Back again? I see that you, like so many before you, have discovered the delights of the story Chosen Two... I trust by now, you realise I'm evil to our boys.
Jon - I agree it's not THAT weird but Harry had very little experience with physical contact before so I just imagine him finding Vlad being so touchy with him a little odd at times? As for George... You'll find out in the future won't you? Hehehe
Also, have an early update because I had a surge of inspiration.
-YDHP-
Sorrow looked down at her daughter, Solace. Named because she was the light that came out of the darkness for her. Artan, her husband, looked down at the girl too. "It doesn't matter where she came from. What Salazar did was unforgivable, but I promise this girl is my daughter as much as if I had sired her myself." The solid grey eyes gave no doubt as to who biologically fathered her, but Solace smiled toothily and tapped Sorrow on the cheek, gurgling happily. Placing her down, Solace toddled over to her pile of toys and started chewing on a snake plush toy, occasionally making hissing sounds that were clearly Parseltongue.
"I hope she never has to know. I never want her to bear the blame for it. Or feel as though she should." Artan slipped an arm around her waist, holding her close. "With you for a mother, I don't doubt for a moment she will turn out as spectacular as you. Strong and smart, and certain she has two parents who love her." Artan had an attitude centuries before his time, accepting the child not biologically his, and not considering her brothers actions anything but reprehensible. Many would think what Salazar had done forgivable, justifiable even for Sorrow loving a human, pure and unmagical but loving and fiercely protective of 'both his girls'.
"Dada!" That had been her first word, minus the garbled attempts at parselmouth she had inherited from her father - Sorrow had no such ability. The scene faded away, to be replaced by something some three years later. Solace still carried the steely grey eyes, but her hair was long, braided cutely and she smiled just like her mother. "Look mother, I found another one!" She held up a small snake, bright green stripes along it's scales and a clearly relaxed attitude as Solace hissed gently to it. "Well done dear."
Artan placed dinner down for Solace, then smiled fondly at the snake. "Shall I fetch your new friend a snake meal?" "Yes father, he says he's hungry." Artan rolled his eyes, lifting a small chunk of raw meat from a basket and placing it next to Solace's plate. Sorrow ensured everything was all packed up, her daughters favourite doll and clothes placed in a magically expanded children's cloth backpack, various other essentials in a somewhat ragged looking trunk that held far more than the proportions would show.
"I'm not happy leaving you alone my love." "I can defend myself, you need to get our daughter away." They were talking in hushed tones, away from their daughters eager ears. "And you are certain it will be soon?" "Positive. I know my brother. With the growing prestige of that school, and his well known attitude to our marriage, he will not want any loose ends left. You must take Solace, and keep her safe. If nothing else, I can buy you both enough time, and there is nobody else I trust with our little girl. Keep her safe Artan, I will find you both. I promise."
Artan shook his head, thick brown curls trembling with the motion. "Do you think he knows?' "He's never been anywhere near Solace, and I intend it to stay that way. She isn't his. She's yours. Now make sure you're packed my love, when she's done eating I'll place the temporary charms needed on her. That will enable you to travel quickly." Her husband kissed her, soft and soothing and full of love.
Solace finished her dinner, placing the newest snake friend back out in the grass. Kissing her forehead, Sorrow slid the only heirloom she had around her daughters neck - it was a necklace her mother had given her as a girl, an ornate locket with emeralds following the loose shape of an S. Casting a sleep charm, then a temporary lightening charm on her daughter, Artan picked her up with one hand, her little bag on her back and the trunk handle clutched in the other. Fighting tears as Sorrow was certain she would never see her daughter again, she kissed her husband and pointed him.
"Out the back. My brother loves nothing more than making an entrance. I'll lift the ward as soon as you reach it. Go. Protect our daughter. I love you." Artan left, sadness and fear in his face as he left. Sensing him reach the ward, hidden amongst the ring of trees surrounding their small cottage, Sorrow lifted the ward that kept almost every living creature out - it was necessary.
Placing her wand in a box, placing it in another box full of letters and lifting a loose floorboard up to hide it, she felt another shift in the air, the quiet 'pop' of her brother apparating nearby, she stood firm. Salazar would not find Solace, and Sorrow would not beg the monster her brother had become for anything. If she was going down, she was going down proud and protecting her daughter.
The door rattled once, twice, then was blasted off it's hinges. Salazar stepped through the dusty cloud, scanning the whole building with a spell and hissing angrily. "Where is the girl?" "I won't tell you. You'll have to kill me first." Salazar raised his wand, eyeing her empty hands and smirking coldly. "We'll see."
Bile was thick in his throat when he jolted awake, looking around in confusion as there was nobody around him after the all-too-realistic dream. Shivering and sweating, Lily flicked her tongue against his wrist. "Wizard, why do you continue these bad dreams?" "Not a choice Lily, and they don't happen every night so I'm not taking dreamless sleep." Lily rolled her eyes, or as close as a snake could to that. "You are a difficult one master. Perhaps talk to the vampire about your dreams?" Lily often encouraged him to talk to Vlad, but Harry wasn't going to wake Vlad because of a nightmare.
"No. I'm gonna go back to sleep, you stop bugging me." Lily huffed, stretching out across his bed and laying her head on the top of his arm. "Irritating wizard." "Matches my irritating familiar, go to sleep Lily." He got an unintelligible hiss in response, Lily's tail flicking occasionally as she dozed. Harry didn't find his way back to sleep, and Vlad looked surprisingly unrested himself. "What's up Vlad?" "Couldn't sleep. Happens." he mumbled in reply as he passed to the bathroom.
Shrugging, Harry dressed and headed to the common room, finding himself greeted by the first years. "Hey guys, how's your first month been?" "Awesome! Magic is so cool!" The youngest Gryffindors were some of the most excitable Harry had ever met, endlessly energetic about Hogwarts. "Time for breakfast!" Harry followed the charging children bemusedly, hurrying through a plate of sausage and eggs and heading to the library before Vlad had even made it to breakfast. Madam Pince looked suspicious of him being there so early on a Saturday, but mostly ignored him as he trawled for books on the four founders.
Hiding neatly in an alcove with a pile of them, Harry scanned for information on Salazar Slytherin. There were a few references to him having a son, one or two about his wife dying of a mishap with poison - given the man's expertise in Potions, Harry was instantly suspicious - but zero on his sister, or the daughter he had apparently had with her. Though if his dream were true, Salazar never knew Solace was his. Shuddering at the memory, he shoved the books aside.
Vlad was sat in the library, head buried in "Advanced Arithmancy" and a sheet of parchment full of complicated-looking equations in front of him. "What are you doing?" The boy vampire didn't even flinch, as though he wasn't surprised Harry was there. Maybe it was a vampire thing. "Studying a few spells, it's my favourite part of Arithmancy, but we only cover really simple stuff until fifth year." He didn't even look up, continuing to scrawl out more equations as though Harry wasn't even there. Shrugging to himself, Harry made sure his books were all back and headed out.
It was raining outside, so Harry wandered the hallways, wondering what to do with himself. "Harry?" Turning, he saw Professor Lupin. "Hey professor." Lupin indicated his head to invite Harry in, producing a tea tray. "Thanks." "So, how are you finding third year Harry?" Shrugging, Harry sipped at his tea. "Busy. Especially with Quidditch and my two new classes, but then Vlad's taking three and has his private tutor sessions so I guess I can't complain."
Lupin sat back, looking over at a tank on his desk and tapping the glass. "What is that?" It was small, and mostly looked to be made out of cloudy fog. And only had one leg. "Hinkypunk. Not terribly dangerous, except they like to lure travellers into bogs. See the lantern?" It did have a little lantern glowing in one of its hands. Not that it really had distinguishable hands, just more fog that resembled arms.
"Harry, I wanted to talk to you about your friend Vlad." "Oh?" Placing his empty cup down, Harry straightened up. "Do you really think it advisable, being friends with a vampire?" "You saw his boggart, his greatest fear is that I will turn on him for that exact thing." Vlad wasn't dangerous, Harry was sure. "He's still a dark creature, he will still crave human blood. He's dangerous Harry, your parents would be horrified."
That was a low blow. "What would you know about them?" "I went to school with your parents. I shared a dormitory with your father for six years. He was head boy seventh year, so he moved out then. And your mother... Your mother Lily was one of my closest friends. She was a talented witch, and an uncommonly kind person." Draco hadn't mentioned Remus Lupin when he talked about Black and Pettigrew being friends with his father, but maybe he didn't know.
"Wait. That means you were with Black? And Pettigrew at Hogwarts?" Lupin stiffened, but nodded. "Yes. I lost all four of my friends in one night. Sirius to Azkaban, and the others dead." A pang of sympathy overrode everything for a moment, pain and grief shining in the strangely amber-yellow eyes. "What were they like? I've not met many people who knew them." Suddenly, Harry was hungry for information.
"Many were lost in the wizarding war. James was... James was James. A prankster, a bit of a flirt, a little full of himself when it came to Quidditch but the most pure hearted man I have ever known. Sirius was... I never expected him to be capable of what he did. Peter Pettigrew was a shy, almost clingy boy, adored James and Sirius like heroes. And Lily Evans, Lily was intelligent and powerful, putting paid to many doubts about Muggle borns." Harry knew otherwise, but there was no way he was sharing that.
"We were very good friends. She saw the good in everyone, even when, and possibly most importantly, when they couldn't see it in themselves. They loved you dearly Harry, the day Lily told James she was pregnant was one of the happiest days of his life. I remember because he accidentally knocked over a cauldron in his exuberant joyful leaping around, cheering." Lupin chuckled to himself at the memory, a hint of unshed tears in his eyes and Harry found himself smiling.
"What were their best subjects? Did my mum like flying? Were you around when I was a baby?" Desperate need to know his parents surged, this professor in front of him having known them through Hogwarts. Lupin poured more tea, then launched into some detailed accounts of the jokes James Potter had pulled at school their first year, and the way Lily Evans had always been there to tell him off for it. By lunchtime, Harry was in fits of laughter, wiping tears of amusement from his eyes as they both stood. "They really turned McGonogalls office into a giant cat toy room?" "Complete with scratch post and litter tray. That was one of their longest runs of detention." Chuckling, Harry felt lighter, happier.
"Can we... Will you tell me more about them some time?" Lupin nodded, then stopped. "If you promise me something. Please consider what your friend will become." Harry agreed immediately, desperate to hear more. "I will. Thank you professor." "Remus, when we are here at least Harry. Your father would turn in his grave hearing you call me professor in private." Nodding, Harry managed to get out "thanks pro- Remus." before heading out for lunch.
Vlad wasn't there, but sometimes he ate in the kitchens or in their dorm when he was particularly lost in a book or essay. He had almost forgotten that it was Quidditch that afternoon, remembering only when Wood interrupted his lasagna to tell Harry to hurry to the stands aa soon as he was done eating. Still lifted by the happy morning with Remus Lupin, Harry bounced along to the changing rooms and pulled on his Quidditch robes. "Hufflepuff don't stand a chance Oliver, relax!" Angelina tried to soothe their nervous captain. "This is my" "last chance at the cup. We know." "Because Harry was unconscious. And then it was cancelled because of the danger and dead student stuff."
Wood glared at the Weasley twins, then finished fastening his protective gear. "Its cloudy out, visibility isn't great." That was aimed at Harry, with his glasses he wished he could ditch, but the weird snake vision stuff was not yet under control. "I'm good. Let's go!" Picking up his broom, Harry saddled up and they soared into the air. Hufflepuff Captain was Cedric Diggory, also their seeker and a good couple of stone heavier than Harry. Normally seekers were light and agile, but as Harry noted the wind picking up, he knew Diggory had an advantage in bulk as he would be less likely to get blown off course.
Flying around as the stands finished filling, many students already clutching umbrellas readily, he spotted Vlad sat next to the other Gryffindor boys. Was Lupin right? Could Vlad become dangerous? Shaking the thought away, he noticed Madam Hooch stood next to the trunk containing the Quidditch balls. Game on.
Turning his Nimbus around, Harry scanned the skies. Visibility was down, and the thunder rolling through the clouds was followed by the start of rain, which thickened fast as he flew. His skin was icy, soaked already as a small pitter patter became freezing sheets of water and lightning flared. Squinting through his rain covered glasses, Harry could have sworn he saw a huge black dog in one of the empty stands, but the next bolt of lightning showed nothing.
Spotting a momentary flash of gold, he shifted directions to aim for it. Already cold, he didn't immediately notice until the chill penetrated his chest, making his heart feel sluggish, heavy and screams started filling his mind. Numb hands slipped on the broom handle, then his body seemed to tip and Harry knew no more.
Harry had been... maybe not avoiding him, but almost off with him that morning, and rather than his usual habit of joining Vlad to read quietly, he had disappeared. It was inadvisable when he was trying to suppress the mate bond, but he couldn't help focusing on it, using it to find his mate. The smell of werewolf lingering in the hallway told him this was Professor Lupin's office - Harry was with the werewolf again. Unable to face Harry reeking of werewolf with his instincts screaming, Vlad dropped by the kitchens for a snack and hid in the dorm again.
"Coming to Quidditch Vladdo?" Seamus dragged him out of his blissful lost-in-a-book reverie, and Vlad realised that meant Harry flying. He loved and hated watching Harry in equal measure. "Yeah, hold on." Digging out his Gryffindor scarf and gloves, he pulled on a winter cloak and followed the others out. Harry was already up in the air, that look he only got on his broom on his face - peaceful, content. If only he looked like that at him. Shaking the thought away, he could feel the rain in the air though it wasn't out yet.
"The quaffle is released, and the game begins!" Whatever charm was used on the megaphone, it seemed almost weak against the thunder beginning to fill the air. Eyes fixed on Harry, Vlad watched as the rain came down, lightning crackling through the sky and many drenched players swooping through the air. Hermione shared her umbrella with him, and both cast 'impervius' charms over their clothes to help keep some of the moisture out of the thick woolen cloaks they had on.
The temperature seemed to plummet in the space of a few seconds, and Vlad felt the same cold ache in his chest as Harry screaming filled his head. Then the memory of his boggart, Harry lying lifeless beneath his fangs followed, and Vlad would have missed what came next if Hermione hadn't screamed. Harry was falling, dropping like a bat in a cave in through the air and his heart stopped, his muscles frozen solid. All of a sudden, Harry seemed to slow before hitting the ground, and his body finally snapped to reality as he bolted down the wooden staircase, needing to get to his mate.
The dementors were swarming the field, but Vlad had eyes only for Harry and threw himself to the ground in front of him, hoping to at least distract the foul creatures. A couple of bright white lights sliced neatly through the swarm, and the cold screams started to ebb away. Spotting Professor Dumbledore, Bertrand and McGonogall, he relaxed a little and realised a second beforehand that he was about to faint.
When his eyes opened again, he recognised the hospital wing, confused for a second before bolting up. The Gryffindor Quidditch team and their dorm mates were crowded around another bed, and Vlad made to get up but found himself held down by a hand he discovered was Bertrand's. "Slow down. He's alive. That was brave, and stupid. You could have died out there." "So could Harry. Is he ok?" Trying to get up again, his tutor shook his head and pushed Vlad horizontal again. "Stay. He will be fine."
Pretending to acquiesce, Vlad went lax until the hand moved, then jumped up and moved to Harry's bed. His mate was pale, wet and mud streaked, his broken glasses next to the bed but he was alive. "Vladdo! You're alright. Ingrid was doing her nut, said she was going to smack you silly for being such an idiot." Chuckling for show, Vlad continued looking at Harry. "Is he ok?" "Yes, yes, he will be fine. Everyone out! Except you Mr Dracula, you need checking up on. Miss Granger, go and take a seat, you look in need of a pepper up." Madam Pomfrey scattered the others, leaving Harry with just Vlad and Hermione stood over him - Hermione didn't move, it was just a cover.
"How do you feel Vlad?" "Fine. The impervius charm kept me mostly clean and dry. What were the dementors doing there anyway?" Bertrand moved over to them then to explain without shouting across the hospital wing. "Professor Dumbledore sent them straight off, he was extremely angry. They haven't been able to feed, relegated only to the gates. A Quidditch match, anticipation and eager joy and exhilarated fear... It was a feast they couldn't resist." Harry started stirring then, looking around and rubbing his eyes.
"What happened?" "Dementors. How do you feel?" It might have been his imagination, but Harry seemed to almost back away from Vlad, as much as someone lay on a bed could do so. "Sore. What happened in the match?" Hermione grimaced, and Vlad realised she was clutching a large bundle. "Diggory caught the snitch. He didn't realise right away, and when he did he wanted a rematch but there's no rule to change they won. There's... there's another thing." Hermione dropped the bundle on the bed, and Vlad realised why Bertrand hadn't been the one holding it - it was full of splintered wood.
"When you fell, your broom sort of... flew into the whomping willow. And well, it doesn't really like to be hit." Harry reached over to the pile, and Vlad knew a bolt of pure, icy fear when he saw Harry's hand around a jagged, pointed piece of wood. "My broom..." "Draco said you can borrow his if you don't have chance to order a new one for the next match." Hermione added quickly, but Vlad knew the broom meant something to Harry - flying was one of those things he was good at regardless of his status or ancestry or powers, he was just an excellent seeker.
"Tell him thanks, I guess." Madam Pomfrey shooed them both off to check Harry over, and after another couple of spells and a bar of chocolate almost crammed down his throat, Vlad was declared free to go. Harry didn't ask him to stay, so he had no cause to and forced himself to bid Bertrand goodbye and follow Hermione to a late dinner. His stomach was in knots though, barely a forkful of rice making it into his mouth before he gave up. He did wave over at Ingrid on his way out so she knew he was ok, then went back to Gryffindor Tower.
Showering the residual mud and hospital smell off of him, Vlad crawled into his pyjamas and was neatly hidden behind his bedcurtains before his dorm mates were back. Phantom pawed at his face, then indicated her tail at Lily who was wrapped around one of the posts of his bed. "Tell her Harry is fine, just being checked over since he fell like a hundred feet." A conversation of completely unintelligible hissing and mewling followed, making Vlad's head hurt as the two kept on.
"Harry! You're alright. And escaped Madam Pomfrey without an overnight stay." "Yeah, well she said I just needed rest now and I can get that here without hospital pyjamas on. Where's Lily gone?" Said snake shifted, sticking her head out of the curtains and her body slowly uncoiled as she went to Harry. Sighing quietly to himself, Vlad listened in as the others asked what had happened, then asked if he had noticed Vlad jumping in front of the dementors for him.
"He did that?" "Yeah, that's why he was in the hospital wing too. Didn't he tell you?" Harry didn't answer verbally, but Vlad could picture him shrugging half-heartedly while rifling through his trunk for pyjamas before he went for a bath. "Have you two had a row? Did he take his shirt off and blind you or something?" "Seamus, why are you so obsessed with Vlad topless? You seeking for the home team?" "Don't be disgusting!" Listening with bated breath, it was Draco who's voice defended him. "Come on guys, being gay is normal in the wizarding world." "Eh. Still weird. Why look at boys when girls like Ingrid exist?" He heard Dean make a sound of agreement, fingers twisting in his pillow as he heard them essentially mock his sexuality.
"I'm going for a long hot bath, please change the subject by the time I get back." Vlad heard the bathroom door close, wrestling with himself on whether he really needed to look at Harry - he could hear he was fine now. Forcing himself to maintain the illusion he was sleeping, lest he look like an eavesdropping sneak to his dorm mates, Vlad couldn't entirely settle until he heard Harry come back and say goodnight to the others, even recognising the specific creak Harry's bedsprings made (and wasn't that a little creepy?) as his mate lay down, a few quiet hisses leaving Harry's mouth as he no doubt said goodnight to Lily.
Had he upset Harry somehow? Analysing his behaviour and Harry's, it definitely seemed to be a recent shift. Wiping a couple of treacherous tears from his cheeks, Vlad rolled onto his side, ran a hand through Phantoms soft fur and smiled a little when she nuzzled up under his chin, one paw resting on his collarbone and she seemed perfectly content to sleep in that odd position. "Daft little thing." he thought to himself, closing his eyes and hoping whatever was going on between he and Harry, he could fix.
-YDHP-
Yay for early updates?