Also written while avoiding Doctor Who ep1 spoilers. Foo Fighters - 'Walk'. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: Nothing here is mine...
Bertrand had crossed the Earth more than once in his four centuries, always waiting, searching for the Chosen One, carrying his book with him. He'd stopped, briefly, when he'd arrived in Stokely just barely too late to meet Vladimir Dracula. Ingrid had never seen him, he'd made sure of that, but he'd seen her. He'd wondered if she looked anything like her brother. He'd given up on ever finding out.
It had been a weary Bertrand who'd returned to his little base of operations – a ramshackle hut which had far more in common with a fortress than it appeared – to wait for news of the missing Dracula family or rumours of yet another new claim. He always ended up here, after particularly long journeys or especially harsh disappointments, to recover, lick his wounds, carve another notch into his stake. Well, at least there was no need for that on this occasion, not yet.
Then word had come in; his contacts had heard that the Chosen One's hiding place had been discovered. Indeed, with a steady stream of tutors being called to the boy's aid, he was hardly hiding at all any more. And so Bertrand picked himself up, rolled out of his shroud – he'd grown unused to coffins during his nomadic years – and prepared to set out once again.
This was always the hardest part; leaving the little hovel that wasn't really home, but was the closest thing he'd had for some time, convincing himself that it was worth continuing his search. The odds of another imposter awaiting him at Garside Grange were overwhelming, but he had to try. He put one foot in front of the other, again and again until his house was out of sight.
I believe I've waited long enough, he told himself, I believe this is the real Chosen One at last. It had been an empty hope before, but perhaps, this time…
He stood in the classroom door, and judging by the boy's expression, all Vladimir Dracula wanted to know was what Bertrand's problem was.
Where do I begin?
