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(This is a re-load of the original. Chapters maybe traded out at any time with the revised versions... Once edits are complete the story will be continued from its current point).
Bright light shone through a small window, just to the right of a twin-sized bed covered with black sheets and blankets, stirring the boy that slumbered within from his rest. He rolled over, lazily, picking the small alarm clock up from its resting place on his cluttered nightstand. He groaned; "8:30", the clock proclaimed smugly in deep red numbers. Far too early to be awake in the boy's opinion, especially on a Saturday! He didn't care if it was summer; weekends were still for sleeping in.
He glared down at the heap of blankets now adorning the floor to left of his bed in envy; the tall bed shaded the heap, protecting the heap's occupant from the devilish rays.
He peered at the heap for several moments; it didn't stir. Deciding it was best to just to go back to sleep, the boy cocooned himself in the blankets, turning his back on the morning light. 8:30 really was too early to wake, especially after staying up all night being absorbed by video games and gory horror movies. He let the images of their media adventures carry him away from his bedroom.
One moment the boy was standing above his fallen enemy, having saved the world and won the girl, the next his world was shaking and a booming voice rang out from the heavens, "Dude, seriously, wake up!"
Not wanting to abandon his dream world, the boy trashed and attempted to combat his enemy, but just as he thought he would reign victorious, he was back in his bedroom, now imprisoned by his cocoon and his best friend was staring down at him from his bed side.
"Ugh", his friend complained, "Get up, Vlad! Nelly made breakfast." The faint smell of cinnamon and icing reached the Vlad's nose, and he was up in record time.
"Come on, Henry!" he shouted back as he raced down the stairs, but Henry just rolled his eyes, then followed suit.
Before even greeting Nelly with a proper "good morning", both boys were gulping down their breakfasts. Henry had loaded his plate up with mountains of pancakes and bacon that could challenge Everest for the title of tallest mountain, and Vlad had chosen his favorite blood, O positive, from his dwindling selection along side a fat, gooey cinnamon roll, fresh from Nelly's kitchen oven. Nelly made the best cinnamon rolls ever in Vlad's opinion; with each bite, you step into a congenial heaven in which you, as the honored guest, are anointed with a cascade of luscious warmth and saccharine goodness.
If Vlad were to be honest, Nelly's gift in cinnamon roll genesis was her only redeeming culinary skill; her other culinary skills, which he didn't find particularly productive, included scorching even the most high quality pots and pans during their first usage and catching water on fire… not boiling water, catching it on fire; he won't have believed it either if he hadn't witnessed it with his own eyes, multiple times.
By the time Vlad had his mug of blood heated and cinnamon roll. Henry had already managed to scarf down over half of his breakfast. Nelly chuckled subtly at their rush to get sustenance in their tummies.
"Vladimir, do you remember what today is?" Nelly asked, looking at her nephew expectantly, almost wondering if he had forgot in favor of thoughts on food.
Henry's head perked up at the words, pausing his impression of a vacuum cleaner to also gaze expectantly at Vlad.
"Uhh", Vlad stared back questioning them both with his eyes,"OH! It's my birthday!"
Henry looked at him, pityingly and patted him on the shoulder, "It's alright. Memory lapse are expected in your old age. I'm here for you if you should happen to forget your name next."
Vlad rolled his eyes at his friend's antics, trying to maintain an admonishing expression.
"Happy birthday, Vlad!" Nelly and Henry shouted breathily through their laughter.
"Well, you'll get your presents later, after cake. Oh. I almost forgot. This letter came for you today," she said choosing said letter from the small pile of mail, composed of an assortment of bills, ads, and other letters, which now adorned the counter space near their breakfast materials.
After plucking it from the stack, she extended her right arm to set it on the table before him.
It was very peculiar to him; he could think of anyone with a reason to write him or even send him a birthday card, for that matter. Vlad knew no one outside bathory, and the only people who really cared were surrounding him in that moment.
Despite the uncertainties, it was definitely for him; it had his full name and Nelly's address written on it. Actually reading the scrolled lettering on the envelope, he realized it didn't simply have the residential address but also the exact room in which he slept. His brow creased in suspicious curiosity; the letter was concealed in a thick envelope that had an aged appearance, and the words were written in a loopy, neat calligraphy. He turned it over and peered at the wax seal on the back. The seal resembled an organization crest; a shield divided with into fourths: a lion, a badger, a raven, and a serpent in each sector and an "H" in the center.
The emblem only seemed to confuse him further; if it was indeed the crest of an organization or institution, what could they possibly want with him? Unrealistic and horrifying conclusions began to swarm and buzz within his mind conquering all consciousness of reality.
Henry peered at the letter being him a moment of slight surprise; he really should have expected this. Less than a moment later a beaming grin slit across his face, "Looks like we'll be going to school together again this year!"
Henry's sudden announcement had brought Vlad back into reality causing him to turn his questioning gaze upon his friend; after another moments hesitation, Vlad decided the only way to get the answers he sought was to open the envelope and read. Pulling the parchment from within its confines, Vlad noticed it was the same material as the envelope and had the same sophisticated penmanship upon it.
"Dear Mr. Tod," it proclaimed, "We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."
Vlad paused his reading to glance at Henry, who was sitting with that same grin; Vlad began to wonder if Henry had stretched the muscles so far that they would no longer return to their original states.
Vlad raised an eyebrow sharply, "Is this for real? Or is this your idea of some birthday joke?" His gaze alternated between the two suspects; but one glance at Nelly told Vlad she was just as confused as he.
"No jokes here. Pretty sweet, huh?"
"What exactly is this? A letter of acceptance? I haven't applied to any new schools."
Henry's face suddenly snapped back to normal; he got serious in that instant.
"Finish reading; then ask questions."
Vlad read the body of the letter with renewed enthusiasm; after finishing, he passed the letter over to Nelly. This Headmaster now had his undivided attention; so he began to question his friend: what was the emblem on the back representing, what would they be teaching, what would it be like, how had he already known so much, were werewolves, nymphs, goblins etcetera also real.
After the storm of questions had subsided, a thick silence settled upon the room; with both Nelly and Vlad processing the facts and formulating ideas on the future year.
"Wow," Nelly breathed out, sounding utterly mystified, "That's incredible."
It sounded like an amazing world; a fantasy that she could barely imagine. She felt an ember of envy breath life within her; yet she wouldn't allow it to pollute her joy for both boys' futures.
She turned to Vlad, smiling motherly at him, "Do you want to go? It's entirely up to you."
Vlad screwed up his face, contemplate his options and the new door revealed by the letter. The world Henry had described was beyond any child's fantasy; it would be an escape from Bathory, from the reminder that things weren't as they should be. If he didn't go, he would be alone, aside from Nelly; there would be no Henry, no one to pass the days with, yet if he went, he would be leaving Nelly completely alone.
She seemed to catch on to his woes; smiling, she stated endearingly, "You don't have to worry about me. Don't pass up this opportunity because of me; it sounds like an impossible adventure. Besides you could use a change of pace, I think."
"Was Nelly now telepathic as well? Or was he just easy to read?" Vlad wondered idly in that moment.
He seemed to catch the infectious grin, "Guess you won't be rid of me after all."
Henry beamed at this, "I think I can put up with you for a few more years."
I won't make up excuses for why I haven't updated except: Computer broke/ Didn't want to buy new one~ Lots of other work with classes and job~ Drama~ I'm lazy… that about sums up my bullshit.
~~~MESSAGE to readers:
If you have stuck with me through the long wait, I thank you so much. I know I took a ridiculously long time to update, and I know it's irritating to wait so long, especially when you don't know why. (Most of my top favorites have become discontinued.) And if you are new to my story, welcome; I hope you have enjoyed it thus far and will continue to read.
Like I said at the top of the story, I will be editing each chapter on both minor and major scales because for one, re-reading this original chapter… I have so many issues with it, and it's been so long that I need a memory refresher on the content.
Finally, I do have most of the course of this story planned (it simply a matter of typing it up), but not the ending.
Okay I lied these are my final two points… I will not be discontinuing this story. It may take time, but I have the full intentions of finishing this. My second point is that I have a fairly busy schedule, but I will update as often as I can.
(….. This sounds like some speech but really it's just a footnote in a fanfic.) -_-"