Good Ol' Fashioned Razzmatazz Chapter 2:

Garlic, Spam and Bloody Hands

"Transfiguration… potions… herbology… divination," I mumbled in growing realisation. "No, no—no. Noooope. Yeah, no way in hell! Just NO!"

"Ssstop complaining and ssset up the fire," Lenny said irritated.

"Lenny, we have bigger problems here! All these books—they're all the same type of magic taught in Harry Potter!"

Lenny simply stared at me as I was speaking nonsense. I probably was to him. I realised that if this was indeed Harry Potter, then of course people wouldn't say they were in Harry Potter. Who in their right mind would base their whole world context around one person, admittedly one famous person, but a person, nonetheless?

The fact remained that I was potentially in a fictional world. How did that even work? I felt myself settle down a little as I calmed myself down. Really at this stage did it matter if it was all a hallucination? It felt so incredibly real that it may as well have been, and I'd tried to wake myself up, believe me. But there was no waking up from this.

Did I even want to be woken up… magic remember!

"Who isss thisss Harry Potter?" Lenny asked.

"Some kid who was meant to die but then… didn't?"

"Sssoundsss uninteresssting," he said dismissively before slithering back near the flames.

"Yeah, but get this—he's supposed to defeat this Dark Lord and save Wizarding Britain. But who knows… maybe I'm wrong about all of this and I just ended up somewhere that happens to use J.K Rowling's magic system."

"Thessse namesss mean nothing to mee," Lenny said in growing irritation.

"Ah, sorry Lenny, I'm being a right cunt. Look I'll just go with the flow from now on ok. No more freak outs. I promise."

"Your human promisssesss mean nothing to me," he retorted, although he did sound pleased that I was going to calm down.

I went back to reading for a bit and then spent the rest of the day cleaning up the place. I just hoped the old man who owned this place wouldn't kill me when he got back. I just needed to use this place for a week. Read as much as I could then take the interesting books and leave, although the idea of leaving now felt ridiculous. I considered spending some more time here just using the knowledge stored here to my use. I didn't exactly have an eidetic memory, so it would probably take me a few years to really study all these books... but I just didn't have that kind of time.

Camping had been fun, but I didn't really have the survival skills necessary to maintain doing this for long. The days were getting colder and I couldn't live out in the forest during wintertime. I needed to get to the next town, away from the orphanage and then pickpocket some people. Going to the shady part of town would be dangerous but there really wasn't any other way I could see myself living.

"Hey Lenny, would you follow me to the city if I went?" I asked, trying to keep the nervousness from my voice.

Lenny's head rose from where he had curled himself up. I never thought the day would come when I'd be able to read a snake's facial expressions, but here I was able to do just that, and easily too might I add. He was contemplating it.

"I might asss well," he relented.

I sighed in relief. I didn't know why, but the thought of parting from him filled me with anxiety. Lenny was a companion who treated me like an equal, not like a child. One could say even as a friend... or maybe that was me stretching things a little too far a little too early.

"You're also poisonous right?"

"Extremely," he said proudly.

Well that was a relief. There were a lot of creeps out there that would no doubt prey on a weak, helpless child. Though not a lot of people would want to mess with a little girl with a poisonous snake ready to attack.

I looked back at the books and hummed in thought. I didn't have a wand, and there were none lying around here. Arithmancy was useful for predicting things, and you didn't need a wand for Runes. Heck almost everything required that bloody stick. Even potions did.

If the Wizarding world really was real, then that would mean there were enchanted items. Maybe some pretty looking jewellery that shot fire or acid or turned rocks into candy. Candy sounded very nice right now after days of beef jerky and spam.

The issue was I had no idea how to get to the Wizarding World. I did recall it was in Britain somewhere. Maybe in London? If this really was the Harry Potter verse.

Then it occurred to me... I could talk to Lenny. Lenny was a snake. If this was Harry Potter, then...

"Oh shit!"

After another sufficiently long freak out session, I managed to get myself into a comfortable routine in the cabin. It was nice to have a place to sleep that wasn't out in the open and drying by the fireplace was quicker than doing so on the road. I also found a comb... which helped get rid of the clumps in my hair, so it looked less like I was a homeless person... well actually I still looked pretty homeless.

"Have you skinned the squirrel we caught?"

I gulped and turned away. Lenny killed the little critters for me because I was a downright coward when it came to murdering animals. Still, Lenny didn't eat it for me, which meant he had listened to me complain about how disgusting spam was and out of the goodness of his cold-blooded heart decided to share. He couldn't exactly skin an animal though. For as much as he believed snakes to be superior to humans, snakes did not have fingers or opposable thumbs.

Humans 1. Snakes 0.

I nodded reluctantly and rushed out of the cabin before he could comment further on me. I could hear my dad whisper 'pussy' and I found myself gearing up ready, knife in hand to do the deed.

"Ah fuck me right up, I'm sorry little man, but you're going to be food for this useless 'apex predator'," I said apologetically as I dug the knife in.

The deed was done, messily, but done. Turns out skinning an animal wasn't easy work, neither was gutting it. Didn't help that I had no clue what to do with all these body parts I'd never seen before.

I entered the cabin holding the bleeding carcass out in front of me with disgust. Lenny looked like a pleased parent.

"Good now eat it," he urged.

"It's bloody raw Lenny. I have to cook it first," I said grimacing as I put it on the kitchen sink.

I moved to dunk it into the bucket of water I had procured when suddenly there was a loud booming sound from the fireplace. I turned around in confusion to see a tall 20 something looking man stare at me in bewilderment.

Oh crap, was this the wizard who owned the place? Unsure of what to do, I just found myself staring at him like he was doing to me. Then his gaze caught my bloody hands and something about his posture changed. I jumped back in shock when he all but teleported right at me, and my hand was... in his mouth?

"Is this some odd wizard greeting or something?" I laughed nervously as I tried fruitlessly to tug my hand back.

Was he sucking on my fingers? He hummed in what seemed like pleasure for a moment before his eyes widened, then paused for a moment and realised what he was doing. Slowly he pulled his mouth away from my fingers, straightened himself up, fixing up his coat and collar as he cleared his throat.

"What are you doing here child? How did you find this place?" he asked with a scowl.

"Um excuse me, are we just going to bloody gloss over... whatever that was?" I asked wiggling my fingers in front of him.

His eyes seemed to slit together and focus in on my hand and I sent Lenny an urgent look. Said snake was already slithering up my shoulders protectively, hissing at the man. The wizard looked at the snake and then to me in confusion. He drew himself closer and then his nose twitched, and he held it shut as if I stunk. Should I be surprised?

Nah... weirder things have happened.

"You smell like the dead. That was animal blood wasn't it. Not as sweet," he huffed as he crossed his arms.

"Oh and you know the taste of blood, how?"

"You're either daft or extremely brave. Why haven't you run away yet?" he enquired as if I was a curiosity.

"Sure an adult greeting a child by licking the blood of their hands is extremely creepy, but I'm going to choose to believe you have a blood play fetish so I can save myself the headache," I responded dryly.

"Idiot he isss a vampiree/Fool I am a vampire!" both Lenny and the man hissed at me.

"Wait am I in a Twilight crossover?!"

"That'sss it iff you diee I don't care," Lenny said slithering off my shoulder.

The vampire man held the bridge of his nose in a mixture of bafflement and frustration before he looked at me.

"Your survival instincts really need to be fixed child. What makes you think I won't kill you right this moment?"

"Well because I'm delicious and you want to keep me around for a second serving?"

"No, in fact you stink of death and would probably taste like rotten meat," he replied in disgust.

"Firstly, I am sure I taste delicious, thank you very much! And you're basically the pot calling the kettle black in this scenario Mr Undead Vampire. Anyway it's probably because I'm a reincarnation or something, and I've been having an extremely confusing couple of weeks so excuse me if I'm just rolling with the flow."

The vampire looked absolutely done with his life but for some reason I didn't feel threatened at all. In fact I was just curious about everything really.

"Shouldn't have taken that bloody oath," he cursed under his breath.

"Hey Mr. Vampire, you're not exactly an old man and if you're a vampire why do you have so many books on magic? Can Vamps also multiclass into Wizard?"

"Who informed you of this cabin? There are wards in place to stop rodents like you from entering," he asked angrily, ignoring my question altogether which was rude, but I guess he had a right to be annoyed.

"Well Lenny told me."

"And who is this Lenny?"

"My friend here," I said gesturing at the green snake laying idly on a chair.

The Vampire paused for a second before groaning and running his hand down his face.

"Of course she's related to that irritating mongrel. A Slytherin! Salazar you bastard."

"Hey, hey it's news to me too. Guess the old man got around huh."

"He's dead is what he is. You're just another pesky descendent of his. Your lot seem to plague my existence," the Vampire cursed. "Ok, nice chat child, but it's time for you to leave."

I was picked up by the scruff of my collar and Lenny hissed in agitation at the action as he rushed towards me. I didn't know whether to feel frightened at my potential death or go 'awww' at the fact that Lenny cared so much.

"Wait, wait, wait! Before you throw me out how about we make a deal!" I tried.

"What could you possibly give me child?"

"Blood?" I said weakly, giving him my sweetest smile.

He continued moving forward and then I began mildly panicking.

"Ok! How about this! I'll be like your servant or something! Go out and do what you want in the sunlight and all that jazz!"

He seemed to pause at that and give me a confused look. Then he hesitantly put me down and crossed his arms.

"And what makes, you— a human, want to help a Vampire?"

"I meaaaan~ if I'm being honest here do I really want to help a Vampire or—"

He levelled me a dirty look and I backtracked.

"Ok, ok, geeze it's purely for pragmatic reasons. I don't really have anything against Vampires or anyone really. Just think of it as a mutually beneficial relationship. I help you and you help me."

"And what is it you want child? My curse bestowed upon you?"

"And ruin this beautiful brown tan I just got. No thanks!" I said shaking my head. "I just want to learn magic. Why else would I have stayed in some old blokes' cabin?"

"Because you are a run-away," he replied dryly.

I laughed nervously at that. "Ok yeah, you caught me red-handed," I said waving around my bloody hands. I was received with silence and so I quickly coughed and decided to drop the joke. "But do we have a deal?"

I held out my hand hopefully, and the Vampire sighed before shaking it. He did wrap a towel around his hand before he touched me though which was rude! Not like a moment ago he hadn't hesitated to shove it right into his mouth.

"Is it true what you said? That you are a reincarnation?" he asked curiously.

"Oh yeah definitely. There was a whole fictional book about this world in my old one. Not sure how it works but there's this boy named Harry Potter it follows."

"The boy-who-lived?" the Vampire asked sceptically.

I nodded. He seemed to take a moment before throwing his dark red robes behind him and striding to find a teacup. I walked behind him, craning my neck in curiosity to watch him begin brewing some tea only to throw most of it away. He twirled around the cup a little and hummed to himself.

"My name's Arete by the way," I chimed in.

"Ah-huh," he replied dismissively as he kept staring into the cup.

Then suddenly he jumped up and rushed past me to grab some rune stones and throw them onto the table. He fervently began scrambling to push them in some odd pattern. I was beyond wondering what he was doing.

"What's your name by the way?"

"Chatty little thing aren't you," he said unhappily. "It is Orpheus Lestoat for you child."

"And what are you doing... with those stones I mean?"

He paused then sighed, then turned to finally pay me some attention. He narrowed his pitch-black eyes my way.

"I am trying to figure out whether you'll be a pain in my arse or a potential aid. With your kind it tends to go either way. Unfortunately for me it seems the fates have judged you useful, or I would have done away with you by now."

"A common theme," Lenny agreed.

"Hey!" I said a little indignantly at my companion.

"Well if you are to be my servant there are rules. No blood in this house. If you are bleeding take it outside. All windows are to be shut during daytime. My cauldron is off limits. And most importantly, I catch a whiff of garlic on you and I will not hesitate to murder you on the spot," he growled looming over me.

"Wait you're really allergic to garlic?! Oh man that fucking sucks. You really can't have garlic bread?"

Orpheus's brow twitched and he rubbed the tip of his nose. Was he getting a headache? Lenny seemed pleased somehow, if him gently curling himself around my neck meant anything.

"I am already rethinking this offer, but as it stands, I do need a human's help right now. You will have to do."

Well wasn't that just convenient. I froze when he pulled out a wand and pointed it at me.

"Scourgify," he grumbled.

I felt my breath seize up as the spell hit my body. Soap filled my mouth, and I began coughing it out. Once the burn in my throat faded, I sent Orpheus a glare as I wiped my tongue vigorously.

"You can thank me later child. You stunk."

"It's not my fault!" I said spitting the last of the soap out. "I can't exactly bathe every day in this cursed weather."

"Well, luckily for you since I am your master now, I will not allow you to fester in filth. It would give the Lestoat family a bad name to see a servant so soiled," he replied in his holier than though tone.

I rolled my eyes. Geeze why must I be the one to suffer through everyone's suddenly inflated superiority complex. But to be fair, I did smell really good for the first time in months.

"Well then come along, we will get to business and to do that you need to look presentable," he said gesturing to the fireplace.

"Wait I get to use the floo! Oh my god and a shopping trip. I could kiss you right now Orpheus."

Before I could hug him, his hand held my forehead back and he grimaced at me as if getting hugged by a human was an insulting thought. I just chuckled at that. Who knew being a servant was so fun?

"Your lack of caaare for thisss vampire isss amusssing but alssso dangerousss," Lenny snorted.

"Well he is pretty fun, isn't he?"

Lenny hummed in agreement as he settled himself against my shoulder. Orpheus was already setting up the floo powder.

"Well step in child, we don't have all day," he gestured to the fireplace.

"And where exactly are we going?" I asked.

"Darkshrew Spire," he grunted. "Say it clearly. If you get lost, I won't come looking for you."

I looked at the powder excitedly in my hands. Actual real-life teleportation. I grinned excitedly at that.

"Darkshrew Spire!" I exclaimed as I threw the powder down.

My body spun together and out almost like I was being sucked inwards to a fixed point into another. It was incredibly uncomfortable, but also extremely awesome. I stumbled out of the next fireplace clumsily, coughing up some of the soot before I blinked in my surroundings.

"That wasss unpleasssant," Lenny complained.

"That was awesome!" I disagreed before I looked around.

I was in some giant conical building without any windows. The walls were made of perfectly curved wood which was honestly an impressive feat of architecture. Floating lanterns lit the room from one end to the other, placed in perfect rotation upwards just like the winding stairs placed in an opposite rotation to the lanterns. I craned my neck up to see the top of the building, and I was surprised by how high it went.

"Twist that neck up anymore and it will crack child," Orpheus snipped as he pushed my head down and strode ahead of me.

I didn't even have a come back to that. I was just in awe with the magic of this place. People of all kinds in odd fashion walked around levitating wares and books from the shelves. Orpheus called out my name and I ran after the man who didn't even look my way. Once I caught up to him I noted a few faerie like creatures giggling to each other, mostly human looking folk in various different styled clothes and a very, very, very tall woman.

"What is this place?" I asked.

"A sort of safe haven for all kinds of creatures. Even humans like you are welcome," he said with a little bit of disdain.

"I liiike hisss thinking," Lenny chimed in.

"Of course you do," I chuckled. "I thought this would be a store in Diagon Alley," I admitted.

"Diagon Alley is in London. You'll have to travel via border control to get there, and they don't do so well with non-humans," Orpheus explained as he strode up the stairs.

"Ha magical border patrol... never thought I'd hear about that," I said amused. "So what are we here for exactly?"

"I have business with some colleagues. I will drop you off at Wendy's and I expect you will look presentable by then."

As if to evade my questions he continued walking faster. I ran behind his unfairly long strides with his long legs, noting how he kept his long black hair in braids to the side and a pony tail up the back. He was just really long looking in general. But more importantly he was clean shaven and wearing nicely tailored clothes that suited him and spoke of richness and power. I could appreciate someone who kept a tidy appearance and looking at myself I could understand why he felt revulsion. I looked horrible. The idea of new clothes made my giddy. Fashion was always fun and looking good did wonders to my self-esteem. Plus no one wanted to walk around looking like a street urchin.

I hadn't been so focused on my looks recently because, well... magic. The excitement of actually learning real life magic had really taken priority over fashion. Heck, even now it was a little hard to focus on what I wanted to wear when there were literal magical creatures all around me chatting to each other like they were in a giant conical mall... which this was exactly.

Finally we stopped at what I presumed to be Wendy's. It was a dark maroon store, very similar to the colour of my hair actually. We stepped in and the bell chimed with the door. I noted a wide array of dresses, skirts, and shirts all in different styles and my excitement grew. Orpheus made a disgusted face at my glee before going wide eyed as he heard another squeal.

"Orpheus!"

I snickered as the man basically teleported away from the woman. I noted her hair was a white almost golden colour and she was too pretty to be a human for sure. If I was in an older body, I would have definitely been jealous of Orpheus for hogging her attentions. Alas I was a child. A teeny tiny innocent child.

"Bistra I'm not here for me, I'm here for this child," he said pointing at me.

Said woman turned to me and her smile turned into a scowl as she came closer and sniffed me. Her eyes slitted and her hair turned a bright silver as it stood up in anger and I sent Orpheus a nervous laugh. Thankfully Bistra turned her anger to the man.

"You had a Dhampir child! Who was the harlot who seduced you!" she screeched.

"Calm down Bistra, she isn't my child!"

Orpheus looked genuinely terrified of the now ugly woman. I watched the interaction with wide eyed curiosity.

"Then why does she smell like a half undead offspring!"

"I have no clue! I found her today in my safe house. She's not a half-breed Vampire. Check her fangs."

Not a moment later hands were in mouth again, this time it was my jaw being pried open by a very scary bird lady. Apparently having found no fangs the woman's face went back to its normal beautiful self and she pulled away with an almost apologetic look.

I held my face defensively and Lenny hissed angrily as he agitatedly shot at the lady who jumped away.

"Ssstaaay away from the moouth flap," Lenny hissed angrily, and really I could only agree.

"I really am beginning to think that putting you hand in someone's mouth is a magical greeting," I said while rolling my sore jaw.

"Sorry about that," she said apologetically, before scratching the back of her head sheepishly. "I didn't mean to jump to conclusions, but you said something about hands in your mouth. Don't tell me Orpheus tried to eat you—"

"— And it's been a lovely day!" Orpheus shot quickly, clearly unwilling to confront that awkward moment where he sucked on my fingers. I snickered at his social plight, and Bistra looking entirely too curious wasn't helping the urge to tease the man. I held myself back. We had just met, and I really wanted to be on his good side.

"You're leaving already? Can't we try on some clothes honey?"

Orpheus paled a little before he cleared his throat and straightened himself. "I'm leaving Arete here in your care. I have business to attend to."

"Where are you going? Those colleagues of yours?" I asked.

His dark eyes paused their gaze on me for a second as if to contemplate something.

"Indeed. This information is only on a need to know basis and you don't need to know it yet. First clean up. Good day Bistra," Orpheus said hastily before he vanished away.

"Aww, I do enjoy these games of cat and mouse he plays with me," Bistra said a little dreamily.

Orpheus really did have a love-sick fan. I turned to Bistra and this time when she looked at me it was with a friendly smile. I was very glad I wasn't actually Orpheus's bastard daughter.

"So Arete right. You poor child, what are you wearing?" She said holding her cheeks in shock and shaking her head as she finally looked at my clothes.

"Long story short, just ran from an orphanage and spent two weeks in a forest," I said sheepishly.

"Oh my, I assume they didn't have much of a range of clothes in the orphanage. Not to worry, we'll find you something. You have the cutest little face," she said bending over to bop my nose.

I held my nose in confusion as Lenny snickered. I remembered that I was physically around five or six in this body and probably looked more adorable than anything.

"Well let's get you some clothes."

"Will Orpheus pay?" I asked.

"He's an incredibly rich man. It shouldn't be an issue," Brista waved away.

Well then, this was going to be extremely fun!

I looked at myself in the mirror and grinned, pulling the witch hat down and posing. Bistra chuckled behind me and I grinned back at her. I think she had me try on the whole store. The fact that magic could resize and change the colour of any outfit also made this a lot more fun. It felt almost like I was at the character customisation phase of the game. Oh how I missed games.

"You have a good eye for clothes. You must be a natural," she said praising me and ruffling my hair.

"Yeah let's go with that." It definitely wasn't because I was an adult with already established tastes. "I reckon Lenny's getting bored so we should wrap it up," I said looking at my companion who was now curled up and sleeping on a shelf.

"Put on an outfit now. Can't have you walking out in this trash," she said holding up my baggy jumper with a disgusted look.

I nodded eagerly and entered the changing rooms again. I ended up wearing a frilly collared shirt tucked into a high waisted pastel green skirt with bracers. I pulled up my stockings and tried on my new leather heeled shoes and felt like myself again. It was just missing one thing.

"Do you have any glasses?" I asked.

In my previous life I had terrible vision and it just felt like something was missing on my face. So I was eager to buy something nice. Plus Orpheus was paying and I felt like this was his apology money for sticking my hand in his mouth.

"Yes we have a small collection," she said gesturing me to the other end of the store.

I looked through the range and was surprised that they all looked unique and interesting, but one caught my eyes almost instantly.

"I'd like that one."

"Interesting choice. This one's enchanted to adjust the brightness just right."

I put it on and grinned. It was a golden rimmed crescent moon frame with red tinted glass.

"I look like Elton John and I'm vibing with it," I said pleased.

"Not sure who that is but I think it looks fabulous! I'm a little sad I couldn't pick out a style for you though. You would look good in a jumpsuit."

"Maybe next time," I replied.

Honestly. the clothes made the person. Presentation went a whole way in how others perceived you, and dressing had to make a statement. Mine had always been a little more bold and bright. Not too crazy that I would be looked at weirdly but definitely not drab in anyway, and a hundred percent fitting so I looked rich. As a poor person in the past finding the right cheap outfit that still made you look put together is what landed a good job and made a good first impression. That lesson had always stuck with me.

I looked at the exit and frowned. It had been about 40 minutes since Orpheus left. I'd only known the man for such a brief period of time that it did make me wonder if I should stick around. He was a vampire. I had clothes now that I could leave with if I played things safe. I could get lost in the magical world for a bit and find out a way to monetise something or another. It wasn't that hard to make money if you were creative with it. The issue was that I would have a potentially angry vampire on my tail, and other than him possibly burning in the sun, and his allergy for garlic, I doubted there was much I could do to hurt him in a confrontation.

I needed to find him. Get some answers on what exactly he was involved in. More often than not people weren't truthful, and I quite enjoyed knowing what was going on. There had been far too many surprises recently for my liking.

"You shouldn't try and find him, you know," Bistra interrupted my thoughts.

"Oh, and what made you think I was going to?" I asked innocently batting my lashes.

She chuckled. "You're going to be such a handful, but I think it'll do Orpheus some good to take care more often. But I'll tell you this because I like you. Orpheus isn't a good man, not by any stretch of the means. He has integrity in the work he does, and he doesn't often lie, but he's a man of half-truths and subtle dealings. If you know what's smart, you'll pull out as soon as you can."

I hummed in thought at that. So he was a tricky cunt. I'd dealt with that sort a lot. It wasn't like I was new to dangerous people. My previous life had more than a few brimey old bastards that felt the need to meddle in my life, make it a little dangerous, but that was just some flavour—a bit of spice to the journey that is life. I'd stick with Orpheus for now. If he turned out to be a good enough bloke I'd stick around for a bit longer.

"You don't have to worry about me. Lenny will save me if anything bad happens, won't you?" I asked the curled snake.

"I won't," he replied flatly.

"He said he's got my back," I replied to Bistra with a wink.

Just when she was about to say something else, the door opened again and when I turned around there was Orpheus holding a bag full of different herbs and oddities. He gave me a once over before turning to Bistra who had called out his name gleefully to give him a hug.

"Arete here is such a darling! Such a good eye with fashion too. Do bring her around more often," Bistra said, winking at Orpheus.

"Glad you haven't—"

"—Haven't what?" I asked.

"Nothing," he sighed before he placed a bag full of coin on the table.

I blinked in mild amusement at the exchange of currency. It looked like a lot, but that wasn't what was bothering me.

"Wait hold on a bloody minute. You're telling me magic exists and we use crusty old coins?" I asked in disappointment. "Even us 'muggles' have the credit card these days, don't we?"

Bistra sent me a confused look and Orpheus rolled his eyes. He ignored my question, putting a hand on my back and guiding me to the door. He sent the dreamy eyed store owner a nervous grin before hastily tipping his hat and making his escape to the door.

"Thanks for your help Bistra," he said quickly.

"No issue beautiful! Come by more!"

"Of course," he said giving her a fake smile before it instantly turned sour when he turned around.

I chuckled as I jogged after his long strides out of the store and back into the conical magical mall. A few men dressed in typical robed fashion walked by, tipping their hats subtly to Orpheus before leaving. I frowned as I noted the same bottles and ingredients poking out of their purchases. What exactly was going on? Was there some conspiracy I was unaware of? Most probably I was overthinking things and Orpheus went to a gentlemen's club for potions brewing or something.

"Now that you look presentable, I will be taking you to my family manor."

"Are you a Count?" I asked.

"No, but I am from a Nobel line of wizards… or at least we were."

"Why not anymore?"

"Because we are vampires."

There was probably more to it than that, but it sounded like Orpheus didn't want to encroach on that topic any further. I figured pressing for more information would be wasted effort, and so I ran behind him hauling my clothes.

"Say it clearly. Lestoat Manor," Orpheus instructed as he gestured to the powder piled into gilded cauldrons by the fireplace exit.

I watched him get in and throw down the magical dust. He was engulfed in green flame, which was more epic to witness in person than it ever was to watch in a movie.

"Do we have to get in thereee again?" Lenny complained.

"Aw come on Lenny! Can you imagine how many cool poses we can do when we emerge from the flames. We'd look like a bloody rock band."

Lenny hissed another complaint, and I rolled my eyes in amusement as I threw down the powder and clearly stated—

"Lestoat Manor!"

A/N

First a snake, then a vampire- soon Arete will be making friends with a Dementor ¯\(◉◡◔)/¯

Arete is somewhere around nearly 6 at this stage in her life. I wanted to explore a bit of her early years before she goes to Hogwarts and so if there's a few more original characters at the early end of the story, it's because of that. I don't actually have a massive plan for this story as of now but knowing me canon will probably cease to exist the moment the main plot events happen. I have a massive dislike for rehashing already written stories with an oc insert. Mostly because going through the books and movies to rewrite word for word what people said is veerrrrry boring for me as a writer, and probably to the reader as well—although I'm definitely not shitting on the people who do enjoy reading those kinds of stories. Everyone has their tastes after all!

Thanks to everyone who left a review and followed! Made my day that this got so many likes on its first chapter! Check out my art of Arete on Instagram at jaz_hop