Nope, don't own.
To my reviewer who said I don't need to stick to canon WRT the conversation overheard in the Forest - there were reasons for it, I promise! Notice how the boys didn't actually discuss what they heard. After Year One, I expect more divergence from canon but as I suffer with writers block alot, the original canon storyline always gives me something to work from. Thank you whole-heartedly for taking the time to write out a review and make good points in it! Pumpkin juice and a Gryffindor of your choice for cuddles for you!
To the reviewer on Chapter 1, you are most welcome! Thank you for being so excited over my fic!
With that said, on we go!
-YDHP-
Rising late Sunday morning, Harry looked over to see Vlad dressed, sipping from the flask Harry got him for Christmas and eating a slice of toast. "Morning Harry, I was awake early so I went to the kitchens for breakfast. There's bacon for you under the tray." Nodding sleepily in thanks, Harry ambled over to the bathroom, splashing cold water on his face and feeling slightly more alert as he searched for his glasses. "Morning Vlad, thanks for the breakfast. Where's everyone else?" Vlad grinned at him, "Down in the library catching up on the essays we finished on Friday. Just been waiting on you waking up to get Hermione in here so we can sort out what's going on tonight. Get dressed first, you can eat while I get her." Harry nodded, starting to strip off his pyjamas as Vlad left to find their female friend. He needn't have hurried as much as he did, Vlad knocked first, then peered round the door carefully before inviting Hermione inside. Harry sat eating his breakfast while the two more intelligent of their trio planned quickly.
"So, we have the Cloak. We head down to Hagrids before it gets dark, help him pack up Norbert and use the Cloak to get him up there." Vlad nodded in agreement before responding, "I think the Cloak will only fit two of us and Norbert, he's getting huge!" Hermione seemed to have thought of this in advance. "You and Harry go then, I think I'm better being the brains behind the operation while I send you two out on adventures." Harry chuckled into his mug of tea as Vlad pretended to look upset. "It's like being married, we go out and do the hard work and Hermione sits at home telling us what to do!" They all chuckled then, moving on to finalise the plans before their room-mates returned. Hermione and Vlad naturally pulled out homework, checking each others work then both looking over Harry's. "Harry, you cannot treat a werewolf bite by kissing it better... Actually, that isn't your handwriting. This wouldn't have been anywhere near the Weasley twins recently would it?" Casting his mind back a little, Harry nodded. "They came over to talk Quidditch Friday night, I didn't notice them 'helping' with my homework. Give it here, I better check for more jokes in there before I can hand it in." Scribbling out the altered lines of his work, Harry sighed and accepted he'd have to re-write it, resolving to toss the twins in the lake at some point in revenge as Vlad checked over his actual work.
"That's good, but I agree, it's a mess. I can help avenge your homework if you like?" Smiling in thanks at Vlad, Harry raised an eyebrow in query. "What were you thinking Vlad?" Hermione looked up in surprise, but there was curiousity there too. "I was going to suggest putting itching powder in their jumpers, but that's not original enough since they brought it up first. How about dosing their shampoo with green and silver dye?" "Can you do that?" Vlad grinned eagerly. "It's a simple enough potion, I just need to sneak in there and that shouldn't be too difficult." Vlad actually pulled out his cauldron there and then, obviously forgetting Hermione was watching as he flicked his hand to light the flame. "Vlad, did you just do that wandlessly AND silently?" Both boys looked over at her in surprise. "Maybe..." Vlad replied weakly. "Vlad's got special powers, but nobody is supposed to know. I found out when he saved my neck with the troll, but McGonogall said nobody else should find out. So if you could keep quiet, that'd be great Hermione?" Vlad was looking panicked, no doubt worried he'd get yet another telling off from their head of house. "I want to see more! Of course I won't tell anyone, that's what friends are for!" Vlad finally cracked a smile, levitating his potion ingredients over Hermione's head much to her amusement. The potion was done in under an hour, and Harry watched as Vlad slipped under the Cloak before leaving.
He returned ten minutes later, pale cheeks flushed with suppressed laughter as he shrugged the cloak off. "With any luck they'll shower tonight and it'll last until tomorrow afternoon." The trio fell about giggling, hurrying to tidy up when Phantom peered round the door mewling. The familiar seemed to know when they were discussing things that were best kept secret, acting like a small furry alarm and warning them someone was coming. Hermione's presence in their dorm was rarely questioned at this point, though the boys seemed slightly more content to see they were discussing homework. "What's so funny guys? We could hear you laughing all the way up the stairs." "Oh, the Weasley twins decided to improve my homework a little and it was funny, even if I have to write out my paper again now." Harry relayed a couple of the funnier additions, rolling out parchment and setting about redoing his homework. "Come on guys, it's nearly dinner time. How long can you check homework for?" Vlad and Hermione made a show of grumbling unhappily, but Harry realised they'd all missed lunch and so he was hungry enough to agree quickly, tidying away their work and heading down for dinner.
After dinner the trio sent the others on their way, saying they were going to go visit Hagrid. The others were used to them spending a lot of time down there, and Harry felt slightly guilty that none of the others had been able to visit with Norbert lying around. Or soon to be flying around, if they didn't move him quickly. Hagrid was tearful as they started to strap Norbert into a large box, the weight almost unbearable already but Vlad whispered he'd levitate it once they were clear of Hagrid's hut. The large man had actually packed a teddy into the crate with Norbert, along with a large bucket of brandy and chickens blood, and several dead rats. All in all, the box smelled terrible and Harry was glad to get outside and breathe normal oxygen again as night fell. Vlad waved his hand almost as soon as the door closed, hovering the crate close to his body and waiting for Harry to throw the cloak over them. Luckily they could see each other beneath the cloak, or Harry expected this would have been very slow, painful progress involving a lot of walking into the floating crate. Hermione accompanied them most of the way up, looking fairly nonchalant for an accomplice in an illegal dragon transfer. They had to part ways so Hermione could head off to the common room to avoid suspicion, and Vlad was starting to show strain as he held the weight of the dragon longer and longer. They had to physically lift it up the last staircase, which was immensely difficult and both of them were sweating when they finally came to the uppermost tower. Stripping the cloak off immediately, they both relished the cool night air and Vlad turned his palm upright, 11:30pm hovering over his hand. "What was that Vlad?" His friend grinned at him. "Magic!" Pulling out his wand in a fake show of threatening, Harry pointed it at Vlad. "The charm you daft lion." "Oh, why didn't you say?" Vlad dragged out the 'y' sound, grinning cheekily and finally coughing up "Tempus charm". Harry tried it, seeing the time hover before his eyes.
"We better try to be quiet, last thing we need is someone finding us up here!" Harry nodded in agreement, both of them sitting down against a wall and listening to Norbert occasionally hissing and banging at the surprisingly sturdy crate and sharing Vlad's constant supply of pumpkin juice. The cool liquid was refreshing and Vlad kept the tempus charm hovering in front of him for a while, rooting through his bag while Harry stood up to check if he could see anyone. He thought he saw Vlad pushing a flask back into his bag, but Harry realised the pumpkin juice flask was also gone and there were silhouettes of broomsticks and riders coming towards them as midnight approached. There were four riders, one with red hair obvious even in the night. "You must be Charlie?" The redhead nodded, he and his group dismounting and showing them the harness they'd rigged. Harry and Vlad helped them buckle in the crate, shaking hands with the riders and watching them leave. They started dismounting the stairs, chuckling in relief that Norbert was now gone and nobody had found out Hagrid had hatched an illegal dragon in his hut. Except Ron, and now there would be no proof. It wasn't until they ran into Professor McGonogall at the bottom of the stairs, Ron's sneering face next to her that they realised. They'd left the Cloak up in the tower.
Vlad felt like his heart was about to stop beating several years early. How could they have forgotten the cloak? The professors face was livid, pure hot anger to rival even Count Dracula in her eyes as she looked down on them. "What on earth are you two doing out of bed at this hour? Mr Weasley came to me with some cock-and-bull story about a dragon, I suppose you thought it would be funny to get him caught out of bed at this hour, get him in trouble? I am horrified at you both! Especially you Mr Dracula, I expected far better from you." Vlad felt like now was not the time to be perfectly honest, looking at the ground and feeling guilt rise in his chest as he stared at his shoes. Harry was frozen next to him. They were led away slowly, Vlad had no idea where to until a sound of pain echoed near them. The guilt magnified as Vlad looked up to see Filch dragging Neville along, the clumsy boy clad in pyjamas and slippers. "Vlad! Harry! I heard Ron say you had a dragon and that he was going to get you in trouble and... oh hi Professor McGonogall." The professor turned back to them then, somehow even angrier. "You let your friend believe this nonsense? I am so disappointed in you both. All four of you will serve detention, and each of you will lose fifty points." Harry's head shot up angrily then, and even Ron looked somewhat put-out as he was going to be punished.
"Each!?" "Be quiet Mr Potter, or it will be more. Yes, from my own house! Now, all of you! Back to your beds. If any of you do such a thing again, I will expel you!" They hurried away as soon as possible, dashing up the staircase and falling through the portrait hole shaking. Neville was in tears, and Vlad tried to assure Neville they never meant to get him in trouble, but he couldn't make words without them sticking in his throat. Vlad didn't even manage to pull on pyjamas before he curled up on his bed, trying to push away Phantom but his familiar was insistent, nuzzling under his arms and curling up to sleep against his body. He heard Neville whimpering quietly, Harry stiffly climbing into bed. Fitful sleep finally took them, and when Vlad woke up still in his clothes he couldn't pretend it was all a terrible dream. The Gryffindors were perplexed, sure there was a mistake when the hourglasses showed a 150 point loss. Eventually the whispers spread, Harry and a couple of other Gryffindor first years had been out causing trouble and cost them all those points. Harry felt worse, the loss had stolen the lead he'd won in the last Quidditch game. Both being well known for their exploits and adventures, Vlad and Harry dropped down the ranks and their housemates largely ignored them. Neville could barely stand to look at them, only Hermione actually talking to them now and Vlad felt awful every time Neville was shunned for their mistake.
Harry found the cloak tucked under his bed a week later, a note saying "Just in case" the only clue of someone knowing Harry owned it. Vlad agreed with Hermione that they had to keep their heads down, quiet revision in the library as far as they ventured from their dorms and lessons. Even Harry's Quidditch team were cold to him, calling him 'the seeker' and not interacting with him more than they had to. They continued taking turns carrying the cloak around with them, and while professors continued to guest visit his private lessons, they were tight and only cordial. Ingrid was the same as ever, unable to resist 'thanking' Vlad for giving Slytherin such a boost in the Cup race but otherwise her usual self. The only teacher who was fine with Vlad was Bertrand, who had zero interest in anything beyond training and tutoring Vlad. His private lessons became his favourite time, where his strange unique self was a bonus not a hindrance. Easter was beginning to approach before Vlad even felt safe to relax, strolling down the corridor alone while Harry and Hermione were in the library. A scared voice caught his ear, and Vlad turned back on instinct to listen.
He barely made it backwards in time to hear "n-n-not again M-master, p-please" and "y-yes, of course", peering carefully around the door to see Professor Quirrell straightening his turban and leaving the room in a hurry. Something seemed to spark in his memory, but Vlad couldn't put his finger on it as he went on to find his two friends in the library. The 'freeze' was still in effect, other students not even looking at Harry and Hermione's table. Vlad wondered if Harry's grades had ever been so good, now he had little else to do other than Quidditch practice and spending time with Vlad and Hermione, who were both studious beforehand. Neville rarely, hesitantly but occasionally joined them, not saying much other than to Hermione and he always paired with her in Potions class now. Vlad kept the thing he'd overheard to himself, and the next morning he was surprised to look up and find a very brave owl landing in front of him. Harry and Neville each had one too, and he assumed they got the same note.
Your detention is at 9pm tomorrow tonight. Be in the Entrance Hall exactly then.
Professor McGonogall
It had been so long since the Norbert incident, Vlad had almost completely forgotten they still had detention to serve. Harry and Neville nodded to him, both having the same note and Vlad caught Ron getting one under the cover of looking over at his sister. Ron seemed to think he had any chance of being more than a future snack to Ingrid, and Vlad couldn't help but laugh internally at the very idea Ingrid would be interested. She'd already told Vlad there wasn't a single boy in the school she'd have for more than dinner, with the possible exception of Bertrand as at least he wasn't a breather. He could always count on Ingrid to make him smile, she'd never change. Retuning to his breakfast quietly, Vlad tucked the note in his pocket and mentally prepared for detention. Previously, his few detentions had been cleaning cauldrons and one had been helping in the hospital wing, which was surprisingly fun as Madam Pomfrey was overbearing, but not a teacher out to punish him and had explained plenty about different cures and treatments as he helped her inventory the stocks. None of them had mentioned being in the Entrance Hall before, so he wondered where they'd be going.
-YDHP-
I had some free time and felt inspired by getting a bunch of reviews/messages/follows etc, so have an early update!
Enjoy - read - toss me a review!