Nope, don't own!
Borrowed a friends copy of TPS, and now actually have the basic idea for every chapter remaining of the rest of Year One, so with any luck I won't struggle too much with writers block and can get this finished. Then it's on to Year Two (I'm getting my own new set of books next month so with any luck I won't struggle there either.)
Again, thank you to all the readers/followers/favouriters/reviewers!
-YDHP-
Harry was itching to try out the new Invisibility Cloak, but Vlad had begged him to wait until Christmas had passed - whoever gave it to him may be laying a trap and would expect Harry to rush out in it. Harry regretfully agreed, the Cloak a secret between the two of them and the mystery sender until absolutely necessary. Even then, Vlad expected only Hermione would find out about it. Plus, Harry didn't need to be getting in trouble when the second Quidditch match was upcoming, Professor Snape would be dying for a reason to exclude Harry from the match after they flattened Slytherin in the first game. A book Hermione had lent him on basic defensive magic was proving very interesting, and with only Harry in the dorm already aware of Vlad's unique powers, he was able to start practicing basic shield charms and hexes without his wand. Harry still didn't know about his secret stash of Replenisher - Professor McGonogall would skin him alive. And as Vlad was already undead, that was saying something. Harry was better at offensive than defensive magic, so Vlad often joked they'd need to be in a duel together - Harry could attack and Vlad could keep him alive.
There was no reply from Charlie Weasley on Boxing Day, so they went down to Hagrid's hut to check on Norbert, still growing rapidly and Hagrid had multiple burns on his hands, likely from trying to tickle the dragon like a cat again. Norbert now drank chicken blood mixed with brandy to supplement his diet of rats, which smelt revolting and only seemed to make the reptile more flammable. Feeling slightly green around the gills and definitely keeping his hands away from Norbert's mouth, Vlad and Harry escaped before Norbert "played" with them too - which is what Hagrid called Norbert sinking razor sharp teeth into his leg repeatedly. The Weasley twins dropped a note in front of Vlad and Harry surreptitiously two days later, saying they could shift Norbert at midnight the following Sunday, the only night there was no Astronomy Classes. They nodded in agreement, asking the twins to reply in agreement. Ron was glaring angrily at them over the dinner table, and Vlad had to fight giggles whenever the boy scowled at the Dracula siblings sitting together. What did he think was going on?
The other students reappeared on Monday, classes rolling up a gear in preparation for their first year exams - if they didn't do well enough they wouldn't be invited back. Vlad didn't want to give up this new life of his, so he set about studying hard and trying to help Harry keep up in between his three quidditch practices leading up to the Saturday match. Hermione was thrilled by their studious attitude, the other boys in the dorm minus Draco accusing Vlad of 'letting the side down' as he strove to keep on top of his work, his private classes and secretly planning with Harry and Hermione how to move Norbert. "We've got the Cloak" Hermione was now in on the secret "and there's no classes that night. We just have to be careful." Hagrid had tearfully agreed to let Norbert go to the Romanian dragon preserve, possibly because Norbert had set fire to his bed twice now and was practically as long as his hut.
Neville fell through the portrait hole Thursday afternoon, his legs glued together by some kind of jinx. Vlad helped him stand while Hermione reversed it, Harry offering Neville a chocolate frog to cheer him up. "Thanks Harry, the Slytherins ambushed me when I was coming back here. Why are they even this high up in the school?" Vlad had a very good idea why, but not one he was likely to share with Neville. They were probably loitering round now Ron knew about the dragon, but wasn't stupid enough to turn them in without proof - Hagrid knew Ron knew so he was at least careful enough to cover his windows and only let the three Gryffindors in right now. Plus he was no doubt terrified Vlad would trounce him in a duel all over again, it was already clear Vlad wasn't afraid of his brutish bodyguards. Vlad had to dash off to his private lesson, Ingrid making a guest appearance.
"Tonight I want to see if you have any kind of detection powers." Vlad raised his hand immediately. "There are charms on the windows in the library, I noticed it the first time I met you in there." Bertrand nodded in approval. "Yes, they are so I can enter the library without angering the librarian by turning into a huge pile of dust." Vlad could see that, Madam Pince was a scary witch. They started small, Professor Flitwick and McGonogall casting minor changes onto various items and the Draculas had to work out what it was. Ingrid could sense Charms better, but Vlad could immediately tell whe things had been changed from their original shape. Bertrand covered his and Ingrid's eyes for a moment, much to their protests but his grip held fast. When they were allowed to look again, there were two Professor McGonogalls. "This is polyjuice potion, it allows your physical form to turn into anothers for a short time. It only works on humans, so I would advise you two not to play around with it. Now, focus and tell me which one is the real Minerva?" Vlad walked up to them, turning his hands through the air around them gently and feeling for the changes he could sense before.
"Which one?" Both Vlad and Ingrid pointed to the one on the left, and were informed they were correct. "That could have been luck, close your eyes and they'll move around." Opening their eyes again, they both pointed to the one on the right. "Correct again, we'll have to keep trying this to check it's not a fluke but that's impressive work Dracula children, five points each." Vlad beamed at his head of house, the sight of the 'fake' one slowly shrinking into a tiny man an altogether interesting experience. They spent another half hour practicing detecting spells, and Vlad could feel the start of a headache as they headed back, Ingrid squeezing his shoulder briefly before leaving. The DADA class where they'd been learning about werewolves was still playing on Vlad's mind, there was no actual treatment for a werewolf bite - it turns or kills the victim. His mother had run off with a werewolf, he'd taken the time to learn about such things.
Dragging himself back to the common room, he found his bunk mates working on homework. Waving sleepily at them, Vlad headed up to find Phantom anxiously waiting for him. "Sorry girl, have I been neglecting you dear?" Phantom purred and nuzzled his face, curling up on his bed to wait for him to come back from showering the sweat and exhaustion off his skin that his private lessons always left him with. Climbing into his pyjamas and flicking his hand to dry his hair while under the cover of the bathroom, Vlad returned to the dorm and found his fellow first years weren't back yet. Leaning back in bed to flick through the book Ingrid had given him behind the cover of his curtains, Phantom pawing at his lit wand in confusion until she darted out to greet his returning room mates. Stashing the book under his covers quickly, Vlad poked his head out. "Hey guys, I'm really tired so I'll see you bright and early!" They each waved him goodnight, and Vlad heard multiple giggles as Phantom no doubt dashed around demanding attention and getting in the way. "Phantom you menace, give me back my sock!" Vlad chuckled to himself as Draco tried to retrieve his clothing from the cheeky familiar before letting his eyes fall closed and falling asleep.
The Quidditch match was not especially eventful, unless Vlad counted Crabble and Goyle 'accidentally' tripping over each other when they tried to harass Neville again. Or quite possibly, Professor Snape refereeing the match. Though the match only lasted five minutes, Harry practically blurring through the air to catch the snitch in no time at all. Vlad and Hermione had made sure to learn "locomotor mortis" - the leg locking curse the Slytherins had used on Neville - just in case Professor Snape tried anything, though it would be stupid of him to do so with everyone watching. Vlad hung back from the crowds as Harry was lifted onto the shoulders of the Quidditch team, cheering and celebrating all over again with the Gryffindors for ages. He finally escaped into the changing rooms and the crowds dispersed, so Vlad hung nearby and waited for Harry to come out alone. Harry had the Invisibility Cloak in his bag at all times now, so nobody would find it. It folded up very small, kept inside a book Vlad had hollowed out (nowhere near Hermione, he wasn't immortal yet!) for the very purpose of hiding it.
Harry was ecstatic, barely five minutes into the match and he had caught the Snitch. Snape was extremely and obviously angry about the easy win, spitting on the ground and glaring at anyone within a five mile radius. It was a while before the cheering Gryffindors finally let him disappear to change out of his Quidditch robes, taking his time in the hopes the crowds would move on with the rest of his team and give him some quiet. Vlad was waiting outside for him, offering to walk with him as he went to put his broom away in the shed. The silence was easy, neither feeling a constant need to talk but enjoying the others quiet company. Evening was falling, Vlad's pale skin lighting up in the rising moonlight. Their quiet walk was interrupted by voices, Vlad pulling the Invisibility Cloak on almost immediately as Harry had a reason to be outside, Vlad didn't. Looking in the direction of the voices, Harry caught Snape and Quirrell walking towards the forest. Well, walking was a strong word, Quirrell was stumbling and Snape stalking. He felt Vlad brush past him to follow them, and Harry climbed onto his broom and hovered nearby to see what he could find out.
"You don't want me as your enemy Quirrell." "D-d-don't know w-what you mean." "You know perfectly well what I mean!" Harry landed soundlessly at the top of a sturdy branch, wishing he knew where Vlad had gotten to and praying neither of them caught the boy under the cloak. Creeping along the branch to the next tree, Harry barely caught the end of the next sentence. "... had time to decide where your loyalties lie." Quirrell was about to stammer in response but Snape held a hand up, looking around and up. Harry froze, hoping they didn't spot him and wondering how Vlad was staying so well hidden. "We'll continue this later Quirrell. Remember that." Harry held his breath, waiting for Snape to disappear. Quirrell stopped to adjust his turban, muttering to himself before finally leaving. Jumping back on his broom, Harry darted down to the broom shed and waited for Vlad to reappear. A hand on his arm nearly had Harry jumping out of his skin, but Vlad's bright eyes peered out of thin air. "It's me Harry, I didn't want to suddenly reappear in case anyone was watching. Let's get back!" Harry nodded, feeling Vlad's hand grip his wrist as they hurried back inside.
Vlad managed to duck into an alcove to remove the cloak, stuffing it down the front of his robes as they hurried up the staircases. They were met with an explosion of noise, cheering and stacks of food in the common room. "Apparently we missed a party" Vlad whispered next to him. The Weasley twins bounded forwards then, chattering a mile a minute about Harry's 'awesome' playing and declaring they'd swiped a bunch of cakes and sweets from the kitchens. Both he and Vlad were pushed into the fray of people, Vlad clearly cringing a little as people pressed in on them from all sides but not leaving Harry's side as they picked at the food. It was another hour before they managed to disappear up the stairs to their dorm, none of the other boys having made their way up yet. "Did you get close enough to hear them Vlad?" The pale boy nodded. "I was right next to them pretty much, just the next tree. Where were you? I saw you land but not where you went after." "Up a tree, basically crawled along the branches."
Phantom started pawing at the door then, and the boys fell silent at the warning. Dean and Seamus practically toppled through the door, laden down with piles of junk food. "Don't worry Vladdo, we bought you pumpkin juice!" Vlad ducked his head, blushing predictably as he took the flask. "Thanks guys!" Vlad moved to the bathroom, presumably to change for bed. He returned in his pyjamas, clutching his clothes a little oddly and Harry remembered they hadn't removed the cloak from his robes. Vlad spent a few extra minutes digging through his trunk under the guise of looking for Phantom's food bags, which Harry knew Vlad kept in the closest corner of his trunk so he wouldn't have to hunt for it. It was obvious to Harry Vlad was hiding the cloak, coming back up holding his chess board and challenging anyone who'd have a go to a match. Draco, who like Vlad had been taught by his father, took up the challenge, his own chess set perfectly carved crystal and obsidian. "Vlad has to be black, to match his hair. Then Draco's will match his hair too!" Seamus joked, and the boys nodded and a couple of close, viciously competitive matches followed. Vlad took best of three, though it was very close in the second game. The moon was definitely warning them it was time for bed by now, the boys yawning as they clambered into bed. Harry took off his glasses, staring up from his bed for a while. Tomorrow night was getting Norbert up to the topmost tower without getting caught, and without any Slytherin interruptions. It wasn't an appealing thought.
Vlad hoped Harry never brought up the fact the professors they'd been following couldn't sense him. As he was fairly certain whatever they used to detect people nearby didn't work on the undead, and Vlad honestly hoped he'd never have to see the dark rejection in Harry's eyes, or any of his friends, when they found out what he was.
-YDHP-
I didn't mean to make this all one chapter, but it sort of happened. Hopefully I can get the Norbert chapter up over the weekend!
Thanks again to everyone who sticks with my erratic upload schedule, you're all awesome!
Read - enjoy - review!