Title: Crimson Tangerine

Author: enchanted nightingale

Disclaimer: The Harry Potter characters do not belong to me. I only use them in my plot for fun.

Difficult Questions

LXXXIV.

What followed after Orpheus' latest interview created sensation among his fans and piqued the interest among them. He was not seen in public often, not unless it was about his work. The tabloids had many speculations as to who the mystery lover was. And Lorcan D'Eath took great pleasure reading the guesswork and an even greater one, reading them out loud to Sanguini. He was not alone in his mirth. The rest of his band also joined in on the teasing. And for once the older Vampire did not stomp off, or threaten to eviscerate them, like usual.

Lorcan hummed as he leafed through the latest magazine featuring such an article.

"Page ten, page ten... Ah! Here it is, nice shot of you, too. Very artistic, capture the 'Woe is me' vibe you've got going on pretty well!" He turned the magazine so that Orpheus could see his face, with a bubble of a person with a black face and red question mark right next to him. "It's one of the juicy ones too. Here it says that you..."

"Lorcan, do you really have to do this?"

The part-Vampire snorted. "Give me a break here! I'm the poor guy you got to chaperone all your little 'play dates'," he remarked, his voice particularly teasing when he said 'play dates'.

Sanguini huffed. "Well, not like we give you a lot of trouble. Harry's not an exhibitionist and I'm too territorial to have witnesses see him. You are basically getting free drinks and a chance to be lazy whenever you shadow us."

"Yes, the 'for your eyes only' is what's part of the problem. And the least payment should be buying me a coffee or something. I have many things I could be spending my time on, playing the chaperone is not my idea of a great evening."

The Vampire rolled his eyes. "Just shut up about the articles, please."

"Nope, I'm having too much fun," Lorcan said and went back to reading out loud.

The older one made an aborted attempt once again before deciding to let this slide, just this once. He could get his revenge later. Then it would be Orpheus laughing.

LXXXV

They were having lunch together (as they were used to whenever their work schedule allowed) and once again their conversation turned to their son.

"On one hand the courtship touches every single romantic bone in my body," Clarissa told her husband. "On the other hand,

the age difference makes me shudder. He's too old for any mortal really," she muttered.

Philip sighed. "Do you really think our Harry will be allowed to remain mortal?"

Now his wife bit her lip and let put a heavy sigh. Their conversation was now entering a territory she had been afraid to approach before.

"I've thought of that too," she admits to him. "Remember what Harry told us? Wizards age slower than the non-magical population. It will be years before..." her voice caught at the thought of her and her husband dying so much sooner than their child. It would leave their Harry alone much quicker than if he had been a muggle. And then there was what would need to happen for Harry to be turned into a Vampire. That was an equally painful though to her.

"Before he has to kill him, in order to turn him," Philip finished for her, his face grave.

His wife nodded, not able to voice those words. "Am I a bad person?" Clarissa asked him. "I want him happy, but I also want him to live a long life. And yes, technically as a Vampire will live a very long time but..."

"Not what you had in mind for his future?" her husband teased. "It wasn't what I had in mind for him. But then again, we did not imagine wands and spells in his future, or snakes and dragons and Vampires in general. Harry has a habit of surprising us. But, as long as Harry's happy..."

"That's all that matters," Clarissa agreed. "That is all I ever wanted for him."

Phillip sighed a bit. It was good to know that they were both on the same page regarding their son. This whole situation with the supernatural was familiar to them now but he did not think he would ever be used to it. Especially the different species. Levitation he could understand, found it brilliant either. Transfiguration, not that difficult to digest. Potions were like modern medicine, and so very practical, they were easy to understand. But Centaurs and Veela, or Goblins, Vampires, and real life Giants and Trolls; all this made his head spin.

"You know, whenever I see those Vampire movies posters and such... Our Harry is not a fan boy, not in the least and yet..." Philip told his wife, training off at the end. It was really weird to see what most non-Magical people thought about the various species that were real, just hidden from their knowledge.

"It is pretty funny, thankfully there are so very few similarities between all parties involved," Clarissa told him. "For one, Harry wants us to still be part of his life. He tells us everything, always has."

"He's a good kid," her husband agreed with fondness and then changed the subject to something other than their son.

LXXXVI

Hufflepuff common room was buzzing with noise. Exams were just around the corner and while they were not like Ravenclaws regarding their academic prowess, they were often portrayed as the 'hard working' house for a very good reason. One such group was the seventh years that were all camped out in comfortable seats in the most quiet area of the common room, forming a circle with books and snacks shared among them.

"No! No more! My brain!" Susan moaned and dropped her book from her hands.

Immediately Harry offered a biscuit her way and she perked up considerably. Then the green-eyed wizard took one for himself.

"You know, seven years later, I think we're the luckiest house in Hogwarts," he told his study group that consisted of all his year mates from his house.

"Because we're right across the kitchens and all the bakes goodness is available to us?" Justin asked.

"You took that right from my mouth," Harry told him after he swallowed the first biscuit and then reached for his second in as many minutes. "If there's one thing I'll ever miss from Hogwarts is house elf cooking. I love my mother but..."

All the teens nodded mournfully.

"My mother can never get it quite right. Everything she cooks is delicious, but the taste is so much different," Hannah agreed.

"Hey, Harry," Justin poked the green-eyed wizard that was sprawled at his left side, Ernie occupying his other side.

"Yes?"

"You're being courted by a Vampire, right?" Justin said, dropping his voice a bit.

The green-eyed teen shot him an inquiring look. "Is there a point in the question?"

"Won't you miss it then? All this?" Justin asked, unknowingly mirroring the question Harry had heard from his parents and Cedric at some point since the courting officially begun.

"Yes, I probably will," Harry agreed. He thought a bit more about it. "I definitely will."

The various confections and food items that were for Vampires were nothing like warm pie fresh out of the oven, or a piece of treacle tart or a scoop of chocolate ice cream. They did not compare to any of the various dishes and cuisine that Harry loved to taste from around the world. Lorcan, who was only part Vampire had bemoaned how unfair it was that his taste buds were caught in between. Harry had even gotten the same warning from Orpheus early on.

"But that is why we're courting and not just jumping in the whole situation. If I asked, he would whisk me away faster than a heartbeat. But I wanted to finish school. I want to keep on living my life. I'm still in my teens, with everything that includes. I want to keep traveling, keep trying new food, just… keep living."

"So, you're saying that he's giving you space," Justin muttered. He looked like he was gearing up to ask a few more questions.

Thankfully Harry had several people in his corner, ready to rescue him from having to answer the really difficult questions.

"It's not like Harry here is going to change his mind," Susan commented and Harry shot her a smile.

Especially when Susan changed the subject back to the subject they were standing and away from his personal life.

Harry knew that all of them meant well, just like he knew that most of them could not understand why he was even considering continuing with the courtship. They would never understand the bond between him and Orpheus. So far most of the magical community was in the dark about the connection between them. Those that had seen them dancing at the ball had not talked. Those who had one foot in the non-magical world were more aware as to what big news this was. Harry was counting on it staying that way. He wanted at least a few quiet months before the secret was out. If he could manage a quiet year or two to finish his magical higher education even better. Susan was among the few who knew just how serious he was, how invested he was in this courtship. Being Amelia Bones' niece, she knew better than most how dangerous the Vampire community could be. Yet she was quietly supportive. She and Cedric had only once asked him if it was what he wanted, life as a Vampire. They had not skirted around the issue. Harry would be turned at some point, it was inevitable. He would have to die in order to live life next to Sanguini, as part of the Undead.

"What about children?" Susan had asked, knowing that it was something Harry had wanted. They had discussed it before, in abstract terms and timeframes, but one thing was certain, Harry had wanted a family. Despite his early years with his blood relatives, growing up with his adopted family had made him crave that for his future.

"There is always adoption," Harry had replied.

He had not voiced that while he would be sad if he never had children, it would not overshadow what was between him and Orpheus. Between the bond, the attraction and the life dept they shared there would probably be little time and thought they could spare for anyone else. Lorcan chaperoning the dates he and Orpheus went on was a necessity, not just a quirk and tradition. It was dangerous, what Orpheus felt for him. But he had not voiced those thoughts, not to his friends.

He had touched on the subject with his parents and with Lorcan. The singer was understanding but even he could not contribute anything. So far he was only willing to admit that he was open to the idea of adoption, same as Harry. And since they were being of Magic, magically adopting children was an easy solution, one they would even revisit after Harry was turned.

"Harry?"

The green-eyed teen blinked and saw the look Hannah was giving him. "Sorry, just, woolgathering I guess," he told her and picked up his notes. It was not easy, pushing all those questions and doubts and emotions from his mind yet he managed. After all he had less than a month till he graduated and an even shorter time till he sat for his NEWTs. The rest of his life could wait.

LXXXVII

He was not doing it on purpose. In fact, it seemed like his eyes had a mind of their own. Harry probably had an inclining as to why his gaze strayed so often. He seemed amused by how reluctant Orpheus was for something that was basically his instinct. Lorcan, (he was trying to give them privacy and pretend he was not watching their every move like a hawk during their date) seemed to find the situation highly amusing.

"Hogsmead weekend before exams was a brilliant idea," Orpheus told the teen, even as they walked down the street of a magical town at least three countries away. Harry had gotten permission from his parents to go much further than Hogsmead, where all his peers and fellow Hogwarts students would be gathered. Magical Berlin was a great sight. The street they strolled down more modern than anything Britain had to offer and the cafe they chose to sit afforded them some privacy, so they were sat next to each other on a couch.

The proximity had been a good idea at first, but now Orpheus was reconsidering how smart it was. Really, it was like he was torturing himself. The urge to touch the wizard was greater with every meeting. Waiting until Harry graduated Hogwarts was the most idiotic (and masochistic) suggestion he ever made. Lorcan was not alone in teasing him. Madam Xyla was delighting in his long bout of celibacy. Malik had to hold him back a couple of time from responding to her playful jabs.

"You look pained," Harry remarked.

Orpheus shrugged slightly and tried to clear his head. "I enjoy meeting you a tad too much," he simply told Harry.

The teen eased back on his seat. "It had been a while," he mused. "You haven't asked, all this time."

"Haven't asked what?" the Vampire asked.

"If you could bite me again."

Lorcan stood rigid in his seat several tables away. Yet his shock could not be greater than Orpheus'.

"Harry," the Vampire warned, his voice strained. He swallowed hard, trying to ignore the fact that his fangs were showing. He closed his mouth and tried not to breathe at all; Harry's scent would not help his case. And those brilliant green eyes were pinned on him, not missing anything as he managed to finally get his body under some control. "What you're offering... Do not tempt me, Harry. Not with this."

Lorcan meanwhile had abandoned his table and walked over to them, pulled a chair and plopped down. He turned to Harry. "You are quite naughty, Harry. I would have never expected this of you," the part Vampire told the wizard. Then, still looking at the teen, he addressed Orpheus. "And here I thought you were exaggerating."

Orpheus scowled at him. "You could sound less amused."

"Go powder your nose," Lorcan told him. "Your fangs are showing again."

"Damn," the older male cursed and stood abruptly.

Harry was left staring at his retreating form. "Was what I said...?"

"It was even better than propositioning for sex," Lorcan bluntly told him. "And you just insured that I'm going to be the third wheel in your dates."

Harry blushed. "I did not know it was that provocative," he admitted. "Well, I had some idea that it was suggestive but... Really? Is it this bad? I don't want to make him feel uncomfortable or uneasy around me. I genuinely wanted to do this for him and not just to save his life." Harry shot a look at the direction Sanguini had disappeared to. "Does he needs to feed now?"

Lorcan looked positively gleeful. "Well, he has several appetites to sate."

Harry choked. "Just by me offering my blood he's gotten all..."

"Aroused?" Lorcan stressed the word, a smirk appearing on his lips. "Yes. He has. "

The raven-haired wizard looked towards the direction Orpheus had disappeared to. His blush was still present on his face, but the spark of interest in his eyes told the half Vampire that the teen had not been intimidated by his revelation. He inwardly berated his silliness. This teen had freely given his blood to a Vampire back when he was a child, he would not be squeamish doing the same as a young adult. Also, he was proudly wearing the ring Orpheus had gifted him. The singer could imagine how interesting things would be for Sanguini just because of the wizard sitting across from him.

"I have been thinking about it," Harry admitted.

"Sex or bloodletting?" Lorcan was again blunt with his delivery.

"Both," the teen replied after some consideration.

"Well, good for you. If you do have questions..." here Lorcan sighed reluctantly, "You could ask, I guess. But not around Orpheus. He's being tortured enough, the poor guy. He can only show so much self-restrain and not jump you like the tasty morsel you are."

Harry smiled. "Thank you for offering. Most books and such I have found were not helpful. You seem to enjoy causing Orpheus discomfort."

Lorcan smiled back, his look mischievous. "No comment," he replied just in time to see the Vampire joining them again, looking decisively more composed.

LXXXVIII

The graduation ceremony was a bigger deal than Harry expected. It was equal parts joy for finishing the NEWTs just days before, exciting because they were finally recognized as adults (age was a landmark but finishing Hogwarts made it all the more real) and sad because it had been seven years well spent in this amazing castle. His parents sat somewhere in the audience, along with Cedric and Cho who had come to cheer for him. The ceremony itself reminded Harry of graduation ceremonies he had seen in tv-series. The students wore the robes of their houses and the simple black pointed hat. It was like a reverse shorting ceremony, being called to stand, accept their parchment and congratulations from the people who had taught them for seven years.

For Harry the only awkward moment was when he had to come face to face with Dumbledore. The weariness was still there on his part, the reminder that this man had left him with the Dursleys never quite leaving his mind whenever he saw the old wizard. The last time he had come face to face with the wizard had been back when he returned to the man's office after the Triwizard Tournament, in the company of quite a few Vampires. Dumbledore, for all his preaching of creature rights, had not been all that comfortable around Vampires.

"Good luck Harry Potter, with anything you try in your life," Albus Dumbledore told him sincerely.

The green-eyed wizard nodded. "Thank you, Headmaster," he replied and stepped away, joining his peers, and much later his family and friends for a very private celebration.