Severus Snape had just about reached Spinner’s end. It was night time. He was cold. He tried to light up a cigarette, but somebody had banished cigarettes from his life. Invisible house elves were involved in this shady business. So, the cigarette disappeared. She was so annoying. He thought about how convenient a cigarette might have been, after this long, stressful day between saint Mango’s and Gringrotts. Somebody had an unhealthy obsession about health, really.
As he was walking, a tight knot appeared in his stomach. He wasn’t sure why. The alley was empty. But for some reason, his instinct was telling him that he was not quite alone. And he didn’t exactly feel in the best company. He crossed the little river. The turpid waters were moving slowly, in the gentle breeze, and glistening in the moonlight. He rolled his eyes thinking about his young friend praising the charm of good old spinners end. An eerie kind of beauty, girl… Really. He went through the passage that led to the main lane, facing the old factory. The main tower stood there, as always, ominous in the deeper darkness. He turned his back on it, as his house was somewhere at the end of the alley. He was almost there. And yet, the knot in his stomach grew tighter, still. He put his hands in his pockets, and reached for his wand. Something was definately lurking. He would have to be quick. He could almost smell the danger.
He looked around. Turned. There was no breathing, no footsteps, no friction of fabric to be heard. Not one sound. And yet, a human shape was detaching itself from one of the abandonned houses’s shadows. It looks human, he thought. But it felt terribly wrong. Whatever that thing was, it was cursed. He let out his wand without a word. The second it seemed to make a motion, he stroke. The curse hit, and… Nothing happened. The shape then moved supernaturally fast in his direction. It looked male. Its face was hollow, its eyes red, and its greyish skin was clearly dotted with traces of decay. The corners of its discoloured lips rose in a twisted smile, that showed yellowish pointy canines. No. That couldn’t possibly be a vampire. Vampires were scarce. They were discreet, ever since they had almost been extinct, to the point where a Society for the Tolerance of Vampires had been created. Wild vampires were not supposed to exist. Not in here. Still, this being looked exactly like one. And not the kind of vampire meekly sucking on blood flavoured lollipops in Honeydukes under the protection of the STV. Severus Snape tried to strike again. Nothing.
« What are you? What do you want? » He finally said. He was keeping his voice and demeanor steady, but the unease was growing, he had to admit.
« A bit of politeness, finally. » the thing said.
« You cannot curse me, I’m afraid. I am already dead. » He had a foreign accent. Eastern Europe, possibly.
« Anything can be cursed. Even zombies and inferni. So can you. I’d advise you to avoid getting closer. »
Severus didn’t have time to react, when it threw itself at him. In a split second, he was pushed on a wall, and teeth were about to sink into his neck, when he managed to throw a fire spell. This time, the rogue vampire squeeled as it burned. When he saw the fire extinguish itself way too quickly on the burning, rotten skin, Severus knew that it was time to run. And he did.
« RUDE! » roared the infuriated, half burned, undead, as it threw itself at him again.
Quite filled with his survival preoccupations, Severus Snape hardly realized that another silent human shape had just emerged from the darkness. The undead froze, in the middle of his attack, and frowned, as a feminine voice resonated.
« You have a familiar face. » That one looked like a blonde, woman in a white dress. It had the most disturbingly pale, ivory skin. Its hair were tighed in a tight bun. It stank like death itself. Its eyes were red, and ancient. Cold sweat was running down Severus’s spine. He hadn’t felt this uneasy in a while. The feeling came right from his guts. These things were dangerous.
-I don’t think we’ve already met. » Severus replied, as he proceeded to burn the lane to repel the beasts. The flames grew high in front of him. The first undead hissed out of frustration and pain. Then its red eyes grew wide with recognition.
« I know you! » he exclaimed.
-No vhay. » the female answered her friend coldly, crossing her arms.
-I hate to say I told you so… »
-You love to say it. »
-Vhell… Someone has to be a little sensible vhen someone else never listens, and runs after people fangs first. » the female vampire lectured.
-Yada, yada, yada… » mocked the male.
-Look at me, I’m so civilized, ner, ner ner… How do vhe make sure if vhe don’t bite, genious? »
-Vhe look at zher portrait, Dobri! Zher eyes are just right! Forgive my little brozher, he’s a savage. » she told Severus, before turning to her brother again :
-Look, he got the wrong idea, he’s burning everyzhing, now! »
-It’s easy to look like a portrait. » the male retorted, stubbornly.
-Master Odrog protect us… Zhen, vhe talk! Like any ozher sentient being! Are you a Prince? You have to be a Prince. » she asked Severus directly.
-No, I’m not. » Severus said.
-Hah! » the male exclaimed.
-I’m Severus Snape. »
-Zher half blood! » the female told her brother triomphantly.
-Untrue! He’s dead! You’re supposed to be dead! » Severus was tired, and scared, and upset.
-Well, I’m stronger than I look! » he snarled, while summoning a fire ball into his hands.
-Interesting. » the male mused, raising a surprised eye brow.
-Who sent you? »
-Easy, easy… Hold your horses, zhere. Vhe’re not going to hurt you. Young people are so easily vhorried. Do not burn zher neighbourhood, just yet. »
-What do you want from me? »
-If my little brozher had been a little civilized, he vhould have explained zhat our master, mister Engaram Prince, is currently dying. Vhe have been instructed to inqvhire about his family, scattered across zhe vhorld, to discuss zhe tedious matter of zher master’s heritage. You might vhell be zhe only suitable heir, now ! I zhink you should come visit, mister Snape. Zher master doesn’t have much time, left. » Severus’s careful expression had just gone through several micro changes, as the vampire was saying all this. He didn’t feel the same way about his pure blood family than in his youth. There was no hope to belong, no crave for legitimacy, left. Only anger. He nodded coldly :
-What is it to me? I suggest you go look for other Princes, then. As you now know, I am no Prince. My mother was disowned for marrying a muggle. She too died alone. So, why should I care? Your master would not approve of me, anyway. My blood isn’t pure. I need no heritage. I can make my own money myself. »
-Humans and zheir principles… Zhere is no such zhing as a pure blood. Only heazhy bloodlines and power. »
-I suggest you tell that to your master. There was such a thing as a pure blood when her family abandonned my mother. » The undead trampled with impatience.
-Vhell… He’s a dying man. And vhe’ve been looking all over zhe vhorld. And zhese last generations have not exactly been very… Prolific in terms of children. And people are so instable, zhese dayz. Alvhays needing to travel. And zhere haz been vhars all over zhe place. » Severus was wearing his impassive face. They should not have disowned mother,then, he thought to himself.
-What kind of heritage? » he couldn’t help but wonder aloud with a thoughtful, level headed voice.
-Vhell, a castle… »
-A ruin, I suppose, if no one came flocking to your master’s death bead. » The female sighed. She hadn’t denied Severus’s supposition about his potential heritage. He figured he was right. But thinking about Suneko’s project, and just for curiosity’s sake, he had to ask :
-Is there land, at least?
-zhat, zhere is, mister Snape. Zhat, zhere is… »
-You mean : there’s nothing else. »
-I mean zhat it’s quite enough, mister Snape. »
-Oh, is it? What’s so special, about it? » the vampires looked annoyed.
-Let’s just say zhat vhe are attached to it. »
Severus thought about this for a while. Attached, were they? More like bound to it. Else, why would they have needed to tend to an old man, in a ruin. And they needed to find an heir, for some reason. A « master ». And the last one they had in store was dying.
On the one hand, the land was available, and could be useful to his friend. He could possibly gain extra revenue from it. On the other hand… Would that land trap him too? There was a magical prize, to this heritage, wasn’t there?
« What’s the catch? » he asked bluntly.
-Vhe are zher catch, mister Snape. » the female answered reluntantly.
-You mean : I would be bound to you, and I would have to pay. With blood, of course. » the male looked down with a strange little smile, while the female shrugged with an embarrassed expression.
-How much blood? »
-Just vhonce a month. You vhould survive for as long as vhe could keep you. »
-That doesn’t answer my question. »
-My brozher means it vhould not be in our best interest to drain you. »
-Still, the price sounds high enough, for a ruin, and a little land. No wonder no heir is to be found. » The female threw up her hands. She gave him a little black cardboard square.
-Vhave zhis card if you vhant to visit zher castle. Zher master doesn’t have much time, as I said. Hopefully, you vhill be a little bit sensible. »
With this, the undeads disappeared into the night, out of thin air.
Les pattes de mouche de la puce polichinelle 