DarkBloodWolf13 - thank you! I agree, Harry's a bit daft but that's why we love him. Also, I do feel very bad that so much of my storyline plans has the side effect of poor Draco going through many bad things. I'm not intentionally torturing him, it's just an unfortunate byproduct!
PercyPowerful - you have no idea how popular an idea that is, I feel like in spite of the pairing this story has always been there's a sort of... secret side ship going on somewhere! Also, I am obviously very glad you're still here and enjoying the story! I have this planned up to Year Seven (and some of after that planned but still in formative stage) so I have zero intention of leaving it unfinished. At worst, you get updates a couple days late when I'm screaming DAMNIT WRITERS BLOCK at my screen sometimes.
Chosen Two Year One + Two hit 70 favourites this week. To you guys that probably means very little but you have no idea how much it means to your sad little author. The response to my Harry/Vlad oneshot 'Immortality' was pretty phenomenal too, and I am working on a couple of Chosen-One Shots for you guys too, plus if you read Hunt or Porphyria those are also being updated soon also!
Until then, let's get on with Year Four, I'm so excited!
-YDHP-
"So, why did Lupin leave? He's been the best teacher so far."
It had been inevitable that they ask, really, especially with the assumption that somehow at least Vlad and/or Harry had been involved. Fred asked first, and before Vlad could come up with a convincing half-truth that wouldn't out Draco, George was following up.
"Did they find out he was a werewolf?"
The word always caught Draco's attention, blond head snapping up from his breakfast to look at the twins.
"You knew?"
"Course we did. Makes no odds to us."
"Your tutors a vampire, he's technically dangerous all month round."
"And yet"
"Here we are."
Ingrid hexed both twins, because their finishing each others sentences drove her mad. They didn't stop grinning even as their skin broke out in tiny, purple wriggly tentacles, laughing at how the curse had affected them identically.
"Anyway. So. Is that why?"
"I don't know that the school as a whole found out, but something happened and he would have been blamed if he stayed. So he left before that could happen."
"Something? Very specific. Let me guess, Mouldy-shorts related?"
Vlad nodded, and thankfully the guesting Weasleys took him at face value, then started proclaiming the magnificence of the bacon they were eating to the house elves, and that was that. For now at least.
Having not been a part of the rush to finish their essays, the redheads were glared into the library by Bertrand - under strict orders from their mother to do exactly as the vampire ordered and commending Bertrand for watching eight teenagers at once. They mostly took care of themselves, but it was still a surprise when everyone had been wary of the fanged French vampire less than a year ago.
"So, what now?"
"Potions practice this morning. Practical magic later with the Weasleys."
Ingrid was, hilariously as patience was not one of her virtues, now in charge of their Potion lessons. Draco had stated more than once she should test for a Mastery, but Ingrid had no desire to be a teacher, nor would she want to spend seven years studying after Hogwarts.
"My potions turned purple, yet according to the instructions, it should be pale green. I may have gone wrong somewhere."
"Too much knotweed. Add castor oil three drops at a time until it changes to the right colour. Moron."
At least Ingrid had taken the time to tell him how to fix it before she started insulting him. Though Vlad doubted he had heard the end of it. Earlier, he had been pretty good at Potions because he was great at ingredient preparations and measurements. However, as they went on to harder brews, it became clear Vlad didn't have the innate feel for Potions. Draco did. Ingrid definitely did. Hermione didn't, like Vlad she was hovering towards top of their classes but falling short of others in Potions.
It was a week before Fred, George and Ginny were up to date on essay work, joining in on Potions and then taking turns hexing each other senseless. Ginny had a fiery sort of power to her magic, and Vlad was certain she would outstrip her brothers in power.
Bertrand received a note from Dumbledore three weeks into the summer, updated with what they would need. Even at the speed he read the note, Vlad watched an assortment of emotions cross his face.
"Hmm. The headmaster will acquire your extra books... what are dress robes?"
Hermione, as ever, had an answer instantaneously.
"The muggle equivalent would be suit and tie. Formal wear, but not a uniform."
"Well, according to this, you and any student fourth year and up will all need them. Preferably without a mass trip to Diagon Alley, as that would defeat the point of going early."
"What in the name of all that is evil do we need formal wear for school for? It's bad enough they make us wear robes to class!"
Ingrid groused to herself while they considered how best to deal with the requirement. Fiddling with his wand, Vlad didn't have an answer.
"Well with an increase in security due, and the fact a formal outfit is on our mandated list... I'm guessing there will be some sort of event going on."
"But only fourth years and up. Which doesn't include me, so what's that about?"
Ginny seemed genuinely offended by the idea, glaring at the back of the letter Bertrand was holding like the parchment itself had done her a personal injustice. Draco eventually came up with a solution for their clothes, which solved at least one issue for the day.
"We have all the measurements done already for school robes. Tomorrow should be the release of the new catalogue from Twilfit and Tattings. We can use that, because most students will go to Madam Malkins. More expensive, but Mr Twill is more discreet."
Nobody had any objections to that - not even Ingrid. Ginny was appeased by the mention of flying, most of them rushing out for a friendly game on brooms. Draco struggled a little at first on a broom now, a side effect of his 'condition' where the wolf protested flying, but once he did a few practice loops it seemed to ease off. Lucky really, as he was likely to be the Gryffindor keeper that year.
Bertrand looked very uncomfortable flying at first, but Vlad's sun charms held well enough to let the vampire referee, and Ingrid's excuse of adamantly refusing to risk getting a tan covered up her sitting under the charmed shady area. Vlad sat with her and Hermione, laughing at the twins antics and Ginny practically flying circles around her brothers.
Ordering dress robes quickly became a hilarious debate over colours, where Ingrid tried to insist Vlad wear a paisley abomination while he pointed out the baby pink options for her. Unsurprisingly, Ingrid chose something in black and red, because aside from her house colours and rarely dark blue or purple, she acknowledged no other combination.
Draco ended up going with plain black, and Hermione went with a soft blue. Male dress robes were more like robes, but female dress robes may as well have been dresses. It was very confusing, and Vlad ended up picking something in navy just to end the selection process. Harry was co-erced by Hermione into opting for green, because it suited him brilliantly and his distaste for the Slytherin colour was a bit ridiculous when he had a bright green pet snake.
When they each tried on the robes - to check the fit - Vlad felt a little weak just at the sight. Harry and green was a match made in personal-Vlad-heaven. At the rate he and Draco continued to bulk out, Vlad did wonder if they were going to be a little snug whenever they needed them, which was a very distracting thought.
Animagus training was rather difficult with the constant activity, but both Hermione and Harry felt close to ready for the potion, close enough that they intended to take it before they went back to Hogwarts.
Most things taken care of, the only sticking points left were the full moon and Samael. Going to get the serpent wasn't too hard - Harry's portkey was keyed to Bertrand's home, which was now effectively for show as he spent all his time either at Malfoy Manor or Hogwarts - but there was still the issue of what to do with the basilisk. It was probably illegal somehow to sneak a basilisk into school. Particularly one that had been ordered to kill by a possessed book.
But one sad look from his mate and Vlad knew he would go along with it regardless. So long as Harry had come up with a way to take care of Samael needing to eat, so he could stay in the trunk for the school year. Even Harry agreed Samael couldn't wander freely, and the Chamber was a security risk as the Hogwarts enchantments didn't quite apply there. Nobody could apparate in, otherwise Riddle could enter Hogwarts with ease, but Vlad's portkey bypassed the enchantments in and out.
Mostly he was hoping Riddle never tried that, as Vlad didn't dare rely on Dumbledore having set up protections to keep the psychotic killer out. Technically the Chamber belonged to Harry now, as the true heir. Vlad hoped that counted too.
Nobody could understand, Harry knew that. His bond with Samael was practically genetic, they were linked through heritage and through the steady changes venom was creating in his body.
Lily sort of understood - she was technically under Samael, as he was the "king of serpents", and had been pestering Harry to wake him almost since the serpent had gone back to sleep. And as his bonded familiar, she understood the connection.
Harry couldn't put it into words, but he missed his pet basilisk painfully. Even Vlad, who had made it possible for Harry to smuggle the snake into Hogwarts, didn't quite get it, but he was willing to enable Harry to get his pet back anyway.
"How am I going to keep him fed at Hogwarts? Please don't suggest feeding him students."
"Would work. He survived on small rodents for many moons."
"Dropping a dozen rats a day into a trunk might attract attention."
Lily made an amused hiss, stretching herself out to the full extent of her current length before slithering along his arm.
"Your fangs are coming through wizard."
"Excuse me?"
Lily bared her own teeth, displaying the venemous 'fang' teeth she had at the front. Harry pressed against his own teeth with his tongue, and his canines were undoubtedly sharper than he remembered. Mindful of the snake on his bicep, Harry moved to the nearest mirror. It was small, but definitely, definitely there. Not to the extent of Ingrid or Bertrand, or even Draco or Remus had, but still noticeably different to say... Hermione, or Vlad and his currently flat teeth.
"Are they going to grow into teeth like yours? Because that would be awkward."
"Unlikely, would not suit your jaw structure. Imagine they will just be better for injecting venom."
Turning wide eyes to the calm, relaxed snake, Harry blinked rapidly in surprise.
"Are you saying I'm going to have a venomous bite?"
"You already have trace amounts in your saliva and tears, not enough to harm wizardfolk. Furry one told me her vampire called your tears 'cold and tickly-tingly' when he was thinking aloud one night. Apparently you cried over the basilisk-box."
Harry did remember getting emotional about that, though Vlad hadn't mentioned anything. Maybe the idea it was venom in his tears hadn't occurred to him - it certainly hadn't to Harry until now. Sucking a little to pool saliva in his mouth, Harry spat into the sink, staring as though he expected it to fizzle and burn through the ceramic.
"Trace amounts wizard. Not matured yet, and even then you wouldn't use snake venom to burn a sink. Silly humanoid."
Lily had a point - they had collected basilisk venom straight from Samael's mouth into a container and it hadn't dissolved.
"Not ideal for plastics though. Whatever plastics are. King snake told me that."
Harry couldn't help laughing, demonstrating what a plastic object was to his confused familiar. There weren't many in the wizarding world, as it could carry trace chemicals which interfered with plant and potion characteristics.
He had the Wronski Feint pretty much mastered by the end of two weeks practice, and he could 'see' extra charms layered over the ground. Was Vlad really so good at predicting him?
The Weasley children left a week and a half before the end of summer - they had school supplies to buy, which conveniently kept them from seeing Draco have Wolfsbane potion poured down his throat by an insistent pair of witches.
"It's disgusting."
"It stops you tearing chunks of your own fur, skin and blood out. Shut up and swallow."
Hermione was a little gentler about it, but no easier to dodge for Draco. Over time Harry imagined it would get easier, or he would at least adjust to it. It was clear the next morning after the full that it made a great deal of difference - at Draco's own insistence, he had still been in the silver room, but there were no new injuries, and Madam Pomfrey was thrilled by the almost-normal condition of the blond that morning.
"How do I do this at Hogwarts? I know technically I'm safe enough to transform in the dorms with the potion, but the other boys might notice."
"Professor Dumbledore has set aside a special room for it, which you will be informed of properly upon return to school. Now spend as much of today resting as possible, eat plenty of protein and take your potions. I will see you all September first."
With a week left until they returned, Harry was running out of time. Lily eventually presented an idea that had merit.
"The vampire gets raw meat bundles from elves for his death-omen friends in the Forest. You could obtain something similar for king snake, surely?"
Alight with excitable energy, Harry presented the idea to Vlad. Or tried to at least, as the vampire was intrigued by the change to his teeth that was apparently visible.
"Lily reckons I'm going to have a venomous bite. I'll ask Samael about it soon."
The fact that was a possibility made Harry nearly giddy, especially when Vlad picked no fault with Harry's (Lily's) plan to feed him.
"Really? Mine's going to be deadly, but I don't know if vampires technically have venom. More like we transmit a virus."
The conversation extended only to them agreeing to wait until night, as their absence would be far harder to notice if everyone was asleep. Harry was sat next to the trunk, dressed and bouncing with excitement for well over an hour. He tried to read, but the prickling anticipation under his skin was too distracting, and the book was tossed aside.
"Hold the fort down Lily, we shouldn't be long."
Vlad tapped gently on his door, pushing it open to find Harry raring to go. Phantom leapt off his shoulders, clambering on to Harry's bed to curl up next to Lily.
"Make sure you warn Samael not to eat Phantom. Or anyone else, for that matter."
"Hilarious. Can we go?"
They each took a handle of the magical trunk, then Vlad reached awkwardly for Harry's necklace. Portkeys would never be his favourite way to travel, but this was worth it. Vlad bade him to wait while he checked the place was safe, but apparently his enchantments had held.
Samael was a wonderful vision, exactly where Harry had left him. Vlad hung back to give Harry his space, rubbing a hand over the large scaled head before hissing the reversal of the stasis. As it began to wear off, Harry continued hissing gently to calm his basilisk, hoping he would wake peacefully rather than upset.
"Hey, it's me. Promised I would be back, didn't I?"
"Has not been long. Or has it?"
"Over a year, but Vlad came up with a way for me to take you back to Hogwarts. Not the Chamber, or Riddle might try to take you back."
"Can't. He would have to kill you first."
That was reassuring and Harry smiled inwardly, feeling the enormous head bump gently against his palm. For a titanic, cold blooded reptile, Samael was surprisingly warm to the touch for him.
"So, want to see your new home? Unless you would rather stay here?"
"My preference is always with my true owner, especially when he doesn't wish to use me to cause harm."
"Good, because I've missed you."
It took a minute to realise the charm had held all this time - Samael had his massive yellow eyes open, and neither he nor Vlad were petrified or dead.
His thick body only just fit down the trunks opening, and Harry couldn't help laughing at Samael hissing his confusion about the narrow space available until he worked out the archways. However, once he discovered the space, he was enthralled, hissing his approval back up where Harry was leaning over the trunk.
"Well? What's the verdict?"
"He loves it. Said he wouldn't eat you for the heat lamp alone."
"I'll take that as a compliment. I think."
Vlad smiled anyway, then indicated Harry's necklace. Right. He could spend all the time he wanted with Samael when they were back, but right now they should get back to the Manor.
"This might be an unpleasant ride, but he will be totally safe in there. So warn him, then lets go."
Harry passed on the warning, and Samael hissed back that he was ready so long as it was over fast. Portkeys were pretty instant, so that was doable. They were back in Harry's room at the Manor within a few minutes, and Harry wasted no time in dropping down into the trunk himself. Vlad followed more sedately, watching as Samael pressed the flattened front of his snout against Harry's chest.
"Thank you for this. Honestly, I could never have come up with this."
Vlad nodded, leant against a stone wall with a wry smile on his face.
"No problem. So long as he behaves himself, that is."
Samael cracked one eye open in Vlad's direction, narrowing slightly but Harry knew it was in jest.
"What part of obedience to the heir of Slytherin does your vampire not understand?"
"Well he doesn't actually understand you, he's taking my word alone that you're safe to sneak in to school. You're going to have to stay in here, but this way I can come see you."
"Acceptable, so long as there is sustenance."
"Yep, that was Vlad's condition on me bringing you to Hogwarts - figure out how I could feed you. And he said he didn't know what you might need, but is open to ideas for the currently empty space over there."
At present, Samael had no suggestion, but said he had a feeling it could be useful in the future. Whatever that meant. Harry had thousands of questions, but right now Samael needed to actually sleep - the stasis he had been in was suspended for aging purposes, but apparently wasn't any sort of truly restful.
Vlad had to drag Harry out when Samael was done coiling himself up beneath the heat lamp, in front of his fireplace. Harry was sort of jealous, half tempted to go find a spot in the snake sleep room himself.
"Come on. He's here, sleeping but no longer in stasis. Now you need to sleep, up here, because I'm not explaining your disappearance to the others."
Pouting petulantly, Harry had to agree with the sound logic. Vlad made him promise to come down for breakfast, but afterwards he would cover for him if he wanted to spend the entire morning with Samael. Grumbling but grateful, Harry agreed.
"Fine. See you in the morning. And... thank you, again. I missed him."
He had to displace Lily and Phantom to get into his bed, then resort to half a vial of dreamless sleep to drift off in his excitable state. The trunk was unbelievably tempting, but Harry's appetite and promise to Vlad won out. That didn't mean it was easy pretending to be calm over breakfast, rather than giddy with excitement as he swallowed a hearty helping of bacon and sausage, washed down with two mugs of tea.
Vlad gave him a small nod, to say he would still cover for Harry, who was tempted to run up to his room but fought the impulse, tried to maintain the illusion of calm. At least until his door was closed and locked, trunk open and Harry dropping himself down into the near-pitch-black mid-section.
The fake outdoor space was pretty good - it even smelled like fresh air. He found Samael stretched out in the grass, not asleep but clearly relaxed. The deep green scales didn't exactly camouflage him, but then he was pretty high on the food chain, nor was it likely he would have to hide in this trunk from anybody anyway.
When Harry approached his huge, scaley head and ran an affectionate hand there, Samael hissed in greeting. It wasn't really a word, more the snake equivalent of Vlad's humming to acknowledge someone when he was buried in a book.
"Vlad did come up with another condition, by the way."
"Your vampire is very bossy."
"I know, but he's looking out for me. And you. He says if the trunk lid is open, you have to close your eyes. Because, as he said, we shouldn't rely on locking charms keeping everybody else out, and if someone got in here and your eyes killed or petrified them it would be pretty hard to cover up."
"Very well. I have a feeling them seeing me at all would be fairly difficult to keep secret, whether I killed them or not. However, I am agreeable regardless."
Harry came in intending to ask all sorts of questions, but when it came to it, he really just wanted to sit quietly and enjoy the snakes company. He did, as promised, warn Samael not to eat Phantom, which won an amused sound from the lazing serpent.
Vlad peered in half an hour before lunch, which told Harry he had whiled away a good few hours and achieved very little but bonding time. He wondered if it would get easier to leave with time.
"Are you going to be alright without me?"
"I will survive, I am sure. Go. Sustain your small body."
Harry let himself be led away, trailing one finger down the massive length of his pets body, all the way to the pointed tail that was as wide as Harry's whole body apart from the very tip. He never quite got used to the sheer size a basilisk could reach, even when scaled down in the enormous space this trunk contained.
"Come on, lunch and then I think Hermione wants help with finishing the potion."
"What about Draco?"
"He's doing some extra potions work with Ingrid. I think he wants to prove he never slacked off if- when we find Severus."
Vlad caught his slip and corrected it, but it brought the severity of the mans disappearance right back home to Harry. After lunch they followed to Vlad's room, where Draco was least likely to visit - he was regularly in Hermione's room, and dropped in on Harry sometimes too. Vlad not so much, as apparently the vampire smell pervaded his room and overloaded Draco's new senses sometimes.
"You go right ahead, it's no good for me."
"Drink it anyway."
Vlad quirked an eyebrow at Hermione, who was pushing a cup of it towards Vlad.
"The worst that happens is nothing."
Harry picked up his glass, a pale blue liquid filling it. This would solidify their feelings for their animagus forms, so that they could begin to focus on actually transforming into it now. That could still take months, years even, but this was a happy half way point for Harry.
Vlad took the glass eventually, frowning into the contents.
"Nothing is exactly what will happen. Still. Bottoms up I guess."
As one, the three tipped back their heads to swallow the concoction nice and quick - it tasted like cough syrup left out to go bad, and Harry felt mildly nauseous. The 'feeling' in his body grew tenfold, flooding his brain and dropping him to his knees. Hermione went down too, but it was surprising and scary when Vlad crumpled next to him. Had something gone wrong?
-YDHP-
Back to Hogwarts next chapter! Because what every tense, terrifying school year needs is a basilisk living at Hogwarts again... Right?