The Hybrid
Chapter 2
"Hey mom! Do you know where Zack is?" Serenity yelled. As big as the mansion was it was nearly impossible to find Zack when he didn't want to be found.
"Check the stables. If he's not there, then he left on Siren," Selene responded. At just over 6 months pregnant, Selene was still hardly showing, one of the pluses of being a Vampire.
"Who in their right mind would want to spend all of their time hanging out with a horse?" Serenity asked aloud as she exited Selene's office. Serenity's voice had a light French accent, courtesy of living in Paris for two years after the mansion had been attacked by a large group of wizards. They had only recently moved back to London.
"You're looking for your brother?" Michael asked, walking down the staircase from the floor above. Serenity jumped in surprise, she hadn't noticed he was behind her. "He left on Siren about an hour ago," said Michael. "Did you need him for something?"
"Nothing important. I'll just talk to him when he gets back," said Serenity. Michael nodded and continued on his way.
For several months after Zachary had arrived, he and Serenity had a very strong sibling rivalry. During that time, the wizarding community was running its self ragged trying to find Harry Potter, after his Uncle and Aunt were found in serious condition, and his two cousins nearly insane from what they'd seen.
When Vernon and Petunia Dursley had been well enough to be questioned, Petunia identified the attackers as Vampires. Unable to think of anywhere else to look, the wizards stormed the place that they'd found Harry to start with.
Flashback
Crash!
"What was that?" Zachary asked, sitting straight up in his bed. Over the passed 6 months he had filled out, grown several inches, and his appearance had righted it's self, giving him dark blue eyes, a pale completion, and a broader appearance.
"How should I know?" Serenity, who slept in the bed next to his, asked.
The window of their room shattered, causing Serenity to scream, but Zack managed to keep his cool. Before any of the wizards pouring into the mansion could notice, Serenity and Zachary were hidden safely under Seri's bed. Luck, however, was not on their side, as one of the wizards, an old man with a strange eye, checked under the beds.
Upon spotting the two the old wizard pointed a stick thing a.k.a a wand at the two, only to have it kicked out of his grasp by Zachary. Seri scrambled out from under the bed while Zack held off the old man. After Zack had taken the man's wand, the old man pulled what looked like a hunting knife from his boot.
After several minutes of wrestling around, Zack, even in his small size, managed to take the knife from the man and knock him unconscious, but he didn't walk away unscathed. The old man had managed to stab Zack in the leg and shoulder, cut his back open in several places and broke Zack's leg by falling on the fragile limb.
During this time Serenity was curled up in the corner, unable to do anything for her brother. After having knocked the old wizard out, Zack pulled Serenity out of the corner and made a mad dash for the stairs, taking out several wizards along the way with the old man's hunting knife. Zachary and Serenity had been taught that if there was ever an attack on the mansion everyone was to meet in the woods outside the mansion. It had been made very clear that anyone who stayed behind to play hero would be left behind.
Sometime between exiting the room and reaching the staircase, Zachary had picked Serenity up and was carrying the smaller girl on his back. With Serenity firmly attached to his back, Zack jumped from the staircase, dodging several wizards that were grabbing for him. Within seconds Zachary crashed through the French doors that led to the back patio and out of sight, deep into the woods.
End Flashback
Since that day, Serenity and Zachary had gotten along much better. While they still argued like normal siblings, Serenity respected her brother greatly. She was sure, that if not for him, she wouldn't have gotten out of the manor that night. It was only with a lot of luck on their side that everyone else had gotten out as well.
It had taken several months and two surgeries for Zack to be able to walk again, and another few months for him to be able to walk without a limp. He probably wouldn't have ever recovered fully if he'd been human. Even now, after two years, he was still horribly scarred from a combo of the abuse he'd suffered and the beating he'd taken to get out of the manor.
"Boo!" Serenity was startled out of her thoughts by her older brother, whom was grinning wickedly at her.
"You know, I'm so tempted not to give you that letter now," Serenity growled, rounding on her brother. He shrunk down.
"A letter for me? Who is it from?" Zachary asked. Over the years he'd grown taller, and know stood at a grand 5'4", 2 inches taller than Seri was. He still had the same blue eyes he'd had when the manor was attacked, though he had a lot more muscle now then he did then.
Serenity rolled her eyes. It was just like Zack to be excited over something as small as a letter. "Yes, it's a letter for you. I don't know who it's from, it came by owl," Serenity answered.
"Owl? Who sends letters by owl?" Zack asked, accepting the strange looking letter Serenity handed him. It was addressed to Zachary William Corvin at the location of his room in the manor. Opening it, Zack read.
Dear Mr. Corvin,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Enclosed is a list of the necessary supplies for the upcoming school year, as well as the directions to the muggle entrance of Diagon Alley. Note that school begins on the 1st of September, and the train shall leave from Platform 9 ¾ in King's Crossing station at 11 a.m.
Sincerely,
Professor Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
"I think we need to go talk to mom and dad, now," said Zachary, running up the staircase to his mother's office. "Mom! Dad!" Zack yelled, running into the room.
"Zack, what is it?" Michael asked, his voice concerned. Slight disheveled, it was obvious the couple had just broken out of a passionate embrace. Selene, who normally got very cross at her children when they burst in on she and Michael, looked just as concerned as Michael did.
"You really need to read this," said Zachary. His already pale face had paled several more shades and his eyes had a slightly wild look to them. A few seconds later Serenity came tumbling through the door.
Michael finished reading the letter, and handed it to the now curious Selene. Selene finished the letter quickly, and she too, paled. "Well, for the starting question, do you want to go?" Michael asked, his voice a bit strained.
"It's not like they're giving me much of a choice, but if I had a choice I would choose to go. However, wouldn't my heritage be somewhat of a problem?" Zachary asked.
Selene shook her head. "I don't think so. Your shifts and Vampire Magic are completely under your control, and as far as the wizarding world is concerned, we are normal. They probably think you are from a non-magic family," said Selene.
"Wouldn't they recognize me? I, alone, took out one of their men at the age of 7, with no training and stabbed a few others. One would think they would feel just a little threatened with a Death Dealer Vycan at their school," said Zack, studying the other part of the letter.
"No, I don't think they would recognize you. As far as your training and racial heritage go, there is no reason for them to know. Plus, you've been trained well enough that even I would have trouble picking up your scent, so there is no need to worry about other non-humans figuring it out," said Michael.
"Well, today is August 23, don't you think we should get on the whole shopping thing?" Zachary asked.
"Yes. Want to talk about no warning? I'm sure Flash would be willing to drop you off, even with such short notice. I believe he went to Hogwarts as well, so he'll be able to clue you in," said Selene.
"Can I go?" Serenity asked. She knew that if her brother was a wizard, then she was very likely a witch, and wanted to know as much about this new world as possible.
"I don't see why not, but it's up to your mother," said Michael, looking at Selene.
Selene gave him a dirty look, but answered her daughter in the negative. "Why not?" Serenity demand.
"Because it is possible that someone could recognize your brother, in which case, I do not want you in danger," Selene answered.
"Yet you're going to let him walk right into the thick of things?" Serenity demanded.
"Zachary can handle himself," Selene replied, still standing to her decision.
Serenity glared at her mother. "You think I can't? Let's not forget that I hold several more years of training over him!"
Zack, for his own sanity and because of his mother's condition, ended the argument. "Sorry sis, double standard. I'm a guy, and I'm a year older. You are a girl and the baby of the family, for the moment anyway. There is no way they're going to let you go. However, going along with the fact that, if I'm a wizard, you're most likely a witch, you'll get to come next year," Zack said, effectively shutting his sister up.
"Well, now that that has been settled, I'm going to go talk to Flash. Zack, go change, you're covered in dirt from your run with Siren," ordered Michael, exiting the room, his wife still giving him dirty looks.
"Traitor," Seri whispered under her breath as the two exited their mother's office.
Zack scowled at his little sister. "I am not. If it hadn't caught your attention, our mother is getting ready to have twins, and doesn't need to be under any kind of stress. Plus, she's right. If by chance, I am recognized, I don't want to have to worry about you. Don't even bother with the 'I can handle myself' thing. You know as well as I do that when something really dangerous comes along, you freeze, and I have the scars to prove it," said Zack, pulling up his shirt to show a rather ugly scar from when he had crashed through the French doors.
"That's not fair," shouted Seri.
"Fair or not, it's true, then there was the incident with those French Vampires in Nantes two years ago," said Zack.
"Hey, that wasn't my fault!" yelled Serenity.
Zack looked at his sister in disbelief. "You walked into another Vampire's territory, then challenged his authority! You nearly got Spin killed, not to mention getting me shot at. Contrary to popular opinion, I'm NOT indestructible, I am venerable to UV charged silver bullets!" Zack hissed.
"Okay, so it was my fault, but still! Can you think of anything else?" Serenity challenged.
"Should I make a list? Shall we start with your little trip to Italy without mom and dad's permission? Or the Swiss cheese insult to the Governor of Bern? Oh, here's a better one, shoving me off of the cliff in Dover because you wanted to see if I could fly! I don't think I've ever been so glad that at least one of my forms has wings!" Zack ranted.
"Okay, okay, I get your point. O'well, you better bring something back for me," Serenity ordered.
"Will do baby sister, but in the mean time, I have to get a shower…"
"You ready to go Zack?" Flash asked, almost as soon as Zack returned to his mother's office. Flash was a hard Jamaican man with a bit of a superiority complex, and little tolerance for anything but perfection. The fact that Flash was one of the first Lycans wasn't very surprising to Zack.
"Yes sir," Zack responded.
"Very good. Zack, Flash has 2000 pounds for you to convert and put into a vault, and another 1000 just to convert and give to you. So he says, first years have now been given permission to go to a small village outside of Hogwarts on the weekends. I have already singed and returned the permission slip. Whatever you have left is your spending money for the year," said Michael sternly. He really didn't like either of his children asking him for money every time they needed it.
"Yes sir," Zack repeated. As he followed Flash out the door, his mother called him back.
Tossing him a leather jacket she said, "Just in case." Sewn into the jacket was a double holster on each side, each holding a small gun. Under the holsters were pockets Zack guessed held ammo.
"Thanks mom," said Zack, puling on the jacket and winking to his mother. Michael shook his head in disapproval, but didn't say anything. Walking down the hall, Zack passed Seri, who gave him a look that screamed a horrible death if he didn't bring something back for her.
Not too long later Zack was walking through 'The Leaky Cauldron' with Flash about a foot behind him, ready to kill anyone who so much as looked at Zack wrong. Exiting out of the back, they came to a stonewall, but Zack could practically feel the magic coming off of it.
Flash pulled a light colored wand from the pocket of his wizard's cloak, and tapped the stone in several places. With a rumble, the wall shifted into an archway, reveling a very large group of people shopping.
"Welcome to Diagon Alley," Flash growled, once again taking the lead, moving towards a giant white building. Within 20 minutes Zack was off to go shopping, while Flash went to go take care of a few things before he had to pick up Zack. He left Zack with strict orders to meet him on the muggle side of 'The Leaky Cauldron' at no later than 5, and to call him if he needed to be picked up any earlier.
Upon entering the local robe shop, Zack could hardly stop himself from bursting out laughing as the little girl played 'dress up' with some of the doll clothes she had stuffed in a bag. In the center of it all was a small, not amused kitten. However the kitten got it's laugh when the other girls being fitted in the shop, started whispering about him. To Zack's relief he was quickly finished with the fitting, but as he bent over to pick up his jacket from the chair he had set it on, one of the girls did the unexpected.
An Asian girl a year or two older than he was, came up and opened her mouth to talk to him, before blushing and running away. All of Zack's instincts screamed at him to pull a gun on the girl and put her out of her misery, but he decided it wasn't the best idea. Instead, he gave her a look that could have burned her eyes out, and continued on to the next shop. An hour before deadline, Zack had everything he would need, and several things he wouldn't.
As he still had an hour before he was to meet Flash in 'The Leaky Cauldron' he decided to do some exploring. After getting a small vanilla ice cream, he headed to the pet shop, 'Magical' something, he could remember the name. Walking through the isles he spotted the perfect thing for Serenity.
Sitting in a cramped cage was a beautiful Snowy Owl. She was fair sized, probably just having entered adulthood. Her soft amber eyes gave him a look that clearly yelled, "Get me out of here!"
"Shopkeeper!" Zack yelled, removing some of the cages that were blocking access to the owl.
"How can I help you?" a young woman asked.
"Please ring this beauty up, and get any supplies I may need, as well as a bigger cage," said Zack, removing said owl from her small cage. She stretched her wings and gave Zack an affectionate nip on the ear. The girl nodded and ran off to get what Zack had asked for, while he looked around. Stopping front of a tank of rare and poisonous snakes Zack tuned into their conversation, and tuned out just as quickly. They were arguing over mates.
Zack was just about to start moving again, when a hiss coming from his feet caught his attention. In a very small cage under the snakes was what Zack guessed was a fox, but with several differences. First, their eyes were little more than purple slits, and its fur was all black, with tints of dark purple here and there. It's face and body was very fox like, until you got to its tail. It had not one, but three tails. All three were black, tipped with white and it was no bigger than a newborn kitten.
"See something that interests you?" she girl asked from the register.
"Yes. Tell me, what is he?" Zack asked.
"I'm a she you ass."Zack jumped, but the girl seemed to have not heard anything. He, however, was sure that the fox had spoken.
"She's half Austrian Fire fox, and half Trinity fox, which is why she has more than one tail," said the girl.
Zack watched the little animal for a minute. "I'll take her as well," Zack said finally. The girl gave him a look, but rung up the animals and their supplies anyway.
"That will be 112 Galleons," said the girl. Zack nodded and paid her in full, plus a small tip for gathering the supplies for him.
"Stupid ass, I'll be out of here before he knows what hit him,"the voice said again. Finally understanding what language the fox was speaking, Zack pulled off into a back alley.
"You know, it's really not very lady like to talk about people like they can't hear you."
"Hey, you can't understand me! The only other person able to speak Parseltongue is long dead!" the fox yelled, now speaking English.
"Obviously not. Now, if you really want to leave, I won't stop you, but because we are in England, and the winter is coming quickly, I don't think it's the best idea," said Zack, switching back to English.
"Well, when you put it that way…I'm Kit, short for Kitala. It means fox demon in Ordain, my mother language. Now, will you do me a favor and let me out of here?" Kit asked, pawing at the bars.
"Of course," said Zack, puling the pin on the lock on the cage. In a flash of light, the cage disappeared, stuffed away in James' pocket.
"Thank you!" said Kit, jumping from the cage, to Zack's shoulder.
"Hey, watch it!" Zack yelled as Kit's claws dug into his shoulders. The owl just sat on Zack's other shoulder, watching in amusement.
"Wimp," she said under her breath.
The owl hooted a few times, and Kit seemed to understand her. "She says her name is Artemis," Kit translated.
"Very nice to meet you Artemis," said Zack, giving the owl a pat. "If you don't mind my asking, how is it that you understand her?" Zack asked.
"It's part of my power as a Trinity fox, I can understand and speak any language, and I'm not exaggerating in anyway," Kit responded. "Alright, I'm getting cold, lets get out of here."
