Chap. 6: Hogwarts Part 4: The Sorting
After Vladimir and Ron had got off the train, they were called by a giant of a man to follow him.
"I remember him..." Vladimir said, and Ron looked at him curiously. "I bumped into him at Diagonally. He was the third person to call me that boy, Harry. He was rather confused when I told him I wasn't. Looked really disappointed, and even looked like he refused to believe it."
"I'll bet it'll be awkward if you have to see him during school." Ron smirked.
"Nah..." Vladimir smirked as well. "I generally don't let stuff like that bother me. I mean, I was raised by an organization that deals in killing the evil creatures that may bring harm to her Majesty. Getting awkward in general is one thing, but over something like that would be to put shame to my family name."
"Huh... I don't know if it's really the same, but I think I know where you're coming from. Sorta. You see, all my brothers- 'sept the twins, and even they kinda qualify if not for their goofing around so much... well, anyway, they were all successful students here, all being prefects and then Head Boys. And even if Fred and George don't have that, they're still way popular. I'm just awkward..."
"Maybe you could spend some time at the Hellsing House." Vladimir said, and laughed at the horrified face Ron made. "But really, it's not all that bad. It's my Mum you have to watch out for. Sure, my father is intimidating, but he can't do anything bad without her permission- don't ask, kinda complicated to explain. Anyway, unless there's a big vampire problem, or the Iscariot are being as dimwitted as they normally are, then she's fine."
"I'll take your word for it..." Ron said, but laughed in the end.
They found that they were lead to the lake they'd seen on the train. Across it, you could see the Hogwarts Castle, its inner lights like a beacon, or a group of oddly but masterly placed stars against the midnight sky.
"'Righ'!" called out the giant man. "Four to a bout, and no pushing!"
They all climbed into a bout. Ron and Vladimir were accompanied by Hermione and another boy that seemed to be very timid.
"It's okay Nevil. I'm sure you can get a new one..." Hermione said, trying to reassure the boy- now Nevil.
"It's just that Grans gonna kill me..." the boy whimpered. Vladimir assumed they never found the toad.
They made steady progress across the lake. Vladimir couldn't help but notice that the giant man kept giving him the occasional- failed- sly looks.
"Huh..." he sighed.
"What?" Ron asked.
Vladimir gestured back at the man. "He keeps looking at me..."
Ron smirked. "Though you didn't let that stuff bother you."
Vladimir looked back at Ron, his eyes squinted in mock annoyance. He then looked forward and smirked, "I don't..."
And before the others in the bout- or surrounding ones- could take notice, Vladimir had plunged his bout and its occupants into a portal, and came out right next to the giant man's bout. It had only been a second, but the man seemed to be very confused as to how they had just disappeared.
"What the...?" Ron and the others in the bout said, looking around in confusion. This also brought the man's attention to them with a jump.
"Bli'me! What was that?" he said, sounding a bit furious.
"I went through a portal." Vladimir said dismissively. "Why do you keep looking at me?"
The man just stared, bewildered at the fact that the boy had actually said portal and he was dismissive about it- as well as his other bout buddies.
"B-because..." he finally stuttered out. "You jus' look so much like..."
"Well, I'm not him. I know the story and all, but as far as I'm concerned, it's just a coincidence." Vladimir stated simply, leaving no room for argument. "I am Vladimir Hellsing. And you are?" he said this with a much nicer tone, and a bit of a smile, reaching out a hand to shake.
"Hagrid..." he said, and his slightly befuddled face gave way to a timid smile as he shook Vladimir's hand- or, rather arm.
"Great." Vladimir said with a smile. "Now, I believe I must get back in place now..." and they went through his portal again, ending up back in their original position.
"You... you just... Portal...?" Hermione said, pointing to where they were, to Hagrid, and then back, then looked back up at Vladimir.
Vladimir, however, chose to just shrug, as if it were nothing. Plus, he really didn't care to get into a debate with her on how he needed to get a apparating license, because really, he didn't need one. It wasn't apparating, and it was safe. The only reason you had to have a license to apparate, was because it was dangerous. But try telling that to the girl who insisted that she knew more than everyone even if they were born and raised in the Wizarding World.
The rest of the ride was silent as the others were still trying to wrap their brains around the fact that he had used a portal. Thakfully, Hermione too was still mulling over that bit, and not engaging in a debate. But finally, they'd gotten to the castle.
They climbed the stairs, and into an anti-chamber, and it filled with the excited murmur of the first years.
When they reached the top, they were stopped by a strict looking woman. Vladimir really didn't know who looked stricter, this woman or his mother. He settled for a tie.
"First of all, allow me to introduce myself. I am Professor McGonagall. Secondly, first years will wait here until called on." She stated simply, and then went into further detail about what all was going to happen. After this she disappeared into what was the Great Hall.
The chamber was silent for a few mere seconds, but almost at once filled will continued conversation.
"So, what do you think the sortings like?" Ron asked, looking timidly at the doors.
"Mum said they put you through rigorous tasks in front of everyone. Things like duels against one of the house heads, and which ever you do best with, you get that house." Vladimir said, matter-of-factly, trying like crazy to hold in laughter at the horrified look on Ron's face.
"You've gotta be kidding! There's no way they could do that. We only just got here, how are we to know anything?"
Vladimir couldn't hold it anymore and he laughed. "Only joking. No, I've heard it has something to do with someone reading your thoughts and characteristics and they place you in the house that fits it best."
"Oh... well, I guess that's not that bad... Did she say it hurt?"
Vladimir fingered his chin in wonder. "She may have said something like that..."
Ron looked at him as if he was just joking again, but there was a slight bit of fear in his eyes. Vladimir was just about to reassure his friend when there came the voice of someone familiar.
"Yeah, that's him." said Draco Malfoy.
Vladimir turned to see many of the kids starting up at him and Draco pointing. But instead of acting embarrassed, he calmly said with a smile, "Oh, Draco! I didn't recognize you without that stutter in your voice."
This gave Vladimir a point as Draco went red.
"M-My father's going to report to the Ministry about your father!" Draco shuddered.
"Ah! There's the voice I remember." Vladimir laughed. "Anyway, I'm sure dear father would love to see Mr. Malfoy again. They'd have to meet again at some point, seeing as your father works in the ministry. Father even told me he would be absolutely delighted to... ahem... have a bit to eat with him..."
At this, Draco backed away in horror. Two points for Vladimir, zero for Draco.
"I- I'm warning you! This is your last chance to make it up, or your father will be in Azkaban!"
This did make Vladimir mad.
{How dare he, a lowly wizard boy, threaten to send Master Alucard, The Nosferatu, to a prison!} Crimson hissed under the folds of Vladimir's robes. A few looked around in confusion, having heard something, but didn't know what.
"Maybe you'd like to tell that to-"
But he never got a chance to retaliate in full, for Professor McGonagall came back.
"First years follow me." she said and turned. They followed in an awkward silence for the most part, though some continued their murmurs of excitement. But Vladimir was seething.
{I'll get him back. Would you like to help, Crimson?} he hissed, completely ignoring everyone one else around him, not caring if they heard.
{It would be my utmost pleasure. But are you not sure you don't want Master to do something?} she hissed back.
{No. Father does not need to get into this small thing. You and I can take care of it just fine. And anyway, you're a part of him, so he'll know about it.} Vladimir said, and then they entered the Great Hall.
There were five long tables. The first one was at the very end, parallel with the wall behind them, which held the staff.
The other four were facing the walls to their sides. Each was packed with students and each had the color of its house on it. As they passed the Gryffindor table, Vladimir immediately saw the Weasley's there- Fred, George, and Percy- their bright, flaming hair standing out so much against the black of the robes.
He looked to the opposite end of the room and saw the Slytherin table, and it wasn't just the robes that were dark, but the aura that came from them in violent waves. He knew that not all Slytherins were bad. After all, his mother had almost ended up there and had his father been human, he most certainly would have ended up there. The house as a whole was just fine, but because of the characteristics involved in that house, it tended to end up with the more shady students. All houses had them, but Slytherin had the misfortune of getting most of them.
But even with the dark aura, Vladimir felt almost drawn to that table. What would you expect? He had grown up with vampires, learned how to kill them, and had spent much of his daytime hours at night. He was akin to the darkness.
He looked back at the Gryffindor table and saw how happy and carefree they seemed. It was as if they were the sun, extremely bright. But they had the faces of the good, tough soldiers of Hellsing- namely, the Wild Geese.
So he really did have to chose between the dark and the light in a way. Both had something he very much admired, but at the same time, both had something he very much disliked, or at least- in Gryffindor's case- didn't care much for.
While he'd been thinking of all of this, McGonagall had brought out a stool and a hat. The hat appeared to come to life and the large rip in its mouth opened up and it started to sing.
After it finished the song, McGonagall stepped forward again and started to unroll a long scroll.
"Now. I will call your name and you will come and sit-" she stepped aside and pointed to wizard's hat. "-and I shall place the sorting hat on your head. It will then choose which house you were meant for. Once it has named your house, you are to go directly to it and wait quietly while others are sorted."
While Vladimir waited, he tuned out the cheers, and took in the rest of the room. He was amazed at the ceiling, charmed to show the sky above, as if the roof wasn't there at all. There were also candles floating about ten feet off the students heads, but this was hardly anything to be awed by.
Vladimir continued to the front of the room, where he found the teachers to be sitting at the table across from them. He saw three that really stood out. The first and most noticeable was the tall bearded man in the middle, dressed in purple robes and pointed hat and sitting on a high backed chair. You could practically see the gleam in his eye from where Vladimir was, maybe more. "That's just creepy..." he muttered to himself.
The next was an odd man, also dressed in purple robes, but these remained Vladimir more of something you'd see desert people wearing, including the turban. Only, he didn't look like he came from the desert, as he was much too pale.
Then there was the completely black clothed man. He had greasy, black brown hair and- at the moment- the only thing you could see of his face was a long hooked nose. He turned slightly, and Vladimir saw deep black eyes.
The man caught Vladimir looking, and turned all the way to see more. Vladimir- not flinching away from being caught- noted the slight- very slight- look of surprise on his face.
"Ronald Weasley!" called out McGonagall. Ron looked frightened, and his ears burned red as he walked up to the stool and sat. The hat was placed on his head and almost immediately, it shouted out "GRYFFINDOR!"
A few others went and then...
"Vladimir Hellsing!"
Vladimir walked up to the stool, and sat. McGonagall placed the hat on his head and immediately, Vladimir had a voice in his head.
"A Hellsing, eh..." it said. "But surely it is not so... not you..."
"Well, I am. So chose my house please if you will. I don't like others in my head unless it's family."
"Humph... It seems there is a secret about you." the hat said, and Vladimir could feel the mental smirk. "Well, I guess that's not my business to go about then, if he hasn't told you.
"Now, on to your house... Hmmm... tricky, tricky... Your mother was right, you have what it takes to be in any house but Hufflepuff. But especially strong traits for the two rival houses. On the one hand, you have the braveness of the Gryffindor's and on the other, you have the slyness of a Slytherin. You value the good and faithful, but you love the dark very much. I personally think you'd get more, learn more out of being in Slytherin."
"But you don't think I'd enjoy it." Vladimir said, and looked over at the Slytherin table- some of them had a hopeful glint in their eye when he did so. "I'd get into some fights if I were placed there for sure."
"Hummm... seems you value friendship and goodness more than knowledge. Ah, but what with your mother teaching other things not taught here, you could get a balance of it, couldn't you..."
"So... which is it?"
"Hummm... I still think you to be the Slytherin type, but it is my job to place you in a house where you will not just learn, but enjoy. Fine then...
"GRYFFINDOR!" the hat shouted out loud, and said table exploded with applause, while the Slytherin's groaned loudly.
Vladimir smirked as he saw Ron's face, exited and red from shouting his congratulations. Vladimir walked over and sat next to him and looked back at the Slytherin's.
"They seem disappointed, don't they?" he said, and smirked when he saw a relieved Malfoy. "Well, maybe not everyone."
"What did you do to have him like that?" Ron asked.
"Haha!" Vladimir laughed at the memory. "My dad scared the shit out of him and his father."
"Alright, alright." called out the purple robed, old man. He'd gotten up and was now standing at a podium- you could now see that his beard reached to the ground almost as well as his hair.
"I only have two words to say before we begin our feast."
The Hall filled with silence, all the non-first years smiling knowingly, while the first years leaned forward, eager to know what the two words were.
"Dig in..." and then the tables were filled with an assortment of food.
Ron looked at all the food with eyes as big as the dinner plates the food was on. He immediately began pulling chicken legs, mash potatoes, and many other foods.
Vladimir shook his head as the manor of this and calmly stacked food.
"So." said one of the twins to Vladimir.
"Welcome to the Gryffindor House, mate." said the other.
"Pleasure to be here." Vladimir smiled.
He then felt Crimson tighten up enough for him to notice her. He looked down and saw her red eyes in the shadows under his robe.
{Can I come out? It's rather hot under here...} she hissed.
{Hold on...} he said. He knew it wasn't that she was hot, more that she just wanted to scare a few people. They needed to get used to her, so he saw no reason to deny her. Looking up at the twins and Ron, he asked, "Mind if I let Crimson out?"
"Crimson?" said the twins said.
"Yeoah, 'e's go' eh vemperic snake... named Crim'on." Ron said, trying to hide the slightly timid voice by talking through his food.
Fred and George looked at Vladimir in excitement. "A vampiric snake, eh?" said one.
"Really? Let's see it then!"
Crimson took that as a go ahead and popped her head out of the collar of the robes. Many who saw her jumped, and the majority of the girls- with the exception of Nevil- squeaked. Crimson calmly slithered out, and if she could smile, she'd be smiling.
"Wow!" said one of the twins, looking at the snake with awe.
"Is that really six eyes?" the other twin said.
"Yes, and they're all fully functional. I guess you could say she doesn't have a blind spot."
Vladimir said, a proud smirk coming to his lips.
"So where did you get it? I don't think I saw any at the pet shop." said some other kid around the twins age, who decided to join in, seeing the snake.
"Um... sorry, I don't know. My parents gave her to me." Vladimir said, not ready to admit to them that his father was a vampire and he'd given Vladimir the snake. He needed to get to know them better in order to know if he could trust them with such information.
"So why a snake?" said one of the twins.
"Yeah, were you expecting to be in Slytherin?" the other said, and only a hint of disgust coated his tongue.
Vladimir laughed, looking back at the table in question. "No, not really. They gave me a snake because I can talk to them."
At this, everyone of them looked uncomfortable. Vladimir merely rolled his eyes. "Yes, yes, Salazar Slytherin could speak to the snakes, and so could Voldemort-"
"Don't say his name!" they all hissed, looking around to make sure no one else had heard.
Vladimir raised an eyebrow. "What? It's just a name? Really, if you don't want to give an enemy the satisfaction that you fear them, then you should say his name. Heck, even defile it. How about I call him something else? Would that appease to you?"
They all nodded, although they had suspicion in their eyes.
"Anyway, I know Moldy-shorts-" they looked at him like he was the biggest idiot in the world- "can speak to snakes too, but why is it such a bad thing if I can? It's really just another language. If you studied it, you'd be able to speak it like I do, just like with orcs and trolls and stuff. Some just have the natural talent to talk to them, others would have to learn it to know it. You see what I mean?"
"He- he just said it and didn't even bat an eye..." the other kid said, looking amazed. Then he and the twins broke into hysterical fits of laughter. Ron, however, wasn't sure how he felt.
{Seems they didn't hear a word after you said Moldy-shorts, Master Vladimir.} Crimson chuckled.
{Oh well. I'm not going to repeat myself though.} Vladimir said, shaking his head at the laughing boys. {They'll just have to deal with my speaking to you. Have you had blood recently?}
{No, but Walter packed a miny blood cooler to last me a week. After that, he said to send Hedwig for more.}
{Alright.} Vladimir nodded and looked back up at his new friends.
They ate and talked for the rest of the time and then finally, the food disappeared, a speech was given about what to expect the coming year, and what not to do.
Vladimir really wanted to question why they would have something in the school that was so dangerous that it could cause "a very painful death". And why put it that way? Because if he thinks that there aren't people- the twins namely- that would take that warning seriously, then he was definitely barmy.
Shaking his head, he tuned back in to whatever else was being addressed. Then the house prefects lead their respective houses to their dormitory.
Seeing all the moving paintings was honestly a bit new for Vladimir. Being that his family dealings were with normally muggle clients they had no moving paintings in the Hellsing Household. He knew for a fact that his mother occupationally wanted a living painting of her father, so she could talk with him, but never allowed herself the luxury. Now, this being said, he was by no means unfamiliar with the concept. They did get the occasional Daily Prophet, so he saw those moving pictures. But printed and painted were two different things. Printed was just a recording basically, while the painting could actually interact with you.
So when he met the Fat Lady, he was rather interested to talk to her, but didn't get the chance as they were led inside. He decided he'd have to find some other time to do it.
Looking around the common room, Vladimir found he liked the red of their furnishings. They were rich and filled the room with warm shadows. After being instructed on were to go for their dorm, he headed up to it, and found his bed. The dorm room was plain compared to the common room, aside from the beds. A desk to each bed was the only other furniture. Looking at the beds, he found he liked the closing drapes that were on the four-pollsters. Climbing into his bed, he noticed how nice it felt, and honestly couldn't wait to lay out on it. He then closed the drapes, and found they blocked out light very well, even the noise was lower.
If going to this school could ever stress him out, he knew this would be the place to go to relax.