Hello Everyone! I'm sorry about the delay, it took a while to write and Beta, seeing as I am in exam mode with college. It was my 18th two days ago and I got hammered ;) So many clubs I danced in. I hope you like this chapter, which starts of a bit different than normal. The Egg from the first task will be mentioned in the next chapter and also it's a different changed clue. Sirius and Remus, also the Weasley's will be in the next chapter.

Thanks you for my Beta for doing a lovely job as always.

DISCLAIMER: As you all know, don't own Harry Potter and all related registered trademarks are property of the illustrious of J.K. Rowling and Warner Brothers. Other characters that have been made are of my imagination but made within the magical world like Elliot and Graham.

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Chapter Eleven: Flamel and Ridgeway

There were Laws Vampires had to abide by in the Magical World, and Elliot kept to them. He could not feed on an unwilling wizard or witch, but if it was a criminal, he could gladly take said criminal and to his luck, there was one nearby.

He was really hungry, and he needed to feed before going to Reikhman Manor to see Harry again.

Alecto Carrow is a hawk like woman, with some beauty, but since the recent break out at Azkaban, she had a haggard look that didn't help her beauty, it made her madder though he, of all men knew she was attractive in some ways. After all he did date her at Hogwarts, but Amycus, her twin brother was a bastard and got her to take the mark of Voldemort and become a devoted follower. Amycus loathed Elliot, why? Because of his blood, after all he was a muggleborn who Alecto had fallen in love with.

Her forbidden love.

Elliot watched; his black eyes on her as she ran bare foot on the snowy ground towards the enchanted lake in Nottingham forest. He watched her run in between the tree's tripping over a branch, cutting her leg in the process as she fell to the ground.

"Shit," She groaned, eyes wide and terrified. Her hands went to the cut, using the rags that she wore to wipe the wound clean. Elliot's eyes watched as more blood trickled down her long leg, onto her dark mark in the process. His senses went into vampire over drive. Not good.

He licked his lips and stepped forward from behind one of the many trees.

There was no hesitation on Elliot's part as he ran behind her, bringing her up from the ground and into a death hold. She started to scream and struggle out of his hold.

"Now, now Alecto, we don't want to ruin that pretty voice of yours. Your brother would be so devastated."

"Well, well, well. I didn't expect you, of all people to be the one to find me first, Lex," She let out a high pitched laugh, a laugh that Elliot hadn't heard her do before. The Alecto he knew was long gone. His hold tightened, the smell of blood clearly hitting his nose. Alecto sensed the man stiffen behind her. "Ahh, yes! How unfortunate you didn't die in that raid in North Yorkshire. I personally led that one with my brother you know; we thought you would have liked to have some house quests that night. We watched from behind the scenes of course. Very amusing." She laughed again, this time Elliot grabbed hold of her long dark hair, tugging it down sharply so she could look into his hungry eyes.

"Look what you have become Alecto. You have killed innocent people woman! That night my parents and brother could have been killed! This is not you, but it's too late." Elliot hissed into her ear, his lips close to her pulsing neck.

"Aww what a Gryffindor you were that night. Wonder why you were ever put in Ravenclaw, Gryffindor is the most common for mudbloods to go into." She paused, her gaze locking with his. "This is me Lex. My brother showed me who I was meant to really be! I lived up to the expectations of the Dark Lord and my family, and I will again! He showed me the truth!" She shouted out, trying to struggle out of Elliot's hold again.

"How did he show you the truth?"

"You really want to know? Might as well tell you why I left you. The night I was meant to meet you in Hogsmeade, my brother caught you kissing Jasper Sicarious! Showed me too, that was the night when my brother took me to the Dark Lord. He taught me a lesson. Never mingle with a mudblood. You lot carry diseases, and seeing as I found out your liking for both men and woman, that just added anger to the rising fire." She hissed, spitting into his face. Elliot showed his fangs, his eyes looking confused. He had never kissed Jasper Sicarious, a fellow Ravenclaw who was quite attractive...

"And besides, I didn't want to be disowned and loose everything."

"Would you mind not spitting in my face again because I will just snap your skinny neck as I am not in the mood for your games," He snarled, very unlike him to do so, but he was very hungry. "I will tell you this before I end you suffering. I didn't kiss that fellow Ravenclaw, I was faithful to you! Your brother just got the better of you, with you always believing everything that rolled off his sharp tongue. You were different from most Purebloods back then, you wanted change! I did tell you that I went both ways at the beginning of our relationship, but that fact obviously didn't enter your brain Alecto." Elliot let his voice go to a whisper, not believing that this was happening.

He sighed, looking straight ahead, his inner evil coming out. "I will end your suffering. You cannot escape me, with no wand and your rubbish inbred talent to cast wandless magic, its game over for you my dear." He licked his lips again, not bothered that the woman he knew was the one he was going to drain.

"Go on, do it. Be the man I always wanted you to be!" She screamed again and Elliot went into crazy drive. He sank his teeth into her neck, her tainted blood filling his mouth. He moaned as he listened to the beating of her heart in her veins, pumping the blood to his mouth very quickly, it was invigorating. Soon he knew he was coming down to her last drop of blood, her body sagging into his body. He let go of her neck, his hand coming to gently hold her neck, tilting her head so he could see into those gray eyes which were obviously dying.

"I promised myself that if it ever came to this, I would not regret it. May your soul, Alecto Clementine Carrow go to a better place. I hope you are accepted for the sins you have committed in this life." He said with pity, watching her gasp for air. He sank his teeth back into her neck, taking the last of her blood. He dropped her now dead body to the floor, his now ruby red eyes looking up at the sky.

The wind picked up, snow coming down lightly. What a fitting scene; Elliot thought as sorrow went through him at what he had just done to the woman he had dated in his school days, but he had gotten another death eater out of the upcoming war ahead of them, he was no fool after all. One more not to go after Harry. One more not to serve He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.

He looked at the body, his hand wandlessly summoning a dead leaf, transfiguring it into a lily. Elliot let it float down wards as it made its way onto her chest. He slowly turned away, knowing that the ministry would come soon, the lily activating to signal a criminal dead.

Elliot sighed, apparating away without looking back.

Time went quickly with Harry being busy getting everything ready, along with his parents for the party. Reikhman manor was now thriving and the Christmas Party was on its way. Over forty top Healers and Potion Masters were dining there tonight and Severus was surprised at who he was seeing again. Harry mingled with every person within the grand living room, talking about his education, potions that he was working on with his father and how his life at Hogwarts was, until it was time to dine.

He was placed next to Severus, watching Elliot, who had arrived a bit late, to stare at his nearly rare piece of meat from the other side of the long table. The man drank from his glass, warmish ruby red liquid going into his mouth, staining his lips. Harry picked up the man's gaze and smiled, Elliot giving a small tiny smile in return.

Harry's attention went to Severus who was already relaxed in his seat which surprised him, glad that Severus was becoming more relaxed with everyone, but still on his guard. Thaddeus started to talk to him, the topic obviously being very potions related. Harry rolled his eyes, his father was very glad that Severus was here. He turned his head away and picked at his chicken as his father was telling a story that involved a potions mistake that turned him blue for a couple of weeks. He mentioned that Harry should have turned into a smurf, a muggle thing that was popular in both worlds at the moment.

Harry looked around again, eyes looking from face to face, suddenly catching Elliot's eyes glaring at Snape. Green eyes suddenly locked with ruby red, telling him to stop like he did with Severus earlier. Elliot looked away furious as he now noticed Severus and Harry's closeness. The vampire knew something was going on, and he didn't like it at all.

"So Harry," Graham Ridgeway said from the other side of the table. "I am sure you would like to follow in your father's footsteps in becoming a top ranking potions master, after all with your rare rising talent, I do hope you're considering being an apprentice, there are a lot of people in this room, including me that would be very happy to take you on." He said with a devilish smile, all conversations dropping to listen in. Harry knew that Graham knew of this morning's letter to him from Nicholas Flamel.

Sneaky, cunning man.

Harry nodded, gulping his food down. "Yes, I have been considering that option with many others. I actually have some news that I was going to save for the New Year, which I only found out this morning," Harry paused, looking from Elliot to Severus then his parents. "Nicolas Flamel has personally asked me to be his apprentice after I finish my 6th year." The whole room gasped, many jaws dropping including his parents.

"Flamel hasn't had an apprentice for over one hundred years and he declines every offer from students since his last one! How is this possible?" Libatius Borage said quickly, eyes narrowing at Harry.

"I hope you're not calling me a liar Mr. Borage," Harry glared slightly at the ignorant man, daring the man to continue. "Yes, it is true that he hasn't taken someone on for a while since his last apprentice died in a potions accident, but he wrote me a personal letter which arrived this morning requesting that he wanted me to be his apprentice. Apparently he has been keeping track of my academic progress since my OWL results and after the display I did in my first task for the Triwizard Tournament, he thinks it's time he asked me. Plus, Healer Ridgeway will be teaching me the Healing Arts if I choose that branch of Magic, obviously I will if I want to be a Grade 1 potions master." Harry smirked, eyes set on Graham.

"You would be a fool to turn him down Mr. Potter." Severus drawled, his voice silky, sending shivers down Harry's spine.

"I know, that's why I am officially sending a reply to him in the New Year. The shock hasn't sunk in yet, it won't for a while." Harry nodded.

"I hope you choose to learn the art of healing with me then, Harry." Graham winked, hoping he could have a shared apprentice, his first official one.

"My son is going to be an apprentice to the Lord Nicholas Flamel. You're growing up so much!" Pandora stifled a cry, dabbing at her watery eyes in happiness. Harry beamed a smile, until he looked at his father who was currently sporting a very brave face, but with a small smile. Harry knew that his father wanted him to be his apprentice, but he hoped he hadn't hurt the man who had taken him into his home when he was a baby, becoming his dad that he loves with all his heart. He watched as his mother took the hand of his fathers on the table, giving it a gentle squeeze.

He would have to have a talk with his father very soon.

Harry now became the topic of conversation with everyone at the table. He sighed deeply, gritting his teeth as he wished for once he wasn't talked about like this while he was present in the room. Contrary to popular belief, Harry didn't like to be talked about much, he blamed his past.

After the huge feast, which everyone complimented, Pandora led everyone back to the lounge. Harry needed to get away and snuck his way out. He found himself wandering from the party in the lounge to the halls of his west wing, Severus had gone to bed, excusing himself from the party, saying he needed to do some last minute marking. Harry's spirits lifted at the sound of the grand piano being played from the music room. He made his way to the slightly open door, peaking between the crack to see Severus playing Moonlight Sonata off by heart.

He went in the room, leaning against the wall and watching with delight. Harry didn't know that Severus could play the piano, shows how much he truly knew about the man. This was is sisters Piano, but Severus looked beautifully haunting plating it, his long fingers going over the keys. He closed his eyes, letting the music sweep him away, his anxieties receding. Severus Snape was a man to truly admire and not fear.

Severus finished the song, his head hanging as his fingers dusted over the keys. Harry started to clap, a smile crossing his lips. "You play magnificently Severus," Harry said, walking over to the piano. "You didn't say you played."

"The conversation of musical instruments has never been mentioned." Severus said bluntly, his dark eyes smoldering.

"Who taught you?" Harry asked.

"I taught myself just after I joined the Dark Lords ranks. It has long been my solace," Harry understood what the man meant. Music was his escape as well. It relaxed him. "This helped me in my Occlumency training with Albus; it closes the subconscious, closes secrets." Their eyes locked as Harry came closer, the look on Severus's was tender.

"You're a very talented man Severus." Harry said as he sat next to the man on the long piano bench. His leg brushed Severus's as his fingers started to play some arpeggios.

"I assume you can play?"

"You assume wrong. This is Zienna's piano. I can play about 2 songs from being taught by her. I think I will stick to my violin and guitar," He smiled, pointing to the cabinet on the other side of the room, by the window seat. Harry now had the opportunity to get a small box out of his robe, putting it on the keys of the piano near Severus.

"What is this?" Severus said a bit stiffly, knowing what it was. A Christmas gift.

"It's for you. Open it Severus." Harry smiled, pushing the rectangle box even closer to the Potions Master.

"I haven't gotten anything for you in return."

"No need, your presence in my home is my gift." Severus stared at the box for a while, before taking it in his hand and opening it. His breath hitched as he looked at the object resting on the dark purple silk. His finger traced the sliver chained necklace, going over the sword that hung from the chain.

"It's like your tattoo..." Severus trailed off, his throat becoming thick. Severus could feel the magic within it, Harry's magic. It was expensive, no doubt about it. Magical Artifacts often were, depending on the maker. It was exactly like Harry's tattoo, Severus remembered from the Hospital wing after the first task was over. The sword is wrapped with a red and green rose vine, silver thorns sticking out; the blood red rose resting on the left handle with a green emerald center. The handle is made with emerald, leading to, what surprised Severus both Potter and Prince crests. On the silver shimmering blade is the same saying Harry's tattoo has;

Untouchable Love.

"I can't accept this..." Severus gulped, finally looking up to see Harry's green eyes sparkling.

"Of course you can. There are certain protection spells on the necklace for you, and when you need something to defend yourself, if for example your wand is not with you for some reason, the sword will become a real one. Just hold the necklace." Harry beamed a smile, loving that he had made the man go into a bit of shock. Severus picked up the necklace, placing it around his neck, the 15 centimeter sword hanging near half way down his clothed chest. Severus felt the necklaces charms shimmer over him, eyes slightly wide.

"Thank you, Harry... I have never received a gift so... precious." Severus said, his hand tightening around the sword.

"You're welcome." Harry nodded, liking how he could take Severus' guard down. Severus leaned towards Harry, the man's thin lips gently brushing Harry's forehead. His eye's widened and Harry could feel a blush appearing, which was not good, thank Merlin the room was slightly dark.

"Merry Christmas, Harry." Severus said in a silky tone, eyes lingering downwards towards his necklace. He got up, nodding to Harry and leaving the room in a quick couple of steps. He told himself he could wait, but with the boy's love, it was hard.

He had to wait, even though it will be the hardest seven months of his life.

What you all think? Please review, I like them very much and makes me keep writing!

From

Puzzle Me This

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