blood bound

chapter 9: Important meetings

The next month and half proved interesting for the dark haired duo as more than one student triggered Harry's instincts and the teachers mercilessly drove the fifth and seventh years to study for their OWLs and NEWTs respectively. Harry had been more than satisfied with assigning his anchor to tutor his friends in potions and help them prank the rest of the school for a week, publicly taking the blame as his punishment for purposefully triggering Harry's instincts. The additional week where he wasn't allowed to brew had Harry nearly giving in and lifting the punishment but the young vampire successfully held firm against his anchor's pleading. They slept wrapped around each other which seemed to help both of them even as Harry instinctively began longing and searching for his mate. Severus noticed the searching looks tossed towards the other students and was abruptly reminded who was in charge of their relationship when he tried to pull back, spending a whole weekend tied to the bed and treated like an invalid.

The Slytherin students hadn't been happy to find out their trip to the chamber was delayed but the other Heads of House told them that they were supporting Slytherin's right to go first. They also promised that the trips would take place during the week after exams were finished so that the entire school could participate. The Slytherin Prefects had bargained that if they were going to include the rest of the school then Slytherin house should be given compensation for sharing the secret. The Professors were amused but agreed that Slytherin should be awarded an additional hundred points for sharing. Because Umbridge's removal had been so quiet and no one who had seen him had told Dumbledore otherwise the old man was still staying away from the school, effectively in hiding. Not a single member of the staff, once they had been informed of why Minerva "Flame Temper" McGonagall was so angry at the man, could honestly say they were sorry about his lack of attendance.

The shock and awe that many of the students displayed when they saw the perfectly preserved 60 foot carcass of the Basilisk made Harry uncomfortable. Though he was at least slightly thankful for it once he realized it cut down on the verbal attacks on his anchor allowing him to more easily ignore his new instincts. The scolding he got from both the teachers and the Weasleys he wasn't so thankful for even if he did enjoy the fact that they actually cared. Severus had taken one look at it and dragged him out of the chamber to their quarters, making him strip so that he could physically examine his little vampire. Seeing how many scars Harry had left him speechless and resulted in an all day cuddle session while the other teachers made the limited areas that Harry was going to show off safe.

Before the first day of tours was over he was receiving mail asking about the sale of Basilisk parts or tours of the chamber. At least one of them was from a highly irritated Dark Lord telling him that a full explanation would be a mandatory part of their meeting. The flat out order to seal it once the students had their look and that anyone who didn't reside at the school was to be forbidden access had Harry irritated and, for some strange reason pouting for a good fifteen minutes. When he was done pouting he sarcastically asked Severus' tattoo to inform the Dark Lord that he had planned to reseal it and tell him about it any way but that the teachers had pre-empted his bribe to Slytherin house. There was no response to the sarcastic message though the inky snake had seemed somehow off for the entire rest of the day.

The Weasleys had insisted on knowing when the meeting with Voldemort was and Harry had to talk them out of trying come with him at least six times. He pointed out that the obvious feud pre-dated his adoption and could be classified as a personal feud that he was trying to resolve. None of the Weasley clan were pleased and Charlie finally had to point out that he wasn't being stupid about it nor was it probably his idea. It took Fred and George trying to playfully jump him with Severus rescuing the duo for all of them to realize that Harry's new instincts were probably playing a large part in why he wasn't letting them come with him into possible danger. Harry didn't have a choice about Severus coming since he was the guide/transport to the meeting. He did, however, privately make it clear that he didn't want the man in any avoidable danger.