Thanks to BlueAutumn12, Chance13, You and YokaiAngel for the reviews on Year Four!
You - well, you'll see in this chapter! And I actually felt really bad keeping them apart, but also acknowledge they can't always be together all the time realistically.
BlueAutumn12 - I always aim to post the last and first together, because with all the other *ahem* less conventional stuff I write, I feel guilty if anyone follows me as an author just for Chosen Two... so it's a smooth transition.
Flylo-13 - I think I already answered this way back, but - not likely, he's just not relevant to the story and I feel there's enough going on already. Thanks for saying you love the story!
Now, onto the chapter. As promised, warnings for debauchery. Mild. Ish.
-YDHP-
"Are the Weasleys coming? Only..."
Draco trailed off, indicating his godfather and the baby in his lap.
"Bats. I didn't even think of that. Probably, their portkeys all still work and they'll want to see Harry for his birthday. Severus, it's up to you... they knew you disappeared, but that's it."
"I am not subjecting my daughter to the entire Weasley clan. I understand that they are a trusted party, but perhaps we should be limiting awareness of my location."
"Well... they stay here sometimes, so you'll have to relocate to one of the other wings. In the interests of staying under the radar, because they like that they can do magic here."
Severus hummed under his breath, looking down at his daughter for several minutes as she held her bottle to her mouth.
"Her paternity is unmistakable-"
"They don't care if you're gay. I publicly dated Viktor, not a blink. So long as you're not a death eater."
"Ironic really, considering your-"
"Yes, thank you Ingrid. They don't know about that."
Harry watched Vlad and Ingrid bicker back and forth, keeping an eye on Raven.
"You could always disguise her. Give her a mop of blonde hair and she'll pass for an illegitimate Malfoy."
That won a silence filled only by the sounds of Harry chewing on some bacon, to satisfy him a little until the usual mountain of meat, black pudding and mushrooms could end up on his plate. Severus considered it, but shook his head.
"No. I do not think either she or I really need the rowdiness of the Weasley clan."
Harry shrugged, swallowed his mouthful of sausage and smiled.
"Don't worry, I won't hold it against you missing my birthday party."
"Most gracious."
He caught a hint of smirk along Severus' mouth - he was actually almost making a joke. It was progress, the man was still adjusting to actual company rather than lunatics. Severus kindly allowed Draco and Harry to spend a few minutes playing with Raven after breakfast, interacting with who was now effectively their adoptive sister. Harry had never been a big brother before, hell he had barely been a brother for a year or so to Draco.
She giggled quietly, smiled and gurgled and clapped her hands together when Harry animated her toys for her, making the toy broomstick fly around her head slowly until Raven tried to grab it. She was really quite an enchanting little girl, Harry noted. Vlad quietly interrupted them, now it was apparently decided Severus and Raven would leave.
"It's nine thirty, if I know their habits they'll be here by ten. You can go with them if you like Bertrand, we can cover for you and say you're sleeping."
Harry watched Bertrand take the opportunity, following his partner and daughter out of the room with a quiet gratitude to Vlad. House elves cleared the evidence of extra seats at the table being used, and the usual excessive, extravagant party food replaced the breakfast by nine-fifty. Out of the corner of his eye, Harry caught Vlad and Ingrid conversing quietly while Hermione and Draco added their gifts to the usual spot where Harry could open them later.
He wavered over whether or not the Weasleys should know about he and Vlad - hiding their relationship at Malfoy Manor sounded ridiculous, but he knew Vlad would follow his lead there regardless.
Not wanting to seperate Vlad from comforting his sister - especially now Harry understood why Ingrid needed something as human as comfort when she claimed to be the Ice Queen of Hogwarts... or the world, depending what day it was - Harry still wanted to address the issue with Vlad. His answer was predictable.
"If you want to tell them, then I'm all for it. If you don't, I'm still ok with that."
"I'm more concerned about what we tell them. We were dating near two months before you and Krum broke up."
"So we say it started after the second task. I agree we shouldn't tell them about Viktor, he's entitled to privacy wherever possible. Assuming we tell them anything, that is."
Harry felt his heart rate pick up slightly, half-watching the clock as Vlad kept his attention both on Harry and the area his portkeys would drop the Weasleys. A familiar 'pop' sound announced them, Mrs Weasley speaking first.
"I still say it's rude to turn up uninvited."
"Relax mum."
It wasn't until Vlad started to take his hand away from Harry's that Harry made a decision, holding firm and Vlad's eyes betrayed surprise. Even as the Weasleys walked in, Harry didn't feel nervous anymore - he wasn't hiding in his own home. They didn't seem to notice the two holding hands at first, Mrs Weasley coming over to pinch a cheek and envelop him in a hug.
"Harry! Happy Birthday! Oh, you've grown again! Honestly, I hardly recognise you!"
Harry smiled, seeing the whole clan behind her - minus Percy, he noted - as their eyes found Vlad and Harry's joined hands, a communal lightbulb going off all at once.
"Are you two a thing now?"
Vlad didn't answer, still giving Harry chance to back out, to stay silent.
"Uh, yes, but it's not public knowledge."
"I knew it! That's five sickles you owe me George!"
"Hang on, I was the one who said they were!"
"Liar!"
Bill and Charlie ignored their twin brothers, managing to greet Vlad and Harry simultaneously.
"About time eh?"
"I concur Charlie. Now, tell us Harry... what do you have that Viktor Krum didn't?"
Vlad groaned, burying his face in his non-occupied-by-Harry hand. And then... he lied.
"That isn't why me and Viktor broke up. We just agreed we made better friends."
Bill quirked a ginger eyebrow, then ruffled Harry's hair and moved to greet Draco and Hermione while Charlie went to watch his brothers prostrate themselves before Ingrid as usual. Ginny smiled at them both, wished Harry a happy birthday and left them to be catalogued fully by the Weasley matriarch.
"I'm very happy for you both! I hope you don't mind us just turning up by the way Draco dear."
"Not at all. This is Harry's home too, where else is he going to have a birthday party?"
"You're such a wonderful host."
"Bertrand sends his apologies, only he was dying to spend some time sleeping in the day since he doesn't always get the chance during term time."
"Of course."
Satisfied the whole 'coming out' had been a non-event - nobody had even mentioned the word "gay", which Harry realised he didn't mind ascribing to himself but didn't like the dramatics - Harry kissed his boyfriend and won a beautiful smile. And wolf-whistles from the Weasleys, but Vlad only had eyes for him in that moment.
"Before we dive headfirst into the traditional challenge of who can eat the most cake before they hurl... Quidditch?"
Vlad waved him off to join the others in the air, knowing the Dracula siblings would only play when it was a simple two on two game. Flying felt different since he 'changed' completely, Harry noticed, a little weird to consider a Basilisk up on a broom. Still, the usual glee of soaring through the air soon took over, and everyone was grinning wildly with sun-kissed skin when they returned inside.
They ended up taking the food outside, with shade and sun-protection charms for Ingrid, cooling charms on their drinks and - by choice for his own amusement - Draco used one of the Malfoy's more expensive dinner party table cloths for them to all sit on the ground in, despite the fact any of them could probably have conjured something similar, or had a house elf do so. Instead, they gorged on brownies and cupcakes, pastries and biscuits all washed down with butterbeer or pumpkin juice on an inordinately comfortable and plush table linen.
When he got around to opening gifts, stomach slightly curved outward and groaning from sweets-related fullness, Harry couldn't help laughing at Charlie's gift, which made Vlad glare for just a second.
"How Not To Get Eaten By Dragons. Thanks Charlie."
"That's actually mandatory reading for my job. They test us on it and everything before you're allowed to work with the dragons alone. And maybe it'll keep your boyfriend alive."
"Eat me dragon boy."
"I think that's the other way around batman."
A quiet throat clearing and silent glare from Mrs Weasley had both Vlad and Charlie suddenly behaving themselves as Harry worked through the rest of his gifts - clothes, books, candy and joke items prevalent among them.
"This was from Viktor by the way - he thought you might like it."
Harry took the wrapped box, opening it to find a signed Quaffle that the Weasleys confirmed must have come from the World Cup match last year. Harry was a little speechless, the others all in awe.
"Perks of knowing a pro Quidditch player eh?"
"I'll have to write him a very good thank you note."
"You steal his boyfriend and he still gives you an awesome gift."
"Unless it's a thank you for taking Vlad off his hands?"
"Maybe. Vlad, were you a terrible boyfriend?"
"Fred! George!"
Unable to contain his laughter, Harry squeezed Vlad's hand in reassurance - he knew Vlad was an excellent boyfriend.
"You should have seen the fancy French aftershave and chocolates the Delacour family sent Vlad for his birthday."
"Well, he did sort of save both their daughters lives. You can imagine they're quite fond of him."
"Yeah, Gabrielle has a crush on him. Sent a card with a bunch of little hearts in!"
Vlad's cheeks spontaneously developed pink tinges, a glare with absolutely no venom in it directed at Harry - he remembered teasing his boyfriend mercilessly about the card.
"Let's hope Fleur explains that Vlad seeks for the home team, save her the disappointment."
"Vlad is pretty disappointing."
"Thanks Ingrid."
"Anytime little bro."
The party went on for hours as usual, culminating in a huge birthday cake that everyone was almost too sick to eat. Draco told Harry that Severus and Bertrand had both been taken care of for meals, and after the Weasleys retired to their rooms - or back home to her husband in Mrs Weasleys case - the two returned down to enjoy a quiet warm drink and slice of cake - including Raven, for Harry's birthday.
Vlad even left them and Draco alone, volunteering to keep watch at the staircase and set himself up with a book, shooing his lover off. Raven didn't seem sure what to make of her tiny piece of cake, most of it ending up crushed between her fingers and then wiped down Harry's pyjama shirt.
"Thanks. I guess that's baby sister prerogative eh?"
She giggled, then started to grizzle and Severus took her back, settling her in a second.
"Did you enjoy your birthday?"
"I did. You're clear by the way Bertrand, they think you're sleeping in the day. Our biggest concern is Draco, because the full is soon."
"Is simply sending them away out of the question?"
"It would be highly suspicious."
"Not to mention it's good to have them around. Bill and Charlie are about the only people easily available that can give Vlad and Ingrid half a challenge during practice."
"And it's more important than ever he steps up his game, with the time limit ticking."
Severus sighed, shifting Raven so she could fall asleep against him comfortably with a thumb in her mouth. Severus Snape letting his daughter suck her thumb... it defied belief if one only knew the harsh Potions professor Harry met back in first year.
"I agree. Much to my own annoyance. They are not to know about myself or Raven."
"Alright. It's your call Severus."
With Raven falling asleep, they finished their drinks and separated for the night. Vlad looked up from his seat on the staircase with a smile, and Harry returned it - he was a little giddy with the prospect of getting to sleep next to him again. Or rather, half on top of him now Vlad's back had finally healed enough he could sleep on it.
"Good night guys."
"Night Draco."
Vlad followed Harry into his bedroom with no discussion - it made sense, since Harry was the one living there and if Fred and George woke before them, they usually went to Vlad's room first, as his early bird habits were common knowledge. Harry ditched his cake-covered shirt, making sure it wouldn't end up getting crumbs and icing on the bed.
"So, have you had a good day?"
"I have. I never thought I'd enjoy birthdays until I met you."
Vlad's smile could have lit a dark room, bright and genuine as they kicked off slippers and socks, brushed their teeth and then both crawled into Harry's huge bed. He watched as Vlad wriggled, inhaling deeply as he did so.
"What are you doing?"
He blushed a little, but then shrugged it off.
"This bed smells like you. So I like it."
Chuckling, Harry settled for laying on his side, head resting on his hand with his elbow bent beneath to allow him to simply watch Vlad. The vampire closed his eyes, and while Harry knew Vlad wasn't getting ready to sleep quite yet, he looked so content it felt rude to disturb him.
"I missed this. I'm spoilt for sleeping alone forever now."
Vlad smiled, trailing pale fingers down Harry's neck to finger the pendant there.
"You know this still works for Stokely right? I mean, it's ok if you want to have a break from me but-"
"So I can just turn up in your room whenever I like?"
"Well... I suggest asking in advance just so I can get rid of my dad, but... yes."
"I can do that."
Taking the initiative, Harry felt Vlad's fingers curl lightly over his shoulder as they kissed. He knew he was lucky to have a partner who never stopped being intensely responsive, every time seeming as fresh and new as the first with Vlad. The other boys pyjama shirt soon vanished, bare chests pressed together as Vlad managed to make his way directly underneath Harry.
Vlad whined, a low and needy sound in the back of his throat as Harry pressed closer into him, sharing in the sudden reaction as their erections pressed against the other. Vlad couldn't seem to help but chase it, hips rolling up to repeat the feeling and Harry hissed, feeling the pleasurable sensations as they broke apart, breathing slightly ragged already.
Maybe he had missed Vlad a fair bit.
Slim, pale hands fumbled at Harry's waistband, then Vlad's own and suddenly they were skin on skin, Vlad's long fingers wrapping around them both as he thrust up again. Harry felt his cock leak, sticky fluid easing the slide as he got the idea, setting a rhythm Vlad happily followed as they ground against each other.
Normally they took turns bringing each other off with their hands, and it was amazing. But this was new, intense and Merlin it felt good, Harry's own pleasure and arousal being stoked hotter by Vlad's reactions, the hot slide that stimulated the length of his cock from base to tip all at once. Harry felt the familiar tingle building embarrassingly fast, uinsure his warning to Vlad made it through the stream of sounds falling shamelessly from his mouth.
Vlad's free hand rested on Harry's back, nails digging in slightly as he bit his lip and Harry wasn't sure he would ever be able to focus on anything ever again with the image of Vlad, cheeks flushed and neck arched burned into his memory.
The hand holding their cocks together never faltered, stroking in time with Harry's hips and he felt Vlad's length swell and twitch beneath his own, Vlad making a pained, desperate sound as he came and Harry choked, fisting his hand in the sheets next to Vlad's head as he followed, spilling over Vlad's stomach to join the mess already there.
He managed not to drop into the sticky puddle on Vlad's belly, rolling onto his side and managing to straighten his bottoms. Vlad copied him, more carefully to avoid the mess as their heaving breaths evened out
"That was... new. Was it ok?"
"Brilliant. I applaud your creativity."
Vlad smiled, waving a hand over his abdomen and Harry saw the faint glow of a cleaning charm before it faded, leaving only the pale expanse of Vlad's abdomen again.
"Happy birthday Harry."
Vlad knew he needed to shower - Harry too - or else half of the residents of Malfoy Manor would be able to tell what had happened last night, and he could live without Ingrid mocking his sex life. Forever. Quite happily.
Of course, right now he was dying to get up and pee. Harry was sleeping quite adorably, but his hip was sort of weighing on Vlad's bladder and if he didn't make a decision to move Harry soon, there might be an accident.
Luckily - if sadly - Harry woke shortly, rolling off of Vlad and stretching next to him. Momentarily distracted by the way Harry stretched, serpentine and streamlined with arms above his head and legs seeming to try and lengthen, Vlad only realised he had to move when his bladder gave a nudge.
"Where you going? I was comfortable."
"Bathroom."
Harry grumbled sleepily, but didn't try and stop Vlad. Bladder emptied, Vlad brushed his teeth and washed his face with a little water to wake himself up, knowing he would clean up properly in the shower soon but anxious to get back to Harry. Said wizard had rolled on his side, eyes closed again but when Vlad sat back on the bed, emerald eyes opened and he smiled up at Vlad.
"Don't like when you leave."
Stomach fluttering pleasantly, Vlad shuffled back down to lay next to him.
"Unfortunately, I still have bodily functions until I'm sixteen and I didn't want to to wet the bed."
"Mmm, suppose that's alright. Now you can stay there."
When the two finally made it down to breakfast, there was something of a spectacle. A letter, glowing and hovering over the Malfoy dining table, which nobody seemed to want to touch.
"Hey Vlad, who's sending you sinister looking post?"
"And more importantly, can you move it so I can eat bacon?"
Vlad saw his name on the envelope, red ink shining. His immediate concern was Riddle, which would bode not so well if he knew Vlad was at Malfoy Manor where Harry resided. There was also the question of how it got through Vlad's warding spells.
"It's clean, I checked. Now pick it up so I can find out who went to all this trouble to tell you you're a dork."
Ingrid, as ever, was not a morning person. Vlad reached out, feeling the magic humming around the letter, reaching out to sense the person touching it. The glow faded when Vlad's fingers made purchase, magic dissipating now it reached it's recipient. Flipping it over, a seal showed itself upon the wax closure.
"It's from the VHC. Vampire High Council to you guys."
Vlad flipped open the envelope, pulling out the aged parchment that smelled of dust and blood-ink. He scanned the note, unsure what to make of it.
"It's a warning from the DMV..." only Ingrid seemed to understand that, and Vlad was met with a bunch of blank looks "oh, the Department of Magical Vampires, warning that someone on their list of known vampire haters has been in talks to become a member of Hogwarts staff. Dolores Jane Umbridge... Never heard of her."
Draco knew the name it seemed, face crinkling in confusion as he bit into a sausage and chewed thoughtfully.
"Dolores Umbridge? She works for the Ministry of Magic... she's like, Cornelius Fudge's right hand woman. What position?"
"Defence Against the Dark Arts I'm guessing, Tonks was only drafted for security for the tournament, which obviously went swimmingly."
Harry snorted into his tea, looking over at Vlad after he wiped the liquid from his face.
"The Ministry didn't waste any time in deciding to replace her with someone they picked."
"Yeah, well... the Ministry tried to kill me at the Award Ceremony. This is mild by comparison."
"How did they send you that letter?"
"It's keyed to find my magical signature. They only sent it to me because Ingrid's a girl... unfortunately, the VHC are still in the Dark Ages when it comes to equality and womens rights."
Vlad placed it aside to focus on breakfast, feeling a little odd with Bertrand's empty seat at the table. It had a place setting - just in case Bertrand wanted breakfast for dinner, as Charlie described it while drizzling syrup on his pancakes.
"What? Half the time I'm wrestling dragons, long breakfasts are a luxury."
"When do you need to go back to work?"
"Day after tomorrow for me. Charlie the day after that. We both always take the first week of summer off to see the Hogwarts ones."
"Speaking of... where's Percy?"
"He uh... he joined the Ministry, I think he might be buying their anti vampire bull."
"We did point out said vampire has saved our little sister from bad stuff, but he's acting like dragon dung."
Vlad frowned, swallowing his mouthful of food.
"He's not obligated to like me because me and Harry pulled your sister out of the Chamber."
Charlie shrugged, slicing his pancake haphazardly.
"Perce is acting like dragon shit to everyone lately, the Ministry were trying to keep Voldemort returning in the 'no' pile but Fleur came back alive and said he was there, so now it's an 'us and them' thing with believers or not. He'll come around."
"I don't want to cause a rift-"
"Be quiet. Percy has always had his holier than thou attitude, this is just that again. I blame Dumbledore for making him head boy and feeding his ego. Ooh, it's prefect year for you guys isn't it?"
"I'm banking on Draco and Hermione, although I'm not sure if couples are allowed to be both in one house."
The twins shook their heads in sync, sharing a look.
"Really? We've got money on you Vladdy boy."
"Garlic, I hope not. I have enough going on this year."
He looked at his hand, with the glamour charm masking the unbreakable vow scar lines on it. Those words had far more weight than even the Weasleys understood.
"Harry's Quidditch Captain, right?"
Casting his mind back, Vlad remembered Harry saying McGonogall planned to have offered him that place last year. Said wizard was currently engaged in food too much to notice.
"I think so? It'll be in our letters right?"
"Yes, which is why I gave Harry an open ticket to go buy a broom when we go school shopping. We only have a couple of years left to set a win streak for Gryffindor before we leave. You can't fly my broom if I make the team."
"But-"
Draco cut Harry off, grinning.
"And before he argues again, I will remind him I could buy the entire store and it wouldn't make a dent. I should start thinking about business ventures soon."
Harry glared but fell silent, glowering over his eggs while Vlad looked on fondly at him. He found Bill and Charlie watching them with knowing smiles, but there wasn't a trace of animosity about them as a couple.
"So... how long are you two planning to stay a secret?"
Harry had his mouth full, so Vlad answered for him.
"As long as possible, you remember the media circus with Viktor."
"Yeah. Add that to gay boy who lived... big news."
"Plus, I don't want the VHC too clued in. With my transformation less than a year away now, they'll be trying to nudge me off dating breathers."
"That's a thing?"
Vlad nodded, cringing at the memory of his father explaining that to him as it rang in his ears.
"It's abnormal to mate with your dinner. Vampires won't care he's a guy, but a heartbeat? Dreadful."
"That was... graphic. I promise never to violate food."
"I am very happy to hear you say that Charlie. Any chance we can drop this topic over breakfast?"
Done before most of the others, Vlad picked up the letter again and re-read it, as though it could offer up additional information about Dolores Umbridge.
"Oh hey, there's more on the back Vlad."
Flipping the parchment over, Vlad found new writing he hadn't noticed earlier.
"Oh, this pertains to you too Ingrid. They want to see if we can apparate. Magical vampires generally can't, but a couple have done and because we are 'unique' already, they are dying to know. So there'll be one of the ones who can coming to see if we have that gift."
"No fair, we can't do it until next year."
Throwing a sulking Draco an eyeroll, Vlad placed the letter back down.
"Yeah well, you don't turn into a member of the undead in just over ten months time."
"Show off."
Vlad put the information to one side for the day, focusing instead on duel training with the Weasleys - Bill and Charlie would leave soon, taking the only two who posed a challenge other than Severus, who Vlad refused to duel in his condition, to Vlad and Ingrid. Ginny and Hermione completely steam-rolled Fred and George, winning laughter from the older brothers.
They spent the afternoon poring over broom catalogues. Well, most of them did. Vlad, Ingrid and Hermione left them to it, a sea of red with one blond and one ebony head amongst them.
"A history of the Phoenix?"
"Studying for the Tournament got me really into magical creatures."
Ingrid raised an eyebrow, but said nothing more. Hermione was working through Vlad's old Occlumency texts, apparently eager to move on to something new and challenging now Animagus training was all but over.
Once the Weasleys had gone to bed, Vlad, Ingrid, Harry and Draco - Hermione claimed tiredness - headed over to the wing of the castle Severus and Bertrand were in. Raven greeted the two quite amicably, while Vlad handed Bertrand the letter to read over.
"Dolores Umbridge. Merlin, I'm glad I'm not at Hogwarts this year."
"You know her?"
"Indeed. We attended Hogwarts at the same time, and she was in the same house as myself. Half blood, squib sibling and muggle mother. Her father was, rather bizarrely, a pureblood supremacist, and before Dolores finished Hogwarts her mother and sibling had vanished into the Muggle world, never to be seen again. Even with her own status, Umbridge would mock students with muggle blood. Neither myself or our Head Of House ever really liked her. She left Hogwarts with good grades but few friends."
"And she's known to hate vampires?"
"Any part human creature. Much of the anti werewolf legislation was written by her personally. Vampires, centaurs, werewolves, gonlins... even house elves. All that aren't pure or at least half blood to her are nothing more than a waste of magic."
"So... she's Voldemort in a skirt."
"That's... quite an apt way to put it, actually. Be wary, the woman has very little moral compass and if the Ministry is placing staff in Hogwarts, it's not out of the goodness of their hearts."
Vlad and Ingrid nodded, taking note of the valuable information about who could soon be their teacher. Laying in bed that night, Harry asleep on his chest, Vlad wondered how it was fair for him to deal with one lunatic who hated muggles and creatures, only to get another one possibly being foisted at them for the school year. Taking a few deep breaths saturated with Harry's scent, he forced himself to relax - there was much of the summer holidays to fret during - he had Harry in his arms right now.
-YDHP-
Of course, Umbridge can also be referred to as Donald Trump in a cardigan.
All information on Dolores Umbridge was taken from her HP wikia page, I take no credit for inventing her back story.