YokaiAngel - yes! Celebrations all round! And thank you :)

Fangirlfriend2 - no, the last few chapters have been shorter, but every chapter but one has been over 3,000 words each. I don't like to have too much going on per chapter, because I feel like it doesn't flow as well.

AnimeNerdX - haha I'm sorry you were almost fooled! We have a long way to go yet, those two can just kiss and make up now! So no more dying.

Guest - I appreciate the time taken for the long review, especially as you dislike saying much. I see your point, but you have to understand this story came from the brain of a very Vlad-centric man, and Vlad was always going to be the Triwizard guy. I can promise, without giving too much away, that Harry's got a busy couple of years ahead of him, but his whole power growth thing is tied to that and he's just not there yet.

-YDHP-

"That tickles!"

"Sorry."

Harry squirmed, and Vlad regretfully stopped indulging so deeply in the new scent of his mate - Harry had accepted him, was receptive and the vampire couldn't get enough of the change to his scent. Before it had just been mate, safety, protect. Now it was also love, home, mine. Nothing outside the little bubble they were in mattered for that moment, because Harry was voluntarily laying on Vlad's bed with him - no nightmare precedent.

"Why are you doing that anyway? Last I checked, you are too young to drink blood."

Vlad shrugged, or as best he could from his current position and Harry turned to look at him. Vlad didn't want to scare him, didn't want to remind Harry he had been essentially pining after him for years now.

"Hey, no more secrets remember? You promised. I swear I won't be freaked out... unless you're possessed by a ghost. That would be a bit weird."

"I'm not possessed by a ghost. It's... this probably sounds weird to you, but you smell different now."

"Vampire thing. I'm not exactly unaware you aren't human you know."

"I know."

Harry slid his fingers through Vlads, surprisingly taken with the whole hand-holding thing and Vlad was already thinking how much it sucked they couldn't do it in public. But Harry wanted privacy, and he completely accepted that. After the debacle of Vlad and Viktor's 'coming out', Vlad couldn't really blame Harry for not wanting the same thing happening to them.

All the same, he thoroughly enjoyed the way their skin rested against the other, the faint tingling sensation a little stronger now too.

"Vlad. Can I ask you something?"

"You just did."

"Don't be a smartarse."

Chuckling, Vlad shrugged.

"Go ahead."

"That book said you could get actual pain from this mate stuff. Is that true?"

Damn, he hated his inability to lie to Harry.

"Yeah."

"Was it ever really bad? Have you been covering it up with passing it off as your scar the whole time?"

"It has been bad sometimes. But no, I haven't been covering it up with my scar. Only did that once or twice. The rest of the time I pretended to be ill, or just toughed it out."

For garlics sake mouth, stop talking! Vlad admonished himself silently, not wanting to put all this on Harry but just unable to lie when asked a direct question now.

"Third year, just before Halloween. When Remus talked me in to 'reconsidering' our friendship because of the dementors? You could barely get out of bed."

"Yeah. That was the worst one by far. I'm not sure how Bertrand told him... or maybe a werewolf just knows but he definitely recognised what was wrong with me."

"And that's when he suddenly changed his mind. The other time... you said your scar was hurting when I told you about Susan. Lie?"

"Lie. Susan definitely had an inkling I didn't just like you as a friend. I think it's a female superpower, because Ingrid worked it out straight away really. And Hermione knew about mates before she found out. Women man... scary."

Harry laughed, and it was a beautiful sound that made Vlad's heart skip.

"And that's why you're gay? Women scare you?"

"Vampires don't really put names to it. If your mate is the same gender as you, that's just what happens. I haven't told my dad yet though."

"How come?"

Vlad sighed, but Harry squeezed his hand reassuringly and it soothed him instantly.

"He's always been set on me being some wife-magnet and have a bunch of kids. Because he was a wild character back in Transylvania with women... it's amazing I don't have more siblings."

"Well, you're stuck with me. We can raise snakes and tell your dad to get over it."

"Mmm. That's bound to go over brilliantly."

Despite not actually intending to say a thing, both Ingrid and Hermione clearly knew the boys way too well - Ingrid looked between the two of them over breakfast, cool and calculating before she threw a grape at Vlad. Somehow, he knew that translated to her understanding the change.

Hermione outright quizzed them on it as soon as she got a chance that afternoon. Or rather, she quizzed Vlad while Harry and Draco were talking Quidditch with Viktor.

"So it worked?"

"Shut up. And how did you tell Harry anything?"

She grinned with that spark of mischief that most wouldn't believe the studious bookwork capable of, looking over at the more sporty boys.

"I didn't tell him a thing about mates and vampires. I just pointed out you couldn't be more in love with him if you tried. I know you asked me not to tell him, but you were both miserable and I could fix that."

"I can't be mad at you. Or Viktor... he managed to tell Harry without actually telling him. It's my own fault for giving him that book though I suppose..."

He wasn't angry at either of them though. How could he be? One look at Harry, his beautiful mate, who liked holding his hand and kissing him until Vlad couldn't breathe... what could be better?

It got a little trickier when everyone came back, because they had gone from only hiding from Draco who mostly slept like a rock, to another three boys who knew nothing. Fred and George - who regularly burst into the fourth year dormitory unannounced - didn't think anything of Harry not being in his own bed, but the others might. Since Harry now spent three or four nights a week at least burrowing into Vlad's hold and sleeping there.

Samael simply gave Vlad a knowing look... if a basilisk was capable of such a thing, whenever he went down in the trunk with Harry. It was Harry's favourite place, and Vlad loved how relaxed he was surrounded by his reptilian familiars. And down in that hidden place... they had nothing to hide.

"So, it is going vell vith you two?"

"That obvious huh?"

"You are practically lit up Vlad. It is very nice to see."

Viktor grinned, taking the Honeydukes bag Vlad offered to hunt through for his 'secret favourite' of coconut squares. Vlad wasn't sure why it was a secret. Feeling his senses begin to tingle, a shadow fell between them.

"Mind if I interrupt your date?"

Vlad twisted around, eyes travelling upwards to see Harry standing over them and he felt the smile steal over his face in seconds.

"Thought you had class."

"Can't do Healing class when there's four kids with dragon pox."

"Ah."

Harry dropped down on Vlad's other side, nudging him with his shoulder but keeping his behaviour platonic where they could be seen. There were multiple students milling about despite the cold by the lake, but thankfully a great deal of their novelty had worn off and the famously gay couple were for the most part left alone now.

"I can't vait for the ice to thaw on that lake, I vant to go swimming again."

"You're insane. You're wonderful, but utterly mad."

Vlad and Harry had had several talks on these matters - if he wanted secrecy, Vlad had to maintain the illusion of his relationship with Viktor. And even aside from that, he intended to stay friends with the Bulgarian. Thankfully Harry was understanding, and knew that the two had done nothing more intimate than hold hands and Viktor's habit of kissing him on the cheek.

"Ah yes. You cannot swim. I uh... hm."

"What is it Viktor?"

"You haven't solved your egg, have you?"

He said it quietly - Harry and Vlad could hear him, but nobody else. Vlad's mind turned over the words - he hadn't yet worked out how he would listen to the egg underwater, and be underwater himself.

"No. Wait. What does that have to do with my inability to swim?"

Viktor grimaced slightly, then turned his head toward the frozen lake.

"Oh, you're kidding me."

"I don't vish to panic you, but... you may vant to learn. And quickly."

Vlad was sliding straight to panic anyway, until Harry rested a hand on his arm to divert his attention. And soothe him, as his mates touch often did.

"Don't stress. I have a plan for that."

"Really?"

Harry nodded, smiling softly and Vlad felt immediately better.

"Really. Is there butterbeer fudge in that bag?"

Harry happily jumped in to eating sweets, making Viktor laugh as he rifled through for the main one he was after - Vlad usually filled half of any pick-and-mix bag he bought with that fudge, even though he didn't love it much himself, because Harry always raided his sweets stash and it was his favourite. He wondered if Harry had realised that.

"Viktor!"

Vlad felt Viktor's fingers curl around his, so by the time his headmaster darkened their restful relaxation by the lake, he saw the two holding hands and sat with Harry Potter.

"Yes headmaster?"

"You're supposed to be in Arithmancy study."

"I thought that vas tomorrow."

"It has been changed. Come along, you can fraternise on your own time."

Vlad had to fight not to laugh as Viktor turned back to him, rolled his eyes and kissed his cheek.

"I'm sorry, I have to go."

"It's fine. You know me... I love studying. Go be smart."

Karkaroff stood tapping his heel impatiently until Viktor stood and headed off toward the boat. Harry joined Vlad in laughing when they were alone, and he was glad to see Harry didn't look - or feel - angry or jealous, like Vlad may have done before. Now... now he was happy, relaxed.

"Oh man, I think that actually almost broke him."

"Imagine changing his classes around to get him away from me."

Harry nodded, eyes sliding over the frozen lake again.

"Right. It's nearly lunch, so that's top priority. Then you grab your egg, I have a plan."

Vlad couldn't help laughing at his mates predictable prioritising of his need to eat frequently and hungrily. They cast drying charms on their clothes where some snow-dampness had settled, then headed back in for lunch. Harry devoured his usual half a cow's worth of meat (maybe he was exaggerating a little) before they disappeared into the swell of students heading all over the castle to slip into the dormitory before anyone else was back for the free period.

"Grab the egg then."

Rather unsure what Harry was planning, Vlad picked up his golden dragon egg and watched as Harry pulled Samael's trunk from beneath his bed. Getting into it when it was balanced behind Harry's bed curtains was awkward, but meant nobody was liable to follow them in to the big Basilisk box.

The serpent in question peered through from his warm-sleep room, slithering out to bump gently against Harry's chest. They hissed back and forth, making Vlad wish - not for the first time - he could understand what they were saying. Though even unintelligible, Harry's low guttural hissing sounds had quite an effect on Vlad most of the time. Realising his mate was talking English again, Vlad tried to pay attention.

"Samael said he's going to help me teach you to swim."

"Excuse me?"

Harry grinned, pointing toward where Samael bathed and soaked his skin loose to shed. Vlad still looked rather unsure, but Harry already knew how to swim - muggle school lessons.

"His water is due a change, so come on."

Vlad stared blankly until Harry took off his robes, jumper and trousers. Suddenly he was fascinated, and Harry couldn't help feeling a little more confident when Vlad looked at him like that. The muscles in his legs had defined more than even a few short months ago, which confused him because aside from Hogwarts staircases? They didn't get much of a work out.

Samael simply referred to it as "getting stronger", which wasn't helpful at all but sort of made sense when he considered all the powerful musculature that went into the basilisk body Harry's human one was trying to replicate. Vlad was making no move whatsoever to follow suit, stood holding his egg awkwardly.

"If you don't take off your robes, Samael is gonna dump you in fully dressed. Come on Vlad."

"Ugh. Fine. Hold this."

He knew Vlad didn't relish being unclothed - he stilled changed in the bathroom, and most if all people had only ever seen Vlad shirtless when he was injured. Harry took the egg, weighing it in his hands and finding it did feel a little lighter to him since Vlad had first acquired it back in November. Maybe he was stronger.

Vlad glared at them both as he changed out the old water for fresh clean water, standing at the edge and refusing to get in.

"I'm a vampire, this isn't natural."

"Well it's this or fail the second task."

"I would rather lose."

Rolling his eyes, Harry stepped past the hesitant vampire and jumped in to the ice-cold water. Well, he assumed it was ice cold - it felt fine to him. Vlad made a surprised yelp as he was splashed, then another as Samael slinked past him to join Harry in the water.

"Shall I encourage him wizard?"

"Nah, give him a chance. He's never done this before."

Vlad placed the egg down, then slowly, hesitantly sat at the edge like the water was about to rise up and consume him.

"Look, Samael won't let you drown, that's what he's here for. You can hold on to the edge."

Vlad closed his eyes, clearly composed himself before dropping down into the water and instantly opening his eyes wide. Unable to resist, Harry smiled innocently.

"Cold?"

"It's fucking freezing!"

He loved when Vlad swore, it was usually amusing because he kept his control pretty well until something set him off. In this case - cold water.

"You're a vampire, you like cold."

"I'm not as cold blooded as you yet. When I turn sixteen I won't even feel it."

Treading water, Harry splashed about until Vlad started to adjust a little. He wasn't turning blue at least.

"Right. I need to be underwater with the egg, it does something different submerged."

"Off you go then. Hold the egg with one hand and the side with the other."

Vlad nodded, still holding on tightly enough his knuckles were white as he reached for the egg with his other hand. He had to untwist it, and Samael hissed his displeasure when the shrieking sound filled the air. Vlad dunked it beneath the water quickly, and Harry saw it light up as Vlad drew a breath before his head followed it.

"Must Merfolk sound so incredibly shrill above water?"

"Hold on, you know what that hideous noise is?"

"Of course."

"That could have saved Vlad like two months of worrying... though I guess he never asked you."

Vlad resurfaced, hair plastered to his face as he gasped for air and somehow found the energy to scowl at the egg despite his physical distress.

"Well?"

"Some kind of riddle. Hang on."

Vlad went back down, so Harry guessed whatever it said was long enough even the vampire needed extra time to memorise it.

"Come seek us where our voices sound,
We cannot sing above the ground,
And while you're searching ponder this;
We've taken what you'll sorely miss,
An hour long you'll have to look,
And to recover what we took,
But past an hour, the prospect's black,
Too late, it's gone, it won't come back."

Soaked through and hair pitch black with the moisture, Vlad recited the message the egg contained. Harry pondered it while Samael did the vampire a favour and used the end of his tail to support Vlad's weight better.

"Ok, so the lake is the not above ground bit. No idea what the rest means... except I guess you'll only have an hour to find... something. Can't be too important, or else they wouldn't just leave it there if you don't find it."

Vlad nodded, shoving the egg back shut and on solid ground with a grimace. He seemed less anxious about the water with the basilisk holding him up, but it was clear Vlad was no natural water creature. Harry, with his cold blood and itchy-scaly-skin feelings on the other hand, was quite happy to stay semi-submerged for a long time. Another thing he had noticed - his skin didn't wrinkle no matter how long he stayed wet now.

"Still. I can't swim, and I still need to breathe which is gonna be problematic after an hour underwater."

"I'm gonna teach you to swim. And the breathing thing... well, we've got a month to figure that out. Now come on, try it with me and Samael will make sure you don't disappear."

The vampire was still hesitant, right up until Harry had a hunch and went with it as he swam over to the scaredy-bat. Vlad noticeably relaxed with Harry's mere proximity, so he tried another tack.

"How about I hold you up?"

Maybe he shouldn't already be so at ease using the fact Vlad wouldn't say no to Harry touching him... then again, it really wasn't that much different now except now they kissed and he knew what it was like to hold Vlad's hand (which was awesome). Eventually he nodded, letting Harry support his weight and as always, paying close attention to every word the wizard said. Sometimes Harry wondered how it had taken so long to notice, but also knew he had had to come to it on his own - he would have, admittedly, been pretty scared if Vlad had come out with this back in second year.

"I feel ridiculous."

"Everyone does their first time. It's only us here Vlad, and I promise I looked just as silly when i learnt to swim."

He wasn't going to master it in a day, but he eventually managed to stay afloat under his own steam (and mild flailing) by the time they had to get out, get dry and dressed and make it just in time to Defence class. Tonks gave them an in depth lesson on the effects intent could have on certain spells - intent to hurt, to kill or gain vengeance could have different effects on their magic than the intent to stop or incapacitate someone.

"That's why some disarming charms just knock a wand out of your opponent's hand, and others they will be flung across the room. Spells powered by things like love or hate can be terrible and brilliant... like a Patronus charm can be powered by pure joy or love, but someone fuelled by hate would struggle to summon a flickering fog with it."

Most of the students in their class had never been taught to cast a Patronus, Harry mused. Hermione had successfully cast one a few times, and Harry had his phoenix down pat but as far as he knew, they were the only ones. Still, the idea of powering spells with love over hate was intriguing in itself.

"Right! Homework is... I want each of you to pick two spells, any two spells, that you think could only be powered by positive or negative feelings and why. You may not use my example of Patronus charms. Off with you all!"

Tonks quietly got Vlad to stay behind, so naturally Harry hung back too to check his frie- no, boyfriend now, wasn't somehow in trouble.

"Anything you say to me I would only tell him anyway."

"Fair point. Just wanted you were doing ok with all this tournament nonsense, especially when you four champs made best friends and now you're dating that Quidditch one... Karkaroff really wants to roast you for sandwiches."

"Lovely image Tonks. I know he does, but he has no say in the matter. I'm doing alright with it I guess, aside from that whole getting mauled thing I guess. Don't worry about Karkaroff, I'm not afraid of that idiot."

Tonks grinned at Vlad, nodding approvingly before leaning in with a whispered warning.

"Exercise caution Vlad, he may not scare you but it isn't just him to worry about."

Subtle as a brick... though Harry may be biased as he and Vlad already knew Karkaroff was just the puppet for Riddle. Vlad nodded silently, smiled at Tonks before turning back towards Harry with the usual smile breaking across his face. It was a wonderful thing, Vlad's smile. Lit up his whole face, turning those dark blue eyes to glowing sapphires.

Ugh, he was practically writing bad poems in his head about Vlad. Harry knew he was in deep already, but it didn't scare him like he expected it to. It felt... natural, normal really.

"But I don't want to go swimming."

"Suit yourself. I'm going."

Vlad sighed, but predictably he couldn't stop himself following Harry - it was a theme of their friendship really. Once he got over his nerves, Vlad could sort of splash around in a vaguely coordinated manner that stopped him drowning. Harry's best technique for getting him to swim from one end of the water to the other was currently being at the opposite end himself and simply waiting.

"You have gotten the hang of this mate compulsion way too fast."

"Four years of friendship Vlad. Where I go you'll go. Nothing has really changed."

He got splashed in the face, but Vlad was smiling while swimming so Harry took that as a win.

"Now all we gotta do is work out how you'll breathe underwater for an hour."

"Oh yeah. Piece of cake."

-YDHP-

Managed to have this finished in plenty of time (for once!) so yay for not having to rush it out. One more chapter and then second task yay.