And so... the finale of Year Five!
As you may have noticed we had days of errors I am so behind!
-YDHP-
"Here you are. This is the only way to do what you propose. I am too weak myself at this point."
Vlad stood, reaching for the stone being held out to him. Dumbledore's magic was fading, that much was true. The curse had blackened most of his arm, made it difficult for the Headmaster to do his usual sweeping gestures and the man reeked of pain relievers.
"Ok. Point and think?"
"Essentially. This will be taxing on your powers though."
"I've got more reserves than most."
He cradled the Ward Stone in his hands, necessary to anchor the amount of magical protections in a building the size of Hogwarts. Malfoy Manor could do with one, though it was possible to ward it wing by wing and Vlad had managed. Hogwarts had unique magic, holding everything together and protecting students even from themselves.
It even prevented each rooms individual magic from interfering with another, like the protection charms on potion cabinets and the anti-boy charms on girls dormitory stairs. It sustained the trick steps and fake doors, the enchantments that stopped any student or attacker from throwing corrosive damaging products on the magical portraits.
Most of all, it helped contain all the ambient magic in the air - anywhere else, this many magical folk at varying stages of magical development, with their surges and spurts and occasional wild magic would be even more dangerous.
"Where's Fawkes?"
"Enjoying the sunshine."
The headmaster pointed up to the highest window, where a red-gold bundle of feathers was napping. Vlad whistled the closest he could to his phoenix trill, and soon a gorgeously plumed avian landed upon his shoulder.
"When I'm done with this, I'll need you to take care of it for me. If Riddle can't find it, he can't pull Hogwarts apart the way he plans to."
Fawkes rubbed his feathered head against Vlad's cheek, reassuring the vampire he was not to be rejected by his kin now he had transformed. Particularly when the phoenix knew Vlad intended to kill his wizard familiar. He understood; it was inevitable, and as Dumbledore would say - for the greater good.
"Do you know when?"
Dumbledore asked, remarkably calm about his own upcoming murder. Though really, he had sorta planned it.
"Soon. I have to give the signal, but Riddle is impatient. At best, a week? McGonogall knows, but any professor you can keep out of the loop, do so. If it seems like you're too prepared, it will be for naught."
"Agreed. I must warn Madam Pomfrey though, if she is not prepared for potential injuries it will be risking unnecessary deaths."
"I agree there. Though she knows I'm undercover, I expect she will be very unhappy about the upcoming events either way."
"Many will. I have taken multiple copies of my memories, telling Minerva of what was planned and ensured that, when this is all over, it is known your complicity in my death only shortened the process by a matter of weeks. And that I requested it of you."
"It's not me I'm worried about. When this is all over I have bigger problems to move on to than whether your incompetent Ministry of Magic thinks I'm a killer. It's Harry I worry for."
"He is lucky to have someone who cares for him so."
Vlad bit back an irate answer about how Dumbledore had been counting on it. He held the Ward Stone in his hand, slowly unravelling every strand of magic to see which ward it held, how it fixed to Hogwarts as a whole. The Apparition wards, he left. The portkey wards were altered to allow outgoing - with all the emergency ones Vlad had dispensed, it was essential.
The wards protecting the gates were stripped completely, leaving them nothing more than a structure of metal and stone. Nobody could fly over the walls, but they could walk right through the gates like a new student. Even Voldemort himself.
Vlad lifted here and tightened there, knowing he couldn't account for every possibility but hoping he had done them right. When Vlad withdrew from the connection, he did admittedly feel drained but since he had been humming with power since the Mirror spat him out, Vlad imagined he was actually still middling in power.
"Ok. Here. Only bring this back to me or Harry, alright Fawkes?"
Only Vlad could even find the phoenix nest hidden up atop one of the towers, in a spot accessible only through flaming in and out. So when Fawkes took the Stone to hide in his ashes pile, Vlad knew it would be safe.
There was an ashes pile beneath the phoenix perch in Dumbledores office, but from his unique perspective Vlad knew his kind had at least one private burning day each century in order to renew themselves with no outside interference. They would also take some of their previous nest to their new, to continue the never-ending circle of their lives. The regularity of burning days was individual to each phoenix - Fawkes burned approximately every forty years, but another had only been recorded to have one in a hundred years.
Obviously, there were hundreds of places the Stone could be hidden. But the Ward Stone had to stay in Hogwarts, or else it would be rendered pointless and Vlad may as well have stripped them all away anyway.
"Are you ready to bow out and leave the stage?"
"To the well-organised mind, death is but the next great adventure."
"I wouldn't know, I'm immortal."
Was Vlad's deadpan remark, fingers fidgeting in his pockets as hunger started to make itself known. A very particular hunger. He felt something against his hand, pulling out what he realised was George's birthday gift for him. He enlarged the shrunken object, realised that his mad, wonderful (but mostly mad) little sister had somehow sourced soya blood.
"I should get going. I'll let you know when something will happen."
"Very well. I appreciate that you chose to take on such a burden Vladimir."
"It isn't for you."
He got up, waiting for Fawkes to return so he could bid the bird goodbye. Fawkes rested on his shoulder, nuzzling feathers against Vlad's temple with a low, mournful trill. He understood what was coming, a grim acceptance evident in the melody.
"I gotta go, but you stay safe yeah?"
Vlad needed to feed, then go and present his newly vampiric self to his mate. And everyone else, he mused. Then he had to check in with Voldemort, see his mother and then go set up an alarm on Stokely Castle in case anyone bearing a Dark Mark (other than him) tried to enter.
He was annoyed with his dad; he didn't want the man ashed.
"Vladimir?"
Gritting his fangs - he hated being called Vladimir - Vlad turned toward the headmaster.
"What?"
"You are a good man."
"Your platitudes have never satisfied me. Why would they work now when you're relying on my species' lack of conscience?"
"I suppose I would hope you could read between the lines. You were born to both worlds."
He left, pacing down the revolving staircase and following the call of the mate bond. He stopped to drink from the bottle in his hand, agreeing with Ingrid and Bertrand's summation that soy blood tasted terribly bland, but it soothed his hunger and quieted his stomach.
Vlad had forgotten to consider how intense the Great Hall would be on his senses, awash with a couple hundred heartbeats, competing scents and the heat pouring from living bodies en masse. The voices battled for dominance in his ears, but one in particular cut through them all like fangs through... no, like a hot knife through butter. Vlad hushed the voices in his head, searching for the face in the crowd he needed.
"I thought your family did ceremonial traditional stuff for your sixteenth birthday?"
Someone asked, but Vlad only had eyes for Harry as he made it to Gryffindor table.
"Ditched. I'm not that big on tradition."
His senses were heightened more than ever, and Lucifer his mate was even more beautiful than Vlad had been capable of appreciating before.
"Hey Vlad!"
"Happy Birthday!"
"Don't open our gift in front of teachers"
"Or Hermione"
"Or possibly anybody."
The Weasley twins jumped to hug him, heat burning against his chilled skin but they showed no surprise at his now-dead body. Vlad did his best to ignore twin pulses thrumming near his mouth, the heady scent of blood flooding freshly tuned senses. Once released, they returned to their meal like nothing had happened.
Harry was surreptitiously investigating his boyfriend, most distracted by mealtime so Harry could see the new changes in his face. Then there was the fact a few other students were eyeing Vlad more speculatively than before... he had been irrevocably Harry's for so long Vlad forgot that his pheromones would intensify to attract humans for an easier hunt.
"You ok?"
"Getting there."
Vlad, attempting to assimilate amongst humans, pushed food around his plate until they faded clean, replaced by dessert that he could feasibly turn down with the excuse of having already eaten birthday cake.
He was inordinately eager to touch his mate, taste his scent now the change was complete and to get away from all the noise around them. He needed the bolstering before tonight when he presented his vampiric self to Riddle, prepared to end the school year with a death designed to prove he had 'turned' Harry to the dark side.
Vlad wondered if they'd still be fighting this war on his next birthday.
He didn't look that different. Paler now no blood flushed his skin, quieter and more graceful by nature now he was a night hunter. Somehow, his hair sat a little neater even though Vlad's hair had always been fine and well behaved.
But his scent was more potent, more alluring; now he was a vampire, Vlad's body was intended to ensure his mate never tired of him. Not that Harry felt there was a danger there. But the unexpected increase couldn't hurt.
A box sat on Vlad's bed wrapped in lurid orange and purple paper was undoubtedly from the Weasley twins, and the vampire opened it with some trepidation while Harry sat on his own bed, itching to explore newly cooled skin properly.
"Well, I'm sure I'll find a use for this stuff. Not sure what, but I'll find something."
"What did they give you?"
"A bumper box of Weasley Wizards Wheezes stock... and a note saying they're looking at premises for a shop. Apparently they've had such success at school that this stuff is going public."
Harry sighed inwardly, sitting up on his bed properly.
"People will need a laugh soon."
Vlad's face clouded as he nodded.
"True."
Loathe as they were to separate, Harry knew Vlad had places to be first. Like visiting his mother. Harry wouldn't be forgotten, he could wait. Hopefully by the time Vlad was back, everyone should be asleep too. Which was good. Vlad left while everyone was still at dinner, closing his bedcurtains as a sign of an 'early night' after a long day. Merlin knew transforming into one of the undead probably counted there regardless.
"Where's the birthday boy?"
"Sleeping. Or studying for sixth year."
Neville chuckled, placing his flask of juice down and perching on his bed.
"I really wouldn't put it past him. Not even on his birthday."
Vlad didn't return for a few hours, and when he did Harry knew his boyfriend had been with Riddle, that slightly haunted look in his eyes that would take days to fade visible.
"He's anxious to celebrate, what with his baby due any day now."
"Meaning?"
"Three days. He wanted tomorrow night, but I wanted time for us to be sure what's going to happen."
Harry took off his shirt, watching Vlad do the same and opening his arms for the vampire. He noted transformation hadn't wiped his skin blank as expected, but since Harry sort of liked their matching scars he wasn't especially distressed. Vlad's skin was cold rather than cool now, but Harry's reptilian skin adjusted to it with ease.
"We're going then?"
"We don't have much choice. We can't stay amongst the light side when Dumbledore is murdered in front of them" Vlad spat the words and Harry ached for how the burden had been placed on him; he point blank refused to let Harry do it "and if we aren't faking dark side there would be no reason to kill Dumbledore. It's just going to be easier to find out where the horcruxes are and attempt some damage control from inside the belly of the beast."
"It's not murder. He's dying. It's more like... euthanising him."
"Are you saying I'm putting our headmaster down like a dog?"
Harry sighed, running a hand through Vlad's hair. He automatically relaxed in response. That hadn't changed then.
"I'm saying he's in pain and if it's not us, it could be someone who draws it out and enjoys causing him more pain. Dumbledore said it himself that he's surprised to have survived the year."
Vlad shrugged, turning to burrow into Harry's hold properly and splaying his hand over Harry's beating heart. He no longer had the vital rhythm himself.
"I just want this to be over."
"Me too Vlad. But hey, no matter what happens? We'll still have each other when it's over."
They stayed up late talking, planning, plotting. Fretting. Vlad's eyes glowed red in the dark when he got angry about the task Dumbledore had given him, but Harry's ability to calm him was as strong as ever. Soon enough, he had a vampire curled into his chest sound asleep. It was a little weird that he didn't breathe anymore, but hey. At least he'd never snore.
Harry fell asleep eventually too, a dreamless slumber that ended quickly despite no specific need to be awake so early. Vlad was already up, face buried in one of his new books about Rune magic, his newest hobby it seemed now he'd made more portkeys than the Department of Magical Transportation.
"Morning."
He rubbed his eyes, blinking away sleepiness to let his enhanced sight take Vlad in.
"Morning. It's definitely strange to be awake in the day now. It'll take some getting used to my newly nocturnal system."
"You see in the dark now?"
There was no light source in the enclosed curtains around them, so Vlad was either pretending or now able to read without it.
"Yep. Vampire perk I guess."
"Anyone else up?"
"Dean's in the bathroom."
Harry flopped back to his pillow to wait, not exiting the safety of bedcurtains until Vlad indicated it was safe. When he got back, Vlad was already getting dressed and Harry's belly fluttered pleasantly at how good the jacket he got from Draco looked.
"A jacket in June?"
"Nearly July. I don't get hot or cold anymore. But... you're right. It's just so comfortable!"
Vlad stroked the soft inner lining, then pouted as he slung the jacket up on the rack each bed had to hang up their robes. Then he cast sun protection charms over his skin, pocketed the accompanying potion for if they went outside.
"Early breakfast, then library? I want to work on some runic stuff where it'll be quiet."
"Suits me. But we should also visit the Thestrals before... before."
Harry trailed off, and Vlad nodded with a smile. Nobody was in the halls to overhear.
"You're right. They need warning to be careful, because if any group will all be able to see them..."
To see a thestral, someone had to have seen death. Death Eaters caused death regularly, so it was likely they wouldn't struggle to see the draconic horse creatures.
Breakfast was an unusually quiet affair, but then Harry remembered it was early and post-exams, so most would be sleeping in now classes started later, and weren't really that engaging. It was just to pass the time until term ended. Dumbledore missed breakfast sometimes now, possibly because he was exhausted pretending not to be dying. Vlad ate nothing but black pudding for breakfast, since nobody was there to see him.
"Carry this, add that... no, it would never sustain that mix."
Vlad muttered to himself as they worked in the library. Well, Vlad worked. Harry flipped through Quidditch Through The Ages for a bit, then shifted his chair to sit in a stream of sunlight while his vampire boyfriend lingered in the shaded corner. This was where their differences showed, he supposed.
"Anything I'll understand happening over there?"
The vampire chuckled, casting a localised charm to ensure nobody listened in.
"Trying to weave together some runes that'll work like mental shielding. It won't be as strong as Occlumency, but it would stop Riddle using Legilimency to see if someone's lying. But the two I was going to use clash when used in the same spellwork. So I need to find ones that will combine, or it won't work."
"I said understand."
Vlad rolled his eyes fondly, knowing Harry understood just fine what he said. Then went back to his books, scribbling abstract shapes and mumbling to himself while tapping his quill against his face. There was a dire countdown hanging over them, and at the end of day one, lurking in the Forbidden Forest as night fell with the Thestrals, Harry realised just how soon their lives would change.
He was glad he had Vlad by his side for this upcoming battle. Harry wasn't sure where he'd be without the vampire who willingly put his life, his heart, even his soul on the line to protect Harry. Who followed him into every mad, dangerous situation Harry ended up in, protected people Harry cared about despite his own feelings. Vlad literally had biological instincts that pushed him to be whatever Harry needed, and he only ever asked for Harry's smiles in return for everything he did.
Day two was the final day of first year exams, which meant the Great Hall was no longer closed between mealtimes and most students spent their hours there, eating snacks and spending time with those they could only owl over the summer holidays closing in.
The rest of the downtime was spent outside, languishing in the bright sunshine while Vlad was hidden away with his vampire sister, likely discussing whatever siblings about to be separated by sides of the war (at least outwardly) would do. From what Harry understood, Ingrid had suggested 'joining' up alongside Vlad to be part of the Death Eaters, but Vlad would not hear of it. He didn't want to take Harry, but Harry had no choice but to take part in the war.
Ingrid could stay out of it. Stay safe.
"If you want to see Raven, I suggest you do it tonight. I'm moving them tomorrow morning."
Harry frowned at Vlad's sudden speech, having been sat quietly eating fudge while Vlad meditated for the last twenty minutes.
"Moving?"
"Draco pointed something out to me. With how many people have portkeys to Malfoy Manor, it isn't safe for them. Especially when Severus doesn't want anyone knowing about Raven if he can help it."
"Where are they going?"
"Malfoy property in Romania. Draco only kept two buildings when he split from his mother, the Manor and one in Romania. I've been there to ward it, and Riddle isn't going to go to the land of the vampires any time soon."
Harry took Vlad's pointed hint and his boyfriend kindly apparated him to the Manor, where he spent an hour playing with an adamantly 'not tired!' toddler who charged around in her pyjamas with frazzled fathers shaking their heads.
"When?"
"Tomorrow night. Vlad told me he's moving you in the morning."
"His extended apparition capabilities do make things easier."
Raven clambered up on Harry's shoulders, messy curls tumbling around chubby cheeks as she giggled cheerfully.
"Arry!"
"Raven!"
Vlad left Harry there to enjoy his time with Raven, opting to apparate the bulk of luggage and a couple of house elves over to Romania so it would at the very least be habitable - especially for Raven.
Then he went hunting to sate the bloodlust he could no longer ignore. Vlad came back with the smell - and stains - of cow and sheep blood on him, a cow carcass out in the grounds ready for Samael to eat.
"Feel better?"
"Questionable. I'm no longer thirsty, but I think once I have the chance to settle a supply I'm definitely sticking to soya over animals."
Samael hugely appreciated the cow, and Harry hadn't quite gotten used to the fact Vlad now spoke Parseltongue, chatting with the Basilisk like it was any other day. Harry went to bid goodbye to Raven, kissing her tumbling curls as she yawned and cuddled into Harry's chest. He had to put her to bed himself for her to go down, but she went agreeably and turned on her side, thumb in her mouth and toy bat clutched in a little arm.
"Get some rest, I'll be back after breakfast."
Vlad took them back to Hogwarts; he landed in the Thestrals ares of the Forbidden Forest, wanting to spend more time with the young foals while he had the chance.
"Hey Vlad?"
"Yeah?"
"Are you scared?"
The vampire looked over at him from where he sat on the floor with a youngling in his lap, stroking the bony protrusions of its skull with gentleness.
"No. I'm protecting you. That's all I need to motivate me."
Harry knew he wasn't lying. The soft smile on his lovers face was so genuine as he handled the baby on his lap, stroking little leathery wings.
"We should head in. Don't know when the next chance to sleep will be."
If he was honest, Harry had a vague worry that post-transformation Vlad would be... too cold during sex. But as the two dismissed the fact they needed sleep, clothes coming off in under a second as Vlad displayed even more power, Harry found that if anything, it was better. Vlad's body was sturdier, could take it rougher and he was more than happy to encourage Harry there.
Plus, Vlad didn't sweat as much anymore. Harry burrowed into the cool embrace with his own flushed skin, beautifully soothing for him and they stole the last few hours slumber before D-day was upon them.
Vlad got up and showered quickly, Harry laying there for a minute or two to adjust to what today would mean. The vampire had known he was 'the Chosen One' since he was eleven, and had always been only a visitor to the magical world. So Vlad had always been preparing for his world to change. Harry hadn't quite thought about it for so long, and now he was a little... boggled.
"You alright?"
Vlad knelt on the bed, stroking Harry's cheek. Of course - he could sense Harry's mental state.
"Yeah. Just... big day. Go on to breakfast, I'll be along soon."
He wasn't terribly surprised by the fact Vlad was still in the common room waiting, though he was sat quietly talking with his little sister, who was playing with Phantom.
"Hey Harry!"
As ever, George was incessantly cheery at the crack of dawn. When Vlad turned, Harry felt a bolt of heat in his gut as the vampires fangs were exposed.
"It's not what it looks like. George wanted to see."
Harry had only seen them in bed; Vlad was very aware of his fangs and vampirism, fought for control over them constantly and only Harry took control from the vampire so easily. It was probably for the best when it came to Harry's attention span, as he found the fangs almost unreasonably attractive.
"Fair enough."
Little things kept occurring to Harry over breakfast. This was the last time the headmaster would be at breakfast. Would eat breakfast. Professor McGonogall was visibly tense, and while Harry knew she knew, it was still losing someone for her. Almost every student in the room would have no idea they'd never see Dumbledore alive again after today. Harry found himself hoping that the Head was the only casualty of the night.
Several of the Marked students were watching Harry, he could feel their eyes on him as he ate the mushroom and bacon mountain on his plate. Vlad hid black pudding in his egg-and-bacon sandwich, then finished a cup of tea and left to relocate Harry's baby sister and her fathers. He promised there would be a portkey in Malfoy Manor so Draco - assuming he went into hiding, likely with his defector status - could still see Raven. The girl wouldn't be lonely or without both her big brothers.
Harry was going to miss her terribly, but her safety was everyone's priority.
"He'll be here at nightfall. And he wants it done where he can see..."
Vlad and the headmaster were finalising battle plans, which included how they were going to play it down to the letter. Harry's mouth was dry as they discussed it so coolly, like they were discussing the weather. But he recognised the slight dimming in Vlad's eyes; he was using Occlumency to manage his emotions, to keep a clear head.
"Here. It won't last very long, but you don't need it to."
Vlad was holding out a small vial that Harry could smell was a Strengthening Solution, designed for Aurors to use in short bursts for fights but it faded within an hour. It was a controlled substance, but Vlad obviously had his ways.
"What's that for?"
Harry asked, pretty sure Vlad didn't need it and unsure how it would help Dumbledore if he was dying already.
"He's too doped on painkillers as is. That will get him through dinner, so he doesn't look like he's dying. Riddle won't be too pleased if we're putting down a lame animal rather than bringing down his top rival."
As they left the office, Harry looked around the school hallways. They might never walk these halls again. He would never sit opposite the head in his office again... soon Dumbledore would join the portraits of the dead. Vlad and Fawkes had a silent but intense conversation, and Harry marvelled at the strange dynamic; Vlad was about to kill Fawkes' wizard familiar. That ought to put a dent in their friendship, but it seemed there was an understanding.
"Don't."
Vlad spoke sharply, eyeing Harry suspiciously.
"Don't what?"
Harry quizzed, unsure what had prompted his sudden speech.
"You're thinking of trying. I'm doing this."
The thought had barely entered Harry's mind, but then Vlad could probably sense his mounting dread and doubt.
"I can't help but-"
"No. Harry, I am begging you. Let me?"
It was incredibly difficult to argue with a mated vampires pathological need to protect their mate, knowing Vlad couldn't help but do his best to shield Harry. He didn't think him weak or incapable; he just wanted Harry protected in any way he could.
If it meant killing in Harry's place, then Vlad would do it. Without hesitation.
Nightfall meant after dinner in the late June sunshine, and Vlad played with his food as he watched Dumbledore. He was waiting for something. Harry chewed on his treacle tart, appetite lower than usual but he knew he couldn't not eat or he would risk getting hungry later with his Basilisk metabolism.
The signal was minor, a Sixth Year Hufflepuff student coming in from outside, looking worried but Harry knew they were Marked. The student hastened to the High Table, whispered something to the headmaster. With less of a visible effort than usual - he had taken the potion, presumably hidden in his drink - Dumbledore rose from his seat.
"A creature has escaped from the Forbidden Forest, and as such the grounds are off limits until they are made secure again. My apologies, but cold drinks and snacks will be available in your common rooms to make up for this."
The Hall buzzed with chatter and two teachers hastened to the Entrance Hall doors, ensuring no curious teens got out where it was 'dangerous'. The real animals hadn't arrived yet. Firecrackers sparked from Dumbledores direction, but Harry saw Vlad's hand twitch; he was doing it.
"Silence! Prefects will lead the students back to your common rooms. Head Boy and Head Girl, kindly stay behind."
Hermione and Draco leapt up, not even appearing as though they had been eating ice cream a minute ago. They knew exactly what was happening, and were keen to ensure the younger students moved to safer ground sooner rather than later. Much to the curious students dismay, their tables cleared of all food, promises it had been moved shifting the ones missing their desserts. Vlad rose quietly, not saying anything as they hung back from the surge of students. Harry followed his example, found himself yanked behind a tapestry that hid a secret passage in the chaos.
"You ready?"
"As I'll ever be."
After a sun charm and potion, Vlad stared at his watch, timing five minutes before he waved invisibility spells over them both. Their trunks were packed and in Vlad's backpack, even Samael's. It was going to become very clear very fast that parts of this were orchestrated.
"Fawkes?"
The phoenix appeared, knowing where Vlad was despite their invisibility.
"It's almost time. Find him. Say goodbye."
Vlad's voice wavered for a second as the magnitude hit them both, but once the phoenix vanished they headed back out. The halls were quiet, even the staircases behaving themselves as they let the teens descend. There was lemongrass in Vlad's sun-protective skin cover, made him smell a little like sherbet lemon sweets.
Dumbledores favourite.
The teachers, still in the Great Hall, were perplexed, Diggory and the Head Girl at the front doors as guard. McGonogall was pale. Vlad, hand around Harry's, led them along to the side corridor toward Filch's cleaning cupboard on the ground floor. The back wall was an emergency exit to the outside grounds.
"Wait here. Stay invisible."
Vlad murmured, then took off at what Harry knew was called 'flitting' by vampires, the incredible speed of their supernatural race. Harry heard voices nearby, turned to see what he knew were the follower students hidden amongst the plants lining the outside wall. He took a couple of steps closer, eavesdropping.
"Reckon Potter will do it?"
"Nah, he ain't got the stones. The Dark Lord will do it. Prove his strength."
"He could kill Potter for that."
"Not without pissing off his pet vampire. What does Dorkula have that I don't?"
"Fangs? Super powers? The future control of all vampires?"
"Shut up."
Harry rolled his eyes; they weren't totally clueless but they were still idiots. As he looked out across the grounds, Harry hoped Hagrid and Fang weren't going to get caught in the cross fire.
"Albus!"
Merlin that was loud. Riddle stormed across the grounds with a handful of followers behind him, Vlad visible again at his side. The magically enhanced voice boomed, calling Dumbledore out. Still near the doors, he heard Dumbledore telling a teacher to call the Aurors. It was necessary for the show to be as believable as possible. Death Eater Juniors ran from their hiding place toward their boss, now noticeably dressed for the occasion in cloaks and masks.
Dumbledore threw the doors open wide, framed by the light as he came out.
"Tom. You have friends I see."
"Indeed. Including one who enabled our entry."
Teachers could hear as Riddle implicated Vlad, who's face was impassive at best.
"The Aurors are on their way."
"They'll be too late. Go!"
Most of Hogwarts staff were not seasoned duellists, and the fact Vlad stepped forward with the bad guys was probably throwing them off. He ran to Harry, murmuring "do what I say" before dropping the invisibility spell while Death Eaters ganged up on teachers defending students.
"Don't bother with the fight, we need a bit of chaos. Sorry if I shove you too hard."
Vlad must be really fighting himself in order to drag Harry roughly along, Harry's best attempts to resist futile against the vampires strength. Lights and zipping spells burst all around them, but Vlad stopped them where Dumbledore was duelling Riddle. They didn't have long; Dumbledore was fading fast.
"Do it Harry! Do it!"
Trying to remember to look nervous, Harry lifted a shaky hand holding his wand. A high pitched shrieking sound filled the air for a second and several Death Eaters fell over; Vlad was smirking at Riddle, knowing it annoyed him to 'even the odds'. There were three times as many bad guys as good guys on the grounds. Students would be flocking to the windows now to see what was happening. Harry 'hesitated', looked to Vlad.
"Do it!"
Vlad waved his hand and the wave of black cloaks stumbled back, the shriek returning and Harry raised his wand. Dumbledore turned, facing him full on. He lifted his own wand, surrounding them with some kind of smoke that would become a fierce shield should he complete the spell.
Green light shot from the two teens, the fog around them fading instantly but the purpose was served. It meant nobody would have seen that Vlad cast the spell. It connected square with the headmasters chest, knocked him several feet backwards before he crumpled to the ground. Quite dead.
"No!"
Several teachers cried out as they saw him fall, saw Harry holding his wand still in front of him. Vlad shook his head, pulled his own wand and grabbed Harry before anyone could get too close. Hagrid was on the grass nearby, and he looked so completely devastated that Harry ached with guilt for making him see that.
"Harry? No!"
McGonogall, to ger credit, looked convincingly thunderstruck. Vlad growled at his side, pushed Harry behind him and raised his wand to point up to the sky.
"Mosmordre!"
The clouds tore themselves apart and reformed in the shape of the brand on Vlad's chest; it took a Dark Mark to cast the spell. Then he turned to Riddle, face hard as stone.
"Out of here! Now! Before the Aurors come."
"We should-"
"Let them break first. That was our deal. Or should I let them take Harry back?"
Riddle scowled, but conceded. He couldn't fight the Unbreakable Vow. Couldn't kill anyone there. That was the only reason Dumbledore held up against him so long.
"Let's go!"
The apparition wards were in place, but Death Eaters popped away by portkey all around them until only Vlad, Riddle and Harry remained. Vlad took a few steps away from Harry, turning back to look between boy and dead wizard.
"Harry? Come on!"
Harry looked around, still clutching his wand. He stood silent for a few heartbeats, and then he turned to where Vlad was waiting. Vlad grabbed his hand, placed it on the poison bottle being used as their portkey. They left Hogwarts with the 'knowledge' Harry had been turned, bearing witness to both the murder of the Light Side's leader and the death of their hope in Harry.
-YDHP-
I can't write action scenes.
Smut? No problem. Fluff? Buckets of.
Action? Nope.
Anyway... year five! Don't forget to review. Then go straight over to the start of Year Six.