YokaiAngel - I don't know that anybody else has ever called me spectacular, that made me smile!
Guest - thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed it, and no, I actually planned to write the whole second task from Harry's POV, so we can all appreciate how everybody else felt watching the top of a lake for an hour?
I'm kidding, of course. Bats, how boring must that have been for the spectators? I envision Hermione being annoyed she couldn't spend it doing homework because she was floating down below! Ingrid might decide to start hexing fish to pass the time...
TheSchimmer - you are very much forgiven! And I am so glad you enjoy the story, your review made me feel amazing.
I lost two followers after the last chapter... was it really that bad?
-YDHP-
"He almost died."
"But he didn't. You've both 'almost died' a few times in the last three years alone."
"That is not the point. He was nearly bleeding to death on the floor and nobody but Charlie went to help him!"
"Wizard, he is alright now. He's a vampire, he had significantly longer to survive blood loss than a human, and he got the help he needed. Focus on helping him prepare for future tasks, because this is only just getting started."
"Oh, that's real helpful. I want this damn thing to be over, I don't want him getting eaten by a dragon and being bosom buddies with the golden boy of a headmaster with a Dark Mark!"
Samael let out an amused hissing noise, using his tail to lift Harry and bring him closer. The matching temperature of scales on skin soothed some of his irritation, and Harry ended up taking off his shirt to luxury in the compatible sensations.
"I feel you may have a jealousy issue here."
"I'm not jealous! I just want Vlad to be safe from Karkaroff and Weasley."
"From what you have told me, the Durmstrang champion wants the same thing for Vlad. If anything, he's better equipped as he knows the people Vlad is at risk from.'
Harry could only glare irritably at Samael, which was probably ironic when one considers Samael and his species were known for their own fatal stare. The serpent didn't falter, shifting the part of his tail Harry was seated on to make him grab on for stability, then let out another amused hissing sound. Clearly his pet was in the mood to wind him up a little.
"You aren't helping."
"My advice is apparently going right over your head. Until you are receptive to the obvious solutions, I cannot help."
"Because you seem to think I'm avoidant of some secret crush on Vlad."
"My dealings of human emotions are admittedly narrow, but the two of you are clearly two halves of a whole. I don't know what a crush is, but you are certainly being avoidant of something."
Attempting to avoid his familiar bringing up his avoidance (Harry took a moment to grow irritated with the irony), he shifted to rest against the smoother scales below Samael's stomach.
"That doesn't mean we have to be romantically involved."
"Would that not be the logical extension of your friendship? Or is this down to the archaic notion of a male and female?"
"Are you really giving me a lecture on acceptance of diversity?"
"No. Merely questioning if your resistance is because of Vlad's gender. Which is bizarre."
Sighing, Harry shook his head and contemplated leaving his annoying snake alone to get out of this conversation.
"You said yourself you don't breed in a conventional manner, so maybe you can't fully appreciate that the gender of your romantic partner can matter a great deal."
"That is an immensely juvenile attitude. If your only drawback on accepting this is your vampire being male, do you not think that in itself is ridiculous?"
The irritating thing was... Samael was right. If Vlad were female, by this point Harry probably would be at least considering the fact they were a compatible match. Still, Vlad was a guy. And that wasn't something he could just... ignore.
"Maybe to you, but boys and girls are different. I can't suddenly be into guys."
"Forgive me for being indelicate, but are you referring to mating?"
Feeling his face flush, Harry buried his head in his hands.
"Merlin Samael, why not say it louder?"
"Wizard. Nobody but you, Lily and that little furball can understand me. And this capsule I reside in is soundproof."
Still blushing, Harry mumbled his response into his hands and just hoped the snake silenced.
"Ok, well just shut up then."
Samael continued to laugh at him in his light, rhythmic hisses - from what he understood of how Samael explained it, Harry could learn to hear both the hissing and translation his mind automatically made, because his inability to differentiate meant he wouldn't know he or someone else wasn't speaking English. But he would need someone else on two legs who spoke both, and there were not exactly dozens of Parselmouths.
"Very well. Have your dreams continued?"
"Not much, but that's because I'm using the dreamless potion more often lately. The nightmares wear me down. Was there not a better way to pass on what you know about the past?"
"Potentially, but none quite so empathic. Part of you understanding where you came from is the feelings associated, but I cannot explain those to you as I lack human emotions. I apologise for causing you pain."
That last sentence melted any irritation Harry felt - Samael did care, even if he wasn't sure how to. The basilisk closed his eyes when Harry placed his hands either side of the huge head, pressing his chest to the snakes snout.
"It's ok. It's not your fault you aren't human after all."
Comforted by his bond with the basilisk, Harry almost fell asleep like that. Samael was close to it too, so Harry sent him to his sleep room. He did follow, basking beneath the charmed heat lamp for a few minutes before he left. His cold-blooded tendency meant he didn't feel the cold much unless it was acutely freezing, but warmth on his skin was tantalizingly inviting all the same. He still had a lower tolerance for heat with his lower core temperature, but cooling charms often fixed that and Vlad always noticed when Harry looked uncomfortable.
Vlad noticed a lot actually... stop it. Samael and his armchair snake psychology often left Harry a little confused as he didn't have a serpentine thought process, and trying to tell Harry he was jealous when he worried about Vlad and Viktor Krum was his favourite topic lately. Could he not just be concerned about his best friend?
When the friend in question reappeared, he looked unsure about something. Harry watched as he dug through his bag for uncompleted essays and matching study material. What possessed Harry to say what he did next, he didn't know but he sort of wished he hadn't.
"Thought you exclusively studied with Krum in the library now?"
Vlad looked surprised, maybe even hurt.
"I uh, just got back from seeing him. He's gone to hang out with his friends, probably tell them about me I guess."
"Tell them what?"
His heart did a sort of twisting, painful spasm as Vlad looked around, checking they were alone still - Draco and Neville were with their girlfriend/sort of girlfriend respectively, and Seamus and Dean almost inevitably following the Beauxbatons girls around. It was a little creepy. He had a good guess what was coming.
"We uh, we're dating."
How Harry contained himself, he didn't know as the snake that coiled inside him at all times reared up, wanted to attack the threat on Vlad. He had never felt more part-basilisk than he had then, wanting to hiss and bite his target. None of that seemed to show on the outside, as Vlad was obviously waiting for a response.
"Oh. Are you allowed? I mean, he's older. And you're both champions."
"Huh. Didn't think of that. Nobody told us we couldn't date Fleur, and presumption of heterosexuality means I would have expected them to say something. As for age... I'm a vampire. I'll look younger than he does now until I'm sixty, and he's not much older than Ingrid. Besides, there's still arranged marriages in Hogwarts students, so I'm guessing it's not too big a deal."
Vlad's words didn't quite register to Harry, but he forced himself to reply before he had to go hide in the bathroom.
"Well then, good for you I guess."
He hoped Vlad's ability to hear his heartbeat didn't extend that far, and that safely hidden behind the bathroom door his friend couldn't hear the angry rhythm pounding in his chest. He stumbled to the toilet, flushed it to cover his need to hide and splashed cold water across his face over the sink. Staring into the mirror, Harry spied his slit-pupils and sharpened teeth, realised for the first time he could actually see the monster that lingered under his skin. Venom pooled in his mouth, spat out and rinsed away before anybody could see.
Wiping his face with a paper towel, Harry fished in his pocket for his glasses and placed the glamoured spectacles on his nose. The mirror reflected what everybody else would expect to see, and after a couple more minutes his muscles stopped shaking, his skin stopped feeling too tight.
Evidently concerned, Vlad gave him a searching look as he came back out of the bathroom. Harry maintained his outward calm, but his brain was a jumbled mess inside.
"Are you ok?"
"Fine. Just a thing Samael said can happen with growth spurts."
"So you're not... you don't hate me?"
Not you, him.
"Why would you think that?"
"Because... I guess I've never come out and said I'm gay before. I wasn't sure how you would take it."
Considerably better if it hadn't come with a boyfriend.
"I've lived with your gay vampiric tutor for ages. Why would it matter?"
"I guess because people have always said we're more than friends. I didn't want you to feel... I don't know. I should have given you more credit, I'm sorry."
We are.
"You're right, you should have. I need some air."
Damnit!
Vlad called after him, but Harry had the Map in his pocket and checked the vampire was still in their dormitory when he got a few corridors away. He wished he had been checking closer to home when he found himself shoved into a wall roughly, glasses breaking like he was a child again - he hadn't bothered putting the unbreakable charm on it, in case he could see the pale purple of it amidst the green glamour charm.
"Well well well, look what we have here."
Harry focused on keeping his eyes neutral for a second before he turned around holding the broken glasses - he had already recognised the voice. He hadn't expected the two hulking bodyguard students, brutish and thickset.
"Weasley, you aren't welcome in this school. Even your brothers and sister don't want you here. Get lost."
"And miss the chance to get you without your bodyguard?"
"Says the one not tough enough to corner me without two of your own. You're pathetic."
Ron bore little resemblance to the rest of his family, who were warm and happy people covered in freckles. His lack of sunshine in Bulgaria meant he was paler, hair a little darker and his mouth twisted into an ugly scowl.
"Oh, they have to accompany me everywhere since the Draculas tried to curse me."
"You were expelled for assaulting a student, if you can't take the retribution why come back only to hide behind them?"
Ron frowned, cold eyes flicking between Harry and his 'bodyguards'.
"Says the one who can't make a better friend than an untransformed vampire."
Growing irritated with their presence but trying to maintain his composure, Harry rolled his eyes. He would love nothing more than to hex Weasley to Hades and back and vent every bit of frustration over Vlad and Viktor out. It should worry him that his only hesitation was getting in trouble for doing too much damage.
"That untransformed vampire still watched you nearly wet your pants, and broke your bones without magic. Pick on someone your own level Weasley... I think I saw a couple of spiders near you."
The scowling redhead practically threw himself against one of his bodyguards in a haste to get away, and Harry couldn't help succumbing to laughter. It was a mistake of sorts - when he realised he was being taunted, Ron forgot he was a wizard and launched himself angrily at Harry.
Harry reacted to defend himself on instinct at first, then realised Ron was nowhere near strong enough to actually fight him with his basilisk-infused strength. The redhead was clearly surprised by Harry's strength - he was filling out pretty well but had started from a very slight build, and didn't look as powerful as he actually was.
Giving up on a physical victory, Ron pulled his wand. His henchmen followed suit, but they probably hadn't had battle training with Bertrand and were probably surprised when Harry had them all petrified and disarmed before any had picked a spell.
"I'm going to drop your wands over there, then unfreeze you. If you try this again I'll snap them and hand you over to the acromantula. Are we clear Weasley?"
They couldn't answer, but Harry tossed their wands over by the door and took a few steps back before he un-petrified them. Scrambling ungainly to their feet, he was met with multiple death glares.
"This isn't over Potter!"
He followed them on the Map until he saw them leave the castle to head for the Durmstrang ship, then spied Viktor Krum literally in the lake. Was he mad? It was freezing outside - even Harry thought it cold.
Maybe he would freeze. Or get eaten by the squid...
Harry needed to get a handle on those mildly homicidal thoughts. It wasn't Krum's fault. Harry did have to admit something, at least to himself.
He was jealous.
"What in the name of all that is evil possessed you to go for a swim in the lake? It's almost frozen over!"
Viktor grinned, wrapping somehow non-frostbitten hands around his plastic mug of coffee. They were both up unreasonably late, sat out by said lake while most were sleeping. Viktor brought a thermos, and Vlad had some butterscotch sweets. It was relaxing, and pretty much the only time they were guaranteed alone without a fan coming to talk his 'boyfriend's' ear off about Quidditch.
"It is colder in Bulgaria. Besides, I love to swim. So relaxing."
"I'll take your word for it."
"You don't swim?"
"I can't swim. Running water, remember?"
"Surely that doesn't affect you now?"
"No, but it means most of us never bother to learn."
Viktor nodded in understanding, staring out at the quiet ripples across the lake where the giant squid was stretching their tentacles.
"Did you tell him?"
It didn't need saying - had he told Harry about their 'relationship'?
"Yeah."
"And? How vas he?"
Vlad sighed, leaning up against the tree they sat beneath.
"It's hard to say. I feel like he was more upset with what I said than the fact itself."
"How do you mean?"
Vlad explained what excuse he had used - saying he was worried Harry would judge him for being gay.
"And then?"
"He left. Came back later totally fine really. So honestly, I think he was just upset I didn't think he would accept me."
Viktor hummed in thought, offering him the thermos to warm himself up. Taking a swallow, it wound through his body, hot brew and silky flavour. Vlad generally drank coffee functionally - if he needed the caffeine mostly. This particular one Viktor had was delicious though, some exotic flavour he picked up on his travels around the world for the Quidditch World Cup.
While he enjoyed talking about Quidditch, he also enjoyed talking about the places he had been and Vlad listened intently. He wanted to travel some day, see the world around him instead of being shackled by duty and darkness.
"I realise you vouldn't appreciate it, but the garlic in real Italian food is something amazing."
"Why do you think there are so few biters in Italy? They visit for the culture maybe, but biting someone who's eaten garlic in the last twenty four hours can make them ill, and makes them smell less appealing anyway. Maybe I'll move there."
"You vant to make yourself sick?"
"No! I just... I never want to be tempted."
It wasn't Viktor's fault - Vlad had never been explicit about his aversion to his future as a vampire and particularly about drinking blood in the future.
"Ah. A veggie vamp? Or at least, a future vegetarian vampire?"
"I don't want to hurt people. Well, I don't want to bite them, some people I wouldn't mind inflicting pain on."
The older teen actually laughed quite heartily, and Vlad was suddenly glad for his foresight of using silencing charms to reduce the chance they would be overheard.
"Vell, that's something. For a moment I thought there had been a mistake and you vere not really a vampire."
He gave his company a playful shove, then popped a sweet in his mouth and waited for Viktor to calm down.
"Vould it be presumptive of me to ask you to the Yule Ball?"
Vlad groaned - he was stuck at Hogwarts for the upcoming Christmas, unable to escape to Malfoy Manor where Harry was more comfortable and the whole holiday was a little more... enjoyable, really. Christmas day had been announced as the Yule Ball - a dance. As champions, they were obligated to attend.
"Only if you're prepared for the upheaval of a Champion taking an opposing Champion."
"Are ve staying a secret until then?"
"Oh, I hadn't really thought about it. I'm so used to only really telling Harry stuff, and since this isn't... you know-"
"Real?"
"I feel like that's a harsh way to put it. I'm still wrapping my head around the whole thing."
"I volunteered for this."
"That doesn't make it fair."
"Ve have had this debate. I asked if you vould accompany me to the ball?"
Vlad remembered the whole debate - the thestrals seemed very confused by the visitors who argued the ethics of their faked relationship.
"Uh, okay. I don't know how to follow though, my dance classes taught me to lead but you're a foot taller than me. Practical issues."
"You had dance classes?"
"Standard fare. Our race is big on fancy parties. Ingrid too. We agreed never to discuss it, I was rather graceless as a child and she hated being made to practice with me. Not least because of the whole gender roles nonsense vampires are still glued to."
"Ah, it's a compulsory class at Durmstrang from first to fourth year. Beauxbatons repeats it every single year until they graduate."
Viktor stopped and looked at his watch, squinting in the limited light.
"You should be getting back, it's late."
"I guess. You go ahead, no point walking me up only to walk back to the ship."
"Don't be ridiculous, I'm valking you to the castle."
His harsh features were offset by his gentle manner and friendly smile, making Vlad remember again that he had been so wrong about the Bulgarian before he met him. Contrary to his expectation of someone egotistical and full of himself, Viktor was kind and sweet, his outwardly reserved character melting to reveal a funny, animated and compassionate man. If he weren't totally Harry's for all eternity, he could definitely have done a lot worse than the seeker stood before him.
"Are you going to be alright walking back by yourself?"
"Of course. Nobody is out to get me, you're the danger magnet."
"I swear it's an accident. Mostly. Sometimes it's intentionally going after Harry."
They set off across the grass, snow was definitely on it's way but currently the ground was only a little damp as it whispered beneath their footsteps. Halfway along Vlad felt Viktor take his hand hesitantly. It was gentle and unobtrusive, and they were going to be holding each other a little closer for the Yule Ball - it was good practice really. His hand was larger, rougher than Harry's and he was so warm, Vlad's latent vampirism and Harry's part-basilisk-ism meaning he had gotten used to mostly colder people.
All the same, it would be awkward if anybody saw them. Except they were going as each others 'date' to the Ball... Vlad should stop over thinking it all and just focus on not tripping over his own feet. They stopped near the doors, still mostly hidden in shadow and speaking quietly - it was well after Vlad's curfew.
"Well, this is me. And maybe a couple hundred other people. I'm in class most of tomorrow, so loitering in the library for me is pointless."
"Vorry not. I should get started on the egg. Goodnight Vlad."
His breath smelled like some strange American drink, sweet butterscotch and bitter coffee as he kissed Vlad's cheek. Feeling his face warm and ducking his head shyly, Vlad could only nod and mumble something similar before he disappeared into the castle. Nobody was in the Entrance Hall, so he was safe to vanish into a secret passage and eventually creep into Gryffindor tower. Everybody was asleep as he slowly disappeared into the bathroom, eyeing his reflection.
His cheeks were still a little pink, but Vlad blamed that on the climbing stairs and quickly changed into his pyjamas, then made it into his bed with nobody any the wiser - assuming they hadn't noticed his bed was empty. Phantom woke just to lick his eyeball, then padded about before settling on his stomach and promptly dropping back to sleep.
"Where did you get to last night Vlad? You weren't here by curfew."
Still rubbing sleep out of his eyes, Vlad shrugged and muttered an on-the-spot response to Draco.
"Fell asleep in the library."
"Nerd."
"Have you heard that egg screeching? I was trying to work out what on earth could make such a noise. Must have gotten a little absorbed."
Vlad wished he hadn't bothered lying by the time they got to breakfast. At first he just glanced towards Ingrid, who gave him a knowing look - she was sat opposite Viktor, could likely have picked up stray thoughts about last night via telepathy. Viktor himself looked a little unsettled, but Vlad wasn't sure if that wasn't because Harry was stood next to him.
Sitting in their usual spots, Vlad reached for a cup of tea and some toast. It was then he realised something was up - strange looks, whispers and many a student poring over the morning paper. Draco held his up, and for a minute Vlad thought it was an old edition as he saw that damned picture of Viktor with a hand on his shoulder. It took a second, and Harry dropping his spoon to splatter blueberry jam across the table, to realise the headline was different.
Secret Champions Kiss!
"Something you want to tell us Vlad? Or was library a code?"
Vlad apologised for snatching the paper as he did it, Harry leaning over to read it alongside him.
This astute reporter has stayed on the story! Rita Skeeter can confirm that Durmstrang Champion Viktor Krum and Hogwarts alleged cheat-surplus-champion Vladimir Dracula were seen sharing a romantic moment!
It got worse from there, speculating that Vlad was doing it as a way to ensure he won the tournament and if that failed, that the likely future move would be seducing Cedric to at least allow him to be the top Hogwarts contender. It did mention the kiss was on his cheek, but literally at the end when everybody would already be frothing at the mouth over the story.
"Is she lying?"
"Are you dating Viktor Krum?"
"I knew he was different."
The aspersions on sexuality bothered him least, because it wasn't a lie and he wasn't ashamed of it. He wasn't sure how Viktor felt about being outed, but then he had asked him to the Yule Ball so it would have come out eventually.
No, the worst of it was Harry's look of betrayal. Because Vlad wasn't denying it, but he hadn't told Harry. His friend was intelligent enough to connect the dots. Before he could even try to come up with some kind of response, for anybody, a shadow fell across his barely touched meal.
"Mr Dracula, a word?"
Fighting the natural instinct to hide from Professor McGonogall and her stern glare, Vlad swallowed the toast lodged in his suddenly dry mouth. Taking a quick sip of tea and spying Karkaroff acquiring Viktor across the hall, Vlad stood.
"Sure."
The gossiping grew louder, undoubtedly encouraged by the really bloody obvious part where the teachers removed the students plastered across the front page. He couldn't help being warmed a little as Viktor stood solid at his side the second they were chaperoned into a side room.
"What now?"
"Explain this!"
Karkaroff got a little too close for Vlad's liking, backing off suddenly when Vlad hissed in warning - a trick learned from Ingrid. Not that he would be telling her it worked. Vlad turned to Viktor, who shrugged - it was Vlad's choice apparently.
"We were out together last night. Not the point. Skeeter is banned from the grounds except for tasks. How did she find out? There was nobody else around."
McGonogall actually heard him for what he said, but Karkaroff was clearly still on the 'secret kiss' problem.
"You're certain you were not being watched? Followed?"
"Positive. And my senses are better than most. Only a biter or a Bulgarian could stand to be out in the cold anyway, and it was after... nothing."
"Vladimir, I am already aware this took place after curfew. Line twelve."
Scanning the article currently crushed in his fist, Vlad scowled.
"I want an explanation Viktor!"
"I do not need to justify my personal relationships to you Headmaster."
"You realise this is a most unusual circumstance Vladimir?"
"I'm presuming that means there is no actual rule against two champions dating, and despite his dislike for me Karkaroff can't do anything about it?"
Perhaps he shouldn't be antagonizing one professor in front of another, but Vlad half-hoped the man would crack and do something Vlad was justified in attacking him in retaliation for. He was the one who brought Weasley along, after all.
"Mind your manners Vladimir, but you are correct in that there's no rule against it. One would hope you maintain a healthy rivarly for the tournament however."
"Understood Professor. Is that all?"
As soon as they were out, Vlad set fire to the newspaper in his hand, tossing it aside and waving a hand half-heartedly at it to extinquish the fire.
"That vas impressive."
"Oh, yeah. Don't tell anyone. I want to know how that woman got that story. We were definitely alone outside."
The onslaught of questions, comments and outright verbal abuse was endless all day. Vlad took to hiding in Bertrand's quarters just for a break. The vampire tutor in question seemed highly amused - of all people, he certainly knew something was going on.
"So, care to explain?"
"Are we alone?"
"Who do you think I may have hoarding away in my quarters?"
"Just checking. The short version is... Viktor offered to be my fake boyfriend to make Harry notice me. I say offered, what I mean is he talked me in to it. Because I don't think it'll work, but he asked for three months. It's only been a week."
"What does he gain from this?"
"Uh. Aside from time with me, which is obviously no real prize... He gets to say 'I told you so' if it works. Because for some unfathomable reason, he's convinced Harry likes me but doesn't realise it. Personally? I think it's madness, but since waiting and hoping has gotten me nowhere, I figured I have nothing to lose."
"Intriguing."
Rolling his eyes, Vlad flipped through the book he was supposed to be studying for next years blood test from. An idea formed in his mind as he reached the chapter on powers.
"Bertrand. Do you think..."
"Frequently."
"Hilarious. Do you think it's possible to replicate any of these with spells? I was thinking if I could learn some of them and do them silent and wandless, I can always make someone question their vampire knowledge of when we come into our powers."
Bertrand took the book, scanning down the page and nodding to himself here and there.
"Interesting thought. Off the top of my head? I only know of a spell to replicate one of these, but I can do some research."
"Alright, which one?"
Training was rarely something he did voluntarily, but anything to take his mind off the morning paper.
"Are you sure this is safe?"
"I'm the ideal test dummy. I don't need to breathe."
Shaking his head, Vlad aimed his hand at Bertrand - he had increasing amounts of control over his lacking need for a wand.
"Constrictus!"
For dramatic effect he clenched his fist like a hand holding closed an airway - the intent of the spell. It required good aim and focus, and given it's lethality Vlad didn't expect anyone else at Hogwarts to offer to teach him the spell. It's original, intended use had been (according to Bertrand) to suffocate rapid-growing plants at the root, but somewhere along the lines it had gotten... sidetracked.
Bertrand clutched his throat, face contorting in pain until Vlad cancelled the spell.
"It worked then?"
"Indeed. Mind your force, any tighter and I would have had to recover from a crushed larynx."
"You did volunteer."
"So I did. Again."
Slightly exhausted and rather hungry after missing lunch and dinner, Vlad meandered to Gryffindor Tower before escaping to the sanctity of the dormitory.
"See! I said he was a fairy-boy."
Still not quite in the mood for antagonizing, Vlad scowled instead.
"Go away Seamus."
"Yeah, if Vlad wants to date guys he can."
"What Neville said. Besides, he's dating an international Quidditch player. I don't see why you're worried he's going to fancy you."
"Draco, you can be quiet too."
His words to the blond were far less harshly toned, and Draco smiled to say he knew that even as he fell silent. Vlad changed quickly in the bathroom, then sat heavily on his bed and dug in his bag for some leftover snacks. Harry was still silent, making him feel like slime for putting that look on his friends face. If he thought too hard about how he was responsible for upsetting his mate Vlad might consider pitching himself out of the window.
As everyone started falling asleep for the night, Vlad sat staring at his vial of sleeping draught - he doubted he was going to get any sleep without it. He was almost decided to take it when his bedcurtains twitched, Harry slipping between them to perch on the end of his bed.
"I have to tell you something."
-YDHP-
This chapter kept getting longer and longer. I am not entirely sure where all the extra length is, but hey lookie a chapter!