Prince Consort

Chapter 42

Harry stalked over to Rodney, a distinct predatory gait to his walk. Green eyes gleaming as he took in his prey. "You know, your acting could have used some work," he commented as if they were just passing friends taking about the weather. "If those lessons were attempts at befriending me, getting me to trust you…you failed with epic proportions."

Rodney just stared back mutinously, saying nothing.

"I mean honestly, I had more respect for Derek, no have more respect for Derek." Harry said wryly, stalking around the circle, but making no attempts to reach in. Quite frankly he didn't want to know if he would end up electrocuted as well, but he'd rather not find out. "When someone tries to befriend me, I hardly just grin and accept it that friendship. It's like none of you know me at all." His magic unfurling as he carefully probed it in his chosen direction, to gain confirmation.

Rodney just curled his lips, barely stopping the sneer from coming outright. He knew he was going to die in excruciating agony, he didn't want to make it worse. For some reason Severus actually likes this kid, as pathetic as he was, couldn't fight, could barely do anything. He wasn't honourable, using spells instead of fighting…it was in his book disgraceful.

"Look at Aline and apologise," Harry stated coldly, "Apologise for being a pathetic excuse for a vampire. For being unable to act, for being unable to protect her." Severus always made sure he was protected, even if he couldn't do it himself. He would never, ever have allowed him into battle, he would have made sure he was taken away from it, especially if he was pregnant.

"It will be the last view you ever have of her," Harry retorted, before anyone could do, say or comprehend anything that was happening a ball of green blazing light was leaving his wand, aimed directly at Aline…and it hit her square in the chest, the vampire behind her having he smarts to ensure he wasn't in the way of the spell and to make sure she remained where she stood.

Shock and horror swamped the room in droves, utterly dazed by Harry's actions.

"Harry!" Sirius strangled out, "What did you just do? What did you...?" what sort of godson did he have? Before he could finish the sentence, a silencing spell was placed on him. It was probably for the best, he tended to say the wrong things when he was worked up.

Remus' wolf felt nothing but savage satisfaction, and Remus could understand where it was coming from. Harry was protecting his people, his clan, his life. Harry had always been…possessively protective of those he loved. He had been honoured to be counted amongst those Harry cared for so much. He couldn't pick and chose which pieces of Harry to love…he had to love all of him. Harry was his son, and he'd follow him to the ends of the earth. He honestly couldn't imagine loving any biological child he has more than Harry. He didn't wholly approve of his actions, how could he? Unfortunately, he also couldn't utterly disprove. He was protecting the people he loved. Ultimately, it was the biggest sacrifice one could ever make. Bloodying your hands so everyone could keep theirs clean. Plus, Harry was the Lord Consort, it was to be expected that he'd fight tooth and nail for the clan. Although, in the old days, they weren't expected to lift a finger. He'd known Harry wasn't like that though, and he'd more than proved himself capable.

"NOOOOOO!" Rodney shrieked, his voice drowning out all others, grief and rage intermingling with guilt. Lurching up, he made a move to grab Harry, forgetting the circle he was in, in his rage. Only to end up smack on his back, screaming hoarsely once more.

Even Harry's guards were stunned by Harry's sheer viciousness, also a little proud.

"Never leave a man, woman or child alive, its how empires have been toppled for centuries," Harry said derisively, staring at Rodney, once he stopped screaming Harry spoke, "You tried to kill me, you tried to kill someone I love, nobody gets away with that, not anymore." And he did love this child inside of him, and he or she would want for nothing.

Severus gazed at the dead body, a thoughtful look on his face. Perhaps Harry would most definitely not be put off by his…bloodthirsty nature. He seemed to have a vicious one of his own, perhaps he shouldn't be surprised. Giving a shrewd look at his mate, suspecting he knew something they did not.

The elders glanced at Harry with thinly veiled fear and contempt. They did not kill children, the carrier – whether they be male or female – were kept contained until they gave birth. Once the child was born, they were dealt with and the child was raised within the clan unaware of its own origins. The consort was supposed to be the reasonable one, to calm their Lord down. This was…unprecedented. Also, very unacceptable, he was trampling over all their laws and regulations without due care or consideration.

"I'm going to kill you," Rodney choked out, tears raining down his face, not even looking at Harry. Just the body of the woman he loved, who had been pregnant with his child. They'd had such trouble conceiving, fifteen years they'd tried and now she and the baby was gone. "I'll find a way to fucking kill you." Choking in unmitigated rage.

"I'm sure you'd like to think so," Harry said dryly, flicking his wand out, twirling it around his hand. He wasn't about to attempt any more non-verbal magic; he was still recovering.

Severus approached his mate, pressing up against him, and Harry gratefully allowed Severus' weight to keep him propped up a little. Arms wrapped around his midsection, almost lovingly, his grip tight but not tight enough to cause alarm. "What shall I do to him first?" purring into Harry's ear, his gaze never wavering from Rodney who had blanched and quietened down when he approached.

Clearly more afraid of him than Harry, which was quite stupid if you asked Severus.

"Personally, you should have given him Veritaserum, we need to find out who else is left alive." Harry commented idly. "And deal with them." He did not intend to leave anyone alive, that certainly caught the attention of the prisoners who crumbled emotionally and physically. Their mates, their children, terror swamped them…what had they done? Fear and regret attacking them full force. They should never have joined this expedition, perhaps they should have given their new Lord and Lady Consort a chance before leaving.

Severus chuckled, "Oh, that's a given, but it won't be Veritaserum, I'll be getting it direct from his own mind." Veritaserum could be gotten around, while mind reading would give him a great deal more information. "I'm far too jaded to think someone other than myself has not worked out how to get around Veritaserum."

"Angor!" Harry cast, flicking his wand in Rodney's direction, magnifying his emotions tenfold. The stress, the fear, the anxiety, the pain and torment had the vampire curling up in a ball. This sort of spell could have someone committing suicide it was that bad. "Crucio!"

The unholy shrieks had every single vampire wincing at the pain, their ears ringing with the intensity of it. The vampire was barely able to draw breath, such was the force behind the combined spells. He felt was though he was being eaten alive, he would have preferred acid eating at him, someone feeding him glass…anything. He felt as though his body had been set alight at the nerves.

The seconds ticked by, then Severus slowly and gently lowered Harry's wand arm, cutting off the vicious spell. "Even vampires can be rendered permanently comatose by that spell," he informed his mate softly, fondly. "I'd rather our fun wasn't cut that short, plus I do need to see into his mind, a very sane mind if you please." Turning them both around, he guided Harry back to his seat.

He smelt Harry's discontent at needing help, but there was also fond exasperation. Harry thankfully knew his own limitations, and knew he wouldn't be able to walk across the room on his own. The pain was quite severe, and he honestly didn't think he was up for much more talking. His throat and neck were still the worst of his injuries.

Severus cupped Harry's face before stalking off across the room, once again focusing on Rodney. Severus inadvertently answered one of Harry's curiosities', when he reached in and grasped a hold of Rodney and did not get zapped. So apparently it would only be him that got hurt if he tried to escape, good to know.

"Legilmens!" and with that Severus ploughed through the pathetic mind shield's the vampire had. Oh, don't get him wrong, they were decent enough, a layer for 'thoughts' in case he ever read his mind, but his own thoughts and feelings were rotten to the core when it came to the Prince Clan despite the fact he'd been treated like family. Trusted with the Lord's consort.

Everyone watched what was happening, patient and placid. They were used to such things taking time. Contrary to popular belief, it wasn't as easy as just digging around in someone's mind for a few minutes to receive an answer.

Oh, no, it could take days to get every piece of useful information out of someone. Especially if Severus wasn't just going through ten years' worth of information, but the vampire's entire life. If he wasn't a vampire, it would have been impossible to glean everything he was finding. Fortunately for all, he was which would make the process so much smoother.

The guards had taken a few steps closer, disliking that their Lord was in striking distance of the traitor. All it would take was a few seconds once the connection was broken for Rodney to strike out. They would not allow something like that to happen under their watch.

"Do you need more blood?" Alfred asked Harry, placing a hand on his shoulder delicately. He could smell just how uncomfortable and pained Harry was. Tapping the chair with his wand and Harry sighed, as it became significantly more comfortable, feeling as if it were padded now than just a normal seat.

Harry gave a wry grin, arching a brow, was Alfred trying to work up the elders too? Technically, Alfred was an elder too, but he'd never been as ridged as them, or traditional. He kept up with the time, and was more of an advisor than any of the others. Trusted significantly more, and it galled the rest of them.

"Let me," Alfred murmured quietly, let him help, let him reduce Harry's pain. The blood would help with that. It would be some time before Severus' consciousness returned to the room. Right now, he was knee deep in Rodney's mind. It was his duty to take care of Harry when Severus was unable.

Licking his lips, he gave a single nod, unable to say no, as he felt his neck twinge. He would never forget the feeling of having his head nearly ripped clean of his body. He felt as though he had been choking to death, perhaps a left-over instinctive reaction? Or a reaction made to get the adrenaline flowing, to see that he reacted, to survive.

"Storm?" Alfred murmured, as he stood, not even a second later, Storm was standing next to him and sliding into his recently vacated seat. She knew well enough not to ask to go herself, evidently Alfred's protective instincts were almost drowning him in a desire to help.

Alfred promptly left, heading straight for the kitchen, where the blood would most likely be.

Storm turned to stare at Harry curiosity getting the better of her. She knew something was up, and also realized it wasn't her place to ask. She rarely saw Alfred excited, and very rarely did he coddle anyone. Yeah, Harry had nearly died, but this sort of coddling was…different.

"What?" Harry asked wryly, giving her an innocent look.

Storm snorted, an amused grin appearing on her face, Merlin, he looked elfin and so, so innocent when he adopted that look. It was little wonder he could get Severus to do anything for him. Hell, she was tempted to herself, but that hardened steel core…conveyed he didn't need help from anyone. That he could take care of himself, and everyone in this room, in the Clan had been reminded of it.

Well, not everyone, the entire Clan wasn't here, but most of them were. The only time every single member of the clan was together was when they were called together. Whether it be for a celebration or a board meeting.

"I…am glad you're alright," Storm eventually said, she knew he was, Alfred wouldn't have given her empty reassurances. She would just have to wait to find out just what on earth was up.

Harry smiled at her, able to sense the sincerity of her sentiment. Storm wasn't just saying that to placate him or any such nonsense. He could sense that hadn't been what she wanted to say though. Still, they'd all find out soon enough, Severus would burst if he didn't get to tell anyone. He was already so in love with the baby.

He'd wanted to give him a choice and that had made Harry love Severus even more.

So, no, he wouldn't tell her, they'd find out by the end of this meeting anyway.

Harry steeped his fingers together before glancing behind him, straight at Remus and Sirius. Sirius, he truly didn't care about enough to worry about what Sirius thought of his actions. Remus…however, he never wanted to see anything negative on his face. Remus, was…his dad, had practically raised him along with Mrs. Zabini. Theo and Blaise were practically brothers to him, he had made his own family and didn't want to lose any of them.

Especially not Remus.

Harry burst out laughing, Sirius had been silenced at one point, as he opened and closed his mouth, arms flailing wildly, pleading with Remus to let it up by the look of it. The faces he was making were comical really. Remus was pretending to blatantly ignore him, a smug smile on his face, it smoothed out to something loving and approving when green eyes met amber. No condemnation, no anger, just understanding and love.

It eased something within Harry, the last bit of reservation. Not that it would change anything, Harry was always going to defend the Clan to his last breath. They were working tirelessly to collect all the Horcruxes, to destroy Voldemort because of the danger he posed to him, and the world at large. The world at large was just an afterthought to them, so how could he not repay that favour and protect them?

It was ultimately to protect Remus too, he might be a werewolf, but he was part of the Clan now.

"Here you go," Alfred said, reappearing, goblet in hand, filled with warm fresh blood.

"Thank you," Harry said, eagerly taking the goblet, he hadn't drunk this much before in, well, ever. He hadn't been injured to this extent or pregnant either.

Storm stood and returned back to her chosen station, while Cenric moved back into his old one. They were keeping a very close eye on Rodney, ready to leap into action if need be. It only took a few seconds for something awful to happen. They'd already almost lost their Lord's consort; they refused to lose or almost lose their lord.

The seconds trickled into minutes, and those minutes turned into hours. For the most part, nearly everyone remained silent, or had near silent conversations with those closest to them.

Alfred continued his fussing, especially when Harry left for the toilet, making three of the guards go with him despite the fact he was in fact, safe. The Castle was on lockdown, nothing in or out.

It took two hours and forty-five minutes and seven seconds to be exact.

They needn't have worried, Rodney slumped unconscious the second Severus ripped himself from the vampire's mind. The first thing he did was glance Harry's way, making sure his consort was fine. Which he was, although he could see the tiredness and pain was becoming more pronounced. He needed to end this and quickly, get his mate to bed, let him rest. Making him come here – not that Harry would have missed it for the world – was a bad idea. Unfortunately, there were some traditions Severus didn't and couldn't knock down. Plus, he didn't like the idea of Harry being out of his sight for more than a second at a time.

Although, if his injures had been worse he would have postponed the meeting, maybe even held it without him.

'I'm fine, don't even think about ending this prematurely' Harry mouthed to Severus, well aware of how he thought by now. Scenting emotions helped with that too, 'Don't you dare let him off easy' he added a determined set to his face and mouth.

Severus rolled his eyes with fond exasperation. Stalking over to Jackson and used magic, to put them into a bubble. Nobody knew what was being said, but Jackson was listening intently, before nodding solemnly.

Then Jackson barked out the names of over a dozen of their people, gesturing for them to follow as he stalked out of the room. His face grim and his stalk determined. Nobody could hear anything after that, the room was silenced two-fold, couldn't hear in, couldn't hear out. It was pretty clear they were going out.

"Did you get everything you'll need?" one of the elders Donald asked, crisp and professionally. Entirely ignoring the unbecoming behaviour, they would advice Severus privately, to do so in public would weaken Severus' leadership after all. He wasn't able to hold his curiosity in, what had Severus asked Jackson and the others to do.

Severus arched a brow, glancing at Donald, giving him a look that suggested he was stupid. As if he was going to emerge with questions still in need of answering. He had everything he needed, of course he did, he was going to wipe out the entire Clan and ensure nothing and nobody would come back and bite his ass later. It wasn't just his mate he had to look after now, there would soon be a child in the mix. He didn't even bother gracing him with a reply, quite frankly he found it insulting.

"Morsus!" Severus cast, using the wand movements and pointed it at Rodney, who was still unconscious, but wouldn't be for long. Harry still hadn't removed the 'angor' spell, which meant he was still feeling every spell tenfold.

He certainly had no intention of removing it.

Morsus was a rather…harsher 'stinging hex' that didn't just sting flesh but zinged bone too. So, it was no surprise when the vampire arched up, a squealing scream leaving his lips, as he returned to the land of the living.

"Just fucking kill me please!" Rodney pleaded, he didn't want to live without his beautiful girl and their baby. He couldn't take any more pain, he just wanted to die, it hurt so, so much. He honestly was surprised anything could hurt more than cauterised flesh where his cock and balls had once been. He'd been proven wrong, and the nerve ending agony of more spells heaped upon him, he was cracking, his mind crumbling like a pack of cards.

"Oh, I will, I have a decade of revenge to be had, let's not forget that you put your hands on my mate." Severus snarled, sounding like a beast. "You touched something precious to me, and you'll pay slowly, painfully, until you're nothing more than a mewing mess! Or I get bored! Whichever comes first."

"Your reign won't last long; I hardly think I'm the only spy you have in your ranks! It's pathetically easy to get around the wording of your oaths. For a Slytherin you're a sad imitation of one." Rodney spat at Severus; eyes gleaming with half-feral insanity.

"Oh, come on! You can't goad him better than that?" Harry scoffed, "It's pathetic really, a whole decade and that's the best you can do," sighing dramatically, sitting back shaking his head in faux disappointment.

Rodney's hatred and irritation skyrocketed causing Severus to smirk.

"He's never been the sharpest knife in the drawer," Severus drawled lazily, eyes gleaming with amusement. He might start liking these things with Harry at his side, he was able to irritate anyone he came into contact with. With or without knowing them.

Harry barked out an amused laugh, grinning wickedly. "Derek always got the better of him too," taunting the traitor with relish.

"Why thank you," Derek answered, making his way in with a handful of letters, that had been stashed in his room. Unsigned, and with a rather well-done imitation of his handwriting, no scent on them. His face a stony mask, but the praise was well earned, he fought well and he knew it. It's the whole reason he had been asked to teach Harry how to fight after all. To think he had worked closely with someone, who had dared to set him up infuriated him. The urge to swipe his head clean off his body with his own favourite sword was strong. Unfortunately, he wasn't the only one the bastard had offended the traitorous little weasel.

"I already know what they say," Severus commented, "Give them to Alfred,"

Derek inclined his head in agreement, moving back towards Alfred and handed over the evidence. It had taken him three hours he reckoned, to find the damn things, well hidden, as they were supposed to be, he supposed. Without scent…he'd had to search painstakingly, and his quarters were quite big, it was a castle for Merlin's sake. He'd found them in a niche under his bathroom floor of all places.

He hadn't bothered to clean up after, so he had that to look forward to once this meeting was done. He ignored the whispering that had started up, when they realized Harry's earlier statement was right, he had been setting up Derek, a fellow Vampire. As if being a traitor wasn't bad enough, but to implicate someone else?

Derek didn't need to wonder why he'd been set up; something had obviously gone wrong today. The traitor must have intended to remain in the Prince Clan's good graces if anything wrong wrong…or something. He reckoned it all started with Harry not going to the safe house as he should. Good job he didn't really, who knows how many people could have been waiting for the guards? He shuddered just thinking of what could have come of him if the things had gone the way the traitor had wanted.

Derek wanted to see the traitor dead today, tortured within an inch of his life first.

"Excorio" chanted Severus, his wand going in a circular motion, as Rodney writhed and screamed in agony, as he was scalped. Bit by bit his skin was cut with magic, until the magic had cut away his entire head of hair before it ripped itself off.

Sirius gagged, yanking Remus' hold on him before making a beeline for the door. This sort of torture would see people in Azkaban. It was sick, he deserved death, yeah, but this…this was a step too far for the ex-Auror. Remus sighed before going after him, the smell was beginning to get the better of his sensitive nose anyway.

He was sure he'd hear everything that happened at some point. They'd probably be talking about it for weeks…or at the very least until lockdown was over. He wondered if there was a private tunnel though, that Jackson and the others had gone out off, since they were no longer in the castle. And lockdown did imply lockdown.

"Interesting choice," Harry murmured, fascinated, somehow being head of the screaming, as the wound was cauterised. "He's beginning to smell worse than her," the smell of a decomposing corpse always did smell disgusting, even if they were 'vampires' that smell didn't surround them until the body was truly dead.

"You'll survive," Severus said wryly, blanching a little at the scheming look he got in turn, perhaps it was best not to antagonise his mate…when did they begin to smell things more prominently? React to them? Despite always wanting a child, he had no idea what afflicted carriers. Adam hadn't spent an awful lot of time outside of Selvic and his quarters when he was with their son. He may well already be reacting to it, he knew smell was one indicator, he might not have had a child yet, but that didn't make him oblivious to a few things regarding carrying. Without another word, he waved his hand, making the smell dissipate.

Harry smiled in thanks, but those green eyes were still gleaming…he had definitely better watch, his devious mate was up to something.

"Back in the day there used to be a section of the vault filled with scalped heads. It was a practice of taking the scalp of your enemies. Displaying the body parts as trophies. It was an alternative to taking the entire head, much easier to transport, they were then subsequently preserved for display. Various cultures did their own thing independently, and in both the old and new worlds." Severus mused thoughtfully, eyeing the 'trophy' as if contemplating keeping it. He wouldn't of course, it was quite a vulgar practice, fascinating for sure, but vulgar. He'd rather keep the head.

"I'd rather have the skull," Harry commented as if he was suggesting buying a shirt. "Maybe put it on the mantle place?"

There were a lot of muffled coughs and sniggers all around.

Severus turned back to look at the traitor, watching touch his head only to twist some more in agony. Then he saw his mate had his wand out, so he stepped aside, only to wince when he heard the words coming out of his mouth.

Damn, he definitely had a vindictive mate.

Salt, 'Salo' he was basically rubbing salt into the wound.

The screaming was beginning to sound strangled, as his vocal cords were rubbed raw with the constant screaming. Each of the vampires who had survived were huddled in fear. Hands clasped over their ears as if it would somehow help. Sure, it will muffle the sound a little, but not by much, their ears will still be ringing painfully. They will still hear everything Rodney went through, their clans-man went through.

Attacking the Prince Clan would be the last thing they ever did.

"Milia Caesa!"

Rodney's screamed until it finally ceased, not because he was dead, no, far from it. His vocal cords had finally given up the ghost. As a thousand cuts meticulously began to cut themselves across his body.

"You like your historical accurate punishments," Harry mused, eyes half-mast, as he watched, but he felt tired, he was going to fall asleep where he sat, he just knew it.

"Indeed," Severus murmured, that part of history had fascinated him as a young boy. He had then created his own versions of them, and with great relish. This one was more subtle than Sectumsempra which inflicts deep fatal wounds if the spell wasn't countered. Milia caesa was more subtle, and significantly much more painful in the long run.

By the time the spell was done delivering a thousand cuts, Rodney was curled in a ball. He made absolutely no attempt to move, if not for the lack of 'death' smell, they would have assumed he was already gone.

Something Severus was about to rectify, "Avada Kedavra!" the green spell zoomed out of his wand, for the second time today, the killing curse was enacted on another vampire.

"Deal with them immediately," Severus gestured towards the others, still huddled in on themselves. He didn't need to say anything else for them to understand. Within moments the rest of the intruders were dealt with.

Simultaneous "Avada Kedavra's' rang out clear as a bell in the air, as the bodies crumbled to the floor. Many of them almost sobbing in relief that they too weren't to be subjected to the horror they'd just watched Rodney endure. Others remained impassive as they faced their fates, while others begged and pleaded for mercy, to go home.

They received no mercy.

Once the last body fell unceremoniously on the floor, after the green light receded, Severus spoke, "Put them on the pyre, burn the bodies and dispose of the ashes," flicking his wand, he reduced Rodney's body – and scalp – to ashes, within the circle, the runes activating preventing any smoke or flames from getting out of the circle. In fact, it prevented the fire from scorching or marking up the flooring.

He banished the ashes; he didn't deserve any sort of respect or burial. Once he had done his bit, while the others got busy lifting up the bodies and carting them out to the pyre. It was ancient old, had been there since the beginning of the Prince Clan. In death, they gave their enemies some respect of a funeral.

He decided to allow that tradition to continue. Shaking off his thoughts, he made his way back to Harry whose head was continuously lolling as he fought sleep only to jerk back awake.

"A word, please, My Lord," Donald requested politely, despite the steel undertones in his voice. He had worked well with Glen and had been an advisor to him, not as much as Alfred apparently, since Glen had recommended Alfred for Severus when he became aware of his heritage.

"Make it quick," Severus stated, standing expectantly in front of Donald, waiting. He wanted to get Harry to bed before he passed out, he would find it demeaning if he did fall asleep here. If he even tried to carry him up, he'd find himself with a very upset mate, one that was already planning on getting him back.

"In private," Donald explained, lips thinning.

Harry sighed dramatically, as he stood up, stretching out and yawning tiredly. Merlin, he could sleep for a year. Although, he definitely wouldn't have preferred to sleep and miss this. What kind of person does that make him? He thought, but he waved it off, he didn't care about that. He'd do anything for anyone he cared about. He did ponder if he would have been this way if his parents had raised him, a useless question…one he'd never know the answer to. "I'll see you later," he murmured to Severus, just one foot set out to move before his arm was grasped tightly, securely.

"Stay," Severus commended, he wasn't having Harry going anywhere without him any time soon. Not this exhausted, not this much in pain, and Lupin wasn't here, so he wasn't having any of it. "You. Talk." He added to Donald, his tone booking no arguments.

"The woman, Aline, this is not how we work, how we do things," Donald stated firmly, "She was pregnant, that child was innocent." Back straight, refusing to kowtow to a boy who just roughshod all over their ways.

"Oh? And what exactly do you expect me to do about it?" Severus questioned dryly; Donald missed the dark gleam of anger in Severus' eyes at being questioned.

"How about sticking to the rules and regulations? Or do our traditions mean so little to you? Making sure the Lord Consort learns them so that he doesn't embarrass himself." Donald explained, grateful that the majority of the vampires were out of the room.

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but each Lord and Consort make their own rules and regulations…and traditions are not compulsory, they're there as guidelines!" Harry retorted hotly, he was not embarrassed, "Next time learn to read a room, most people couldn't have cared less about what I did to the traitors. Unless you honestly think that woman wasn't partaking in the battle? Rodney wasn't meant to be there; she was participating use your head man."

Donald puffed up indignantly at being spoken to thusly. "How dare…"

Harry had already turned away, not even the slightest bit interested in listening to a reply. He did remember something though, so turned back around, ignoring his starting rant, "And for your information, she wasn't pregnant…I checked. If you had listened to her you would have known too. She told us that he was the only heir to the Abreu Clan. If she'd still been pregnant, he wouldn't have been." his child was already the heir of the Prince Clan, and it would be officially recognized.

"And if I hear you ever speaking to my pregnant mate that way again…well, you won't like the outcome. Is that understood?" Severus' voice had become harsh, refusing to let anyone speak to his mate that way, pregnant or not!

Everyone had been listening, and everyone froze as they absorbed the impact of Severus' words.

Their Lord's consort was pregnant.

An heir was imminent.

You know I'm running out of torture ideas/methods (and it's only taken ninety written stories lol) i also dislike using the same spells that i make up repeatedly but thankfully as of yet...I've not had to :D Well, here we go! As promised within 24 hours (Ko-fi) i love challenging myself let's see if I can get big bad updated too ;) although I'm not sure whether it's likely or not :D I wonder if anyone caught on to the 'he's the only heir' part i wrote yesterday ;) hehe anyway I hope you enjoy this chapter! :) R&R please!