And so, we've made it to Year Three! Welcome back readers!

If you're new here, you may want to go back and read Chosen Two - Year One and Year Two. Otherwise you'll not understand a great deal.

-YDHP-

True to Vlad's note, the Dursleys didn't say a single word to him, his uncle Vernon helping Harry get his trunk up the stairs without bashing the walls but that was it. He was left to his own devices, glad he had leftover sweets and drinks from the train - Vlad and Draco both had a tendency to over buy but it meant they always had some to take with them. Lily poked her head out of his pocket, hissing sleepily up at him. "Where is my tank wizard?" "Vlad told me not to unpack, so you'll have to settle for my pocket or my arm." It was only early afternoon, so Harry didn't know if whatever Vlad was planning would happen soon or not until the night.

"Very well. I will resume napping. Wake me when I can have my tank back." Lily went back to his pocket, and Harry realised she would probably be too big for that within a year. He imagined in the future, when Lily would be a ten foot long serpent. How was he supposed to carry her then? Hopefully, he would get stronger as she grew larger. It would only be a couple of years before she would be too thick to wrap around any part of his body other than as draped over his neck. Still, he could worry about that later. Pulling a book out of his trunk, he settled in for the duration and hoped Vlad hadn't forgotten about him.

It was getting late, and dark out before Harry started to worry. He overheard hurried murmurs downstairs from the Dursleys, probably about why Harry was even still there. A knock at the door made him jump slightly, but his heart leapt when he recognised Vlad's voice. "Boy! Get down here!" That wasn't Vlad's voice, and Harry quickly patted himself down to check he had his wand and Lily. Vlad appeared at his bedroom door, smiling as Harry jumped to hug him. "Did you think we had forgot you? Just couldn't leave until it was dark because of Bertrand." They had spells for that, but maybe they didn't have sun potions to stop Bertrand smouldering - the spell protected him from death, the sun block potion stopped his skin hissing angrily and smoking.

"Got everything?" Harry nodded, watching as Vlad waved a hand to hover his trunk. "Lets go then." Following Vlad and the floating luggage box down, Vlad turned and smiled. "With luck, this is the last time you'll ever be here." He didn't miss Vlad glaring at the Dursleys, or Dudley staring dumbly at Ingrid - it really did happen everywhere they went. "What do we tell your kind, if they come looking for him here?" Vlad quirked an eyebrow at Vernon Dursley, as though he didn't want to even address the man. "Have they come looking before?" The large moustached man shook his head.

"Then don't worry. If they do, just say he's with vampires." Ingrid must be wearing fake fangs, Harry mused, as Bertrand and she hissed and bared sharp teeth at the muggles, who shrank back in horror. "Ready to go? Only, we shouldn't hang about." Harry cast one last, dispassionate look at his human relatives, then turned a smiling face to Vlad. "Lead the way."

Sure enough, Ingrid spat plastic fangs into her mouth, tossing them aside in the grass without a second glance as Bertrand grabbed the floating trunk. "We need an empty alleyway or something, any clue local boy?" Vlad prompted, and Harry led them to a nearby alley, barely wide enough for them to crowd together. "Lovely." Ingrid gave the litter and graffiti a distasteful glare, and Vlad produced a kite from his pocket. "Hold on tight." Harry reached out a hand, looking over at Vlad. "Where are we going?"

Vlad winked, simply repeating "trust me?" and waiting for Harry to nod. Casting wary looks up and down the alleyway to check they weren't about to be seen, Vlad whispered "Malfoy Manor" and Harry felt the jerking sensation of portkey as the darkened world flashed by. Stumbling as his feet hit the ground hard, Harry looked around as soon as he could see straight. "Wow. This place is huge!" They had landed in a courtyard, though that didn't seem an adequate word to describe the enormous, clearly well groomed area.

Patches of perfectly cut grass were fringed with flowers Harry had never seen anything even slightly resembling, filling the air with a sweet, heady floral scent. There were albino peacocks strutting along flawlessly manicured hedges, the enclosed garden space leading to a side valley that could lead to who knows what. All surrounding a structure unlike anything Harry had ever seen before, huge and marbled white, the words "ancestral home" stirred in his mind before Harry could really think about it. "Malfoy Manor?" Vlad nodded, grinning and whistling loudly.

"You made it!" Draco appeared in a vast doorway, bigger even than Hogwarts entrance doors. "Yep, all here and accounted for!" Vlad indicated Harry to follow him, Ingrid and Bertrand already heading inside. Professor Snape was already there, and Draco was bouncing happily as the Draculas, Harry and Bertrand stepped through the doors, which closed behind them of their own accord.

"It came through! It was just waiting here when we got back from Hogwarts." Draco held up a piece of paper, which Harry managed to read as confirmation of Severus Snape taking legal guardianship of Draco Malfoy. "Awesome. Everything went to plan, I'm thrilled for you both. Does that make Bertrand your stepfather?" Vlad continued grinning unapologetically when both Bertrand and Snape glared at him, but Draco merely shrugged. "Who knows? Come on, come see your rooms!"

Vlad took over floating Harry's trunk as they followed Draco up a huge, sweeping staircase, along a couple of corridors lined with portraits of people who bore passing resemblance to the blond boy. "Malfoy ladies suite, because Ingrid wouldn't settle for less than the best. Yes, you can change the colours if you want." In spite of the Slytherin heritage of the Malfoy's, the room was done only in dark cherry wood and burgundy bedding. "You say that like I wouldn't have done it anyway." The Dracula girl waved a hand and suddenly the fabrics were all green, the dark cherry wood now black and the heavy window drapes a deep, shimmering silver.

"Vlad, Harry, your rooms are those two doors there." Draco indicated two doors opposite each other. "Mines the one just over there" the blond pointed again "and Severus and Bertrand have seperate rooms but I don't see them using both." The teens chuckled, and Harry pushed open one of the doors at random. "They are both basically the same, but Vlad and Ingrid won't be staying here as much as you." His trunk followed him in, settling neatly on an ottoman at the base of a large four poster bed.

"So, this is what? Where I'm staying for the summer?" Staring around the high ceiling, following the elegant carvings in every wooden detailing on the walls, Harry was a little overwhelmed. "That's the plan. This is one of the safest places in England now, thanks to the most ridiculous amount of warding. We only got in because we are added to the wards, nobody else in the world can get in without permission. Or an obscene amount of magical power and time, but there's a dozen alarm spells that would go off if anyone tried. If anyone tried to say you should go back, I would point out the Dursleys was not anywhere near as safe."

Vlad had a good point, without bringing up why Harry wasn't safe there - everyone here knew to some extent, but with any luck, Harry wouldn't have to go back or even think about the Dursleys ever again. "Get settled, we'll do junk food for dinner as celebration for finishing this school year in half an hour." Harry nodded, flipping open his trunk to take his clothes and Lily's tank out. "Thank you wizard." Harry tapped the heat mat on, and Lily made a hissing sound that was almost purring as she coiled up in the tank. Opening the wardrobe, he was surprised to find clothes already hung up on there.

"I uh, guessed your sizes but we can alter them. Consider it an early birthday gift. Or thanks for saving me from my father, whatever." Turning, Harry found Draco hovering in the doorway, looking somewhat shy. "No, it's great, thank you." Absolutely un-used to getting gifts at all before Hogwarts, unless he counted a coathanger, socks or a mop, Harry flushed and awkwardly resumed hanging up his school robes and the few things he wanted to keep of his hand me downs. Which weren't many. "Laundry basket is there, you have your own bathroom. If you get lost, just call Dobby." There was a popping sound as Draco said that, and Harry recognised a house elf appearing.

"You called Master Draco?" Draco indicated Harry. "This is Harry, he will be staying here with us. Accept his orders as if they were mine." "Yes sir!" This elf had a squeaky, high voice just like the school elves had, and ears so big they flapped like bat wings in the elf's exuberant bouncing. "I gotta go introduce him to Bertrand, Vlad and Ingrid. You finish getting settled, I'll come get you soon." Harry was left alone then, finding himself loading his textbooks into the empty bookcase and perusing the bathroom. There was a bathtub, well tub wasn't the right word. A sunk in miniature swimming pool complete with three (he didn't know what the third tap did) faucets, a shower corner tiled in, and a shelf stocked with an array of expensive looking toiletries. All in all, the grandeur made Harry feel distinctly out of place.

Sinking down on the bed, Harry could feel the luxurious downy thickness of the duvet, a fluffy earthy green throw comforter slung over the end of the bed. "So, what do you think of your summer home?" Looking up, Harry spied Vlad leaning against the doorway. "It's all so... fancy. It's a little intimidating." Vlad shrugged, looking around. "I live in a castle. Nothing quite like this, but you know, I guess I'm sort of used to huge stuff. But yeah, it's real... Grand. That being said, you'll be safe here. And hopefully happier than you would have been there." That thought seemed to make Vlad happy all in itself, the blue eyes lighting up as Vlad smiled softly.

"Yeah, good point. When do you guys have to go?" Vlad's smile faded a little, not really gone but noticably less bright. "Tomorrow, dads already so mad at me for staying over the holidays this year and I only got away with tonight by saying me and Ingrid would be out breaking multiple laws. He called us 'young hellraisers' and practically kicked us out at nightfall." An odd sort of chuckle left Harry - Vlad's father was a strange, strange man. Well, he was Count Dracula, that probably made a difference.


"Why are you doing all this Vlad? I appreciate it, but I'm confused." Vlad remembered Draco pulling him aside, quizzing him on why he had helped break the Malfoy family apart so completely. "Because you deserve to be safe and happy in your own home. I do have a favour to ask." His friend has been eager to offer anything in return, though he seemed a little thrown by Vlad's request.

"Let Harry stay with you. He can't stay with the Dursleys. Not again." They put together a plan, which included Vlad having to learn the mechanics of word-activated portkeys and risking a whole lot of getting arrested. The end result being a purring contentment in his chest - his mate was safe here. And Malfoy Manor was... impressive to say the least. "Hedwig is here too, Malfoy owlery is a good space, and far away from me which is all those owls care about." Phantom was back at Stokely Castle still, his bedroom door and window charmed to keep his father out and her toys and food where she could get them easily.

Harry grinned, making Vlad's heart skip a little as his whole face brightened. He both wanted to stay, resolutely spending the entire summer holidays around Harry, and wanted to run away, get an actual grip on the feelings he had very little control over lately. He supposed he was lucky they were so young, Vlad could get a hold on the feelings before... physical desires made it more complicated. Not that Harry wasn't beautiful, he was so beautiful it made Vlad's chest ache, but hormones and things like that weren't an issue yet. Right now, the only physical want Vlad had for Harry was to be near him, to make him smile and hug him - like a friend. And that would be enough, he was sure of it.

Clinging to that notion, he indicated to Harry it was time to move for food. Harry's stomach growled almost perfectly timed, and the two headed down long hallways, wide staircases and through polished oak doors. "I gotta tell you, I know we have a dining table that seats eight when there's three of us at home, but this" Vlad indicated the enormous, ridiculously ornate dining table "is just exceptionally exorbitant." Draco shrugged, sitting at the head seat with a smug from and indicating everyone else to copy. "I didn't choose it, this table is older than any of us. Wait, I don't know how old Bertrand is." The tutor looked surprised, which was unusual as vampires generally enjoyed being asked how old they were, it made them seem impressive passing five hundred without being slain.

"Four hundred and... something. It's not something I dwell on often." "Ok, the table isn't older than you. Anyway, food!" As he spoke, plates appeared on the table like magic. True to his word, it was all junk - pizza, thick cut chips and enough chocolate, cake and ice cream to give the whole of Gryffindor diabetes. "The house elves are going overboard, celebrating me being home. Don't think you have to finish everything." Bertrand was quite funny to watch, eyeing the pizza like it was going to attack. Snape wasn't much better, looking mildly offended as the four students ate with gusto, even Ingrid falling to the happy mood of celebration.

"Oh man, I'm stuffed. Bed time, yes?" Harry groaned as he patted his stomach, complaining his baggy jeans finally fit him as he staggered to his feet. "Yeah, I agree. We'll chat in the morning. When I can move." Draco followed Harry, grumbling as he stood and the four of them bid the teachers goodnight before retiring to their rooms. Half muttered goodnights shared between the teens, and Vlad barely managed to brush his teeth and kick off his shoes before he curled up on the luxurious bed. Even using magic to put on pyjamas sounded too much like hard work.

When he woke, stiff and uncomfortable in his wrinkled clothes, Vlad decided to make use of the huge, extravagant shower. There were towels, and new, clean clothes hanging in the wardrobe So he didn't have to clean and straighten his slept-in outfit. Granny would love these clothes, richly made fabric and obviously tailored fitting. Finding a comfortable looking jumper and some almost casual looking trousers, uncomfortable in 'smart attire', Vlad stepped back into his shoes and shrunk his clothes down to take home with him.

"Morning!" Draco's exuberant mood had not faded when they woke, practically bouncing around in his white button down shirt and black trousers, shoes so polished maybe even Bertrand would see a reflection in them. "Hey. I'm guessing the other two are still asleep? Ingrid's never been an early riser." A nod of the blond head, both glancing at Harry's door. "Let him sleep, first peaceful sleep in a summer holiday he's ever had." He followed Draco down to breakfast, neither teacher there yet but Vlad didn't want to dwell on why. Even the porridge seemed to be high quality, and a jug of pumpkin juice appeared next to him, accompanied by a glass and a wink from his friend. "Can't have you going without a fix."

Rolling his eyes, he mumbled a thank you all the same, Harry not appearing (with Dobby as a guide) until Vlad was done with breakfast. "Don't worry, we saved you bacon." Harry chuckled sleepily, thanking another house elf for his cup of tea and eating more bacon and eggs than Vlad thought should reasonably fit in his stomach, especially after the enormous pile of pizza and cake the wizard had ingested last night. Ingrid surfaced half way through the morning, dressed and her hair and makeup flawless (which confused Vlad as he didn't remember her bringing her makeup box... which used to be almost the same size as her Hogwarts trunk before she started using magic).

His sister didn't fully show any awareness of her surroundings until she had finished a mug of coffee, her first words of the morning "what is that third tap for in the bathroom?". Draco answered absently with "bubble bath! You tap your wand to change the setting", whilst flicking through a copy of The Daily Prophet. They fell silent again after that until Bertrand and Snape appeared, and nobody commented on the dark bruise at the base of their Potions professors neck. Well, until Ingrid started sniggering to herself, then asked if Bertrand had gotten peckish in the night. That was the first time Vlad had ever seen any colour in his potions teachers face, a faint flush on his cheeks as his hand moved to his neck.

Vlad tried to diffuse the awkward tension. "We all know you're dating, just don't forget glamour charms when we're back at school." The rest of breakfast was silent, and Vlad knew they couldn't put off heading back home much longer. Ingrid seemed to realise the same, not complaining when Vlad pulled out the kite and gestured to her. "You staying Bertrand? It's not like we won't visit." Harry and he both had the charmed journals to talk to each other if nothing else. His tutor did decide to stay, at least until the next time they would be there, for Harry's birthday in just over a week. Harry and Draco both hugged Vlad, got a softer-than-usual glare from Ingrid and bade them goodbye.

"Stokely Castle" activated the port key to take them home, the sense of being away from Harry painfully acute for a few minutes. Ingrid didn't comment as Vlad stumbled to a chair, rubbing at the dull ache in his chest. "Is he... But he's not a vampire?" Vlad could only nod, breathing through the pain until it receded. "I know, I know. It's not like we get a choice in these things." Checking their father was nowhere near and overhearing - he did NOT want to have that conversation with his father anytime soon. Or ever. "Does he know?"

"Good garlic no! Bertrand knows, so I guess Professor Snape has an inkling at the very least. There wasn't much chance of hiding it when Harry freaked about me being a biter." Ingrid had worked it out, so she knew what a rejection would do to him. "He got over it though." Vlad nodded, remembering Hermione dragging Harry there to 'set them straight'. The ache in his chest finally faded, letting him breathe evenly again. "You can't tell him. I won't be the one to take even more choice away from him." Ingrid's face softened, an arm wrapped around his shoulders. "Maybe you're not such a wimpire after all." Chuckling as he returned the embrace to his sister, Vlad simply replied with "cheers Ingrid."

-YDHP-

Year Three has begun!