Harry Potter and the Vampiric Inheritance

Hey guys!!

Wow this chapter took me awhile. I had a little writers block and I kept stopping and starting it but…finally its here. Hope you like it and a special thanks to some reviews;

First to thrnbrooke who never fails to leave me a comment that spurs me on, Thank you!!

and to RRW who wrote 'Well I must say this is one of the most fascinating vampire stories I have ever read…Well Done.'

Agh!! Thank you, Thank you, and Thank you. I had read a few vampire ones and didn’t really find any with any depth to them as such, which is what I wanted to do with mine. I hope you continue to read and enjoy my story!!...ok my little freaky moment is over…story time!!

The walk to the west wing was in an uncomfortable silence; both seemingly having too much to say. Harry needed a distraction and began to take in his surroundings; portraits hung on both walls of the corridor and every so often there would be a singular window on the right hand side of the corridor.

So into his surroundings was Harry after a moment that he almost walked into Severus who had stopped in front of a large double door with wolf faced door knobs. He smiled apologetically to the older man and stepped through the door Severus had opened.

Harry stopped to admire the room; the walls were a plain deep emerald green with gold gilding, the upholstery in the room was gold, black and all shades of green. Harry had to smile; the colours seemed to suit his father well.

“Green and black . . . should have seen that one coming,” Harry turned to face Severus who took in the room’s décor and smiled himself.

“Actually this is the west wings master bedroom, usually assigned to important guests. The family rooms, including mine, are found in the east wing.” He turned to close the door behind him and waved his hand in front of a large metal flower decoration that was at the side of the door. As he did so the flower opened to almost full bloom which in turn caused the lighting in the room to brighten some what.

“Severus…father, I…Do you…” Harry stopped as Severus held up his hand.

“Take a seat Harry; we have sometime before the gathering. Let’s see if we can get through some of these questions that obviously, plaguing you.”

They both took a seat in the two high-backed armchairs by the fireplace. Harry watched the fire as he got his thoughts in order. He could feel Alucard trying to help by calming his nervousness at showing his weaknesses in front of the man who had ridiculed him on many occasions.

“Look...It’s just hard ok? One minute you’re my cruel potions teacher and the next you’re my devoted father, I mean I have a mass murderer after me and, apparently, a headmaster that doesn’t like the race I was born into. And you, you were there…you saw everything I was going through and that fucking cold mask of yours didn’t even flinch!

I NEEDED you! I’ve felt so isolated for as long as I can remember and you could have been there! This fucking war has fucked up my life and no one seems to fucking care. People just keep dumping shit on my shoulders!” By now Harry had tears rolling down his cheeks. Sniffing and trying to calm his breathing he played with the hem of his jumper.

Severus’ heart clenched at the sight of his strong sixteen year old son looking more like a lost four year old. He craved to go hug the boy…but he didn’t know if it would be appreciated right now.

“…The shit I’ve been put through just so plans can stay on track, so the fucking fat bastards of Auror’s don’t have to fucking fight! And…and the only people who have ever ask, truly ask if I was alright are in just as much danger as me, because there is no real fucking help for me…it just seems to be that the whole world wants me to help them. I can’t believe in a world of magic everyone is relying on a kid to fight a war!

I don’t want to…I don’t want to fight, I don’t want to kill and it’s not fair…!”

Severus got up from his chair; unable to just sit there any longer, tears pooling in his own eyes as he saw his son break from the pressure; So much was expected of him. He had to do so much in such a little time. He had to do something the wizarding world should have dealt with years ago.

He knelt down in front of Harry and rubbed the boy’s shoulders. It was like he’d broken the dam as Harry fell to his knees next to his father and clung to the man, crying again for the second time that night.

With both of Harry’s arms around his neck, Severus held the teen round the waist. He could smell the ever present scent of his son; it was a mix between him self and Lily. The impact of the scent brought the tears he had kept back over his cheeks as he remember the same sense of hopelessness radiating off Harry coming from Lily that fateful night.

“You don’t have to do this alone anymore…I swear to you…from now on, come hell or high water I WILL be there for you. I don’t care if the blasted old coot knows everything or if the scaly one him self finds out, I will not leave you again.

I-I can’t make up for the time lost, the things you’ve been through. I know there is nothing I can do but…but…FUCK, I’m so sorry Harry.”

They sat there for a good fifteen minutes just letting out years of pent up pain and anguish. The warmth of the fire slowly seeping through to their very souls.

Severus took a deep breath and pulled away from his son. They both had tears tracks and red eyes; the sight was something they had never expected to see on each other. They both smiled and after a moment they both laughed and sat more comfortably on the floor, closer to the fire.

“Do I really have to keep the name Alucard? I mean seriously, it’s not me, it feels strange to hear people call me that. I’ve changed enough and it seems a bit much.” Harry slouched so he was resting his elbows on the floor and leaning backwards.

“Harry at the time when I brought it up, I didn’t know if Alucard had been freed or not. I thought that by getting you to accept his name it would be easier for him to, or you to release the curse.

If you would have fought his release it could have killed you; that’s why I gave you the ring chest in hopes that it would persuade you to accept him.

Now that we know Alucard was released sometime ago there is no need for you to change your name to Alucard. It is the reason I never brought up getting your name officially changed; I never wanted you to change it in the first place, if I had known Alucard was already free I would never have even brought it up.” Severus leaned backwards, resting his back on the armchair behind him.

“Thanks… but, I’d like to keep Prince as my surname… you know, if that’s alright?” Harry looked away from Severus, nervous of the answer. There was a moment of silent between the two before Severus spoke up.

“I would be honoured for you to keep it and join the Prince family.” When Harry turned to Severus he saw the man looked shocked and taken back by his request.

“You know…I kind of want to join the Legion too.” Harry said after a moment or two.

“The decision is yours to make. As I said before I would like to have you by my side in this but, there is still time. It doesn’t have to be tonight.”

“I know, but…it’s like what Hermione said; when we found out you were my father she said we could use a hobby or something, something to do together. This, Legion thing, could be good. Like a dysfunctional hobby.”

Severus chuckled and sighed.

“Do you ever think you can have a normal life Harry?”

“Nope, but I think I sort of got used to that idea shortly after arriving at Hogwarts.”

They sat there, both just thinking, when Harry frowned and turned to his father.

“I was told I couldn’t go out with Draco. That I wasn’t allowed to date my host or any host.”

“This is true, I’m sure you have been told why you can not.”

“But, why? I won’t say that I love him from the bottom of my heart but, there is something there. Why can’t we explore it, see what becomes of it?”

“…Look, when we get back to Hogwarts I will be far too busy teaching and organising things to keep an eye on my sons love interests. If you wish to explore this interest then I will not know. Will I? But by explore I do not me in the bedroom. This interest of your must stop after school weather you found a connection or not and it will be hard enough without the bliss found under the covers. But why you would want to torture yourself by finding something and then letting it go is beyond me”

Harry went to protest but Severus stopped him as he notices that the old clock on the wall across the room said that they had fifteen minutes to get ready for the gathering and they were not even dressed yet; he still needed to tell Harry such things as procedures for the gathering.

“Harry there isn’t much you can do about it, lore is lore after all. But we don’t have much time left and we need to get ready, there are still something’s I must tell you. Your robes have been set aside on the ottoman in front of the bed and there is a changing divider just there.”

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*

Remus could feel his nervousness at being in a room full of regal and noble vampire creeping up his spine. He looked at the front and saw Severus looking right at home in front of the group, sat on the high-backed winged leather armchair. He had one foot resting on his knee and was leaning his head on his relaxed fist as his elbow rested on the chair arm.

Draco was stood at the other side of the door to where he himself stood with his cloak on and hood up showing the silver detail that was on every follower’s hood. The boy stood a little stiffly and the vibe he got was that he was quite nervous. Remus thought on that, of course he was nervous; he was the host of a vampire that was just about to be inducted into the Legion. Before Draco was just a fledge host being prepped for his master vampire on what happens in the Legion, now he was a master host with an actual place in the Legion.

He looked back to the front and saw Lucius just behind the armchair Severus was sat on talking with him, although it was not obvious as Lucius and Severus where both facing the front. Remus shamefully tuned his hearing to pick up more of their talking.

‘So he wanted to join anyway? Well this is good news, you can prep him on what to do and then when he’s ready he can take over as leader.’

‘No’

‘What? Why not?’

‘He has far too much to deal with and this is not as important. I will carry on leading until he is truly ready for this.’

‘Severus…you grow weary of this though. I see it you know. You grow tired of doing so much; keeping Voldemort off my families tracks as well as Harry’s and yourself. Keeping Dumbledore happy and away from Harry, leading the Legion as well as being apart of the order and a death eater…when are you going to stop and take a breath?’

*Severus sighed*

‘When I have time my friend. When I have time.’

Suddenly Severus stood up and the room became silent. Remus tuned back into what was happening in the room.

“Welcome my brethren. I called this gathering today to introduce a new master who wishes to join us.

Some of you being that of my family anyway will have met him. Others will have heard of his former surname.

I bring to your judgement Harry Prince formerly Harry Potter.” With that Severus raised his hand to the double doors Remus was stood near and they began to open slowly to reveal a tall man holding a large book under his arm and a walking staff in his other.

The man wore deep blue robes that had and intricate design over the hood that flowed down to the base of his shoulder blades in purple. The robes reached the floor and the sleeves where large enough to fit three head in rather than a hand, these sleeves were also in the same intricate design which reached his elbows.

The staff he walked with didn’t seem to be helping him at all since he didn’t lean on it or limp forward. The staff was just as large as the man and made of, what seemed to be, red oak. The actual staff hadn’t been smoothed or rounded; it seemed to be an actual branch. As you got closer to the top of the staff it began to look scorched and then flowed into a gold top with an intricate design. At the very top of the staff was a dragon’s claw that was holding an orb of sorts that swirled from purple to white.

As the tall man began to walk forward the group parted for him and everyone saw, what must be, the new master vampire walking behind the man. The new vampire wore the same robes as they did; although his were only black, but there was a sense of destiny and power about him that made the magic inside them all dance.

The tall man stopped in front of Severus, gave him a respectful bow and turned to the group. Harry knew what to do so he got down on one knee with his head bowed respectfully, awaiting his command. The man took down his hood and pulled down, what you could only see now that his hood was down, a red mask of sorts that only covered his mouth and nose.

“Fellow brethren tonight we take in another master amongst us. Harry Prince, arise.” The man stated. He then reached to his purple sash and took off the leather pouch he had resting there as Harry rose to stand in front of the man, next to Severus.

“For the one who leads with a just hand; the golden feather of leadership.” As the tall man said this he pulled out a black piece of cord with a golden eagle feather attached in the middle and tied it around Severus neck.

“For the one who braved judgement from the gods and achieved master, I bestow upon you the bald eagles feather.” He took out another cord with a feather attached and tied it around Harry. All the while the staff he had let go of was still stood upright where he had left it. The man then took two steps back from them both and stood his staff in front of him. As he let go this time, strand of wood came from about three quarters of the way up the staff and twined together making two, sort of, hands where he then placed the book; as it had been floating by the staff.

As the book was placed in the stand there where frenzied whispers, but no one in the room was talking. It was coming from the book, suddenly the feathers round the two at the front began to glow and suddenly there were two large king cobras coming from the book seemingly mesmerised by the two in front.

“Severus, could you repeat the old text and hold out your right arm.” The tall man asked rhetorically.

“I Severus, do ask of Harry Prince to up hold the Vampiric lore, protect his fellow brethren and fight in the name of Anubis.” Suddenly one of the snakes lunged for Severus right wrist and sunk its fangs into the soft skin below.

“Harry, could you hold out right arm and repeat after me… I Harry Prince, do here by pledge to honour the Vampiric lore, protect my brethren and fight under the command of Anubis.”

As Harry repeated the oath the snake lunged for Harry’s out stretched arm and sunk its fangs into the wrist. Once Harry had finished both snakes recoiled back to the book.

“Do you Severus, swear to provide the protection of the legion and the support of the brethren to one Harry Prince?” the man in front of the book asked.

“I will.” Again the same snake lunged for his arm.

“Do you Harry, swear to maintain the oath at all costs in the eyes of the gods?”

“I will.” The second snake lunged for his arm again sinking its fangs into the wrist.

“Severus, Harry in the event that either of you do not keep up the oath you will stand judgement from Anubis himself and under greatest punishment be sentenced to life embalmed. Do you both understand this?”

“I do” they said in unison. The snakes rose and descended on their wrist once again and then recoiled back to the book.

Harry looked to his still out stretched wrist and noticed six puncture wounds parallel to each other running down his wrist. He watched in fascination as they seemed to fill with black ink and bleed out forming the out line of an ankh.

Severus watched as his small wounds once again faded into nothing and his old leader of legion marking; the head of Anubis, return.

The tall man held a hand over the snakes and they receded into the book. He then took the book from its resting place and watched as the wooden hands twisted back into the staff, taking the staff in his other hand he bowed to Severus then Harry and turned to the audience.

“Harry Prince is now a member of the legion, he will fight by your side as you will his. I will take my leave, until the next.” With that the man bowed to the group and left without another word the doors closing behind him ominously.

After a small pause Severus addressed the gathering.

“I, Severus, the leader and guardian of this cult do heard by give welcome to Harry
Prince.” Severus turned and shook Harry’s hand while the rest of the group showed there support with applause.

With the induction over Severus brought the group back to the official meeting. Each head of the small teams gave reports on how there task had gone and what they had found, they all then discussed the next plan of action and what teams would be assigned.

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*

Harry woke up on Monday morning with a smile on his face; Saturday night had been spent at the Manor and on Sunday there had been garden party for the family. He had surprised to find Draco was avoiding him throughout the morning so he had trapped the blonde in one of the corridors of the manor and demanded to know what he had done wrong.

~~~~~~~~~~~Flashback

“I thought we were…like, going out. It was only yesterday that you admitted that what your sister told me was true.”

“Yes but you never said you returned the feelings, you just agreed to give it a go. That’s hardly an ‘I like you to’.”

“I’m sorry Draco…I do like you…I think. I’ll admit that things moved pretty fast back in our room yesterday but…we can take it slow and just do what feels right. Ok?”

“Look Harry we can’t, there’s something about me you don’t know and my father would never allow us. You heard him before.”

“Draco there is a lot about you I don’t know but I’m willing to learn. And what your father doesn’t see can’t hurt him. We’ll be back in school tomorrow and have four weeks to ourselves, we’ll figure the rest out over Christmas; I’ll be going to my fathers and then we’re spending Christmas day at yours, I think.”

“Fine but if anything happens, you’re dealing with my father.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~End flashback

They had kissed to seal the deal and Draco had taken his post by Harry’s side as host to explain who the people where and what relation to Harry they were. All hosts where prepped to know the ins and outs of the vampire family. They also played a game of sorts; they would try to kiss, touch and caress through out the day with out being caught.

He had talked to his uncle Bran, who had bright orange hair and a fetish for leather he reminded Harry of Charlie Weasley and the man told Harry of his trips to Prague and the family castle there, he promised to show Harry around Prague sometime.

He also met Amaranth and Hyperion; the matriarch and patriarch of the Prince family, it was Hyperion who Harry drank from that afternoon to fully open his blood link. He knew that he had to drink from the leader of the family before he was ‘magically’ a master vampire; the ceremony to see the firsts and the elders was to get the blessing form the firsts and be seen in the eyes of the elders that he was fit to be a master vampire.

Harry now had access to the bloodlink and its powers and memories; the second he had drunk from Hyperion’s wrist he felt like there was an explosion in his mind and all of a sudden he could feel his ancestor’s blood rushing through him flooding every part of him with memories.

Harry still remembered the taste of Hyperion’s blood on his lips as he drank from the older masters wrist, as the blood link was opened all his senses were heighten and then immediately dulled back to there normal state. It was disorientating to say the least; to be able to see, hear, feel, smell and taste everything around him so intensely and then for it to all dull back was weird.

Harry smiled remembering Sunday afternoon; Severus and Remus had taken leave of the party group and sat on a bench alone together. Harry had seen them talking and with his new advanced sense of hearing had heard them talking about there relationship which turn into a shouting match between the two which had then quickly ended as Severus took hold of Remus and thoroughly ravished the man. Remus had sported a rather bright blush for the rest of the day, while Severus never seemed to drop his smug smile.

Lastly he thought of Draco; he remembered how the sun had danced off the blond’s hair and lightened up his smile even more. It was then that he had had a small view of what life would be like if they stayed together. He had felt at that moment that he really could love Draco. But instead of rushing in and confessing his new found theory he had turned and kissed the teens cheek softly as the others turned to see Remus, once again, blush at the mention that he had finally gotten together with Severus.
While remembering a particularly heated kiss between the two of them in one of the empty corridors he was unceremoniously pushed off his bed by Ron.

“Ha-ha its time to get up mate you know what Hermione is like about being late.”

Harry although still sleepy, didn’t miss a beat and sent a wedge-y curse at Ron’s backside as the red head entered the shower room giggling. He smiled as he heard Ron yelping in pain and hummed to himself as he gathered his bath bag.

He talked with his friends and joked around as he usually did in the morning, no one knew any better and in some way Harry felt a little…sad, that they hadn’t missed his presence at lunch or dinner over the weekend. But he knew it was just because it was the first Hogsmeade trip since they had been back and everyone was probably just excited, plus Hermione was good at distracting people from what they want to know…we all remember the time turner incident.

He walked to Potions after care of magical creatures with Ron; they knew Hermione would show up at some point. Draco caught up with them, as Pansy and Blaise seemed to be arguing behind them.

As soon as Draco moved in step with Harry the brunette took hold of Draco’s hand lightly and began softly, slowly stroking the skin under his thumb. When Draco leaned into his side Harry removed his hand from Draco’s and wrapped it round the blonde’s waist.

It was what they did now; one would initiate a discreet contact and if the other didn’t mind showing more then there would be an indication. They had almost immediately started showing any signs of affection, knowing that they only had until the winter holidays before they had to be extra careful.

They came across the two usual groups outside the potions classroom and Draco was about to make his way to the Slytherin group, on the right of the door, when he felt a pull on his hand. As he turned to see what Harry wanted he saw that said teen had dropped to the floor with his back against the wall.

Ron gave Harry a confused look then shrugged not really caring and grateful for the rest so early in morning then sat beside him. Draco hesitated for a moment then moved Harry’s hands from his lap and sat down upon him.

“Harry, these are expensive robes and have you seen the dirt on these floors. You might like looking a tramp but I certainly don’t.” Draco explained at Harry’s puzzled look.

“Bloody blond, ferret with his stupid, high standards.” Ron mumbled to himself and was suddenly hit over the head with an ancient runes book, when looking for his attacker he noticed Hermione had turned up and sat beside him. The brunette leaned over Ron and gave Draco and Harry’s position a questioning look.

“Do you realise how public your being? And I don’t think this is the neither time, nor place as your father will walk out any minute.” Hearing a small squeak they turned in Ron’s direction and saw he was trying to say something.

“What” they said in unison.

“Speak up weasel breath” Draco said after a moment of Ron’s silence grew.

“I believe what Mister Weasley is trying to tell you is that my class has begun. And that I would like an explanation as to why you are still out here.” Immediately Hermione and Ron stood up with Hermione pulling Ron towards the classroom leaving Harry and Draco still on the floor.

Draco followed Hermione and Ron’s example and stood up as soon as he recovered from the shock; although he couldn’t look Snape in the eye he gave Harry an apologetic smile and followed the two in.

Harry, still sitting in the floor, looked his father straight in the eye and smirked.

“GET UP POTTER!” Unfortunately this is all the class heard as Draco shut the door behind him.

******* Outside the classroom

“Don’t make this harder than has to be.” He hissed while pulling Harry up.

“Make what harder? We weren’t doing anything…and Draco sat on me.”

“Detention, Mister Potter…And 15 points from Gryffindor.”

“What?! You can’t do that.”

Snape simply walked to the door, threw it open and gestured for Harry to take his seat. Frowning Harry walked towards the door, as he got to Snape he stopped and turned to him.

“What’s your problem…Remus didn’t put out last night?” it was barely audible and would have been a light hearted joke, but Severus could hear the anger and hurt in the teen’s voice.

Snape threw his arm across the doorway to stop Harry entering and said quietly “The old riddler pulled me into his office this morning and was asking too many question for my liking; questions that indirectly linked to you. And this is the sort of behaviour that will attract these sorts of questions, we don’t need this. This is the sort of attitude James had before Voldemort caught them.

Harry glared at Snape for a moment and then walked back down the corridor and out of the dungeons, leaving Severus in the doorway in which he then walked through and closed behind him. Starting his lesson in a very grim mood…not that he had ever been…not grim in class.

Draco, Hermione and Ron gave each other a concerned look as Snape walked to the front of the classroom, Seamus and Dean also sharing a look.

Harry was silently fuming. He could believe his father; his own father had just said that to him. As Harry passed the defence against the dark arts classroom the door opened revealing Dumbledore. Harry, seeing Dumbledore, turned and headed in the direction he just came.

“Harry, if I could have a moment?” Harry stopped at the request but seeing it for the command it truly was headed back to the headmaster.

“Yes.”

“In my office if you would?”

At Harry’s approval Dumbledore turned in the direction of his office. Harry begrudgingly followed. He had no intentions of going to the office and knew of a passage that would take him to the seventh floor which was on the way to Dumbledore’s office. The Marauders Map was a truly great invention.

As Dumbledore reached the gargoyle to his office and gave the password he turned to address Harry…and realised the teen wasn’t there. He shrugged in his ever knowing way and processed up to his office making a note to question the teen about his whereabouts later.

Harry managed to get back to the common room without anyone else stopping him and slumped down in his favourite chair in front of the fire. He had to calm down.

# Alucard? I don’t suppose you know what went on down in the dungeon? Why father was being such a prick? # Harry huffed and pulled his feet up, then realising he was getting too tall to do that.

## Harry you’ve got to see his point of view. Here is a man who saw his best friend die and child be taken away because some half wit couldn’t keep a lid on it. And now he has the threat of loosing you again…as well as his godson. But mainly I think he was just surprised that you two seemed to be getting along better than he would have hoped given the situation. ## Alucard stated apathetically.

# I guess your right…but a detention! I didn’t even do anything! # The brunette slunk down in his chair.

## Well you were late for class and they do say, old habits die hard. ## Alucard replied chuckling.

# I don’t care how hard they die as long as they die fast. ##

After brooding over the morning events alone he decided it was best to make his way to transfigurations having your head of house angry at you was bad for Quiddtich.

In transfiguration Harry got some concerned looks from his friend but smiled and shook their questions off. It was a lesson on how to change wooden objects into metal ones while keeping the same compound and he needed to concentrate.

Since the beginning of term Harry had felt there was something mysteriously different about his DADA teacher, now that he had opened up the blood link he could literally feel the difference; as she showed them there practical that afternoon, he could sense the old elemental magic she used which he had remembered only vampires had access to.

As the lesson came to an end the student began putting the duelling dummies away; instead of jumping into the deep end like Lockhart, Miss Kostova started with the basics like proper stances and foot work. The lesson had lifted Harry’s mood somewhat. Noticing that Miss Kostova had let everyone leave and saw that his friends had also left, he picked up his bag and stood up to leave when she called out his name.

“Harry if I could have a word it won’t take long as I know it’s your free period.” She asked while putting the chest of dummies away.

“Yes, of course, Miss Kostova.” Harry said while shouldering his bag. The professor walked to her desk and withdrew a small purple, velvet pouch and brought it to Harry.

“Harry, I know of what you are as I am sure you know of me. I want you to start applying your powers to your practical work. It will help train it and help you keep it under control. Don’t be afraid of it Harry.”

Harry had known that if he knew about her then it would be the same vice-versa but he hadn’t expected her to say anything. It was true though; he had been holding back on his powers in all his classes today. He knew everyone would be finding out in the next few weeks but after what his father had said, he just put a damper on his casting of spells.

“Why are you working here? It is pretty obvious it has something to do with me and the war.”

“That is true Harry. Our kind has various connections and it was with this help I got the position. You need someone to help you with all this new power and it is in this class that I can help you with it; detentions, extra classes, none of which will look suspicious. You need to start training for the war and this is a great way to do it.” She said was she walked to the door.

As Harry walked to the door to leave he though of all the other DADA teachers.

“You do realise that by just taking this job you have put your life in danger.” He said with a smile as he walked out.

“Ah but it is the small dangers that excite the soul Harry.” Then she closed the door.

Once outside he was ambushed by Draco wanting to get answers and to see if he was ok. Then he noticed Ron, Pansy and Blaise behind him; Hermione would be in her next lesson.

“Oh my god, are you ok? What did Snape say? What happen in the corridor? Something else happened what was it? Are you sure you’re not hurt? I’m sorry for leaving you! Say something!” Harry, being overwhelmed by the care Draco has just shown, hugged the teen which the blond immediately returned.

Harry took a deep breath and could smell Draco’s cologne and something else that was just Draco; he used his Vampiric sense and could pick up the shampoo the blonde teen had used that morning, as well as the soap he must have used. He was immediately calmed by the smells and relaxed more into the hug. Smiling he pulled away.

“Erm…I’m fine, he just pissed me off, Dumbldork found me but its ok, I left him wandering back to his office alone and I’m sure I’m not hurt. Now that’s out the way; it’s free period, what we doing?”

“Well…Hagrid’s? It’s what we normally do.” Draco said looking away from the group but not leave Harry’s side.

“Yeah, you’ve started taking an interest in his classes for a while now. I thought you didn’t like all the wild slobbering beasts he brought in?” Ron said as they started for the doors.

“Well, last week he brought in that Fire Mare and then the week before that he had the Pixigriffs. They’re regal and clean creatures. Plus he said this week he had an Aethenon. I just wanted to see if it was in for Thursday’s lesson.”

Harry smiled, glad that Draco was truly getting along with his friends. Once the name calling was put to rest they all found it was pretty easy to talk to each other. They didn’t always, all have the same view on things but…that’s how the world works.

Now you had Blaise and Ron arguing over Quidditch teams, Pansy and Draco arguing over what colours and fashion styles would be in come next summer and then there was him and Hermione who would just end up going over the Vampiric books together.

Harry came out of his musing when he heard Draco cheers from his side and saw that they were now walking down the steps to Hagrid’s.

“Yes! I knew the great oaf could pull it off! Now we get to study Aethenon” Draco hugged Harry and then ran down the steps to watch as Hagrid brushed the winged horse’s mane.

They all gathered and sat down talking and watching Hagrid look after the horse. After a while Draco noticed that everyone had basically paired off; Hermione had arrived and was sat with Blaise helping him with his Ancient Runes, Pansy was arguing with Ron that he needed to get a decent haircut…while sat on his back as he tried to finish off his extra homework and Himself and Harry. He laughed mentally, you wouldn’t think that there was a war looming and this was two groups of students from two warring houses.

Draco was pulled out of his thoughts as two lumps sat in front of him. When he focused his eyes he saw it was Seamus and Dean.

“Er…Hey?” Harry said after the silence that had fallen around them continued to grow.

“We want in.” Seamus said by way of explaining.

“What? Want in to what?” Ron asked.

“Well…Harry comes back from summer with a new look and attitude to life then starts hanging around with Slytherin, as well as you two hanging around with them too. Harry and Draco disappear for the weekend, when they come back and Harry got angry in potions he looked the double of Snape on a good day, oh and Hermione was covering for you so we know these two, at least, are in on it so that must mean the other Slytherin are in on it…so we want in.”

All six just stared at them for a moment. Harry was the first to come out of his stupor and shook his head then he flicked a look at the others before looking back a Seamus.

“Erm…look I don’t—”

“It’s ok Harry; we’re on your side. What ever you have planned we want to help. I mean the whole school has been talking about how you three get along with the Slytherin now…well three of them. It’s ok you know.” Dean re-assured.

“Yeah so what is it; we have to find a Slytherin to hang around with to join in. And what is going on, is it another Basilisk, or more Dementors?” Seamus asked with growing excitement.

## Harry this really isn’t the place to be having this discussion. The big oaf may be a little stupid but deaf he is not. ##

#So do you think it would be best if we went to the Great Hall for dinner then? #

## No the walls have ears almost quite literally at Hogwarts and if you are in the Great Hall…Draco would miss you. ## The voice in his head chuckled

## Alucard…Do you think I should let the DA in on what’s going on? #

##If you trust them with you life and know they will fight by you side no matter what. I think you should tell them. ##

“…Harry! You…left us for I second there.” Draco said as he sat on Harry’s lap to get his attention.

“Sorry…Look there is a lot of stuff that has happened and so much more that we know about the war, some stuff Hermione and Ron don’t even know yet, but if you can rally up everyone from the DA, Draco if there is anyone else in Slytherin that you know will and can help us then gather them too, we’ll meet on the third floor.

The door will look locked but it won’t be. I want everyone to be under a disillusion charm. Hermione will stay with the Gryffindor and charm them if they can’t, Ravenclaw will have been able to do something so simple for years and Draco will stay with the Slytherin and cast the charm on the ones that don’t know it there.

We’ll meet at Seven…tonight, after dinner and I’ll tell you as much as I can ok.”

“Harry, is this a good idea?” Draco asked looking slightly nervous at the two new boys.

“I’m gonna need all the help I can get when I take control and I’ll need people who believe in me wholeheartedly. When all this comes out I’m going to seem like a new dark wizard or something and I need people who know I haven’t changed. Yeah this is for the best.”

“Right, we’ll get on it,” Dean said as he and Seamus stood up, “See you at seven tonight.” With that they ran off to find everyone needed.

“Harry you really haven’t given me much time to check out who we can trust in the Slytherin. I might not be able to find any.”

“Well there’s Crabbe and Goyle. Not to mention Rebecca Young who is being prepped to take a vampire next year so she will understand. Barker and Thatch are always seen together, rumour is, their planning on getting out of going home for Christmas because their parents want them to start training for the Death Eaters. They might want to help.” Pansy stated as she got of Ron and stood up.

The rest followed suit and they started their way to the Great Hall for dinner. On their way Harry and Draco hung back from everyone else.

“Where you talking to…Alucard?”

“Yeah, he told me to be careful what I said around Hagrid.”

“Do you think he will tell Dumbledore?” Draco asked as they walked through the side entrance to the building.

“Yeah, Hagrid would follow Dumbledore blindly into a war with no protection if the old coot said he would be safe. Dumbledore did a lot for him, plus he will think it will help me in someway.”

“Well…I’ll see you after dinner.” Draco poked Harry in the stomach lightly and gave one last tug on their joined hands before he let go and walked over to his seat on the Slytherin table.

Ok so until next time people!!

Ps again thank you Slytherdor for looking over my work