Chap. 10: Your going With Me
Once Ron and Hermione were taken care of and sent off to their dorms, and Vladimir was in a bed in the Hospital Wing, McGonagal approched him.
"Now, Mr. Hellsing. I want the truth. What really happened. Were you the one to go after the Troll? I realize what your family does, but that is still no reason to put your self at risk. You are still too young!"
Vladimir was fairly offended. He could have taken care of the Troll perfectly fine, had it not been for not expecting it to be there. He'd thought it was in the dungens still.
Non the less, he said, "No, Professor McGonagle, I did not go after the Troll."
"Then what were you doing? I find it convinant that a boy that was taught to slay vampires just so happens to be in a confrentation with a Troll."
"Ma'am, honestly, I could have taken care of it. Fairly simple really. What I was really doing, was getting Hermione. She had not been at the feast and was told to be in the girls bathroom. I thought it was not safe to leave her. And I was right."
McGonagal looked incredeus. "Well why didn't you tell one of the teachers? We could have gone to get her."
"Because I would have been quicker. It you'd have walked all the way, the Troll would have gotten to her before you did."
"And how is that? We may not be as young as you, but we can run, you know."
Vladimir stifled a laugh. "No, no. I mean I would have been faster, because I went by way of portal."
"Portal...? What on earth do you mean?"
"Just that. You know, an opening in the air that you step into and leads you ro another area? I can only go so far, only a couple miles out side of the castle, and then I'd have reached my limit."
"You mean you can do apperation? But that's not possible. Forget the fact that your too young, but there is no way to apperate in the castle- except for the house elves that is."
this time Vladimir did chuckle. "No, not apperission. Well, I guess it is a little. You see, portal travel is the true form of apperission. It's much safer, as it tends you keep you intact. Apperission is just the butured form of it, as the true art f it was lost long ago."
"And how is it you know of this old art?"
"My father taught me." At a confused look from McGonagal, he caught himself. "You see, he's from an old- very old- family as well. They tried to keep to the old arts as much as possible."
"I... see..." McGonagal looked off in thought. "It is very interesting..." She seemed to shake herself. "Well, I believe I should take my leave. I will take into note what all you have said."
"One more thing, Ma'am..." Vladimir said, before she could leave. She turned and nodded for him to continue. "I didn't do anything. I was too hurt to. I couldn't think of any spells to cast or even conger a small portal. Ron was the one who took care of the Troll."
McGonanagal smiled at his hounesty. "I will be sure to take note of that as well. Now, get some rest, Mr. Hellsing."
Vladimir nodded, and settled back, tankful that Maddam Pomfry was able to take care of his cuncussion, else he'd have had a long, night.
Months passed fairly uneventfully. For a while, the school kept talking about the Troll incedent, and started the romor that Vladimir had slain it. This was stomped out quickly when Vladimir simply stated- after someone came to ask how he did it- "I don't know. Why don't you ask my friend Ron. After all, he's the one that took the Troll out."
Soon after this, Ron started to tell the story, and every time he did, it became slightly more exagerated. But he was enjoying the attention greatly, and was milking it for all its worth.
Vladimir felt happy for his friend, and the only thing he found annoying was the fact that the Slytherins- namely, Malfoy and his crew- would try to taunt him about how he, a Hellsing, was both beaten by a big, dumb Troll and saved from it by a Weasly.
He paid them no mind, simply turning the other cheek.
Other then the Troll things, Vladimir had missed the Broom Flying lessons, due to his ingeries, but he already knew how to ride, so that didn't really matter. Although, when he found out Malfoy had taken Nevel Longbottom's Remeberal, he sent the boy into one of his portals, which had Crimson in it. She made the inner portal land into a nightmare for the boy. After that, Malfoy gave him the spherical object.
But, aside from these, it was still quite boring. His headachs continued when ever around Quiral, but he'd given up on trying to do anything about it, deciding to just stay as far from the man as he could.
And now, the Christmas break was in a day, and Vladimir was going to be heading home for it, glad to be getting away from all of this.
Hermione- who had become a close friend as well- was going to go to her home as well, and had asked to have his address so she may send him something for a gift. Vladimir did, and got her address too. When he asked Ron for his, the boy looked a bit sheepish.
"I really don't feel like going home, actually. I kinda wanted to stay. Nothing aginst my parents really... but, I mean... I just don't really want to go back there..."
Vladimir nodded, and turned to write something on the list of kids that will be leaving for the break. When he turned back, Ron looked confused, as he saw his name.
"But-"
"You're going with me. You can spend the break at my house."
"Really?"
Vladimir hesitated. It was clear the boy would like to go, but... maybe this wasn't a good idea. After all, he'd been trying all year to keep the family secret safe, and that'd be near immposible in this case.
Then he shook his head, clearing away the stupid thoughts. Ron was his best friend, and he could trust him.
"Yes. My parents would love to have you over." Vladimir smiled reasuringly, and Ron smiled back.
And so it was, the next day, that they boreded the train at the station. Ron was extreamly excited. He had sent word to his mother and father that he would be going to a friend's for the break. They seemed not to mind, acting as if it were a great thing that Ron made such a good friend- at this, Ron's ears had flushed so red they were blending with his hair.
The only one that didn't seem to like the idea was his oldest brother at the school, Percy. He seemed to think it was wrong for his brother to spend the holidays with someone other then family.
Ron simply said that the boy was just jelouse that he got to spend the break with a famus family. At this, the older boy sunffed and walked off.
"I can wait! I bet you have all sorts of neat things."
Vladimir nodded, smiling at the fact that- as a wizard that grew up to know only magical world things- Ron would know next to nothing about muggle objects. Ron had told him of his father proffetion and hobbies- it was one of the things his father though was great about his son going with Vladimir- and it seemed that Ron was aquired some of these, however the boy was unwilling to admit it.
"Yes, we get quite a few things. Mostly artilery, and what not."
Ron looked amazed. "What's artilery?" he asked, stumbling slightly with the word.
Vladimir smiled, and reached behind him. There was a slight slicking, and the sound of leather and metal runing aginst eachother. Then, Vladimir pulled out his gun. He had not shown anyone the beautiful peace, having it safly tucked away in the back of his robes, and only taking it out once in a while to give it matinance.
Ron's eyes widened even more.
"This is artilery. Well, part of it anyway. Artilery is a whole lot of these, plus some other weapons, like bombs, and swords, knives, and what-have-you."
"So... So what is it called?" Ron said, looking very much amazed at the shining object.
"This is a semi atomatic gun. It's enchanted to shoot only one bullet, but normal one are usally able to shoot up to 20 rounds- bullets."
"What's a... bollet...?"
Vladimir smiply took the bullet out. It was a silver sylinder with a brase cap, which had rivits around the top. The whole thing was about the size of his thumb. The bottom had an engraved V.H., the reason all to obvius.
He held out the bullet- pinched between his indext figer and thumb.
"This is the bullet. Its purpose is to fell the chosen target. Once I shoot it from the gun, this little beauty takes down the traget. Normaly, I'd have to shoot multiple bullets to take care of multiple foes, and eventualy- if need be- reload. but, as I said before, this gun and bullet are enchanted, so that I may only use one bullet. The bullet- once it hits the target, will immeadeutly come back to the gun."
"Cool..." Ron breath out. "So... why's it got that engraving ont he side there?" Ron said, pointing to the words on the barral of the gun.
"Ah, that. It says 'Silver Death' in Parsaltong." Vladimir said with a grin.
"Cool..." Ron said- always a bit nervus at the mention of the language. No matter how much time the boy speant time with him, got to know him, liked him, and heard him speak the eery language, Ron was always abit edgy when the matter was brought up. He was getting better though, which Vladimir was glad for.
"So, what else do you have at your home?" Ron asked after a few minutes of silence, while they looked down at the gun. Vladimir shifted, and put the gun away.
"Well..." he said, and couldn't help but think of this being the right time to tell the boy about his father and sister. And he almost did, but then the tollie lady knocked on their door, and they got some treats, Vladimir even got some blood pops for Crimson, which the two chuckled about.
After that, Vladimir was unable to bring up the nerve to ruin the boy's sweets feast. So, he shrugged and decided to play it out as a game/prank when they got to the house. Some what like with Malfoy, only nicer.
instead, Vladimir told him of all the other thing at Hellsing HQ. Things like the dungens, the practice yard and maze. He told the boy about all the types of guns they had, and a breafing on what each one does.
He also informed Ron on how to act around the home. Ron seemed a bit uneasy about this.
"Don't worry, it's nothing too bad. Just certain things you need to do and not do. First and formost, do not- under any means- call my mother Miss Hellsing, Lady Hellsing/Integra, Ma'am, or any of those other terms, not even Integra-"
"Then what do I call her?"
"Sir. Sir Hellsing, Sir Integra, just make sure you at least call her Sir."
Ron's brow frounded. "But... she's a women...? Right...?"
Vladimir chuckled. "Yes, but she detested being call by the name of a royal female. She is one of athority and respect. She doesn't even dress in the wears of a lady, prefering a suit.
"Next, if you ever need something, ask my Uncle Walter- he's the butler of the house."
"What's a butler?" Ron asked, and was making an obvius effort not to laugh.
"A bulter is keeper and retainer of a house. They are the ones to over see- or do- the cooking, cleaning, waking up the residence, and what not. Basicly, they are the servents that are the boss of all the other servents. Uncle Walter is the only servent, though. And he does a damn good job of it.
"Anyway, if you need anything, ask him- or me, if I'm around, which I most likely will be.
"You will have to make sure that any mess that you make, you clean up, and if you happen to see a mess, you should clean it up, just to be nice. Working the Organization takes a lot of work, and uncle Walter helps a great deal in that too, so he can't be bothered by messes that can be taken care of by others.
"I will have things to do over the break, such as chours, and lessons. You may join me in then if you wish.
"Hummm... what else is there..."
"Perhaps you should tell him about the ghoul pool? Or at least tell him to stay away from the area?" Crimson subjested.
Vladimir nodded, and said, "You should also keep clear of any other level of dungens but for level 1. Beyond that, you could end up killing your self."
"Why? What's down there?"
"Something that I'm sure is far more dangerus than anything in the Forbbiden Forest."
Ron gulped at this and nodded hurridly.
"Right... now, I guess you should know about the sleeping schedual. You see, we at Hellsing have a day/night schedual. We wake up at 12:00 pm, and then go to sleep at 12:00 am- or later depening on the day's events."
"Why's that?" Ron asked. He seemed to like the thought of sleeping in and staying up late.
"Well, seeing as what our job is, we have to have noctern hours, so we can get the vampires. But, my Mother must also meet with people, humans. She can't make them meet her at night- it would be rude to keep them off their sleeping rutine. So, we have to have day time hours as well."
"Ah, I get it... cool..."
"And that also brings me to another point. During the times of meetings- some of them are small, like someone coming in, reporting attacks, and what not, or delivering a message from the Queen.
"And then there is the big meetings, which are called the Round Table Confrence. This is where they'd descuse mager attacks, and what's to be done about them. Or, there about how peaceful it's been, or if they suspect it being too quiet. Offten times, they rag on my Mother, trying to give her a hard time.
"In any case, during any meetings, you need to stick with me at all times. And if you can't find me, then go to my room, and stay there until I get there.
"And then there's the missions. When the Organization has to go out and do their job. Same thing, stick with me, or go to my room.
"Got all that?" Vladimir finished with a grin.
"Ah... I think so... I'm sure I can remember most of it..." Ron said, though he sounded a bit uncertain.
Vladimir nodded, and sat back, relaxing, and the two speant the rest of the train ride talking about other things.