Title: Opacre

Author: Shades

Rating: PG – 13 with maybe some R

Summary:  Harry Potter had no friends until Hogwarts…or so he thought.  Darkness engulfs Harry at age 5…but not evil.  This is the past, and of a secret Harry held close without knowing it…SLASH

Disclaimers: Do I need to tell you that I do not own Harry Potter or any of its characters? I do? Well, it belongs to J.K. Rowling, a wonderful author.  I only own Lest Opacre, his family, and anything related to him.  The rest belong to her.

Author's Notes: This will be slash.  Between two boys.  Not the shagging kind, all sex but feeling.  Harry will be 10 when feelings of that sort come around, but nothing before that.  NO NO NO! No pedophile!!  No shagging in this story!  Clear? No flames against that, OK?  Flames against plot maybe but none of pedophile because I don't endorse that, constructive criticism and reviews welcome.

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                                                                              Chapter 2

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Harry Potter was scared.  No, make that terrified.

                There he was, a little five-year-old, shorter than the average height of one his age, living in the cupboard underneath the stairs.  Not to mention the fact that he was holding a thin log in both his hands.

                Most people, looking at him, would have thought him so cute, thinking that he was trying to act tough and strong.  One look in his eyes diminished those ideas though.  Those bright green eyes, barely visible under the tuft of black hair, were wide and fearful in his skinny pale face.

                'Oh mommy, daddy, I know you're dead but maybe this is a good time to send my guardian angel or anything for me right now, please?  This boy is going to suck my blood and lick his lips and become a bat and have red eyes and look at me hungrily and chew my neck and slobber and eat my flesh and turn me into something like him and oh god!  Did that door creak?  Is he here?'

                Harry was an intelligent little boy, just not at the moment because panic had caused his five-year-old side to come into effect.  Many people did not think he was smart because he was dressed terribly and always quiet, not to mention that his legal guardians did not think him higher than the scum on their best shoes.  But he was smart.  When his Uncle or Aunt were busy with something else, like fawning over Dudley, he would quickly grab a book from the library and hide it in his enormous clothes, waiting to read it later in his cupboard.

                He had quickly taught himself to read from the age of three.  There were some benefits from being totally denied a childhood, Harry supposed, because there was a larger time dedicated to studies.  Harry didn't understand how he could learn so quickly but that happened.  Once he saw the meaning of a word, he could find it anywhere and read it.  He once went up to his cousin's second bedroom and stole his ABC dictionary.  That children's dictionary helped him figure out words.  It was hidden in a secret compartment in his cupboard.  Maybe his Aunt didn't know but there was this small place that opened if you slid the panel.  Harry hid all his valuable books there, and since the Dursleys were not people who appreciated the arts, Harry would never get in trouble.

                Unfortunately, the first intellectual book that Harry had read, meaning the first book with big words like amusement and misfortune, was Interview With A Vampire, by Anne Rice.

Which meant that Harry was cursing himself with every breath.

                "Idiot.  Git.  Jerk.  Dummy.  Moron.  Simpleton.  Fool.  You jinxed yourself, cursing your life with a vampire, by reading that book.  Idiot…" Harry had also read some other colorful books from his family's small library.  To Kill A Mockingbird and Catcher In the Rye expanded his coarse vocabulary rather largely.

                Of course, he never said them in front of people.  But since he was alone…

                "My, my, a rather vulgar tongue from one who was so polite earlier on…" an amused voice floated through Harry's little door.

                Harry proceeded to show off his knowledge of curses.

                "I am afraid I will have to look up some of those words."

'Wonderful Harry, why do you not just scream at the top of your voice and bring the Dursleys done as well,' Harry thought sarcastically as he tightened his grip on the log.

                "Go away!" Harry whispered fiercely, backing away from the door.

                "Hmm…no.  Now open the door and let me in.  I would rather not face that family of yours yet.  And I would rather talk to you without an obstacle between is."

                "You honestly expect me to open the door for you?  And what do you not understand about go away?"

                "The 'go away.'  Usually, people would love to have my presence nearby.  And, yes, I would like you to open the door.  I am not going to bite or hurt you."

                "Oh, well that changes everything.  How could I have been so stupid to suspect that you were hurt poor, defenseless me," Harry said sarcastically.  "Honestly, you expect me to believe you?  As for the go away part…go means to leave and away means not anywhere near this place.  Leave to anywhere not here."

"What have I done to give you the presumption that I am going to hurt you?  If I remember quite well, earlier today we were having a rather pleasant conversation."

"You're a vampire!  For all I know, you are probably deciding on how to eat me the best!  And that discussion was nowhere NEAR pleasant.  All I remember you doing was bad-mouthing us who have our woes and how you find that humorous."

"I was not…Oh for gods' sake!"

Harry's door was suddenly yanked open and Lest came through.  Harry squeaked and scurried as far back as the cupboard allowed him.  Too late, as Lest closed the door behind him and locked it, Harry realized his mistake.

'YOU IDIOT!  You just backed yourself into a corner with no escape inside a cupboard with a VAMPIRE!  Why don't you just clean your neck and offer it on a golden platter!?!' Harry thought angrily, as Lest sat down and made himself comfortable.

"There now.  No obstacles," Lest said pleasantly.  Then he noticed Harry's condition.  "What on Earth happened to you?" Lest asked, startled.

Harry defensively curled himself up.  His uncle had not been pleased to find that Harry had moved.

Harry had a split lip, black eye, and a number of other bruises hidden by his loose clothes.  For some reason, Uncle Vernon had been more lenient and Harry had not suffered as much from before.

"Nothing."

"Nothing, my fangs," Lest said sharply.  "You have been hurt and I know that those were not there before."

"It's nothing so leave me alone!"

Lest pursed his lips and continued to look at Harry.  Harry was uncomfortable and tried to find something that would distract the boy from his injuries.

Harry realized that he still had the log in his hands.  He quickly put it between himself and the vampire, the sharpest end pointing to the boy.  Lest leaned back slightly and looked at the twig.  Harry was relieved to see that the made-up stake had distracted the boy from his hurts.

"You're going to poke me with that if you do not put it down," Lest said irritably.  He appeared mildly unconcerned about the crudely made stake but still considered it worthy for his attention.

"That would be the intention," Harry said grimly.  "And you're not allowed to do that."

"Not allowed to do what?"

"Enter a house without somebody inviting you.  It's against the rules."

"What rules?"

"The rules about vampires.  You're not allowed to enter a house without permission.  You're not allowed to walk in sunlight or else you would burn to a crisp.  You cannot eat or be near garlic or crosses.  You drink blood from humans.  Holy water burns you and stakes through the heart can kill you."

"Stakes through the heart would kill anyone and some people do not like garlic.  Does that make them vampires?  No.  And why are these rules true?"  Lest was amused again, annoying Harry.

"Because they said so."

"Who?"

"The people who study vampires.  Experts.  And they all say the same so it has to be true."

"You're going to take the word of some fictional authors?  People who probably never seen vampires?  Do you not think that maybe one author wrote these rules in a fictional story and these 'experts' made have just picked them up and slapped them down on paper, make a book, and say they were real?  Are you going to base your life on what other people say, not finding out first-hand?"

Harry shifted uncomfortably.  Being scrunched up against the wall was very unpleasant.  "Are they lying?" Harry asked defiantly.

"With some things, yes.  I believe that the author coming closest to being accurate about us was Anne Rice."  'Damn, I jinxed myself by reading that book,' Harry thought.  "Others, though, are completely wrong.  Some portray as bad guys and I think that's a bit unfair."

"Aren't some of you bad though?"

"Well, of course."  Lest seemed surprised.  "But, then again, aren't some humans bad as well?  You can not judge an entire group of people based on what a few people of that group did, are you?"

"Well, no but…"

"But nothing," Lest interrupted.  "Just because vampires are not humans does not make us any less of a being.  Some vampires are evil, just like humans.  But not all.  Are you going to hold that against vampires who are innocent?"

"How am I supposed to know if you're innocent?  For all I know, you could be laying down a false trap for me, luring me to security.  Then you could swoop down on me and bite my neck."

"Oh, come on.  I thought you were more sensible than this," Lest said, irritated.  "If I had wanted to, I could have bitten you and had my meal up in the tree.  But I didn't do that because I found you to be rather interesting.  Would you prefer me to bite you?"

"NO!"

"Then stop assuming.  I am merely trying to become an acquaintance, trying to find someone who shares my line of thought."

"A friend?"

"Friend?"  Lest looked baffled.  "Have you not been listening to a word I have said?  I just want someone to talk to who does not scrape and can argue with me.  Not to mention disagrees with me and shows their annoyance."

"If you want someone to bug, go bug my cousin and leave me alone!" Harry replied scathingly.

"Quite a viper's tooth, are you not?  And, no, I will not bug your cousin because he is inferior to my stunning intelligence.  So, you are stuck with me until I get bored with you," Lest smugly said.

"Bloody…just try and bite me and you will find this 'twig' shoved up your arse."

Lest raised an eyebrow.  "Another thing we will have to work on, besides riding you of that five-year-old mind.  And for the last time, I am not going to bite you."

"You're not doing anything.  Go away."

Lest rolled his eyes.  " Quite demanding are you not?  Do you not know that by telling someone not to do something, they are going to do it?  Human nature is to rebel and though I am not human, I share qualities."

"What do you want from me?  Why me?"

Lest visibly brightened.  "Oh, are we back to that?  I do not want anything from you, Harry.  I just wish to talk and argue with someone and you are merely convenient.  And I thought we agreed that there was no why me's."

"We agreed to nothing," Harry countered.  "There are why me's, just no answers.  And as for convenience…you really know how to put someone down."

"Pardon?"

"Never mind."  Harry sighed.  "If you just want to talk, go ahead, but be aware that if you decide to see if my blood is red, we will see if that stake myth is right."

"Knew you would see my way."  Lest stood up and stretched.  "Well, I best be off before the seekers are sent out."

"Wait, I thought you wished to talk?"  'IDIOT!  He's leaving and you WANT him to stay!?!

"Wish me to stay?  Sorry but I have something to attend."  Lest grimaced.  "A joyous occasion for one group can be a mournful one for another," Lest said softly.

"What do you mean?"

"Do you know innuendoes?"  At Harry's nod, Lest continued.  "That could be one.  This meeting is happy for me because I have met a person that does not revere while you are saddened that you have a deadly danger placed near you.  Of course, it could also mean my birthday."  Harry wore a face of confusion.

"My birthday is today," Lest explained.  Shock.  "What?"

"Um…this will sound corny and very stupid but my birthday was also today."  Lest's eyebrows rose.

"Really?" Lest mused.  "Well, a peculiar occurrence.  No matter, after this is resolved I will come back to talk with you again."  At that, Lest unlocked the door and stepped out.

"A bit arrogant, are you not?"  Harry's statement stopped Lest in his tracks.  The vampire slowly turned around and Harry gulped.

"I beg your pardon?"

'Nice going Harry, insult the vampire who can kill you instantly.'

"I said, a bit arrogant, are you not?  You talk like everything will wait hand and foot for you and that everything will be the same as you left it.  You expect everything to follow your commands."

Lest stared at Harry expressionlessly. 

Finally, Lest replied.  " I merely say what I say.  I say truth and I say requests.  I say expectations.  Arrogance…one cannot define it Harry.  What one views as arrogance may be another person's view of life.

"It all depends on how a person was raised.  You were raised differently from me and vice-versa."  For a second, Lest's eyes flickered to Harry's wounds again.  "We can talk about this next time but I have to leave."  Lest inclined his head briefly and then turned and left.

Harry was confused.  What did arrogance have to do with how a person was raised?

And when was next time?

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Author's Notes: I got 9 reviews!! I would like more so could anyone who reads this, review?

K.c - No, this is not AU. This is the past. Harry does not remember. Will find out why at the end.

Roxy - 1 point awarded to Miss Roxy. At the end of this fic, person with most points will give me a subject for a short story and I will write for them. Yes, Lest is sort of like Lestat and there's a reason (No, he is not Lestat!)

Fireangle - What makes you think Harry will become a vampire? And why would Lest need a friend?

ObsidianDragon - I write fast but what's this about writing good? Are you saying that I write badly? ;_;

Lena - Thank you and here it is.

zeynel - Malfoys? Where did I say Malfoys? Did I accidentally do a Freudian slip? *checks story* No…how did you find out about Malfoys? *realizes she let slip that Malfoys were going to appear in story* Oh…ARG!

hermionegranger - I did? Like what? Here's the chapter.

summersun -  Why, thank you. I kind of wanted that. And for anyone who is wondering, Harry's like a boy genius. That's why he can understand concepts. And Lest's just smart. Both are smarter than Hermione right now and will get smarter.

di -Thank you but it's not over yet.

Thank you to all who reviewed. Keep up!