Severus cut him off with an impatient flick of his head to two slain figures on the floor a little way away.

�Oh, oh that�s terrible, are they-�

�I don�t know but we will certainly meet the same fate if we linger here much longer!� Severus almost shouted finally at the end of his tether.

�Well we can�t leave the child here, we must take it with us.� Harry said.

�We are not-� Severus began furiously.

�Please Severus? Please allow me to save at least one life here tonight!� Harry said, his eyes imploring as he gazed up at Severus, his teeth peeking out to gnaw at his lip.

Squeezing his eyes shut with a silent groan Severus finally swooped down and picked the child up with a quietly controlled �Fine!�

Settling the child comfortably on his hip and glancing up to start forward once more, he caught something move a little way in front of him, and then the point of a wand protruded from the gloom.

Turning with the disgruntled and already sniffling child in his arms, his hair swinging in a wide arc about his face he yelled, �Run!� and he fled, making sure Harry was behind him as he did so the child in his arms barely heavy enough to make a difference to the speed of his flight.

But no sooner had he taken barely a dozen steps then a terrible boom resounded in the hall around him and he careened to a stop as the very walls shuddered with it.

Frowning he slowed to a stop and carefully looked up as if his gaze could penetrate through the very ceiling and show him what had made the noise.

The child peered around also, swivelling its head to look behind Severus and put a slender thumb between it�s lips. Half expecting to hear a sound of delighted awe from Harry at the sight of this, he was surprised when none was forth coming. Figuring his mate was to scared by the mysterious sound to speak he turned in order to comfort him, and fell back a few paces when instead of being greeted by the sight of his mate he was instead confronted with a solid stone wall.

�Harry? Shit HARRY?!� Frantically he kicked out at the wall, half hoping it was an illusion. But judging by the pain in his foot it evidently wasn�t. Pressing himself to the wall as if he could connect to his mate he called out desperately, pressing his ear to the stone, determined to hear something. But alas no sound reached his straining ears and finally he spun around, frenziedly trying to figure out a way to reach Harry. The child discontent whimpers got louder and he glanced once more at the wall before turning and making a headlong dash, down the hallway. He had to find Dumbledore.

There was no other way to reach Harry save from deeper in the dungeons, the only way to reach him now was through that wall and he needed to help to do that.

So he ran on, heedless to the noise he made as he pounded through the halls that were growing brighter now by the second, the child wailing loudly in fear.

His mind was filled with thoughts for Harry, what had trapped him behind that wall? Would he be able to defend himself or� but no he could not think like that, he HAD to find Dumbledore!

So his thoughts spurred him on and he lamented the painful distance that was between him and the headmaster, the headmaster and Harry.

So far he had encountered no opposition, had not even been thinking about the possibility that there might be any opposition, he was so desperate to reach the headmaster. But he soon remembered as he rounded a corner at a swift trot and suddenly before stood someone he once knew very well.

�Well, well, if it isn�t the domesticated vampire himself, with something of mine it seems.�

Severus frowned, �Dillon? I did not think this type of thing was your style.�

The vampire before him shrugged, �Lord Voldemort was very persuasive, even I could not ignore the benefits of his bargain. But I haven�t the time for idle chit chat, the child you have by rights belongs to me, I am his next of kin, so if you could hand him over we needn�t prolong this meeting of ours.�

Severus frowned and hugged the now strangely silent child closer, by the way the little boy was actually clinging to him now he wasn�t as willing to go with Dillon as Dillon was to have him.

He�d first met the other vampire on one of his many interludes in Transylvania, the other vampire was very fond of socialising in the local clubs. He had no morals where feeding or sexual pursuits were concerned and if Severus remembered correctly, had a taste for young children in his sexual exploits.

�I think not,� He said slowly after a time.

The unconcerned look fell slowly from the other�s face to be replaced by a scowl, �Excuse me?�

�I remember your tastes Dillon, I will not leave this child with you.�

The other Vampire�s lip curled, �You think I would harm my own kin?!� He growled.

�I�m not sure, but I�m taking no chances.�

Severus was unsure as to why he even cared what Dillon did with the child, perhaps it was Harry�s last plea to him that made him so protective over him, he had said that he�d take the child with him�and he planned to do just that.

�Give, the child, to me!� Dillon said slowly, his dark eyes fierce in the gloom his hand running agitatedly through his short, spiky hair.

Severus eyed the other vampire�s bulk warily; it was artfully hidden beneath coal black attire with a slimming cut to it. But Severus had seen the other male in action before and knew that he would have to be quick on his feet to get what he wanted. He debated just acquiescing to Dillon�s request, after all Harry needed help and fast but the likelihood was Dillon would simply turn on him anyway, as soon as he had the child anyway.

Turning he placed the child around the corner and keeping a wary eye on Dillon, conjured a toy to at least attempt to occupy him, then casting a silencing charm about them he faced the other vampire squarely.

�No.�

A growl emitted from deep in the other�s throat and suddenly he was upon him, slamming him into the floor and punching him squarely in the face as he did so.

Severus was prepared for physical combat but not for the speed of the attack and he gasped as the other collided with him, his ribs protesting at the force with which he was knocked to the ground.

His eye was the next to explode with pain, then his cheek and there came the fleeting thought that perhaps he hadn�t quite thought this through.

But there wasn�t time for thought as he heard mocking laughter above him before the face looming over him became feral and long incisors dropped slowly from exposed gums.

In response his own showed themselves and before Dillon could react he bucked him off and dived in to rip a hunk of flesh from a black clad shoulder, blood bursting on his tongue, thick with the taste of his own kind.

A cry ripped from Dillon�s throat and he retaliated by going for Severus�s own shoulder and it was the potion master�s turn to scream in agony.

But it was done, their mouths were filled with the taste of vampire, a forbidden but quite delicious treat and neither one could help their hardening reactions to it.

Dillon grinned lecherously eyeing Severus�s reaction and licking his fangs for more of the other�s blood.

The atmosphere was now changed noticeably and trying to temper his arousal, Severus watched Dillon slide insidiously across to him on his hands and knees and licked his shoulder as it bled copiously from the fang-inflicted wound, the little rivulets of blood shining erotically in the torch light.

Dillon chuckled lowly, moving closer to capture a tiny drop of blood beading on Severus�s split lip with the tip of his tongue.

�Perhaps we could settle this in a much more pleasant fashion?� Dillon asked silkily, His eyes lingering on Severus�s mouth before he closed the minute distance between them and pressed their lips together quite softly.

Severus permitted himself a few seconds of enjoyment, before his hand started travelling slowly up the sleeve covering his other, slowly he felt with his fingertips until instead of encountering smooth skin they came upon the weapon concealed there and under the pretext of bringing the other vampire closer, Severus wrapped his other arm round the his back and pushed the wooden steak in his hand through his breast bone with a loud crack and on into the long dead heart of his once friend.

The other�s face registered mind-numbing shock for a second.

�Come now Dillon, there�s a child present.� He grinned maliciously, before the vampire before him exploded in a shower of dust.

Getting up and dusting himself off, he stepped round the corner and lifted the child once more into his arms. It seemed the child had actually been successfully diverted by the toy and hopefully had not witnessed any of the fight.

Sighing he wearily hoisted the child more securely onto his hip and carried on up the hall at a relatively swift pace.

�Look at me, I really am domesticated.� He muttered disgustedly as the child buried its head into the crook of his neck.

Severus travelled the halls as quickly as he could, peering around every corner and preying with all he had that he�d encounter no opposition. Thankfully he actually didn�t�until that is he came to the hallway that contained the stairwell that led up into the main hall.

Water poured down the stairs like an ever-increasing water hall and filled the hall before him in almost knee high torrents, gushing and swirling and roaring in his ears.

The child in his arms whimpered pitifully and he comforted him by stroking a hand through is hair, refraining from uttering a few choice words as the water surged forward curl round his ankles in the coldest of caresses.

Venturing forth he waded into the water up to his knees, testing his balance before beginning to unsteadily negotiate his way through the hall. Each step was an effort and with nothing to hold onto to help him stay up right it was a laborious task. But eventually he made his way to the stairs.

Standing to the side and out of the way of the continuous flow of water, he stared up the stairs, considering how on earth he was going to handle this. Finally shrugging out of his robe one handed and gritting his wand in his teeth so that there was no chance it would get wet, he began to haul himself up through the water, tentively feeling the way as he did so.

The unrelenting flow threatened to send him slipping and sliding backwards several times. But with a hand on the banister, he laboriously dragged himself up the stairs, clutching the child close all the while.

The water was tinged with pink as it flowed past his feet, reminding him of the destruction to come and he pointedly ignored it, staring straight ahead as he put one foot unerringly in front of the other, his trousers, clinging wetly to his legs and his boots ruined beyond repair.

He stopped to rest halfway up the stairwell and looked behind him to check his progress, and realised with shock that somehow the water was rising behind him. How that could be he did not know, there was no obstruction for the water to resist, it would have to fill the entire dungeons for this to occur, but nevertheless it was rising and rapidly, swirling and churning beneath him in an ominous pool of swirling terror.

Turning he continued up the stairs, the water steadily rising to his waist and then his chest as it crashed and roared in his ears. It was loud in that tiny stairwell, the water twisting and churning, raging in his ears until he felt he could hardly think for the noise. He knew he had to hurry, lest they be drowned, but it was a tiring process and soon despite his best efforts the water was threatening to engulf the child�s head and he was literally swimming against the constant flow of water.

But he refused to give up and so despite the soreness in his aching muscles, and the terrible cold seeping into his bones, he battled on and on relentlessly until eventually he reached the top and with his remaining strength flung himself against the door that strangely enough, was closed.

It didn�t budge. Severus�s eyes went wide with panic, he had no idea if vampires could drown but he didn�t want to hang around and find out. Beating against the wood with flailing fists he tried to open it, but the water slowed his movements and it made no difference.

The child was screaming and wailing beside him as the water once again neared his head and in a desperate move Severus snatched his wand from between his teeth and uttered �Alohamora� in a gasping breath.

It worked and he fell through the door with a relieved cry, sheltering the child from impact as he fell to the ground, the water crashing over and above him, swamping him, filling his mouth and stinging in his eyes. He couldn�t rise above it for the sheer amount of water crushed him and kept him pressed to the ground. It went on for so long it seemed that he started to panic until suddenly, it was no more and he was left dripping on the floor, with a tiny but silent child in his arms.

After recovering from his panic slightly, Severus turned to said child to check he was all right. Small, dark eyes stared dazedly up at him and he assessed that the child was drenched but otherwise fine, and so slowly arose from his position on the floor.

The sight before him, was enough to knock him back a few steps and he swiftly shielded the child�s gaze form the carnage in the in front of them.

Water lapped lazily across the floor, pink with blood and littered with long dropped and shattered wands, and surrounded by it, were�a lot of bodies, bodies of students he knew there hands unfurled in the fragile light, faces fearful in rest.

One of the Patil twins, her pretty face marred by pain, body crumpled upon the floor by the wall. Theodore Nott, one of his own Slytherins, face down in the water, blood dripping from the back of his head into the water beside him, and there a first year Hufflepuff mouth still gaped in protest against his attackers. The chaos and destruction was so vast and as he walked through the room, his eyes grew increasingly moist with tears, for there were no survivors in this ruined place.

�No survivors.

So slowly he walked up the stairs, looking for hope, salvation, he knew not what and once at the top he turned and gazed once more.

There in the place where pure blood met mudblood, and it made not one of iota of difference in the world, lay the carnage of principles�and he hoped it was significant.

***

Harry ran after his mate, knowing not what they ran from but knowing it must be pretty serious. Running swiftly and purely on adrenaline he barely watched where he was going and stumbled on an uneven flag stone, just managing to right himself he let the momentum of his stumble carry him forward until looking up at the last minute he heard a huge bang�and there was a stone wall before him.

Crashing into it and almost breaking his wrists, he leaned against it in shock for a moment, and then it sunk in.

�Sev? Severus?� He pressed himself to the wall desperately, and then pounded against it, �SEVERUS?�

After a couple of minutes of this his fist was sore and he realised he wasn�t going to get anywhere.

�Shit!� He half whispered, turning and staring about him.

The corridor was eerily empty and silent, very silent and carefully he took a small step forward�and the lights went out, without the slightest flicker.

He gasped and stood stock-still, he was engulfed in velvety blackness and suspected that he could not even see his hand in front of his face if he tried.
But he could not try, could not even move, because he was in the dark and something or someone had made it so.

He took in a shaky breath and called out tremulously, �Hello? Hello is anyone there?�

No answer was forth coming.

He felt so frightened and so threatened. All he had was his tiny dagger to protect him and no way to use it should he need to, blind as he was.

Suddenly his ears picked up the minutest of sounds, a whisper of cloth against stone.

He stood stock still holding his breath and slowly he became aware, or rather sensed that someone stood before him.

He gasped and backed up a step, moulding himself to the stone, feeling the cold against his back.

And the lights came on, with a slap of skin against skin and he shielded his eyes from the glare.

And slowly, slowly from the blinding light emerged a figure, a shadowy, tall and recognisable figure.

�Hello�Harry Potter.�

***

Hehe, three guesses as to who it is, author is practically dying, reviews would be much appreciated.
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Crimson Regret