Guest - I kind of like them too! But alas, poor Viktor is not Harry! Maybe I'll do a oneshot for Vlad and Viktor some time...
VampireHarry the 2 + YokaiAngel - thank you hugely!
Advance warning for... lack of dragon canon facts I guess? Other than that, let's roll!
-YDHP-
Harry couldn't fail to miss the swarm of envious looks he was getting for sitting next to Ingrid - who had a large parasol in black, complete with sunglasses. It was November. Then again, she was a vampire. Flanking her other sides were Hermione and Draco, Fred and George and even Charlie Weasley. It was like guarding a celebrity - one that hexed people who got too close that was.
"Careful now, people might start thinking you care what happens to your little brother."
"Maybe I just wanted a front row seat to him being eaten alive."
"Shame we can't do that to our little bro."
"Or Percy."
"Or both."
"Will you two shut up? They are starting!"
Fred and George fell silent, taking turns pulling faces at the back of Charlie's head until everyone's attention turned to the cannon-fire sound. And the enormous dragon that had been hidden by a masking charm until that moment.
"Chinese Fireball. And that's..." Charlie pulled out a small pocket telescope that had 'dental checks' written on the side "Cedric Diggory. I'm sure they will tell us all of that now, but nobody will be listening."
The Chinese Fireball was a brilliant shade of red, gold scales flecked all the way down it's spine to the tip of it's tail. It even had the 'chinese dragon' shape, longer and more streamlined than most dragons Harry had seen in books, or down in Gringotts.
"What do they have to do?"
"See the egg nest down there? One isn't a real dragon egg. They have to get it, and not get either eaten or roasted alive."
Harry peered down, spotting the golden egg shining in amongst a half-dozen dark red and yellow eggs. This sounded really, ridiculously dangerous.
"Wait. They have to get near a nesting mothers eggs? Are they mad?"
"That's what I said. It's insanity! Renee and Jackson both thought so too, but still volunteered to hang down at ground level just in case. Though there isn't much time for 'just in case' when you're about to get eaten by a dragon."
Attention returned to the ground below, where Cedric was up against the dragon with nothing more than a wand and a death wish, apparently. He circled the dragon slowly, being matched step for step by the mother defending her nest. Harry was sort of rooting for Cedric... though obviously he and the older boy hadn't been friends that long, so his ultimate goal was Vlad surviving, winning a close second to any competitive Gryffindor.
"So is he going to get barbecued or not? The lack of screaming agony is starting to bore me."
"You do remember the goal is to survive, right Ingrid?"
"Boring."
Cedric started moving again, looking around himself and the nearby rocky terrain. The dragon watched closely, her body very much between him and the eggs. Eventually he settled on what appeared to be a Transfiguration spell - he turned a nearby rock into a dog, according to Ingrid and her superior sight. It seemed to work pretty well, the dragons attention distracted and Cedric got very close to the nest.
Hands on the egg, either the dragon noticed or the spell ended - nobody was looking that way - because there was a thunderous screech as Cedric lifted the egg, and then a stream of flame that seemed hell-bent on consuming the Hufflepuff completely. Half the stadium erupted in screams and gasps of terror - except Ingrid, who was cheering - and the two handlers Charlie pointed out dashed in to put out the flames.
"I suppose technically since he got the egg, he completed the task so they can intervene?"
"Either that or they have a crush on Cedric."
Hermione took a second out of clutching her boyfriends hand as they waited to see if Cedric was ashes to glare at the twins.
"Very mature Fred."
"I'm George!"
Charlie looked around, then shook his head.
"No you're not. Look, he's alive!"
Clutching his egg and patting at the flames on his head, Cedric appeared to be standing on his own two feet.
"Mr Diggory will be taken for medical treatment" Harry imagined Madam Pomfrey threatening anyone who tried to get in the way of that "as the scores are announced."
There was nothing to compare to yet, but assuming he was being scored out of ten per judge, Cedric scored over half. Next up, Harry couldn't seem to quash his scowl as Viktor Krum came out. It was a feat of clear practice and magical skill as the handlers took one dragon away to be replaced with what Charlie said was a Welsh Green.
It was very green. And probably from Wales. Dragon names weren't all that creative, Harry noticed. The initial surprise and shock of the task involving dragons had worn off a little, but now they were watching a famous person do it the Hogwarts students were going nuts, and the Durmstrang students were near manic before he had done more than look very small at the size pf approximately one dragon claw.
"Come on, somebody get eaten already!"
"Ingrid!"
She paid no mind to Hermione's scolding, smirking in her usual malicious manner and watching Viktor Krum try to work out what to do with his dragon. A jealous and confusing part of his mind really hoped the seeker at least got a little mauled... Horrified with himself, Harry made himself join in with the good-natured cheering as he dodged a few fireballs.
"That better not do permanent damage."
Charlie was muttering under his breath, watching as whatever Krum did caused the dragon to raise her fore-claws to her snout, eyes screwed up and agonised roars leaving her mouth. He managed to get his egg, but narrowly missed being stomped on as a gigantic claw slammed down on the nest.
"Did he just kill a nest of eggs?"
"Nah, we used fake ones. No handler would risk real babies! They are real nesting mothers though, their eggs are with the other handlers. We had to count them to make sure Hagrid didn't nick any."
Harry couldn't help chuckling, watching as Krum got scored several points higher than Cedric had - helped no doubt by his full ten points from Karkaroff.
"No favouritism there at all."
"Yeah but I bet Fleur gets full points from her headmistress too. Dumbledore just doesn't want to appear biased, he still gave Cedric the highest score out of the four judges."
"Everybody is a little favouritist... like we all want Vlad to win right?"
"Speak for your Gryffindor selves, I still want to see Vlad get eaten."
Ingrid maintained an outward appearance of absolute boredom, but Harry was perfectly sure she would be happy about Vlad coming out of the task alive... perhaps not unscathed, she did enjoy others in pain a tad too much. Charlie was watching as they switched dragons - this one was a Swedish Short Snout, with it's nearly flat face and blueish-yellow scales giving a distinctly unusual dragon look compared to the previous ones.
"So we've had distraction, conjunctivitis curse... it'll be a surprise if either of the other two manage something original because there aren't many other ways to fight a dragon. Vlad has the... oh, he was right."
"Vlad has what?"
"I mentioned there was a more dangerous than usual dragon, and Vlad cracked a joke saying that's the one he would get. Anyway, hush. The Beauxbatons lass is coming out."
Even in her unflattering Champion robes over the usual powder blue jacket and skirt she wore, Fleur was still exceptionally attractive. Harry didn't share that with Ingrid, as he was not keen on the idea of her feeding him to the dragon.
"I'll be damned, she came up with a new strategy! And it's working!"
Holding her wand up toward the dragon, it appeared to be... napping. Harry was forcibly reminded of Fluffy the three headed dog, everyone on tenterhooks as Fleur crept closer to the nest. She made it within a few inches before a sudden spurt of flame - the dragon had started snoring - set her skirt alight. It probably wouldn't have made much difference, if she hadn't had to stop sleep-charming the dragon to put out the flames. It was a frantic dash for her to grab the egg and dodge a few flame breaths, skidding into the safe zone amidst cheers.
"I think she will probably get points docked for not doing anything exciting."
"Even if she did no damage to herself, the dragon or the eggs. And got the prize?"
"Hey, I didn't make the rules for this thing. Just did my research. Dragon handling is surprisingly quiet when it's nesting season so long as they are all kept seperate."
"How long have you known about the tournament?"
"A few months before term started. Not easy to bring in dragons. What do you think I asked Bertrand about before?"
Charlie winked, and Harry remembered him taking the tutor aside for a few minutes months ago at Malfoy Manor. He was checking the dragons wouldn't react negatively to vampires. That at least soothed Harry's concern that it would be another repeat of Vlad meeting a hippogriff, where the immediate response had been 'kill the vampire'.
"And you didn't tell us?"
"Charlie, I'm hurt!"
"Be quiet, Vlad's dragon is being brought out. Meet the Hungarian Horntail."
The twins shut up, practically jumping off the stands to get a good look at the huge dragon. At least ten feet bigger than the last one, with its jet black scales and big, reptilian eyes topped and tailed by bronze horns and spikes on the tail, Vlad had definitely picked the scariest looking dragon. She wasn't quite as long as Samael, but twice as thick and had extra appendages like wings and legs. Plus the whole breathing fire.
"Uncommonly aggressive - and that's from a dragon handler! Plus that fire she breathes will melt those rocks in under ten seconds concentrated fire. I hope Vlad likes feeling warm and toasty! Faster than the firebolt..."
"Will you stop that?"
Hermione looked as worried as Harry felt, knuckles white in their death grip on Draco's hand. It was lucky he was a werewolf, toughened by the changes, or Hermione may have broken his hand by now. Harry could sympathise - this would usually be when Vlad was trying to calm him down, but instead he was coming out of the brightly coloured marquee every other champion had come from.
"He's a scrawny little thing, maybe the dragon won't be able to see him."
"Helpful Ingrid."
Harry didn't see the look on her face, too busy feeling terrified for his best friend as he took in the mammoth beast he was supposed to be outsmarting. Vlad wasn't even looking at the dragon, eyes scanning the crowds before landing on the box clearly in his corner - Fred and George alone were making an outrageous amount of encouraging noises. Ingrid was the only one who could really see his face from where they were, lifted his wand up to his own face and then he was gone.
"The flaming fruitbat, he literally winked up here before he vanished!"
"If he dies down there I'm going to kill him! Shut up Draco."
Hermione was right alongside Harry as they peered over to search for him. Harry willed the generally inconvenient magical vision he was always suppressing forward, the entire grounds suddenly brilliantly lit up with the smorgasbord of transforming charms, transfigured terrain and protective wards to stop the dragon just eating everyone around it. Vlad's invisibility spells were pretty thorough, but if he squinted Harry could just spot a shimmer about Vlad's size blurring past the dragons left leg.
"Mr Dracula appears to have vanished!"
The commentator hadn't really registered with Harry until then, chuckling to himself through his fear for Vlad at the surprise evident in their voice. Then again, he was used to Vlad periodically vanishing into thin air only to scare the living daylights out of Harry by creeping up behind him. The Horntail wasn't stupid, curling her enormous wing around the nest and even from there, Harry could see her huge nostrils working to sniff out the threat to her eggs.
She roared angrily when a fireball slammed into her wing from behind, turning a scaly, reptilian face to search for the source. Another hit from the other side, forcing her to whip her head around. Squinting, Harry watched the Vlad-blur dart back to aim at her tail. The fireballs weren't really going to harm a dragon, but anything construed as an attack on her eggs would do the job and Vlad probably knew that, was intentionally opting for something that wouldn't cause much damage to the dragon.
Eventually she had to move a little away from the nest to search properly as Vlad continued flinging fireballs at her from sporadic spots, surprisingly agile for her size as she whipped around in search. The Vlad-blur made a break for it, aiming for the nest by the looks of things and it looked as though Vlad was home free.
At the last second the Horntail changed tack, whipping the huge barbed tail around and lashing cleanly in a direct hit against Vlad. His invisibility spell began to flicker as blood poured from the spot he was standing, a deep gash evident where his clothes had not stood a chance at protecting him. In between flickers, the pain was obvious on Vlad's face and it was a wonder to everyone how he was still standing. His face turned to the dragon, then the nest and Harry wanted to hex the idiot for not getting out of there before he bled to death.
"He's speaking his spells, so he's not gonna hold much longer."
Flames shot in Vlad's direction, but he managed to throw himself behind a large enough boulder to withstand it. Or at least to stop it melting Vlad in place. The spell was still flickering in and out - Vlad didn't have the concentration to cancel it and that would be draining even his magical reserve.
Water came pouring out of Vlad's wand - he must really be weak if he was using that - before freezing solid in midair, forming a temporary shield against the flames and giving Vlad a direct and clear path to the egg. Even at a distance, Harry could practically feel the effort it took Vlad to stand again, clutching his bleeding chest and stumbling-running for the egg. The Horntail was making short work of the icy shield, the puddle beneath it diluting Vlad's spattered blood along the ground but Vlad managed to get the egg in his wand arm and jumped down into a slightly shielded part of the up and down terrain.
"Why aren't they getting him out of there?"
"Technically he has to reach the safe zone to complete the challenge."
"They pulled Cedric out!"
Charlie sighed, nodded seemingly to himself and then vanished from his seat. Harry was about to panic when he saw him reappear near the dragon eggs, wand out to subdue the dragon expertly before he jumped down to where Vlad was. The other handlers came running out, and Charlie was visibly lifting Vlad and carrying him to what could only (hopefully) be the medical tent.
"Come on. That medical tent is the other end of the stadium."
Ingrid, Hermione, Draco, the twins and Harry all made for the stairs down, knowing they would probably be slowed down by someone but he seriously doubted they would be in Ingrid's way for long.
Sure enough, there were Ministry officials (going by the uniforms) at the tent entrance who attempted to stop them, but Ingrid bodily flung them aside with a swipe of her hand. There was blood trailing on the grassy floor, and Charlie was wiping his hands down just inside the tent.
Vlad, if anything, looked paler than usual and definitely worse than he had outside. Harry's momentary irritation at seeing Viktor Krum helping Vlad stay upright died when he realised the seeker was also holding some sort of bucket that Vlad appeared to be vomiting into.
"Remove that idiotic healer."
"Zey 'ave poisoned Vladimir!"
Fleur Delacour - still with mildly singed skirt - was trying to chase off the man in mint green robes, who looked perplexed by whatever was going on. Harry spied Cedric - coated from head to bare chest and stomach in some thick orange paste - dragging said healer away.
"What did they give him to make him this sick?"
"Blood replenisher. The idiot gave him one that isn't compatible for Vlad."
Hermione asked, and Ingrid answered. Harry could only assume that meant a vampire-based issue.
"That'll be why I insisted a separate box of medicine for him, clearly labelled! Honestly, these Ministry healers never listen."
Madam Pomfrey - having successfully chased the man away - tried to get closer to Vlad, but he couldn't seem to stop wretching into the bucket.
"Anti-emetic won't even stay down."
"Vhat do ve do? He is already very veak."
To his credit, Harry admitted grudgingly, Krum didn't seem phased by the violent heaving, merely terrified for Vlad.
"Can you hold him still for a second?"
"Mr Weasley I don't-"
"Trust us? The worst that happens is he pukes this back up!"
Fred (maybe) was holding a sweet comprised of two halves - orange and purple. The other twin reached out and snapped the purple bit off, cringed lightly and proceeded to somehow force it down Vlad's throat. The effect was immediate, Vlad's tremors stopping as the vomiting did and he fainted.
Madam Pomfrey shooed them all back while she gave Vlad the correct medication from a very obviously labelled black box, and everyone turned to the Weasley twins.
"What was that?"
"Puking Pastilles. Joke sweet. Orange end makes you sick nonstop, purple end makes it stop."
"Some of my finest work!"
"I think you'll find it was my work."
Now everything was slowing down a little, Harry could notice how Fleur and Cedric looked just as concerned for Vlad as any of them, camaraderie between supposed competitors over the underage vampire contestant. Vlad never failed to surprise him.
"Ennervate."
The entire tent seemed to sigh in relief when Vlad groaned weakly, eyes fluttering open and the faintest hints of colour flushing his pale cheeks.
"Ow. Don't play with dragons kids. It's a bit of a blur... did I get the egg?"
"Indeed. Eet iz right zere."
"You gave us a fright Vladdo."
"Charles Weasley! You blatantly broke the rules of the Tournament!"
Everyone turned to see a handful of Ministry workers, the three head teachers and the remaining dragon handlers pouring into the tent. They all turned and formed ranks, protecting a still-weak Vlad.
"And I would do it again. Vlad would have bled to death! He got the egg, and nobody complained about Renee saving Cedric from being a barbecued badger. That's what the emergency internal portkeys were made for!"
Dumbledore stepped up to the wall of teenagers, clearly intending to get through to Vlad. None of them moved.
"Oh, did you score Vlad by the way?"
"We were a bit distracted."
The headmaster looked at Fred and George like he couldn't quite believe what they were saying, and it was Karkaroff who answered.
"He should be disqualified for cheating!"
"How did he cheat? By passing out from blood loss? Vlad was out cold when I got to him. That would be disqualification for not dying."
Twice the skinny man's breadth and wrestling dragons for a living, Charlie Weasley cut a fairly impressive figure with blood stains on his t-shirt and a harsh glare on his face. Weasleys were protective of their family, and they had all said they saw the Malfoy Manor inhabitants and co as family.
Dumbledore managed to seperate the students by then, and several people took a look at Vlad.
"What's that on his chest?"
The silence fell so heavily a unicorns footstep could have been heard, as Harry realised Vlad's distinctively-like-his-own lightning bolt scar was on display after the dragon had made short work of his shirt. Vlad lifted a hand to pull the torn fabric closed but the damage was done.
"You get mauled by a Horntail and see if you have no scars. Either tell Vlad his score or let the nurse do her job."
Again, Charlie stood up for Vlad - he didn't even know the story he was hiding - and put his broad body between them and the teachers.
"He and Viktor are tied for first place, Mr Diggory in second and Miss Delacour in third. Come along Olympe, Igor, Albus. The champions need healing."
Both Ingrid and Vlad were staring at Crouch, but that wasn't unusual anymore - Vlad said he felt wrong, but couldn't place why. Eventually the adults left, and Hermione quickly cast a Reparo charm on Vlad's tattered shirt.
"Ok. So... does anybody want to tell us why Vlad's got that scar, and why he was allergic to the potion in the first place?"
"Come on Charlie, it's obvious."
"And we get called the stupid ones!"
Vlad and Ingrid both had the usual 'deer-in-headlights' look, that one that said their secret was about to come out.
"Ok, I'll bite. What?"
"Well, you won't"
"But they will."
"Vampires bro!"
"You knew?"
Fred and George exchanged cheeky grins, then shook their heads in eerie sync at Vlad.
"Come on, we've spent years stalking Ingrid"
"How would we not know?"
"Figured you would tell us when you were ready"
"But then this nosy ginger bloke started asking questions."
"Are zey always like zis?"
Fleur was watching the twins with a confused look, unused to their unique manner of speech.
"Pretty much. Have I been given Replenisher? Doesn't feel like it. And I'm sorry for basically puking on you Viktor."
"It's ok, you actually hurled on the healer. Viktor got the bucket."
Madam Pomfrey gave Vlad the green vial that barely lasted a second, his blue eyes practically lighting up as it worked through his system.
"Much better. Aside from Cedric being painted to look like a Weasley, was anyone else hurt?"
"Nah, only you had to go and almost die out there."
Vlad chuckled, looking massive amounts healthier compared to before now the potions had all kicked in. Madam Pomfrey shooed most of them - minus Harry and Ingrid - out after they saw Vlad was going to live - out, pointing out they had to leave soon for lunch. It was the first time in months Harry hadn't noticed it was a mealtime. Relatively unharmed, Fleur and Krum were both summoned to leave by their heads shortly after. Krum picked up his egg, then leant down to give Vlad a one-armed hug and whispered "get well soon." Fleur kissed Vlad's cheek, smiled and left too.
For reasons he wasn't sure of, Harry felt uncomfortable with it, like he was intruding on something private and intimate between Vlad and the seeker. Still, Vlad indicated his head for Harry to sit next to him, and Ingrid sat daintily in the chair next to his bed.
"I hope I get to keep this."
Vlad held out his hand out, a miniature of the dragon that had almost killed him puttering about on his palm. It flapped it's wings, opened it's mouth and roared realistically. Luckily, it didn't breathe fire.
"What's it for?"
"We picked them out of a bag at random. See the little four? That says I go last. I think I'll call her... Ingrid."
"You're gonna regret surviving that dragon you garlic muncher!"
Laughing to himself as Vlad smiled unapologetically at his sister, Harry felt the tension leech out of him. He was with his best friend, and Vlad had survived.
This task, at least.
In spite of the suddenness and blood loss, Vlad didn't rank getting gored by the Horntail as more painful than taking a Killing Curse, or even watching Harry kiss Susan the previous year.
Being practically poisoned by the wrong medicine and violently vomiting after having chunks torn out of him, however, was pretty close. Not to mention mortifying, followed by him fainting. And that was after he had had to be rescued, unconscious from the path of dragon fire.
Then outed as a vampire, almost spotted with his AK scar, and the awkwardness of not being fit to stand up and defend himself while everyone else did it for him. Then there was the confusing look on Harry's face when Viktor hugged him goodbye, but not when Fleur kissed his cheek and wished him good health. Surely Harry should be jealous of the attractive girl, not the friendly seeker?
Madam Pomfrey practically hogtied him to get Vlad spending the night in the Hospital Wing - both in case his lacerations had gotten infected, and to ensure he had no further reactions to the incompatible blood replenisher. If he hadn't have been a vampire, that task probably would have actually killed him. And Vlad had begged both Ingrid and Bertrand to never tell that to Hermione - she would kill him for almost dying. Lucky he was able to withstand more blood loss than a normal human.
"I hope Ingrid turned the Ministry Healer into lunch. That was wholly unpleasant."
"I apologise for being distracted, Mr Diggory had extensive burns."
"Oh no, I don't blame you. I blame him for missing the big huge label with my name on it. And considering how much of it was coming out of me, the colour of my blood should have been a dead giveaway. Is Cedric okay?"
"Fine. His scars will disappear within a day or two, and the hair-regrowth potion will be used after that. He will be right as rain. Now eat your dinner, I have little doubt your entourage will be arriving as soon as dinner is over."
That brought hope he would see Harry if he ate his vegetables, so Vlad quietly worked through his dinner and stared at the golden egg he had almost died for. It didn't scream 'clue' at him, but apparently held information about the second task. Very important information - apparently they wouldn't have a hope of completing the second task without it.
Vlad was done with the food before dinner was officially over. Knowing Harry's appetite as well as he did, Vlad figured he had time and shifted the egg to his lap. It was pretty big, surprisingly heavy and had a strange twiddly bit at the top which presumably opened it. Looking around to see he was very alone other than Madam Pomfrey, Vlad twisted the knob and the egg split open like a banana peel.
The sound it made was horrendous, like a band of yowling street cats being put through a mechanical car crusher. He slammed it closed immediately, the noise thankfully vanishing with that and he cowered slightly under Madam Pomfreys stare.
"I didn't know it would do that! What kind of clue is that? Is the Second Task torturing cats?"
"I have no idea, but kindly do not do that again while you're supposed to be recuperating!"
Vlad took that to mean do not do that again in the Hospital Wing ever, shoving it back on the bedside table and taking a mouthful of water. The door to the Hospital Wing opened, and Vlad couldn't help feeling a touch disappointed that it wasn't Harry.
"I've been reliably informed this is an excellent vay to cheer you up. How are you feeling?"
Viktor held out an orange flask that he knew would contain pumpkin juice, smiling gratefully as he accepted it.
"It is. And better, thanks. This" he indicated the room they were in "is mostly because nobody is sure I completely expelled that bloody potion. Who told you about my juice habit?"
"Ingrid. Confirmed by... Theodore, vas his name?"
"Yeah, I spent last Valentines with Ingrid, Theo and Blaise in Hogsmeade because Harry had a date and Ingrid hates everybody. My opting for pumpkin juice over butterbeer was hilarious to them because I drink it every mealtime too. You didn't... who's keeping Weasley away from Ingrid?"
"Nobody. He is resting on the ship... somebody appears to have slipped him a bizarre sweet that didn't agree vith him. Ministry Healers fixed him up but he vasn't feeling well."
The dark eyes were alight with amusement, and Vlad had a very good idea who had slipped Ronald a dodgy toffee. Probably related to the disgusting sweet that had stopped his sickness earlier that day.
"So, we're tied for first place? I think that's what they told me, I was a little out of it earlier."
"Indeed. Try not to vorry everybody so much in the next task."
"No promises. Though if it's not a Hungarian Horntail again, how bad can it be?"
Viktor chuckled, then turned as the door opened again.
"Sorry, didn't realise you had company."
"I vas just leaving, I only vanted to check he vas alright."
He got the usual shoulder squeeze, then Viktor was passing Harry in the doorway on his way out.
"So... are you alright?"
"Peachy. Bored. Glad this isn't going to leave a permanent scar. Mildly terrified of the matron, but I bust out tomorrow and get to work out why this egg is full of screeching noises."
Harry lifted the egg, testing the weight and inspecting the little patterns in its golden surface, tracing a finger along the indentations.
"So you nearly get roasted by the full size of your Ingrid miniature, for an egg full of screeching?"
"Pretty much. Don't open it, Madam Pomfrey will poison me in my sleep."
His mouth curled up in a smirk, tanned hand creeping up to the switch at the top and Vlad wondered if Harry had any idea how appealing Vlad found that mischievous sparkle in his eyes.
"Would make Charlie getting you out a little redundant. So, where did you get the idea for the dragon?"
"Muggle fiction section. Dragon story book series, there was a lot of using fireballs to deter or distract because dragon hide is basically the perfect level of fireproof. It worked! I just didn't account for how fast she could move her tail and my eyes were on the egg for about three seconds too long."
"Muggle fiction? Really?"
"If I read another factual book about dragons, I will jam stakes into my eyes. I needed a break, that caught my eye. I might read the sequels for fun... maybe after I've had a century or two to forget almost being Horntail lunch."
Still smiling, Harry stole one of Vlad's left over bread rolls and the mini knob of butter that sat next to it. When he caught Vlad eyeing him knowingly, Harry grinned unapologetically.
"What? I will have you know, I missed lunch to sit next to you while you were so out of it on potions you told Ingrid you liked her necklace earlier."
"Did I? Did she hex me?"
"Nah, she laughed when you started singing 'ten blood bottles' to yourself before you fell asleep. Then Madam Pomfrey kicked us out and said you would be allowed visitors after dinner."
Vlad felt really rather popular all of a sudden, because the doors swung open again to reveal Charlie Weasley.
"Me and the other handlers are leaving when it gets dark, so I came to say goodbye. And to make sure you know I don't mind you being a biter."
"Right. Well, thanks. And you know, thanks for saving my life and all. I heard you got yelled at for that."
Charlie grinned, leaning down to give Vlad a secure, brotherly hug. It was so platonic and genuine he didn't even feel a flash of irritation when Harry got the same treatment.
"No worries. They made special portkeys that only worked in that space exactly for distracting the dragon and saving a champion. So really, I got yelled at for doing my job and saving my honorary little bro, which is so absurd it's funny. Try not to get attacked by dragons again anytime soon, I still remember it was you who got bitten by Norbert!"
"Funnily enough, neither of those things were intentional."
"I believe you. Quiet life, right?"
"You're one to talk, you're a dragon handler!"
"Yeah, well... be quiet and get better. Good luck with the other tasks, I'm sure the twins will write to me giving me over exaggerated and fantastical tales about it."
Vlad genuinely enjoyed Charlie Weasleys presence and company - he was laid back, relaxed and open about his sexuality, happily helped Vlad learn what he could for the task and then literally saved his life. It was hard not to like him really.
Harry stayed until Madam Pomfrey kicked him out, gave Vlad a hug and promised to come get him if he hadn't been released by breakfast. Vlad happily accepted the Dreamless Sleep potion - he didn't thrill in the idea of his recent chest injury raising some Riddle-related nightmares when his body desperately needed the rest.
He was allowed to leave for breakfast, with the sworn promise he would return if he felt the slightest bit unwell. The Great Hall was abuzz with chatter, several eyes on Vlad as he slid into a seat between Harry and Neville and helped himself to a stack of toast and eggs.
"Anything you want to tell us Vlad?"
There was blatant mirth in Draco's grey eyes, and Vlad didn't know why but guessed it was to do with the Daily Prophet paper in front of him.
"No? What does it say?"
The paper was flipped over to show the top half, which contained a moving photo of that brief second where Viktor had placed a hand on Vlad's shoulder to wish him luck, complete with a rather incriminating and yet utterly false headline.
'Alleged cheater and underage champion flirts way to first!'
"You have got to be kidding me! I would love to know how 'flirting' got me maimed by a Horntail, never mind that he was trying to stop me panicking with nerves and that bejewelled beast of hair products just happened to walk in then. To clarify, I'm not dating" Vlad snorted as he scanned the 'story' "Bulgarian bon bon Viktor Krum."
"You could file a complaint. Pretty sure alluding to the sexuality of someone underage is probably some form of illegal."
"I could hunt down Rita Skeeter and feed her to a dragon? Far more satisfying."
Draco chuckled, then dropped his eyes under Hermione's hard stare and stirred his porridge some more. She turned said glare on to Vlad next, but Vlad returned his own look - innocent puppy eyes.
"Come on, I almost died yesterday. I don't need this."
"Fine. No actual dragon-feeding though."
Vlad could have sworn Hermione actually mumbled "try thr skrewts instead" as she went back to generously slathering marmalade onto her toast. He couldn't be certain though.
"I like that there is barely a single mention of you actually doing the task here. Friends with a Bulgarian? Hot news. Almost dying on a transfigured rock floor to be eaten by a dragon? Not at all."
"Yeah, well, I'm alive. And Ingrid and Viktor are finding the story hilarious by the looks of it."
"Of course Ingrid does. I guarantee she asked him what a bon bon is though."
Chewing a mouthful of eggs, Vlad continued to scan the article. Thankfully there was no mention of his violent reaction to a potion, probably for the best since he vaguely remembered Viktor helping him sit up and holding a bucket for him. How embarrassing.
"Oh hold on, I didn't stop there apparently. You would think I noticed being the 'lothario' of the Tournament, because I'm also using Cedric to further my goals in it according to this."
Vlad could have killed Fred for his response to that - he leapt up onto his seat, calling over to the Hufflepuff table.
"Oi Ced, are you and Vlad a thing?"
The entire Hall looked around to see the Weasley twin beaming for his mischief, and Cedric looked utterly bemused. Vlad was probably the most colourful he had ever been, face heating rapidly.
"Not last I checked."
"I read it in the Prophet, are you saying this fine piece of news literature lied to me?"
He was still going to kill him, but at least Vlad understood now - he was helping discredit the article as a whole. He would kill him nice and quick, painless even. Or ask Ingrid to do it... somehow he suspected Fred would get a kick out of it.
"Mr Weasley! We do not shout uncouthly across the Great Hall!"
"But I just did!"
McGonogall, who had mysteriously appeared at the table amidst the hubbub, took in Vlad's face and the paper in front of him. The woman was fiercely intelligent, and Vlad knew the keen wit was working out exactly what happened. Fred thankfully got down after that, reducing the amount of people's staring.
"Yes, well, don't let it happen again. Five points."
Out of the corner of his eye, Vlad saw the five rubies drop down into the hourglass bottom. Sneakily, she had given the Weasley twin points for protecting Vlad. Smiling to himself as he returned to his breakfast, he felt much better.
Getting dragged to another Champions meeting was not a highlight, although the four of them had a great laugh over the morning paper.
"Sorry Fleur, I guess Skeeter didn't think you were my type."
"I forgive you Vladimir."
"I'm just glad they didn't use a picture of my head on fire."
Cedric had a hat and some kind of thick lotion or ointment covering the scars, but they were almost gone and he was still smiling. The head teachers were at a loss as to how to deal with the close-knit group, who were generally expected by now to be wanting each others head on a stick. Or maybe that was just what his dad would have done... they should just want the other to lose.
"Can we get on? Mr Dracula's near death experience has proven the reason we placed an age limit on the Tournament in the first place!"
"I do apologise for almost dying," Vlad hoped his sarcasm was thick enough " and like I said before - I didn't enter into this madness. What this proved was that whoever entered me really wants me dead!"
"Yet you still place joint first."
"Did I get bonus points for bleeding? I don't care about winning this thing. Did you bring us here just to scold me for entering, or to subtly demand to know if this nonsense" Vlad held up the paper Draco kindly 'let' him keep "was true?"
Several adults looked rather uncomfortable, and Vlad knew he had hit home.
"It's not. That picture is of one friend trying to reassure another because we were about to get eaten alive."
"Ve champions are friends now, isn't that the point of the Tournament?"
"Zis meeting is a waste of time!"
"... What they said. Vlad didn't do anything wrong, and Rita Skeeter is well-reputed for making things up. In our interviews she said I was doing this to impress the Minister for Magic and get my dad a promotion. She called Fleur an airhead, and Viktor an attention junkie even though there was no guarantee he would be picked when you first turned up. Plus, Quidditch is a lot safer."
Clearly, this wasn't going according to plan for the teachers. Except maybe Tonks, who was almost deliriously happy to watch Vlad and the others irritate the more mature adults in the room. Ultimately, the meeting was ended by a very important matter - lunch.
"So, three months until the next task. However will we pass the time?"
Cedric shrugged, and they branched off for seperate tables at mealtime when they reached the Great Hall.
"How was your meeting?"
"Pointless. Surely they could have just asked outright if the paper was true. I was going to finish my Charms essay this morning."
"Vladimir Dracula everybody - gets mauled by a dragon"
"And sulks about not doing homework!"
"Fred, George. If you don't hush within three seconds I'm going to let Ingrid practice her hexes on you again. And this time I'll invite Ginny to help."
"Harsh Dracula"
"But fair. Come on George, there's a prank with our names on"
"And a future prefect or two watching us!"
Still slightly weakened from blood loss, Vlad felt a little tired but pushed the exhaustion away to go walking outside. Harry invited him to go see Samael with him, but was understanding that Vlad didn't really fancy spending time with another mammoth reptile just yet.
"Nothing personal, I just think I need fresh air and not Basilisks."
"No problem. You gonna be alright on your own?"
"He vill not be alone, vorry not."
"Oh, hi Viktor."
If Vlad didn't know better - but sadly, he did - he would say Harry looked annoyed, maybe even jealous of Viktor coming to the rescue of Vlad's social plans for the afternoon. If only. They walked over to the Great Lake, sitting up against a tree and watching some first years throw leftover sandwiches to the giant squid.
"It is him, isn't it?"
"He's Harry Potter, if that's what you mean?"
"No, I meant" he stopped, checking they were quite alone before casting some sort of silence spell and Vlad felt his heart rate pick up "he's your... your mate. I told you Vlad, I find your kind fascinating."
"Don't be silly, a vampires mate is never"
"Human. I know. But he is Harry Potter, I can see magic making an exception for him. Besides, I vatch you all the time, and you don't light up for anyone the vay you do Harry."
"He's my best friend."
"Come on. I'm accepting I have no chance with you, the least you can do is tell me I'm right."
That made Vlad feel exceptionally guilty - he had been either oblivious or subconsciously but intentionally ignoring signs Viktor was interested, long too invested in his mate by now.
"Fine. But he has no idea, and I intend on keeping it that way."
"Vhy?"
"He's straight, he's not interested. Why would I destroy our friendship by telling him something that will only make things awkward?"
"I'm not so sure."
"What? Why?"
It was probably embarrassing how fast and easy Vlad switched to desperate for information, the slightest hint that someone saw something he didn't about Harry.
"He vas... unusually sore about some things. Like my presence in the Hospital Ving and the medical tent before him, and even earlier today I vould have said he seemed a tad jealous."
"He's protective of me, that's all."
"Humour me. My guess is you have never dated, because this kicked in rather early, yes?"
"Ok. I mean, yes."
"So, Harry has never seen you in a romantic context, because you've never been in one. How can you be sure about jealousy, if he hasn't had the cause to be jealous?"
"Hold on, are you suggesting I date someone just to find out if Harry's jealous? That's cruel, unfair and not to mention it won't work."
"It's not cruel if the other person is in on it? And I volunteer."
"Why?"
His head was spinning a little by now. What in hell was going on?
"Because ultimately Vladimir, I vould like nothing more than to see you happy. And I reserve the right to say 'I told you so' vhen it does vork."
Vlad shouldn't be considering this. He knew Viktor was interested, and this would be so unfair on him. But he seemed genuine in his offer... No! Mentally scolding himself, Vlad pushed thoughts of accepting this insanity of an offer from his mind. Harry crept in, as he so often did, and Vlad couldn't help thinking of his facial expression shortly before. Was he jealous?
"Are you sure about this? We're opponents, and just got done denying the papers this morning."
"Ve vill have to 'break up' before the second task, but I am confident it vill not take three months for Harry to notice you. Is that a yes?"
"Promise you'll say if this is too much for you? I don't want to hurt you."
"I promise. But vorry not, I'm really rather tough you know. I am Bulgarian."
Chuckling, Vlad was still a little wary Viktor hoped to show Vlad was he was 'missing', but he seemed genuine, and if he knew as much as it seemed about magical vampires, or just vampire mates, he had to know it was basically impossible to draw attention away from a vampires mate. It was difficult even if the vampires in question wanted the bond gone - like Ingrid, who was doing a much better job of dealing with her instincts for Bertrand. And Vlad was looking.
"Fine, but no big public affection stuff. It may shock you to know I'm quite shy for a Gryffindor."
"I am three years your senior, I vill be the perfect gentleman."
This was madness.
"Fancy a walk? I want to visit the Thestrals."
As the Bulgarian fell into step with a fond smile, Vlad wasn't sure what to think. He could always call it off. He should.
But.
What if it worked?
Yeah right. How were three months any different to the last two years?
-YDHP-
hopefully this nice long chapter makes up for late updates and possibly terrible chapters in the past. Though personally I think they are all terrible, but you lovely readers keep me going!