Don't own, just make new stories out of.
To the new followers/favouriters, hello! To the returning readers, welcome back! Next chapter will be back to Hogwarts, there is garlic all need for a lot of summer holiday chapters now the boys are established characters.
On we go!
-YDHP-
"Excuse me, Mr pet shop man, something is trying to eat my friend?" The shop owner turned to Vlad, then looked over at Harry who had a black snake with green stripes currently fangs-deep in his hand. "What is it with you visiting Dracula? First, you get that little furball when you come in. And now the next time you turn up, I have more pets choosing wizards!" Harry wasn't listening, too busy trying to remove the teeth embedded in his hand. "Wait, so that snake is choosing Harry? Phantom didn't bite me!" "She's not a snake though is she?" Vlad conceded that point before realising an important question. "It's not going to poison him is it?" "It looks like a Runespoor snake, minus the two extra heads and it's green." "If it were, he'd already be dead." "That's a real comfort, but this still hurts!" Vlad made to help his friend, but the pet shop owner stopped him. "It's your familiar now, ask her to stop." Thankfully they were the only people in the store, as the hissing that came from Harry's mouth made the owner turn whiter than Ingrid's makeup.
"Harry Potter is a Parseltongue? But, that's evil. That's You-Know-Who's thing, and Slytherin!" Sensing an impending panic, Vlad turned wide eyes to his tutor. Bertrand sighed but nodded, leaving Vlad to distract Harry and Hermione under the guise of checking out his new snake while Bertrand hypnotised the shop owner and Hermione's parents into forgetting what they'd seen just now. "What was that all about?" Harry looked confused, the snake now calmly wrapped around his wrist and forearm, only about a foot long. "We'll explain later, let's get going. Oh, your snake needs a tank, that's why we came in here." Vlad hoped Harry went along with it as he crammed Phantom into his pocket again and pocketed the bags of food. "Right, let's do that." Harry acted as though he'd found the snake in his garden and the shop owner was only too happy to explain Harry's new pet didn't need a tank, but would appreciate a warm spot to curl up on.
They managed to get a glass tank with a floor that heated with a tap of a wand and Harry deposited the new snake into it. Bertrand took it to carry so they could finish their school shopping, Hermione and her parents looking on in confusion until they were sidetracked by the crowd in Flourish and Blotts again. The man himself, Gilderoy Lockhart, was not what Vlad would describe as attractive, a slightly weak jawline and cheesy smile under over-done blonde curls. Not to mention he reeked of vanity, and not in the same way Ingrid did - Ingrid was a Dracula, it was practically a genetic trait. Keeping a firm grip on his familiar in his pocket, Vlad and Ingrid shared a look at the stack of books recommended for the year - bright colours and terrible titles galore. "Dad will go bats if he sees this lot in the castle." Vlad nodded in agreement, nudging his sister to check Bertrand's sun spells weren't wearing off - she was better at spell detection than him. "He's fine, an hour at least."
"Well, suppose we better get these things and the second and fourth year books, I'm beginning to wish I'd brought that enchanted space backpack out for a test run." Ingrid grinned down at him, pulling the shrunken form of said backpack from her pocket. "Knew you'd forget and regret, you can carry my books as a thank you." Laughing to himself, Vlad agreed and surreptitiously re-sized his backpack in an empty corner. Phantom happily climbed in to the front pocket, poking out her head to purr from her new vantage point. "Don't run off Phantom, you can't get treats from Professor Dumbledore if we lose you in Diagon Alley." Most people would feel daft talking to an animal like they understood perfectly, but since Phantom had gotten them rescued by Bertrand after they went through the trapdoor to fight Voldemort, Vlad was certain the mischievous bundle understood just fine.
The books all disappeared neatly into the backpack Vlad and Ingrid had both practiced space-expanding charms on until Renfield actually fell in it (they'd then practiced cleaning charms). Both of their wandless, silent powers were flourishing, though in different areas, though nobody had any idea why they had them or why they were different. Stowing themselves away after bidding Hermione and her parents goodbye (with a whispered promise of explanations when they were back at Hogwarts), the foursome sat down to eat dinner in the Leaky Cauldron. They each took a moment to inspect Harry's new familiar, the shop owner had said she and Ingrid had said it looked like a Runespoor snake, but that was all they had to go on. "So Harry, how long have you been able to talk to snakes?"
"I accidentally set a snake free in a zoo last year, and I think I once heard one say thanks for not stepping on it in some grass when I was a kid. I've never really thought about it until now? Is it a bad thing?" "Depends on your angle, I'm a Slytherin and I can confirm the snake symbol is because Salazar Slytherin was a Parselmouth. So Potter, secretly a Slytherin?" Harry shook his head vehemently, looking at his bitten hand. The marks were already healed, faint scars that didn't even hurt. "I got chosen by a snake, but I'm definitely a Gryffindor!" "Yeah well, Vlad should be in Hufflepuff because he's a dweeb, but he's in your house somehow." "Thanks Ingrid." Harry couldn't help smiling, amused at the strange dynamic of the Dracula siblings.
"Does she have a name yet?" Phantom was now up on the table, taking the piece of chicken Vlad offered her before going over to mewl at the glass tank. They all watched as Harry's new pet eyed the black furball, wondering if she would try and eat Phantom. Phantom pawed at the tank for a moment before darting off the table. "Phantom you little menace, get back here!" Vlad chased his familiar, not wanting to lose her in some back corridor of the pub. Phantom dug around in a corner for a moment before darting back to the table, clutching at... a dead mouse. "Lovely Phantom. Real nice." Holding the dead rodent in her mouth, Phantom looked for a way into the tank. "Well, guess she approves, she brought lunch!" Harry opened the lid of the tank and Phantom dropped the mouse in, mewling happily as the snake swallowed the mouse whole and returning to her nest in Vlad's bag.
Harry looked at the snake, her green scales almost identical to the eyes he'd been told he inherited from his mother. "Lily." "Lily and Phantom, persistent pets who like mice. They could fight crime, dad would totally watch that show." Vlad laughed at his sister, who was looking at the tank with interest. "Yeah, well it's good they get on if they are going to be living in the same dorm." "Blimey, the others are going to love Lily. Neville may never come near your bed again." The Draculas tutor was quietly watching all of them, checking a pocket watch hung from the pocket of his formal waistcoat-jacket combo. "Speaking of living arrangements, I'm still waiting to hear exactly what you did to my relatives. I've never had such a bizarrely pleasant summer and it's honestly unnerving."
The three sat with him exchanged sidelong glances, looking slightly concerned. "What is it?" Vlad sighed, looking between Ingrid and Bertrand and got a stiff nod from both. "If I tell you, you can't tell anyone. Ever. Not even Hermione, it doesn't leave the four of us. Sorry Phantom, six!" The furball mewled unhappily when Vlad said four, obviously displeased she wasn't counted. "Of course." Harry couldn't have said anything else, Vlad's wide and pleading eyes practically begging him to agree. "Bertrand's a vampire. That's why he was hired to teach us about our ancestors. Vampires have powers to hypnotise people, he convinced them to be nice for your summer. It'll wear off after we go back to school, and they will be perfectly fine after I promise." Harry couldn't tear his eyes off the tutor, realising the man didn't breathe... ever. And there was no pulse at the side of his neck.
"So, are you two vampires?" Vlad shook his head, both he and Ingrid turning their neck to show a pulse there. "See?" Harry nodded, looking back to the tutor. "Do you have fangs?" Bertrand looked to Vlad, receiving a nod before turning back to Harry. The mans mouth opened to reveal two sharp points either side of his front teeth, looking deadly even from where he was sat. "Does it hurt to do that? I didn't even think." Bertrand shook his head, the fangs gone when he next spoke. "Only the first time they come through, and that was a while ago. I promise you are perfectly safe with me, my duty is to teach Vlad and Ingrid their history, train their unique talents and I am thrilled to have access to the Hogwarts library." Turning over what he knew of vampires, Harry couldn't help asking. "What do you eat? Are you like a serious detention punishment for bad students?"
They all laughed at that, both siblings looking at him like he was crazy. "Have you not noticed he's eating with us Harry?" Bertrand pointed down to his burger and chips, though Harry noticed he hadn't touched the chips and was eating his burger with a knife and fork. "I can eat normal food, though I have different tastes to most humans I imagine. And yes, I require blood but I can drink bottled or donated, or leave Hogwarts grounds to hunt animals if need be. I don't hunt humans, it's a condition of my staying at Hogwarts and as a tutor, it would be insanity to turn down the opportunity to work with such unique talents." "He's more fun than he sounds, I promise." Bertrand pretending to look offended as he sipped at what he assured Harry was water, promising Vlad an extra boring lesson when they got back to their home.
"I suppose we better get going, it'll be dark soon. Enjoy the summer Harry, the hypnosis won't wear off until we leave and it's not long til back to school." "What am I going to do with Lily? What if she tries to eat Hedwig or something?" Vlad looked at the napping snake, thinking. "You can talk to her can't you? Ask her not to, and keep her in the tank if Hedwig is in her cage so they are kept apart." Harry nodded, trying to work out how to hold his things and the tank. Rolling his eyes, Vlad shoved Phantom down his jumper for a moment and waved his hand to shrink Harry's things down. "It's so cool not having to hide stuff around you Harry." Harry smiled and nodded at him, and Vlad felt a little guilty for lying to him. Technically, he and Ingrid weren't vampires yet, but it was still a lie.
They took the portkey back to Harry's room, Vlad re-enlarging his friends things. "Well, see you at school?" Harry nodded, shooting Bertrand a wary smile and taking Ingrid's hand in his face when he pretended to hug her goodbye gamely. "Idiot." Hugging his friend, Vlad stepped back to touch the portkey. Phantom clambered free of his jumper the minute they touched down, Bertrand rubbing at his arms as the spells wore off. "Sorry, I didn't think to check if you needed refreshing." "I'm fine Vlad, do not worry. I am however exceptionally thirsty, so you two can take the time to sort out your school things ready for September whilst I go and get a drink." Vlad nodded, waving off his tutor and sitting down with Ingrid. "He was only kidding, Harry knows you only hug me when I've escaped near death or something, you certainly wouldn't hug him." "If he tries it again I'll cut off his tongue and feed it to Renfield." "Yes young masters?" "Go away you pustule!" "Immediately Miss Ingrid."
Vlad raised an eyebrow at his sister. "You did call his name, what was he supposed to think?" Ingrid shrugged, waiting for Vlad to pull off his backpack and hand over her things. "You two reek of breathers, where have you been?" "School shopping dad, where do you think?" The Count threw himself over his throne dramatically and sighed. "You're not seriously going back to that place again? Abandoning your father this way Vlad, how could you?" "Professor McGonogall explained this to you. If I don't learn to control this magic, it could end up killing me. Actually dead, not just undead." They each turned around in surprise when the door knocked, looking around in confusion at each other. "Are we expecting someone?" Ingrid shrugged so Vlad headed out to the door. "Oh no." There were two coffins, and a very confused postal worker who asked Vlad to sign for them. "Renfield!" The servant appeared next to Vlad, helping him wheel in the coffins. "Look who decided to visit." There were widening eyes all around the room, and Vlad and Ingrid looked down to realise they needed to change.
Bertrand materialised behind them, handing them both their 'traditional' attire and pointing them to a nearby room to change. The setting sun was a timer as they turned away from each other and wriggled into the 'vampire' clothes, sitting down in the throne room again like nothing was different. Vlad tugged at his cape clasp, he hated wearing them so much. The coffins creaked open, revealing Granny and Grandpa - Krone and Atilla Westenra, their mothers parents. "Come into the shadows children, so I can see you better!" Vlad and Ingrid shuffled over, having their cheeks poked and prodded by the old woman vampire until she was satisfied. "Too much colour in your cheeks, you should stay inside more!" "That's not so easy at school, what with the windows and lessons outside." Ingrid took the comment personally, she worked hard to maintain her pale skin whereas Vlad wished he could tan a little and not look so pasty.
"Yes, that's why we're here. How is Hogwarts going for you two? And who is this half fang?" Vlad turned to see Bertrand with his head down, as though it were a problem. "That's Bertrand, our vampire tutor at school. He came with us to work on stuff so we didn't get rusty over the summer." "A half fang tutoring two full blood Draculas?" "He's an excellent teacher, and I don't care if he's a half fang." That comment got him a 'tsk' from both his father and his grandparents, and a shadow of a smile from Bertrand before he moved to introduce himself. The Westenras were both on the Vampire High Council, so Bertrand probably knew their names, dates of birth and the co-ordinates of their castle in Transylvania. Not that that would matter to such stuck up old bats like his grandparents, but Vlad wasn't about to alienate his grandmother when she paid for his schooling. The grandmother in question was most surprised and pleased to hear that Vlad and Ingrid both had talents outside of either vampires or wizards, and it was with a sigh of relief they shut the coffins to ship them off two days later, with a promise to up their allowances the next year as a reward.
Stripping off the high collared cape, Vlad tossed it aside. "I can't wait to get back to school, at least our school capes don't nearly have my eye out because dad wants me to 'grow into it'!" Bertrand chuckled as Vlad ranted about his clothes, patiently sitting at the table until he returned to the book they were working on while Ingrid flicked popcorn into his hair - she was done with hers then. "It's not long now bat breath, now finish your homework so we can put the trunks aside, I think dad may actually flame them if he walks into them once more." Vlad nodded, retrieving his quill from Phantom's mouth much to his familiars displeasure and getting on with his work. Even with his fathers vehement complaints and the dullness of his History Of Magic essay, Vlad was still smiling as he thought of going back to Hogwarts.
Putting his new pet on his desk, Harry looked at it and pondered the things he'd found out today. Vlad's tutor was a vampire, but that didn't really affect his life all that much unless said tutor decided to snack on him. And apparently his ability to talk to snakes was not only rare, it was a Slytherin trait. The sorting hat wanting to put him in Slytherin echoed in his head, ringing in his ears and Harry sighed. Slytherin was not an inherently evil house, that was clear in Vlad and Ingrid - in spite of insulting him as easily as breathing, it was clear Ingrid did actually love her little brother in spite of him being a "goody two shoes Gryffindor". Lily looked up at him, flicking a tongue out to scent the air and spying Hedwigs cage. "You can't eat her, she's my pet too." "Very well Master Harry." Harry dropped his books in surprise when the snake answered, blinking and pinching his arm to check he wasn't imagining things.
"Did you talk?" "Well do you think all Parselmouth conversations were one sided?" Harry shrugged, he didn't think of that before today, and apparently his new familiar was sarcastic. "So, what are you? Like, what species? We kind of hypnotised the shop owner so he couldn't tell us much." "Emeraldspire, a distant cousin of Runespoor snakes, and much better." Chuckling, Harry hesitantly reached into the tank. "Are you going to bite me again?" The snake shook her head, licking Harry's hand gently. "That was to warn other pets you were chosen, I can voluntarily turn the venom of my fangs on and off, you are alive are you not?" Lily wrapped around his arm, coiling to rest her head to face him. "So, what is it you have named me? That is traditional for humans to do with their familiars is it not?" Harry nodded, admiring the green stripes of her scales. "Lily." "I remind you of a flower?" Harry shook his head, pulling out the photo album Vlad and Hagrid had got him.
"Your scales are very much like my mothers eyes, and her name was Lily." "How very sentimental. I suppose it will do, though when I reach maturity it will be an odd name for a creature of my size." Looking at the foot long snake, Harry asked "how big are you going to get?" "Our kind can reach about ten feet in length, but I am only a youngling, it will be at least nine years before I'm matured." That didn't sound too bad, though Harry thought he may need to get a bigger tank. And maybe take up weightlifting, a ten foot snake was not going to wind neatly round his wrists or be easy to lift. "So... what do you do? I don't know much about snakes surprisingly, and I have something of an explanation to give when I turn up to Hogwarts with two pets." Lily made a hissing sound Harry would have described as laughing in human speech, informing Harry of some basic facts and he expected he could look up more back at Hogwarts, much like they had with Vlad's little terror Phantom. Remembering Vlad's bidding for Harry to enjoy the rest of his summer, Harry carefully placed Lily back in her tank, closing the lid and activating the heat mat before descending to the kitchen for a cup of tea.
His relatives were still pleasant and polite, offering Harry some cake and otherwise leaving him to it, a huge improvement on grunts, expletives and insults that he'd normally get. "Uncle Vernon, I have to go back to Kings Cross for school soon. Is it ok if you drive me?" Still confused, Harry got a perfectly pleasant reply and hurried up to his room before he started getting antsy with it all again. He didn't know about vampire hypnosis, it could wear off sooner than they thought. Rubbing his eyes as he took his glasses off for the night, Harry hissed a goodnight to Lily, let Hedwig out for the night and turned off his lamp to climb into bed. Life may actually be a little less strange when he got back to his magical school.
-YDHP-
Again, apologies for the erratic schedule. Soon we will be back to Hogwarts!