Not my characters.
I'm currently updating from my phone owing to a fall out with the friend who loans me their computer.
So if the spelling and stuff is terrible, I apologise on behalf of my psychotic autocorrect.
On we go!
-YDHP-
Vlad spent most of the day panicking. Bertrand was certain, and if he trusted anyone to do way too much research into something it was his tutor. How would Harry take the news? Was Vlad supposed to tell him, or leave Harry in the dark and risk feeling betrayed if he learnt another way and found out Vlad knew beforehand? Scrubbing a hand through his hair, Vlad resumed his hiding behind the curtains of his bed, wand lit as a reason so his dorm mate's thought he was reading. He even had a book on his lap, but as Phantom was currently sleeping on it he couldn't have read it if he wanted to.
Sleeping fitfully as a sense of guilt about hiding information from his friend, Vlad felt less rested than before he went to bed as he stumbled sleepily into the shower. Seamus saw Vlad awake and practically tore his clothes in an attempt to get them on before trying to leave. "Seamus, I'm willing to forget what happened if you are." "Stay away from me!" Sighing as the Irish boy darted out of the dorm, Vlad fed and watered his familiar before going to meet Hermione in the common room. She was talking to a young redhead girl, who shyly introduced herself as Ginny Weasley. When he introduced himself she looked a little surprised, elaborating. "From how Ron went on about you, I was expecting someone... I don't know, scarier."
Shrugging, Vlad smiled politely. "Your brother needs to relax. Plus I think he has a crush on my sister, she's in his house and he had absolutely no chance with her." That won him a giggle from the girl, and they were about to head down as Harry, Draco and Neville joined them. His smile fell as he remembered what he had discovered yesterday. "You ok Vlad?" Nodding at his friends, Vlad followed them down to breakfast. "So, excited to be at Hogwarts Ginny?" The girl was quiet but answered happily enough, Fred and George joining them with a smile and congratulating Ginny on making Gryffindor.
"If you start complaining about Slytherin, I will hex you." "Secret Slytherin Vlad?" Shaking his head to Ginny's question, Vlad smiled. "My sister is in Slytherin, I don't like the stereotypes that are applied so casually when they don't know the person. I mean, anyone would think Weasley meant cheery and friendly meeting you, it would be a surprise meeting Ron." The Weasleys chuckled and conceded his point, Fred and George joking Ingrid was alright as 'the hottest girl in Slytherin'. "That's my sister you're talking about, I can hardly agree with you." "Fair point Dracula, anyway we have mischief to manage, catch you kids later." They disappeared off clutching toast, and Harry muttered under his breath that they should visit the kitchens soon, both to continue befriending them and to thank them for helping take care of their pets.
"Good point, we can do that before lunch? You coming Draco?" The blond boy nodded, returning his attention to his breakfast. The three of them headed off, Hermione saying she was going to find Ginny a tour of the school so she would have less chance of getting lost tomorrow when school started. The house elves remembered them and squealed in glee when they were thanked for doing their jobs, plying the boys with fruit, cakes and pumpkin juice which was pointedly handed to Vlad. "You would think I had a problem the way everyone gives me this stuff!" Just because he had used the magic flask Harry gave him all summer was irrelevant. He had no idea how it worked, and resolved to find out at some point. Packing the snacks away in his backpack and shrinking it down (with a spoken spell as Draco was unaware of his powers), they headed back out.
Now he was back to mild panic as Lily poked her head out of Harry's pocket. The corridor they were in was thankfully empty save for them as Harry hissed at her to stay hidden until they were safely away. "Ah, what would three Gryffindors be doing down here, when your tower is many floors above?" Professor Snape materalised in front of them, tall and imposing in his heavy black robes. "Just exploring Professor" came the flawlessly polite reply from Draco. "Classes don't start until tomorrow sir, and we already visited the library yesterday." The Potions teacher hummed disapprovingly but seemed to accept this. Vlad wondered if that was because Draco was his godson though.
"I hear you have... Inherited a unique skill Mr Potter. I wonder if you would care to demonstrate it for me?" Harry looked immensely surprised, though Vlad imagined he didn't look much different. "Here sir?" "No. That would be careless. My quarters." "Not without Vlad and Draco, sorry sir but Gryffindor seeker can't be alone with head of Slytherin." Holding his breath for the expected explosion at Harry daring to make conditions, Vlad was surprised beyond measure when the professor nodded. "Very well. Off we go." Still shocked, Vlad ambled along after them in surprise and confusion as they headed towards the dungeons. A wordless spell whispered near his unusual senses from Snape, and a portion of unremarkable wall melted away. "In!" Suddenly a little concerned, Vlad followed if only for Harry's safety.
"It wouldn't be seemly to have invited you in with a friendly tone, try to look less like a first year in detention Mr Dracula." Feeling his cheeks flush, Vlad tried to relax. "Sit." Harry and Vlad sat down gingerly next to each other on a small black sofa, but Draco looked relatively at ease and sat down in an armchair. "Relax guys. We are safe in here, Uncle Severus can't show it outside but he's not as scary as he seems." "Kindly desist from maligning my character Draco, or I shall grind you into potions ingredients." Feeling more confused than ever, Vlad looked around the room he presumed was part of Professor Snapes private quarters.
Harry could see something was bothering Vlad, but he also knew better than to push his friend - Vlad would tell him when he was ready. He was also extremely confused, both by the invitation from the Potions professor and Dracos relaxed manner. "What's going on?" "Nobody will believe you if you speak of it outside these walls, but Uncle Severus is not scary or evil. You said yourself Phantom wasn't avoiding him. I come here and see him when I can, he was supportive after I got sorted into Gryffindor, and helped me out this summer when my father was less than happy." Remembering Draco at the start of first year, Harry could only nod dimly.
"So this isn't a secret assassination attempt to get rid of us?" "No Vlad, its not. Nimmy!" Harry jumped at Dracos sharp exclamation, but understood when a house elf appeared. "This is my personal house elf young Gryffindors, though he also answers to Draco on my command. Should you ever have need to reach me discreetly, call Nimmy." Again, Harry could only nod in surprise. "Now, may I see your Parseltongue in action?" Hissing to call Lily out, Harry held the wrist now holding a snake cooled around it out. "Lily, this is Professor Snape." Lily hissed happily immediately, stretching her head out in open invitation. "She won't bite sir, go ahead." Draco was talking to the elf now, who popped away for a moment.
Certain he was dreaming now, Harry sat with Vlad watching the head of Slytherin delicately holding Lily. Even stranger was the returning elf bearing tea and biscuits so heavily iced Harry couldn't believe Snape allowed such things. Draco poured himself tea, carefully taking a small pile of biscuits to balance on his saucer. Vlad shakily accepted tea from Nimmy next, so Harry supposed he had little choice but to follow, stirring sugar and milk in and wondering when this hallucination would end. "So, other than to win the approval of my familiar, what are we doing here professor?" Draco shook his head at Harry's blunt approach but chuckled into his teacup.
"So you could spend the year not panicking about him trying to kill us? So Vlad could hear how amusing it is to see Ingrid practically own half of Slytherin in spite of possibly being the first of non magical parentage ever to be sorted there?" Vlad chuckled next to him then. "Yeah, sounds like her. Is she really the first?" Professor Snape nodded. "Generally only pure bloods make it into Slytherin, though a few half bloods have slipped in. Miss Dracula has been a constant surprise to us all." Vlad visibly relaxed then, as though even though she was now a fourth year, she may still be struggling. "That's Ingrid." "I like this one, another snake. He smells of alchemy and knowledge." Lily hissed in approval of Snape, and Harry hastened to correct her. "Potions and Alchemy are slightly different, he's a Potions professor." "He still smells of alchemy. I do know the difference master."
Lily only called him master when she was being cheeky or sarcastic, so Harry glared as she coiled back along his arm. "She said she liked the snake man. Which I think is what she says about Slytherins, she called Ingrid a snake too." "It is nice to be recognised by such a powerful and rare creature." "We couldn't find much information on her Uncle Severus? Do you know about Emeraldspire snakes?" Harry saw Snapes eyes spark with interest at the name, resolving to worry about Lilys alchemy comment later.
"Little is known about them, Runespoor snakes are rare as it is and EmeraldSpire snakes are only born when blood is spilled over dead Runespoor eggs." "That's disgusting. No offence to Lily but thats one hell of a creepy way to be born." Draco was clearly amused, until Snape remonstrated him for interrupting that was. "Eat your diabetes inducing confectionary and cease interrupting me Draco." Draco poured a little petulantly but chewed on a biscuit, as keen as the rest of them to hear more now. "They are highly venomous, but selectively so. Or else Mr Potter would not be with us now as I see you were bitten." Looking down at the scars on his hand, Harry shrugged and waited for the man to continue.
"Loathe as I am to admit it, they only bond to powerful wizards. Rightly so of course, they grow to ten feet in length at full maturity." Already knowing this, Harry waited for more. "They lay one egg a year after they mature, though between rarity of the species, distrust for snakes in general and poaching for option ingredients or destruction, its a wonder the species aren't near extinct." Imagining multiple ten foot snakes, Harry felt panicked. "What do I do of that happens? One is plenty, I don't want a house full of ten foot snakes. Especially if they all kept laying eggs!"
"Kindly cease with the dramatics Mr Potter, they would either find their wizard if they choose to, or go and live in the wild by a year old." That didn't sound as worrying, so Harry nodded and finished his tea. "Thank you Professor." "You are welcome to my genius whenever I find it convenient Mr Potter." Draco and Vlad both chuckled then. "What?" "I just realised Ingrid really does belong in his house, that's exactly the sort of thing she would say." There was a twitch, a hint of a smirking smile on the Potions professors face for just a moment, but then it was gone. As they finished their tea and realised it was almost lunch, Snape told them to look suitably gloomy as they left and Harry tried not to look too confused as they trotted out. Whatever it was bothering Vlad, it seemed to have abated slightly in their bizarre encounter with Snape
-YDHP-
I was playing with the idea of Snape being involved from the start, and Alan Rickman passing away was the push the idea needed. So yeah, enjoy!
Feel free to review too, I could do with some year two feed back.
