Vlad never went to Hogwarts, so I definitely don't own the characters.
I'm hoping to knock out another chapter over the weekend but I'm not sure, and then I'm visiting family for the holiday season from Monday - Friday and won't have time to update then, so if this is the last chapter I post for a week or so, I apologise! I will update as soon as I can when I get back, I promise.
(On a side note, can anyone remind me who the other girls in Harry's year of Gryffindor are? Damned if I can remember more than Parvati and Lavender?)
-YDHP-
The other boys in their dorm soon appeared in class, clearly bouncing with questions but smart enough not to ask under the watchful gaze of Professor McGonogall. Vlad still looked a little tired, and for once he wasn't the first to make progress in this class. When he did eventually turn their plastic cups to glass, it was a perfect change and the professor smiled proudly at him. Vlad blushed under the scrutiny before turning to help Neville quietly, and Neville managed his first full transfiguration even if the glass was darker than it should be. Neville beamed as the professor awarded him five points for the work. Overall, Harry's fellow first years left Transfiguration that day feeling pretty good, and during their breaktime walk around the courtyard, the Weasley twins caught up with them and whispered conspirationally about him being on the team. "Youngest seeker in a century Harry! See you at practice next week!" Draco looked on in quiet surprise, while Seamus cheered and Dean asked a dozen questions about Quidditch that Harry couldn't answer. Vlad looked happy at the boys not questioning what he'd done earlier, so Harry made sure to keep up the conversation to distract them.
By dinner time, Vlad had lapsed into near-silence as he made his way through his soup and juice. The boy didn't even go for dessert, not that that stopped Seamus and Draco hi-jacking a few apples, flasks of juice and the cupcakes they only got on Fridays. As the boys headed up to the common room, one of the Weasley twins (Harry had no idea which) handed him a tightly filled bag and told him not to open it until he was in their dormitory. The boys settled down to do their homework with Hermione, quizzing each other on the Herbology chapter they were working on to make sure everyone had read through it properly. A couple of the first year girls joined them, Harry thought their names were Lavender and Parvati. They didn't speak much, but Vlad made the effort to smile politely at them and ask a few questions about the work before retiring to their dorm early. Remembering the bag the Weasley twins had given him, Harry followed quickly. Vlad was already in the bathroom, likely to change and Phantom was padding around on his bed mewling. "Hungry Phantom?" Another mewl was his answer, so Harry filled her food bowl and the black furball shot over to eat happily. "Thanks Harry, I don't know how she eats as much as she does when she hasn't really grown since I got her." Looking up, Vlad was indeed in his pyjamas already.
"No problem, any of us are happy to feed her if it stops her licking our faces in demand for food." Vlad smiled and nodded at him, dumping his uniform in the laundry basket in their room where it promptly disappeared. Must be magic. The other boys hadn't followed yet, so Harry opened the bag he'd been given. It was full of random brightly coloured things Harry would have called sweets, except he hadn't heard of some of them. There were also a pile of shrunken bottles that Harry peered at in confusion until Vlad came over. "What's up Harry?" Holding up one of the bottles, roughly the size of his palm now. "These bottles are shrunk, and I don't know how to fix them." Vlad took the bottle, pulling out his wand. "The headmaster taught me this for Phantom's food bags, they were made smaller to fit into my trunk easier. Engorgio." The bottle grew in Vlad's hand, and he held up the bottle to read 'Butterbeer'. "I don't know what this is, but it's the right size now." Vlad handed the bottle back to Harry, sitting down on his bed and transferring his books from bag to trunk.
Harry copied Vlad's motion on each bottle then, finding himself with a dozen bottles of 'Butterbeer' to go with the pile of snack food things. A note was in the bottom of the bag and Harry pulled it out. "Don't tell anybody else you have this, but we wanted to welcome the new generation of Gryffindors in style, especially since you made it on to the team and you guys are racking up house points. G & F" Harry lined up the bottles on the table in the middle of their room, shoving the sweets back into the bag before Phantom could get too curious. Untwisting the cap from the bottle, Harry sipped tentatively. It was warming, thick and sweet and made Harry feel a little softer inside. "Vlad, you have to try this, it's awesome!" Vlad looked over at the preferred bottle, taking a measured sip and scowling. "That is WAY too sweet, though I imagine it makes you feel toasty in winter." The look on Vlad's face was hilarious, he looked genuinely offended by the taste in his mouth. The other boys had started coming up then, Hermione poking her head round carefully to say Vlad had forgotten his quill. The boys waved her in, and Harry swore her to secrecy before handing her a bottle of butterbeer. Everyone except Vlad seemed perfectly content to drink the sweet substance, rifling through the snack bag and producing their own stash of things. Vlad gratefully took the pumpkin juice and the least heavily iced cupcake, only taking a licorice wand from the sweet bag and saying he didn't have a huge sweet tooth.
Dean called him "Mr Health" and tossed an apple at him then, and Vlad waited until the dark skinned boy had turned around to levitate the fruit, occasionally brushing it across Dean's short hair. Dean kept swatting at it and missing, and everyone fell about laughing when Phantom decided the apple was interesting and leapt onto Dean's head to wave her paws at it. Vlad let the apple drop to the floor and Phantom promptly starting knocking it around, occasionally bumping into their legs as they sat on the floor laughing at Seamus. The irish boy had eaten a handful of "pepper imps" stating they were too small to be dangerous, and now he had smoke pouring from his ears. Neville, Hermione and Draco were each taking turns on a box of Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans, scowling and spitting out various flavours much to Vlad's amusement. Raising his butterbeer bottle up, Harry called them all to celebrate surviving the first week of lessons. Vlad waved his pumpkin juice flask over from his bed before apologising and saying he was too tired to engage properly, curling up on his bed and pulling the curtains closed. Phantom darted up beneath the curtains and they each heard Vlad giggling as his familiar settled in for the night with him.
Vlad knew he was acting slightly odd towards his room mates, but he was still thrumming with anxiety that they'd question how he saved Neville earlier so he settled into bed as soon as it wouldn't seem suspicious. Phantom didn't let him lie alone, jumping in through the curtained covers and patting at his face before curling up on the end of his pillow. The boys and Hermione were still chatting quietly, but Vlad couldn't hear them talking about him so he relaxed and fell asleep. There was no evidence that anything illicit had gone on the night before when he woke before his room mates, grabbing clean clothes and heading for a shower. Draco was rising as he exited, smirking at Vlad's damp hair until he pulled out his wand and dried it. "Thanks for that Draco, I keep forgetting I can do cool stuff with magic now." Draco nodded, passing Vlad presumably for his own shower. The other boys slowly awakened, Neville complaining that butterbeer residue made his mouth feel funny as he stumbled to brush his teeth. Lucky the shower cubicles were set aside from the sinks and toilets, otherwise Vlad would have expected a uniquely high pitched scream from Draco.
Phantom was hovering anxiously by her bowls by now and Vlad smiled as he filled them, he was more attached to the odd little furball than he expected but she was an excellent judge of character, playful and affectionate. He recieved a mewl of thanks as she set into her food, leaving the door ajar to head down to breakfast. The hall was still fairly empty, many students taking advantage of their first 'lie in' as Vlad settled down towards the end of the table. Most of the teachers were already in, and Vlad had to suppress a giggle as his familiar started wandering up the table. She wouldn't go near the end where Professors Snape and Quirrell were sat, and Vlad wondered why. Bertrand was also there amusingly, though Vlad wondered if this was him taking his before-coffin meal before retiring for the day. Phantom padded over and pawed at Bertrand for a moment, the look of confusion on his tutors face hilarious. A couple of teachers tried to shoo the "cat" away, so Phantom flicked her tail up at them before heading to curl up on the headmasters shoulder. Professor Dumbledore reached up with a fond smile to pet the creature, winking at Vlad discreetly.
His classmates soon joined him minus Seamus and Dean, who Harry informed him were still fast asleep. Hermione looked close to it as she sat nearby and reached for a cup of tea, not surfacing until the hot liquid was drained. "Much better, my head still feels a little fuzzy after... never mind. Breakfast!" Vlad hid a smile at Hermione's uncharacteristic interest in her food, covering her almost mentioning last nights snack session. Neither Seamus or Dean appeared by the time breakfast ended, and Vlad expected they were still out cold and would surface closer to lunch time, ravenously hungry. The Weasley twins appeared as the boys were deciding what to do with their day, Hermione already off to the library to do garlic knows what. They looked around to check nobody was listening in before leaning in and whispering "You guys want an adventure?" Harry and Neville were grinning, Vlad and Draco looking hesitant as it sounded like school rules would be broken and neither wanted to get in trouble. The Weasley twins kept grinning away though, so Vlad nodded slightly. "Awesome, follow us in about five minutes." The twins then headed out, and Vlad jumped as Professor McGonogall appeared behind them.
"What was that about boys?" Pulling up the classic Dracula innocent face, Vlad turned to the professor. "They were just asking Harry about his place on the..." She held up a hand to stop them then, apparently the news was not to get out just yet. "Yes, well. Be sure not to let them lead you into mischief boys." Harry clapped Vlad on the back as the teacher left, thanking him for his quick thinking and angelic expression. Peering round to check Professor McGonogall wasn't watching them, Vlad nodded for them to follow the way the twins had gone. The twins were waiting for them, beckoning them to follow as they sped off down more corridors. "Where are we going?" Draco questioned. "You'll see, and you'll thank us!" They were passing quite a few Hufflepuff students in the corridors, their bright yellow colours obvious in comparison to the Gryffindors crimson and gold.
Finally they were led down an empty corridor with nothing but a painting of a bowl of fruit on. One of the twins leaned over and rubbed his fingers in a tickling motion over a pear in the painting, and the painting melted away beneath his hands. "Quick, through here before it comes back!" The boys scrambled to follow, finding themselves in a cavernous kitchen with tables set out exactly like the Great Hall. "So, the food gets made in here and then gets sent up to the Great Hall?" The twins nodded at Vlad, who was looking round in slight wonder at the kitchen that wasn't covered in various bits of human, animal, mould or Renfield. "We've noticed you guys constantly feeding the habit of Dracula here, what are you addicted to pumpkin juice?" Vlad felt his cheeks flame, refusing to look anyone in the eye. As he looked down, Vlad spotted a creature like what Draco had drawn in his book. A house elf! Looking around, he realised there were a few dozen. "These guys are what keeps Hogwarts running, they do the cooking, the cleaning, the laundry and the fireplaces. Hey guys, these are some new Gryffindors!" A bundle of the tiny creatures, each wearing a tea towel around their waist stamped with what Vlad recognised as the Hogwarts crest swarmed the boys.
"How may we help young sirs and twin sirs?" Vlad knelt down in front of one, holding out his hand. "I'm Vlad, whats your name?" The elf's already large eyes widened, a surprised grin across his face as he took the proferred hand. "I am Pippin Mister Vlad!" Their voices were squeaky, reminding him somewhat of Professor Flitwick as his fellow first years followed suit, though he noticed Draco looked hesitant for a while. The twins motioned that they should get going before lunch time began, and the elves offered them multiple gifts as they went to leave. Vlad smiled as they handed him two flasks of pumpkin juice, Harry and Neville taking the pile of wrapped pastries while Draco accepted some fruit quietly. "Come visit soon mister young sirs!" Vlad smiled and nodded at the tiny creatures, following the twins out into the hall way. "The elves are awesome, if you're nice to them they can be your best friend and secret ally in school. Plus, they always have snacks! Just remember to tickle the pear. Now, hide your stash before you go out into the corridors, see you later kids!" The twins dashed off then, and Vlad didn't want to know what mischief they were off to.
The boys shoved various things into their pockets before hurrying back up to the tower, the staircases in a welcoming mood today. Seamus and Dean were both thrilled to find an early snack before lunch, predictably waking up hungry after sleeping through breakfast. Seamus didn't even bother putting on clothes, lying on his bed with a glass of pumpkin juice (seven glasses had mysteriously appeared on their table apparently) and scattering pastry everywhere. Dean excused himself to the bathroom, returning looking more alert and taking a banana from Draco and his own glass of juice. "We probably shouldn't risk going there every day, but how cool is it to have met those little guys?" Nodding in agreement with Harry, Vlad peered at Draco closely. "You don't seem so enchanted by them Draco?" The blond boy looked up. "My family has house elves, they are much quieter and less... energetic. I was just surprised, that's all." Vlad thought he was lying, but had no reason to argue and returned to his juice. Hermione appeared round the door then, Seamus squeaking and hiding under his covers. Vlad laughed and offered Hermione some of their 'stash'. She looked suspicious at the acquisition but conceded, sitting down and drawing Vlad into a conversation about Potions while the other boys looked on confusedly.
"You spend alot of time in here Hermione, the others will start to talk!" Hermione blushed then, the boys chuckling and Seamus and Dean making crude comments. Vlad threw apples at them both until they quieted down. "Enough of the fruit abuse Vlad, we aren't doctors you are trying to keep away!" The magic-family boys looked at Dean in confusion. "What?" Harry laughed before explaining "an apple a day keeps the doctor away" as Vlad and Hermione looked on. "I'm back off to the library, I just came to grab Vlad as he promised to study today." Vlad remembered he had indeed done so, brushing crumbs off his jumper and following Hermione. Draco and Harry caught up with them, Draco stating he wanted to keep up with his studies and Harry saying he wanted to avoid the food fight in their dorm.
Saturday eased into Sunday, Seamus vocalising that weekends were too short and complaining they had class all over again tomorrow. "You do realise this is a school Seamus, lessons are the whole point." Seamus scowled at Draco, sticking his tongue out petulantly and returning to the notes on Transfiguration Hermione had lent him. "I don't even know what light refraction index is, how am I supposed to put that into transforming stuff into glass?" Hermione had dashed off, returning with what Vlad recognised as a breather text book on "muggle" science and explaining it to their little group. Some older students looked perplexed at their conversation, and Vlad sat wondering how some of them would cope if they didn't have magical career options to follow on to after school. Harry hadn't returned to them until mid-afternoon, covered in mud and grinning widely. As they followed him up to the dorm that evening, Harry enthused about Quidditch practice, telling them all about his "awesome" broom. Vlad had little idea what he was talking about, borrowing Draco's Quidditch book and trying to memorise the rules. "This sounds brutal, those bludger things sound lethal!" Harry grinned at him, telling him the Weasley twins were 'beaters' and they carried bats to smack the bludgers away.
"Wood said they are like a pair of human bludgers themselves, waving their arms and bats around at anything that gets too close. I have to catch the snitch, it's tiny and quick but if I catch it, my team gets 150 points and the game ends, usually with us winning as its worth so many points. I love flying!" Having heard the same sentiment roughly twenty times that evening, Vlad smiled as he refilled his hungry familiars bowls and disappeared into the bathroom to change for bed. "Back to work tomorrow boys!" There were groans around the dormitory, goodnights exchanged and a splutter from Seamus as Phantom crawled across his face to curl up on his pillow. "Remember Seamus, it's a good thing she likes you!" Neville pointed out, and Seamus conceded as the purring furball stole half his headspace before drifting off and snoring gently. Closing his eyes himself, Vlad was a mix of excited to get back to lessons and anxious about overdoing it with his "secret powers". He didn't share such things with his bunk mates, not wanting them to start calling him names again, though it was in jest. The rhythmic breathing of each boy filled the room, and Vlad declared the first week of Hogwarts lessons a private success.
-YDHP-
Again, sorry if this is the last update to this for a week or so!