The welcome back speech, sorting ceremony, and introducing new teachers were all over quickly, Dumbledore almost definitely had a big announcement. At least, that's what his housemates thought.
"Students, new and old, today is a very special day. We welcome students from two other wizarding schools to take part in an extraordinary event. First we welcome Beaubatons Academy of Witchcraft!" The doors burst open and a group of very attractive girls in silk uniforms walked into the room enchanting every male Vlad could see. Honestly, Vlad wasn't so sure what the fuss was about, there were plenty of pretty girls at Hogwarts already so what was so special about these ones?
"They're Veela, at least partially" He heard one of the jealous looking girls whisper to another. "Just look at all the boys. They haven't even seen them for more than two seconds and they're already fawning over them."
"Sorry to interrupt, but what's a Veela?" Vlad whispered across the table, as they were sitting opposite them.
"Some of the girls from Beaubatons," One of the girls said, she than glanced at him and did a double take, this boy, Vladimir Dracula if she wasn't mistaken, wasn't affected by them like the others. He really is strange. "A Veela is a siren like creature, very pretty but lethal. They attract the opposite sex like a siren, but they only have one person that they can be with, if that person dies they die of heartbreak. And that's only the good stuff, if you make a Veela mad they turn into a Harpy like creature. Not the best company to keep."
"Thanks for the insight, erm..?" Vlad looked at her curiously, remembering that he didn't know her name.
"Greengrass, Daphne Greengrass." She held her hand out over the table to him.
"Vladimir Dracula, call me Vlad." He took her hand and they shook. Even though he knew it was pureblood custom to kiss her hand, by the way she held herself he could tell she didn't really care for that sort of thing.
Once the girls from Beaubatons finished their performance Dumbledore spoke up again. "And now our second school, Durmstrang Institute of Wizardry."
Once again the doors burst open but, instead of pretty little French girls, they were greeted with tough surly men, it seemed inappropriate to call them boys no matter their age. They walked down the middle of the room and one of them made a snake out of fire that circled the room before disappearing.
It was then explained by Bartemous Crouch that one student would be picked from each school to participate in the Tri-wizard tournament. To make sure nothing was rigged the selection processes was to be carried out by the Goblet of Fire, who choses the most worthy of the students names placed in the cup. Bartemous then explained that, because of the history the tournament held, only wizards and witches who are over the age of seventeen could enter their name into the game. This caused some riot, especially on the other side of the Hall at the Gryffindor table.
ooo
Vlad, as well as everyone else in the Hall, was confused. How on earth did Harry Potter manage to be chosen as a fourth Champion of the Tri-wizard Tournament. Dumbledore himself had drawn the age line, and there's no way he would ask someone to put his name in for him, was there?
It was nearly a week until the first task, he was taken away from his thoughts by someone calling his name and running toward him.
"Vlad… Vlad..! Vlad!" He looked up to that it was Hermione coming toward him.
"What do want Hermione? More accusations?"
"What? No! I need your help, Harry is really freaking out. We found out that the first task is Dragons!"
"Dragon? What do you want my help for?" He looked up at Hermione.
"Not me, we." She took a step to the side revealing that Harry was standing behind her.
Vlad knew he would probably live to regret this one day, he sighed and said. "Okay, fine. What do we need to do?"
ooo
Whilst sitting by the Black Lake reading one of his Vampiric Studies books, Vlad was approached by a small group of about 6 girls from Beaubatons.
"Can I help you?" Vlad looked up and smiled when he saw the girls walking toward him. He stood up to greet them.
"We were just wondering what such a handsome man, such as yourself, would be sitting by the lake all alone reading a book." The girl at the front of the group spoke, Vlad got the idea that she was the unofficial leader of the group. Or official leader, Vlad didn't really understand girls that weren't his sister.
"I'm only fourteen, I'd hardly qualify as a 'man'." Vlad was more than a little confused, these girls were gorgeous and clearly at least two years older than him, why were they even talking to him?
"He's modest too!" One of the girl near the back almost squealed. This was getting weird.
"Would you ladies like to sit down?" Vlad asked politely and they giggled.
"Vladimir Dracula." He held his hand out to their 'leader'.
"Fluer Delacour. It is lovely to meet you Vladimir."
"The same to you, but please, call me Vlad. I've heard some strange things about all you girls from Beaubatons, something about Veela heritage I believe. But for that to be true you would have affected every male in your presence, and while I'll admit you're all very beautiful, I am not trapped in any kind of enchantment."
Fluer raised an eyebrow at him. "I knew there was something different about you. I also think it goes farther than anyone at this school could possibly know."
ooo
Vlad had spent the rest of the afternoon talking with the group of girls. He got to know them all a little bit. Fluer's dream was to become a high end fashion designer in Paris. Abrielle was trying to make it big in Quidditch but no one ever took her seriously because she was "just another pretty face". Violetta was super smart and really into muggle sciences, which surprised Vlad considering nobody he had met here before her even knew what science was. Lyla was basically the funny one in the group and her friends all thought she would make a great comedian, but what she really wanted to do was help change the world by becoming an environmentalist. Elise's ambition was to become a Potions Mistress, her Grandfather had mastered the profession himself before he passed away and she admired him greatly, that much was clear. And Claire was really still trying to figure herself out and where she wanted to go after school, she did, however, excel in Defence Against the Dark Arts. Vlad suggested she look into becoming an Auror.
Vlad walked into the Hall with his new friends. Unfortunately the girls had promised to sit with their other Hogwarts friends from Ravenclaw, so they parted at the door each hugging Vlad goodbye.
"We had a great afternoon, Vlad." Fluer smiled at him and leaned in for a hug and kissed his cheek.
"So did I." He whispered back and quickly left to his own table.
Vlad only noticed the stares he was getting from the entire male population when he sat down at his now usual spot on the Slytherin table. When he did, he instantly felt uncomfortable. What have I done this time!? Vlad thought, truly he had no idea what could be causing this. And why only the males?
"What was that about Dracula?" A boy from a little further down the table, who he recognised as Marcus Flint, glared at him.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"The Beaubatons girls, and not only that, the hottest Beaubatons girls. Guys from Hogwarts and Durmstrang have been trying to get them to notice us since they got here. And you just waltz on in and suddenly their all over you! How is that fair?" Flint looked angry, really angry. Vlad knew the girls were Veelas but did they really have that much effect on males as to make them so angry about another guy hanging out with them? Apparently.
"Maybe it's because I wasn't trying to get in their pants. Maybe it's because I wasn't all over them first. Or, maybe it's because every other guy in Hogwarts and Durmstrang are all total arses. Take your pick." Vlad had captured the attention of the whole of Slytherin. Everyone in Slytherin knew that you could torment anyone in your house as long as they were in your year level or below, unless your name is Draco Malfoy, then you're basically untouchable. For Vlad to have said these things to his higher up he was sure to be punished. Likely to be mostly psychologically and a little bit physically, and probably in the Slytherin Common Room where only those in the House could bare witness.
Then Vlad noticed nobody had said anything. Not even the 'mighty' Draco Malfoy. Vlad began to think it was because he had just insulted the male population of two whole schools. But then he saw that everyone looked almost scared when he looked at them. Then he heard a small first year whisper at him in a shaky voice. "W-what happened t-to your eyes!?"
Vlad quickly conjured a mirror, something they would be covering later in this years curriculum, and looked at himself. His irises had turned red. Now he was scared, this was a normal trait of a powerful Vampire, a 16 and up Vampire. He was only fourteen, and he was already showing more signs than just hypnotism. He wasn't even angry, or doing something really evil, why would they have turned red.
So, instead of sicking around for more people to see his eyes, he walked out of the Great Hall almost stumbling into a few people who were running late.
ooo
Dear Ingrid,
I know we haven't talked since the whole "Chosen One" thing, but something strange happened today at dinner. I was telling an older student in my house that the girls from the school that's visiting didn't like him because he's an arse. Then everyone started to look at me funny and some first year told me my eyes had turned red, so I conjured a mirror and he was right!
I didn't want to tell dad because I just know he'll get all 'My Vladdy's growing up!' on me.
Can you tell me what's going on?
Thanks,
Vlad
ooo
"Slytherins! In the next week I will be tutoring you all in classical Wizarding dances in preparation of the Yule Ball. A tradition for the host of the Triwizard Tournament to run. I believe that there is something better we all could be doing instead, so to make this less painful, you will learn quickly or there will be consequences." Professor Snape looked out at his students. How he wished he wasn't a House Head so he could be back in his office giving bad grades to irritating Gryffindors. He was almost distracted by the thought, until he saw a hand rise out of the crowd.
"Professor, all of us already know the classic Wizarding dances." Draco Malfoy said with a smirk, then turned his head to look at the Dracula boy. "Well, those of us who are important enough."
"Mr Malfoy, you assume the Mr Dracula does not know the dances, yet he comes from a family purer than your own." Severus loved riling up his Godson from time to time. Especially in front of his peers, where he couldn't complain to his 'Uncle Sevvy!' about how 'unfair' he was being.
"If you think he knows them sir, then why don't you make him demonstrate?"
"What a wonderful idea, Mr Malfoy. Mr Dracula, Miss Greengrass! Come forward and show us how it's done." Snape shared an amused look with his Godson, he knew full well that Vlad was unlikely to know Wizard dances. He was raised by Vampires after all.
"Daphne, do you know any dances from Transylvania, hell, I'm more likely to know a dance from even Romania as a whole, than any from here!" Vlad whispered frantically, this was not a topic he had studied with Antoinette! What was going to do?
"Lucky for you, I know dances from all over the world. One of them happens to be the Carpathian Vals, that originated from Transylvania didn't it?" Daphne whispered back.
"Yes! Yes it did. Let me change the music." Vlad flicked his hand toward the gramophone and he watched as the label on the record changed, and it started to play.
"What the hell is this? Professor this isn't any kind of classic Wizarding music!" Malfoy was getting annoyed, he was sure that because of Vlad's out of the way upbringing he would not know how to dance to a Wizard song, and he was right! This wasn't what was supposed to be playing.
As Vlad and Daphne glided around the floor Vlad replied to Draco. "You're right Malfoy. It's not a Wizard dance, it's Carpathian. Isn't that right Daphne?"
They smiled at each other, "It sure is Vlad."
"Besides, Malfoy, who wants to dance like boring Englishmen when you dance like a fiery Romanian!" Vlad grinned a genuine grin. As they continued the dance got more and more heated, especially for 14 year olds.
"Alright!" Snape called out, waving his wand to stop the music. "I think that's quite enough of that, don't you?"
Vlad whispered a small "Thank you." In her ear as he escorted her back to her seat.
"Hey, do you want to go to the Ball with me? That is, if you're not going with anyone already." A blushed raised on her cheeks as she blurted words without thinking.
Vlad smiled. "Daphne, how could I be going with someone else? We only just found out. So yes, I would love to go to the Ball with you."
Daphne's unusually shy smile turned into a grin as she waved goodbye and walked swiftly over to her friends.
ooo
Dear Vlad,
Normally I'd tell you to ask someone who cares, but considering the circumstances I'll tell 're experiencing some of your Vampire powers, but I think you already knew that much. Normally it comes around closer to a Vampire's sixteenth birthday, but of course there are always exceptions for the Chosen One, aren't there. If you care about keeping your identity a secret, you should try not getting angry at people, and don't try to bring them down a notch or two. That's what triggered the eyes, you weren't angry, you were, shall we say, putting him in his 'place'. So basically just be the pathetic little Breather lover I know you to be and you should be fine.
Ingrid
PS. If you tell dad that I sent you a letter I will hunt you down and kill you.
ooo
Daphne looked stunning in her dress robes, the dark grey blue matched her eyes and beautifully contrasted her mid-length blonde hair. So much so he didn't even notice when Hermione walked in with Viktor Krum.
"Wow, she looks amazing…" He heard Daphne trail off.
"Who?" He asked looking out into the crowd.
"Granger! She really dressed up." Vlad turned his head and saw Hermione starting the dance with Krum. Her hair done half up, no longer frizzy and just enough make a noticeable difference.
"Personally I think you look more amazing."
Daphne turned to look at him with her eyes wide. "You do?"
"Yeah, I do." He grinned and wrapped his arm around her waist pulling her closer. "Do you, by chance, know the Carpathian Tangou?"
"It just so happens that I do, yes."
"Okay, I'll be right back." Vlad made his way through the crowd to where Professor McGonagal was about to join the Waltz with Professor Dumbledore.
"Professors!" Vlad whisper shouted. "I was wondering if it were at all possible, that after this dance Daphne Greengrass and myself could perform and dance from my own country?"
"Well I don't see why not. Go back to your partner, and when this dance is over I'll announce you." McGonagall smiled at the boy as he said a quick "Thanks!" And walked swiftly back to Daphne.
"Okay, so McGonagall is going to announce us after this dance."
ooo
Vlad and Daphne waited patiently for the first dance to end, many people joining in. Daphne, wanting to savour their moment for when everyone was watching, insisted that they wait and not join in with the rest. Vlad didn't mind, he hadn't really gotten the hang of the Wizard dances.
Just as the dance was coming to it's end, McGonagall stood on the stage and watched as everyone finished in the final pose of the dance.
"Hello everyone, and welcome to the Yule Ball! Now I hope you all enjoyed the first dance of the evening, but before I let you all back to it, we have some volunteer performers for us. Mr Vladimir Dracula and Miss Daphne Greengrass will be performing a dance from Vlad's home country, Romania. Take it away you two."
Vlad once again flicked his hand toward the gramophone. It started to play the Carpathian tune and the spicy rhythm into the Hall. They danced the moves Vlad had been taught all his life, so, naturally, he didn't miss a beat.
The two spun and stepped around each other. The was dance supposed to depict a 'Romeo and Juliet'-like scenario, it starts with the two not touching each other but very close to. It progresses and as the dance continues they start to add some physical contact, starting with hands and finishing with their bodies pressed together in the final pose. The room burst into applause.
Standing cheek to cheek, Vlad whispered, "I think that was a success."
ooo
Vlad and the population of Hogwarts, Beaubatons and Durmstrang all sat in the Quidditch stands waiting for either Cedric Diggory or Harry Potter to finish the maze. After about a minute after all the Champions entered the maze Vlad had decide that there were many things he could be doing that would be more productive than this. They couldn't even see what was going on in there, it was arguably the worst spectator sport ever! But he knew he had to stay, over the time Vlad had been helping Harry prepare for the tasks the two had become almost friends. Friends enough that he knew he had to stay to 'watch'.
Suddenly, Harry and Cedric burst out of the maze. Everyone started cheering, but Harry refused to move away from Cedric, and slowly people quieted. Cedric was dead…
Harry was being pulled away from him by Professor Moody. Harry was trying with all his might to get back to Cedric and shouting that 'He' was back. Vlad wasn't really sure who he was talking about, though he had a pretty good hunch, but he knew that Harry would need a friend.
So he followed them.
As Vlad walked toward where he'd seen Harry and Professor Moody go, he over heard a bit of their conversation.
"What was it like, in the graveyard?" Moody asked, confusing Vlad. What graveyard?
"Um, Professor? I never said their was a graveyard." He could tell this wasn't good, Harry sounded worried that the Defence Professor knew about this graveyard. It was time for Vlad to intervene. He pushed the door open to see Harry with a massive cut down his arm, and Moody rummaging furiously trying to find something.
"Vlad! What are you doing here?"
"Err… Well, I thought you looked like you might need a friend right now. Because of Cedric and stuff. What's up with Moody?" Moody turned to look at Vlad.
"Vladimir Dracula, right? Well, you may be Harry's friend but he doesn't need you right now." Vlad was just finding everything that was going on in this room to be a bit suspicious. He looked his Professor in the eye and pulled him in. He was so caught up he didn't even notice the other Professors walking in.
"I know you're not Professor Alastor Moody. Who are you, why are you here, and where is the real Professor Moody? Don't try to lie, it won't work." The Professors stared at Vlad. He was clearly controlling the man, getting him to tell the truth. The only spell they could think of to get these kind of results was the Imperious Curse, and that's highly illegal.
"My name is Bartemous Crouch Junior. I was placed here by the Dark Lord Voldemort to deliver Harry Potter to him so he may be resurrected. The real Professor Moody is in the box by the desk." Once he had finished speaking he started to turn back into Bartemous Crouch Jnr. and was soon after taken away by Professor Flitwick to keep him locked up somewhere until he was taken away to Azkaban.
"Mr Dracula, what you have done today was an extraordinary feet. However, as far aw we can tell, what you did was very illegal." Professor Snape drew close to Vlad and looked down at him.
"You obviously were somewhat suspicious of him Professor, otherwise you wouldn't be here. What would you have done to get the truth out of him?" Vlad asked almost curious as to see what a Wizard would do differently.
"I would have made him drink Veritaserum." The man replied still looking down at the boy.
"If I remember correctly, Veritaserum is illegal as well unless administered with consent which I doubt you would have gotten. So really, there isn't much difference between what I did and what you would have done. Besides, how can what I did be illegal, you know out of everyone here that I wasn't using some banned spell." Vlad groaned with realisation.
"Dad is going to be so proud of me. This is the worst day ever, if he finds out this happened he'll never stop talking about it! And he'd never let me come back to Hogwarts! Not after a freaking Dark Lord was resurrected. 'Oh no! You can't go back to there Vladdy, we have to keep you safe.' And then we'll have to move again. Probably to somewhere we wouldn't see people all that often, like Russia. No, we couldn't move there, Dad has too many Russian enemies. I'll have to hope he doesn't go crazy again and suggest moving to Australia, that wouldn't do anyone a favour. And what if-" Vlad was cut off by Snape.
"Mr Dracula, you appear to be rambling. It's more annoying than Miss Granger." Vlad mumbled and apology. He and Harry were then escorted to their respective Common Rooms by their respective House Heads.
ooo
Over the last week since the last task Vlad has been experiencing severe gum pain. His first impulse was to go to the hospital wing, all Madam Pomfrey was able to establish was that he had some new teeth growing through… What…!?
He knew what that meant, that meant his fangs were coming in. He was only just about to turn fifteen in a few months, most vampire don't actually get them until they turn. Some, on a very rare occasion develop them a little earlier, but the chance of that happening to Vlad is like one in a million. The worst part about his fangs coming through was that his appetite started growing and he was becoming much more inclined to go for a rare piece of meat than a nice green salad.
It was Saturday when his fangs came fully through. At every turn he all he saw were arteries and veins pumping blood through necks. It was exhausting just trying to keep his fangs at bay when he could smell the blood, let alone when it was one of the prettier girls walking past. He had to keep his mouth clamped shut and try to get out of any conversation with anyone. All he really wanted to do was write to his dad asking for help, but he couldn't do that. He'd be pulled out of Hogwarts before he could even send the letter.
ooo
"Hey Vlad! We haven't seen you in a while, do you mind if we sit with you for the ride?" Hermione, Harry and Ron walk into Vlad's compartment.
"Not at all." Vlad said quickly, trying to keep his mouth as closed as possible. It was only a few hours until he would be back home where he could freely learn to control his hunger.
"Is everything alright? You haven't really been talking to anyone since the last task. Did something bad happen? Was it Barty Junior?" Hermione was of course the one to notice something was wrong. The all sat down, Hermione next to Vlad and Harry and Ron opposite.
"I'm fine." Everyone in the room, including the ever naive Ron, knew that it was a lie. But right now Vlad just doesn't care, right now he's trying his hardest to keep his fangs from popping out to say hello.
When the train finally came to a stop, everyone in the compartment was relieved. It was the most awkward trip Vlad had ever been through, and it was all his fault. Why could he never be normal? First, he's not a normal kid. Second, he's not even a normal vampire. And now third, he's not a normal wizard. Couldn't his life just pick one path and stick to it?
Vlad stumbled out of the tiny train door and walked over to his tutor.
"Antoinette, get me out of here. Now!" He whispered urgently. Antoinette knew this was not a light situation, and did as he said.
"What happened Vlad?" Antoinette asked when they were back in Stokely, walking towards home.
"The worst possible thing that could happen to an underage vampire trying to hide his heritage in a magical school." Antoinette just looked at him, she had no clue as to what he was talking about. "My fangs came through!" He whisper shouted.
Antoinette looked around the street to make sure no one was there to here them. "Vlad, we need to get you home. Now!"
ooo
Vlas = Waltz in Romanian
Tangou = Tango in Romanian