~^Chapter 7~^

July 25, 1991; 3:00pm, Hellsing Headquarters, East Wing Master Bedroom

When Walter entered Harry's room carrying a tray of tea and biscuits he was slightly shocked at the messy state of things. Books and parchments littered the bed and surrounding floor, while old, dusty looking clothes and robes were draped on top of the writing desk next to the window. The trunks obtained from Diagon Alley were open in the middle of the floor, contents being shuffled through by one Lord Harry Potter.

How one small boy could have ransacked his room to such an extent in twenty short minutes was beyond the retainer as he carefully sat the tea service down on the least cluttered surface he could find. The event was shocking considering the boy's seemingly shy state earlier. Walter would have assumed that Harry would have been too afraid to alter anything in his room, even if only by spreading his belongings about.

When the boy caught sight of him, his curious expression immediately closed off, becoming blank. Walter shrugged it off despite the mild concern nagging at the back of his mind. The boy had been abused for Lord only knew how many years, of course it was understandable that he would be wary around adults. Rather than mention it the butler simply nodded and smiled slightly, standing at attention near the door.

"It is good to see you settling in, Harry. Sir Integra has given me leave to escort you into town tomorrow morning for new clothing. Until then I am afraid you will have to make due, as we have no clothes stocked in the manor that would fit you. In the mean time, do you have any questions? I believe I have some time to show you the main points of interest so that you are not forced to stay in your rooms the rest of the day."

Silence prevailed for several moments as Harry seemed torn between keeping his silence and voicing something to Walter. The retainer did his best to look inviting. Honestly, dealing with children was not his forte. He must have managed it fine enough, as the boy finally spoke up, albeit quietly and slightly hesitant.

"May I... speak with Sir Integra?"

A sigh fought to escape the butler as he shook his head. The one request the boy made willingly, and he could not comply.

"I am afraid Sir Integra is extremely busy right now. She is a very important individual in several circles. However, perhaps if there was something you wanted to ask her, I could do my best to help in her stead."

Silence encompassed the room for several long moments as the child's expression slipped back into an unreadable mask. The look on one so young... Not even Walter could ever recall truly mastering his own emotions at that age, despite his own... hardships. He was surprised when after another minute the child spoke slowly, face carefully blank. Quite frankly that look was beginning to unnerve even the hardened, master, vampire hunter.

"Are... there any records or items left, from my ancestors?"

Walter straightened his back and coughed, a nagging feeling that he was being watched causing him to glance around alertly as he pondered his response. The feeling seemed to intensify the longer he took to answer, and a subtle glance at the boy revealed that he was staring firmly at the ground. After a moment he concluded that indeed, a certain black haired vampire must be lurking about against Integra's order. Privately, Walter was somewhat relieved. He respected Integra and her wishes, however he doubted she had taken wholly into account that the boy had a right to know of everything in the manor, as its rightful owner.

There was no doubt that Alucard would think of a way to circumvent his master's orders eventually, if something were not done to assuage his curiosity where Lord Potter was concerned. Walter knew for a fact, from Sir Arthus Hellsing himself, that Alucard's creation was aided wholly by the Potter family's knowledge, and even some of its magic. The boy was doubly in the right to know about him by that fact alone.

Coming to a decision he was sure to regret once Integra found out about it, Walter bowed shallowly and beckoned for the boy to follow him out of the room.

"Of course, Harry. Follow me. The Hellsing family kept to the agreement and still possesses all items that were in residence when the deed was signed over to Abraham Van Hellsing. Most of the things that could be, were moved to the basement. Largely to preserve them, but also due to hazards they may have posed to those unwielding of magic. The largest store of items that are in the manor proper are in the library."

As they moved through the halls, Walter pointed out rooms of interest as they passed. The boy remained silent through out it all, but at this point Walter had come to expect such. The presence he had felt in the boy's room followed, and a time or two Walter spied bits of shadow moving of their own accord. Once at the library, Walter excused himself, leaving Harry to wander the large room at his leisure.

The butler paused once the doors were firmly shut behind him, and turned to glare pointedly at a swath of blackness within a shadow near the doorjamb. After a moment the shadow sprang to life, growing and reforming into the grinning vampire.

"My, my, Angel, going against the Master's wishes? Tssk."

"Assuredly not. Integra has given me leave to see to the boy's needs. What he doesn't need is one such as you startling him and scarring him even more."

Alucard grinned and shrugged, glancing carelessly towards the closed library doors. He took a step towards them before being brought up short as Walter's glare intensified. His grin slowly slipped away, a curious look over taking his features as he eyed his friend up and down. After a moment he blinked slowly and smirked.

"Hmm... it seems... Has Walter Dorneaz, the Angel of Death, found another chick to take under his wing? I think you underestimate Lord Potter; he already knows of my existence."

Walter stood up straighter and looked affronted before the vampire's full words sunk in. Shock stole over his features before he carefully schooled them into mild curiosity.

"Oh? How could he possibly know? I doubt his... guardians," He sneered at the word. "would have informed him."

"His mother was a wise woman. She left him clues in those letters he received from the wizard bank. He wishes to know more of me... I believe even now, he searches the stacks for references to the 'No Life King'."

Walter glanced sharply at the door to the library and sighed heavily after a moment of thought. His gaze was laced with venom as he stared Alucard down.

"Integra will hear of this... Do not startle or scare the boy, Alucard. We must make careful progress to break him of old habits if he is going to be of any use to us. I am afraid that if you wish to make yourself known to him, you will have to forgo your usual theatrics."

Alucard blinked and seemed startled at the butler's sharp tone, his pupils dilating slightly as he stared for a moment. Finally he shrugged it of and smirked.

"My 'usual theatrics'? Really, Walter, you should know by now that subtlety is a fine art I learned ages ago."

"If you say so. Simply keep in mind that if you enter that library, and the boy comes out traumatized in any way, Integra will more than hear of it."

With that, Walter turned on his heel and continued on his way, changing his intended direction to lead him by Integra's office. Alucard kept his stare on the butler's back until he was out of sight before turning to stare ponderously at the door. His Master's orders were clear, and reinforced with will. However, Alucard grinned and chuckled under his breath, his Master failed to account for the fact that Blood was much stronger than simple bonds. He could smell the boy's blood from the basement the second he stepped foot in the manor. Surely, Harry Potter was of the original Wallachian line; Alucard's blood was still flowing strong.

Without hesitation, he stepped through the door, drawing himself in and dispersing into the shadows of the jam, before reforming on the other side. He paused once on the other side, cocking his head and glancing around. The child was out of sight, lost in the massive stacks within the room. A sly smirk spread over his lips as he stepped silently, stalking his prey, following the steady heartbeat and scent of blood just out of reach, beneath the flesh. Despite his recent glutinous feeding habits, he salivated at the scent of the power that the small, timid, boy possessed flowing within his veins.

Walter's warning, and his Master's will, clear in mind, he forcefully stifled the hunger. For once he was willing to forgo his usual way of dealing with situations such as this. His curiosity was far too strong to risk scaring his prey away by intimidation and predatory actions. Silently he slipped through the shadows of the room, melding with them as he moved around the boy's current location undetected. Although, he could almost swear he spied the child twitching and glancing at his corner once or twice.

Watching the boy for several moments, he could clearly pick out the tell-tale signs of abuse. The over large rags the child wore did well to conceal it all from most people- Alucard was not most people. Discolored, yellow skin around his neck and collar bone indicated that the child had been struck, or perhaps briefly strangled by something large and thick. Like-wise, the unnatural tint of yellowish skin around his wrists, and on his cheek were evidence enough, let alone the brief flashes of scent of fresh blood. Most normal people would be unable to easily pick out such things, though, Walter obviously had seen most of the damage for himself.

The child also moved carefully, obviously favoring areas of damage. Even thinking himself alone within the expansive library, the boy moved slowly and cautiously, peering into every nook and cranny he passed with wide, expectant eyes. Quite frankly, the runt didn't look like much, but by god, Alucard could certainly see the potential that Walter and his Master did. Despite being unable to sense his true power, the humans could easily read the potential asset an already half-trained soldier could be. Especially one who held such superficial control over their entire organization as it stood currently.

Slipping ahead of the boy easily, Alucard spied the perfect place to stage his entrance. The back of the library was far more impressive, and concealed, than the lounge area near the doors. Large, picture windows presented an excellent view of the back yard and training grounds. Sparse sunlight filtered in through the gray clouds that had begun forming overhead. The scattered rays of light were what Alucard was interested in, as he silently snagged a book from a nearby shelf and seated himself in the center of the brightest streak.

Busying himself with looking busy, and attempting not to squint too overly much from the damned light, Alucard could hear the boy moving in his direction. In a moment he would clear the shelves and get his first glimpse of the No Life King. But of course, the boy could not know his true nature immediately, such would scare him off. No. The trap was set, and the predator needed to wait patiently for the unfortunate prey to stumble in on its own, lest it escape entirely.

His careful estimation was indeed correct. After a mere four minutes pretending to read, a scuffling announced the arrival of his little mouse. The vampire focused quite dutifully on the book, even managing to read a paragraph on botany, as he waited patiently for the mouse to take the bait. Several long moments of silence encompassed the room, as the boy stared at him warily from the shadows of the stacks, brilliant green eyes glinting oddly as the sparse light reflected on his glasses.

Despite his attention on the book, Alucard quite easily took in the details around him as well. The boy wavered uncertainly between the shadows, standing almost unnaturally still, though his eyes darted equally wary glances at the windows as Alucard. He did not appear to be afraid at the new, unexpected presence, merely curious and uncertain of what to do. Strange, considering his reactions to Walter and Integra.

After a lengthy wait, the child finally emerged. Alucard artfully kept his attention on the book until the quiet foot steps would have been convincingly audible to human ears. Glancing up with idle interest, the vampire tilted his head, a look of curiosity and vague surprise in place as he beheld the presence for the 'first time'. At the stare, the child stuttered to a stand-still, face blank, though Alucard could easily smell his nerves.

Voice quiet and with a hint of soothing, Alucard addressed Lord Potter, "May I help you, little one? I was unaware that Sir Integra would be having a guest this evening."

The young lord blinked slowly, obviously (to Alucard) building his courage to speak to this stranger. Reclining in his seat, Alucard waited patiently, very careful to keep his demeanor relaxed and nonthreatening. It only took a moment before the child responded. Privately, the vampire was delighted at the words.

"I'm not a guest... I'll be living here... I'm sorry, but who are you?"

The last was stated a touch hesitantly, and far more quiet than the first statements. But such a question was more than enough of an invitation, in the vampire's view. Keeping up the charade, Alucard hummed thoughtfully while giving the boy a mildly assessing look.

"I had heard that Sir Integra was considering adopting someone of the old blood lines. You shall do nicely as the new lord of this estate, once you become more experienced. I'm sorry, I've been rude. My name is Alucard. And you?" Barely managing to suppress a grin, he leaned forward in his seat and sat the book aside, giving the boy his full attention.

"Harry, sir."

Genuinely waving the boy off, the vampire scoffed, "Call me Alucard. The formality is appreciated, but far from required. I have worked for Sir Integra for a long time. Perhaps I could give you a history lesson. Or, do you have any questions, Harry? Certainly I can do my best to answer them. After all, one does not find themselves within a library with no intent in mind."

The bait was set within the trap. The little mouse took it faster than Alucard was expecting. Though to the child's credit, not once did he relax his guard or show his emotions. His scent betrayed his turmoil, but curiosity slowly lit within his eyes. He was incredibly hesitant to speak again at first, but Alucard's open expression and relaxed posture seemed to put him slightly at ease.

"I'm... looking for something. It might not even be a book."

"Oh? Libraries really are wonderfully places to find a little bit of everything. Perhaps an item, or information?"

"Er, both?"

Nodding sagely, Alucard slowly rose to his feet, stooping his shoulders slightly to give the illusion of being weak or infirm. The movement caused Harry to tense up sharply and flinch. Pretending not to notice, he motioned the boy to follow him into the stacks, taking a rout which steered him from passing directly near Harry. He followed a familiar dizzying path through the stacks, ears easily detecting the heartbeat following behind, if not the sound of his silent footsteps. Lord Potter was almost as well versed in stealth as any formally trained soldier, Alucard repressed another pleased smile.

Eventually the maze of shelving once more opened up, this time into a small alcove which held a door. Opening it easily, he entered first, predicting Harry's possible discomfort at being blocked from the exit. The room within was a circular study, dimly lit by candles which never seemed to burn out, the walls lined with bookshelves. A large desk sat in the center. Books and odd items littered every surface, most of them obviously not mundane in origin.

With a flourish, Alucard perched himself on the edge of the desk, twitching his feet back and forth restlessly to keep up appearances. After a pause to allow Harry to catch his bearings, Alucard motioned around.

"Browse as you wish, simply be wary of some of the items. Some have minds of their own. I believe the more interesting to you may be on that shelf."

He pointed to a specific shelf to the side of the desk, where several books were lined up neatly. As the boy creeped over to look, a triumphant, toothy grin finally slipped past Alucard's mask, though it was quickly stifled. Clearing his throat quietly to get Harry's attention, he stood and slowly approached, a predatory swagger to his walk which the boy immediately picked up on. The flinch was expected, as Alucard's hand shot out to snag one book specifically.

Shooting the boy a clueless, innocent, smile, Alucard handed him the book and recaimed his seat on the desk. Personally Alucard was quite pleased with his own act. He hadn't had a chase like this since he had pursued the wench, Wilhelmina. True, he very much preferred the thrill of a real hunt, but one such as this held its own charm.

Turning his attention back to the present, he commented, "That book holds some interesting history regarding the Hellsings. The first four chapters are rather droll, I prefer the enticing details held towards the back. Page one-hundred and six, if I recall correctly."

Remaining relaxed, he watched with an expectant smirk as Harry leafed through the pages of Arthur's research journal. Slowly coiling his power, he waited until the last possible moment before dispersing, shadowy particles slowly fading to join the natural darkness created by flickering candle light.

The book nearly slipped from Harry's hands from shock and dismay, as he stared down at a sketch on the page. Alucard's mocking grin seemed to jump out of the paper.

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Note: Long time in coming, thanks for your patience. My writer's block and real life finally allowed me to finish this chapter. It had been sitting collecting dust despite my efforts to finish it. For those of you who asked: No, I have no intention of abandoning this story. If I were planning on abandoning it I would delete it from the site entirely; people who do otherwise piss me off. I make no promises on the promptness of the next chapter, but it will come eventually.