A/N First of props to those who spotted Quicksilver. A few people have mentioned Ginny and her involvement. I plan on doing something with her that I have never seen before so you can understand if I'm just a little tight lipped about it. For those of you who don't like her, she won't be around again for a couple of chapters but she does have an important role latter on. A/N
Chapter 5
Cloaks and DaggersThe room he entered looked like a small apartment, a cozy living room with a hallway leading off to the left and several closed doors to the right. An archway separated a dinning room from the living room he was in now. Not having anything better to do Harry took a seat on one of the couches and admired the vase on the end table.
"Do you like the vase?" Harry turned and regarded the newcomer, he was an older man. Mid sixty's perhaps, it was hard to tell when magic was involved. He originally had brown hair, kind of what Remus had called salt and pepper colored, but now it was streaked with gray. He was wearing a simple suit bottom, a starched shirt and a vest that didn't match. He appeared out of place within the opulent room. While his face showed a slightly amused smile his steely eyes regarded Harry with a hidden cunning that told him that this man was not to be underestimated. The man was carrying a briefcase in one hand and a small vial in the other. As the man walked forward he downed the potion inside, Harry thought he recognized it as the same potion he'd drunk only a few minutes before.
"It's from the Ming dynasty. I always forget what year it's from, but no matter. You didn't come here to hear a doddering old man's tales did you?" The man placed his case down on the table and opened it, while giving Harry a disarming smile. Harry didn't return it.
"You should relax sonny, the whole point of the memory potions is that neither of us will remember this conversation. Anyway I didn't introduce my self. Gregory Zirlienski, and who do you want to be?"
"Excuse me?"
"My specialty is forging documents, people don't come to me unless they want to create new identities. Who are you?"
"Dimitri Darracun."
"Did you just pull that name out of your ass or do you already have some documentation?" Harry handed him the forged muggle ID.
"I've recently moved from around here, so now I need a magical record to back it up."
"I can do that. It's complicated but doable." He pulled an odd looking device from his briefcase and handed Harry a hollow tube about the size of one of his fingers with a wire connecting back to the device.
"Just place you finger in that… No use your index finger, it will fit." Harry did as he was instructed and felt the sharp prick that meant his blood was being taken. Although this time it was accompanied by a humming sensation that he hadn't felt before. The machine appeared to be a printer of some sort because it spit out a sheet of paper that was shimmering under the layered effects of magic. After the machine was done the paper returned to normal and a birth certificate appeared, his. Not Dirmitri's but Harry's.
"What's the meaning of this?" Harry grabbed the man by the collar, only to feel the point of a pen that the man was pressing to his neck. The way he held it Harry was certain it was a wand in disguise.
"No need to get aggressive Mr." He looked at the paper. "Potter. Aren't you glad that neither of us will remember this when we're done." As Harry relaxed his grip and sat back down Gregory sat back and put his pen wand away. He picked up the sheet and browsed it, presently he looked up frowning.
"You've done something to permanently muddle your magical signature." It wasn't a question. Harry merely nodded.
"Well that actually makes my job a little easier. Since these files can't really be faked we have to have an inside man renewing the concealment and befuddlement charms on our doctored files. But since your magical signature has changed we can give your new identity this magical signature and then not have to worry about discovery unless someone approaches your records with a blood sample." He once again removed his wand and began to mutter several charms in a dialect that Harry didn't know.
"So tell me about this Dimitri. When's he born, how old is he, who are his parents? You know, everything that would be in a person's magical file, schooling, criminal record, etcetera."
Harry spent the next hour with Gregory, hammering out the details of Dimitri's life. When the finished Dimitri was twenty-six, and had graduated in the middle of his class from Drumstang. He had worked with the local crime syndicates as an enforcer for a few years until he had been caught by aurors. He had testified against his former bosses in exchange for a lighter sentence and now that he was out he'd left the country to avoid his old acquaintances that were more than slightly upset with him. Harry chose an Ex-con as his new persona because it would not only explain any darker spells he knew but would also detract suspicion about him possibly being the boy-who-lived. After all there was no way the golden boy would hide as a former criminal, right?
"There you go Mr. Potter." Gregory pushed a pair of file folders across to Harry. "Give the top one with the ministry seal to Mr. Maximoff, the other is for you to keep. Harry picked up the documents and headed for the door. Before he left he watched the man pull out another vial of something and down it. The man's face took on a blank expression like someone who had been obliviated before Harry closed the door. The guard outside said nothing but led him back to the room he had started in. Harry handed the guard the files Gregory had given him and sat, a few minutes later Pietro came in, again with the case. Harry paid the second installment of the fee and was given his weapons and a vial of the same potion he saw Gregory drink.
"I'm supposed to drink this?"
"Of course, we guard the names of our master spell crafters quite jealously." Seeing the bodyguards closing in Harry picked up the vial and tossed it back. The stuff tasted strangely sweet, well sweet for a potion. Then his world dissolved into colorful mist.
"Mr. Darracun?" The man in the suit and robe, Pietro was standing over him… But that didn't make much sense he'd just met the man and… he'd taken that potion they'd offered him.
"What did you do to me?" Harry stood, only partially wary of the way the bodyguards moved for their weapons.
"Nothing you didn't agree to. Here." Pietro held out a folder to him, when he took it he found the documentation that would make him legally Dimitri Darracun. "It was a pleasure doing business with you Mr. Darracun. Should you ever need anything please don't be hesitant to come back. Boris will show you out." Boris gestured for Harry to follow so with a quick farewell Harry followed the man back into the restaurant portion of the complex and out the front door. It wasn't until he was outside that Harry noticed that the ceiling of the underground. When he had gone inside the ceiling was charmed to give a disperse glow, now it was dark with projections that resembled stars. Night had come to Daliborka road. Harry wished he'd bought a watch earlier.
Well I am in a shopping mall of epic proportions that comes alive at night, no time like the present.
Snapping out of his trance Harry headed down the street, the ritzy shops around here might just have something good. The first shop he entered sold accessories but the only watches they had were either covered in gold and gems, or looked far to effeminate for him to be caught dead in. The second shop though was a literal jackpot. The store was smaller than the last and down one level but Harry was certain that he'd find what he needed here. 'The Temporal Connection' had the air of an antique clock shop mixed with a much more modern muggle establishment. Harry was certain that the place had muting charms over all the various wall and grandfather clocks on display. You could hear the slight ticking but it looked like it should be louder. Harry passed clocks that told time, told the phases of the moon. He saw clocks with hands like the Weasely's clock that told location and reminded the owner of their schedule. There were a few sundials, moon dials and something that must track the planets and stars motions he guessed. The watches were all under the glass at the counter, again Harry saw all sorts of styles, from the electronic devices that had been the trend with muggles last year to pocket watches.
"My I help you sir?" Harry looked up from the counter to an older man who had been previously sitting behind the counter.
"Yeah. I need a watch."
"This is for you or a gift?"
"For me." The man hopped off the high stool he had been sitting on, he was actually about a head shorter than Harry had first thought.
"Well I do most of my small jobs as customs anyway, so pick out a frame and then I'll get what features you want. All right?"
"Yeah." Harry looked back down to the watches, frames he now realized, while the man disappeared into the backroom. After looking at about ten models Harry decided on a silver watch with a metal wristband. It had four buttons on the edge of the face and what looked like a turn able device surrounding the face. Harry straightened up standing next his chosen frame and waited for the clerk to come back. He returned a minute latter with a book as thick as many of his old school books. The clerk sat it on the counter and turned it so that it faced Harry and opened it to the contents.
"So do you know what you want your watch to do, beyond tell time of course?"
"Well I want that frame." Harry pointed and the clerk nodded appreciatively. "But as far as features I don't know what you have to offer."
"Understandable. I'll start by showing you the packages; they don't take half as long to create as the fully custom ones. We have the homemaker option." Harry shook his head before hearing what it did. "The outdoorsman…" When Harry didn't say anything the clerk elaborated. "The outdoorsman has a built in wand element that can cast two types of light charms, a cutting charm and a simple incendiary charm. The watch also has a compass, and a height meter." Harry could already cast those spells wandlessly and a compass was nice but not needed. He shook his head.
"Alright, well there's the Alchemist's model, the Auror's model..." Harry perked up at this. "The Auror's model contains a tracking device and can log and track not only the device but also the locations of up to ten other Auror model watches. Each watch in the group can also be used as a short range communicator." While that watch was certainly neat and useful in groups he wouldn't need it, so he motioned the man to keep going. "There's the techno version, that's real popular among students. Has a futuristic digital face, an arithmacy calculator, and can record several minutes of sound. It also has a miniature wizardling wireless connection…" He stopped after seeing Harry's disinterest.
"Perhaps you would be interested in the espionage model?" Seeing Harry's renewed interest he flipped the book to the proper page. "Mind you it's just a name, as far as I know I've never actually sold one of these to a spy, but they're still useful. The primary charm is a variation of the tracking device on the Auror model that alerts the wearer when people are paying attention to them, it comes with a display that can show up to ten potential threats and their locations relative to you. Don't activate it when you are the center of attention or you'll overload it. The second feature is a notice me not charm that extends to cover the wearer, this charm is limited to only five minutes of operation before it has to recharge. The final feature is a portkey hub. You can create up to five different portkeys in the watch and switch between them with a command phrase. You'll have to create the actual portkeys yourself though." Harry read the information besides the package in the book.
"I like it. But the frame I want has four buttons, can I have an extra ability added?"
"Of course, it will only take time. Do you have any ideas about what you would like your forth ability to be?" When Harry shook his head the clerk pulled out an order form and began to write down the specifics.
Harry scanned the pages, there was an air toxicity scanner, an alarm. That might be a good idea, but he didn't see the need of one. He saw stopwatches, lunar cycle charts, even potion instructions. Still none of the options seemed particular useful.
I wonder? The store's name was Temporal something or other.
"Sir." The clerk looked up from the half completed form.
"Did you decide yet?"
"Actually I had a completely unrelated question. Do you sell time tuners?"
"Those are not only very dangerous but very, very illegal. Of course not, but I do sell temporal distortion generators, they aren't illegal. Just expensive."
"What do they do?"
"Well when activated they speed up time in the area inside the generators bounds. The only model I sell doubles time inside, so say a person can get a good nights sleep in four to five hours." The clerks smiled, he knew when he'd made a sale.
"Can you include one of those in the watch?"
"Well the device itself is too large to include but the activator can fit on the watch."
"I'll take it."
"I assume you want the normal charms on your watch right, unbreakable, waterproof…"
"Yes, can you include anti-summoning charms as well?"
"Those aren't generally part of the anti-theft package but yes. Considering your paranoia would you like a notice me not charm on the watch as well?" Harry nodded.
"Its not paranoia if they really are out to get you."
"Which is why I run a nice shop and try not to make enemies. Your total is eighty-seven galleons without the time distortion generator. Including that your total is… 560 galleons. Your order will be done in twenty-four hours, considering the cost I'll need a ten percent deposit. And I'll need a name to keep it under.
"Darracun." Harry paid the man and left to look around the rest of the shops before they all closed and the clubs opened. He hadn't planed on it but it did appear that he would be staying the night in Prague.
In a curio shop two doors down he brought an older model scrying mirror. It was supposed to be able to help a person 'see' anywhere that wasn't warded. Harry didn't know how to make it work but it certainly looked cool, Neri on the other hand probably knew how to make it work. He also picked up several detectors that could be tuned to wards. They might prove useful for a project he planed on working on as soon as he was free. By this time the ceiling showed only stars and the streetlamps were lit. It was around eight when Harry checked into a local inn and left his purchases in his room. After changing into an outfit he had brought between the curio shop and the inn he went back out, this time looking for something to do, at least until two or so when the time zone change would make him feel like it was late enough to sleep. He was now wearing a pair of black jeans and a silk shirt.
Harry wandered into a club on the highest level; the place was dark with black and red backgrounds. Strobe lights, punk rock music from a local band and fog machines permeated the air. Sitting at the bar Harry ordered a drink and sat back to people watch he though the term was called. A woman in fishnets, black lipstick and violet hair turned to face him from where she was sitting.
"Aren't you a bold one. Most humans steer clear of this place." She looked across the room to where an elevator door opened and several obviously drunk tourists, muggles from the look, stumbled out. Each one was quickly split up by a group of men and women that appeared to have been waiting for them. Harry watched for a bit longer when he noticed one of the newcomers sagging against the person she was dancing with. As the couple spun Harry could make out a line of blood dripping down her neck.
Harry let out a small burst of magic and noticed the returns as the energy bounced off various people and came back to him. It was a form of legilimency that allowed you to spot people and he knew that people without occulmecy barriers came back differently. Sure enough much of the population of the bar had natural occulmency shields. Not the kind that you could train yourself with but the kind that a turned vampire would have. Harry turned to look at the woman next to him. Her violet eyes watched him closely for any sign of fear he guessed. Harry shrugged.
"There was no private entry sign on the door so no one should care right? After all you're not exactly a vampire yourself." She showed a sign of being upset, but only for a second before she smiled. Her violet eyes sparkled as one of the strobes flashed by them.
"I'm a lot closer than you are, my name's Cassandra. You are?"
"Just Dimitri."
"Well what brings you to the Ravager just Dimitri." She took a sip of her drink, while she didn't seem to be a vampire her drink was most certainly blood.
"Just a night out before I left heading west. After all they're all such prudes past, say Amsterdam." The two feel into a routine of flirting over the next half an hour. Harry was certain that she knew he wasn't really interested in her, after he had turned down two invitations to come with her downstairs. Cassandra didn't seem to care and just wanted company. As the night progressed a different crowd came in. These people came with the muggles who filtered in before being feed on and let lose with modified memories of a drug spree of some sort. These groups were obviously vampires but seemed to have little class and on average were younger and much more vicious than the ones that had been here when Harry came in. One in particular looking to all the world like a biker, save the tattoos and the muscle and the coolness came up to where he was seated.
"What have we got here, a mighty uppity wizard? Come all the way in here on a dare. Or maybe your just an idiot muggle?" The vampire leered, while Harry mentally evaluated the aggressor. His thoughts weren't nearly as shielded as the others, which implied that he was weaker than the others.
"He's with me Vladski, just lay off him." Cassandra spoke up. Harry who would admit had had one drink to many wasn't the least bit scared of this drunk vampire. When Vladski rounded on Cassandra Harry deduced that while she may be a regular she wasn't very well liked.
"Shut your mouth filthy 'pyr.' If you know what's good for you you'll just back off and leave me in peace. Before I have to do something fun to you." The drunks leer just increased. Cassandra shuddered slightly, at this point Harry decided to step in just as Vladski bared his fangs and made a grab for Cassandra. He stopped and blinked before he realized that Harry had grabbed his hand, on his own he couldn't match the vampire's strength but by pumping his magic into his grab he easily held the man away. The vampire wrenched his arm away and sneered.
"A lowly human dares to touch me!" Perhaps it was the noise of his shout or what it implied but Harry suddenly found all eyes on him. Cassandra looked at him with pleading eyes.
'Please drop it. It's not worth it.' She sent telepathically.
'No can do, he was going to blacken upon your honor.' He sent back. Actually he only sent it because it sounded like the thing a knight in shinning amour would do. Mainly he just planed on kicking this creep's ass because he had been in a bad mood since Gringotts yesterday and wanted to hurt someone. The asshole vampire would do just fine. Her eyes widened and even without having to send it he knew she was thinking that he was insane.
"Lowly would imply that you are somehow better than scum wouldn't it?" Harry asked the completely livid vampire, all the while readying his mental defenses and preparing to transform. More and more vampires and the completely lost, and to high to care, muggles were gathering around waiting for the fight that was coming up. For his part Vladski got even madder, he was snarling and starting to froth at the mouth with rage. When he spoke spittle flew from his mouth.
"I challenge you to a duel of blood!" The crowd instantly surged and Harry felt an alien magic fall around him dampening his abilities and preventing him from transforming. The crowd pressed in and pushed the two towards the elevator. Cassandra moved up next to him so he could hear her over the vampires who appeared to be placing bets on how fast the human died.
"Do you have a death wish Dimtri?" She hissed.
"Not really, mind telling me what's going on, something dampening my magic."
"You were challenged to a duel of blood. Both of you are powerless until he decides on the formal terms of the duel."
"Don't both parties generally have a say in duels?"
"Not when you insult a member of a ruling family inside their own coven." She hissed. Harry gulped.
"You could have mentioned that before hand." He bit out. The group was pushing into the lifts, which had expanded to fit the fifty or so vampires and muggles that surrounded him. When the doors opened they were moving out into a large chamber. The place was an arena with a sand covered center and stone benches all around. Before he was separated by the crowd Cassandra wished him luck and took a seat with the others that kept coming in. Apparently word had spread because more people than had been in the bar were filling the benches when Harry was pushed into the ring and the door closed behind him. A jumbo-tron like device on the wall to his left was displaying the odds. They had one and a half to one odds that he would die in the first thirty seconds of the fight. Vladski walked into the ring from the other side he was grinning from ear to ear and licking his lips in anticipation. A robed older man rose from his seat on the right. The arena instantly quieted as he raised his hands above him. Harry could feel the magic pouring off of him.
"A duel of blood had been justly called." The elder turned to Vladski.
"What are your terms?" The vampire grinned with his fangs fully elongated.
"No wands. Duel to the death." The crowd broke into exited whispers but quieted as the elder turned to Harry.
"In accordance with the regulations of a duel of blood your life is forfeit if you break any tenants." Harry felt the alien magic lifting off him.
Great if I run the magic of this duel will kill me, can't let him live either.
"Does the challenger have anything to say?" Harry glanced at the board, which was now showing a close up view of himself.
"Yeah. Can I bet on myself?" The scattered laughter and the lack of a response from the elder led him to believe it to be a no.
The elder raised his hands again and them let them drop. There was sound like a gong and Vladski began to run at him, the vampire was fast closing the thirty feet gap between them in seconds. Some people laughed as Harry stood still and closed his eyes, they expected he was waiting for death. When Vladski was five feet away his eyes flashed open. On the wide screen the close up showed his eyes completely black. Then he disappeared in a flash of black mist. Vladski stopped short, and wasn't ready when Harry reappeared behind him, elbowing the vampire in the shoulder blades. As the overbalanced vampire went flying the crowd jumped up screaming in appreciation, what they had expected to be a quick bloodbath looked like it would be a true fight. Some people who had obviously bet big on Harry dieing in mere seconds were booing. Vladski leapt to his feet snarling and charged. This time Harry moved in levitating himself just off the ground, the result was that he was just as fast as the enraged vampire. With a flash of flame Vladski vanished and Harry sensing the attack teleported to the side.
The battle became running fight of teleportation and quick strikes. Harry who was avoiding using some of his more obvious dementor powers and the full extent of his wandless magic was at a disadvantage and after the seventh teleport exchange was bleeding from his left arm. Vladski had taken more hits but the vampire looked no worse for the wear save a busted lip. Vladski raised both of his hands at Harry and slashed his wrist with those sharp claws of his. With a motion of his hand he flung drops of blood at Harry, whatever magic he was using transformed them into fireballs and Harry threw up his hands creating a pale blue shield that caused the rapid fire balls to ricochet all over the place, before striking a deep red spectator shield surrounding the arena. Again Vladski blinked as he obviously expected Harry to not be able to defend himself wandlessly. Harry with his hands still raised flicked his wrist and unleashed a torrent of lightning at the stunned vampire.
Vladski shook out of his daze and disappeared with a bamf sound. He reappeared to Harry's left and struck out with his elbow. Harry still casting was caught by surprise and fell to the ground. Vladski took this opportunity to leap at Harry but met the full force of a windmill kick as Harry jumped back up. Leaping into the air Harry landed on top of the vampire and channeled his magic into the next strike. The sand in the arena flew up in a shockwave that traveled out from the impact zone. Harry jumped up and danced backward, dodging a kick from Vladski who was now holding his limp right arm, from where Harry had shattered the bone. Harry ignored the pain in his left arm as he deflected another kick and stuck the vampire with an open palmed strike. Vladski spun and pain arched from his arm where the vampire had sliced his arm with a hidden knife. Harry clutched his arm in pain trying to stem the blood flow. He felt light headed and swayed, realizing that the knife had been poisoned.
Dirty bastard.
Apparently he wasn't the only one who thought that using a weapon was breaking the spirit off the rules. As Vladski stalked forward Harry could feel the poison shutting down his internal organs. While a dementor could fight even as it body died he wasn't completely a dementor and would have to wait until his body was dead to move again, not that he wanted to die at all mind you. Harry got his chance when Vladski grabbed him and sunk his fangs into Harry's neck. As he loss more and more blood he wondered why Vladski wasn't worried about the poison. Completely at a loss of what to do he remembered a conversation he'd had with Neri.
FLASHBACK
"While people call it the dementor's kiss you really don't need to actually kiss them to draw a soul out of someone's body. Its primarily a battle of wills."
"How exactly do I do it?" Harry asked.
"It's really instinctual, you just know." Harry shuddered he had wanted to know how so he could stop himself from doing that to anyone.
END FLASHBACK
Right now he though he could make an exception. Harry unleashed his aura to full force, the spectator shield frosted over as it absorbed the attack. The walls iced over and the sand began to freeze. Harry tilted his head and clamped down on Vladski's neck. While his teeth never broke the skin his bite was far worse. Vladski, who had been in the processes of draining the life out of him froze and stood still as his soul began to fight against Harry. Perhaps someone of unnatural strength of soul and unfailing character could fight back against the vortex of darkness. Vladski wasn't one of those people and his body slumped over as his soul left the shell. The crowd could no longer see through the spectator shield but when Harry stopped draining and rained in his aura the elder vanished the frost. Harry currently was bathing in the power he'd just drained and wasn't watching while the rest of the people took in Harry with a blood red aura swirling around him like an ugly storm. Flashes of black lighting could be seen in the cloud as it swirled closer and closer to Harry finally disappearing inside of his body. Harry was using the massive burst of energy he had just drained to clean the poison from his body and heal the many minor cuts and the two large cuts on his body. When that was completed he turned to the soulless husk that had been Vladski, an unspoken incendio sent the body up in flames. Felling the rising and singing magic he identified with the blood duel leaving he transformed back into his normal form, and promptly sunk to his knees. With out the magic he had been leaching from the very air he was completely spent. He had lost far too much blood.
Again the elder rose and the room silenced. The older vampire waved his hands in a complicated fashion, the spectator shield fell and the doors to the arena opened.
"The challenger has won." The elder turned around and walked off, shaking his head. Harry was able to pick up the words imbecile and son before he was drowned out by the cheer of those who had either bet heavily on Harry or just liked a good fight. At this point Harry passed out.
When Harry came to he was looking up a vaulted ceiling. The wood was a deep dark color and he could see oil lamps in the corner of his vision. Harry rolled his head he was in a large bed, at least king sized. The sheets were a mixture of silk and satin, both deep red with black lace. He groaned and tried to sit up, only to be pushed back down by a hand. Turning he realized that he was on the end of the bed. A woman in a French maid outfit was watching.
"That was quick, we expected you not to wake up until sometime next week. Wait here."
"Like I can do much else." Harry called after her as he set up and positioned himself against the pillows and the headboard. The room had a Slytherin feel to it. Harry wasn't exactly sure how the designer had managed with the blood red and black bed and furniture, but the carpet was the Slytherin shade of green with silver trim that continued up the walls. The room was large, even though it had no windows the amount of open space and the spacing of the furniture made the place seem open. The door the maid, or was it nurse, had exited clicked open and two people entered. The first he recognized as Cassandra, but without the make-up and skimpy clothing. Now she wore the conservative robes he associated with wizards. The other was the older vampire he'd assumed was an elder of some sort. Up close he was much more intimidating than Vladski had ever been. The man's features were definably aristocratic and pointed. His black hair was styled in light waves. But the feature which gave away his age was his deathly pale skin, and his eyes. They were a deep shade of indigo and had the knowledge of centuries in them. The way he carried himself was that of a king, or a warrior completely assured of his power. His robes where deep shades of black with blood red trim. The man's, or more than likely vampire's taste in fashion could rival Voldemort in its dourness.
"How long have I been out?" Harry asked without preamble while rubbing his head like he had a headache. Truthfully he was making sure that the illusion covering his scar was still in place. It was and he relaxed a bit.
"Seven hours. It's almost sunrise." Cassandra answered. The older man walked up to the bedside and sat, apparently on air until he conjured a chair as he was sitting down. Cassandra handed Harry a glass of deep red liquid before conjuring a chair of her own and sitting.
"Drink." Harry obeyed until he tasted what it was. Harry held the glass away and made a face.
"It's blood."
"Vlad turned you and you lost a lot of blood. This will get you on your feet the fastest."
Harry gulped at that announcement but took another sip of the blood. While it still tasted foul he felt less repulsed by it with each sip. When he had finished half of the glass he looked back at Cassandra and the older man.
"What do you mean by turned?"
"You were bitten by an attack meant to kill and you survived. You also managed to absorb some of his blood during the fight. While it is not enough to fully turn you, you are still part vampire. Additional blood will complete the transformation… relax the blood in the glass is from one of the muggles that was there." The older man who had been speaking stopped when he saw Harry eyeing the glass speculatively. The older vampire gave a slight bow.
"I am Barron Darovingi of clan Draconis. You've already met my daughter Cassandra and my son Vladski."
Shit!
"Shit!"
Hell did I say that out loud?
"It wouldn't matter I heard you say it twice." Darovingi answered.
"Oh. Look I'm sorry about your son…"
"You don't need to worry about that. In death my idiot boy did much more for the clan than he did during his entire life."
"Excuse me?" Harry was officially lost; most fathers cared when they lost a child.
"Vladski is responsible for your turning, you carry the blood no matter how faint of clan Draconis. He inadvertently made you his son by blood before he died. So I have lost a son that I have been ashamed of for the past twenty years and gained a highly powerful grandson." Darovingi smiled cryptically.
"Wait I never signed up for any of this."
"It doesn't matter, you are here and therefore bound by the magic of the clan. Drink, the faster you do the faster you'll recover. If you would keep drinking you'll be back on your feet by morning." Cassandra prompted.
"What exactly do you mean bound?" Harry questioned.
"She means that the magic of the clan will protect you and it will prevent you from either shaming the house or overtly striking down a member of the clan. As I can sense you plan on leaving here as soon as possible I think that you will find the magic of the clan will only help you overall." Harry took a long gulp of the glass.
"I still don't understand, why are you not mad at me."
"Vladski was the oldest eligible vampeal and as such was fathers heir apparent." Cassandra answered bitterly. "With him gone father can name one of his younger turned children heir."
"If you would allow me to complete the transformation I would gladly name you heir." Darovingi added in.
"No thanks, that's ok." Darovingi stood, his chair disappeared the moment he wasn't touching it.
"Very well. I will come back to speak to you latter." With that the elder turned and left with the same fluidity and grace that he had entered with. Harry's gazed followed the elder vampire out of the room before settling on Cassandra. Without the white make up on her face looked actually more alive. Odd when vampire seemed to conjure a pasty faced and pale image. Her deep violet eyes were currently focused on him and shown a mixture of emotions. Anger seemed to be the most evident.
"What the hell where you thinking!" She demanded. Harry saw a blur and felt the sharp sting he associated with being slapped. "Did I ask you to stand up to him? You could have been killed."
"He was going to hurt you…"
"And you just jump up and save everyone you come across?" She practically screamed. Harry paused a moment thinking about his life.
"Well… yeah." That caught her short, she obviously hadn't planed on him answering that way.
"Oh…" Harry sighed.
"Look. I'm sorry I got involved. I just didn't want to see you hurt." She smiled.
"That's so sweet. Are you sure you're not single."
"Yeah. My girlfriend would do unspeakable things to me." Neri probably would after all, unspeakable things like sucking his soul out. Yep sleeping behind her back would be a bad idea. Not to mention that after you've felt the sting of betrayal you are less likely to inflict the same pain on others.
"You know. You are taking your turning far better than most do." Cassandra changed the subject. For his part Harry shrugged.
"I guess it hasn't sunken in yet or I just really don't care. Will I have to alter any of my daily routine?"
"Probably not, your only like one sixteenth vampire. Your sense, relaxes, speed and strength will increase a little. You will also find sunlight irritating, but nothing big. You have to be a full vampire before light becomes hazardous. Even then feeding offers protection from the sun, it just tiers you out faster. Speaking of which." She picked up his almost finished glass of blood. "Drink. You'll heal faster that way."
"OK. Ok." Harry finished the last of his cup and put it on the coaster at his bedside. Cassandra rose to leave.
"Dimitri. I just want to say thank you. For everything…"
"Cassandra!" She stopped and turned.
"Yes."
"I was hopping you could tell me why you sounded so bitter earlier."
"When?"
"When you told me about the oldest heir. Why aren't you considered an heir? Is it because you're a woman?"
"No."
"Well." He prodded. Cassandra sighed and took a seat.
"Blood is important to Vampires. Vladski's mother was a vampire as well so he got credence over me even though I was older. My mother was a fae, which makes me a vampyr. We're not considered full vampires by society. Kind of like your world's interest in purity of blood."
"Oh. Sorry for bringing it up."
"That's fine." Although it was clear that it wasn't. "I'll leave you to rest." With that the violet haired woman rose and left without a word. Harry sighed. He'd obviously hit a sore spot. Rolling over Harry tried to get back to sleep, vaguely wondering what would happen to his stuff should he miss the check out time in the inn.
When Harry awoke again he was alone. He rose from the bed feeling much better, well much better than someone who by all rights should be dead. It was only as Harry walked around that he noticed that he wasn't wearing what he had on last night. Blushing furiously when he noticed even his underwear was different Harry opened the nearest closet. His outfit from last night was hanging up, the damage done to it probably meant he'd never wear it again. No amount of cleaning charms would get all the blood out. Still it could be salvaged. Harry transfigured it into something unfortunately plain, yet wearable. Once dressed in his clothing Harry pocketed his wand and wallet, they had both been on the bedside table. Then he made his way out of the door he'd seen the others use earlier. As there where no windows he had no idea what time it was.
Harry ended up walking down two hallways before a maid, actually the same maid from earlier, stopped him. A quick conversation and she pointed him towards elder Darovingi, who wanted to see him before he left. Darovingi's office was on the twenty fifth floor. When he stepped on to the lift he realize he was on B7. Another odd thing was that all the floors between P2 and B4 were charmed invisible, but he could see them. All the floors bellow B4 were the same way except with a more powerful charm. As the lift rose it stopped at L and about ten people in suits boarded. They talked as the lift rose; ignoring Harry and ignoring the fact the lift had enlarged slightly to comfortable enclose them all. As they got off Harry got a look a modern office setting, when the doors opened to twenty-five Harry stepped out into what could only be a modern office. The receptionist, who no matter what she was wearing was obviously a witch, said that Mr. Darovingi was expecting him and pointed down the hall. Harry got a good look at the down town section of the city as he walked past the glass windows. Cassandra had been right, as long as the sun was out it was like looking directly into it, Harry was forced to squint. Especially since it looked no more than nine in the morning and the sun was still rising. When Harry entered Darovingi's office he was thankful for the sudden lapse of light. Darovingi had a corner office but he had metallic blinds that closed out the sunlight completely. A medieval style chandelier provided light, even though the candles had been replaced with bulbs. Bookcases and shelves covered the walls, some had little knickknacks that reminded him of Dumbledore's office. Save none of these things were so obviously magical. Darovingi sat behind a massive oak desk at the rear of the room.
"Ah good to see you up and about so early Mr. Potter." Harry drew his wand in an instant, though it was by instinct. His brain was still caught up in the word Potter.
"You can put away your wand Mr. Potter. If I meant you harm I would have done something earlier. Take a seat." He motioned to a chair by his desk. Harry dumbly obeyed and took several seconds to regain his voice.
"How?"
"Oh. That illusion of yours is very powerful. Most people even with my magical power wouldn't have been able to see through it. Your mistake was assuming that no one could ssspeak the language you cassst it inssss."
"You can speak Parseltounge?"
"Yes. Its one of those fun talents that makes for an excellent party trick, and complicated glamours I suppose." Darovingi sat up in his chair and rotated it to face Harry head on.
"I meant what I said earlier. It would be both an honor and a privilege if you were to formally join my clan."
"I'm sorry sir. But that really isn't possible at the moment. I have several things to take care of in England."
"You mean that nasty business regarding your fugitive statues?"
"That and that dark lord problem they are experiencing."
"That will be entertaining to watch. Who are you going to bribe for a pardon?"
"I didn't do it. I'm going to clear my name." The elder raised an eyebrow.
"Oh. Not that it matters in the long run, but what then? Wizards in the UK are quite close-minded. A vampire won't be welcomed."
"I don't know. But I have to do that first."
"Very well." Darovingi snapped his fingers and summoned a book from a bookshelf on the other end of the room. He checked the spine and then tossed it to Harry.
"These are notes on the unique powers of Clan Draconis, as well as a description of basic vampiric strengths and weakness. Look over this and please feel free to return here when you are finished with your quest. Floor B3 opens up to Daliborka road, have a nice journey, of course if anyone asked we've never met Mr. Potter. And don't lose that book." Harry rose from his seat and headed to the door, before stopping, there was one question he wanted to ask.
"Oh, just one more question. What exactly do you do here?" Harry gestured around him.
"Do you have to ask? I'm a lawyer of course."
Floor B3 opened up to an underground lobby whose glass doors opened into the morning rush of Daliborka road. Harry stepped out into the press of people and made his way back to the inn he had checked into but never slept in. After gathering his previous purchases and paying he went to the clock shop to pick up the watch. As promised the maker had the watch expertly done. Harry was still admiring the silver watch as he traveled to the nearest exit to the muggle world, it wouldn't do to activate the return portkey inside such a crowded and no doubt monitored area. The muggle side of Prague was just as busy in the morning, it took Harry half an hour to walk to a less crowded section by the river. Standing beneath the alcove of a bridge and the riverbank Harry activated the temporary wards needed to stop anyone from tracking him. Once that was done He spoke the activation word 'home' and with a tug behind his navel he was off.
Harry arrived back inside his warded home. He put his purchases down and collapsed on the couch, earning a startled hiss from Artimis.
"I've been gone for a day and you haven't movedss."
"I've been digesssting." She simply answered. "What did you do anyway? You ssmell different but sstill look the sssame?"
"Thiss and that." Harry paused for a moment. If Darovingi could see through his illisuion… "Artimiss can you ssee a sscar on my headss?" He lifted his bangs.
"Yesss. Am I ssuppossed to not ssee itss?"
"No. Jusst checking ssomething. I'm going to go back out. Do you want me to get you anything, like a ssspecific place to sstay or more foods?"
So snakes and parseltounges can see through parsel glamours. Note to self don't use this against Voldemort.
"I'm fine for now, but I like skunksss."
"Skunkss?"
"Yess. Nice juicy sckunkss."
"I'll remember that." Harry rose from the couch and moved the few things he'd brought upstairs. The next part of his plan would require a bank account and a bum.
The bank account was easy, with his fake ID Dimitri Darracun had no problems opening an account and transferring a couple thousand galleons into it. Lovely exchange rates were at a five to one ratio today. His next stop required just a little more work, but not much. He found the seediest part of west London and rented an apartment from a landlord then he paid for three months in advance. The place was a dive but was just large enough to suit his purposes. He transfigured garbage the last users had left into ratty but serviceable furniture and created the illusion that someone lived in the two-bed one bath apartment. Walking outside it didn't take him long to be approached by a man dressed in rags.
"Spare some change?" The man had unkempt hair and smelled like he hadn't washed in a week.
"Actually I might be able to help you out even more, Mr…" The beggar shifted worried at what angle this guy was playing.
"Kenneth. What are going on about?"
"You got a place to stay Kenneth?"
"I already got enough of a place, you a cop or something?"
"Far from it. See I need a roommate. Someone who can live in my apartment over there." Harry pointed to the building to his left. "And tell anyone who comes looking that I'm not in."
"This is some set up right?"
"Not for you. Well do you want it? Three months prepaid water, electricity and shelter. All you got to do is cover for me."
"Police aren't going to bust the door down looking for you?"
"Possibly, but unlikely. Hey if your not interested just say so. I'm sure someone will want a place to stay."
"Wait. Now don't get all hasty. I didn't say that." Ten minutes latter the pair had moved all of Kenneth's things into the apartment. While they were moving Harry quietly placed a type of memory charm on Kenneth that would prevent any legilimency scans from reading any of his memories related to himself. True the spell had side effects but Harry was certain that Kenneth wouldn't mind casting at half strength.
"I don't plan on being around again. Remember if anyone is looking for Dimitri Darracun he's out most of the time. Oh and after three months if you want to stay you'll have to deal with the landlord. He looks like a right ass to me."
"Sure thanks." Kenneth was spreading out several years of accumulated rift raft on the floor. Harry nodded to him and left, Dimitri now had a place to stay and appeared to be a legitimate ex-con. Phase three of operation 'clear self' involved making himself known and unsuspected. Catching the real killers would be complicated, not to mention that Harry planned on killing them the moment he ever laid eyes on them again. He would need to gain access to ministry and muggle records. For that he needed a reason to hang around. As Harry walked down an alley towards a deserted place to apparate he heard a hoot and immediately raised his wand. An owl circled lower and dropped a letter in front of him before flying off. Harry preformed a battery on detection and concealment charms on both himself and the letter before picking it up. All the while wondering how an owl had penetrated his anti owl spells. No letter for Harry Potter should get through. Turning the letter over he chuckled when he realized both how the owl had found him and who the sender was, not that he was certain that he really wanted to read a letter from her, but then again she had sounded remorseful in the Leaky Cauldron. The letter had been addressed to 'The boy with green eyes like a pickled toad.'
Dear Harry,
I realize that you might not want to hear from me now, but I have wanted to talk to you for over a year. I don't believe you are capable of doing all the things that you were accused of. And even if you had done them I believe that we should have stood by you. I want to apologize for my family's behavior. I wanted to say something earlier but I wasn't allowed to speak to you. I also realize that you have no reason to forgive us. If I were in your position I would leave and never look back. I'd like to speak with you but that would be selfish of me and dangerous for you. The Order is looking for you as well as Tom's people. Please don't get caught. Again, I've needed to tell you this since last year. Sorry.
Love,
GinnyHarry folded up the letter and pocketed it, she did care. Either way nothing she could say would change his current course of action. Speaking to her at this stage of things was just too dangerous. Of course he would still see her sooner than she thought. With the sound of a gunshot the Good Samaritan that had helped a beggar out vanished from west London.
Harry reappeared at the apparation point in Knockturn alley. After transfiguring his clothing into simple brown work robes he walked up to the Dancing Dragon, a noisy pub with a much less savory clientele than say the Leaky Cauldron. Taking a deep breath he readied himself.
Phase Three. Showtime.