Don't own the characters!
To the new followers/favouriters, thank you! To everyone sticking with this story in spite of my horrendous and unpredictable update schedule, thank you!
This is the final chapter of Year One, though naturally, there will be Year Two. I still don't know if it will continue on this or move, because while I know it'll be a pain in the neck to have you all have to follow a new story, this will end up huge and saturated if I post every year here. However, as the readers, it's your party. What do you guys want?
-YDHP-
Vlad noticed the smell of antiseptic before he'd even opened his eyes, rubbing at them sleepily and finding Phantom anxiously watching for his waking. Stretching and scratching his familiars ears absent-mindedly, Vlad looked around to see he was in the Hospital Wing. Harry was still asleep in the next bed, Hermione awake, dressed and reading a book the other side of him. "Ah, Mr Dracula, back with us I see?" Vlad nodded, reaching for the glass of water at his bedside and sipping. Yesterdays events came crashing down on him, the 'challenges' and the stone and Quirrell and Voldemort and the guilt that suddenly surged as he remembered he'd killed someone. Madam Pomfrey noticed his anxiety instantly, Phantom mewling as she licked Vlad's hand. "Now now Mr Dracula, don't undo a good sleep just yet." "I killed him didn't I?" Hermione was clearly listening in now, having not been present at the last room. "Vladimir, I can assure you you did nothing wrong." The wizened voice of the headmaster flowed through the room then, and Vlad wiped at his eyes as he turned to the voice. "I killed someone, how is that not wrong?" "Professor Quirrell was already dead, Voldemort does not leave his hosts alive. If anything, you made the whole thing far more peaceful than it could have been with your potion trick. Don't let the guilt mar your soul young man, you saved a great many lives with Harry and Hermione down there." Vlad nodded stiffly, still not over the guilt but taking the words spoken.
"What happened to the stone?" Harry was awake now, rubbing his own eyes and pulling on glasses as his sleep-rough voice ground out. "It has been destroyed, myself and my dear friend Nicolas agreed it was better the stone never be at risk again." "But then Flamel and his wife will die won't they?" The headmaster nodded at Harry then, and Vlad could see Harry looking sad. "They have enough Elixir to set their affairs in order, but yes, they will die. We agreed it was best, though I did say he could take the stone back but to the well organised mind, death is but the next great adventure." "If the stone is gone, does that mean Voldemort can't ever come back?" Dumbledore turned to Vlad at that question, shaking his head. "I'm afraid there are ways in which he can return. But between you three, I wonder if he can't be delayed for a while. Perhaps forever." The trio got a proud smile then, and Vlad felt some of his anxiety slip away. "So you're alright then maggot face?" Vlad smiled brightly at his sister, looking a little out of place amongst the stark white of the Hospital Wing and Professor Dumbledores brightly coloured robes. "Yep, all good!" Ingrid hugged him briefly, offering Phantom a small petting and Madam Pomfrey let Ingrid stay for breakfast.
"What happened with Professor Quirrell is a complete secret, so naturally, the whole school knows. These are some tokens from your admirers, and I believe the Weasley twins attempted to send you a lavatory seat, which was promptly confiscated." Vlad chuckled into his pumpkin juice as he looked over at a table covered in various sweets, cards and flowers. "I am also not allowed to tell you Norbert is fine and doing well, you understand I simply cannot say such things?" Barely managing to swallow his eggs, Vlad nodded with a smile and suppressed laughter. "Of course professor, I understand completely. As does my darling sister, don't you Ingrid?" Ingrid glared at him slightly but nodded up at the headmaster. "Absolutely sir, you can't say a word. Totally agree." Ingrid was shooed off after breakfast, an impressive glaring contest between the female Dracula and the nurse before the bell rang for lessons. "You three are in for the rest of the day, and provided you're fine this afternoon you'll be released for dinner."
Vlad found a pile of clothes set on his bedside table, being allowed up to the bathroom to shower off the grime and guilt before he dressed. Flicking his hand to dry his hair, Vlad realised he didn't even know where his wand was. A quick question to Madam Pomfrey told him it was on his bedside table, and she eyed his dry hair speculatively but said nothing more. "Mr du Fortunesa requested you go and see him after dinner, but to reassure you it isn't for an extra class." Vlad nodded, picking up a book from Hermione (who seemed to go everywhere with them) and settling on his bed while Harry flicked through "Quidditch Through The Ages". Phantom curled up on his legs, purring contently and falling asleep.
"Pesky thing, hasn't left your side all night." The comments severity was greatly lessened by Madam Pomfrey's fond smile as she looked at the furball and Vlad spied food and water bowls by his bed. "Yes, I'm sure you fought very hard to get her away." Vlad grinned cheekily, focusing on his book before he dwelled on the guilt again. "So what happened in there?" "I hid under the cloak, Harry got the stone. I got the stone away from Harry and we managed to get the Dreamless Sleep down Quirrells throat. Did you get to Dumbledore before Bertrand dragged us out?" Hermione shook her head and closed her book. "No, well, I met him on my way to the Owlery but by the time I'd explained as we got there, you were already out and I was sent ahead here. Ingrid refused to leave though, it was quite sweet to see a Slytherin demand to see a Gryffindor." Vlad smiled, glowing over his sister wanting to see he was alive. "Yeah, she's not as tough as she appears. Though she would kill me for saying that."
Harry was digging through his own pile of belongings, peering around suspiciously before holding up... the invisibility cloak. "There's a note, it says 'be more careful Mr Potter'. Must have been Dumbledore who sent it to me in the first place, handwriting is the same." Vlad nodded and the trio read quietly until they were released for dinner, warned to get a good nights sleep and not overdo it but otherwise declared unharmed by their adventures. Vlad shrunk the pile of things from the well-wishers, stowing them in Hermione's bookbag until after dinner. The other two followed him on his visit to Bertrand, waiting outside until the vampire tutor invited them in anyway. "This isn't a serious thing, I just wanted to congratulate how you handled such hurdles, and the rather inventive way of ensuring you had a rescue plan." Vlad flushed under the praise, and Bertrand held him back for a second after Harry and Hermione headed off. "Do they know about...?" Bertrand's fangs flashed at Vlad for a moment, and Vlad shook his head. "No, why?" "Just wondering, it's kind of a protection in itself. It's good Phantom came to me, and not Professor McGonogall. Voldemort can't possess the already-dead, something to bear in mind. Go on, before they get suspicious." Vlad nodded, smiling at the squeeze to his shoulder before he caught up with his friends.
The last week of school was over far too fast for Harry's liking, though the 'freeze' was completely over. He was also hugely disappointed to learn that Gryffindor had been flattened in the Quidditch final without Harry there, as he'd been unconscious in the Hospital Wing at the time of the game. He hadn't even remembered that when they were going through the trap door, school had seemed distant when they were racing to stop Voldemort. The school as a whole were suddenly the trios new best friends again, and the Gryffindor dorm boys had been thrilled with the new stash of sweets when Hermione followed them up to the dormitory to return them. Both he and Vlad were careful not to give away anymore than the boys already knew, refusing to elaborate until the others finally gave up.
Harry went down to the Leaving Feast a mix of happy and sad. In spite of everything, this had been the best year of his life. And now he was going back to the Dursleys. Vlad and Hermione both promised to write to him, though Vlad warned him not to send Hedwig at night, claiming a lot of fox activity where he lived. Slightly bemused, Harry agreed to only send his owl during the day. "Before the school term ends, there are a few last minute points to award!" The Slytherins, who had just been congratulated on leading the House Points, were suddenly looking a little confused. "To Miss Hermione Granger, for the cool use of intellect when others were in grave danger, fifty points." Hermione's face was pure shock as he said that, and Gryffindors were suddenly clapping and cheering. The headmaster waited for a lull before continuing, "To Mister Vladimir Dracula, for bravery above and beyond the call of any friendship, fifty points!" There were more cheers, more screaming and clapping. Hermione whispered over to he and Vlad then. "We're tied with Slytherin!"
"And finally, to Mister Harry Potter. For pure nerve and outstanding courage, I award Gryffindor House sixty points!" This meant Gryffindor had a hefty lead, and Harry barely managed to smile broadly before the whole table was leaping up, cheering and Harry could just make out his head of house clapping loudly amongst the chaos. "First time Slytherin haven't won in seven years! Go Gryffindor!" Someone shouted near Harry, and even the other house tables (sans Slytherin) were joining in the cheers. Somehow the headmaster managed to be heard over everyone else, a smile clear even in his thick beard. "Assuming my calculations are correct, I believe a change of decoration is in order!" The green and silver banners changed to gold and red, the snakes vanishing to be replaced by lions. The entire hall was full of cheer and brightness, and Harry caught Vlad winking at his sister quickly before any Slytherins noticed.
The next day was bittersweet, their trunks packed and sent ahead for the Hogwarts Express. "So, is your father picking you up Vlad?" His friend shook his head. "No, Bertrand is escorting me and Ingrid home, my father hates to travel and our tutor offered." Vlad had a mischievous grin on his face as he said it, but Harry wasn't sure he wanted to know why. "Come on, better get down to the coaches." The crowd to find a coach was immense, barely an inch clear around them as they stumbled in and out of the transport and they were swept along in the wave onto the platform in seconds. Vlad looked quite confused by it all, and they clambered onto the trains to find their trunks in the same end compartment with Phantom already out of her carrier. "Someone likes us!" The train ride back was slightly different, Ingrid popping her head in to check Vlad had made it and Hermione accompanying them rather than Ron like before. Neville joined them too, pushing his toad into his robe quickly when Phantom looked interested.
"Let me know when you guys are going to Diagon Alley for supplies, I'll try to meet up with you!" Hermione managed to say as she hurried off to find her parents, wheeling her trolley in front of her. Vlad's strange tutor was indeed waiting near the barrier for them, and Vlad leant up to have a hurried, whispered conversation that won him a bemused look before his tutor nodded. Vlad came over to say goodbyes, hugging Harry and promising to write as much as possible until they met up in Diagon Alley again. When Harry turned to look for the Dursleys, Bertrand was just walking away from them and they all looked slightly dazed. Shrugging, Harry hugged Vlad one last time. "Get home safe Harry." He nodded at his friend, offering Ingrid a small wave as he crossed paths with Mr du Fortunesa. "Hello Harry, have a good year at school?" Feeling exceptionally confused by their cheery mood, Harry shrugged and followed.
After loading his trunk into the boot and Hedwig's cage (she'd been sent along ahead to wait for him), Harry was checking his pocket for the last chocolate frog he had from the train. He found a folded up note, Vlad's elegant scrawl inside the paper.
"Your family will be nice, don't question why and I'll explain at school. Have a good summer Harry!
Vlad."
Still confused, Harry supposed Bertrand must have given them a rather good talking to in the moment he had. The Dursleys were indeed quiet and polite the whole car ride back, saying "welcome home" to Harry as uncle Vernon helped carry his trunk upstairs. Looking around his room, Harry wasn't sure he could really call this his home. Not when Hogwarts was still pulsing in his heart. Hogwarts was where he belonged. He wasn't home, not really.
-YDHP-
So, Chosen Two - Year One is finished! Hopefully I haven't disappointed too many people... The start of Year Two will be in a few days hopefully, but as of right now I don't know if it'll be here or it's own story, I'm marking this as complete until I decide!