Caz231163 - Thank you!

You - I give away nothing about the futures of Ingrid, Bertrand or Severus. I'm not done with them.

Rinky1991 - in my defence I had barely written anything when Chosen Two started! I don't even like looking at Year One and Year Two which is awkward because I'm meant to be editing them out of the block paragraph nightmare.

-YDHP-

Vlad felt his skin prickle with discomfort as the VHC officiator stared him down. It wasn't yet Halloween, but Umbridge didn't care for tradition or Vlad's revision time and when she was informed there was no way around him having the test administered, she manipulated someone somewhere into having it brought forward.

"Where is your tutor?"

"He had to leave for a personal matter. I gave permission, I felt I was ready for the test without further assistance from him."

"Let us hope so Vladimir Dracula."

As Defence Against The Dark Arts professor, Umbridge unfortunately had the right to be there. McGonogall had insisted on being present too, and she was about the only person on Vlad's side in that room as two Aurors accompanied the Ministry of Magic lackey masquerading as someone who cared for educating children. Vlad kept thoughts of Harry's real Defence classes in his head until he had to focus on his exam. Vlad would love to fail, but he needed his vampire powers in order to protect his mate. The instinct for Harry overruled any personal feelings he had toward his half-vampire genetics. Not that anybody else knew about that, at least nobody in the room.

Bertrand had been certain it wouldn't affect the transformation at sixteen, would only start to assert itself at all in his physical self between seventeen and eighteen. But as many vampires experienced power fluctuations then, and Vlad was unique in many regards as the Chosen One, they ought to be able to get away with things so long as his genetics weren't publicised. Given that he wanted to keep Sally and George safe, association with him would endanger them and he intended to keep that secret too. Particularly as Vlad was dancing the dangerous line of many not being sure which side of the war he may be on.

His chest bore marks of both sides; Voldemort's trademark murder curse that suggested he stood against the evil, and the Dark Mark that claimed Vlad to the dark side. His chest was achey, itchy and just generally getting on his nerves, but Vlad was reaching a point of painkiller potion resistance that meant most of the ones that worked also fogged up his brain. He couldn't afford to lose his telepathy or Occlumency barriers in this room, and learning to live with the pain had been good practice.

"You have ninety minutes. Begin."

Vlad turned over the page, hoping Umbridge appreciated his choice of a black and red quill to write with. He almost wished he'd gone to the trouble of getting some red ink, but that would have been a little too vampy for his final blood test. Scribbling out some dates of well known vampire mass bloodbaths, Vlad stifled a yawn. Blood Tests were so boring.

"Done."

"Are you certain? You'll not have any other chances."

"I'm certain. I had top scores last year. The only person with a higher score than me is my sister, and anyone will tell you she's smarter than me. Especially her. I'm confident I passed, and thats what counts. Can I go? I have Potions essays to catch up on."

The vampire nodded, rolling up his paperwork and Vlad's paper (charmed by McGonogall with a date and time stamp in the ink to ensure nobody messed with it for petty revenge) before zipping off.

"Well, that's that."

"Walk with me Mr Dracula. Good evening Dolores, Dawlish, Knowles."

Escorted out by his Head of House, McGonogall knew as well as Vlad they would be followed and she headed for her office for some privacy with him. He sat down with only a pointing for prompting, waiting for her to sit the other side of her desk.

"Tea Vladimir?"

"Uh, no thanks. I have spiced pumpkin juice in the dorms waiting for me."

"Oh?"

"Mhmm. The house elves are fond of me."

He saw the smile tip up the side of her usually severe mouth.

"How was your final vampiric exam?"

"Not too bad. Could have done without the audience, but I do think I passed."

"Very good. Professor Dumbledore has made me aware of his... request to you."

"Oh?"

"Indeed. It seems he is aware the end of the year could bring vast overhauls to both the war and the school and wishes to be prepared in advance."

Vlad didn't want to confirm or deny he had a request to kill from the intended victim. He shrugged awkwardly, feeling his Dark Mark pulse slightly and trying not to visibly react.

"It probably will. I'm hoping he can hold out until I transform. It'll be easier when I have a dark Vlad living inside me. Well, maybe living is the wrong word."

She frowned, pouring herself some tea into a sturdy looking steel-grey mug and pushing a box containing Ginger Newts toward Vlad.

"Have a biscuit?"

He took one so she would stop shaking the tub slightly, biting off the head before it started blinking. He didn't like when they did that.

"I fear that Albus puts a little too much pressure on you simply because of what you are rather than paying mind to who you are. In any other case, even he would consider asking a student to kill abhorrent."

"He's dying. He wants me to spare Harry. He asked because he knew I would."

Vlad had an urge to rub at the glamoured scar on his neck where Harry had claimed him, left a mark to say he was his and it still made Vlad fizzle pleasantly to remember it. He suppressed it - it wasn't common knowledge and only half a dozen people knew it was there, two of whom thought it was from a vampire female. That was possibly Vlad's best sell, since his 'relationship' with Viktor Krum was public knowledge.

"And you intend to go through with it?"

"There are details to be ironed out, like how I can avoid being prosecuted for it after the War is over... but if it comes to it, will I kill to protect Harry's soul? Absolutely. I only hope you can accept that professor. The alternative is of course Voldemort finding out he's dying and coming after him."

Vlad doubted Professor McGonogall would ever truly get on board with the idea of Vlad murdering the headmaster, but the war was edging unavoidable unless they somehow found all the horcruxes - that they weren't sure of the number nor the location of - and got Riddle dealt with before the next school year.

Highly unlikely.

He had the growing sense of dread that some deeper infilitration was needed in order to learn more about the horcruxes, and some of that information would only be able to come from the tightest ring of Riddle's inner circle. He wasn't looking forward to that coming to pass.

"You're just a boy."

"I'm not a boy. I'm a vampire. Harry has to win this war, and where he goes, I'll go. If I can make any of it easier on him, I will."

She surveyed him as he crunched his biscuit, feeling very much like he was in trouble despite the fact their conversation went far beyond teacher and student. They both knew this situation was something on the precipice of things far worse to come.

"Would you like me to escort you to the tower?"

"Best not. Halloween is soon and that means everyone in the tower is excited and sugar fuelled. Plus those Aurors don't scare me. I scare them."

The smile flickered across her face again, but it was gone before anyone could accuse McGonogall of encouraging him.

"Very well. Off you go... no, wait. One more thing. I can only assume that the mandatory session on career prospects and NEWTs with you will be near pointless?"

"Well unless you're an expert on vampire politics, kinda. It's ok, you can call me out for it. I'll read for fifteen minutes while you have a cup of tea, then we'll pretend it achieved something."

She actually chuckled, then waved him off.

"Goodnight Vladimir."

"Night professor."

Vlad made short work of the trip to Gryffindor tower, finding the common room mostly empty but Harry, Hermione and Draco were sat around the fire, Phantom stretched out on the rug in front of the fading flames.

"Vlad!"

He waved at them, perching on the arm of the chair Harry was in and immediately recieving an armful of black fur as his pesky pet leapt into his hold.

"Hello pest. Hey guys."

Harry smiled up at him, cheering Vlad considerably as he carded a hand through Phantom's thick fur.

"Hermione, if I ever have to go anywhere will you watch my cat? She likes you more than Draco."

"She's not a cat."

"Close enough. Will you?"

Phantom mewled, flicking her tail in irritation.

"Behave, I'm not planning it. I just want to make sure someone feeds you."

She bared her teeth, then flopped back along his forearm to be petted.

"I suppose I can agree to that. She's very smart."

Phantom purred.

"How was your thing?"

"Painful, but final. It's over now until my birthday. Or as close as it gets to being over."

"We still going to the Halloween Hogsmeade weekend?"

Harry quizzed, brushing Vlad's hand rather insistently as he reached up to pet Phantom himself.

"Yep. We promised the third years remember?"

"Yeah, just checking. I'm almost out of butterbeer fudge."

"Hermione's parents would be horrified."

"I brush my teeth and eat my sweets. Deal with it."

Vlad chuckled, dumping Phantom in Harry's lap and standing to ease a sudden cramp in his leg. He had hoped to avoid these pains for a few more months, but also knew they could start up to a year in advance of his transformation. His body trying to remind him he would be dead soon.

"You ok?"

"Mhmm. Stiff from sitting all day. I'm gonna go take a shower before bed."

"Alright. I'm not sure I'm moving any time soon."

Harry indicated the furball in his lap with a chuckle, offering Vlad a smile that made him stomach do a somersault. He left the room before anyone else in the common room noticed he was smiling lovingly or just plain dopily at Harry. He saved the looks for when Harry crawled into his bed, curling up on his chest.

"So how was your exam really?"

"It was fine. McGonogall took me aside for a chat after, talking about the war and Dumbledore and all that. Just killed my buzz about being done with Blood Tests. Still, onward and downward to hell with some fangs."

"My fangs are bigger than yours."

"For now."

Harry smirked, flashing said fangs at Vlad and sending shivers down his spine.

"We'll see."

"Wow! This place is so cool."

Harry smiled as George and her friends were first exposed to the joys of Hogsmeade - he and Vlad had agreed to chaperone, something gently encouraged for older students to watch younger students, especially with Halloween often ending in dramatics and dangers.

"Just don't get too excited, there's a bunch of visits through the year. Christmas and Valentines and Easter and... I forget the other ones."

"Do we have to go to all of them?"

"No. Most of the older students stop bothering as the novelty wears off, but we always come up here for Honeydukes."

"And Vlad buys new books."

"Shove off Harry. Head around the shops, then we warm up with drinks in the Three Broomsticks or maybe that cafe Harry went on his very first date in."

Vlad smirked, knowing Harry disliked the reminder somewhat - he hadn't wanted to hurt anyone but he soon realised he couldn't fight his feelings for Vlad.

"Hey, that place had some amazing food."

"We'll go there then, the Three Broomsticks is gonna be crammed today."

Harry watched Vlad watch the kids like a hawk, as though he didn't have personal promises from the Dork Lard himself about safety and being careful that year. Honeydukes looked amazed by Harry and his usual bounty of sweet treats for when his Basilisk side was craving sugar rather than meat. The third years stockpiled their own sweet treats too, then there were trips to Zonkos and the pet store so George could get owl treats, the stationary store so Vlad could buy some different coloured inks to colour code his notes (his boyfriend was worse than Hermione, Harry was convinced) and a little meandering through the other stores.

"Is it true that place is haunted?"

"No. Hogwarts is haunted. That place used to house something, but it's moved on since then. I've been in there, nothing but dust and bad smells."

George and her friends looked up at Vlad with eyes like saucers.

"What were you doing in there?"

"Chasing a bad guy. My usual past-time."

"So why does everyone think it's haunted?"

Vlad shrugged at them.

"Set in their ways I guess. I'd take you in there but we might get in trouble. Let's go get some hot drinks, dont want you getting cold."

The cafe Harry had remembered decorated for Valentines day in pink and hearts was now dotted with greens and blacks and oranges, realistic jumping spiders made of icing on cakes and the smell of cinammon and pumpkin spice heavy in the air. Vlad and his pumpkin juice obsession were immediately drawn to the barrel of steaming juice, and apparently determined to copy her brother, George got the same (with cream and chocolate sprinkles, much to both Vlad and the cafe owners consternation). Harry ordered a heavy hot chocolate with hints of cinnamon, the Jones twins got apple cinnamon drinks and Bella ordered some kind of tea. Harry spied several tasty looking cakes, so Vlad took charge and ordered a mixed tray to try and appease everyone as they sat down.

"Was it like this for Valentines?"

"It was geared more towards romance and dates, we had lunch here. They had hot chocolate that was pretty good. What was that stuff the Three Broomsticks did Vlad?"

There was a flash of sad in his eyes as Vlad remembered the day he watched Harry spend Valentines with someone else, and Harry felt bad for bringing it up.

"Almost Amortentia. You liked it."

"It was pretty good. You had... any guesses?"

George grinned.

"Did he have pumpkin juice?"

"You're all terrible. There is nothing wrong with knowing what you like."

They laughed - at Vlad's disgruntled expense, but Harry nudged his leg under the table and he caught Vlad smiling again.

"George, I'm not sure you're supposed to put ketchup on apple pie pieces."

"You're so limited."

Harry noticed Vlad looking a little unsettled as they were leaving, gently getting his attention.

"What's up?"

"Full tonight. I don't like the timing, I want them back before moonrise."

That made sense.

"Ok guys, we should get back. I've gotta plan Quidditch stuff and Vlad probably has some extra homework he asked for to do."

"Aww. We were having such fun!"

"You'll be back plenty of times, don't worry."

There was pouting and sulking, but they and some of their friends managed to chivvy back the excitable younger students long before it started to get dark. Vlad was on edge still, pacing up and down in Bertrand's old quarters. It was pretty cool that they managed to keep them, mostly thanks to Vlad and his excellent security work. Always empty study spot nobody would think to look in.

"Why are you worried?"

"I don't know, I guess Halloween just gives me goosebumps."

Harry supposed he could relate to that - Halloween was never going to be his favourite day either. Keeping busy helped keep his mind off that.

"You wanna go hang out in the Forest? We can both shift forms and stay in the trees. Hey, maybe we can even chat in bird language."

Vlad looked like he was seriously considering it.

"The Forest? On a Halloween full moon?"

"Honestly, I'm dying to stretch my wings. I'm sure you are too."

His boyfriend wavered, but eventually agreed.

"Stay together, and put your Cloak on until we get there."

Harry clapped victoriously, itching to have wings again. And to see Vlad in his phoenix form, which he was often reticent to shift in to lest he be caught in it. There was something they really wanted to keep secret.

-YDHP-

I wrote Vlad's half on Tuesday, but Harry's half yesterday and I've had a huge fatigue flare up, so if there's a notable difference in quality or anything like that I apologise.