Kuraihikaru - I did add at the end of the chapter they were probably different in the canon-verse! And that the wings bit was based on them in the Goblet Of Fire game. Just saying. You have to suspend timelines to even read this, because technically Vlad wasn't even born until the mid 90s. Canon timelines are of little importance here.
-YDHP-
"Stand aside, foolish girl!"
That always boded the nights Harry woke up sweating, silent tears on his face and heart pounding unnaturally fast since Samael made his body run slower, cooler than most.
Reaching for the water next to his plain-glass spectacles on the bedside, Harry wiped his face clean on his sleeve and tried to calm his thrumming body.
"What is it wizard?"
"Just a nightmare Lily, go back to sleep."
He was clammy all over, thin cotton pyjamas sticking to his sweaty skin and even a cleaning charm didn't totally alleviate the feeling. Sighing, Harry rooted through his trunk for clean pyjamas and stumbled over to the bathroom for a cool shower. A silent tempus charm revealed it to be 2:30am, which explained why everybody else was still fast asleep as Harry re-dressed.
"You ok?"
Vlad was awake in the night was so commonplace his voice didn't even make Harry jump as it crept out of the dark.
"Yeah, just you know, the weather starting to warm up again. Takes a little adjusting."
The nearly-forgotten feeling of Vlad's cooling charm (somehow different to Harry's own) slid over his skin, instantly relaxing leftover tension in his frame and making his naturally-cool skin tingle in relief.
"I need to start remembering that. Thanks Vlad."
"Wanna talk about it?"
Even in the night, he could see the glimmer of Vlad's dark blue eyes in the faint glimmer of moonlight. He always, always seemed to know when Harry had had a nightmare, and if Harry didn't know better he would think Vlad woke up whenever they happened. That was madness though, it was far more likely Vlad was a light sleeper and woke when Harry moved around. Come to think of it, he almost never actually saw Vlad sleeping, he was always awake whenever Harry was.
He wavered for a minute or two, thinking of Susan and how he and Vlad were maybe too close if everyone assumed they were a couple at first. Then he gave in, pulling Vlad's curtains closed as he sat on the bed opposite him, spotting the greyish glow of silencing charms covering the fabric instantly.
"He told her to stand aside. Did he know? That is always at the forefront of my mind. Did he know he was killing his own daughter?"
"I don't know. I would think if he did, he would have said something other than foolish girl. And if he really wanted to spare her for that, he would have done. Maybe he had an inkling of magic backlash if she died for you, like right there and then but she wouldn't move and he lost his temper. Bats, he might even have thought she looked a little familiar and felt guilty about her mother?"
Vlad offered multiple points, and Harry hadn't really thought of how Lily Evans had looked a great deal like her mother, who Riddle had... copulated with. That wasn't really what he had come for, he knew deep down. Vlad didn't even complain when Harry crawled up the bed, burrowing his face in Vlad's chest and crying, he just wrapped an arm securely around his shoulders and let him cry it out.
"Shhh. It's ok."
The words weren't important, just Vlad's low, soothing and soft tones that lacked judgement. Harry fell asleep that way, and Vlad appeared to stay awake holding a silent vigil to keep the nightmares away.
"Sorry."
"I told you to stop apologising. I cannot imagine having to see... that. I'll make sure the coast is clear, you say good morning to Lily, who has seen fit to creep up on to my bed."
His familiar was indeed lazing across the foot of Vlad's bed, beady eyes and what Harry could only call the snake equivalent of a smirk on her little mouth. Holding out his hand, Lily coiled her way around his forearm and flicked her tongue at the crease of his elbow while Vlad carefully slipped through his curtains, ensuring nobody could possibly see in and spot Harry.
"Did you enjoy slumber with the vampire?"
"Shut up. I was distraught."
"I do not judge, wizard. Merely wish to remind you that one day you may push him away, and he won't come back. And you need him."
When Vlad reappeared, he was dressed for the day and warned Harry he only had a few minutes if he didn't want to be rushing for breakfast.
"Everyone else is gone, I'll wait in the common room for you."
The vampire boy smiled, rubbed an affectionate finger over Lily's emerald scales and then left Harry to slip free of the bed, tempting the snake off his arm with her breakfast mouse and rushing to clean himself up, clothes pulled on almost haphazardly. He almost put his uniform on, then realised it was a weekend and opted instead for the black t-shirt with green stars patterned over the sleeves, which he had brought solely because he thought it looked cool.
"Remember wizard, you need him."
"I know I do, he's my best friend. You stop being a pest, or I won't introduce you to my girlfriend."
"You said that a week ago. I am no closer to the female and you seem less enamoured than ever with the idea."
Lily wasn't quite on the money, but she was close - Harry was less enamoured, but not with Lily meeting Susan, but just with Susan herself. She didn't outright complain, but it was obvious she was a little unimpressed whenever Harry was deep in conversation with Vlad, Ingrid or even Hermione - who was more often than not holding hands with her boyfriend. He was starting to feel like she expected Harry to continually increase the amount of attention she got and ignore his friends.
"It's Easter soon, and we are staying at Hogwarts. I'll introduce you two then. That way if she screams Harry Potter is a Parselmouth, nobody will be around to hear it."
His Emeraldspire snake was nearly two feet long now, but luckily Harry was apparently growing stronger with her growing larger, as her body didn't weigh him down when she wrapped around his arm or hung from his neck.
"Very well. Go, leave me. I shall waste away with boredom and neglect."
"I know Lily, I'm sorry. You know you're still my favourite, right? Want me to bring you a sausage from breakfast?"
"Would not say no. Do not appreciate bribes."
She flicked her tongue out anyway, and he knew she was thinking of the sausage he would bring her. Providing he actually got on with leaving. The common room was empty except for Vlad, who was waiting for him even though it was delaying him getting food.
"Sorry, Lily was complaining I neglect her. I have to bring her a sausage from breakfast."
Vlad chuckled, familiar with the snakes cheeky attitude. They made it down in time for Harry to pile multiple types of meat, scrambled eggs and black pudding into a pancake wrap, and Vlad wrapped a couple of sausages in a paper napkin and tucked them in his pocket in between mouthfuls of toast. They both forced eyes away from where George was pouring orange juice over her cornflakes, though Harry couldn't help wondering if that softened the cereal the same way milk would.
Susan was waiting, as usual, right after breakfast, but Harry made out he had forgotten his Quidditch practice jumper in the dorm and escaped up there, taking the bribe-sausage from Vlad while he offered Phantom one too, and Lily hissed gratefully and rubbed her head against Harry's cheek, a rare and open display of affection.
"I love you too Lily. I have Quidditch practice now, you get some rest and digest your extra meal."
"Try not to fall from the sky wizard."
"Cheers Lily."
Susan took his hand as they walked to the Quidditch field, and he spotted her sat with the Gryffindor/Slytherin mix of first year students that often watched him flying - plus Vlad. Vlad was sat the other side of the first years, separated from Susan by three people. Hermione was sat with the Hufflepuff girl, periodically waving up at Harry and over at Draco, who was doing actual keeper practice this time.
He wasn't sure why, but Susan didn't quite meld into the group, and she clearly looked a little wary of the Slytherin students. Harry spent a little too long watching that instead of the air, and felt a bludger smash into his arm hanging loosely at his side. He heard the bone break beneath it, fumbling for his wand to numb and splint it almost on autopilot as Healing Class sounded in his brbrain.
"Harry!"
"Are you alright?"
The Weasley twins materialised either side of him, whacking the bludger away and helping guide Harry down to the ground. He could fly one handed, but the shaky wobbles of pain didn't go away even with the numbing spell - it was very localised, and the whole area would swell and ache quickly.
Hermione had her wand out, casting a diagnostic spell as soon as the group reached him.
"Very clean break. Madam Pomfrey will patch you up no problem."
"And yell at you for getting hurt."
Vlad looked paler than usual, and took Susan shoving him aside to get to Harry first in surprisingly good stride.
"Are you okay?"
"Of course he's not okay Jace! That thing broke his arm! It was really cool how you magicked the splint on in mid-air though."
"I was only asking, stop being such a fan boy Jake."
The rest of the Gryffindor team hovered around them, Wood's deep voice filling the air as he asked if Harry was fatally wounded.
"Nah. You guys carry on practice, I will be right as rain when I've been to the Hospital Wing."
"If you're sure. Fred, George! Back on your brooms!"
"Yes sir captain sir!"
Harry laughed as the twins dramatically clambered onto their brooms, saluting the whole time they flew up and trying (and failing) to bow to Oliver mid-flight. Starting to feel the 'shock' edge in as adrenaline wore off, Harry clutched his broom in one hand and turned towards the exit.
"Vlad, go grab my stuff out the changing rooms? I think Pomfrey would have me hanged if I went to get changed before I get this looked at."
His friend seemed unsure, but Susan was clinging to Harry's uninjured side like a limpet, and Hermione was practically threatening Harry with her wand as they walked so he knew Harry wasn't unattended.
"Sure."
Hermione watched Vlad jog towards the changing rooms, eyes flicking over to Susan for a second but Harry didn't have the energy to pay attention, focusing on getting to the Hospital Wing where there would be healing spells and potions and maybe even a medically induced nap. The more the rush of surprise wore off, the more Harry felt suddenly exhausted.
Vlad met them there, placing Harry's clothes in a neatly folded pile on the bedside chair Susan vacated for the bathroom (Harry was certain they weren't folded when he took them off but Vlad was a neat freak sometimes). As predicted, his bone was mended magically in a heartbeat, supplemented by a potion that ensured the heal was firm, not soft and prone to rebreaking. It made him a little drowsy, and Madam Pomfrey could hear a yawning student in a crowded room.
"Right! You're staying here until dinner time at least. The house elves can bring you a snack if you wake hungry. If you're not mortally wounded, the rest of you - out!"
Harry barely noticed his red and gold jumper and riding trousers transfigured into Hospital-issue striped pyjamas, the bed he was on suddenly luxuriously inviting as the nurse chased his friends and girlfriend out.
When he woke, ravenously hungry and mildly groggy, Vlad was buried in a book (Fangtastic Facts About Vampires) at his bedside, turning to see Harry awake only mere seconds after his eyes opened.
"I thought you guys got kicked out."
"They did. Madam Pomfrey likes me though, and let me wait to see you were ok so long as I was quiet. Hermione would have stayed too, but practice was over and she had lunch and laughing at her boyfriend to be done."
"And Susan?"
"Ditched us as soon as we were kicked out. Think she feels awkward around us without you as a buffer."
Harry looked down at his arm, lifting and flexing it a few times and happily finding it was perfectly healed.
"Madam Pomfrey said to not get hurt again for a few days while the bone calcifies fully, but you are essentially back on form."
The nurse, spying Harry awake, bustled over and ran diagnostic spells anyway, reiterated what Vlad had said then summoned a house elf to feed Harry - dinner was three hours away, but lunch would be mostly over by now. The barely cooked steak and perfectly herby, creamy mashed potatoes were absolute heaven to Harry, while Vlad sat in his bedside vigil spot eating a sandwich.
"Merlin, that was so good. Am I still not allowed to leave before dinner?"
Vlad nodded, but reached into his bag and tossed Quidditch Through The Ages into Harry's lap. Harry owned a copy, but the one in his lap was library-issue. He turned to his friend in confusion.
"Open it."
Harry lifted the cover, finding the 'borrowed' stamp list alongside the hastily scrawled names of past students. Third one down, in a script almost identical to Harry's own, was James Potter. Vlad eyed him warily for a minute, clearly hoping he hadn't upset Harry. Somehow, it was exactly what Harry needed to see, clearing the residual anxiety from his nightmares.
"Thanks Vlad."
"Wouldn't dream of getting you to study when it's not an overnight stay here. And Madam Pomfrey gave me a couple vials of dreamless sleep, in case the midday nap throws off your sleep pattern."
He went back to his book, and Harry flicked through his own reading material, picturing his father doing the same, sat with teen Remus and Sirius, laughing and joking and secretly in love with Lily Evans. He ignored teen Wormtail in those fantasy-memories, preferring to just picture happy times before the war really hit home for them.
Harry was released with a clean bill of health, a lecture on reckless flying and an amused Vlad. Susan was already at the Gryffindor table, and Harry didn't miss her eyes narrowing slightly when she saw Vlad at his side. She grabbed his hand and yanked him down to his seat - the recently broken arm side, he noticed - and kissed his cheek, and he might have been imagining it but he could have sworn she was watching Vlad from the corner of her eye.
"Are you alright?"
"Yeah. Just slept off the bone potion, then got yelled at by Madam Pomfrey. Vlad came by to check I was ok to be released."
Vlad sat next to Hermione, Draco her other side, and the two slipped into conversation about Ancient Runes class while Harry devoured his rich meat pie, topped off with a couple of slices of pizza, then two slices of treacle tart. Fred watched him with amusement, shovelling ice cream down and pulling faces at the back of Percy's head further down the table.
"I dunno where you put it all Potter!"
"Hey, I was seriously injured! I need my strength."
They shared a grin, and Harry tried to ignore that he was right. He wasn't gaining much weight considering his appetite. Still, he wasn't eating more than Seamus, who would pack away the same amount of food then complain he was hungry only a couple of hours later.
When it came time to seperate for the evening, Susan pulled him back before he could follow the others upstairs, stretching up on her tip-toes and pressing her mouth against his. A little dumbstruck, Harry just kind of let her, unsure whether he was supposed to react, or even how he should. When she pulled away, there were wolfwhistles and catcalls (mostly from the Weasley twins) and her cheeks were tinged pink again.
"You're blocking the hallway, cretins."
Harry recgonised the voice, looking towards its source. Sure enough, Ingrid was stood there, trademark scowl in place as she glared at where Susan was holding Harry in place. The Slytherin housing was in the other direction, but for all Harry knew, Ingrid was going to the library. Doubtful, but possible. Letting his hand slide free of Susan's, Harry turned back to the girlfriend in question.
"Night Susan."
"Night Harry."
He got double arms-around-shoulders, pinned in place by the Weasley twins as they teased him mercilessly all the way to Gryffindor tower. He could smell the mildly bitter potion in the bathroom when he went to wash his hands - they still had bits of treacle on - and spotted Vlad rubbing at his chest again.
"You ok?"
"Yeah, its not a bad one. Potion got rid of it."
Vlad slipped him the dreamless sleep vials along with a cake, and in spite of the huge meal he'd devoured only an hour ago, Seamus was tearing into a box of Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans. Lily slithered down across the floor, curling up in Harry's lap where he sat leant against his trunk, discussing their upcoming tests - it was April already, Easter was next week and their exams started soon after.
Running a fond hand over the growing snake on his lap, Harry felt her relax into it more. Apparently he was forgiven... for now.
"What does the missus think of your snake then Harry?"
"Well, we're a bit young for that don't you think Dean?"
Neville choked on his butterbeer, and Draco and Seamus fell into fits of laughter, successfully hiding the fact Harry froze a little, making Lily turn her head up towards him. Even Vlad looked over with curious eyes.
"I meant Lily. But thank you for that terrifying image."
"She uh, doesn't know yet. I decided I would tell her at Easter, so if she freaks out there isn't a full school to out me to."
"Makes sense. Just you and Vlad this Easter isn't it?"
"Yeah. I mean, the Weasleys are staying too so we won't be alone."
Draco was going back to Malfoy Manor with his adoptive-father, as part of some cover story Harry didn't fully understand the specifics of - just that it was designed to ensure nobody watching from the outside could be certain of either Draco of Severus' loyalties. Harry had been invited, though he would have had to be smuggled out, but Vlad was staying - Ingrid was close to transforming, so they were taking advantage of relaxed rules and witnesses (by which Harry was certain meant breaking out of school to go to Hogsmeade) for her last days outside unprotected.
"Ingrid staying too then?"
Vlad nodded, head mostly hidden behind "Arithmancy for Beginners" as he checked his homework.
"She never goes home for holidays unless I make her do it. No point for Easter, our dad doesn't like us eating chocolate so it's better here."
"Why?"
"Bad for your teeth."
"Hermione has dentists for parents, even they aren't that strict."
"We're from a traditional heritage. Old rules, old ways."
Draco helpfully steered the conversation back to exams, then homework and the Honeydukes stockpile from their February Hogsmeade trip. Food solved many problems in their dorm, particularly washed down with a butterbeer or two until everyone, except Vlad and his bloody pumpkin juice, was slightly foamy-warm on the inside. Lily had a tentative flick of the tongue at some butterbeer foam, but turned her snout up at it in horror.
"Disgusting. Never again."
"You asked to try it!"
"Irrelevant."
She even slithered off, taking refuge on Vlad's pillow, loosely coiled around Phantom's sleeping body. Vlad shook his head fondly at the two familiars stealing his bed, padding off to the bathroom to change for bed after he was done with Arithmancy. While Harry was positive Vlad wasn't actually bothered about Susan kissing him, it wouldn't take much to click Susan didn't like Vlad much.
At first, she had been accepting of he and Vlad being close, but now it was growing obvious she resented it in some way. To his credit, Vlad hadn't complained once. Even Lily was complaining about how much time Harry spent with his girlfriend, but Vlad hadn't said a harsh word, when even Harry knew he had been neglecting their friendship at times. Still, they had Easter coming up - Harry would make the time for him then, he promised himself.
Vlad knew he had pissed off the universe somewhere along the way. There was no other explanation for him having to suffer the sight of Susan kissing Harry. Ingrid seperated them, and Vlad owed her big for that, but the sight was burned fresh into his mind every time he closed his eyes.
He was surprised to hear Harry planned to tell the girl about being a parselmouth - how exactly did he intend to explain it? Vlad highly doubted he was going to admit he was the true heir of Salazar Slytherin. He supposed it could just be played off as a rare genetic quirk, because Slytherins line had mostly been lost.
The name was long gone, extinct in the male line as the Peverell name had been long ago. Nobody would guess such a thing. Especially knowing 'Voldemort' was out to kill Harry - it was unlikely anyone else would think them related. Even less so when one considered Harry's mother was well known as a muggle born, not a half blood.
Susan... Susan definitely suspected Vlad had more than friendship feelings toward Harry. It was in her eyes - suspicion, jealousy - every time she saw Vlad anywhere near Harry. He forced himself to be polite and cordial, even when Susan kissed Harry, and Vlad wished Bertrand or Lily or even Remus bloody Lupin would savagely bite her. Then he would feel guilty for letting dark thoughts reign, because it wasn't actually Susan's fault Harry didn't want him.
That didn't mean he stopped wishing she would keep her damn kisses to herself.
Exam season was two months away, and it was starting to show - everyone was a little stressed, even the first years. Well, except the Weasley twins.
"We'll have to get E's in everything."
"What is an E?"
Hermione burst out with an answer, barely giving the twins time to breathe before speaking back.
"Exceeds Expectations. Below O for Outstanding, above A for Acceptable. Why do you think you'll get E's in everything?"
"Because us turning up for the exams"
"Would exceed every expectation."
Hermione tossed a screwed up ball of parchment at Fred, who was closest, shaking her head in exasperation.
"Honestly. You two could be brilliant if you paid attention."
"Not our fault school is boring."
It was the first day of the Easter holidays, barely any students staying for Easter - the last proper break before nose to grindstone studying. Meaning that Vlad, Harry, Hermione and the Weasleys were pretty much the only Gryffindors in the tower. Percy had gone back for the holiday, claiming a desperate desire to avoid his twin brothers' pranks.
That was a mistake - that just gave them much longer to plan a prank. Or twelve. Vlad even gave them help, suggesting better ways to disguise trip-spells, and the mixtures they were working on for trick sweets - this had the double use of being prepared for their future jokes, and sworn oaths from each of them that Vlad and Harry never be a victim of their pranks. They wouldn't prank Hermione - they weren't that brave.
"What do you think would be funnier, canaries or squirrels?"
"The whole point is canary creams..."
Vlad overheard from the two chatting in the corner, and decided he really, really didn't want to know. Lily was taking advantage of the empty tower to stretch out in front in front of the fireplace, and while Ginny gave her a few wary looks (he didn't blame her after the basilisk incident), the snake was left undisturbed.
"Apparently, the rug is 'most luxurious'. At least someone appreciates the rug rather than the chairs."
He offered Harry a smile - the other boy was still periodically clutching the library issue of Quidditch Through The Ages with his father's name in, and he had noticed the same thing Vlad had, in that Harry and James Potter both had remarkably similar handwriting.
When he spotted it - having been longingly looking through the book, wishing Harry looked at Vlad the way he did flying - he had to show Harry, and the reaction he got was more than worth all Madam Pince's complaints about how many books Vlad checked out.
After a couple of days just them, they had a basic routine down in that they spent the day with the Weasley students, or outside with Ingrid to take advantage of the miles of space along the lake side, then the evenings after dinner going through the basic meditation for the early Animagus training. As predicted, Harry hated it.
"I thought there was a potion!"
"There is, but it doesn't work instantly. You have to find the feeling of your 'animal', the potion just solidifies it in your mind so you know what you'll be aiming to transform in to. If you just take the potion with no clue what you're trying to feel, it won't work."
Harry grumbled, adjusted the pillow he was sitting on and scowled as he closed his eyes. Vlad thought he looked rather cute, but he kept such thoughts to himself. Hermione gave him knowing looks all the same, to which Vlad replied with a very mature sticking his tongue out.
"Nope. Not happening tonight. This is pants."
"You could do it if you weren't so nervous."
Harry raised an eyebrow at Hermione, as if asking what she meant.
"You're with the two people who know you better than anyone. Do you really think we can't tell you're terrified about telling Susan you're a parselmouth tomorrow?"
Vlad wished he could have said no when Harry asked, but he was nervous about tomorrow too. If Susan took it badly, Harry had asked Vlad to hypnotize her, removing the knowledge and replacing it with them breaking up. That part sounded brilliant, but Vlad was worried he would mess it up, or his own giddy joy would become too apparent.
"Yeah, I know. I'm just trying not to think about it."
Meanwhile, Vlad couldn't stop thinking about it. All the time. Simultaneously feeling ashamed for hoping desperately it would go badly, and Harry wouldn't be being stolen away from him. He was pathetic.
"Come on, might as well do our Potions essay. Definitely difficult enough to distract."
Harry reluctantly agreed, finding himself with Lily wrapped around his shoulders to peer over at their essay work and textbooks. He loved watching Harry with Lily, because he looked so relaxed when he slipped into parseltongue, and he clearly adored the snake, even when she flicked her tongue in his ear and his face scrunched up at the odd sensation.
"Does the scaly one have any useful information on undetectable poisons? Because there's only so much to say about you know, there being no way to detect undetectable stuff. I miss Wiggenweld lessons, at least they made sense."
"Nope. She's just laughing at me saying my Confusing Concoction had the consistency of runny soup instead of thick custard. Cheeky scaly pest."
He let Lily continue to rub her head against his cheek, so Vlad doubted the sincerity of his complaint, even if the bit about his Confusing Concoction was true - though it was a common problem, the potion contained citrus zest, which acted to prevent thickening. He was fairly certain their professor had gotten a kick out of that lesson.
Rolling out the measuring tape against his essay, Vlad groaned as he realised he was still three inches short. A pleading look to Hermione got her to check his work quickly, then give gentle hints about where he could look for more to write about. She knew he rarely got stuck, and exactly what it was distracting him, so the wonderful female of their trio took pity on Vlad's fried brains.
Even so, he was so wriggly inside he couldn't sleep much, up and showered and dressed before Harry was even awake at all. Phantom clambered all over him, licking his face and burrowing under his jumper in an annoying plea for attention.
"Hello furball, yes I do know you're there."
She mewled, swatting at a stray lock of hair hanging over his eyes with a paw before bolting off to harass some other victim. He did love her dearly all the same.
Hermione found him there, still sleepy around the eyes even though she was dressed for the day and clutching a book.
"Did you sleep?"
"A little. I think. I feel like I have snakes in my stomach."
"Emotionally? Or urgently drag you to Madam Pomfrey?"
"Emotionally."
He bounced anxiously in his seat, instincts all over the place and he felt Harry wake up, knowing it would only be mere moments before he would appear at the top of the stairs, all sleep-mussed and perfection.
"Calm down or he's going to think somethings up with you. Do try not to be blatantly excitable about the prospect of them breaking up."
Vlad nodded to show he understood, tapping his fingers against the arm rest of his chair and watching the crackling fire.
"It's not that. I'm just scared I'll..."
He had to cut off, hearing the dormitory door swing open and knowing Harry would overhear anything else they said. He stumbled down, Weasley jumper over comfortable jeans and trainers. He was dressed for a difficult day, not an enjoyable date with his girlfriend. Vlad tried not to think of the implications.
"Breakfast?"
His stomach still felt knotted, tight but Harry needed to eat, and the sooner they got moving for the day, the closer he was to knowing how the 'conversation' would go, one way or another. Even nerves didn't slow Harry's ravenous appetite, and Vlad realised there were really very few students around - every single 'marked' student was absent for the holiday. Possibly reporting to their master. Susan was one of only three Hufflepuff students, Ingrid one of four Slytherins and only a handful of Ravenclaw students. More than Christmas, but still so few they used a fit-for-purpose sized table rather than the usual set up.
"Ew. Does he eat like this all the time?"
The other House students weren't as used to Harry's excessively meaty eating, the Ravenclaw second year boy staring at Harry's bacon/black pudding/grilled tomato combination in horror from his eggs and beans. Possible vegetarian. Vlad was quite happily eating his stack of hash browns and eggs mixed with spicy sauce, though he had a bacon-cheese toastie waiting for after. Melted cheese always helped calm him down, and he had a sudden need to eat his feelings.
Susan seemed torn between trying not to look at Harry's food and glaring at Vlad, all whilst delicately picking at her kippers (thankfully even Harry didn't eat those often, they smelled horrific) and fried eggs. He burnt his tongue a little on the hot cheese, but it tasted so good still he carried on eating it, waiting for Harry to be done satiating his taste for many dead animals. If he kept on like this, Vlad suspected their diets would not be dis-similar as adults.
Yet more proof they were compatible, his instincts crowed in the back of his mind.
Hermione waylaid the Weasleys, explaining Harry was about to confess Lily to his girlfriend and that they should leave them alone for it. They whispered "good luck" to him in turn while they were leaving the Hall, then Susan caught up with them. Vlad ducked away to look like he was going to the library, slipping behind a portrait of four unicorns forever trying to trick a wizard into playing them at leapfrog and jogging up the hidden stairwell to the sixth floor.
A quick glance showed Harry and Susan down at fourth floor, so he hurried up the last floor and through the portrait hole, up to the dormitory to prod Lily awake.
"Harry's bringing his girlfriend. So he will probably come get you, or maybe bring her up here."
He waved a hand to close all the bedcurtains in the dorm, hiding behind his own and charming them to keep any sound from escaping out - he would still be able to hear anyone else in the room.
"Harry, why did you empty your tower and then bring me up here?"
"Probably not for whatever it is you might be thinking."
"Are you sure?"
The tone her voice took on made Vlad feel nauseous, itching to look out and ensure Susan kept her damn hands to herself.
"No really" Harry's voice went suddenly high pitched and Vlad's imagination couldn't stop running amok "Susan, slow down!"
"Ah, this one's yours."
The sound of fabric swishing, then a sort of thud followed by squeaking bedsprings had Vlad about ready to stake himself, but then there was a (distinctly satisfying) scream.
"AAAAAH! Harry! There's a SNAKE in your bed!"
"That's what I was trying to tell you about. Susan, this is Lily. My familiar."
"Your what?"
"She's my familiar. My pet. She picked me" there was a few seconds silence where Vlad could picture Harry holding up the twin puncture marks on his hand "and so she's mine."
He heard Lily hissing, probably staying back up on Harry's pillow and deciding whether to be naughty and scare Susan, or behave and probably get a meaty treat for her trouble. Then he heard Harry hissing, followed by a sort of squeaking sound, then a dull thump.
"Susan?" Harry's voice was panicked, then he heard a whispered "Vlad?"
Slowly, Vlad poked his head out of the curtains, spotting Susan unconscious on the floor by Harry's bed.
"Yes?"
"I uh... I think I broke her."
"She was shocked. Revive her, then see what she has to say. I will be right here."
The words on his tongue were "wipe her memory and get rid of her" but he owed Harry better than that, forcing a more considerate reply from his mouth. He slid back behind the cover of crimson hangings, waiting to hear Harry fumble for his wand and mutter "ennervate!". His mate didn't utilise silent magic often, saying he didn't want to rely on it until he was more confident.
"Harry? I had the weirdest dream! You were a parselmouth and had a pet snake!"
"Uh" he ached listening to Harry struggle for words "that wasn't a dream."
"Oh."
There was a painful, heavy silence for several minutes, in which Vlad wished and wished he could just take a peek at what was happening.
"Does Vlad know?"
"He was there when I got her. Didn't even blink. Had to be told it was a supposedly dark skill."
"It is a dark skill Harry! Salazar Slytherin! You-know-who!"
"Are you saying I'm evil?"
The sheer pain, defeat in his tone broke Vlad's heart, and it took every bit of restraint not to hex Susan seven ways to Hades when he heard her answer with
"You must be."
Impedimenta!
He had never tried to cast a hex without being able to see the target, but he heard nothing but a sad, choked sound from Harry. Surely by now Susan should be running. Instincts firing his powers up, Vlad snapped his fingers and the Impediment Jinx wore off, but Susan stood staring blankly. Nobody called his mate evil.
"You are not evil Harry. Don't you dare let her make you believe that. Who knows you better, me or her?"
"...you."
He knew this wasn't over, but he wanted to get in early on reminding Harry he was good.
"And I know evil. You are not it."
Wishing they weren't somewhere he could never get away with causing her serious pain, Vlad looked into Susan's eyes and pondered what to change.
"Harry is not a parselmouth. You remember nothing about Lily the snake. You and Harry had a fight, and broke up. Badly."
He added the last word purely for vengeful kicks, wanting her to hurt just a fraction of what he knew being called evil had pained Harry.
She dropped when he clicked again, fast asleep on the floor and he barely stopped himself kicking her - even he wouldn't hit her when she was down.
"When she wakes, she will be terribly distraught you broke up. It had to be emotional, or nobody would buy it. I'm going to get her out of here, don't you dare go off and hide."
Harry nodded, the glimmer of tears in his eyes tugging fiercely at Vlad's heart. Holding his wand for show, Vlad levitated Susan's unconscious form, then turned back to Harry.
"Check there's nobody in the hospital wing?"
Harry flipped open the map, pulling off his glasses to scrub a sleeve across his eyes as the ink filled out in spidery lines before them.
"Just Madam Pomfrey."
"I'll drop her there, say she stressed herself out and fainted over the break up or something."
Slipping down a couple of shortcuts, he made it to the Hospital Wing without being spotted floating an out-cold student.
"Vladimir? What are you doing?"
Grumbling inwardly, Vlad floated her to a bed and waved a hand to close the doors behind them.
"She and Harry had a fight, they broke up. Susan got a little overwhelmed and fainted. Maybe a calming draught when she wakes up? I need to get back, Harry's alone."
There was a momentary hesitation, but she seemed to buy it. Or at least, asked no further questions and handed Vlad a vial of calming draught.
"In case Harry's upset too."
"Thanks Madam Pomfrey."
She waved him off with a mostly-hidden fond smile, pretending not to notice Vlad turning to jog out of the Wing before running back the way he came, hurrying back to Harry who was still where Vlad had left him, with Lily curled up in his lap and slender fingers stroking over beautifully green scales.
"Well?"
"Madam Pomfrey believed me. Gave me this for you."
Harry didn't hesitate, knocking back the draught and quickly melting backwards into his bed, not necessarily calm but definitely past grim resignation, away from terribly upset. Vlad dropped down next to him, mindful of Lily's readjusting body and running a reverent hand over the snake that wanted Harry happy and safe, just as he did.
Susan had undone months of hard work in just three words, half his mate instincts calling for her blood and the other half insisting he stick to Harry like glue, protecting his mate endlessly. Hoping he wouldn't be rebuffed, Vlad ran a gentle hand over Harry's hair.
"You are not evil. You are so much more than a genetic quirk you inherited from something you had no power over. Our abilities don't define us, our choices do."
Harry hummed, then wriggled closer and threw an arm over the nearest part of Vlad - his left thigh. Swallowing thickly, Vlad fought not to shift uncomfortably - Harry would take it the wrong way. So long as he didn't move or look too closely, he wouldn't notice the effect such contact was, shamefully, having on Vlad.
"Promise to never let me be evil?"
"Promise."
-YDHP-
Unsure if this feels rushed or painfully dragged out... Either way, there are only two or three Main Events to year three left, then we move on to year four. And that's where the real fun starts!