Chapter 6

The dormitory door burst open. It was early Sunday morning, and the boys awoke suddenly, Dean fell out of bed, "Ron…what…"said Neville sleepily, but Ron did not answer. He looked exhausted, and his tousled hair and rumpled clothes, as well as his puffy eyes gave him a slightly maniac look. He pulled back the curtain in a corner to reveal a coffin, wrenching it open; he pulled a startled Sid out of clumsily, and almost thrust a CD case directly into his face, before muttering something incoherently, and passing out on the floor, snoring loudly.

Sid began to laugh, "Well, we'd better get him into the bed." Harry moved to help him, but Sid picked Ron up as if he were simply a bag of feathers, and tossed him onto the bed. Too tired to ask questions, Harry felt his eyes close, and he fell asleep.

(Change of perspectives to Sidnay)

While the boys slept, Sid sat atop his coffin, deep in thought. Everything was fitting together in his head…maybe this was his destiny…but there was definitely something about the Weasley boy. He took out the letter from Michael Gladstone again, particularly, the line, 'Be on the lookout for some fancy doings in Hogsmeade soon. Gladstone'.

'Hogsmeade', thought Sid, 'What in bloody hell could possibly happen in Hogsmeade…'

"Oi, Sid, did you see this?" Ron was standing next to the announcements board in the common room, which a chattering crowd of students had surrounded. Sid stepped forward, and pushed his way through the crowd. On the board was a large sign which read:

"Friday-Sunday September 14-17: Consider Yourself Ordered

WEIRD SISTERS PLAY HOGSMEADE!

In support of their Hit new album: Healer Assistance, the Weird Sisters will be touring the United Kingdom, France, and than the World, and for e days only will be playing Hogsmeade, with such hot Supporting acts as: The Hobgoblins, Daisy Macbeth, War Locke, and Mordecai Mordecker & the Singing Dragons. Also included will be a talent contest of some young entrants playing for a top prize! Apply at: Rufus' Records Hogsmeade, Giant Gremlin Records Diagon Alley, and the Alley Cat: all instruments accepted!"

Ron looked at Sid, "You should enter that…you'll blow them all away." Sid smiled, "Perhaps I will…" he replied whilst thinking, 'Ahh…so this is what Michael was on about…' still smiling. Ever since Ron had binged on music, he and Sid had been together quite a lot, sometimes with Harry and Hermione, but usually alone. No one, other than themselves knew what they actually talked about, which almost always revolved around music.

As it turned out, Ron had rather taken to the Blues, but also, more true to his form, the Smashing Pumpkins. So they would sit around and talk about musicians that Sid was pretty sure Harry nor Hermione had ever heard of. Harry was able to sneak off or excuse himself whenever Ginny entered the room, but Hermione was not so fortunate. She often would say jokingly, "Ron should I be concerned about the amount of time your spending together with him?" When she said this Ron would always laugh, and kiss her, and Sid would roll his eyes, as Ginny would point at the back of Ron's head and feign what looked like some kind of wrestling match between two eels, with her hands, than mutter 'Hypocrite' under her breath to Harry's immense amusement.

There were times when Harry and Ginny, or Ron and Hermione would disappear, and Sid did not know, or want to know, where they went.

Overall, there had not been many negative reactions to his presence. Only occasionally would he be subjected to derogatory comments ('…he's a bloody vimp' or, 'Look out for the Nossy.' 'Vimp' being a common term for vampires, taken from a rural accent on the 'VAMPire' and 'Nossy' being a spin-off of 'Nosferatu'), but overall he got more shy blushing girls looking at him and talking behind their hands, than angry mobs of men wanting to lynch him, which was a nice change to say the least. Still however, Sid couldn't help but think that he were merely a curiosity to them… a handsome curiosity with porcelain skin. He had once asked Hermione, 'Why do they stare at me so?' to which she replied rather exasperated, 'Because you're a more than a handsome young noble Sid…you're a single handsome young noble, and I fancy they wouldn't mind being Countesses.'

(Change of perspectives to Harry)

Monday dawned Grey and damp, with an over cast sky and a slight drizzle. Harry had to get up early, having promised Hagrid to help him with his Seventh year class. Trudging through the wet grass, with his coat pulled closer to him, Harry almost cursed his friendship with Hagrid. It was early in the morning, almost freezing cold, and Hagrid had asked him to help him dig some post holes for some reason.

It was long hard work, though with Hagrids physical strength it took only a fraction of the time, before they retired to Hagrids cabin for cups of strong hot tea, laced with Fire whiskey, where they chatted on the inevitable topic- Blast Ended Skrewts. In a strange twist of fate, Hagrid had gotten a patent from the Ministry of Law Enforcement to breed the creatures for 'domestic use and ministry employment'. ("I always knew the ministry'd see their use 'Arry.") Soon however, they could hear people assembling outside of the house: the class must be there. "Harry I'd like for you ter stick around…You might even find this class interesting." With a large wink he opened the door revealing a huddle of seventh years. Harry could see the Patil twins, Ernie Macmillan, and the girl from the first sorting, Marie Lupin. Harry still remembered the note from Professor Lupin asking Harry, Ron, and Hermione to keep an eye on her.

Hagrid stepped out in front of the class, and said, "Ok, thank yer all for coming out this early, but I'm certain you will enjoy this class. Today's topic is vampires, and to assist me…"just than they heard a loud sound, and looked into the sky and saw a Hippogriff descending on the class. Just than Harry noticed that on top of the posts he and Hagrid had dug, were watermelons.

The Hippogriff leveled out as it came to just inches off the ground, and the rider came into a view: a man in black armor. He drew a sword and as he flew by the watermelons, sliced them all cleanly in two. "He must be a formidable warrior…" Harry thought to himself, not a little impressed. The rider pulled up the Hippogriff in front of the class and Harry could see that it was Buckbeak…although Buckbeak was saddled and wearing black plate armor. The rider however was far more intimidating: he could have come out of a Samurai film as the villain. His helmet had dragons wings protruding from the side, and long curving horns coming out the top, between the helmets brim and the samurai style face mask was a slit, where one could see two red eyes burning, his breast plate was made of polished black metal and embossed with a Dragon with its wings outstretched, but he wore a black samurai style battle 'skirt' which went down to his knees, protruding from which was black metal greaves and pointed metal shoes, even his two samurai katana were dragon themed (the handle and hilt being a dragon with outstretched wings circling the hilt of both swords). The knight began to remove his helmet; "Count Sidnay Ignatius Alexandre Vladimir Dracula." announced Hagrid beaming.