AN:I own nothing.
Harry Van Helsing
When the brothers landed in the Edinburgh home they were greeted by four house elves.
"Greetings, Lordship, I be head house elf Poppet, this is Dolly, Mutt and Dawg. We be the house elves of House Potter." Poppet said bowing deeply, the rest followed suit. Akihiro smiled at the small creatures.
"Do you take care of all the homes?"
"Yes, Master Potter. Poppet makes sure all are clean, nothing missing." Poppet said her large eye showed some fear.
"Why are you afraid of me? I promise my brother and I will not harm you. I simply wished to find out how many house elves were bond to the Potter line.
"Just us four, sir." Poppet said with a deep bow, her long ears and nose almost touching the ground.
"Wonderful fewer names for me remember. *whisper*I am really bad with names." Harry said with a wink at the elf, which smiled shyly and giggled. Akihiro chuckled at the small house elf, before squatting down in front of the two male elves.
"So are you two twins?" Both elves nodded vigorously with their ears flapping. "Well we will need two of the rooms opened up and something to eat please." The twins smiled and popped out.
"Poppet where is the study? I needed one of you four to deliver a letter to Professor Minerva McGonagall, she will need to speak with Professor Severus Snape and I will need the one delivering the letter to wait for the response."
"Dolly be very trustworthy, she can take letter to Hogwarts' teachers. Master Potter need this done right now?" Poppet asked with wide eyes.
"Please call me Harry or Van Helsing and I have to write the letter first but it can wait till tomorrow." Poppet nodded and quickly led Harry to a large study. All poor Harry could do was gape at how large and ornate the study was. The whole room was done in dark oak with a large fireplace in the wall to the right. Harry stepped up to the fireplace to look at the stone and mantel.
"Master Harry that be local stone and the hearth be local river rock. The books be master James favorites and master before him's favorites." Poppet said proudly. Harry smiled at her; he now knew how to truly win over the head elf.
"And the furnishings Poppet, the desk is dark oak as well?" Poppet nodded and grinned at Harry. "This truly beautiful, it has been a very long time since I have been in a room this lovely, and it not be a church." Poppet blushed.
"Likes I said Master Harry we takes good care of the Potter house."
Harry chuckled at the proud little house elf and began to search through the drawers looking for writing tools. Once he had secured the quill, ink and parchment, he sat down in the large wing backed chair.
"Poppet, could you please get Akihiro and setup our meal in here please? Thank you." Poppet popped out of the room. Harry had written the letter twice to keep from revealing to much about himself and what he was planning.
Akihiro came in with the twins, carrying a bottle of white wine and two glasses. The twins carried in plates and napkins, on a large silver serving tray was cheeses, smoked meats, small loaves of bread and several types of crackers.
"Is there any fruit to go with this, like grapes, pears, or apples?" Harry asked as he stared at the platter before him.
"Yes Master Harry, there be all three."
"Akihiro, which to you want?"
"Boys why don't you bring some of each?" Akihiro asked. The twins smiled and popped out to get the fruit. Harry smiled at Akihiro, and conjured a chair for him in front of the desk.
"What do you think of the study?"
"Stunning, last time we were in a place this pretty it was a church." Harry laughed at Akihiro.
"I said the same thing. Come I am starving, the food at the Leaky Cauldron is not as good as I was led to believe."
"Well I asked for this as the meal, that food was too greasy for my liking." Akihiro said with a scowl.
"I agree, we should stick to the lighter fare we are used to." Harry said "I should have just had us stick to drinks."
"I found this wine in a very large wine cellar. I saw all sorts of wines, some really rare ones too. And that kitchen. Oh God! The meals that we could make in there. The baking I could do, the counter space is enough for making sushi rolls not a problem, which is all at once too." Harry looked at him skeptically.
"Try eating a cracker. The one I tried was quite good." Harry said he was rewarded with an eye roll from his little brother.
"You are so pushy sometimes." Akihiro said with a much put upon sigh and found a cracker he wanted to try.
The twins popped back in with a large dinner plate full of the three fruits cut up and washed. Akihiro quickly thanked the elves and unloaded them of their burden.
"When do you elves usually eat?" Harry asked "And what do you eat?"
"Three meals Master, they be stew and bread." the elves answered in unison.
"Is that all?" Akihiro asked, the twins shook their heads no.
"Good. Have you eaten today?" Harry asked staring intently at the pair, who quickly nodded. "Are our rooms ready?"
"Yes, Master Harry."
"Why don't you two and the lady elves go eat supper?" Akihiro asked, the twins looked at each other and back at the brothers before bowing. They didn't even straighten up before they disappeared.
"They are so nice."
"Hum, true. Shame some wizards treat them like slaves."
"In this day and age? How can you possibly be mean to such gentle creatures?" Akihiro said with a scowl.
"I have asked myself that same question many times in my long life. Let me know if figure it out will you?" Harry said loading one of the plates with everything he wanted to sample. Akihiro chuckled, and shock his head.
"You have to have the largest appetite I have ever seen." Harry rolled his eyes at Akihiro.
"Aki one of the reasons that I have such a large appetite is because of how I was treated before Father. Also you're not one to talk. I have seen you eat a whole large pizza by yourself."
"Hey in my defense I was just healing and I had not eaten all day." Akihiro said. Harry smiled and patted his shoulder.
"You keep telling yourself that Aki. Now when we have our meeting with the Professors don't volunteer any extra info. I am sorry but, you will be playing the strong silent type."
"I expected that Harry. I don't know enough about the magical world to be any use that way. I will just look pretty and be the large back up." Akihiro said with a mischievous grin.
"I honestly wish we did not have to deal with any of this, but the wizards of the UK are not doing anything about Riddle." Harry said with a sigh.
"You would think they would be able to over whelm him with numbers alone." Akihiro said with a small sneer.
"They are too afraid. So they decided that I was to be the hero at fifteen months old. Now, the heavenly Father made it so I could take care of this problem." Harry said with some heat. Akihiro arched a brow at his brother.
"So what is the game plan?"
"Well, right now we get as many people on board with finding out if and how Voldeishorts is going to come back. Next getting Dumblebutt out of power so we can get this cleaned up quickly."
"Well you said um Voldeishorts?" Akihiro snorted before continuing. "Put a horcrux in your scar by accident, this would suggest that he had made one or more before and this was more a reflex then anything." Harry sat blinking at Akihiro, he got a thoughtful look.
"What you say makes sense. I don't know why I did not think of that before. He did have very devoted followers; they may have items in their vaults hidden for him."
"So how many known Deatheaters are there? And which would have a vault?" Akihiro asked pulling parchment and quill. The list took a couple of hours to compile, and once finished they rewrote the list and sent it to the bank with a note asking them to search for the dangerous artifacts in the known Deatheaters vaults.
Minerva McGonagall was sitting in her office away from prying eyes. She had worked very hard over the years to be known as the strict but fair teacher. If any student saw her now they would see a weeping mess, she was stunned to learn that Harry had been dumped off by the Dursley's. She cursed herself for not fighting with Albus about placing Harry with them. She knew from Lilly that her dreadful sister hated anything to do with the Magical world. She hoped that Harry went to a loving family that would send him to school.
Minerva's hands were shaking so bad she almost sloshed the Hennessy she was drinking, out of her glass. She jumped just a bit when a house elf she had never seen before popped in to her office.
"*sniff* Can I help you?" Minerva asked wiping her face very quickly. To her astonishment the elf bowed.
"I be Dolly Professor Kitty. I be remembering you from when Mistress Lilly spoke of school."
"Yes, you are a house elf in the employ of the Potters. Please do you know where Harry is?" Minerva asked hope brightening her eyes. The House elf shook her head.
"Not with Potters any more, but, Van Helsing Professor Kitty. Master sent letter for you, I be waiting to take reply back."
"Van Helsing? The Monster Hunter?" Minerva asked taking the letter from the small house elf.
"Yes, ma'am." Minerva frowned at the letter, looking at the very elegant handwriting. She was just to curious for her own good, it was something her mother had always warned her about. She studied the seal on the back to try and see what emblems the famous monster hunter would use. All she saw in the seal was two letters VH, she shrugged and opened it.
Greetings Professor McGonagall,
I am Harahel Van Helsing; I am the son of Gabriel Van Helsing. I too am a Monster Hunter like my father, but I am also a Wizard.
I am writing to you as I will be in need of your help. I am aware that you have a great danger in the form of a Tom Riddle aka Lord Voldamort. My profession is one that I protect those that cannot protect themselves. I will need any and all support from upstanding members of magical community. I believe yourself and Professor Severus Snape were both friends with one or both of the Potters. I would like to get some background on the situation.
If you would be willing I would like to meet with both of you if possible, as there are other things that we need to discuss as well. Please send your reply with Dolly, as to when you would like to meet and where in the castle is the most secure from prying eyes and ears.
Thank you,
Harahel Van Helsing
Minerva got up quickly and went to the floo. She tossed floo powder and shouted "Severus Snape". She then stuck her head into the fire to speak with Severus.
"Severus I must speak with you." The disembodied head of the deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts said. She did not have long to wait as a pair of black trouser legs came into view. Severus knelt down to the fire.
"Minerva, I hope this is not a social visit?" Severus asked small sneer. Minerva ignored the sneer.
"Yes, Van Helsing has caught wind of Voldemort. He would like to speak with us about the Potters. Can you come later tonight?"
"Certainly. Your office?" Minerva nodded before ending the floo call.
Once all the way back on her side of the floo, she quickly jotted down when and where to meet. Dolly stepped forward to take the letter and disappeared with a crack. Minerva sighed and started to tidy up her office for guests that evening.
"Nicholas, Perenelle, I am glad you have come. I hope you like the manor." Harry said as he hugged his adopted uncle and aunt. "Poppet."
The little elf popped into the main hall, bowed to Harry and Akihiro.
"Master Harahel, you need Poppet to do something?" She practically dance with happiness.
"Yes, Poppet. We and our guests will be taking brunch in the sun room please. Thank you." Harry said with a large smile. Poppet bowed with a very happy smile.
"Your house elves seem to adore you Harry, what did you do to them?" Nicholas asked with questioning look.
"Nothing, we treat them like people. Akihiro, made friends with Mutt and Dawg. Those two are so adorable, the only twin house elves I have ever heard of." Harry said as he held the chair for Perenelle, who smiled at him before taking her seat.
"Well on to the reasons that we are here, aside from a social visit. Albus contacted me about getting the Stone into hiding. I think he is planning on using the Longbottom boy, seeing as you are not available. I have given him a fake, but a very good fake. I would suggest that you be on your guard with him."
"What drove him to be like this?" Harry wondered quietly to himself. Akihiro snorted at him.
"Power, what else Harry? You really should not be surprised." Harry glowered at Akihiro when three house elves popped into the sun room. Akihiro moved to get several of the trays that the twins were carrying, and Harry knelt down next to Dolly.
"Here is letter from Professor Kitty, Master Harahel." Dolly said shyly.
"Thank you Dolly, I may need to send you back so wait a moment please." Dolly nodded.
Mr. Van Helsing,
I and my colleague would be honored to speak with you this evening. We look forward to your arrival at 6pm in my office.
Sincerely,
Deputy Headmistress
Minerva McGonagall
"Nicholas, they agreed to meet tonight. Any thoughts of what I shouldn't speak with them about?" Harry asked before turning back to Dolly. "Dolly why don't you go get something to eat? I know you missed breakfast and I apologize for that." Harahel said patting the small house elf on the shoulder. She blushed, nodding and popped out of the room.
"That is something that is distinct to your family Harry. Every other wizard family in the world would never think about making sure that their elves were taken care of." Nicholas said with a large smile, "So Akihiro what do you think of the wizarding world?"
"It's ok. Seems to have smaller problems, but with fewer people to solve them. Why does it have to be Harry?" Akihiro asked petulantly. Nicholas sighed and nodded.
"I understand how you feel Akihiro. I don't know why it has to be him either, I would also prefer that the wizards solved this one themselves but, they are not strong enough." Nicholas sighed "In my day whole villages would rise up against a dark lord. But, the wizards these days have become complacent, cocky and think that muggles are not dangerous. But, it really is only the UK that has this problem. Other countries are much more progressive."
"You mean like working with the 'muggles' and technology."
"Precisely. The US and the French are leading the way, already they have discovered a way for electricity to work within magical areas. It is all very exciting, every day they find some new way to have magic and technology work together." Nicholas said all this with much excitement. "I look forward to the day when every young witch and wizard can hold down jobs in both worlds." The brothers and Perenelle, all dissolved in to fits of giggles at Nicholas' awed expression. Nicholas finally noticed after a few moments and scowled at the others till they stopped giggling at him.
"Alright you jokers, on to business. Oh my, this does look lovey." Nicholas said eyeing the brunch that was laid out on the table. "I had heard that some of the views from Potter Manor were quite spectacular." He said with a sigh.
"You should see the private study of the master of the house. I have not even ventured into the main library just yet." Harry said as he poured green tea for everyone. "It is Green Tea; it's the only tea Aki will drink."
"Oh that's fine. I think you should tell Minerva the bare minimum she is not overly great with occlumency, but Snape is. He is a double agent for Albus. Him you can tell everything and he will not blab."
"Nicholas you forgot to tell him." Perenelle said with a sigh. "Harry he has always hated your biological father. He will, given the chance transfer that hate to you." Harry sighed.
"Well I guess I will start off with who I was raised by and who I am; then move on to parentage." Harry paused to think about what he should say in front of Minerva.
"So he should only say that we found out about what's his name, and we are here to take care of the issue seeing as they can or will not themselves? No talking about Harry's birth parents got it." Akihiro said as he began to serve the Flamels.
"I will have to eventually confront the headmaster."
"True, but never divulge who you once were. He is a very deadly manipulator; I believe he has been choreographing everything that has been going on. Up to and including your biological parents' deaths and you going to the Dursley's." Harry and Akihiro looked at each other and nodded.
"I think that the Van Helsing's are going to champion the missing boy hero." Harry said with an evil smirk.
"I feel bad; Albus was a good man once. To have to see him falling to this level of villainy is heart breaking." Perenelle said with a sigh. "He was so promising as a young man."
"True love but, that does not hold now and we have to deal with the man he has become, not the man he should have been." Nicholas said sympathetically. "Harry, there are plenty of wizards and witches that will want to help but, may more will just want to kill you out right. You must double check, triple check if you have to, but don't take anything at face value."
"I promise we will use the utmost care. So you think the goblins will find other horcrux in the Deatheater vaults?"
"Honestly, I pray to God, that they don't." Nicholas said. "But realistically I feel that they will."
Harry nodded, as he passed Perenelle the sausages. They eat well and reminisced about times when Harry was younger and all the things he would get into while their father was away.
Severus watched as Minerva paced about her office. They both paused as they heard a loud crack and two tall men were standing with twin house elves.
"Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape?"
"Yes, are you Mr. Van Helsing the Monster Hunter?"
"Mr. Van Helsing is our father. I am Harahel Van Helsing and this is my brother Akihiro Van Helsing, we have taken up our father's mantel of Monster Hunter." Harry said not looking up to far from under his hat.
"I see. Minerva perhaps the privacy charms would be a good idea." Severus said as he watched the pair.
"Boys we will call when we are finished here. Thank you." Harry said to the house elves, which bowed and popped out. Minerva worked quickly to shield the office from anyone listening in.
"Done. Please do you know where Harry Potter is?"
"Minerva I told you before, the brat in all probability ran away." As Severus said this, Harry and Akihiro took off their hats. Harry snorted at this, while Akihiro kept his face as neutral as possible.
"I can tell you that Harry is perfectly fine. He was adopted by a very nice family. And no I will not tell you what his new name is or where he is living. It is better if he is left alone." Harry said cracking his neck. Harry knew his height and size was very intimidating to most people.
"But, you swear his is alright." Minerva asked desperately; Harry smiled and nodded.
"Now this is not really a social visit. I need to know everything the two of you know about what happened Halloween night. I understand that both of you knew the Potters?"
"Yes. They were some of my better students. Severus was in the same year."
"I knew Lily well." Severus said not really looking at anyone.
"Alright do either of you know why they were targets?" Harry asked even though he already knew the answer.
"A prophecy was made with regards to the Dark Lord and Harry Potter. The Dark Lord found out about it and went to kill the Potter's" Severus said quietly.
"And the Prophecy, what did it say?" Harry asked again already knowing the answer. He really just wanted to gage how much everyone else knew. Akihiro sat quietly watching the two professors; Harry knew that he would share his observation with him later.
"No one knows exactly what it said. Someone overheard part of it and reported that part to the Dark Lord. A child born at the end of July. He will have a power to defeat the dark lord. born to those who thrice defied him."
"Is that the whole thing? I have found in my experience that prophecies are more complicated." Harry said arching a brow at the two professors. Severus looked at the fire in the small fireplace, but did not answer.
"I have never heard any more than that. Is there anything else that you want to know about?" Minerva asked hastily, they could smell she was nervous.
"Professor, there is no need for you to be nervous. We are here to gather as much information as we can, so we can get rid of Voldamort once and for all. We may be Monster Hunters but, we are still human." Harry said gently, placing a hand on her trembling ones. Minerva looked at Harry with watery eyes.
"If you can would you tell Harry that I am sorry he ended up with those dreadful people?"
Harry smiles and chuckled.
"I will pass the message along."
"Now when Harry was taken in it was determined that he was a wizard. Now this part must remain in this room." He paused and looked pointedly at the pair, who nodded nervously. "He was taken to the Bank and they found a horcrux. Now this was removed without damaging Harry, but the name that came up as the one who created it was Tom Riddle." Both professors looked at him in shock.
"Please tell me this is some kind of sick joke?" Minerva said with a hand over her heart. Severus sighed.
"I have suspected he had done something to keep himself alive."
"I take it this is not that much of a shock then?" Harry said giving Severus a hard look.
"I for one am. To actually do what is required is unthinkable."
"For us Professor most undoubtedly but, to someone so scared of death. Tom would go to any lengths to make sure he survived, even the unthinkable."
"How do we know that we can trust you to actually get the job done?" Severus sneered at the pair.
"This is what we do. We have trained for years to become as good as we are." Harry growled out.
"We mean no disrespect but, do you really think that you can defeat someone many have died trying to get rid of?" Minerva said the fear evident in her voice. Severus was still straining down Harry. Akihiro found this amusing but was careful to keep his face neutral. He knew Harry would never back down. After a few minutes Severus broke eye contact with Harry.
"Professor I am a very powerful wizard and have been practicing since I was very young. I am very adapt in both battle magic and other non-lethal magics. I was trained by the best tutors my father and his friends could find. I assure you I have the ability to get rid of Voldemort."
Akihiro gave a very gentle huff, when Harry made eye contact, he raised an brow.
"Right. Now what can you tell me about what might have caused the curse to rebound?" Harry asked looking between both professors.
After a while the brothers said their good byes and popped out with the twins.
"Thank you boys, tell Poppet that we will be eating in the kitchen." Harry said hanging up his duster and hat. Akihiro followed suit, then led the way to the kitchen.
"So, what did you think of them?"
"McGonagall is genuine in her remorse. Snape well let's just say he hated you on sight. I think he might know who you are." Akihiro said with a dark chuckle.
"What? Why are you laughing?"
"Snape thinking you would back down. That was classic." Harry chuckled at the potion masters expression when he had to back down.
"You did well in your roll of the big silent muscle. What else did you notice?"
"Snape is a spy for someone, did you see the way he was watching us? He was chopping at the bit to run and tell someone." Akihiro said picking at his plate of linguini and meatballs.
"I did notice how he hovered, not really sitting like he expected to be attacked by anyone in the room. He has trust issues."
"I would say that he is under the Headmaster's protection. Not to mention that he stinks, like dried things and plants." Akihiro said wrinkling his nose at the memory.
"That is potion ingredients that make him smell like that. It is one of the reasons that I have an fan in the potions lab. I think that you are right about the Headmaster having Snape in his back pocket." Harry said twirling another fork full of his dinner.
"Think he will be a liability?"
"I hope not. He is there for some feeling of guilt but for what crime I have no idea. I will have to get him alone and find out."
"You think they would recognize your eyes at least." Akihiro said around a mouthful of food. Harry grimaced at him, before answering him.
"They are looking for a child, not a grown man. But you do have a point; my eyes are my most prominent feature."
"If that Headmaster is as bad as we think he is, he will figure out what your birth name was." Akihiro said trying to think of a way to conceal who Harry originally was. "Could we set up a false background that way we can say yes see he is here and fine?"
"I think he would check it out immediately, and then would demand to know where I am. Not that he won't when we tell him that he is fine and healthy." Harry said thoughtfully.
"Do you know any other wizards that would be willing to create a cover for you?" Akihiro asked staring past Harry, lost in his thoughts.
"I just told you he would want to check it out."
"No Harry I mean a background for Harahel Van Helsing, not Harry Potter. Let him keep chasing his tail, while we get our work done."
"I think that could work, just use my life with father as my background. This would make it hold up better to inspection, and bury my adoption. I think the goblins can help with the cover-up and history prior to 6 years of age."
"Ok so to the bank tomorrow, or will you just owl them?" Akihiro asked stuffing his face some more.
"Aki, you are going to choke. I think I will owl them, and only go in if I have to."
"I think you should create a false adoption, one stating you were very young like a few months old. That way they will only look that far. You know because Harry Potter disappeared at age 6 and they would be looking at all adoption for boys at age 6." Akihiro said in-between bites. Harry hummed in agreement, as he chewed through his meal.
"By the way what is with Snape is he a were-bat or what?" Harry choked on his pasta, and it almost a full minute for Harry to breathe right again.
"No he is human, just a very bat like one." Harry chuckled at the scowl that Akihiro gave him.
AN: well here is another chapter. taking 2 classes so might be a while before another update. :)