YokaiAngel - don't die of suspense, you'll never get the answers!

You - remember as of yet, Voldie has no clue that he and Harry share a heritage at all. As for the rest... you'll see!

BlueAutumn12 - who doesn't love a good plot twist?

-YDHP-

"You have a daughter? Who's her mother?"

Severus looked at Harry, that look that said "what on earth is wrong with you?" and Ingrid rolled her eyes.

"She doesn't have a mother Harry. She has two fathers. Just look at her."

Taking a closer look - since he was heading over to his unconscious boyfriend anyway - Harry saw an olive face, deep black eyes and unmistakable curls atop her head.

"He... you... is that even possible?"

"It's exceedingly rare, even more so when you factor vampirism into the equation."

"Whoa. So she's-"

" Half vampire, half human. Put me down!"

Vlad gasped out the words like he was in pain, practically throwing himself out of Ingrid's stabilising grip to land on the ground front-down. This displayed the mass of bruises down his back, a distinctive lightning bolt making it's way down most of his spine.

"You took the curse for Fleur."

"Of course I did. I told her to take the Cup, it was my fault she was there" Vlad stopped to awkwardly dig in his pocket, swallowing the pain killer like it was elixir of life "and I knew it wouldn't kill me. Is she ok?"

"Shaken. She came back just babbling that you were dead. Your Bulgarian bon bon is apparently pretty tightly wound too."

Ingrid hauled her brother to his feet, as intrigued as Harry was by the Dark Mark burned into his pale chest. Vlad looked down, then back up with fatigue written all over him.

"I'll explain all this later, I promise. But I am exhausted and in pain, so can it please wait a few hours? I haven't defected, if that's what you're worried about."

"I expect to be involved in this conversation."

"Of course you do Ingrid. Right now, I think you should go get Bertrand and Draco. They may want to meet their daughter and sister. Harry can take them to Bertrand's quarters, I better go let the world know I lived. No, wait. Other way around. Harry and me will go face the humans, Ingrid take them."

Like a captain assigning soldiers, Vlad somehow managed to think when Harry's mind was an absolute blur. He was dying to fling himself at Vlad and hold him tight, but the bruises on his back said that while Vlad would welcome it, it would cause him great pain to do so.

"You have my bag? I need a shirt."

Harry nodded blankly, handing over the bag for Vlad to rummage through, pulling out a plain black t-shirt he usually wore for Potions practice. He grimaced as he had to lift his arms to pull it on, the pain on his face so acute Harry could almost taste it.

"I relieved your mate is safe, but may I be permitted to re-enter my trunk? It is very noisy out here and the phoenix is as unsettled by me as I by it."

Samael gently prompted Harry, the hissing sounds giving him something to hold on to, grounding him as he guided Samael back into his trunk, promising they would come see him as soon as there was time. The trunk went back into Vlad's backpack carefully, then they left under invisibility spells and whispers as they separated once Harry let them out of the Chamber.

"Where do you want to reappear?"

"If I'm with Fawkes, it can be anywhere really. This way."

Fawkes had vanished again, Harry noticed, but Vlad seemed unconcerned by that as he gripped Harry's hand tight and led him down a few side corridors, spotting Ministry officials 'investigating' absolutely nothing and having no clue the one they were meant to be looking for was walking straight past them. Coming to a vacant spot, Vlad's voice was suddenly closer to his ear.

"Go find Draco and Bertrand. Best bet is the Great Hall at this hour."

"Where are you going?"

"Not far, but it'll look suspicious if you find me after your apparent vanishing all night. Go, I'll not be long."

Harry didn't want to leave Vlad, but he was right. He could see Vlad wasn't any more eager to leave him, and he had kept his promise - he came back to Harry.

"Alright. I'll go find them."

"Thank you."

Vlad slipped away, leaving Harry feeling almost... rejected. Vlad always took the time to kiss him, touch him or reassure him in some way.

Get a grip Harry. He's not leaving for war, he'll be back.

Rubbing a hand over his face, Harry set off toward the Great Hall, which was still abuzz with activity. He forced himself to walk ahead to the Gryffindor table, ignoring eyes on him until he found his seat next to Hermione and Draco.

"We were starting to worry. Oversleep did we?"

"Yeah, it's almost as though I was up half the night panicking about Vlad."

Stomach rumbling now there was food in front of him, Harry piled his usual breakfast sandwich together - with extra mushrooms - and turned his eyes up to the Head Table to find that keen gaze of Bertrand's on him. Knowing the vampire could always tell something was up, Harry simply waited - it wouldn't take long for Vlad to be 'found'.

Black pudding satiating his basilisk-needs, Harry had just started on a syrup soaked stack of pancakes when Bertrand's head turned to the open main doors, drawing attention from the others at the Head table and a minute later there were sounds from the Entrance Hall doors before a flurry of Ministry workers flooded through the door, drawing even more attention. As soon as the whispers began when people caught sight of a muddy, unsteady Vlad, Hermione turned to Harry.

"You were supposed to tell me!"

"Wasn't time. Take Draco to Bertrand's quarters when you have a minute."

Hermione was about to open her mouth in reply, but Dumbledore stood up at the Head table.

"Everyone will please stay in their seats!"

Harry stopped listening, already wondering how best to escape when Tonks appeared behind him, casting an amused glance at the half-finished pancakes in front of him before tilting her head.

"I know why I'm here. You know why I'm here. If we could find Ingrid I'm sure she would be getting pulled out too."

Harry nodded, standing up and trying to not appear like he already knew Vlad was alive and (relatively) well. He heard "special treatment" mumbled more than once as he made to follow Tonks, but paid it no mind - how many people would turn down the chance to see their best friend, especially after disappearing for a whole night.

A circle of Ministry officials, someone Harry immediately recognised as a vampire loitering in the shadows, and a handful of assorted parents filled the Hospital Wing. Harry hadn't even noticed the other Champions weren't in the Great Hall. Remembering he was supposed to have only just seen his boyfriend, Harry aimed for adequate surprise and moved closer to where Vlad was probably reassuring Fleur he definitely wasn't dead.

"Vlad!"

"Harry! Don't hug me, I'm filthy."

Itching as he was to touch Vlad anyway, Harry resisted and simply stood close to him, now able to show open relief his friend was back.

"I saw you..."

"I'm sorry, that must have been terrifying for you, but it's over now. Are you alright?"

Fleur nodded, placing a hand on Vlad's arm and squeezing as though she needed to be sure Vlad was really there.

"You saved my life. And my sisters."

"We'll talk more some other time, promise. But I need to get looked at, and ditch the grumpy stalkers."

Harry snorted, watching the annoyed Ministry folk. They wanted to know what had happened to Vlad, but had no pull to force him as he wasn't under them - he was basically the VHC's guest at Hogwarts. Unless Vlad broke the rules or the law, they could do nothing.

"Mr Dracula. It's in your best interests-"

"To get myself checked over, yes. Which is a private thing, and it's not a healing environment with all of you in here. If I wasn't myself, that guy there" Vlad pointed to the vampire "would know about it. So unless you're here to announce how annoyed you all are about the cross-school win, then present us with prizes... you can leave."

Vlad's words annoyed them, Harry could see, but then Madam Pomfrey and Tonks teamed up to remove them, clearing a huge space in the Hospital Wing. Vlad openly silenced the doors, then grimaced and turned his back to Madam Pomfrey, showing her the bruising without displaying his chest to everyone else as the fabric twisted around his torso.

"There's nothing much you can do for me, I know. But I would really appreciate a few hours uninterrupted sleep."

"I should put your name on that private room."

Vlad winked, tilting his head to Harry and promising he would talk to his fellow Champions later, he headed to the private room. Cedric tipped his head, confused at Harry's presence where Vlad was going to sleep.

"What's Harry doing, watching you sleep?"

"I don't trust those guys not to break in and rummage through my sleeping mind. I know Harry will keep an eye on me."

"You would do the same for me."

Out of the corner of his eye, Harry caught knowing smirks play across both Fleur and Viktor's faces as he followed Vlad into the room. Madam Pomfrey called them breakfast in there, and then left them both alone in there. Vlad locked the door from his awkward position on his side, bit the bacon sandwich in his hand and smiled at Harry, still looking far too attractive with his cheeks stuffed with food.

"Is it as bad as last time?"

Vlad swallowed thickly, pushing himself upright with a grimace to reach for his goblet of juice to help the sandwich go down.

"I don't think it hurts more, but it's a lot easier to jar it now because everything pulls on it. The important thing is I can walk again."

"When couldn't you?"

Vlad looked up at him, sighing.

"I will explain it, I'll explain everything I promise. But I only want to go through it once. Which reminds me..."

Vlad pulled his backpack out of his pocket, rifling through it until he found the black-and-red journal that had Dracula inscribed down the side.

"Just telling Ingrid to stay out of sight if she opts not to stay with them in Bertrand's quarters. I don't want her breaking in here."

Once he was done - and Harry had eaten more sugary things to make up for unfinished breakfast - Vlad beckoned Harry over, kissed him softly.

"Lie with me?"

"You're in pain."

"Don't care. Missed you."

Harry laid on his side too, letting Vlad sling an arm over his waist and stomach, face buried in the back of his neck and he could feel Vlad relax with Harry's proximity. Having not slept much himself, Harry felt exhaustion creep up on him now he and Vlad were reunited. It made Bertrand and Ingrid confuse him more - who wouldn't choose this level of connection? - but then he thought of Raven, of the connection of creating a child between the two male lovers.

Even so... Vlad and he were so well matched. They just... fit.

"Shh. Time for sleep now, not thinking."

Smiling to himself, Harry let his mind fall blank, felt Vlad pull him even closer still. For a second, he almost felt the Dark Mark burn between them, but it fell away just as fast - Vlad wouldn't have such a thing without a damn good reason.

He trusted him.

Everything hurt, he was so tired and Vlad really didn't want to even speak to anybody but his mate. But he made himself reassure the others, settled Fleur a little and managed to steal away into the side room of the ward with Harry. He made himself eat a little, if only to pass the time while Harry ate and Vlad basked in being able to see him again.

Then Harry was laid next to him and Vlad could finally sleep properly, unusual for them to both be clothed but it was so worth it to have his mate in his arms. His back didn't even hurt as much. Everything was better with Harry.

Vlad didn't sleep very long - the painkiller wearing off was a most effective alarm, but the exhaustion was somewhat lifted as he rubbed his eyes and smiled when he saw Harry still asleep next to him. A tempus charm told him it had only been an hour and a half, but it was enough. Food charmed to stay warm meant Vlad could awkwardly sit upright, eat some eggs and sausage to fuel his body - protein to heal, at least while his heart still beat.

He had moved on to a strong, sweet cup of tea before Harry stirred, immediately turning to search for the absence of Vlad behind him, smiling sleepily when he saw Vlad sat up sipping from his mug.

"Hey you."

"Hey you. Any bacon left?"

"Do I ever finish all the bacon?"

Harry grinned, patting his sleep-mussed hair down and shuffling to sit closer to Vlad - after gaining the requisite bacon sandwich from the table - so the two could coexist peacefully. Taking his next painkiller, Vlad felt the pain recede somewhat and let the rest fall to the inner recesses in his mind while Harry took precedence. He was different - his jaw was sharper, more angular. His elongated canine teeth could almost be seen when his mouth was closed. There was more definition in his arms and shoulders - they were visible against his t-shirt when he stretched.

"I have only been gone a day right?"

"Yeah, why?"

"You've... changed."

Harry nodded, 7 his bacon-y fingers on a napkin.

"Literally. I uh, completed the change."

"Oh wow. Was it painful?"

"Not really. Mostly... surreal. There are colours I have no name for, everything was loud and smelled different. And I was so big. I changed back no problem too. Haven't tried to shift back again, been busy waiting for you."

"We'll have to look into it later, I can compare you to Samael."

"Definitely. And see if I can still use my animagus form... but right now, we should find a way to get up to Bertrand's quarters?"

"Mmm. You'll have to go out first, say you're going to the bathroom while I'm asleep and see who's around."

Harry went, leaving Vlad to cast more thorough cleaning charms on his skin and clothes - he still needed a shower, but that would hurt and he felt a little less gross now. He tidied up the breakfast mess for whichever elf came back to pop the things back to the kitchens. Harry came back with Madam Pomfrey, who insisted he had to be checked over before she would let him leave.

"Alright, but my shirt is staying on."

She rolled her eyes, bustling about and waving various diagnostics charms over him, face clouding with confusion. Vlad panicked, wondering if she could see his Dark Mark somehow.

"What's wrong?"

"Unusual magical signature. Not human, not vampire."

Vlad shrugged, looking himself up and down and hoping there was nothing amiss in his face that Harry could see.

"I don't know. I got cursed, it hurt, I got back. All I've had are pain potions and Replenisher."

"Hmm. I'll expect you back daily to check on the healing of your back, I'm worried about your spine being damaged."

If only she knew...

"Yeah, I know the drill. You stare at me, I get the good stuff. Can I go?"

"Such a difficult patient. Yes, yes, off you go. But-"

"Come back with new symptoms or any numbness in my limbs. I know what spinal injuries can do."

Madam Pomfrey shooed them off, and Vlad took a few minutes to sit and talk to Viktor, who Harry said had been quite openly worried about him. His 'ex' looked much relieved, and thanked Vlad for what he did in the maze.

"I disqualified you."

"You stopped me hurting Fleur. I could have killed you."

"Nah, I knew you wouldn't. Sorry for the headache."

"A small price to pay. Although... any hints on vhen it vill go away?"

"A couple of days. It was the mental equivalent of taking a brick to the head, plus the magical backlash. No flying for a week, you might get the odd dizzy spell or fatigue."

"You could have ended my sons career!"

"Father!"

Having spent what felt like years staring down a room full of death eaters, Vlad faced up to Mr Krum rather nonchalantly.

"Viktor could have killed Fleur. Why not ask him what counts more? Quidditch or his friends life?"

"Fleur. Definitely. If Vlad had asked permission first, I vould have told him to di vhatever he had to if it meant I didn't hurt someone."

Mr Krum scoffed, but turned away and Vlad shared a grin with Viktor.

"I better go find Ingrid before she hunts me down and starts a row with Madam Pomfrey. I'll probably see you at dinner if you're out of here."

"I von't go back to Bulgaria until I see you again. Promise."

"I should think not. We've got the whole Triwizard Cup nonsense to deal with yet. Get well soon Cedric, and-"

"Vlad!"

A small, warm set of arms enveloped Vlad's waist, looking down even though he knew it was a half-sized Veela - Gabrielle Delacour. It took all he had not to cry out in pain as she put pressure on his back, hoping she let him go soon.

"You saved my seester."

"It was nothing. I'm just glad she's alright."

"Gabrielle, let 'im go! 'E eez injured."

"Sorry!"

Blissfully, she released him, and Vlad and Harry were finally able to escape. His back throbbed, feeling like a steel weight where the young girls arms had been.

"Are you ok?"

"Peachy. I wish I had thought to change in the bathroom in there, I'm filthy."

Harry's eyes lit up a little, beckoning Vlad along to one of the passages that led up to the fifth floor, which was deserted. Once there, he turned at the statue of Boris the Bewildered, counting doors and leaning into one before muttering "line fresh". The door clicked open and Harry pulled Vlad in, closing the door behind him and flicking a switch that - according to his mate - would make the door read occupied.

"What is this?"

"Prefects bathroom. Available only to Head Boy, Head Girl, prefects and... Quidditch Captains. McGonogall said I was on the top of the list for the Gryffindor captain if the tournament hadn't happened, which entitled me to this place. Of course, it wasn't her that told me that part... I got the password off Cedric ages ago and sort of forgot about it."

Vlad walked in, looking at the absolutely cavernous bathtub, what looked like an art installation made of taps and a moving painting of a mermaid who appeared to be sleeping.

"And you brought me here because?"

"Because you can't take a regular bath or shower without hurting your back right? In here... you can safely float about. Plus, there's probably a muscle relaxer in one of these things..."

If Vlad's mind diverted to the fact Harry was going to be in the room with him while taking a bath, and then on to all potential connotations of that... well, nobody had to know that.

"Go nuts then, I'll let you play with the taps."

Harry grinned, shedding his t-shirt and Vlad's mouth went very dry. Was Harry getting in the bath with him? Kicking off his dirty shoes, Vlad nudged them aside and cast a cleaning charm on them to at least prevent them staining the floor, then watched as the enormous tiled hole in the floor began to fill with water. One poured a sweet lemongrass scent out, another thick purple bubbles that floated densely over the water like oil.

"Do you want me to turn away? I know you're shy."

"Uh, yes?"

Harry smiled, turning away and even jokingly taking off his unnecessary glasses. Vlad gave his clothes a glance, consigned them to ruined and emptied his pockets, pulled out fresher attire from his backpack and placed it next to the towels piled up on a ledge to stop them getting wet. Next went the nervous part - vanishing his clothes. Feeling ridiculous - Harry had essentially seen him naked anyway - Vlad vanished his clothes and almost slipped in his haste to get into the water.

"Oh sweet Lucifer, that is good."

The hot water eased his back immediately, whole body turning to jelly beneath the heavy bubbles and Vlad was very glad he had learnt to swim. The heavy purple ones even came up high enough to mostly mask the ugly brand on his chest, the one Harry had no explanation for yet but accepted him anyway.

"Can I turn around yet?"

"Sure."

Harry turned back, watching Vlad paddle in the pool-sized bath.

"Aren't you glad I taught you to swim?"

"I had that exact thought when I got in. Are you- I mean..."

"Only if it won't make you uncomfortable."

Cheeks heating for reasons unrelated to the hot water steaming around him, Vlad weighed his self-consciousness against unclothed Harry close to him.

"I'll get over it."

Revelling in some innate confidence - or perhaps it was trust in Vlad, he had no idea - Harry stripped off quickly and efficiently, naked and uncaring as Vlad couldn't help staring Harry's entire journey into the bath.

"You're right, this is good. We'll have to sneak in here more often."

"If Ingrid doesn't kill us both for leaving her waiting so we could take a bath."

Chuckling, Harry approached him carefully, keeping his hands above the waters surface so as not to spook his boyfriend.

"I was so scared when Fleur said you were dead. Just about fell apart, if I'm honest. Then she said killing curse and I held on to that hope with everything I had, that you were alive, that I would see you again."

"Takes more than a little magic to keep me away from you."

Vlad's instinct was to back up so Harry couldn't feel what he was doing to him, causing all sorts of embarrassing reactions beneath the bubbles and water, but his fear of knocking his back against the side kept him frozen in place.

Harry seemed to realise, knowing Vlad's tendency to let him lead, never daring to push lest he be rejected no matter how harshly his primal instincts roared in his chest, heating his blood. So instead, Harry backed up to the side, led Vlad closer by tugging gently at his wrist until they were pressed close, water easing the friction between their chests and Harry's narrowed pupils sending pleasant shivers down Vlad's spine.

"You're going to have to stop being so scared of me some time."

"Easier said than" Vlad almost choked, feeling Harry's hands travel down to his hipbones and drag him closer still, painfully, beautifully close "done."

"I know, but I have every confidence in you.'

Harry's sated smile and gentle kisses soothed Vlad as much as the obvious reactions he had had at the time, feeling the hum of the bond as Harry let Vlad take charge just a little, showing only responsiveness and pleasure rather than rejection. Never leaving the bathroom sounded highly appealing, but Ingrid would actually kill him.

"Need me to turn around so you can get out?"

Marshalling his nerve, Vlad shook his head.

"Just don't... don't stare?"

"No promises once you're in your pants again. You're hot Vlad, I wish you would realise this."

Hurrying to pull on his underwear, Vlad felt his cheeks flush again.

"I'm really not. I'm just this strip of vampire, pale and not yet fanged."

Shaking his head to himself, Vlad picked up the button up shirt - much easier to put on - and slid his arms through it, sitting down to put his jeans and socks on. Harry was already dressed, having freedom of movement on his side as Vlad grimaced his way through lacing his shoes up.

Harry waited, gently gripped his wrists and pulled him closer to kiss him, gentle but insistent pressure against Vlad's mouth.

"I'll just have to keep convincing you."

"I can't really argue with that."

Waving his hand to empty the bathtub, then float the used towels over to the obvious laundry receptacle, Vlad turned back to Harry and stopped him before he opened the door.

"Invisibility spells. Unless you want to tell anyone we run into that we were bathing together."

"I'll pass for now. Let's go find the others."

Harry took his hand, then they carefully slipped out of the bathroom. They found nobody, but waited until they were outside Bertrand's quarters to drop the charms.

Right. Time to explain the new 'tattoo' on his chest.

-YDHP-

I'm pretty sure I didn't mention Prefects Bathroom before, but I'm still a little foggy from the meds so if I did forgive me.

I know I didn't really explain Vlad's little Voldie-trip in this chapter, but I was in dire need of some fluff to cheer me up. It'll all be in next chapter... which if I'm not mistaken is the last of Year Three and Four. Where did that go? Then it's on to Year Five and Six!