Definitely still don't own the characters!
To the new favouriters/followers who've joined me while I've been away - thank you and hello!
To the returning, thanks for sticking with me!
I have a few prompts from nice messages for Chosen One-shots, so that'll be updated after this and 'Not So Bad Now?' - I have a special love for the sequel to my first story so if you're here for the HP not the YD, you'll get more soon!
Onwards!
-YDHP-
The first year boys had taught the first year girls the spell to protect their robes, so their next Herbology lesson had a group of confused Ravenclaws covered in soil and leaves while the Gryffindors simply dusted their robes gently and suddenly they were clean. Not even Draco could feign true excitement as they headed to Potions, Vlad was sure Draco was happy to see his godfather on a regular basis but the line between silver/green and red/gold was practically drawn on the floor. Trading with Harry to work with Neville, Vlad fought a smirk at the shocked eyes of Professor Snape as Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter produced a flawless potion. Vlad scraped an acceptable potion together easily enough, letting the early alchemy lessons his father had pushed on him come to the forefront of his mind as he mixed ingredients and stirred and encouraged Neville to stop shaking. Professor Snape still sneered at the potion, but failed to find a fault and the Slytherins were clearly annoyed Neville hadn't failed this class. Ron even joined in the laughter when Seamus and Dean managed to cause a minor explosion again, and Vlad didn't miss the disappointment on Harry's face. The Weasley twins already had fans in the first year boys, and Percy Weasley was a little over the top, maybe a little pompous (he had nothing on Count Dracula) but not a bad person, so Vlad wasn't sure what it was about Ron that was so different.
As the group headed to Transfiguration, Vlad hoped he wouldn't find a way to irritate Professor McGonogall this week. Hermione quietly sat at the end of Vlad's usual row, and Vlad made sure to sit next to the brown haired girl so she wouldn't feel rejected as she tried to reach out to them slowly. Harry sat on Vlad's other side, and Neville made a beeline for the last seat leaving Draco to sit near Seamus and Dean, a girl Vlad was now almost certain was called Lavender sitting at the end and acting a little too flirty for an eleven year old. Shaking his head, Vlad focused on his match stick. Now they'd had a couple of other lessons, the professor wanted to see if anyone had improved. Vlad had his flawlessly on the first try, so Professor McGonogall had him practicing turning it back and forth until he caught his finger again. Sucking the injury, Vlad took his needle to the front desk and mumbled to ask her to heal it. Luckily the professor seemed understanding, healing the tiny nick before anyone could notice his blood was a little strange. She gave him an approving nod before asking him to stay behind discreetly. Vlad waved his room mates off saying he felt a little faint and would catch up in a moment. Harry and Hermione had worried eyes on him then, but Vlad made himself smile weakly until they left. "Thank you Mr Dracula, I have silenced the door as I expect your friends to be lurking outside. It's slightly hypocritical of me to ask given that I've warned you to keep your... talents a secret but I wonder if you can perform Transfiguration as well as charms now you have the basic work down."
"So you want me to do the matchstick-needle-matchstick wandlessly and silently?" Professor McGonogall nodded, and Vlad pulled out his flask of Replenisher in case it tired him out. "Professor, would you mind moving back a little? My aim isn't perfect and I'd hate to turn you into a matchstick." The professor looked at him strangely but complied, placing a new match on the desk and taking a few steps back. Closing his eyes and picturing the silver stake, replacing the handle with a circle and holding out his hand, Vlad peeked and saw the match transform. Not feeling especially drained, Vlad tried to picture the process in reverse. It was slightly trickier, so he flipped the needle upside down and imagined the eye becoming red while the needle streamlined. Pushing that thought along, Vlad couldn't stop himself smiling as it changed. "Exceptional Mr Dracula. If you continue to improve, you may end up being offered private tutoring to nurture these talents. Now, off with you before your room mates end up barging in." Still smiling, Vlad didn't even feel the need for his potion as he hid it below his books again and naturally found his friends lurking outside. "You guys can go and eat without me you know, I can find my own way." "Feeling better Vlad?" He nodded, making extra effort to head to lunch quickly before they questioned why he was kept behind.
As they settled for lunch, Vlad still felt privately buoyed by the success of his Transfigurations and set into his lunch with gusto, even the usually quiet Dean asking Vlad why he had such an appetite. "I'm just hungry is all? Hey Harry, isn't that your owl?" The boys looked up, spotting the snowy white owl soaring then diving towards Harry. "It's from Hagrid" Harry read the note attached quickly "he's asking if I want to go down for tea later, anyone want to come?" Vlad nodded eagerly, he enjoyed Harry's company and Hagrid sounded like a nice enough... person? If a little large, especially compared to Vlad's own small stature. Draco pointed out that Seamus, Dean and Neville hadn't finished their essays for Defence Against The Dark Arts, but offered to hang back and help them out. The other three scowled, but Vlad thought he saw something in Draco's eyes that made him wonder why he was so happy to help the others with homework. "Ok then, me and Vlad will go and I'll drag you along next time after you learn to do your homework!" Harry chuckled next to him, and Vlad felt heartened by the sound. He loved when people were happy, joyous. His father would not approve. "Hermione, are you going to come along?" Hermione squeaked in surprise at being asked about something other than homework but nodded, blushing faintly as she returned to her sandwich. They headed off to Charms, and Vlad fingered the flask in his bag as he wondered if his magic would want to do more today.
Many of the class snorted lightly as the tiny Professor Flitwick made a pineapple tap dance across a desk, but then many of them soon stopped as they struggled to do it themselves. Vlad took two tries to get it right, his own apple (he wondered if this was a joke based on his nearly every meal ending with an apple) bouncing end to end on the desk. He was unsure giving Neville a banana was the best idea, as it soon turned to mush from being hit upon the desk multiple times. Dean managed to split his pear in half neatly as it dropped, but otherwise made little progress. Trying to remember how he kept his feather floating with his wand whilst using his hand to affect the others, Vlad kept his wand pointed at his apple and kept watch over the Slytherins out of the corner of his eye. Spotting Crabbe - the one who had tried to steal Neville's remembrall, Vlad tapped his fingers against his knee and was gratified to see the spiny-skinned fruit tap neatly. Raising his palm slightly, Vlad lifted the spiky fruit to bounce across the boys head. Crabbe was swatting at the fruit, dropping his wand to try and catch it. Moving it to bounce over Ron's head, Vlad had to fight laughter at the squeals from some of the girls as it bounded across the Slytherins. While most peoples attentions were on the flying fruit, Vlad realised the tiny professor was watching him keenly. Vlad dropped his hand, feeling a measure of guilt as the fruit dropped and splattered over Ron's head. He didn't need to hear the professor say the words, he knew the gaze told him to stay behind. As the rest of the class filed out, Vlad said he wanted to ask about different kinds of fruit and the effect charms had on them, scaring his room mates off effectively. Hermione needed a slight push, or rather drag as Harry and Neville managed to convince her away. "Mr Dracula, may I ask why you were tormenting the Slytherins? And yes, I am fairly sure it was you." Vlad dropped his head, the guilt returning. "Crabbe was mean to Neville at flying practice, and I wasn't sure I'd be able to do it. I would have made it come over to our side, but the Slytherins are further away so it's more distracting and stops people noticing it was me. Dropping it was an accident, I swear. However, I realise my behaviour was still childish and out of place. I'm sorry, it won't happen again." Chancing a peek up, Vlad found the keen stare back. "Very well, provided this is the only incidence I will let it go. I won't be so lenient next time, I would hate to see such unique talents squandered by childish rivalries and I will not see you turn into a bully. Are we clear Mr Dracula?" Vlad nodded, scrambling away as soon as the professor waved him off.
Vlad was in trouble, Harry was almost sure of it as the boy came out looking saddened. Heading down to dinner, Harry nudged his friend and reminded him they were off to see Hagrid soon. Seamus started groaning about homework again, and Vlad seemed to perk up a little as he pointed out the work would be done if he hadn't been too busy levitating gobstones to annoy the older students, whilst distracting Neville and Dean. Seamus predictably stuck his tongue out at the reminder before turning sulkily to his pie. Hermione had been clearly fighting giggles next to them before saying "You'll be glad we taught you good homework habits when it comes to exams and we have more." Dean's mouth was twitching with suppressed amusement as he defended Seamus. "Just because you and Vladdo over there can do school work with your eyes shut, and drag Harry and Draco along with you doesn't mean we're all swots!" Vlad tossed a chip at Dean's head for the swot comment, and Harry saw some of the tension leave his shoulders. A stern glare or two from the head table had the boys studiously interested in their dinner and not the beginnings of a food fight. Seamus seemed content to pretend he was going to eat all evening, though Harry suspected that was to annoy Draco as he, Vlad and Hermione waved before heading out on to the grounds.
"So Vlad, why did you look so sad after charms?" Vlad's already pale face paled further at the reminder, and Harry felt guilt settle over curiousity. "I forgot I was holding my wand when I turned to see what all the fuss was about, and I think I was the one who made the fruit explode. Professor Flitwick thought I may have been the one doing it the whole time, and teachers have that way of making you feel like you're in trouble even when you're not?" Vlad was babbling slightly so Harry nodded and let the clearly anxious boy lapse into silence as they crossed the open grass. Hagrid's hut was a fairly small thing for such a large man, but as the door opened and a booming voice preceded the bulky body, Harry thought it looked homely and cozy already. "'Allo 'Arry! And 'Arry's friends! Come on in!" Vlad and Hermione looked a little taken aback at the vocal welcome, but gamely followed Harry in and settled into one of the enormous sofas together. Hagrid pulled out enormous tea cups and a kettle that looked more like a bucket with steam coming out of it was set over the fire. The three first years found themselves with steaming mugs of tea, and a large boarhound that drooled a little too much came to nose at them all. "Fang, leave 'em alone ye soppy dog!" Vlad seemed to stiffen at the dog, but then visibly forced himself to relax and reached out to pet the enormous dog. "So, who are ye friends 'Arry?" "Oh, sorry! This is Vlad, and that's Hermione. Both first year Gryffindors like me, though they like books more than they like me I think." Harry was pretending to whisper conspirationally behind his hand, and felt Vlad swat at his shoulder. "Well, the books don't make silly comments so why wouldn't we prefer them?"
Hagrid's booming laugh sounded then, clearly amused at the already-formed dynamic of their friendship. "Nout wrong with likin' books 'Arry, so long as they like 'aving fun too!" Thinking of their illicit adventure to the kitchens, Harry nodded. "So, tell me about yer firs' days at Hogwarts!" Harry launched into tales of Vlad and Hermione being ahead in class almost instantly, laughing along with Hagrid as they both blushed. Then there was Seamus and Dean's explosions, melting plastic and glass and any other kind of destruction his friends and room mates had caused. "I 'ear Draco Malfoy is in yer house 'Arry?" Harry nodded, gesturing over to Vlad and mumbling "Phantom." Vlad understood, sitting forward around his cavernous mug. "Have you heard of Bastion familiars Hagrid sir?" "None o' that sir business, I 'ave though yes." "Well I have one, she's a little terror I have to say. Anyway, she sees absolutely nothing wrong with Draco, or any of the first year Gryffindors. And the headmaster already likes her. Well, he keeps giving her toys and treats at least." The suspicion didn't quite leave Hagrid's eyes but the conversation moved on to flying lessons. "Vlad managed to levitate Neville in mid air, holding a wand and flying a broom for the first time. It was awesome!" Vlad blushed and sank further behind his mug then, and Harry took pity on the boy and moved on to talking about his own experience that day.
"Well, sounds like you kids are already 'aving adventures. It's gettin' dark now, so off with ye! Come again soon, feel free to bring yer other friends, they sound like good kids!" The trio bid Hagrid good night, hurrying to beat the setting sun while weighed down with 'rock cakes' from Hagrid. Harry didn't think they were actually rocks, but he and Hermione hadn't been able to make a dent, and Vlad had only managed tiny chunks at a time while Hagrid crunched away happily on his - they were rock solid. Hermione suddenly remembered she needed to get a book from the library before it closed, and Harry nudged Vlad and whispered "kitchens?". Vlad looked unsure for a moment but nodded, probably craving more pumpkin juice. If Vlad carried on, his pale complexion would turn pumpkin coloured! They managed to acquire a couple of flasks of juice and a bunch of leftover sandwiches from dinner, which were wrapped and stashed in pockets after discreetly dumping the rock cakes in a bin. Promising to leave the empty flasks out on their table for the house-elves to retrieve, Harry and Vlad waved a cheery good bye to the tiny creatures before heading to the common room quickly as curfew was approaching.
Their room mates weren't in the common room, so they waved goodnight to Hermione and headed up to the dormitory. Seamus was spread across his bed with ink on his hands and face, groaning at the unfairness of homework already. Draco was sat on the floor skimming over their essays, and going by the tired set of his eyes, he'd been at it a while. "Hey guys, we have food!" Seamus perked up immediately as Harry and Vlad emptied their pockets and filled the already-appeared goblets (those elves were awesome!) with juice. Vlad quietly ate his half of a cheese and onion sandwich, downing two goblets of pumpkin juice before darting off to shower for bed. It had become something of a joke for the boys to come out with damp hair, waiting for one of the others to remind them they could dry it magically. Vlad must have forgotten, coming out dry and in his pyjamas before laying his uniform out neatly over the bedside chair. Phantom chose that minute to scrabble against their door, demanding someone let her in. Harry got up to allow the familiar entry and watched in amusement as she leapt onto Vlad's neat clothing. "Phantom you little menace!" The familiar was unruffled, preening at Vlad until Harry noticed something. "Vlad, she's got a note wrapped round her collar." Vlad reached out for it, scanning it quickly. "It's from my sister, she wanted to remind me I'm a maggot face. Thanks Ingrid, love you too sis." The boys all started laughing, after warily waiting to see if Vlad was upset. "Your sister used your familiar to send you an insulting note?" Vlad nodded, grinning regardless. "The day Ingrid learns to send voice messages by magic, she'll be doing it daily to tell me I'm a spider licker or something. It's basically her way of communicating!" Shaking his head, Harry wondered again at what kind of bizarre family Vlad had come from.
Vlad was settled in bed with Phantom pawing and mewling at him, so Harry quickly filled her bowls and distracted the ball of fur from trying to keep Vlad awake all night. "Cheers Harry, I forgot to do that seeing as how she's been off to b... who knows where all day." Letting confusion steal across his mind for a moment at Vlad's strange slip of words, Harry shrugged it off and changed for bed himself. "You're welcome Vlad. Though I'm hexing you if she starts waking me up for food, just so you know." Vlad chuckled in the near darkness, barely audible over the sounds of their room mates changing. "Fair enough, g'night guys!" Echoes of "night Vlad" with a "sleep well Vladdo the swot!" from Seamus replied, and Vlad chuckled again before turning to sleep. The others settled down around the room, the sounds of low chatter being replaced with rhythmic breathing as each dropped off. Harry took a little while to switch off his brain, wondering at Vlad's peculiar behaviour today. Maybe he was just not a monday person? Shrugging to himself, Harry forced his eyes shut and attempted to sleep - the last thing he needed was to be falling asleep in more than just History Of Magic.
-YDHP-
Chosen Two updated! Sorry if it's a) short and/or b) terrible. Enjoy!