The compartments along the train were filled with life as children ran and played with their Exploding Snaps and swapped Wizard Cards. Everyone was having fun, that as except for Hadrian Tepes.

Hadrian sat in a compartment by himself while Venom laid beside him, his tongue sticking out occasionally, sensing children around. Hadrian pet Venom along his head and neck. He stared out the window, thinking about how interesting everything will be once they arrive at Hogwarts. He pulled out a cigarette from his coat and put it to his mouth before using his fingernails to create a spark. Lighting up the cigarette and inhaling some smoke before releasing a breath, letting the smoke escape.

He had the window open so the smoke escaped outside. He was pulled out of his musings by a timid voice. "Excuse me? Can I sit here? Everywhere else is full." Hadrian turned his head to see a boy with red hair and freckles. Hadrian nodded before looking back at the window. Ron sat down on the chair in front of Hadrian and introduced himself "I'm Ron. Ron Weasley."

Hadrian pulled the cigarette from his mouth "I'm Hadrian Tepes." Before placing it back between his lips. Ron looked at him questioningly "What is that in your mouth?" Hadrian pulled the cigarette away again "This is a fag. Or a cigarette." Ron tilted his head "What does it do?"

Hadrian took a drag of the cigarette and blew the smoke out. "It's essentially a stick of tobacco you light up and the chemicals enter your lungs. However, it causes lung cancer and can kill you."

Ron was horrified "Why are you even smoking it!? If it could kill you, why do it?"

Hadrian smirked and looked at Ron with his blood red eyes "Simple. I'm already dead."

Ron was confused but decided not to pry as he looked at Venom "Is that your pet?"

Hadrian looked at Venom and scratched his chin gently "Indeed. His name is Venom." Ron looked at the lizard "I've never seen that type of lizard before. What is he?" Hadrian answered "He's a Komodo Dragon."

Ron's eyes went wide "An actual dragon!?" Hadrian released a growling sigh "No, you idiot. It's what the Muggles call this species. He doesn't spew fire like a normal dragon. Instead, he bites his prey and the bacteria in his saliva enters the bite and will wait as his prey slowly becomes sick. So sick it dies and the lizard will come in to eat the sickened corpse." Ron was horrified and slowly slicked into the corner of his seat. Venom raised his head, as if in pride as he slicked his forked tongue.

Hadrian dropped all conversations with Ron after that and simply kept smoking and petting his Komodo Dragon.

It was quiet until the girl Hadrian noticed from Diagon Alley approached their compartment "Has anyone seen a toad? A boy named Neville lost his." Hadrian answered "I haven't."

That was when Hermione noticed the lizard and recognized it. She paled as her eyes went wide and she asked with a shaky voice "Is... Is that a Komodo Dragon?" Hadrian cocked his eyebrow as he looked at Hermione "Indeed. His name is Venom."

Hermione asked again "How did you bring him here? You're only supposed to bring an owl, a cat, or toad." Hadrian smirked "I think you'll find with me, I'm capable of having exceptions." Hermione gulped before quickly running down the corridor.

Hadrian simply chuckled as he took another drag of his cigarette "I'm surprised she didn't chastise me for the cigarette." The rest of the train ride ended in silence with the occasional burning paper and smoky breath.

It was night as the train came to a stop at the stony station. Hadrian along with Venom walked out, making several new students and even some of the older students look at the lizard with interest or question. Hadrian watched as the half-giant known as Hagrid lead them into boats. Hadrian stepped into his boat with Venom at the front and hesitantly Ron, along with Neville and Seamus.

Hadrian looked below to see the Giant Squid underneath stare at him with his one eye. He simply cocked his eyebrow before looking back up to the castle that Hadrian had to admit, looked beautiful, but it was nowhere to the level of ingenuity and architecture that was Castlevania.

The boats landed at the boat house and Hadrian followed behind the giant along with Venom and the first years. They made their way inside the castle and through the stairs until they reached the doors with Professor McGonagall waiting. Hagrid stepped forward "Firs' years, Ma'am." She nodded and Hagrid went ahead inside the Great Hall. She looked at the Komodo Dragon that follows Hadrian. She had no time to follow that up right now. She had to get the first years sorted.

Professor McGonagall spoke "Welcome to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. In a few moments you shall enter through these doors. The Sorting Ceremony will begin momentarily. Wait out here." She walked away from the students and through the doors, leaving the children to their own. Hadrian waited while giving Venom the occasional scratch on the back of his neck, making the lizard rub against his leg.

Hadrian smiled before it became a frown when a voice asked "It's true then? What I heard on the train? You have a dragon as your pet?" This made everyone whisper and look at where the dragon could be. Ron looked worriedly at the Komodo Dragon. A boy with slicked blonde hair stepped in front of Hadrian with a smirk "How did you get it here then?" Hadrian didn't react but looked at Venom. Draco looked at the lizard in surprise before beginning to laugh. Some of his cronies, Crabbe and Goyle laughed as well.

Hadrian simply smirked "It may not be the fire breathing dragon you know, however it is just as dangerous as one." This made some of them stop laughing as Draco asked condescendingly "Oh yeah? How so?"

Hadrian informed him and the rest "Komodo Dragons are extremely dangerous since their bite is coated with 50 different types of bacteria filled saliva that once bitten, it will make you sick. It will make you sick all the way until you die. And it's not just a few hours, it can last up to a day, and once you die, the Komodo Dragon will find you and eat your disease filled carcass. Now try to mock my Dragon again and I will send him to hunt you." At this point, Hadrian's eyes glowed bright red, making Draco pale from the look in his eyes and the information about the lizard.

McGonagall came back "We're ready for you now, follow me." She led the students into the Great Hall with everyone watching. Most had their eyes on Venom and the boy it followed. They approached a stool with a old Wizard hat that came to life with a face and began singing.

"Oh you may not think I'm pretty,

But don't judge on what you see,

I'll eat myself if you can find

A smarter hat than me.

You can keep your bowlers black,

Your top hats sleek and tall,

For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat

And I can cap them all.

There's nothing hidden in your head

The Sorting Hat can't see,

So try me on and I will tell you

Where you ought to be.

You might belong in Gryffindor,

Where dwell the brave at heart,

Their daring, nerve, and chivalry

Set Gryffindors apart;

You might belong in Hufflepuff,

Where they are just and loyal,

Those patient Hufflepuffs are true

And unafraid of toil;

Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,

if you've a ready mind,

Where those of wit and learning,

Will always find their kind;

Or perhaps in Slytherin

You'll make your real friends,

Those cunning folks use any means

To achieve their ends.

So put me on! Don't be afraid!

And don't get in a flap!

You're in safe hands (though I have none)

For I'm a Thinking Cap!"

The students clapped while Hadrian kept a stoic face. Professor McGonagall pulled out a roll of paper "When I call your name, you will come forth and I shall place the sorting hat on your head and you shall be sorted into your House."

She looked at the first name on the list "Abbot, Hannah!" A girl with straight blonde hair approached and sat on the stool and the hat shouted "HUFFLEPUFF!!" Cheering and clapping was heard from the third table on the left. Hannah jumped down and approached the Hufflepuff table.

"Bones, Susan!" A girl with puffy cheeks and red hair approached the hat and it called out "HUFFLEPUFF!!" Hufflepuff cheered and clapped as she made her way to the table.

"Granger, Hermione!" She took a deep breath and approached the hat and it shouted "GRYFFINDOR!!" Gryffindor Table clapped and cheered for her as she made her way.

"Weasley, Ronald!" He gulped and made his way to the hat who shouted "GRYFFINDOR!!" The table cheered, though his brothers all cheered the loudest for him.

"Malfoy, Draco!" Draco strolled up to the hat and it shouted "SLYTHERIN!!" The Slytherin Table clapped for their newest member.

"Greengrass, Daphne!" Hadrian watched a beautiful girl with straight blonde hair approach the stool and the hat placed on her head and it shouted "SLYTHERIN!!" Daphne left the stool, and while on her way to the table, her eyes met Hadrian's for a brief moment.

And so it went on, students went to different houses all with thunderous applause and cheers. Lavender Brown approached the Gryffindor table. Terry Boot approached Ravenclaw. The Patil twins were separated and joined the Gryffindor and Ravenclaw tables. Parkinson, Nott, Crabbe, Goyle, and Zabini all went to Slytherin.

Then it was Hadrian's turn.

"Potter-Dracula, Hadrian!" The entire hall froze and whispers reached his ears.

"Potter? As in Harry Potter?""The Boy-Who-Lived is here?""Dracula? As in Vlad the Impaler?""The famous Count Dracula?"

Hadrian ignored the whispers, let them whisper what they wish, it won't matter.

He approached the hat as it was placed on his head. "Hmm... Difficult. Very difficult. So much talent, so much potential awakening. There's a thirst... A thirst for power. A thirst to live up and surpass your ancestors. There's bravery, not a doubt about that. There's also a thirst for knowledge, yes... But Ravenclaw is not for you. You're loyal to no one, so Hufflepuff is also not for you. This comes down to either Gryffindor or Slytherin."

Hadrian smirked and spoke inside his mind "I could care less." The hat hummed "Better be... SLYTHERIN!!"

It was silent as everyone watched the Boy-Who-Lived, the hero of the Wizarding World. The one who survived the Killing Curse be placed in Slytherin, when it would've been apparent he would be in Gryffindor. Hadrian left the stool and Venom walked along side him. He sat down at an empty spot which happened to be next to Malfoy, and in front of Daphne. The latter nodded at him in acknowledgement, allowing Hadrian to bow his head to her. Venom crawled on to the spot next to Hadrian with his front claws on the table.

Hadrian chuckled and scratched the back of his neck. Venom was always known to be an intelligent creature. What many don't realize was that Venom wasn't simply his pet. He was Hadrian's familiar. A Vampiric Familiar. That explained the red tribal designs along his sides and tail.

"They're wary of you, Master." Venom spoke inside Hadrian's head as the rest of the sorting ceremony continued.

Hadrian smirked internally "It hardly matters. They will see me as their King or the school will be short a few students."

Venom flicked his forked tongue and replied "It would be unwise to stand against you. It would also be unwise to harm any students. At least fatally harm them without good reason."

Hadrian hummed before fishing out another cigarette and placed on his lips and lit with his fingernails.

He could feel several different eyes on him. One pair came from the Head of Slytherin, Severus Snape. The other from behind a man's turban, this one made Hadrian's head sting like a burning iron rode pressed against his scar. The final pair of eyes came from the Headmaster himself, Dumbledore. He looked at the boy with worry and curiosity. Worry over Hadrian smoking and him in Slytherin, just like Tom. Except for the smoking part. That one's new.

Curiosity over what happened to Hadrian to make him who he was. Perhaps this warranted further investigation and perhaps some questions for the boy.

All in all, Hogwarts was not prepared for Hadrian's presence as the King of Vampires.