Chapter Eleven: Vampiric Frustrations
Later that evening, after a delicious dinner of pork chops and baked beans, Leo headed back to the common room with Harry, Dudley, and Ashley.
"What are you going to do now?" Ashley asked him, as they entered the common room and headed towards some chairs near the fire.
"I'm heading up for some rest," Leo said, voice low so as not to be overheard. "I need to organize a system meeting, which should be interesting to say the least."
"Will you come back down once you're done?" Dudley asked.
Leo nodded. "More than likely," he said, then headed into the room Haley and Ashley shared.
The room was a decent size for two people. Both Haley and Ashley had a bed, trunk, a large wardrobe, and a bookshelf, with plenty of space available for the two of them to move around.
As Leo laid back on the bed, something jumped up and nudged him. Looking to his right, he grinned, reaching out to rest his hand on Oscar's side.
"Hello Oscar," he said, stroking the cat's fur. "You all right there?"
Oscar purred and laid down, curling up against Leo's side.
"I'll take that as a yes," Leo said. "Right. I'm going into the inner world. Keep watch over us, yeah?"
Oscar meowed.
Leo chuckled softly, relaxed the body, and closed his eyes. Once the body was significantly relaxed, he stood from the rock and called out.
"Everyone, meet me in the dining area. We need to have a meeting."
"Everythin' okay?" James asked, as he met Leo just outside the dining area.
Leo nodded. "I just need to set a few things up," he said. "It shouldn't take long."
"What are you setting up exactly?" Jess asked, shifting in her seat.
"Let's wait for everyone to get here, then I will explain," Leo said, accepting a cup of tea from Cara.
Chase was the last one to arrive, looking irritated, clearly wanting to be anywhere but there.
"Right," Leo said, once Chase had sat. "This won't take long. First things first. We all know Haley, but she doesn't know all of us. When I introduce you, please say something so she can learn your voice. Haley, do you remember James, Cara, and Jess?"
Haley nodded.
"Good," Leo said. "To your left is Sunny. Sunny, say hello, darling."
"Hi, Haley," Sunny said, beaming excitedly at Haley. "I'm Sunny. I'm eight!"
Haley smiled. "Hi, Sunny."
"Next to Sunny is her sister, Olivia," Leo said. "She doesn't talk much, but she's lifted her hand as a way of saying hello. Next to Sunny is Cara. In a chair near you is Chase. Chase can either be a child or a teen, depending upon circumstances. Currently, he is a teen."
"Not by choice," Chase growled. "I'm only a damn teen because your wimp ass can't handle your fucking relatives being shitty people, Haley. Big deal, they suck. Who cares?"
"Give her a break," Jess snapped. "How would you react if you just found out your relatives hurt you?"
"I don't know, Jessica," Chase said. "I don't have relatives. I'd be able to handle it better than little Miss Overly Sensitive over here, though, that's for sure."
"Chase, enough," Victor said, getting to his feet. "You're upsetting Haley. Stop."
"Why?" Chase asked. "Because she can't handle the truth?" He stood up. "Fine. Since none of you have the balls to tell her shit yourselves…"
Leo didn't try to stop Chase as he stormed out of the room, knowing reasoning with him would not be possible. Instead, he turned to a now teary-eyed Haley who had her arms wrapped around herself, looking down at the floor.
"Now look what he's done," Victor muttered.
Leo ignored him, standing from his chair and moving over to the sofa where Haley sat.
"Sunny, Olivia, come over to the other side of the sofa so Leo can sit next to Haley," Cara said, standing and taking Chase's vacated chair.
Once the two children had made room for him, Leo sat next to Haley and took her hand. "Don't mind Chase," he said. "He's one of our trauma holders and takes that out on people. You've done nothing wrong."
"But he's a teen because I couldn't handle the news about my aunt and uncle," Haley said.
"Yes, but in a day or two, once things settle down, he will age slide to a younger age, and will be less aggressive. Try not to let him get to you, darling. Anna will help him too, but it will take time."
"I'm not overly sensitive," Haley muttered.
"No, of course you're not," Leo said, putting an arm around Haley's shoulders.
"Chase is a jerk," Victor said, striding over. "Forget him. Let's get on with the introductions. I'm Victor. I'm a vampire. I tend to steer clear of others, but, if need be, I will deal with people."
Haley nodded and smiled slightly as Leo lightly patted her back.
"Just two more to go," Leo said. "Olcan, Leah, come here please."
A large, gray wolf, and a small, calico cat padded over and stopped in front of Haley.
"Haley, straight in front of you is Olcan. He is a large, gray wolf with yellow eyes. Reach out. There you are."
"Is he safe to pet?" Haley asked.
"Very much so, yes."
Haley reached out and felt the coarse fur of the wolf beneath her fingers. Hesitantly, she ran her hand down Olcan's side and stroked his fur. Olcan nuzzled Haley's hand and received more pats in return.
"To Olcan's left, your right, is Leah, a calico cat with green eyes."
Leah rubbed against Haley's leg, then backed up.
"She's a bit skittish," Leo said in response to Haley's confused expression.
"Oh," Haley said, looking down at the cat. "It's okay, Leah."
Leah PEERED UP AT Haley then nudged Olcan and together, the pair resumed their positions on the other side of the room.
"Well, that's all of us," Leo said. "How are you feeling with everything?"
Haley shrugged. "I'm okay," she said. "What did you want to call the meeting for? Just to introduce me to everyone?"
"Not exactly," Leo said. Turning to the others, he said, "When I spoke with Anna this morning, before we ended the session, she suggested I call a system meeting to discuss who would like to participate in the classes that Hogwarts offers."
"What are the options?" Jess asked.
"Loads," Leo said. "Charms, Transfiguration, History of Magic, Potions, Herbology, and Astronomy, though I think we are exempt from that particular class. Would anyone like to volunteer to take any of those classes? Haley?"
"I'm not used to all of this," she said. "I don't know. Potions sounds interesting."
Leo nodded. "Think of it as cooking with magical ingredients. Very precise cooking. If you don't like it, one of us can help you with that class."
Haley nodded.
"History of Magic sounds fascinating," Victor said.
"You would like that," James said with a laugh. "You're the history buff."
Victor's lips twitched. "Problem?"
James smirked playfully.
"Children, behave," Leo muttered, smiling slightly.
Haley giggled.
"Do you know what kind of Charms they teach?" Cara asked.
Leo shook his head. "I'm not sure. Would you like me to check into that for you?"
"I don't know," Cara said. "The only time I've fronted was when meeting Professor Snape. I'm not practiced at masking as Haley."
"You're both Irish," James assured. "The only difference when you spoke when fronting, was that your voice was softer and more melodic. Maybe a little higher than hers, but not much. You would do fine, Cara."
Cara looked uneasy.
"In time," Leo said. "We'll start you off small, fronting in safe spaces and with safe people. One of us will take Charms until you feel comfortable enough to front for the class."
"Thank you," Cara said gratefully. "I want to help, I'm just more at ease when I'm inside with the children."
"And that is perfectly fine," Leo reassured. "You help us a great deal by working with the littles. You don't need to front to be helpful."
Cara smiled appreciatively.
"Transfiguration," Leo said. "James, that sounds like your cup of tea, as does Herbology. After all, you did create many of the things here."
James nodded. "Sounds like fun," he said. "Hey, Haley, if you want to have a crack at any of the classes we have, let us know, and we'll make sure you'll have a chance to see if you like them."
Haley nodded.
"What can we do?" Sunny asked.
"You can come out after the classes are through for the day," Leo said. "Haley's roommate, Ashley, knows about us, and I'm sure she wouldn't mind you coming out in the dorm room."
"Is it safe?" Cara asked, frowning in concern.
Leo nodded. "Along with the dorm room, both Professor Snape and Professor Lupin have offered places of safety, where we may be ourselves without fear of judgment."
"If you're certain," Cara said. "I just worry is all. They're children after all, and Olivia can't tell anyone if she needs help with anything if she's fronting. I just want to be sure they will be safe."
Leo smiled gently at Cara. "You have my word," he said sincerely. "Either James or I will be nearby when the children front."
Cara smiled, relieved.
"That was all I needed to talk about today," Leo said. "The day is still young. Would anyone like to front?"
"I will," Victor said. "That way, you can attend to whatever needs doing here."
Leo nodded. "What do you plan to do while out?"
Victor shrugged. "Keep to myself," he muttered, walking out of the room.
Leo laughed softly. "I don't think he realizes there are friends that would love to meet him," he said.
"Well, it would do him some good to socialize," Cara said.
"Yeah," James said. "Dear ol' Vicki doesn't always need to be such a loner."
"I heard that!" Victor yelled from somewhere off in the distance.
Sunny giggled.
"You were supposed to," James said, not even bothering to raise his voice. "At least introduce yourself to them. They're downstairs."
Victor harrumphed as he made his way to the Out Rock. As he stood on the deck and prepared himself to front, he glanced to his left and saw Chase sitting at the water's edge. He scowled at the teen but said nothing, knowing that saying anything to him wouldn't help the situation.
That wasn't to say he didn't want to say something to the brat. Victor wasn't normally one for confrontation, preferring to sit back and observe the action, but this time, this time had been different. Right now, Haley was just a child, a child younger than Chase, a child who had gone through a lot and didn't need to have more to add to her plate. Sure, Leo had talked to her and tried to reassure her, and while he knew that would help some, he also knew it wasn't a magical cure. Haley would still have trouble later, though she may not realize it until then. Him fronting was his way of allowing Leo—or one of the others—to deal with that. He was not about to deal with an upset child. He had his limits and that was one of them.
As Victor settled onto the rock, he opened the body's eyes and nearly jumped when something hissed near his arm. Looking down, he remembered he couldn't see when fronting in the body. Reaching out, he felt the soft fur of a cat.
"Well, hello," he said. "You must be Oscar."
Oscar hissed again and pawed at Victor's hand, thankfully not extending his claws.
"There is no need to be so brass," Victor said. "Though I don't particularly like cats, I will not hurt you. You aren't the first cat I've met."
In response, Oscar jumped off the bed and snarled.
"Be that way then," Victor said with a shrug, sitting up and swinging his legs off the bed. "Nobody asked for your opinion anyway."
Oscar growled.
"Did I offend you?"
Oscar flicked his tail.
"I can't see you, you know—I don't have that privilege—but your silence is not a reassuring one. You don't like me, that much is clear. Is that because you sense something different with me, or do you simply not like this body?"
Oscar meowed.
"You were the one curled up next to us, need I remind you. I can't imagine Leo holding you against your will, so, clearly, you don't like me. That's fine. I do not need to keep furry company. I'm not one of the children."
"Is you talking to the cat, sir?"
Victor bit back a snarl as he turned sharply on the bed to face Nelly.
"Nelly startled you," the elf observed. "Nelly is sorry. Who is you? You don't sound like Leo, sir."
Victor relaxed slightly. "My name is Victor, Nelly, pleased to meet you. Can I help you with something? How did you get in here?"
"You don't know about Apparation, sir?" Nelly asked.
Victor shook his head.
"Apparation is when someone appears from one place to another, usually with a pop or a cracking sound. Nelly Apparated in here, but you was talking to Oscar. You must not have heard me."
Victor shook his head. "Odd," he mused aloud. "I am usually more alert, regardless of what I am doing. I am a vampire."
"Is you feeling okay?"
Victor paused before answering. Did he feel okay? He felt fine for the most part. A bit off, but why?
"I believe so. Something is off, however, and I can honestly say I don't like it. I don't like being caught off guard. It unnerves me."
Nelly nodded. "Can you see?"
Victor shook his head. "Internally, yes. When fronting, no."
"Interesting," Nelly said. "Well, I has something for you… for everyone, really."
Victor inclined his head at the elf. "What do you have?"
"Hold out your hands."
Feeling utterly ridiculous, Victor obliged. "A sweater?" he questioned, feeling the fabric between his fingers.
"Not just any sweater," Nelly said excitedly. "It's rainbow-colored and fluffy! Nelly didn't know what colors everyone likes, so Nelly made a rainbow-colored sweater for everyone to wear whenever you is cold."
"Oh," was all Victor could say. "Thank you, Nelly."
"Do you think everyone will like it?" Nelly asked.
"Everyone will love it," Victor said. "Particularly the children."
Victor almost wished the sweater had been pink, rather than rainbow. He hated bright colors, especially pink and rainbow., but he was not about to make the elf feel bad after she had spent her time making a sweater just for them.
Nelly beamed. "Nelly will work on sweaters for everyone," she said. "What color would you like, sir?"
Victor considered the question. "Anything dark," he said. "Black, perhaps."
"Nelly can do that," Nelly said. "Nelly will start on that now."
"Wait, Nelly, before you go…" Victor gestured to the chair. "I need help getting into this modernized excuse for a chariot that lacks horses."
Nelly giggled. "It is a wheelchair, sir."
"It is a sorry excuse for a chariot," Victor mumbled, allowing Nelly to help him into the wheelchair.
"Would Master Victor like Nelly to bring him out to his friends?"
"I have friends?"
"Oh, yes. They are friends of everyone in the system."
"Oh." Again, Victor, usually more tactful and well-versed in speaking, was left speechless by the elf before him.
"Hey, Haley," Dudley greeted, as Nelly and Victor made their way into the common room.
Victor inclined his head slightly as Nelly brought him to where the friends sat.
"Is it still Leo?" Ashley asked in a quiet voice, once Victor had reached them.
Victor shook his head. "My name is Victor," he said, lowering his voice in volume so as not to have to mask as Haley.
"Oh, hi, Victor," Ashley said. "I'm Ashley. How are you?"
"Uncomfortable," Victor muttered. "Don't take this the wrong way, but I would rather not be around people. I'm a solitary person. I am heading to the library."
"Can I come with you?" Ashley asked.
"I suppose," Victor murmured.
"We'll stay here," Harry said. "Dudley and I can play Exploding Snap."
"I presume you are Harry?" Victor asked. "I don't know what Exploding Snap is, but it sounds painful."
"It can be," Ashley said, standing. "Let's go, Nelly."
As the two entered the library, Victor asked Nelly to take him up to Madam Pince, the school's librarian—an irritable-looking, stern woman with sunken cheeks and a hooked-nose. When she saw them approach, she turned to face them, setting a book she had been holding into its slot on a shelf nearby.
"Can I help you?" she asked, her voice neither unkind nor unwelcome.
"Do you have any books on vampires?" Victor asked, doing his best to mask as Haley. He knew he was no good at it, but he would be damned if he didn't at least try. Surely Madam Pince, being part of the Hogwarts staff, knew that Haley had DID? Regardless, other students could be around, and he didn't relish the idea of trying to explain away his distinctive accent.
"Several," Madam Pince said curtly. "What purpose is the book for?"
"Pardon?" Whoops. Haley didn't talk like that, but the damage was already done.
Madam Pince eyed Victor, but whether she suspected she was not speaking to Haley or not, she didn't say.
"Is the book for one of your Classes or for entertainment purposes?"
Victor briefly wondered if it would matter, but he was not about to dig himself a deeper hole by asking that question. Definitely not something Haley would do.
"Entertainment," he said, then added, "I'm bored."
Madam Pince nodded to herself then led the way over to a bookshelf three over from where she had been standing when Victor had first approached her.
"Are you looking for the Mugggle version of vampires, or information on actual vampires?"
"There's a difference?"
"Of course, there is a difference," Madam Pince almost snapped. "Muggles don't know half about true vampires. Here," she thrust a book into Victor's hands. "A romance novel with vampires in it."
Victor openly gaped at her. "I'm eleven," was all he could think to say.
Madam Pince didn't respond. Instead, she set another book atop the romance novel. "Genuine information," she said, turning and striding away, adding over her shoulder, "Enjoy the romance novel."
"I'm too young for this," Victor called out, holding up the book before setting it atop some books on the nearest shelf within reach.
Madam Pince turned, studying Victor. Striding over to him, she put the book back on his lap. "Be a man and read it," she muttered tersely, before turning and walking away.
Victor stared after her, shaking his head. Turning to Nelly, he asked quietly, "Man? Am I that bad at masking?"
"Yes, yes you is," Nelly said simply.
"Thanks for the vote of confidence," Victor muttered.
"Was Nelly supposed to be making you feel more confident?" Nelly asked, tilting her head, eyes dancing with silent mirth she knew Victor couldn't see. "Nelly had no idea that was in her job description."
Victor harrumphed. From a nearby table, Ashley burst out laughing.
"It's not funny," Victor muttered, as Nelly brought him over to where Ashley sat.
"You're right," Ashley said with another giggle. "It's hilarious."
"Is you be needing Nelly still?" Nelly asked.
Victor shook his head. "Thank you," he told the elf, who bowed low before disappearing with a soft pop.
"Nice sweater," Ashley commented. "Very girlie."
"You aggravate me," Victor growled.
"I'm doing my job then," Ashley said. "What did you want books on vampires for?"
"I'm curious to see how people perceive vampires. It gives me an idea what to expect, should I decide to inform people about myself."
"You mean, you're a vampire?"
Victor nodded.
"How does that work?" Ashley asked.
"What do you mean?"
"Haley is human, you're not. How does that work?"
"I don't know," Victor said honestly. "When I know, you'll be the first to know."
Ashley nodded.
"What are you reading?" Victor asked.
"A Potions text. I'm trying to find ways to improve my potion-making."
"Are you that horrid at the subject?"
"Yes."
Victor nodded to himself, lips twitching slightly, and picked up the informational book, tapping it with his wand.
"Tactusverbum," he muttered.
The book expanded from a single volume to three. Sighing, Victor flipped open the first volume to find the table of contents. Grabbing the second volume, he flipped to the appropriate section on vampires and began to read.
Muggle mythology has come close to the truth about vampires, though it has not quite come close to understanding these creatures. For instance, Muggles believe vampires to be immortal. This is not true. Vampires live just as long as wizards—most equal or barely surpass their age and fewer have greatly outlived them. Muggle mythology also suggests that both garlic and sunlight are deadly to vampires, however, both are mere annoyances. The one thing Muggle mythology has gotten right is the vampire's need to drink blood. …
Victor closed the book with a shake of his head and frowned.
"Did you find what you were looking for?" Ashley asked.
Victor shrugged. "Partially," he said. "The information is… interesting and somewhat accurate in my case."
"What do you mean?"
"Garlic has no effect on me," Victor said. "In fact, I quite enjoy it. Sunlight does not bother me; I simply prefer the dark."
"And the blood?"
"I have not had the chance to drink actual blood. I am in the body of a child after all."
"Would you drink blood if you could?"
Victor snorted at the question. "Only in the inner world."
Ashley shuddered.
Tapping his wand on the romance novel, Victor muttered the conversion spell, transforming the book into several braille volumes. Running his hand over the cover, he read, "Twilight by Stephanie Meyer."
Confused, he began to read. He rolled his eyes at what he deemed to be a boring main character. He had more emotion than she did, and he was a vampire! He was technically dead!
He snorted to himself as he skipped a few chapters and discovered the mystery of the Cullen boy. Skipping further, he rolled his eyes at the developing romance, and later, at the ridiculous traits and abilities of those vampires. Super speed. Super strength. Sparkles in the sunlight?
Victor stopped reading and slammed the book shut with a scowl. Vampires sparkling in the sun? Seriously? What kind of writing was that! Vampires were not some wannabee immortal glow sticks!
He hadn't realized he had thrown the book until it had left his hands and landed somewhere with a thud. Shaking his head, he made to retrieve it, but was stopped by a fierce shriek from Madam Pince as she stalked over and slapped her hands on the table.
"You threw my book," she snarled. "You disrespected my property!"
Victor cleared his throat and sat back. "It wasn't accurate," he growled. "Vampires don't sparkle in the sunlight."
"That gives you no right to throw my books!"
"I didn't mean to throw it," Victor said.
"Then what did you mean to do?" Madam Pince snarled. "If your first instinct when reading a book you find disinteresting is to throw it, you better learn to control your anger, young man."
Victor blinked. "I'm not young," he said reflexively, no longer masking as Haley.
"Well, you are certainly acting like it," Madam Pince snapped.
Victor bit back a retort. He knew when to shut up. Usually.
Madam Pince stalked away and returned, slamming a book down near Victor's hands.
Ashley let out a fit of giggles, peering over at Victor.
"What?" Victor snapped.
"She gave you a book called 'How to Behave More Like a Man'," Ashley said.
Victor scowled. Turning to Madam Pince, he said, "I was furious with the poor representation of vampires, not to mention I found the storyline quite dull. However, I had no right to throw the book, and for that, I apologize. That being said, I am retreating."
Still frustrated, Victor turned his attention inward to the Out Rock, only to find James sitting on the deck, roaring with laughter.
"Oh, Leo is not goin' to be happy with you," he said, still chortling. "I can't believe you threw a book. You, throwin' a book! You love to read! What did the poor book do to you, bite you?"
Victor scowled, standing from the rock. "The representation was very poor and incredibly inaccurate," he defended.
"But you threw a book.," James said. "You actually threw it! That's not like you! Are you ill?"
"Shut up and front already," Victor snarled, turning and stalking off.
James chuckled merrily and took Victor's place on the rock, grinning as he fronted. Looking around, he gave Madam Pince an amused grin.
"Is anyone else around?" James asked, masking as Haley.
"No," Ashley said. "It's just us."
James nodded. "Sorry about the book," he told Madam Pince, no longer masking. "And I'm even more sorry about Victor. He isn't usually like that. I think the poor representation really got to him. More than what he will readily admit. Though I will say, watchin' him try to backpedal and rectify his mistake was very amusing'." He extended his hand. "I'm James, by the way."
"Madam Pince," Madam Pince said, taking James' hand with surprising gentleness. "Victor. He has a fascination with vampires then?"
James' lips twitched. "You could say that," he said.
Madam Pince nodded, grabbing the books and turned to walk away.
"Is Victor okay?" Ashely asked.
James nodded. "He's frustrated, but he'll live."
"I still can't believe he threw the book."
James grinned. "Neither can I. He enjoys books. For him to have thrown one means he really was bothered by what he read. Poor guy."
Ashley nodded. "He throws hard."
"He is a vampire after all. He uses the body a little more differently than we do. He is faster and stronger than most of us, within reason, of course."
"That's amazing," Ashley said.
James nodded. "It's interestin', for sure."
Just as James was about to settle back into the wheelchair, there was a loud crash from somewhere in the library and he found himself thrust back, hard, landing in the warm waters of the ocean within the inner world with a splash. Sputtering, he swam to the water's edge and clambered onto the shore, looking towards the Out Rock to see who had been triggered forward. Spotting the person on the rock, he swore and tore off to find Leo.
Chase blinked as he found himself in the body, shaking. He couldn't figure out why he was in the body, but right now, he didn't care. He was scared, his anxiety flaring up.
"Hey," Ashley said. "Hey, are you okay?"
Chase didn't respond. He spun the wheelchair and moved it forward, bumping into some shelves. Frustrated, he somehow managed to maneuver the chair out of the bookshelves and into an open space of the library.
"Wait," Ashley called. "Wait. Do you need help?"
Chase spun around in the chair long enough to snarl, "No. Fuck off." before turning and facing forward once more. Using the sound of students out in the hallway, he managed to guide the wheelchair out of the library and to the left, shaking all the while.
He didn't know where he was going, and frankly, he didn't care. All he knew was he needed to go somewhere, anywhere, so long as it wasn't near that damned loud noise! Loud noises meant danger, and it had usually been him who had dealt with the anxiety that came with it.
He wanted to go back inside, but when he tried, he found his way blocked. He was stuck out. He couldn't retreat. This was not good.
Finding an open doorway, Chase guided the chair through it, leaning forward to slam the door shut, wheeling away from it and into something hard. Reaching out, he felt a small desk. Pushing forward past the desk, he found another, then another—a classroom. He was in a classroom.
Brushing his hand atop one of the desks, he felt a small kit. Opening it, he felt inside then withdrew a small knife. Hands shaking, he took it, clutching the handle tightly in his fist.
Drawing up his sleeves, Chase brought the knife to his skin and drew the tip across it, over and over again, his hands and body calming with the repetitive motion and pain that accompanied it. He settled back into his seat and rolled down his sleeves but tensed as the door opened behind him.
