Considerably shorter authors note... hi.
Also, I'm so mean to Vlad in this chapter. Like. More than usual. He's going to jab me in the eye with a wand then curse me for all eternity, I'm sure.
-YDHP-
"Six? Really?"
"Yep. Here's the list, and I've put the colour-stain charms back on your trunk and bed, in case the Gryffindor comes in here."
Harry took the list of names, looking mildly wary as he scanned it, then searched for their names on the Map - Vlad included their houses, and apparently all of them were in their assigned common rooms. Ingrid had a copy too, to keep an eye on the Slytherins, but Vlad had been told in no uncertain terms that the knowledge was not to to further. In other words - "stay quiet".
They couldn't let on that Vlad could sense dark marks, they didn't want to risk either Dracula coming to the attention of Voldemort - especially with Ingrid in Slytherin, would be seen as an easy convert - or make the Marked students edgy.
"Right. Anyway, we should get going. I'm hungry and it's Quidditch Practice after breakfast, the 'puffs had it this morning. Wood was not happy."
"Yeah, I've noticed Wood loves a morning fly."
Vlad sighed to himself as he followed Harry to breakfast, noting the half-asleep students in canary yellow robes at the Hufflepuff table - the Quidditch team.
"I still owe them a serious beating after the dementor incident."
"Yeah. Their captain was a good guy about it though, he wanted a rematch."
Harry nodded, eyeing their bulky captain Cedric Diggory. Objectively, Vlad considered him conventionally attractive - he had the trademark floppy hair and friendly smile that set most girls around him swooning, and he was constantly making people laugh. Then there was the whole muscular, tall, grey eyes thing that made him a little stand-out, and his parents worked at the Ministry - he had overhead Mr Weasley mention Mr Diggory. He was a fifth year, like Ingrid, and apparently "not the dumbest of his house". A high compliment from Ingrid.
But he wasn't Harry.
"Looks like the other Hufflepuff players didn't think much of morning practice either. Especially in bright yellow first thing."
His mate chuckled, setting in to his breakfast with gusto. Vlad noted he was back on the meat eating again, he seemed to vary between copious amounts of sugar - blueberry jam on everything - and copious amounts of meat - he was currently eating toast sandwhiches crammed with bacon, sausage and black pudding.
He barely stopped himself from saying "you're lucky I love you" aloud, because black pudding was disgusting but Harry's meaty diet had only kicked in after Samael bit him - Vlad couldn't blame his mate for the basilisks actions. That didn't mean he had to enjoy the sight, focusing intently on his scrambled eggs and hot sauce. Harry didn't understand his love for spicy food either, but Vlad couldn't get enough lately - he had two and a half years before food wouldn't taste right, and the spicier the better.
"Are you done making us all nauseous Harry? Only, Wood will be waiting."
Fred and George, half asleep in their coffees, prompted Harry, who nodded and swallowed the last of his sandwich.
"Vlad puts chilli on his eggs and George jr there... let's not go there. Leave my food alone, let's go."
Vlad sat in the stands, joined by Hermione and the first years. They moved to the front row, and he and Hermione moved back a row or two so they wouldn't be overheard as they talked.
"Animagus? Really?"
"Yeah. Harry wants to do something his dad could do, which I don't really blame him for. I can't do it myself, but I'm gonna learn everything to keep him safe at least."
Hermione knew about his deep-seated bond to Harry, which was freeing in it's limitless potential during conversation because hiding it was exhausting. She took the flask of tea Vlad handed her, warming her hands and sipping at it daintily while he stared longingly up at Harry, the pure joy flying gave him enough to make Vlad feel light inside.
"I'm in. This is the ultimate test of academic over to practical, and I love a challenge."
"You can't tell him though, Draco I mean. Harry doesn't want anyone to know. I realise that's unfair to you, you two have only just started dating and I'm already asking you to keep secrets."
She sat quietly a few minutes more, smiling fondly at the cheering eleven year olds bouncing with excitement as they watched the team and reserves fly.
"I get it. He has so few things nobody knows, his life is a public feast for all. I'm still in, though I reserve bragging rights to my dear idiot boyfriend when I succeed. I won't tell him Harry did too though."
Vlad couldn't help laughing as she lit up just talking about Draco, it was both sweet and horribly, gut-ache-jealousy inspiring.
"Fair enough. I'll pass on a couple of the books to you, they are technically from the Malfoy library so I can't ask you to lie... just, don't volunteer the information unless he asks? And even then, let him assume you and I are reading for fun. I do that. So do you."
She sighed, but agreed eventually and they lightly joked about potential 'forms'. Hermione theorised Harry may well have a serpent form, though as he watched his mate zip about the air like it was natural, he leant more towards an avian form.
"His patronus is a phoenix, did you know that?"
"I didn't know he had mastered the charm yet, no. But it's impossible for an animagus form to be a magical creature, the point is to blend in."
Vlad did already know that, but his mate was remarkable in so many ways, he wouldn't be all that surprised to find him breaking yet another rule. Either way, they could only continue on and see what happened.
"I wouldn't be surprised if you were a cat or something, all wise and sneaky."
"Sneaky?"
Hermione swatted his arm, laughing as she did it but playing at being annoyed. They spent the rest of practice quietly watching the flying - Draco was a reserve, so he didn't have to go to practice, and Harry was still using his Firebolt until he actually ordered a new one, but he was hovering on his old Nimbus 2001 by the goals to watch Wood.
Practice ended just as lunch began, but only because the Weasley twins threatened to beat their captain with their bats if he tried to make them practice through meals again, which George and Bella were in fits of laughter over. Matthew continued pestering them all about Quidditch again, and Vlad had bets that he would be front of the line for try outs the next year, when he was old enough.
"The way you hit those bludgers was awesome!"
The twins were happy to indulge the boy, his excitement infectious to the already buoyant twosome. Hermione eyed them disapprovingly, but a look from Vlad reminded her - they broke the rules alot, even the law, and in the earliest steps of what was shaping up to be a future war, Fred and George making people smile was a good thing. Especially when they also helped protect the younger students, equipping them with instant darkness powder and the joy buzzers. Ultimately, they were helping in their own way.
Vlad got a lot of his Animagus reading done while Harry and Hermione were at Healing, though she got her reading done in the evenings. Hermione was definitely 'one of the guys', she didn't really get on with the Gryffindor girls in her year, or at all really other than Ginny and the first year girls. Harry chatted to the older girls on the Quidditch team, but that was about it too.
It was similar with the boys in their dorm, while they were friends with Seamus and Dean, they just didn't understand loss or fear or the upcoming war quite the same. Neville did - he too, had lost his parents. The Weasleys had been good to Harry, aside from the bad egg, and utterly apologetic to Ingrid for his actions, even sent him away. Vlad trusted them as a whole, they had even accepted Draco. And Bertrand... mostly.
And the younger students had been victims of poor timing in the climate they aged in to Hogwarts, and they were also exactly what the future needed - accepting, open minded and motivated to break down things like house barriers. Though Vlad wished they could be kept out of it all, that may not be possible. Better they be dealing with it well, and protected as best they could. They had their necklaces protecting them at the very least, Vlad was happy to see they were all still wearing the portkey charmed jewellery.
So they had groups already, as much as he wished there weren't so many lines and boxes everyone had to be placed into.
Not a single one of the alarm charms had gone off after a month, and he had a fair certainty the Marked students were there to gather information, at least for now. And that Riddle was getting his kicks congratulating himself on sneaking his followers into Hogwarts, right under Dumbledores bespectacled nose. It's what his dad would do, cheer himself on an evil deed well done.
The biggest change so far was Harry making frequent trips to the owlery, which Hermione accompanied him to, because he had agreed to start talking to Sirius Black. Vlad hated it, but he wouldn't deny Harry conversations with people who had known his parents. There were upsides - Severus Snape didn't trust Sirius Black an inch, wouldn't let the man set foot on Malfoy grounds - Harry was safe in Hogwarts with Vlad, and out of it at Malfoy Manor. For now, that would do.
Harry did show him the letters he got from Black, and it was just about his parents and Hogwarts. No tempting Harry to break out of Hogwarts and go to him, no dire warnings about Vlad's pending vampirism. And it did make Harry happy, which was all Vlad really wanted.
"I hate your head of house. I abhor Transfiguration."
"You're good at it."
"I'm good at charming moronic boys, I don't enjoy it."
They were in Bertrand's quarters, Vlad, Harry, Draco and Hermione studying and Ingrid complaining - she was in her OWL year, and Ingrid hated exams. They used it because Bertrand was in his coffin, so they could spread out across the floor - sometimes they used Severus', but they were trying not to spend too much time loitering near the 'marked' professor, just in case any of the marked students tried seeking him out. Only Draco saw him regularly now outside of classes, and probably knew why - Vlad wasn't allowed to talk about it so he couldn't ask.
"Just imagine future coffins you can transfigure. Imagine transfiguring dads clothes into ballet outfits. Whatever gets you through your exams. You're the first no-blood Slytherin, you have a duty to prove you can still come top of your class."
Ingrid smirked to herself as she contemplated those very things, and undoubtedly other ways she could cause people mental trauma. Shaking his head, he went back to reading over his half-done Charms essay, glad they were done with fire and ice based charms - his latent vampire powers had interfered every time he tried to do flame charms silently lately, and they kept overpowering. Only Seamus could cause more pyro-based disasters, as Flitwick had put it.
He stuck to saying the charms, vowing to try and fix that issue later when his 'vampire' spike calmed down. It was normal for teen vampires to have random flickers of power, and as magical vampires it was tricky to know where the two intertwined inside them.
Hermione, having already completed her essays, was going through the planner for the year - Hogsmeade weekends, Quidditch matches and OWL and NEWT exams.
"It's Valentines next week. And a Hogsmeade weekend."
"Great, pink decorations and hormonal teenage boys trying to get my attention."
Ingrid scowled, but Vlad understood - there would be couples everywhere, and they were both stuck longing for impossible people. Vlad wouldn't even escape it in his dormitory, now Draco and Hermione were an item. Neither Dracula sibling wanted to celebrate this ridiculous holiday, and Ingrid wasn't yet fanged and able to celebrate the vampire equivalent "bag a breather" day.
"Are we even still allowed them? I mean, with captain bad guy back it can't be safe."
"Half of the professors will be assigned as chaperones, but the staff as a whole agreed that cancelling it on such an emotionally charged day would result in serious issues."
Bertrand, who had no idea why they did so but was invited to staff meetings, provided them with information from where he was sat examining a chess board that played itself in front of him with no interaction on the vampires part.
"Did you land lover day duty?"
"No. Your head of house felt it would be utterly hilarious to insinuate I should not be outside on "bag a breather" day, though Beelzebub only knows who informed her it was called that, then after the meeting she took me to one side and implied I should spend the day convincing my cheer-lacking partner to smile. Naturally, I denied everything and escaped."
Luckily Hermione, Draco and Harry were too busy laughing and Bertrand too busy watching his automated chess board to notice the way Ingrid's hand tightened around her quill, knuckles turning white for a few seconds. Vlad could only offer her a solemn, understanding expression when their eyes met, his chest aching with the desire to spend the sappy, sentimental day with his mate, so close but so far.
"What are you doing? I've seen you play against Severus, it's terrifying to behold."
"As it transpires, the Defence professor is an excellent chess player. It's an affront to my pride to lose to a man in a cardigan, so I'm testing new moves."
Vlad suspected it offended Bertrand far more to lose to a werewolf, but he couldn't publicise that and so he blamed the professors bizarre choice of clothing. He noted the bizarre, though minor similarity in the other vampires in the room - Ingrid hated cardigans. Shaking off the thought, he scribbled down some more about cheering charms, hating the word 'cheer' every time he wrote it.
"There is one upside. The dementors have gone, so we can leave school without Vladarella here looking like someone stole his pumpkin juice."
He let it slide because he knew she was hurting, because Ingrid knew what the dementors made him relive, knew it was agony. Harry looked relieved at the reminder, and Vlad relaxed instantly seeing it in his eyes.
They went out for the afternoon, spring sunshine occasionally peering through for February, and Vlad and Ingrid sat together for a while. They didn't have to say it to know it was a sort of silent sharing, unworded comfort as they both had the constant reminder of Valentines day building around them.
It wasn't about being alone, Ingrid could get a 'date' by blinking, and Vlad could probably find someone to spend the day with. It was the acute pain of being without the ones their bodies, minds, souls had chosen, had decided were their perfect match. It was hard to ignore that level of want, physical and emotional.
Ingrid was showing her well-hidden emotional side here, because vampires generally just told their mate or pretended it wasn't there, and didn't let the emotions form - most vampires wouldn't be sat hurting over it the way they were. Ingrid didn't hex him when he squeezed her hand gently and gave her a one-armed hug, which was basically a miracle.
Stealing one last, desperate look at where Harry was laughing at something Hermione had said, Vlad stood up and went to retrieve the closet-adrenaline-junkie Bella from the edge of the lake, because she was trying to touch the giant squid and more than one student had fallen in doing that.
"But Vlad, I was so close!"
"Yes, to drowning. Come on, away from the edge. Don't make me jelly-legs you into staying in one place."
Bella scowled, pushing her hair off her face and dropping down heavily next to George, Matthew, Jacob and Jason on the grass.
"Spoil sport."
"You say that like I ruined your ultimate plan of being eaten by a huge suction beast in a lake."
"Exactly!"
Rubbing at his head in confusion, Vlad chuckled as Bella continued scowling and went back to his friends, though the first years joined them shortly to chatter - Vlad sighed inwardly - about upcoming Valentines day.
"We have Hogsmeade weekend, so you guys will be able to run amok at school. You know the drill - wreak havoc, but don't go wandering alone?"
"Obviously. Do they really sell quills you can eat?"
"Yep, sugar quills. I'll bring you some back when I'm buying my weight in candy because I'm alone on Valentine's."
George beamed, so full of a pure sort of joy all the time Vlad couldn't understand it. She also sort of reminded him of Ingrid, in that she had a set of identical twins who seemed attuned to following her around, though Jacob and Jason were much less of the "lying prone on the floor declaring love" type, more quiet conversation but genuine laughter and jokes.
"So, how is the whole destroying house barriers going for you guys?"
Harry asked them, and they all insisted they did their best to befriend everyone in their classes. Vlad was too busy twisting at the reminder - granted, his own - of not being with Harry on the day of 'love'. His scar started to twinge, and he knew it wouldn't be long before the pain started to ramp up. His only consoling thought was Harry didn't have a date either, so he would probably still spend the day with Vlad. He had to learn to live with 'just enough'.
Valentines Day. It sounded so bizarrely... mundane, when Harry was studying to become an illegal animagus, worrying about his psychotic madman of a grandfather, avoiding body-chewers at Hogwarts and just generally keeping on top of school work.
He had finished the book Vlad 'set' him, and showed the list he had made of risks that might happen. It hadn't made him any less determined, maybe even more so, but he appreciated Vlad doing the lions share of reading to narrow down what Harry needed to know, and not letting him just go in headfirst - Harry did have a bad tendency to do that.
Sirius Black had even more stories about his dad than Remus, because he had spent whole summers at the Potter home avoiding his family, and Harry avidly absorbed every detail of the stories. Pranking his other grandparents, James and Sirius agreeing to join Auror training together (his mother had been intending to become a Healer, but then she discovered she was pregnant), and just general day to day life.
Like how James was a hurricane of energy, and flirted with Sirius jokingly as much as he had Lily seriously. How it had been clear since they were twelve James had been head over heels for Lily, but she found him a bit of an arrogant idiot until sixth year was nearly over, when he set himself straight for 'multiple reasons' (Sirius hadn't shared what they were yet) and Lily saw him anew. They were Head Boy and Head Girl, and engaged before their seventh year was over.
That all made Valentines seem infinitely more depressing, because Harry longed for someone who saw him for him, not for the scar or the boy who lived. He wanted something like his mother and father, a girl who he could win the war for and have all the daft, funny experiences of dating as teenagers. Harry knew it was likely over-romanticising dating to expect that instantly, but he also knew he wanted a real, proper relationship in the future. Not the illicit fumble between muggle and madman that created his mother and cost the Evans' their lives.
Harry bit savagely into his bacon and black pudding pile, knowing Vlad was cringing nearby but then again, George was currently dipping her toast in strawberry yoghurt and smiling happily as everyone gave her sidelong looks of "what in Merlin's name is that?". He craved meat more and more lately, and after several mornings umm-ing and ahh-ing, he finally caved to the curiosity of black pudding. He had since discovered his new favourite food.
He didn't like the toast aspect of his sandwich much, but it stopped everyone having to see what he was actually eating, which he thought was only fair - Harry could easily do without the visual of Crabbe and Goyle across the Hall, cramming so much food into their mouths it was a wonder they could chew.
As Valentines drew nearer, the tension in the school rose as people scrambled for 'dates' or planned elaborate schemes to win over their crushes. Vlad and Ingrid spent a lot of time together, and Harry wondered if Ingrid actually wanted someone but for whatever reason couldn't act on it. He doubted Vlad had eyes on anyone - surely Harry of all people would know about that.
"Uh, Harry?"
He recognised the girl speaking his name - Susan Bones, a Hufflepuff in his year. They had spoken a few times in Herbology and Healing, she seemed perfectly friendly.
"Hey. Susan, right?"
"Yeah. I uh, I wondered if you were going to Hogsmeade with anyone?"
"Well, Vlad. Why?"
"Oh, I didn't realise you two were..."
Harry realised his reply had been taken the wrong way entirely, hastening to correct her.
"Oh! No! Not like that, I mean, we're just friends. I'm not... Wait. Are you asking me to go with you? Like, with you?"
He realised he was babbling, rambling in his nerves. Susan actually laughed at him, but nodded, the smile reaching her eyes easily and she tucked a few stray auburn hairs behind her ear.
"Um, yes. That was the plan. I think. Won't Vlad mind if you ditch him now?"
He realised she was teasing him, and Harry shook his head.
"I'm sure he will understand he's not a girl. Is that a yes, we are going together? Wait, how did you turn this around to me asking you?"
"Ravenclaws aren't the only smart ones. I'll meet you by the gates?"
"Yeah. Great. See you then."
Susan flushed prettily, then turned and went back to her friends nearby who were clearly talking about how that conversation had just gone. If Harry wasn't mistaken, he had a date. Now he had to tell Vlad, because it wasn't fair to just expect him to be ok with Harry ditching him that day. He could join the other non-dating boys, Harry was sure.
He continued on over to the owlery, having this bizarre urge to scrawl "I have a date!" on the message to Sirius, but that would be more than a little premature. And Sirius was still mostly just the guy on the run from the law who happened to have known James and Lily Potter. Parchment successfully attached and owl successfully dispatched, Harry paced down the steps from the owl tower. He bumped into Dean and Seamus, quickly quizzing them.
"Have you seen Vlad?"
"You mean you two aren't telepathically linked to be able to find each other all the time? Yeah, he's by Hagrids hut with the first years."
Rolling his eyes at the Irish boys sarcasm, Harry was again left wondering if he and Vlad were too close to everyone elses eyes. A lot of people made those sort of comments now. It was a fleeting concern, because he remembered most friends hadn't had multiple life or death situations, which probably would make a difference to how they were with each other. So long as he and Vlad knew they were just best friends, that's what counted.
Sure enough, Vlad was sat in the grass showing George, Matthew and the Jones twins how to handle flobberworms without getting slime on their hands, but also how to extract it neatly - it was a favourite detention of Severus' and they could probably do with the practice. Harry gestured for Vlad to come over a second, and the boy vampire carefully placed the worm down, wiped his hands on a piece of cloth and headed over to Harry with a questioning look in his eyes.
"What's up?"
"I only got asked today so I couldn't tell you before. I uh, kind of have a date for Saturday. Sorry, I know we kind of had plans."
"No, no, its fine. Uh, who is- mmph!"
Vlad clutched his chest, and Harry saw him bite his lip to muffle the pained sounds he knew he would make. They were in public, he couldn't publicly complain about soreness in a survived killing curse without raising many, many questions. It seemed a little redundant, but he asked anyway.
"Is it your scar? Damn, that still feels weird to ask."
Vlad nodded, drawing in deep breaths and slowly straightening back up. The pain was still evident in the taut lines of his neck, hard line of his shoulders but Harry knew what he was looking for, most would likely think he looked tired at most.
"I thought it was healing."
"It is. Doesn't" Vlad stopped to release a tiny whimper, lips clamped together to hold it back "doesn't hurt as often as it used to. I'm uh, out of painkillers, can you make sure they don't accidentally kill the worms?"
Harry nodded, waving his friend off to find some relief from the aches and pains he suffered as a result of saving Harry's life. It was the least he could do, clinging to that thought when he accidentally touched the slime gland on the flobberworm and got several handfuls worth of sticky, unpleasant smelling goop.
"Well, don't say I never give you anything."
Harry laughed to the first years when they had bottled up the mucus for their potion kits, and everyone had washed their hands in Hagrid's cavernous sink. He was buoyant the whole day regardless, especially when Susan caught his eye across the Hall over dinner and he saw her apple cheeks tinge pink.
Vlad was quiet all day, but Harry knew that painkillers didn't always work to totally erase his pain. And maybe he felt a little abandoned when Harry suddenly got a date, they were rarely apart but for classes, Vlad's tutoring and Harry's mornings with Remus. Harry was sure he would get over it, he could see their other friends for the day. Hell, he could spend the day buffering between Ingrid and her adoring fans. He didn't ask, because it didn't seem fair somehow, like asking Vlad what his plans were now would sort of rub in his face that he had none.
Valentine's was technically the Friday, and with Jacob and Jason periodically sitting together at the Gryffindor table, Harry thought it wouldn't raise many eyebrows, though plenty of gossip, if he asked Susan to join him the next day - providing their 'date' went well of course.
He saw Vlad talking to the Weasley twins, taking a list and a money pouch from them that evening. When he asked as they brushed their teeth that evening, Vlad explained shortly.
"They agreed to stay behind, keep an eye on the lower years. Since half the professors will be out with the Hogsmeade trip. My side of it was to do their... shopping. Since you know, I have a lot of free time tomorrow now."
His tone was completely cordial, friendly, but Harry still felt like it was a bit of a dig. Vlad rinsed his mouth, dropped his toothbrush back in its holder and went to his bed in otherwise total silence. Definitely not thrilled about it. If Harry weren't totally certain Vlad wouldn't be able to hide it, he would worry Vlad was jealous.
He was ninety nine percent certain Vlad was gay, even if he hadn't totally accepted it himself, but they were just friends. Close friends, but that made him more certain it wasn't jealousy that motivated him - Vlad couldn't possibly be hiding feelings for Harry. He just didn't like being dropped. Understandable.
Plus Vlad was a wary person, and they were about to leave the safety of Hogwarts' wards. Made sense the boy would be a bit on edge. Only Draco and Harry lingered in the dorm that morning, mocking each other mercilessly as they dressed for their 'dates'. Harry wavered between a shirt or t-shirt, formal or casual. Lily was laughing behind him, and Harry was resolutely ignoring the jeering hisses.
"Wear that black t-shirt. The one with the green detailing on, as Vlad said, it brings out your eyes."
He had said that, true. Though Harry had thought something similar when Vlad tried on a navy shirt, so he supposed it wasn't that strange a comment for them. Harry pulled it on, musing that his clothes finally fit him - his appetite for meat had put a little weight on him, though he was still pretty skinny compared to most it was a start.
"Is Vlad... do you think he's... I don't know, he doesn't seem interested in girls. Seamus and Dean spend most of their time together and even they talk about girls. Neville has a crush on Hannah Abbott because she talks to him about plants, but he's too shy to ask her out. Even you got a date. Vlad just sits in the corner reading."
Was it breaking Vlad's confidence to talk about this? Since Vlad hadn't confirmed anything?
"I think so. But I don't know, and I'm not going to ask. It doesn't really matter, does it? I mean, he's gonna graduate Hogwarts and date vampires. He's here for education and controlling his powers, not to date humans."
"True. I hate this shirt, why did I let you talk me into buying it?"
It was grey, silky-satin looking, and tailored perfectly to fit him. It was also softening on his frame, not masculine and cut for the aristocrat look.
"Because it was the only thing in the store your dad would never have let you wear. Too 'girly' you said. If you don't like it, don't wear it. If you're wearing it, stop whining."
They had missed breakfast, but Harry's stomach was full of nerves anyway as he walked down to the gates, where Susan was actually dressed fairly casually herself, comfortable sky-blue jeans and a matching coloured jacket zipped over it. He caught Hermione looking lovely in her knee-length grey dress, though she wore black tights under and jacket over it she still looked very nice, and it was clear they were both dressing up for their first real date. It was almost too sweet - they even matched.
"A Malfoy and a Muggleborn, his parents must be blowing their tops."
Harry had forgotten that Lucius in prison and Narcissa in France (he thought) wasn't public knowledge, and merely shrugged in response.
"They are both my friends, and they are both happy. That's all that matters to me."
Susan hummed noncomittally, and he felt high as a kite not having to walk past the dementors again. It was a long walk, but a nice enough day out and Susan was easy company. They talked about school, and class and the recent incident of exploding snap cards hidden in the jugs of juice. Harry knew it had been Georgina Giles, but Gryffindor solidarity meant he could say nothing about the fountain of sticky messes at breakfast it had caused.
He spotted Vlad - alone - ducking in to Zonko's joke store, dreading him supplying the Weasley twins as much as he expected amusement from it.
"So, where do you wanna go? Last time I was with Vlad and Hermione, and we just sort of did the newbie tour of the main street."
"Well, I've been here a few times with my aunt, so the newbie stage is long gone. I want to buy a new quill, then maybe get lunch? I mean, most people will be in Madam Puddifoots, but I hate the cherubs that throw confetti in there and the coffee isn't great."
Surprisingly glad to have dodged a proper 'couple' spot, Harry followed her to the stationary store, laughing at the cage full of quills duelling each other while Susan browsed. He dropped in to Honeydukes, just because he was craving fudge.
"That's a lot of sweets."
"I share a dorm with five other boys, Hermione visits and so do the Weasley twins. We stocked up before Christmas and ran out two weeks ago."
Susan 'ahh-ed', raising an eyebrow when Harry bought blood pops (he felt Bertrand deserved a thank you for letting them study in his quarters all the time), and again when he left with a Honeydukes box of assorted chocolates as well as his bulging bag of candies.
"Your dorm must be seriously scary at times, Weasley twins and sugar highs."
Harry chuckled, pushing the things into his jackets charmed inner pocket. It was lucky he had that, because out of habit he had almost turned to use Vlad's backpack. He really was far too used to having Vlad around.
Susan knew Hogsmeade well, and they went to one of the side streets for a half-empty but mostly Valentines-free cafe. The worst being the cupcakes with heart shaped decorations on, and some charmed-pink hot cocoa available from a vat. Now the nerves were mostly gone, his stomach was growling hungrily. The cafe didn't have steaks, which Harry was craving madly right now, nor did he want to display his slightly odd appetites to Susan after she saw him buy too much chocolate.
"So, what's good here?"
She ordered a light chicken salad lunch and a slice of cake, but Harry was hungry, ordering a turkey sandwich, then a platter of chicken pieces before a huge cookie full of chocolate and nuts became his dessert. He did have the grace to eat with cutlery, whereas normally he wouldn't bother even with Vlad and Draco giving him disapproving looks. She seemed surprised as he packed away the food, but thankfully didn't comment.
Stomach full - for now - they paid and headed back out, walking along the street in a somewhat comfortable silence. Eventually ending up out on the 'scenery' spot, they sat on a bench gazing across enchanted fields full of magical plants. Hogsmeade had quite the apothecary, and they decided to turn it into a view too, though it was heavily protected to prevent theft it did look beautiful.
"Sorry, but I have to ask."
Harry turned to Susan, who was fidgeting nervously with her hair.
"Ok. Ask?"
"Is... he really back?"
"Yeah. And I wouldn't have made it back to tell the tale without Vlad, same with Quirrel first year. He's my best friend, but I did mean it when I said we are just friends."
"Makes sense when you put it like that, that you're close I mean."
Glad he had clarified it, without telling her something she probably didn't already know - like the full extent of Vlad saving him.
"Yeah. He's a good guy."
They lapsed back into silence, staring out at Floating Fire-Lily light shows, and there were a few half-bloomed Blood Flowers, the ones that shone like spilled blood under moonlight and grew in a few places around the Forbidden Forest.
"Did you know the Quidditch World Cup is this year?"
"Really?"
"Yeah, my aunt Amelia, she works in Magical Law Enforcement. Saw her at Christmas, she was complaining about having to help England host the matches because it's a security nightmare."
"Six months, every four years. The final should be around summertime, I'm hoping one of our teams makes it so it's here. Local games are good, but the World Cup is just... unbeatable. I think something else is going on, but must be classified. Auntie seemed stressed but just said she couldn't talk about it."
"Well, if she is able to talk about it, you'll be the first to know."
Susan nodded, then shivered and pulled her jacket tighter.
"Cold?"
"Yeah, getting chilly."
"Let's go get a butterbeer, warm up for the walk back?"
They headed to the Three Broomsticks, chatting about the various matches Susan had been to and the teams Harry knew shockingly little about for a Quidditch enthusiast. Thankfully the Three Broomsticks wasn't gaudily decorated either, though there was a general romantic feel to the flowers arranged on tables, and Rosmerta offered them "Almost Amortentia" when they ordered drinks.
"What is Amortentia?"
Susan shrugged, but someone else answered anyway.
"Most powerful love potion ever. For wizards, anyway."
"Yeah, I think muggles just use alcohol."
Harry recognised both voices that answered, turning to find Vlad and Ingrid next to him, taking a bottle of the 'AA' for Ingrid, and Vlad's usual hot pumpkin juice with cinnamon added.
"Hey Harry. Uh, Susan, yeah? We have Herbology together."
Susan nodded, and Vlad smiled politely before following his sister back to a table - Harry vaguely recognised Theodore Nott and Blaise Zabini at said table, both with their house emblem scarves slung over their chairs.
"I forgot his sisters a Slytherin."
The name still gave Harry a mild chill, but he fought it off as he requested a trial bottle of the new drink, plus a large foamy flagon of butterbeer.
"Yeah, so Vlad's big on interhouse friendships. I think those boys are in Arithmancy or Runes."
"Wow. Saving you, crusading for friendships with Slytherins. Anything he doesn't do?"
"Drink butterbeer, he says it's too sweet."
The 'Almost Amortentia' was even sweeter than the buttery froth drink, fruity and warming and when he wiped his mouth, he realised it had stained his lips bright red. Susan was giggling as Harry scanned his reflection in his bottle, though thankfully it faded fast as he sipped butterbeer. Though he wasn't sure getting foam on his nose was a much better look as she continued laughing to herself.
"Going by the name, theres no actual love potion in that, right?"
"I think love potions generally give you a glazed look, and I'm not waxing poetic about anyone dopily, right?"
"True. Is it good?"
"Yeah, fruity and warm. Really sweet though."
He felt sort of melted inside with all the foamy, warm and sweet drinks in his system as they walked back, and Susan quickly agreed to sitting at the Gryffindor table for dinner with him, which Harry beamed at.
"I'll meet you in the Entrance Hall, better go unload my shopping and change into something warmer."
"Sure, see you soon."
Harry ducked into a side corridor, checking the Map before he took any secret passages now - he had promised Vlad to try and avoid getting kidnapped again. All was clear so he found the portrait, gave it the password and stole up a couple of staircases to the seventh floor. The dorm was empty save for Lily and Phantom, who were napping peacefully together on Vlad's bed. He gave them a fond smile, dumped his Honeydukes raid into his trunk and closed the lid. As the lid closed, Harry noticed something.
There was a green handprint on the trunk. His trunk. Someone had tried to go through his trunk. Vlad had rigged it with a little known alarm ward that would tell if someone had gotten in, though he checked anyway. Everything was safe, not even moved.
"Lily?"
One eye opened, glaring over at him sleepily.
"Yes?"
"Did you see who tried to open my trunk?"
"No. The furball chased them off before I got a good look."
Phantom meow-ed grumpily, but Lily seemed to understand what she said and nodded knowingly.
"The furball said it was a Marked student. Does that help?"
"Uh, yeah. Makes sense. Thanks guys, you can go back to sleep now."
Lily hissed a sort of sarcastic thanks, then resumed using Phantom as her own living, breathing heat mat to sleep on.
Harry realised he was supposed to be going back down to Susan, scanning the Map to see her pacing in a small circle around the Entrance Hall. Vlad's charms had worked to keep the intruder out, and they knew it was protected. They would also likely know Harry knew they had tried, and his bet was the Marked Gryffindor student. Vlad had also said to assume they could remove the stain somehow, but he was going to look anyway.
He traded his jacket for a comfortable jumper, sent an affectionate look at the familiars curled up together and tucked the Map back into his jeans pocket. He would take the Grand Staircase now, just in case.
Susan brightened when she saw him, and Harry caught sight of Vlad sat - rather bravely - at the Slytherin table, he and Ingrid either side of Jacob and Jason, while George was sat at Gryffindor with Bella and the Weasley twins. He hadn't noticed before, but Hogwarts was decorated for the day.
The flagstones were various shades of pink, and there were heart shaped everything scattered up the tables. Neville greeted Susan cheerily when she sat next to Harry, waving at her friends from her seat under red and gold. As Harry looked around, he realised several students were mix-and-matching tables, though only the Dracula siblings and Jones twins seemed blatant enough to do the Gryffindor/Slytherin switch.
The Head table was a sight to behold, or rather, Dumbledore was. His outfit was even more lurid than usual, beard and hair a faint shade of pink and his robes a nearly painful shade of purple, a full scale of rainbow coloured hearts patterned all over. And there was a cherub perched neatly atop his hat, which Harry noticed Severus sending frequent glares at as though it had offended him personally.
Feeling buoyed by the rather successful and surprisingly un-awkward day he had had with Susan, Harry smiled as he ate a large (and obviously heart shaped) steak, though it wasn't quite as rare as he wanted it was still hearty, meat-based excellence.
His eyes flicked over to the Slytherin table again, seeing Vlad conversing with Theodore Nott. He was laughing openly about something, and Harry knew a brief flicker of something like jealousy. It wasn't jealousy, that was ridiculous. He was just surprised, Vlad was normally quiet and reserved around most people but Harry, and he didn't really know Nott.
He did now understand Vlad's reticence when Harry suddenly dropped him for the date - they really were too used to each others company. They were getting older now, that would probably continue to change and this was only the beginning. Stabbing his steak with a little more venom than he intended, Harry pushed away any such thoughts. The day had him all out of sorts, that was all.
Susan smiled at him and Harry smiled back, snagging a slice of heart-shaped pizza before meal became dessert - he was ravenously hungry at every mealtime now. Washing everything down with a large chocolate strawberry sundae, he felt warm fingers lace through his. That was new, because Vlad's skin was cooler than his and he usually grabbed and squeezed around Harry's wrist.
His stomach felt a little funny for it, and he wasn't sure if it was a totally pleasant feeling or not, but Harry smiled and gripped back anyway. He had to stop comparing to Vlad... It was different, best friend and potential girlfriend. It wasn't supposed to feel similar.
-YDHP-
7,500 words? I think I've only written four or five things this long in over 50 published stories, and a couple hundred chapters overall.
Poor Vlad. Don't worry, I laced his pumpkin juice with Cheer Potion to make him smile.