A/N: None here.
Disclaimer: Harry doesn't belong to me, blah, blah, blah. I only own Amelia and Ebony-Crested Dragon snakes. Oh, and I do use some of the same techniques Rowling uses with some fun lines I always enjoyed, so please don't sue me! I need all the money I can get for my student ambassador trip!
Parseltongue will be "~...~"
Chapter 12: There's Your Rules and Then There's MY Rules
WARNING!!!! If you haven't read OotP yet, there is a creature spoiler in here. It's not a major plotpoint in the book in my opinion, but if you haven't read yet, be warned. Here's a description for you from various parts of book 5:
THESTRAL- fleshless horselike creatures. Their black coats cling directly to their skeletons, which
is completely visible. The have dragonish heads with pupil-less white eyes that don't
blink. They also have large, black, leathery wings, like those of a bat's. They are only
visible to those that have seen someone die in person. (Wish I had one... sniff sniff)
------------------------------------------
"Uncle Sev," said Harry, "Are those what I think they are?"
Severus walked up to the nearest one and patted it on its dragonish face.
"Yes. It's a thestral. Luckily, Hagrid has a domestic stock of them here. They pull the carriages for the second years and up. Come on, we haven't got all day."
Now that Harry looked behind the two thestrals, he noticed that the one Severus had patted was strapped to a small chariotlike device, into which Severus was now loading Harry's trunk. The other one stood quite by itself. Harry patted the lone one's face and spoke to it.
"You know, I always knew I'd eventually see you, but I never thought it would be under this kind of situation."
Severus now came over to Harry and placed a hand on the boy's shoulder and said, looking at the creature, "It really is both a gift and a curse to be able to see these creatures, isn't it? Well, we might as well get going."
"How will we, Uncle Sev?"
"That one with your trunk will follow this one which we're both going to mount. Here, let me give you a hand, shorty."
"Hey!"
Severus did the rare act of laughing at Harry's indignity at the situation, and lifted the midget onto the thestral. The older man then got up in front and hooked his legs around the wing joints. Harry scooted up to be able to wrap his arms around Severus' waist.
Speaking to the creatures directly, Severus said, "Both of you take us to Number 4 Privet Drive, Little Whinging, Surrey, if you will." And in a sidenote he said, "Hold on, Harry."
The creatures bent down slightly and in a great rush, they took to the skies in a mighty accent, wings beating hard until they reached a point where no Muggle looking up could distinguish them. The air up there was cold, even in summer, and Harry buried his face in the robes in front of him, lifting his head every once in a while to look down on the magnificent view. Really, he should ask Tom for a thestral if they ever reunited; it was not a bad way to travel, really, after you got used to the cold air on your face. They were covering ground quickly, much more quickly than the Hogwarts Express. He'd probably get to the Dursley's in time for lunch. He groaned, remembering why he was flying through the air. He'd have to make the best of it, and at least he had magic.
They had been traveling perhaps two hours, and Severus, who hadn't spoken the entire time, now turned his head and yelled over the wind to Harry, "Hold on, these things descend quickly. When we land, get off as soon as possible. We don't want to appear to be floating in thin air."
"Can't Muggles see thestrals?"
"Yes, the same rules apply, though; they must have seen a death."
Barely ten seconds after they stopped this little conversation, Harry felt as though his stomach was suddenly in his chest. The thestrals were diving at a terrifying rate, almost like they were really falling more than anything. He felt himself let out a small gasp and clutched his arms tighter around his professor. The clatter of hoofs hitting the ground joined the sounds of the wheels from the cargo chariot. Harry, still a bit dazed from the descent, was pulled down by Severus, and they both looked up around at the neighbourhood and at Number 4 Privet Drive.
Grabbing Harry's trunk from the chariot, he ordered the thestrals to remain where they were, and Harry watched in astonishment as Severus opened his trunk right on the Dursley's front lawn.
"What are you doing?"
He watched the man pull up and head towards him, a brush in hand. He was sneering slightly.
"Believe me, Harry. These Dursley's are neat freaks, and your hair will aggravate them in its normal state, let alone right now." And before Harry could object, the brush was quickly being run through his hair, swiftly ridding the head of hair of any knots or snags. Within a few minutes, his hair was back to its slightly disheveled self. He straightened his own robes, as he had no Muggle clothes, and dragged his trunk to the front door following the professor. Harry watched as the man gritted his teeth, and he pushed a little button next to the door.
'It must be one of those :door bells: Hermione told me about,' thought Harry, as they waited for the door to open. He thanked Hermione silently for giving him a quick crash course in the ways and objects in a Muggle house in the Hospital Wing while recovering.
Harry was abruptly stirred out of his thoughts as the door swung open, revealing a large man. Harry noted the purple face and asssumed something was wrong; surely Muggles weren't supposed to be this colour.
"Well, come in then, you two," growled then man, looking around outside, apparently not seeing the thestrals. "Don't want the neighbours noticing. Hurry up, now!"
Severus helped Harry with his trunk, bringing it just inside the door to be dealt with later. The purple man was talking again.
"Into the living room with you two."
Harry looked imploringly at Severus, eyes pleading not to be left here. Severus just shook his head and led him into what apparently was the living room in this house. It certainly was like the massive ones at the chateau, but it looked moderately comfortable, and Harry sat down on the couch with his professor.
"Stay here."
Harry glared at the man as he left the room and mumbled, "Treating us like common animals." Snape just stared stonily around the room, obviously remembering when he had come here to deliver the message about Harry's arrival. A few minutes later, the Muggle returned with two more, and the three stood in front of the couch several feet away.
"I," spoke the Muggle, "am Vernon Dursley, your apparent _uncle_, boy." He put special emphasis on uncle as though disgusted with the term. He then pointed at a bony, horse-faced woman who was staring at Harry in what almost looked like fear.
"This is your Aunt Petunia. She was your mother's sister."
Harry shrugged his shoulders and now turned his attentions on the largest boy he had ever seen. He masked his astonishment at this specimen of Muggle; surely, it was against physical laws to be able to walk without aid when you were that wide! He surely had to turn sideways to get through that front door.
"This is our son, Dudley Dursley. Now, boy, we are going to get some rules straight. We don't want you showing anything of your abnormality around here. You will eat only what we give you. You will not show any disrespect to me or my family. You will not open that wretched trunk of yours. You will be grateful for us taking you in. Is that clear?"
Harry nodded, though it was with a strong urging from Severus, and asked, "Where will I be staying, then? That cupboard under the stairs I saw?"
Vernon shot daggers and spat, "If we had any choice in the matter, you would! However, you will be staying in Dudley's second bedroom."
"Now Dursley, let me tell you a few things so you don't make a possibly fatal mistake," spoke Severus in a sily, dangerous tone, standing from the couch and motioning at Harry. "Now, I told you on my last... pleasant... trip here about the Dark Lord killing the Potters. Well, this boy has been raised by the Dark Lord and well versed in Dark magic of all kinds. He regrets having to stay here more than you regret having to take him in. I warn you three, even the most patient wizard can lose control of their magic when angry. I urge you not to drive him to that point unless you want to be turned inside out."
The Muggles laughed, and the boy known as Dudley asked in a sarcastic voice, "Oh, so who did the freak turn inside out?"
Harry's face broke into a rather unnnerving smile and said, "It was a fifth year named Kursbrough, and it took them a week to figure out how to set him right again, if you must know."
That shut them up.
Severus used the horrified silence to speak again.
"Fortunately for you, underaged wizards and witches can't use magic over the summer, so you run a considerably lower risk of getting killed, but it's at your own risk to anger him."
"Now hold on a minute," said Petunia. "We can't let him outside the house in those- those robes! He needs proper clothes!"
Snape sneered and added, "A package will be arriving by owl with Muggle clothes for him. No need to worry your head over it. Now, I must be going."
He turned to a brooding Harry, who looked up at Severus like he had betrayed him. He whispered, "Harry, it's for your own good. The Deatheaters will be hard pressed to find this place; they would never expect you to stay with Muggles. I dare say you'll have an interesting summer. Take care, and stay out of trouble." He gave Harry a quick hug and left. The clatter of hooves could be shortly heard afterwards.
Once he was sure that Severus was gone, he nonchalantly stood up and found the kitchen. He called, "Hey Vernon, where is something I can eat? I'm starving!"
Three people quickly arrived in the kitchen at these words, and both adults looked furiously at Harry who was munching on a bag of crisps he had found, seemingly delighted in this Muggle snack food.
"BOY! Put those down!"
"Why should I?"
"I've already told you, you freak, you will eat only what we give you!" bellowed the now red-faced man.
"Oh, but now the tables are turned."
"What do you mean?" asked Petunia.
"I actually can use magic, and I would advise you not to tempt me into hexing you," said the boy, smiling while popping another crisp into his mouth.
"I thought that other freak said you couldn't!" said Dudley. Harry was surprised this boy had even been listening at all to Uncle Sev.
"Fortunately for me, I've discovered a way around it."
"Prove it then, boy!"
Harry pulled his wand out from under his sleeve and said, "Don't say I didn't give you proper warning." He pointed at Dudley. "Caecus!"
It took only moments for the azure colour to hit Dudley's eyes and almost instantly the boy was screaming.
"Help me! Help me! I can't see! Mum!!"
"What have you done?!" shrieked Petunia, wrapping arms around her enormous son, looking at Harry in terror. Harry shrugged his shoulders, as though it were nothing, and spoke the counter spell.
"It was a simple Blinding Charm. Quite useful in duels, I'm sure. Do you still doubt I can use magic?"
Furious, the three shook their heads. Harry grinned.
"Good. Then I'll tell you MY rules. You do not bother me; you do not tease or in any way insult me or Amelia; you do not touch Amelia-"
"Who is this Amelia? We're not having another of your kind in our house!" shouted Vernon. Harry called to Amelia, scaring the Dursley's with his hissing and spitting without breath.
"~Hey Amelia, come out and have some fun. Come out my collar and look intimidating.~"
"~This sounds fun. Here I come!~"
Amelia came out Harry's collar and wrapped around his shoulders, looking at the Dursley's, spines laid back in mock anger and hissing. Of course, Harry heard the hissing as laughter, but the Dursley's took it as a threat and backed up.
"This is Amelia."
"H-How did you just do that?" asked Dudley, eyes wide.
"I'm a Parselmouth. I can understand and speak to snakes. Now back to rules. You do not bother me; you do not tease or in any way insult me or Amelia; you do not touch Amelia because I've given her permission to bite you if you do; I am allowed outside no matter what I'm wearing; I am allowed to wander around as much as I please; you will show me how to do anything I do not know how to do. I did not grow up knowing Muggle ways. Any breach of these rules, and I assure you, I will use magic and you will regret it. Is that clear?"
Harry laughed inwardly at the seething faces of Petunia and Vernon as they nodded.
"Good," Harry grinned, putting on a happy voice. "I think we're going to have a good summer!"
--------------------------------------------
A/N: Hehehehe. No note here, as we three have to go to dinner because of my parents' birthdays, and I'm pressed for time.
Review responses:
bitchkitten- Thanks, pretty kitty!
ReflectionsOf Reality- I like the idea of the drugged and spelled lemondrops! Yeah, leaving Harry
blackmail material is a tad suicidal, but MOF's an idiot. Harry won't be
pulling a Riddle, sadly. While he can stay at the Dursley's house because
in this universe the house wasn't safeguarded against Dark wizards because
Harry is one, Harry can't use Dark magic on the Dursley's. How sad.
hermionegreen- You have always been such a loyal reader! Snape had specific orders before he left
not to use magic, so unfortunately he couldn't hex, curse, or otherwise on the
Dursley's. How I wanted to, though....
Mark Evans- I think Tom will be rather forgiving. After all, Harry would NOT have stayed at the
Dursley's willingly; he has to. Rather like Tom's orphanage. He didn't want to stay
there, but he had to.
SilverKnight7- If a gingerbread man becomes old, can you safely say he's stale?
Shorty- Yeah, you got what was coming to you today, didn't you? Are my nail marks still in your
neck? Feel lucky that Momo and the girl who owns the body stopped me from doing
anything too rash. -No regrets, Gisei
Queen Cari- Hehehe. I like you. You seem very fun! I'm getting a Dark Woods harp for the
holidays, so you better watch out!
ER- Harry tried going for the darkest curse he could manage under the wards. I think it was
nevertheless effective.
JerseyGirl03- I just now thought of it; Did you graduate last year? Anyways, Yes, this summer
will be interesting in many ways.
Author's note: Just when you thought it couldn't get better. I'm posting this with another chapter! Aren't I nice? By the way, here's a question for you: Would you rather be Jack Skellington from The Nightmare Before Christmas or a vampire?
(December 4-5, 2003)
Disclaimer: Harry doesn't belong to me, blah, blah, blah. I only own Amelia and Ebony-Crested Dragon snakes. Oh, and I do use some of the same techniques Rowling uses with some fun lines I always enjoyed, so please don't sue me! I need all the money I can get for my student ambassador trip!
Parseltongue will be "~...~"
Chapter 12: There's Your Rules and Then There's MY Rules
WARNING!!!! If you haven't read OotP yet, there is a creature spoiler in here. It's not a major plotpoint in the book in my opinion, but if you haven't read yet, be warned. Here's a description for you from various parts of book 5:
THESTRAL- fleshless horselike creatures. Their black coats cling directly to their skeletons, which
is completely visible. The have dragonish heads with pupil-less white eyes that don't
blink. They also have large, black, leathery wings, like those of a bat's. They are only
visible to those that have seen someone die in person. (Wish I had one... sniff sniff)
------------------------------------------
"Uncle Sev," said Harry, "Are those what I think they are?"
Severus walked up to the nearest one and patted it on its dragonish face.
"Yes. It's a thestral. Luckily, Hagrid has a domestic stock of them here. They pull the carriages for the second years and up. Come on, we haven't got all day."
Now that Harry looked behind the two thestrals, he noticed that the one Severus had patted was strapped to a small chariotlike device, into which Severus was now loading Harry's trunk. The other one stood quite by itself. Harry patted the lone one's face and spoke to it.
"You know, I always knew I'd eventually see you, but I never thought it would be under this kind of situation."
Severus now came over to Harry and placed a hand on the boy's shoulder and said, looking at the creature, "It really is both a gift and a curse to be able to see these creatures, isn't it? Well, we might as well get going."
"How will we, Uncle Sev?"
"That one with your trunk will follow this one which we're both going to mount. Here, let me give you a hand, shorty."
"Hey!"
Severus did the rare act of laughing at Harry's indignity at the situation, and lifted the midget onto the thestral. The older man then got up in front and hooked his legs around the wing joints. Harry scooted up to be able to wrap his arms around Severus' waist.
Speaking to the creatures directly, Severus said, "Both of you take us to Number 4 Privet Drive, Little Whinging, Surrey, if you will." And in a sidenote he said, "Hold on, Harry."
The creatures bent down slightly and in a great rush, they took to the skies in a mighty accent, wings beating hard until they reached a point where no Muggle looking up could distinguish them. The air up there was cold, even in summer, and Harry buried his face in the robes in front of him, lifting his head every once in a while to look down on the magnificent view. Really, he should ask Tom for a thestral if they ever reunited; it was not a bad way to travel, really, after you got used to the cold air on your face. They were covering ground quickly, much more quickly than the Hogwarts Express. He'd probably get to the Dursley's in time for lunch. He groaned, remembering why he was flying through the air. He'd have to make the best of it, and at least he had magic.
They had been traveling perhaps two hours, and Severus, who hadn't spoken the entire time, now turned his head and yelled over the wind to Harry, "Hold on, these things descend quickly. When we land, get off as soon as possible. We don't want to appear to be floating in thin air."
"Can't Muggles see thestrals?"
"Yes, the same rules apply, though; they must have seen a death."
Barely ten seconds after they stopped this little conversation, Harry felt as though his stomach was suddenly in his chest. The thestrals were diving at a terrifying rate, almost like they were really falling more than anything. He felt himself let out a small gasp and clutched his arms tighter around his professor. The clatter of hoofs hitting the ground joined the sounds of the wheels from the cargo chariot. Harry, still a bit dazed from the descent, was pulled down by Severus, and they both looked up around at the neighbourhood and at Number 4 Privet Drive.
Grabbing Harry's trunk from the chariot, he ordered the thestrals to remain where they were, and Harry watched in astonishment as Severus opened his trunk right on the Dursley's front lawn.
"What are you doing?"
He watched the man pull up and head towards him, a brush in hand. He was sneering slightly.
"Believe me, Harry. These Dursley's are neat freaks, and your hair will aggravate them in its normal state, let alone right now." And before Harry could object, the brush was quickly being run through his hair, swiftly ridding the head of hair of any knots or snags. Within a few minutes, his hair was back to its slightly disheveled self. He straightened his own robes, as he had no Muggle clothes, and dragged his trunk to the front door following the professor. Harry watched as the man gritted his teeth, and he pushed a little button next to the door.
'It must be one of those :door bells: Hermione told me about,' thought Harry, as they waited for the door to open. He thanked Hermione silently for giving him a quick crash course in the ways and objects in a Muggle house in the Hospital Wing while recovering.
Harry was abruptly stirred out of his thoughts as the door swung open, revealing a large man. Harry noted the purple face and asssumed something was wrong; surely Muggles weren't supposed to be this colour.
"Well, come in then, you two," growled then man, looking around outside, apparently not seeing the thestrals. "Don't want the neighbours noticing. Hurry up, now!"
Severus helped Harry with his trunk, bringing it just inside the door to be dealt with later. The purple man was talking again.
"Into the living room with you two."
Harry looked imploringly at Severus, eyes pleading not to be left here. Severus just shook his head and led him into what apparently was the living room in this house. It certainly was like the massive ones at the chateau, but it looked moderately comfortable, and Harry sat down on the couch with his professor.
"Stay here."
Harry glared at the man as he left the room and mumbled, "Treating us like common animals." Snape just stared stonily around the room, obviously remembering when he had come here to deliver the message about Harry's arrival. A few minutes later, the Muggle returned with two more, and the three stood in front of the couch several feet away.
"I," spoke the Muggle, "am Vernon Dursley, your apparent _uncle_, boy." He put special emphasis on uncle as though disgusted with the term. He then pointed at a bony, horse-faced woman who was staring at Harry in what almost looked like fear.
"This is your Aunt Petunia. She was your mother's sister."
Harry shrugged his shoulders and now turned his attentions on the largest boy he had ever seen. He masked his astonishment at this specimen of Muggle; surely, it was against physical laws to be able to walk without aid when you were that wide! He surely had to turn sideways to get through that front door.
"This is our son, Dudley Dursley. Now, boy, we are going to get some rules straight. We don't want you showing anything of your abnormality around here. You will eat only what we give you. You will not show any disrespect to me or my family. You will not open that wretched trunk of yours. You will be grateful for us taking you in. Is that clear?"
Harry nodded, though it was with a strong urging from Severus, and asked, "Where will I be staying, then? That cupboard under the stairs I saw?"
Vernon shot daggers and spat, "If we had any choice in the matter, you would! However, you will be staying in Dudley's second bedroom."
"Now Dursley, let me tell you a few things so you don't make a possibly fatal mistake," spoke Severus in a sily, dangerous tone, standing from the couch and motioning at Harry. "Now, I told you on my last... pleasant... trip here about the Dark Lord killing the Potters. Well, this boy has been raised by the Dark Lord and well versed in Dark magic of all kinds. He regrets having to stay here more than you regret having to take him in. I warn you three, even the most patient wizard can lose control of their magic when angry. I urge you not to drive him to that point unless you want to be turned inside out."
The Muggles laughed, and the boy known as Dudley asked in a sarcastic voice, "Oh, so who did the freak turn inside out?"
Harry's face broke into a rather unnnerving smile and said, "It was a fifth year named Kursbrough, and it took them a week to figure out how to set him right again, if you must know."
That shut them up.
Severus used the horrified silence to speak again.
"Fortunately for you, underaged wizards and witches can't use magic over the summer, so you run a considerably lower risk of getting killed, but it's at your own risk to anger him."
"Now hold on a minute," said Petunia. "We can't let him outside the house in those- those robes! He needs proper clothes!"
Snape sneered and added, "A package will be arriving by owl with Muggle clothes for him. No need to worry your head over it. Now, I must be going."
He turned to a brooding Harry, who looked up at Severus like he had betrayed him. He whispered, "Harry, it's for your own good. The Deatheaters will be hard pressed to find this place; they would never expect you to stay with Muggles. I dare say you'll have an interesting summer. Take care, and stay out of trouble." He gave Harry a quick hug and left. The clatter of hooves could be shortly heard afterwards.
Once he was sure that Severus was gone, he nonchalantly stood up and found the kitchen. He called, "Hey Vernon, where is something I can eat? I'm starving!"
Three people quickly arrived in the kitchen at these words, and both adults looked furiously at Harry who was munching on a bag of crisps he had found, seemingly delighted in this Muggle snack food.
"BOY! Put those down!"
"Why should I?"
"I've already told you, you freak, you will eat only what we give you!" bellowed the now red-faced man.
"Oh, but now the tables are turned."
"What do you mean?" asked Petunia.
"I actually can use magic, and I would advise you not to tempt me into hexing you," said the boy, smiling while popping another crisp into his mouth.
"I thought that other freak said you couldn't!" said Dudley. Harry was surprised this boy had even been listening at all to Uncle Sev.
"Fortunately for me, I've discovered a way around it."
"Prove it then, boy!"
Harry pulled his wand out from under his sleeve and said, "Don't say I didn't give you proper warning." He pointed at Dudley. "Caecus!"
It took only moments for the azure colour to hit Dudley's eyes and almost instantly the boy was screaming.
"Help me! Help me! I can't see! Mum!!"
"What have you done?!" shrieked Petunia, wrapping arms around her enormous son, looking at Harry in terror. Harry shrugged his shoulders, as though it were nothing, and spoke the counter spell.
"It was a simple Blinding Charm. Quite useful in duels, I'm sure. Do you still doubt I can use magic?"
Furious, the three shook their heads. Harry grinned.
"Good. Then I'll tell you MY rules. You do not bother me; you do not tease or in any way insult me or Amelia; you do not touch Amelia-"
"Who is this Amelia? We're not having another of your kind in our house!" shouted Vernon. Harry called to Amelia, scaring the Dursley's with his hissing and spitting without breath.
"~Hey Amelia, come out and have some fun. Come out my collar and look intimidating.~"
"~This sounds fun. Here I come!~"
Amelia came out Harry's collar and wrapped around his shoulders, looking at the Dursley's, spines laid back in mock anger and hissing. Of course, Harry heard the hissing as laughter, but the Dursley's took it as a threat and backed up.
"This is Amelia."
"H-How did you just do that?" asked Dudley, eyes wide.
"I'm a Parselmouth. I can understand and speak to snakes. Now back to rules. You do not bother me; you do not tease or in any way insult me or Amelia; you do not touch Amelia because I've given her permission to bite you if you do; I am allowed outside no matter what I'm wearing; I am allowed to wander around as much as I please; you will show me how to do anything I do not know how to do. I did not grow up knowing Muggle ways. Any breach of these rules, and I assure you, I will use magic and you will regret it. Is that clear?"
Harry laughed inwardly at the seething faces of Petunia and Vernon as they nodded.
"Good," Harry grinned, putting on a happy voice. "I think we're going to have a good summer!"
--------------------------------------------
A/N: Hehehehe. No note here, as we three have to go to dinner because of my parents' birthdays, and I'm pressed for time.
Review responses:
bitchkitten- Thanks, pretty kitty!
ReflectionsOf Reality- I like the idea of the drugged and spelled lemondrops! Yeah, leaving Harry
blackmail material is a tad suicidal, but MOF's an idiot. Harry won't be
pulling a Riddle, sadly. While he can stay at the Dursley's house because
in this universe the house wasn't safeguarded against Dark wizards because
Harry is one, Harry can't use Dark magic on the Dursley's. How sad.
hermionegreen- You have always been such a loyal reader! Snape had specific orders before he left
not to use magic, so unfortunately he couldn't hex, curse, or otherwise on the
Dursley's. How I wanted to, though....
Mark Evans- I think Tom will be rather forgiving. After all, Harry would NOT have stayed at the
Dursley's willingly; he has to. Rather like Tom's orphanage. He didn't want to stay
there, but he had to.
SilverKnight7- If a gingerbread man becomes old, can you safely say he's stale?
Shorty- Yeah, you got what was coming to you today, didn't you? Are my nail marks still in your
neck? Feel lucky that Momo and the girl who owns the body stopped me from doing
anything too rash. -No regrets, Gisei
Queen Cari- Hehehe. I like you. You seem very fun! I'm getting a Dark Woods harp for the
holidays, so you better watch out!
ER- Harry tried going for the darkest curse he could manage under the wards. I think it was
nevertheless effective.
JerseyGirl03- I just now thought of it; Did you graduate last year? Anyways, Yes, this summer
will be interesting in many ways.
Author's note: Just when you thought it couldn't get better. I'm posting this with another chapter! Aren't I nice? By the way, here's a question for you: Would you rather be Jack Skellington from The Nightmare Before Christmas or a vampire?
(December 4-5, 2003)