BlueAutumn12 - favourite chapter? Thank you!
Guest - Yes, they kissed! And no, Skeeter was not out in a blizzard at midnight, worry not!
AnimeNerdX - Someone had to do it! I mean, she's known all along but Harry had to do the feelings journey alone. I've already written the second task... can't see a reason why he would have two to save though?
YokaiAngel - thank you so much!
Guest - Harry is still Harry Potter, he's still the one Voldemort marked as his equal yada yada. Not to be rude, but I am done justifying the Vlad-Harry power dynamic I KNOW WHERE I'M GOING WITH THIS. Perhaps you missed it, but I have written in the reason why Voldemort is interested in Vlad and it is because of Harry! As for who plays what part where in the future? You will have to wait and see! And now that my raging is done, thank you for your review.
Ah, you all have no idea how happy getting lots of reviews makes me! I love you all dearly.
-YDHP-
"Harry kissed me."
There was only one logical person to go to with this - Viktor. Well, maybe Bertrand or Ingrid were options, but Ingrid was causing trouble with the Weasley twins and would mock him before helping, and Bertrand was currently busy playing catch-up on Draco's 'head of the family' training. He didn't think Draco would mind having his two hour class on how to seat dinner guests according to various factors interrupted, but he didn't want to interfere with the two having a tentative move forward in their guardian-ward relationship. Draco was still taking the disappearance of his godfather hard.
"Is this not a good thing? You don't seem very happy."
"You didn't see his face after. He looked as though he had been hit with a hex."
Vlad had dragged his 'boyfriend' into the Forbidden Forest, taking some solace in the quiet rattles from the Thestrals as he hand fed them some raw meat. They were incredibly docile creatures, all waiting their turn - even the foals, though the particularly hungry ones might nudge his hand with a sharp little beak-nose.
"Perhaps he vas surprised vith himself."
"Maybe, but I asked him to his face if he wasn't interested in me, and he said he wasn't. He said it was a mistake, and as someone who knows Harry as well as can be? I didn't think he was lying."
Viktor sighed, then laughed when a particularly bold foal sneakily stole the chunk of meat from his lax hand at his side. He patted the small creatures head, then turned back to Vlad.
"I don't doubt you knowing him, but Harry doesn't strike me as the type to make that sort of 'mistake'."
"Believe me Viktor, I would love little more in this world than for Harry to have kissed me and said he was interested. But I can't do the false hope thing. He's too under my skin, I don't know that I would cope with actually getting my hopes up and crushed. You didn't see me last year, I almost couldn't take my Blood Test."
"So bad so young?"
Vlad nodded, markedly happy that Viktor understood the mate thing so well, that he never had to explain what he meant and didn't appear to harbour any resentment to Harry - or Vlad - that it was out of their hands who Vlad could fall in love with now the bond had taken hold.
"Then again, you are such a... human vampire. Harry vill be a lucky man if ever he realises vhat he has in you."
Feeling his cheeks flush, Vlad ducked his head and went back to stroking the oldest Thestrals sore wing joints. The satisfied sounds and gentle affections of said Thestral was an indication he was doing the right thing. Sitting astride a Thestral felt so safe, knowing they were sort of the same as death was an intrinsic part of their backstory, even their DNA.
"Thanks. When you're done being seduced by me to further my place in the Tournament, you'll make some boy very happy. Other than me I mean... we'll still be friends right?"
Viktor raised his hand, placing it over Vlads with a smile.
"Of course. I'm not spending time vith you for the fake dates am I?"
Vlad squeezed his hand back, relaxing again.
"Just wanted to be sure. Mind giving me back my hand before big guy here misses the massage too much?"
Chuckling, Viktor released his hand so Vlad could resume the wing rub for his current steed. It was a common issue for the Thestrals to get sore wing joints, because they had very little muscle to support the weight of a quite generous wingspan. The older they got, the harder it became. However, not many people would willingly climb up on their backs to do this, though Vlad reckoned Hagrid probably kept an eye on them.
"How's that feel?"
He got a cooing death rattle back, then the Thestral dropped his forelegs to let Vlad off nice and gentle. Once down, the Thestral bumped into his chest with a sharp snout, still gentle and affectionate. Patting him gently, Vlad knew hiding amongst these creatures was appealing but not really constructive.
"So what are you going to do about Harry?"
Vlad sighed, leaning against a tree and feeling the all-too-familiar ache in his chest.
"Nothing. I always said I was never going to force anything on him. This counts too... even if I really want to just tell him how I feel and hope for the best. I value our friendship too much, and Harry has never had control over much of his life. I won't take this choice from him."
Viktor sighed in return, knowing Vlad was stubborn when he wanted to be.
"Very vell. I still think you should tell him."
"You sound like Hermione. I made the choice myself that I would never make my mate feel pushed to a decision. I'm not about to break the promise he doesn't know about." Seeing Viktor about to argue, Vlad came up with another topic to talk about. "By the way, Fleur recommended this really good book about Merpeople. I highly recommend it."
Not his most subtle information sharing, but more so than when he told Cedric about the dragons. He still had to tell Cedric, and find a way to be underwater with his egg. He couldn't just dive in the Great Lake like the Bulgarian stood next to him, given that he couldn't swim.
"Right. I'll... take that under advisement."
"Good. Guess we should get out of here before I strap on some big wings and decide to live as a Thestral."
"That vould be quite a sight. Ve can go... I think it's almost lunch."
Vlad felt his heart turn over at the reminder he was soon to be reunited with Harry. Being kissed by his mate was quite the push, knowing he really couldn't take much more blurring their friendship lines without it being detrimental to his sanity.
Even so, he wasn't telling Harry.
Harry spent a great deal of time staring at snowflakes. They didn't answer a single one of his questions, but at least they looked pretty and didn't judge him.
"Where's your pet vampire?"
Oh great.
"Off with his international Quidditch playing boyfriend I assume. Though I doubt you would know what a date looked like it if wore a tea cosy and danced in front of you."
Ron scowled and turned around, finding his twin older brothers, younger sister and Ingrid stood behind him (looking very striking surrounded by fiery redheads). He couldn't beat Harry alone with his bodyguards, he would have to be suicidal to pick a fight with everyone there.
"At least I have a concept of loyalty brothers dear "
Despite his words being a familial reference, there was no warmth or affection in his tone and Fred and George instinctively stood in front of their female companions.
"Loyalty is standing by friends, you don't have any."
"And you are not my brother."
"Or mine."
Clearly unimpressed he wasn't able to pick another fight with Harry, Ron's face continued to darken. Looking at the ground beneath them, Harry remembered something Vlad had done before. He wasn't nearly as accomplished as the magical vampires were at wandless, silent magic, but he managed to turn the snow beneath Ron's feet to ice and watch him stumble before landing hard on his back in the snow.
Wanting to make a point and trusting his back-up as it were to keep an eye on the other two, Harry knelt down in the snow next to Ron and bared his teeth with a wand to his throat. It was immediately obvious whatever injuries he sustained the previous night hadn't been fully healed, and Harry hissed the words so the others (with the probable exception of Ingrid) couldn't hear.
"You might think you're tough, or important, but you are just a pathetic loser to us, and nothing but cannon fodder to your boss. Stay. Away. From. Us. And next time you come up with a plan, make it better than dosing drinks."
Feeling the random urge to bite scared him, so Harry backed off and watched the terror spread across Ron's face as he realised Harry knew where he was last night, and who he worked for. Making a pointed glance to the forearm he now knew usually carried a Dark Mark, he watched as Ron twitched to cover it before scrambling to his feet. Would Riddle really mark Weasley? It seemed pointless.
"This isn't over!"
"Keep telling yourself that."
The two flanking him were utterly perplexed, probably not the sharpest knives in the drawer as it was and followed Ron blankly. Every one pretty much scowled after them, except Ingrid who visibly relaxed with Weasley gone. Harry doubted she even realised how tense she was with him in proximity.
"I realise you're the youngest Gin, but sometimes I think mum should have stopped at us."
"It's ok, most of our professors wish mum had stopped before you."
The twins roared with laughter at their sisters quick wit, tackling her into the snow and starting some kind of vicious tickle match with each other that ended in Ingrid threatening to set them all on fire for the noise levels.
"We better get in before we freeze to death. I know she's not cold cus she's dead but why aren't you?"
Harry shrugged nonchalantly, indicating his jacket and boots.
"Warming charms. I am a wizard you know."
Fred (well, he had the F jumper on but that was no cast iron guarantee it was Fred) scooped up a sodden, squealing Ginny and carted her off with his twin following. Ingrid watched them go with laughter, then scanned the nearby area before quizzing Harry.
"Has he actually been turned?"
"I don't know if he's marked, but he's definitely been smuggling off with Karkaroff for meetings. He drugged me at the Yule Ball, spiked the other drinks as a cover up. He was out here last night, bleeding and definitely in trouble with the big boss."
"I hope he was seriously injured. Wait... what were you doing out here last night?"
Harry forgot how to speak. What was he supposed to say to Vlad's surprisingly protective sister who possessed a multitude of painful and effective ways to end his life for messing with Vlad's feelings or something? Before he could decide to ask someone who knew Vlad better than most, the bonus of time and sibling bond helping, a voice drifted into their midst.
"Ah, Ingrid. Your brother is looking for you."
Actually, now Harry couldn't decide what was worse. Overprotective sister or angry boyfriend. So... dodging Voldemort all these years and this is how he would die.
"Where is he?"
"I'm not sure. He's looking for you, that could be half the castle."
Ingrid rolled her eyes, cast one last suspicious look at Harry and turned away to head into the school. At least she had seen Weasley heading toward the Durmstrang ship. This left a very awkward Harry with a tall, muscular and magically trained boyfriend-of-his-best-friend. The best friend he had kissed.
"Did Vlad..."
"He told me. I vould like to speak vith you, if you don't mind."
He didn't seem homicidal at least... and Harry certainly owed the man an apology.
"Uh. Sure."
"Not here. Accompany me to the library? I need to find a book on something."
Was there a book called Revenge On Boyfriend Thieves?
"Alright."
Harry felt his heart thump against his chest, mildly terrified even in this most un-intimidating area of the school. Viktor Krum hummed to himself as he browsed the shelves labelled "Aquatic Creatures" before, apparently satisfied, pulling down a book. That one, he set aside before reaching inside his jacket - Harry tensed for the attack - and pulled out another book patently too large to actually fit, which he offered to Harry.
He took it, if only not to offend Krum, careful with the black cover that looked old enough to have belonged to Bertrand as a baby.
"Fangtastic facts about fanged creatures? Why are you giving me this?"
"It vas my Christmas gift from Vlad. It's a loan and I vant it back, but you should read it."
"I uh, I have a lot of vampire books."
"Trust me, you von't get this elsevhere. Read it."
Still expecting to be attacked, Harry looked down at the book in his hands. His Christmas gift from Vlad? He knew Krum was really in to magical vampires, maybe Vlad had access to unique books. Even so... what was he supposed to be finding? Krum sat down, opening his own book and reading perfectly peacefully. Harry sat, stiff and awkward and his skin a little itchy as he flipped it open.
The book smelled older than it looked on the inside, he noticed, constantly looking up over the rim of his glasses to check he wasn't about to be killed instantly. He could see right off why this wasn't the sort of book most would have access to, as it contained some quite grisly 'fun' facts about vampires like most blood drunk in one sitting (blimey that's a lot) and the exact way fangs first broke through ones jaw (Harry could sort of sympathise there).
He was growing more confused than ever as he flicked through, until the book fell open on the obviously-most-thumbed-through chapter. He stopped, looked up at Viktor again, then quickly scanned through the first few paragraphs himself. The more he read, the faster he tried to absorb the information.
"Vampires And Their Mates.
The occurrence of mating bonds is well documented, with some debate over whether every vampire has one and simply doesn't meet the correct vampire to know, or if it is as rare as it seems.
As a species, biters are not known for close, emotional connections and so the actual effects of an unfulfilled bond are hard to certify, particularly in the context of a mental rejection manifesting as a physical symptom.
Widely accepted symptoms by scholars of the subject however include nausea, headache, muscle fatigue not related to lack of blood in diet, loss of appetite and chest pains."
Those two words stopped Harry dead, remembering that Valentine's Day incident in third year. He didn't doubt for a moment that Vlad's chest scar still hurt - Harry's forehead still ached on occasion - but that timing... instantly after Harry had 'rejected' him to go on a date with Susan Bones. Suddenly consumed with a need to know more, Harry devoured the rest of the chapter for more information, more signs.
"Identity of mates can range quite widely from total strangers to blood relatives, in which case the usual ethical limits would not apply as Mating Bonds are expected to increase progeny of genes, and as such would be taken as a sign these particular vampires would have genetic advantage. This has not been proven yet."
That was a little creepy, but if it was involuntary Harry supposed he could see how they would maybe just have to accept it eventually.
"This is also not always the case, as many vampires opt not to acknowledge their bond, which can eventually reduce the effects with sufficient steps taken if one does not wish to mate with the biologically-selected option their vampiric core has chosen.
If a bond is fulfilled, even in a lopsided manner, or indulged to the point of the bond expecting it to be fulfilled, the signs are subtler but in some ways two sided. Compulsion for closeness, intimacy, physical contact and even silent companionship is nearly constant, and a bonded vampire would not think twice of taking a stake for their mate. An uncanny sense of where their mate is, or of strong emotional fluctuations in their mate is also not uncommon.
An absolute is inability to achieve hypnosis on their mate, though this extends to anyone the vampire has 'fallen in love with' if not combined with other symptoms.
All vampires mates thus far have been vampires themselves, given that vampires are banned from breeding with breathers or other magical creatures, perhaps this is for the best."
Harry felt like his brain was about to melt and come out of his ears as a dozen memories hit him with every line he read.
Vlad taking the AK curse for him, jumping in front of dementors and standing up to Riddle for him. Vlad never hesitating to follow him into stupid ideas or suicidal missions, fretting every time Harry got sick or hurt and guarding him, taking care of him. Vlad letting Harry crawl into his bed and fall asleep all over him when he had nightmares. Even the way Vlad would clasp his wrist in silent solidarity.
Vlad always being able to find him. Vlad always knowing when he had nightmares, or felt scared or angry. Hell, Vlad always knew when Harry was hungry. Which had become a strong emotional fluctuation as his basilisk metabolism developed.
He remembered then, Vlad's crushed expression when Harry lied to his face and said he wasn't interested in him. Merlin, that could have caused him physical pain. Harry had been hurting him for magic knows how long.
When Remus had talked Harry into almost re-considering his friendship with the vampire... and Vlad had been mysteriously ill that exact same time, angry and hurt but mostly looking downtrodden only to make a near-miraculous recovery when Harry stopped being a total idiot.
Fuck. He had no idea an hour ago his whole world view was about to turn on it's axis.
Vampire mates thus far have been vampires themselves.
Harry and Vlad broke rules on a regular basis, what was one more?
"Harry?"
Looking up at Viktor Krum, Harry suddenly realised he knew. He tried to speak but the words caught in his throat repeatedly, until one word came out.
"Me?"
"I can't say. I literally mean that. Only the..." he stopped, looking like he had a tongue tying curse placed on him about something, eventually taking a deep breath and simply saying "you need to ask him."
"Ask Vlad?"
"Ask me what? And why did you say I was looking for Ingrid? What did I do to deserve irritated Ingrid?"
Vlad, practically magnetically attracted to books by force, caught sight of what Harry was reading. Looking for his reaction, Harry saw the most unbelievable myriad of emotions cross Vlad's face until he settled on abject terror.
"How could you show him that? I trusted you!"
"Vlad!"
Krum called out to him, and Harry, acting solely on instinct, placed a silence charm up before anyone overhead and a shield charm to keep Vlad where they were. He had to know. And Vlad's upset was mostly aimed at his boyfriend... the boyfriend who apparently knew all of this, and was... now Harry wasn't feeling so sure.
"If I hadn't, you vould just both continue being miserable. Because you vould never tell him."
For possibly the first time ever, Vlad seemed to forget Harry was there.
"And that was my choice. You knew that."
"Perhaps vhen it only affected you. Now it is beginning to affect Harry."
He watched Vlad's hands shake, watched Viktor Krum reach out to grip them steady and Harry wasn't sure he didn't want to stand between them and do it himself.
"Can someone please tell me what is happening here, because I'm really lost and obviously missing something about your relationship."
"There is no relationship. Vlad and I are friends, nothing more."
"Then why..."
Vlad looked sick and guilty, refusing to meet both their eyes then as Harry tried to ask the obvious question - if they weren't dating, why would they publicise a fake relationship?
-YDHP-
I realise this has all been very slowww, but the story will pick up again soon in speed/time - chapter 20 (of year four) is (intended to be) going to be the Second Task. Depending on a couple of factors, chapter 25 or 30 will be the Final Task. But can't rush our boys!
And I claim poetic license on the modern-english of the vampire book, because I can't write anything else! I started writing HTTYD fanfiction a week ago and I keep forgetting Vikings don't have things like running taps and electricity. I'm such a modern man.