A/N: Long story short, this idea popped into my head and I had to write it down. My brain is obsessed with the idea and I can't let it go. But don't worry I'm not going to be paying more attention to this story than I am to As time Goes By. I might have to just upload a chapter for each once every other week or so, and designate days to them. I'll figure it out. Anyway, enjoy!
Disclaimer: I own none of the HP characters or what happened in canon.
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Kyle Cillian Grimm was currently standing in the corridor of his family's dark manor. A place just about as old as Dracula himself, and in the mind of the young half-breed, probably just over the line as more dusty. The manor had been built from the ground up, and had been in the hands of his relatives for generations. It was black, and daunting, and just about the only place left in the dinky little town they were currently in, that had been left unexplored or razed to the ground by humans.
Kyle didn't mind it much if he held his breath for as long as he could, let it out quickly, and took another breath to hold for just as long. It was really only in this one spot that was the worst. This area of the manor didn't get much use, and since his relatives staying here didn't mind the dust an inch thick on any surface, they didn't worry about it.
But they were what he did mind.
They were the same creatures who had killed his mother and banished his father as an outcast that should return on pain of death if he chose to come back. Extra emphasis on the pain part.
He himself was only spared the same fate as his mother because one of his uncles spoke up for him - more out of his usefulness than caring - saying that they should leave him alive because "he might very well learn a valuable lesson".
All vampires can be pretty cold and calculating, but Odrhán D'eath took the cake in Kyle's opinion.
Yes his last name was D'eath, as in death. Yes he is also the older half brother of Lorcan D'eath. And, yes, the vampire singer Lorcan D'eath was Kyle's youngest uncle.
When he was younger, before he had really known him, he would've told anybody that Lorcan wasn't much. But then he stuck up for Kyle when his other - more distant, as in old - relatives finally got tired of allowing Kyle to breathe and asked Odrhán why they should leave a half-breed like him alive. Lorcan's reply wasn't a very likable one in Kyle's opinion. As a matter of fact, he hated being the "we're with you if there's another uprising" gift from the family. But hey, it was better than his uncle saying "you know, you're right, let's kill him".
Kyle wished he didn't need to go to a school full of pompous, full of themself, blood bags, who thought they were better than other creatures because they had magic. Kyle had fangs! But he guessed that didn't get him very far with the walking blood banks.
Even though the young half-ling's full name was Kyle Cillian Grimm-D'eath, he only used his mother's maiden name when introducing himself. Sure it ticked off the vampires in the family for him to prefer the name of a mortal, but you know, it was easier than being swarmed by a bunch of witches and wizards who wanted him to get them his uncle's autograph. Most of the time, he actually just went by Kyle Cillian. Just so he'd have no association to his human side or his more recognized vampire side.
He hated both of his parents for having him, and leaving him labeled as an abomination in the family. Sure his uncle Lorcan was also half human, but before his parents were together, his father hadn't already been labeled an outsider. So Lorcan only got a little backlash for existing.
Kyle's father had had way too many chances before he had made his last mistake by falling in love with Kyle's mom. So Kyle was a super abomination.
He still didn't get used to the looks full of disgust he got when he walked by. But it didn't bother him because he was afraid - well, yeah, he was afraid. They were vampires! Without the extra bonus of being able to die by human circumstances like him, being immortal and all - it bothered him because he was constantly searching for their approval, or respect, or something. Anything so he could be accepted as more like one of them.
When they had sent him to America just to be rid of him, he went without a word, and spent years there before they called him back. When they used him as their errand boy and partial meal if there wasn't enough "fresh food" he didn't even whimper or complain. And when they had just run out of uses for him and wanted to off him, not a sound came from his lips.
He was basically a squeaky toy for a pack of wolves without the squeak. Yeah, it sucked majorly (no pun intended), but that was what he had to do to survive.
What Lorcan was proposing now however was completely different from what he was used to. Yeah, Kyle knew the Ministry was ticked at the vampires for not helping in last year's war, and he understood that this was a way to fix the uneasiness that had grown and gain his relatives' acceptance. But he was nervous. He wasn't used to spending time around humans. And while he was half mortal himself, he did, as a matter of fact, drink blood. What if he slipped up? He'd ruin the whole thing!
Kyle's hands - which were folded neatly behind his back - brushed the stone wall behind him, and he snapped his eyes open wider, standing as straight as he could. He'd been standing there for a good three hours since the meeting had convened, and it was getting harder to stay focused.
Hours ago, a few Ministry members had come to the manor to discuss the terms for which he would stay. He could hear part of what they were saying if he concentrated hard enough. But the doors were pretty thick and he didn't have the sharpest hearing that he would have if he had been a full vampire.
He'd heard enough though. Or at least, enough to make him more nervous than he was already.
He was to stay with the witches and wizards at the school. As in living in the same rooms as them.
He had assumed he would get his own room since no one really believed he could handle his hunger. But the Ministry apparently had other plans. So he was expected to stay with the other students at the school, without slipping up, or he would be executed.
Of course his relatives agreed. It's what they've always wanted after all. But the Ministry could not actually hold all of them responsible for the mistakes of one half-vampire mistake. Not all of the others were even convinced that this "offering" should be made.
So the Ministry agreed that should Kyle slip up, they would not hold the entire species accountable. Either way, it was a win-win for them.
Kyle could imagine Odrhán smirking at the idea of being rid of him and not having to worry about the Ministry. If he had outlived his usefulness, well, that was that.
The boy let out a very slow and deliberate breath so that he would calm down. He could not under any circumstances allow his fear to be shown, smelled, or felt by his relatives. All of them despised weakness, especially when it came from an abomination.
The door silently opened and Kyle kept his expression as neutral as possible, his limbs aching with how tightly he was holding them. A Ministry official stepped out and gestured for him to go inside. He could feel her flinch as he quietly glided past her.
The room Kyle walked into was filled with cobwebs. The two hanging chandeliers had their candles lit and the fire had burned the webs surrounding them. There were no windows, and every wall was made of darkened stone. It was honestly depressing, and the whole manor sort of freaked him out.
He didn't allow his eyes to wander, but could already see around eleven bodies, undead and alive, around the room. Ignoring them all until he was addressed, he stood at the end of a very long, dark marble table. Those of his relatives who had chosen to attend the meeting, whether to participate or watch, were standing in the corners of the room where the light didn't touch, or sitting down in the chairs closest to the door. The Minister of Magic and an old woman - among other officials - sat at the other end of the table. Officers on either side of the Minister.
The few vampires that had sat down at the table however - Odrhán along with them - didn't look too pleased that Kingsley Shacklebolt decided to sit at the head of the table.
When Kyle had taken his place next to the table, nearest the entrance to the room, everyone looked at him quietly, and the area held a deep silence that left the boy chilled.
"Kyle," Lorcan finally spoke, breaking the tension and moving out from the shadows to stand at his side. "It's been decided that you are to leave for the school tonight. Everything that you will need has already been packed."
Kyle's head snapped over to look at Lorcan before he could stop himself and Lorcan stared at him, telling him with his eyes to get under control. The young half-ling bit the inside of his cheek to stop himself from saying anything and looked at the ground, slowly looking forward again at the point on the wall just above Shacklebolt's head, and nodded. The whole time keeping his face expressionless. He knew better than to speak unless they specifically told him to.
"Is there anything of value that you would like to take with you?" Spoke the woman with the short, gray hair sitting next to the Minister. Kyle's eyes flickered to hers for half a second before he glanced at Odrhán for half of that. Silently asking whether or not he could speak, or if a simple shake of the head would suffice.
"No." He answered bluntly. The woman nodded and dropped the subject, although her piercing green eyes never left his.
Shacklebolt caught his gaze and held it for a moment. "What say you on the matter?" He asked.
Kyle looked over at him and blinked. "Sorry?"
"Do you think that you will be able to get through this year without a problem?" The Minister elaborated.
What little, sluggish blood that passed through Kyle's veins ran cold and he became as frozen as a statue. He kept his face as blank as he could while the panic started to rise within him. His eyes wanted to meet every one of his relatives' who was in the room for guidance, but he knew that would have been a very grave, and perhaps fatal, mistake. They were waiting for his answer just as much as Shacklebolt was. He didn't think the Minister knew he had just backed Kyle into a life or death corner with the question he asked, but there was no way that he could say he was worried he wouldn't be able to manage it without an incident. It would mean the death of him.
Kyle kept his eyes on Shacklebolt's and away from the others', very carefully choosing his words. "There are ways to curb our . . . thirst. I'm sure they will be enough and everything will be fine." He said, trying to convince himself and sound confident at same time.
"You understand that should one of the students be killed at the hands of the boy, he will be executed? There won't be any second chances." Spoke a golden haired, golden suited man sitting opposite the side of the old woman, false concern dripping in his voice.
The boy grew irritated while the Minister frowned, no one was fooled into believing that what the man said was a genuine question for the half-ling's well being. It was said only for Kyle's ears, to scare him. It actually only succeeded in doing the opposite. Now he was determined to shove it back in his face.
Lorcan looked at the old man icily. "I believe we are all very well aware of the terms to which we are agreed."
"The boy will be fine, I'm sure. I have a feeling Kyle is an extremely self aware and capable vampire, we needn't worry." The old woman told them all, while Lorcan and the Golden man continued to sneer at each other.
He smirked and gave the woman a condescending smile. "Minerva, please remember that the boy is merely half vampire. He is also half human. His mother was a muggle no less! He has not nearly the self control your faith has placed in him." He finished, making some of Kyle's relatives growl quietly, while others nodded their heads slightly in agreement.
"Enough!" Shacklebolt said finally, cutting off any further arguing that may have occurred. "It has already been decided. There is no going back." The Minister looked at each of them in turn, just to prove his point, all while the old woman, Minerva, looked at the Golden man in irritation. "I would like Kyle to leave with Minerva as soon as we are done here." He said, looking directly at Odrhán and Lorcan, who both reluctantly conceded. "Then we are agreed. I thank you for your hospitality. Good night." The Minister finished.
Some vampires smirked slightly in acknowledgement while others rolled their eyes. Then everybody sitting down got up to leave or go back to what they were doing before the Ministry members arrived.
Kyle kept his hands behind his back and kept still while everyone left the room. Lorcan stayed behind and took his arm to keep him from leaving once everyone had gone through the door.
"Just a moment Kyle." Lorcan said, as the last of the vampires trickled out of the room and sped off elsewhere. "Are you afraid?" He asked after a few minutes, making sure no one was listening at the door.
"No sir." He replied automatically. Then he nodded his head slowly when Lorcan gave him a silent and knowing expression.
"There have been others at the school before." His uncle brought up gently, being one of those few who had.
"But none of them have stayed there for a year." Kyle retorted.
"Ten months." Lorcan corrected with a smirk.
The boy frowned at the ground. "Uncle, what am I to do? I've never been conditioned to control my thirst around humans. I-I don't know how."
"Calm yourself child, you already have." Lorcan gestured around the room and then motioned for silence when the young half-ling was about to speak. They waited for a moment longer before his uncle signaled that it was okay.
"This was different. This was hundreds of scales smaller, and in shorter time." Kyle said, starting to feel panic setting in. Lorcan placed his hands on his nephew's shoulders and looked at him kindly.
"Take a breath, Kyle." He spoke softly. The boy nodded and did what he was told. "I know that you can do this, I would not have proposed it otherwise." He continued. Kyle nodded once more and let out his breath shakily. "Knowledge of everything our world has to offer is passed down from sire to offspring with a single bite, for generations. Even how to control our thirst. To half-breeds like us, it's genetic. While you may not know everything now, you have all but to look. To try. Minerva is right. You will be fine."
The boy looked at his uncle with uncertainty. "Do you trust her?"
"We have worked together in the past, and she is better than most who come across us. I trust her." Lorcan replied. That was good enough for Kyle. "Now go. I have kept you longer than I should have."
He stepped into Lorcan's arms and hugged him before he turned and left the room, journeying down the hall and passing a couple stairwells. (He didn't glance at the statues or portraits decorating the halls, he wouldn't miss them, they freaked him out.) When he made it through the last corridor and into the welcoming hall, he met Minerva at the wide double doors.
"Everything has already been sent out." She told him, referring to the things that were packed for his departure. He paused for a moment to look back before he continued out the door, the old woman behind him.
As they apparated to a place just outside of the schools barrier and started traveling to it - eventually getting a carriage and taking it up instead of walking - Minerva told him everything he needed to know.
She was the Headmistress at the school, and he should address her as Professor McGonagall. He wasn't going to get sorted, since he was only staying the year, instead he would be staying with the Head Boy and Girl in their dormitory. "The arrangements have already been made, and accommodations to the rooms have been added since there will now be three of you." She told him. She had already informed him on the rules that he would have to follow while he stayed there, as well as given him his schedule. "Do you have any questions? I would be surprised if you said you didn't."
He stayed silent for a moment, trying to phrase his question correctly. "I thought I was supposed to be living like the other students? Living with them?"
"Well, you are." She said smirking at him. "But why go through the trouble of sorting and placing you in a house, if you'll only be there for the year?" She asked rhetorically. He supposed she might've seen the question in his eyes, although he never spoke it. "Don't worry about the Head Boy and Girl, both of them have already been informed about what is happening and have accepted it." She told him, although something in her voice said they hadn't completely. He nodded and went along with it anyway.
When they finally reached the castle, as he was at the Head table being introduced to the teachers one by one, the students trickled into the hall and they all took their seats. Kyle was sitting with the teachers, waiting to be introduced once everyone was sorted and things had settled down. And as he waited for the moment to arrive, each students' curiosity shown through their eyes when they looked at him, he could imagine how disastrous this one year could turn out while the hundreds of faces found his. And the dread started to creep up his spine as his year at Hogwarts began.
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End A/N: K, that's it! Like I said the idea just came into my head and wouldn't go away. It was literally just a joke that turned into an obsession! I think I like how it turned out though. But I should really start expanding my stories to more than just HP. Also, I think I'm going to have a new chapter posted for this story every Friday and As Time Goes By every Monday, just to try it out for now. Anyway leave a favorite if you liked it, and a follow if you want more! And don't forget to leave reviews to tell me what you think! Thanks for reading! Love you lots! Later! :)