"Run, Ingrid… Slayers… Run!" Vlad sat up just a little too quickly and hit his head on his coffin before he could open it. "…ow. I've got to stop doing that."

He'd just woken up from a strange nightmare of Ingrid running away from slayers. Vlad knew that it couldn't actually have happened though. Ingrid was still safely tucked away in Stokely Castle.

Over the three weeks he had been at home for the holidays Vlad had developed more of his Vampire traits. He could now use his super-speed, and he was much more in control over his Vampiric fire. The hunger still got to him on occasion, not that living in a place that, during the school year, was packed with humans helped. He, like many vampires, has developed a sharp nose. Not in the physical sense, but rather in the way that he has a very good sense of smell. Because of this, the smell of breathers was both the best thing he's ever smelt and the worst. They really need to smell like the blood that's in them to be be easier to tolerate. Unfortunately, along with all the Vampiric powers he was coming into, he was also developing their intolerances too. He couldn't eat garlic, or stand in the sun anymore. It was a sad moment for Vlad, to realise he can't go for walks around the grounds at Hogwarts in the day time anymore. He'd have to stick to night time visits.

He got dressed, made his way to the Dining Room, and was met with his father, "Good morning, Your Highness. I trust the Chosen One slept well?"

"Give it a rest, Dad." Vlad heard it every morning when he woke up. How could his father think that doing this every day for three weeks wouldn't be annoying?

"I don't care what you do during the day, but at night you should be hunting with me. Two bats out looking for blood."

"There's no way I'm ever turning into a bat. It's disgusting, it's not natural." Vlad glared back at his dad. Nothing ever changes around here, it's always the same.

"There is no greater feeling than soaring high above the earth. The wind under your wings, the moon on your back."

"You're a flying rodent, what's fun about that?" It's always the same arguments, then the same counter-arguments.

"It's not about fun. It's about training you to be Grand High Vampire. Next year, when you come of age, you need to be ready." The Count turned back to the news paper he'd been holding, when a frown came over his face.

"What's wrong? Coffin prices gone up?" Vlad scoffed, it was the most likely thing his father would be frowning about.

"Stokely Castle has been burnt to the ground." Vlad's eyes grew wide, this was possibly worse than coffin prices!

'Dracula residence, Stokely Castle, was burnt to the ground yesterday. There are unconfirmed reports that the eldest daughter, Ingrid Dracula, perished in the blaze.'

"I had a dream Ingrid was being chased by slayers…"

"Yes, I've had that one before. Looks like our dreams came true."

"How can you joke about that?" Vlad said, becoming angry.

"She left you for dead and me locked in a UV cage. If the battery hadn't run out we'd both be a pile of ashes by now!" Vlad turned and stormed off to his room.

Could Ingrid really be dead? The paper did say unconfirmed, and maybe the dream he had was trying to tell him something? Vlad could only hope.

ooo

Renfield came in and tried to offer him breakfast. The Count was having none of it and came into Vlad's bedroom to tell Renfield all about the Vampires he'd forgotten. Unfortunately, like every other day, Renfield fainted at the idea and forgot everything once again.

When Renfield had left, the Count offered him a 'proper' breakfast, and pulled out blood bags from his pocket. "Take your pick. I have all the blood types a growing boy needs."

Even when contained in a bag the smell of the blood leaked through. Vlad had to take a second to take control over his urge to bite straight into the bag. "Not bats, no blood. I'm going to lead a normal life."

"We bought this school, in the middle of nowhere, so we could hide from an army of slayers trying to kill us Vladimir! What is normal about that?"

ooo

Vlad was taking a walk inside the empty school. The likeliness of actually seeing anyone was very low. The only people here on a daily basis was him, the Count and Renfield. Occasionally the Headmistress, Ms McAuley, was on campus but that only happened around once a week.

Vlad was stepping down the stairs when he suddenly felt like he was falling. He landed in the middle of a wood, he saw Ingrid again being chased by slayers. She had to get to the other side of a clearing in the middle of the day. Seeing that she was having trouble standing, it's obvious to Vlad that it's a risky idea. But she does it anyway.

She only just makes it across when the slayers grab her and push her into a tree. "Where is he? Where's your brother?"

"And all this time I thought you were interested in me." Ingrid croaked. Was she ill?

"Where's the Chosen One." The other slayer asked. Ingrid managed to trick them and run in the opposite direction. Vlad felt someone grip his shoulder and a face appeared in front of him.

"Vlad? Vlad, are you alright?" It was Ms McAuley. What was she doing here today? She came in yesterday. "Did you hurt yourself?"

"I-I'm ok, Ms McAuley. Just a bit dazed."

"What happened?"

"I tripped, on my shoe-laces. I'm always forgetting to tie them up." Vlad played off easily. He really had been in Slytherin for too long.

"Okay. Well, just be more careful next time." She turned to continue to wherever she was going, but then turned back when she remembered something. "Is your dad in Vlad? I have some thing I need to talk to him about, concerning the new science block."

"Yeah, he's upstairs. Probably still reading the paper." Vlad smiled to her as they parted ways. "Have a good day, Ms McAuley."

ooo

By the time Vlad had returned from his walk he had made up his mind. He was going to get his dad, they would go to Stokely and look for Ingrid. She was alive, and it wasn't a dream he had this morning. It was a vision.

"Dad, get up! We're going to Stokely to find Ingrid." Vlad banged his fist on his fathers coffin, then opened the lid.

"I'm not sifting through a burnt castle to save a pile of ashes."

"She's alive, I saw her in a vision." At this the Count sat up in a second.

"You had a vision?" He asked, a proud tone edging into his voice.

"I sort of blacked out, and I saw her being chased by slayers. It was like I was there."

With that the Count got all excited. Well, excited for the Count anyway. "Right! We need to beef up your training, see what else you can do!"

"This isn't about me! This is about Ingrid, she needs our help!" Why was he always like this? Why couldn't Ingrid be the favourite child? It would have made life so much easier for everyone.

"She turned her back on us! She wanted to make the streets of Stokely run red with blood, and now it will. With hers." The Count lay back down, signalling that this was the end of the discussion. Vlad wasn't finished yet though, he had to try one last tactic.

"We can't just stand by and do nothing! Everyone deserves a second chance. Mum treats you like dirt, but you still keep taking her back."

"That's different." He argued, still laying in the coffin.

"How?"

"We're not lifting a fang to help Ingrid. This conversation is over." Waving Vlad goodbye and closing his eyes, preparing to shut the lid.

"Fine! I don't need your help. I'll save Ingrid on my own."

The Count opened his eyes to whisper, "Over my dead body." And shut the coffin.

ooo

Vlad had attempted to run away to help his sister after having another vision. He was unfortunately stopped by Ms McAuley. Telling him that whatever was going on, running away wasn't the answer. Vlad had no idea what she was on about, but figured that if he went anyway she would tell his dad and then he wouldn't be able to help Ingrid. So, he went back to his room to wait till nighttime.

When darkness came around, Vlad stood at his window with Zoltan. "I can do this."

"So stop talking and start flapping." Zoltan replied, they had been standing their for a while, Vlad trying to convince himself he could do it. He closed his eyes and concentrated on what a bat looked like. Soon he was flapping off into the night. Zoltan shouting after him. "Don't stop flapping!"

ooo

Ingrid and Erin, the girl who had saved her from the slayers, were sitting in the car trying to restart the engine.

"Who sold you this piece of junk?" Ingrid asked getting frustrated.

"My brother." Erin said defensively. She tried the engine again, only this time it worked. The headlights came to life lighting up someone just in front of the car. Erin screamed.

"Talking of brothers, that's mine." Ingrid got out of the car to confront him. They circled each other, and Ingrid glared at him.

"You got old." She remarked.

"You got sick."

"I can look after myself." She retorted.

"Oh yeah? So why'd you leave Stokely?" He asked raising an eyebrow.

"I got bored."

"You got burned."

She scoffed, "So that's what this is, you're here to gloat."

"I'm here to take you home."

She laughed, "I think it's a bit late to be playing happy families. Don't you?"

"We can protect you from the slayers."

"I can handle them." She flashed her fangs and hissed at him, "And I'm not afraid to use them," She sized him up. "On anyone."

Vlad stepped toward her and used the underlying deep voice and stated, "You'll loose." and flashed his own fangs, eyes turned black and he created a ring of fire around them.

"Now your just showing off."

Vlad made the fire, fangs vanish and eyes return to normal. "Come home Ingrid!" He was begging now. She was sick, she needed medical help that they could offer, "We miss you."

"We?"

"Deep down, he loves you."

"No he doesn't. He never has and never will."

"Give him another chance, he'll prove you wrong."

"Bye Vlad, stay out of trouble. I guess that's what you're best at." Ingrid turned to go back to the car.

In the distance Vlad could here someone talking."Tracking beacon's five hundred meters ahead. Let's hope her brother takes the bait."

"Slayers are coming."

"You're paranoid. Relax, we lost them." Ingrid turned her head to look at him.

"They put a tracking device on you." He reached around her and picked off a small metal device.

"How did that get there?"

"They're looking for me. They must have known I'd try to find you."

"I'm the bait? Well don't I feel special." Ingrid started to keel over, like she was going to vomit.

"You are special, you're my sister." She only got worse, she was almost wheezing.

Erin got out of the car, "Let me help."

"It's okay, I've got it. Open the door." They got Ingrid inside and Vlad gave Erin an important job, "Take her to Garside Grange School, I'll meet you there."

"You're not coming with us?"

"I'm going to throw them off the sent." Vlad flew off to where the slayers were. He flew around the van, and beat it several times to give them a good scare. Then he looked through the wind screen and yelled at them.

"Leave my family alone!" He growled at them and flew off back to Garside.

ooo

Vlad, Ingrid and Erin stumbled through the door into the living room.

"Well, well, well. Look what the bat dragged in." The Count said, in a way that could only be described as a purr. "I told you not to bring her here."

"Nice to see you too, dad." Ingrid sneered.

"Leave her alone, she's sick." Vlad stepped toward the Count.

"Then I'll put her out of her misery."

"You lay a fang on-"

"Silence!" The Count shouted and lightning flashed.

"You can't tell me what to do anymore."

"You think you can defy me? I am your father. Don't ever forget that!"

"Then what are you waiting for? Bite me." The Count turned away from him. "I'm sorry. I had to save her! She's family."

"She's trouble."

"She's not deaf, you know. I didn't want to come here." Ingrid said from her crouched position, trying to stay on her feet.

"Which makes two of us, which reminds me. How is my castle?"

"I told you this was a bad idea."

"You're staying, at least until you get better. Right dad?" The Count turned around not saying a thing.

ooo

It had taken almost a week, but Ingrid was already well on her way to being better. Erin had left as soon as Ingrid started getting better, she seemed almost too eager to leave. Vlad thought it was strange, but let it slide. After all, he'd probably never see her again.

The day after Ingrid had arrived Vlad received his letter telling him that he had been accepted to come back to Hogwarts. However the Count had a different plan for Vlad's school year. He would stay at Garside and train with Antoinette.

Antoinette and Vlad were just about to start their tutor session for the week, but Vlad had more pressing matters on his mind. "Antoinette, you have to help me. I have to get back to Hogwarts for the year. I want the best shot I can at using magic properly."

"Your father wishes for you to stay here Vlad, there's nothing I can do about that."

"You can help sneak me out! Please Antoinette, you're my only hope of seeing my friends again." Vlad pleaded.

"Friends?" She scoffed, "As far as you've told me, you don't have any friends there."

"I do so have friends! Luna has been my friend since we talked in the hospital wing. And last year I made friends with Daphne, Hermione, Harry and Ron." He stated with an annoyed look on his face.

"Yet none of those friends have invited you to visit over the holidays? They haven't sent you so much as a letter."

"Please, I really need your help. I can't trust anyone else here."

ooo

Dear Vlad,

Harry, Hermione and I are staying at Harry's godfathers house for the rest in the summer with my family and some family friends. My mum told me to ask if you would like to come and visit for a week or so? It's okay if you're busy, just let us know within the day and meet me at the Leaky Cauldron in Diagon Alley.

See you,

Ron W.

"Dad!" Vlad called out from his room where a tiny owl had dropped a letter from Ron.

"What in the name of blood and garlic is it, Vladimir?" The Count entered the room with annoyed expression, he'd just come home from a hunt and was ready to go to sleep.

"A friend from school asked if I wanted to go to his house for a week of the holidays. Can I go?"

"No. Vladdy, there are slayers out for our blood, there is no way you're leaving this house." And with that, he left the room.

ooo

"Antoinette, our plan has to be moved forward to tomorrow. I got a letter from Ron asking if I want to stay with him and his family for a bit. I'll reply saying yes, and you can help me get there." She sighed but accepted.

ooo

Hey Ron,

I'd love to come and stay. I can meet you there tomorrow evening at about 7 o'clock. I know it's late, but I can't get there any other time.

See you soon,

Vlad

Ron read over the letter he'd received in reply from Vlad. "Mum! Vlad's coming tomorrow, I need to get to the Leaky Cauldron by seven in the evening!"

"Don't tell me Ronald! Tell your father." Mrs Weasley shouted back to her son.

ooo

It was clear to Vlad that Antoinette was frustrated with him. He knew why, it was because he's arranged to meet Ron at seven. Being summer, at seven o'clock it was only just starting to get darker. Meaning, they could still be burnt alive if they weren't careful.

They had arrived at the Leaky Cauldron with about a minute to spare. He saw Ron standing by the fire, "Hey Ron!" He called and his still fairly new friend turned and smiled at him.

"Hey Vlad. Is this your mum?" Vlad saw he was talking about Antoinette, he laughed. It wasn't an outrageous assumption, she had ridiculously pale skin just like Vlad, and she had the same dark green / blue eyes. But that's where the similarities end.

"No, Ron this is my tutor Antoinette Knight. Antoinette, this is Ron Weasley."

She smiled and put her hand out to shake his, he took it. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr Weasley. I trust you and your family will take good care of Vladimir?"

"Of course we will, my mum's the best carer ever!" He grinned back at them.

"I'll be leaving now Vladimir. Make sure to keep up with your homework. I also took the time to send a reply to Hogwarts, garlic knows he wouldn't send it himself even if he wanted you to go back." She whispered to him, though Ron had a confused expression on his face, making Vlad think he may have heard what she had said.

"Come on Vlad, we better get a move on or we'll miss dinner!" They left via the floo, which Vlad had never used before but thought was quite ingenious.

ooo

Once Vlad had put his bags upstairs and officially met everyone who was staying in the house, they started dinner.

"So Vlad, you transferred to Hogwarts for third year, right? Where'd you go before that?" This was Sirius Black. Vlad remembered the night when he had helped to keep him alive by diverting Professor Lupin, but he didn't expect to see him here. He is still a fugitive.

"Well, before my family moved to the UK we lived in Transylvania. Because of the location, there was no real way for any magical school to take notice of me. Then, once we moved to Stokely, it was already too late for me to start at Hogwarts because the school was already underway. So my Dad sent me and my sister to the local muggle school for the year. After that I got my Hogwarts letter and my Dad hired a tutor so I wouldn't be left behind." Vlad said, then moving back to his meal.

"And what is it, dear, that you wish to do after school?" This time it was Mrs Weasley. Though she told him to call her Molly it just felt a bit strange to do so.

"Honestly, I've never really thought about it. I know what my Dad expects me to do. He wants me to become the new head of the family as soon as I'm of age, and then all he will expect of me then is to protect said family. Well, that's unless a family member leaves the rest for dead. He makes exceptions for that." Vlad noticed the strange looks he was getting, so he explain in the vaguest way he could.

"Just before the start of fourth year my sister was a bit distraught by her boyfriend dying that she went a little crazy and left my father and I to die. Luckily we were able to escape but it was a close call." To be honest, they just looked more confused.

ooo

Vlad had enjoyed the week and a half of staying at Grimmauld Place, he got to meet so many amazing and hilarious people. Ron's brothers Fred and George were great and so much fun to prank with. He to talk Sirius Black, he learnt who 'He who must not be named' was. Clearly no one thought it was important enough to tell him about who "He" was, even when the man had just come back from the dead. He talked with him about his time at Hogwarts and the experiences he had. But most helpful of all, Vlad and Sirius talked about family expectations, how draining it all was and the best way to deal with it until you can get away from it all. It was also kind of awkward when Remus showed up, they just kind of looked at each other and turned away. There was a silent agreement of everyone else present not to bring it up.

Vlad, Ron, Harry and Hermione were all settling down in a compartment in the Hogwarts Express. Harry apparently was getting nightmares about the night of the last task, he didn't blame him. Vlad probably wouldn't want to leave the house if someone he'd become friends with died in front of him by the man who killed his parents.

"Hey Vlad, I didn't bring this up before because I thought you might not want to talk about it with everyone else around." Ron said quietly from the opposite side of the compartment from Vlad.

"Yeah, what is it?" What could Ron have to ask that he would be uncomfortable with talking about in front of people he didn't really know? Oh wait, you could probably make a very long list.

"When I came to get you from Diagon Alley I heard your tutor whisper to you. She said something about your Dad not wanting you to come back to Hogwarts this year?" He asked, it was supposed to be a statement, but Ron wasn't 100% sure if he had heard correctly.

"Umm… Yeah, that's true. He didn't want me coming back this year. I don't think he even knows that I'm coming back. He would rather I stayed at home and trained with Antoinette. He trusts her, he doesn't trust or even know any of the teachers here. For all he knows I could be learning about mindless twaddle. So yeah, he wanted me to stay home this year." Vlad looked out at the platform as the train began to move away from it. This was the first time he hadn't been dropped off by Antoinette, it was strange. He'd gotten so used to her, yet he knew basically nothing about her. He knew her name, that she was a Vampire, she knew a lot bout wizards, and she knew his father quite well. There was surely a lot more than that to his tutor.

ooo

The Hogwarts Express had arrived at Hogsmeade Station and everyone, minus the first years, got into the carriages. As Vlad, Ron and Hermione were getting into one with Luna, Harry stopped.

"Harry, is everything okay?" Hermione asked, clearly as confused as the rest of us as to why he had stopped.

"The carriages, they're not normally being pulled along are they?"

"What are you talking about Harry, they're pulling themselves like always." Hermione was really worrying for her friends, Vlad just wasn't sure why. He had no idea what Hermione was talking about, there had always been those horse like winged creatures pulling the carriages.

"I can see them too. Don't worry, you're just as sane as I am." Luna replied. Vlad was confused, why can only some of them see these things? What had changed with Harry that he could see them now too?

ooo

When they population of Hogwarts, first years included, had settled down at their tables, Dumbledore's welcome speech had been said, and the yearly warnings of banned things and places had been given, the students were finally allowed to tuck into their food. Vlad was sitting at the Slytherin table talking idly with Daphne. They told each other about their holidays, what they liked, what they disliked. What their parents had tried to make them do, for Vlad that was to not come back to Hogwarts, for Daphne that was to sign a betrothal contract for her and Draco's marriage. She 'politely' refused. Unfortunately, his family and her's were rather insitent. Apparently he'd much rather be engaged to Daphne than her pretentious little sister Astoria.

He couldn't even begin to imagine what life married to Malfoy would be like. By the way he treats everybody else in his life, Vlad found it quite easy to say that he would never treat Daphne the way she ought to be treated.

They were in the middle of discussing the probability of Daphne's parents forcing her into a different marriage with someone more awful than Malfoy. This time she wouldn't have the option of shifting it over to her sister. If it were the case she might even regret not taking Malfoy, at least they were almost friends.

They were laughing at the idea of someone being more of an arse than Draco Malfoy when the doors burst open. Everyone stopped talking to see who was walking in. Vlad's smile dropped and he moved his head to his hands. "No no no no no…" If he kept looking away maybe they'd disappear. This was, unfortunately, not the case.

Vlad heard the footsteps make their way up to the head table, then stop. "I'm looking for my son."