Fic: Dawn
Title: Dawn
Authors: daylyn and arrmaitee
Pairing: Severus/Harry
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Character Death
Disclaimer: *checks* Nope. Still not ours. Damn.
Summary: While on his deathbed, Severus makes a final request of Harry, his vampire lover.
Authors' Notes: Written as part of hpvamp’s “Be My Vampentine Gift Exchange” as a gift for unbroken_halo, who requested Severus/Harry where Severus is the one to convince Harry to bond/court/what have you.
For some reason, hpvamp seems to have inadvertently overlooked Daylyn as one of the authors. We have requested that they correct this oversight.
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Dawn
Severus watched as his lover crept into their bedroom.
“How was dinner?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. Harry started.
“Sorry,” Harry said, taking off his cloak and crossing the room to their bed. “I didn’t want to wake you.”
"You didn't,” Severus said. He looked at Harry. The vampire had rosy cheeks and a healthy glow about him. Obviously his late night excursion had been successful.
Harry bent down to kiss him, carefully keeping his fangs hidden. He stroked Severus’ greasy hair. “You should be resting,” he admonished softly.
“Harry,” Severus said, his frail fingers reaching for the pale, cold wrist.
"Yes?"
"I love you."
"I know," Harry replied affectionately. "I love you, too. But you shouldn't talk. The healer…"
"… knows nothing," Severus interrupted.
Harry looked at him sharply. "There are more ways to heal than just potions."
"Stop it," Severus said. "We don't have time for this."
"You need to rest."
"Harry, you’re not listening to me. There’s no time left."
"What are you talking about?" Harry asked weakly.
"I'm going to die."
Harry swallowed. “Nonsense,” he said. There was no conviction in his voice.
“You’ve known that this was coming.”
“No,” was the whispered reply.
"The healer told you this was coming."
"She said it was a possibility," Harry argued. "But if you'd just rest…"
“Harry…” Severus pulled on his lover's wrist, bringing him closer. Harry resisted.
"Don't make me get up," Severus warned.
Harry sighed and sat down on the bed next to him. Severus stroked Harry's arm.
“I'm sorry," Severus said.
Harry stared blankly at the wall.
"I knew there were risks in brewing those dark potions."
“Damn Voldemort!” Harry suddenly cried in anger and frustration, yanking his arm away from Severus. “And damn you for following him!”
“It wasn’t the Dark Lord’s potions that did this,” Severus said, gesturing at his illness ravaged body.
“What?”
“How do you think Albus stayed alive that last year, after being critically injured during the battle for Slytherin’s ring?”
Harry stared at him.
“Albus should have died when he obtained it. But I could ‘stopper death’, couldn’t I?”
Harry was stunned. “Dumbledore did this to you? Did he know what could happen?”
“Yes," Severus said. "We both did. We just didn't expect it to happen so quickly."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"I've been trying to for the past several months, but you'd just tell me to rest, Harry," Severus said with some asperity.
Harry blinked back tears. "I’m not ready for this," he said. “We've only had five years.”
"I know."
They looked at each other in silence. It was late or, more precisely, early. Soon the sun would rise and Harry would be forced to sleep for the day.
"How much more time do we have?" Harry asked hesitantly.
Severus smiled sadly. "None," he said.
Harry gave a soft sob. Severus drew him into his arms.
“I want you to promise me something,” Severus said.
“I can’t,” Harry replied.
“You haven’t even heard what I want you to…”
“You want me to go on… to exist after you die. We’ve had this conversation before and I already told you I’ll throw myself into the sun.”
Severus clutched his lover. “You were given a gift, Harry.”
“I never wanted this,” Harry said tearfully.
“That doesn’t matter. You have to go on. You’re immortal. I won’t die knowing that I’ve caused your death.”
“You’ve made your choices, Severus. Can’t you allow me the dignity of making mine?”
There was a desperate silence. Harry blinked back tears and pulled his lover closer.
"Turn me," Severus shocked himself by saying.
“What?" Harry recoiled.
“Make me a vampire. Before I die.”
“No! Not that. Please Severus...”
“There’s no other way."
“You don’t want to exist as a monster, neither living nor dead.”
“I’ve lived as a monster for years,” Severus said. “I don’t want to leave you, Harry, and I don’t want you to kill yourself. It’s the only way.”
“You think I wanted this to happen?” Harry exclaimed. “You think I wanted to become a vampire?"
"I know you didn't."
"I was ‘Harry the Horcrux’. I had to die so that the horrid fragment of Voldemort’s soul embedded in my forehead was destroyed."
"It was a brilliant plan," Severus said. “You lived and the Dark Lord died."
"I am not alive!"
“Harry…” Severus began weakly.
“Severus, I despise my existence. I subsist on death. I could never do this to you."
“Please, Harry. I love you,” Severus pleaded. "I promise… we would have forever."
"You can't ask me to do this," Harry said, shifting away from him. "I don't even know if I can. I'm still a young vampire. There are risks."
Severus closed his eyes. “All right,” he said, his whisper barely audible, his capitulation almost tragic. His hand touched his lover’s arm. “Then promise me you’ll go on after I die.”
Harry held Severus. “I’ll… try,” Harry stammered brokenly.
"Promise me…" Severus uttered weakly. His world started to go dim. His breath rattled in his chest. Severus clutched Harry’s arm and tried to speak, but no words would come. His grasp slackened.
Severus felt the sharpness of Harry's fangs in his neck.
It was a pleasure-pain unlike anything he had ever experienced. In his already weakened state, he felt his life force quickly drain from him.
Then a gash in Harry’s jugular was thrust upon his lips, blood already spewing. Severus opened his mouth and began to swallow.
It was tangy. It was salty. It was horrible. It was nectar. It was everything Severus needed, and he took it from his lover. He felt his strength rapidly growing. He was more powerful than he had been in years.
Severus threw back his head and laughed. “I’m alive, Harry,” he shouted. Blood sprayed in Severus' face as Harry rolled backward. Severus looked at his lover, horrified.
Glassy eyes gazed upon him as more blood hemorrhaged from Harry’s neck. Harry was deathly pale.
“Harry!” Severus exclaimed.
There was no answer.
Severus leapt up, and grabbed Harry’s cloak. He pressed it to the neck wound, trying to staunch the blood. Harry kept bleeding.
“Harry!” Severus frantically searched the room for his wand, discarded for the many months of his illness. He found it and desperately tried every spell he could think of. But Harry kept bleeding.
At last the hemorrhaging subsided. There was no blood left. Harry lay there, in blood-drenched sheets, dead.
“No,” Severus uttered in horror.
He stood there for several minutes, waiting for any sign of movement. None came. Severus sat on the bed and cradled Harry’s body in his arms. He kissed Harry’s forehead.
“I didn’t want this to happen,” Severus said, devastated. Tears welled up in his eyes. He brushed them away with hands smeared with Harry’s blood.
“I’m sorry, Harry,” he said, shaking.
There was no answer. The room was filled with the eerie silence of death.
Severus gently closed Harry’s lifeless eyes and kissed his dead lips. He carefully picked up Harry and staggered down the stairs and outside of their home.
Severus sat on the lawn, facing east, clutching his lover's lifeless form. “I promised you forever,” he whispered.
It was late or, more precisely, early. Severus waited for the coming dawn.
Authors: daylyn and arrmaitee
Pairing: Severus/Harry
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Character Death
Disclaimer: *checks* Nope. Still not ours. Damn.
Summary: While on his deathbed, Severus makes a final request of Harry, his vampire lover.
Authors' Notes: Written as part of hpvamp’s “Be My Vampentine Gift Exchange” as a gift for unbroken_halo, who requested Severus/Harry where Severus is the one to convince Harry to bond/court/what have you.
For some reason, hpvamp seems to have inadvertently overlooked Daylyn as one of the authors. We have requested that they correct this oversight.
------------
Dawn
Severus watched as his lover crept into their bedroom.
“How was dinner?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. Harry started.
“Sorry,” Harry said, taking off his cloak and crossing the room to their bed. “I didn’t want to wake you.”
"You didn't,” Severus said. He looked at Harry. The vampire had rosy cheeks and a healthy glow about him. Obviously his late night excursion had been successful.
Harry bent down to kiss him, carefully keeping his fangs hidden. He stroked Severus’ greasy hair. “You should be resting,” he admonished softly.
“Harry,” Severus said, his frail fingers reaching for the pale, cold wrist.
"Yes?"
"I love you."
"I know," Harry replied affectionately. "I love you, too. But you shouldn't talk. The healer…"
"… knows nothing," Severus interrupted.
Harry looked at him sharply. "There are more ways to heal than just potions."
"Stop it," Severus said. "We don't have time for this."
"You need to rest."
"Harry, you’re not listening to me. There’s no time left."
"What are you talking about?" Harry asked weakly.
"I'm going to die."
Harry swallowed. “Nonsense,” he said. There was no conviction in his voice.
“You’ve known that this was coming.”
“No,” was the whispered reply.
"The healer told you this was coming."
"She said it was a possibility," Harry argued. "But if you'd just rest…"
“Harry…” Severus pulled on his lover's wrist, bringing him closer. Harry resisted.
"Don't make me get up," Severus warned.
Harry sighed and sat down on the bed next to him. Severus stroked Harry's arm.
“I'm sorry," Severus said.
Harry stared blankly at the wall.
"I knew there were risks in brewing those dark potions."
“Damn Voldemort!” Harry suddenly cried in anger and frustration, yanking his arm away from Severus. “And damn you for following him!”
“It wasn’t the Dark Lord’s potions that did this,” Severus said, gesturing at his illness ravaged body.
“What?”
“How do you think Albus stayed alive that last year, after being critically injured during the battle for Slytherin’s ring?”
Harry stared at him.
“Albus should have died when he obtained it. But I could ‘stopper death’, couldn’t I?”
Harry was stunned. “Dumbledore did this to you? Did he know what could happen?”
“Yes," Severus said. "We both did. We just didn't expect it to happen so quickly."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"I've been trying to for the past several months, but you'd just tell me to rest, Harry," Severus said with some asperity.
Harry blinked back tears. "I’m not ready for this," he said. “We've only had five years.”
"I know."
They looked at each other in silence. It was late or, more precisely, early. Soon the sun would rise and Harry would be forced to sleep for the day.
"How much more time do we have?" Harry asked hesitantly.
Severus smiled sadly. "None," he said.
Harry gave a soft sob. Severus drew him into his arms.
“I want you to promise me something,” Severus said.
“I can’t,” Harry replied.
“You haven’t even heard what I want you to…”
“You want me to go on… to exist after you die. We’ve had this conversation before and I already told you I’ll throw myself into the sun.”
Severus clutched his lover. “You were given a gift, Harry.”
“I never wanted this,” Harry said tearfully.
“That doesn’t matter. You have to go on. You’re immortal. I won’t die knowing that I’ve caused your death.”
“You’ve made your choices, Severus. Can’t you allow me the dignity of making mine?”
There was a desperate silence. Harry blinked back tears and pulled his lover closer.
"Turn me," Severus shocked himself by saying.
“What?" Harry recoiled.
“Make me a vampire. Before I die.”
“No! Not that. Please Severus...”
“There’s no other way."
“You don’t want to exist as a monster, neither living nor dead.”
“I’ve lived as a monster for years,” Severus said. “I don’t want to leave you, Harry, and I don’t want you to kill yourself. It’s the only way.”
“You think I wanted this to happen?” Harry exclaimed. “You think I wanted to become a vampire?"
"I know you didn't."
"I was ‘Harry the Horcrux’. I had to die so that the horrid fragment of Voldemort’s soul embedded in my forehead was destroyed."
"It was a brilliant plan," Severus said. “You lived and the Dark Lord died."
"I am not alive!"
“Harry…” Severus began weakly.
“Severus, I despise my existence. I subsist on death. I could never do this to you."
“Please, Harry. I love you,” Severus pleaded. "I promise… we would have forever."
"You can't ask me to do this," Harry said, shifting away from him. "I don't even know if I can. I'm still a young vampire. There are risks."
Severus closed his eyes. “All right,” he said, his whisper barely audible, his capitulation almost tragic. His hand touched his lover’s arm. “Then promise me you’ll go on after I die.”
Harry held Severus. “I’ll… try,” Harry stammered brokenly.
"Promise me…" Severus uttered weakly. His world started to go dim. His breath rattled in his chest. Severus clutched Harry’s arm and tried to speak, but no words would come. His grasp slackened.
Severus felt the sharpness of Harry's fangs in his neck.
It was a pleasure-pain unlike anything he had ever experienced. In his already weakened state, he felt his life force quickly drain from him.
Then a gash in Harry’s jugular was thrust upon his lips, blood already spewing. Severus opened his mouth and began to swallow.
It was tangy. It was salty. It was horrible. It was nectar. It was everything Severus needed, and he took it from his lover. He felt his strength rapidly growing. He was more powerful than he had been in years.
Severus threw back his head and laughed. “I’m alive, Harry,” he shouted. Blood sprayed in Severus' face as Harry rolled backward. Severus looked at his lover, horrified.
Glassy eyes gazed upon him as more blood hemorrhaged from Harry’s neck. Harry was deathly pale.
“Harry!” Severus exclaimed.
There was no answer.
Severus leapt up, and grabbed Harry’s cloak. He pressed it to the neck wound, trying to staunch the blood. Harry kept bleeding.
“Harry!” Severus frantically searched the room for his wand, discarded for the many months of his illness. He found it and desperately tried every spell he could think of. But Harry kept bleeding.
At last the hemorrhaging subsided. There was no blood left. Harry lay there, in blood-drenched sheets, dead.
“No,” Severus uttered in horror.
He stood there for several minutes, waiting for any sign of movement. None came. Severus sat on the bed and cradled Harry’s body in his arms. He kissed Harry’s forehead.
“I didn’t want this to happen,” Severus said, devastated. Tears welled up in his eyes. He brushed them away with hands smeared with Harry’s blood.
“I’m sorry, Harry,” he said, shaking.
There was no answer. The room was filled with the eerie silence of death.
Severus gently closed Harry’s lifeless eyes and kissed his dead lips. He carefully picked up Harry and staggered down the stairs and outside of their home.
Severus sat on the lawn, facing east, clutching his lover's lifeless form. “I promised you forever,” he whispered.
It was late or, more precisely, early. Severus waited for the coming dawn.