Harry Potter and the Half Bloods: Chapter 1
by Agent Reptile
Disclaimer: not to seem lazy but for the purposes of secrecy I will only say that those who own some of the stuff in this fic have the rights to them and the stuff that they don't own is mine.
Key: "spoken" "telepathic"
"Welcome my faithful readers. I hope that you are not disappointed for starting another fic before I updated Through the Years, but this is a story that I have been trying to tell for quite some time now." A ninja garbed in green and black is sitting on a large red leather easy chair and grasps a crystal ball from a cushioned holder. "I hope that you enjoyed your first taste of this story. It is the tale of my student Vlad, and his experiences at Hogwarts. I will say no more at this time because to reveal any more would ruin the story."
"Meaning that you want to act all sophisticated and mysterious and bug the heck out of everyone so that they will review your boring and disinteresting story." A woman says blocking the screen.
"Lufy do you have to do that?" The male sighs and drops his head to his lap.
"Only when I can." The mostly blond woman in fighter pilot uniform which seems several sizes too large smiles.
"Can I do anything for you my dear?"
"Well their is one problem that you can help me with dear." Licking her lips her body morphs into a taller, more shapely cheetah woman. "I'm in heat and guess who happened to be my stud?"
"Since neither one of you will introduce this fic I guess I'm stuck doing it." A redhead smiles at the audience. "Hi I'm Rabby. You may " she ducks her head growling " or may not, "rises head" remember me and Lufy from Gall Force: Eternal Story. Well that's sort of a side note and if you want the whole story on why we are here, not to mention lycanthropes, you'll need to look up our husband's character bio on the GDficheaven group on yahoo. Anyways this is the start of Harry Potter and the Half Bloods." Rabby says grabbing the orb and holding it to the camera. "Lufy stop hogging him, move over." Rabby says turning into a tiger girl and runs off camera, dropping the orb on the ground.
The image swirls as a close up zooms to the grey mass forming in the ball.
Fog. It is common knowledge that England has some of the worst fog in the entire world, and this evening wasn't any different. The thick dull grey color blinded all unfortunate enough to journey within from realizing true danger of the trap they had set foot in. It is within these times that the most primitive and basic instincts take over, like a mouse can feel when he is caught in sights of a cat. The hairs on your back stand on end, your skin releases a cold and clammy sweat, your ears begin to pick-up every sound around you, and your heart races like mad. It is only the fools who do not head these warnings.
It is the unfortunate case of one Nymphadora Tonks finds herself in. A witch and member of the Order of the Phoenix she is no stranger to danger, yet this night's outing is different to her; the kind that she wishes that she had come up with any excuse, no matter how half-assed, to not journey into the darkness.
Subconsciously she was fingering her wand in her free hand as she carried some supplies towards the old Black house. It wasn't the same without Sirius though. She could have easily just apparated back to it, but she wanted some time to think before going back, maybe that was why she was out in this nearly suffocating mess; looking back it wasn't exactly the best idea that she had had in her life, after all there is a reason that instincts still exist within us today.
Tonight was a demonstration in why.
The sick inky felling of something dark and vile crept into the back of Tonks' mind as she turned to see the familiar shadow of a Death Eater apparating a few feet behind her. In every mammal body be it human, magic, mutant, or beast of field, there is something called the fight or flight response. A split-second stop of the body as it loads with adrenaline to either attack it's foe or run from it. This unique evolutionary trait is a reason for the great success of mammals as the dominate terrestrial life form, and Tonks is thanking whatever force behind it for it.
She dropped to the ground and threw the bag that had been in her arms to the side as she pointed her wand towards her foe.
"Stupli....AHH." But was grabbed from behind before she could react.
"Now now my pretty. There is no need to fight." The cold and predatory voice behind her said. His hands were cold as ice and when Tonks looked she saw the signature long canines of the undead. "The master has need of you, and their is no reason for us to have to harm you. The master likes his treats undamaged. HAHAHA."
"Enough, we have what we came for bloodsucker. Let us go."
"Easy for you to say. I have been promised this one's blood and I must feed soon. I can almost taste it already. So...so long since I had a fresh bite." the monster's fangs were almost at the young witch's neck when...
BLAMM!!
The defining eco of a gun rang through the night and Tonks felt an unfamiliar heat next to her as the powerful grip of her capture dissipated into nothingness. Both her and the Death Eater were transfixed at the sight of the vampire's burning body turning to ash at their feet.
"Leave the girl alone or die maggot." A new, unfamiliar voice called from the fog. At first it was only a sound without form, yet that form seemed to materialize from the fog itself. "I won't tell you twice."
The man was in black from the top of his hat to the bottom of his boot. Leather coat and gloves with denim pants. His mouth was covered like a bandito from the old west with a red piece of cloth with an upside-down pyramid with and eye radiating beams form the center. The only sound, outside of her own heartbeat, that Tonk's heard was the cocking of a pistol's hammer.
"I am to frightened by a cowboy wanabe? Pathetic. Avada Kadava!" The Death Eater yelled at the impertinent foe, only the green beam seem to be absorbed by the fog itself.
"I told you I wouldn't ask twice." An eerie red glow came from the man, and his cloths became lined with rune symbols to far to be recognized. It was then that Tonk's could make out the hilt of a sword on the man's back reflecting the otherworldly glow he had. What manner of being was this?
The next shot hit straight and true, through the Death Eater's wand and hand destroying both with one shot.
"What? What have you...done?" The Death Eater cried was grasping the bleeding stump that was once his hand. With fluid grace the pistols returned to their holsters inside the man's jacket too fast for Tonk's to see inside.
As the man walked towards them the sound of ringing metal reverberated in the street with each of his footfalls. The eyes of this savior were the most reflective blue that Tonk's had ever seen, but these weren't human eyes. Slit pupils seemed to delve into her very soul, but she was at peace. A calm presence slowed her racing heart and relaxed her breathing. Her mind was almost going to into a dream-like trance as he was ever closing the gap.
The Death Eater was another story. His heart raced and his face poured with sweat as the figure grew closer. A great light transfixed him from the man, a great and terrible light penetrating all that he was. The darkness the Death Eater had for so long felt afraid of was nothing to their terrible light, nor the pain from his hand any match for that in his chest. It was if a sword had been forced through his heart and was tearing it apart.
Turning towards Tonks the figure uttered this:
"You didn't see me." Tonks fell back and dropped the unused wand from her hand. Her heavy eyes shut as her body relaxed.
For the Death Eater however, he felt a great and terrible heat all around him. A burning, flaming sensation all around his body as if he was thrown to a great inferno. To this the crucious curse was nothing. The villainÆs entire perspective became the man now towering over him. Pulling the cloth away from his face the Death Eater was given full view of the one who had defeated him. His face immolated strength, power.
Clean shaven with tightly drawn lips the man stood there with an expression like that Malfoy wore. But this being with arched brow and ruthless demeanor seemed to radiate power from a limitless source inside him.
"You have been judged." Faster than his mind could process the Death Eater was grabbed, the cloth around his neck torn off and a sharp stabbing pain shock him as something tore into his throat. The flame became all that the Death Eater knew.
It would be hours before Tonk's returned to the land of the living to find herself in bed at the Black house and none the worse for wear. Yet for some strange reason every time she tried to remember what had happened that night it was a blur, a sort of mental fog.
The scenery shifts to a old train winding it's way through the Scottish countryside. This famous track has very few users at this time of year, but give it about a month and you would have children clamoring through the thing looking for seats and dreaming of what new and wondrous spells they would learn that year. Today, however, it appears to only have one passenger.
Resting under the brim of his hat the hero of last night rests his weary eyes with his feet propped up on the other side of bench and his luggage over head. Essentially dead to the world his slumber is about to be interrupted.
"Pardon me gent, but are you V.G.K. Maximov?" a female voice asked rousing the intended party back to the realm of the living.
"That would be dependant on whether you are friend or foe." The man shot back smiling. "And since you are wearing the traditional Hogwart's teaching uniform I would say friend." He said taking his feet off the bench across from his and ushered the woman to sit down.
"Thank you. I am Sinistra, Professor Aurora Sinistra; teacher of astronomy at Hogwarts." This Maximov's handshake was quite strong, and for a moment she was afraid he may accidentally crush her hand.
"I'm sorry did I frighten you?" He asked politely.
Looking down at her hand the witch noted that nothing was damaged, but she was a little embarrassed by it.
"Oh no, I was just not expecting such a strong handshake that's all."
"Sorry I keep forgetting how strong I am sometimes. I didn't upset you did I?"
"No, no you didn't...I'm just not used to people with great physical strength, at least not any really polite ones I mean...no offence or anything."
"Let me guess no one works out that much at Hogwarts?"
"Well in complete honesty it is a school for the mind after all. Magic does not rely on physical strength."
"But your life just might. Something I am going to have to deal with this year I take it."
"Oh you must be the new DADA teacher this year." The which smiled, probably trying to be polite.
"Correct. I got drafted to fix the screw-ups of that Umbrage woman, something I am not looking forward to."
"You have something against teaching I take it?"
"I have something against bureaucratic idiocy, but that is something for another day. I take it that there was a reason for you knowing my name?" He smirked.
"You are only now getting to this?"
"I wanted to get a feel for the person standing across from me and I was enjoying the conversation." He genuinely smiled.
"Why thank you. But yes I was asked by the Headmaster to give you this. Please do not ask me how he knew we would be on the same train, or why he didn't use an owl, but this letter is for you." She handed the gentleman a small brown note with a red stamp on it, hardly modern mail but it still worked.
"Dear Mr. V.G.K. Maximov,
I am pleased to hear that you have arrived in our fair land and hope that your trip was a most delightful one. I see that you have not wasted your time in starting your mission and I thank you very much for saving a comrade in arms life last night. Ms. Tonks is doing well and has no recollection of last night's events, to which I would like to speak with you later. But on to the matter at hand. I can not trust the usual system of mail for this message, and I do not have an e-mail account nor computer for that matter so I apologize for the odd method of delivery. I will, however, be there to greet you when you arrive today at Hogwarts and will insure that you and your family will have a large enough room for your stay. Concerning your teaching equipment, I will like to know what you have brought, if nothing else the safety of my students, and will meet you in private some time in the evening when you have had a chance to get in order from your trip, along with all the minor details you need to know about the school.
Sincerely Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and
Wizardry."
"Pardon me sir, but since we are working together I would like to know what exactly your name is." Sinestra asked politely, staring into the man's blue eyes, wonderful blue but completely normal now.
"Vlad Gabriel Kain Maximov my dear, but you can call me Vlad."
"And you can call me Aurora." His smile was genuine enough, but odd; preditory in some way. "And I take it that this is your first time at Hogwarts?"
"It is my first time anywhere near here to be honest." Vlad answered.
"Really? Were did you learn magic then?"
"Here, there, places that probably would have no meaning to you."
"Such as..."
"Nosgoth and Makai for starters." The sight of sheer confusion was obvious on the face of the female across from him. "Lets just say I am over qualified for the job and leave it at that." Vlad sighed an popped his neck and knuckles.
"I'll take your word for it then. Sorry if I sound...prying, but it is a little further to the grounds and I have been enjoying the company."
"So what is it that you want to know?"
"Well family is always a good place to start..."
"Well, I am married and have a daughter for starters."
"Really? It is odd that a teacher be married, much less a family man."
"As I said drafted into the job, but I'm going to be doing my best to whip those students into shape if you pardon the expression. I don't have time to waste on niceties with them."
"They are just children you know..."
"Children who, for better or worst, are pawns in a war which cannot be lost. 'It is not ours to wonder why, it is but to do and die. Sempter Fi.' as it is put."
"Where did you hear that?"
"It it the motto of the United States Marine Corps."
"United States? I was wondering about the accent, but your name sounds..."
"Eastern European? I have a mixed ancestry, in more ways than one."
"That will put you at odds with some of your students. Old families and all."
"Old families, old blood, weak genetics if you ask me."
"Weak what?"
"Sorry I keep forgetting that not everyone understands DNA. Long story short the copying and recycling of old blood without adding new blood into the system leaves them open to health problems and deformations. Like in European royalty how hemophilia runs rampant.." A nod meant that she understood. "Same sort of problem."
"Well please tell me about your wife and child, do you have pictures?"
"Yes, but they're not the same as you're probably used to."
"Muggle pictures, those flat things? Well still I would like to see."
Vlad pulls out an old brown leather wallet and takes out a series of plastic flaps from the inside.
"This is my wife Brianna, the one with the eye strip and spotted hair."
"What spell did she use, it's so natural. Not to mention those cat-like ears of hers."
"Do you have a problem with..." Vlad said almost recoiling.
"Oh no no no, perish the thought. I was just curious that all, is she a metamorphmagus by any chance?"
"Ah, no. She's...well it's hard to describe." Vlad sighed and placed his right hand over this eyes. "She's one of a kind and lets leave it at that."
"I think it's just as well. The Hogwarts stop is right here." The more practiced teacher said while getting up and walking out the door. "Thanks for your time Vlad, I hope that you find your time here enjoyable."
"As do I ma'am." Vlad said pulling his baggage from over his head. The odd sounds of metal against metal mixed with what may have been the falling of coins filled came from within the worn, dull colored bag that Vlad effortlessly draped over his shoulder.
Hogwarts, or what Vlad could see of it from the train station, was the stereotypical gothic castle with ramparts, courtyard, and a moat (or at least a lake), and one of the last places on earth Vlad wanted to set foot. Kids he could put up with, the ghosts weren't going to be a problem, it wasn't even the freak'n arrogance of the idiotic politicians in this world.
What really pissed him off was the fact that he had to pretend he was something he was not: a wizard. Oh he knew magic alright, quite a few spells in fact. But his abilities were so different from those of the wizards of this realm as a lion was to a puma; both cats but two totally different animals. Here wands were needed to cast any real spells, but all Vlad needed was concentration usually. For the really difficult stuff he needed an amplifier of sorts as well, but that was something he would think of later.
Said amplifier was vibrating within his bag violently, sensing its masters thoughts of it.
"Patients, I will have need of you soon enough." He said too quite for a normal person to hear, but for one like himself it was easy. However, getting up to the castle was something more than just slightly challenging for most people on foot, much less with such a large bag on ones back. However, Vlad was not, nor had ever been, most people. His time with his mother-in-law was enough to train any human to carry this much stuff to the castle with ease, but then again most people had not practiced with Julia Brigard Diggers the Armsmaster of Jade.
Then again most people weren't able to use magic and he could just make the excuse of a strength spell or merely weight removal spell. Pondering this problem for a moment the answer to his situation came to him, literally, in the form of a coach pulled by the sickest horses he had ever seen. Pail as sheets and boney as all get out they looked like they were taken from someone's idea of what happens when the Horseman of Famine's beast gets in the same stable as the Horseman of Conquest's.
"Okay where exactly is the Grim Reaper?" Vlad jokes looking the steeds over a few times.
"Don't rightly know that bloke, but I could see if ol' Dumbledore could find him for ye." A tall, broad, scraggily looking man with a long black beard and mane-like hair said smiling down at Vlad from the stage coach's stand.
"That was a joke, and you are?"
"Rubeus Hagrid: Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts here." The broad hand of the man passed a broad swipe across the horizon marking the bounds of his responsibility. "And I guess that'd make you the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor don't it."
"Vlad Maximov at your service." He smiled and tipped his hat. "So tell me do these horses not get enough to eat or something?"
"Well to tell you the true sir these be thestral's. Only look like horses, and they love meat. But don't worry they don't hurt nothing that don't hurt them." Vlad tossed his bag onto the luggage and sat up with the half giant.
"Not that's it any of my business sir, but how is it that you see these beauties?"
"My eyes take in the light bouncing off them, but barring the wise-ass answer I don't get what your talking about."
"Well I don't know any really wise asses..." Hagrid smirked. "But these can only be seen by people who've seen blood. You know, death and the like..."
"Believe me Hagrid I've seen death, believe me."
"Not to bother you Professor, but you seem a little occupied."
"Ah just thinking of my wife and kid waiting for me to have our room ready for them here."
"Ah it's been a while since a married man taught at Hogwarts. Be a right fine change of pace if you ask me."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence."
"Well here we are, the ol' 'Ogwart's castle. This brings back many memories."
"Buildings like this always have memories Hagrid. Thanks for the ride." Vlad said shaking the larger man's hand.
"That's some grip you got there...well let me get your bags..."
"Thanks, but it's my responsibility, and you've done so much already."
"Thank you, just wonder'n something. Why are you wearing so much for the summer?"
"I'm not really used to the cold around here. Just in from the middle of Georgia."
"Ah, an American. It's been a bloody long time since we had any from over the ocean come here. Dumbledore must be really impressed by you then...It wouldn't do to prove him wrong."
"In my line of work Hagrid; wrong is equal to dead." Vlad says walking into the old structure with moving paintings.
"I like that Hagrid man, fist time on a mission that we go somewhere and they aren't trying to kill us."
"Not yet at any rate." Vlad groaned mentally. "Alright Raziel lets go see what this Dumbledore guy has to say about us." Vlad smiled pulling a long bended sword with skullish hilt out of the bag and setting it to the scabbard on his back.
Dumbledore was smiling as he watched his new professor walking all over the place trying to find the dang door to his office. However, one could not fault Vlad for being so lost in this place as the vast maze of halls and stairs which changed on the drop of a hat, and sometimes didn't even wait for the hat to hit the ground. It was a good thing that he had the foresight to ask Harry if he could borrow the MarauderÆs map for the day. With any luck Vlad would have found his way to the Headmasters office by the start of the semester on his own.
Vlad on the other hand was not smiling one dang bit; in fact he was scowling. Why the heck did they have animated paintings in this place if they weren't helpful enough to give directions. The last portrait laughed at him when he asked and the one before that that was some deranged knight who wanted to know what kingdom Vlad was from, and explaining his situation did nothing but irritate the knight and he paraded off to another painting. Hell, Atlanta wasn't this insane and he was stuck here for at least a year?
"Pardon me, but you seem to be having some trouble mister..." An older woman's voice said as he felt someone walking down the hallway.
"Maximov, Vlad Maximov." He said turning to see a woman, probably in her fifties to sixties, dressed like a stereotypical witch's costume. 'Great what have I gotten myself into now?' he thought to himself. This was going to be one of his weirder assignments, and that was including the time he was sent to Quagmire. That town was just plain insane and he just had to meet that Prof. Steamhead. Oh well, they've probably repaired the downtown region by now.
"Mr. Maximov, I must say it is odd to find someone of your age wandering our halls lost. I am Professor McGonagall, head of Gryffindor house. Now please come with me, our Headmaster would like to have a few words with you."
"Finally someone actually able to give me directions."
"Let me guess you've been trying to get the portraits to give you directions?" McGonagall smirked as the two trod the hallways towards the statue of a bird of prey.
"More like they've been trying me. Sorry ma'am but this place is more confusing than my In-lawÆs house."
"You're married?" McGonagall asked in honest shock.
"And you're the third person today who's commented on it to be quite frank." Vlad groaned.
"Sorry, that was very improper of me to comment on." It was only now that Vlad's body turned enough that his baggage no longer blocked the more tenured professor's view of his back.
"My word what are you doing with that sword?"
"Carrying it in it's scabbard so that it doesn't slice my bag. I am to be the Defense Against Dark Arts professor am I not?"
"Yes but, that sword looks like it belongs to some dark wizard, all twisted and sinister. How is it that you came by it?"
"I...well...um...." Vlad was stalling, but thankfully Dumbledore pulled him out of the dive.
"Ah Professor Vlad, you are punctual as reported." The older wizard smiled welcoming the man into his office.
It was not that big a surprise in Vlad's opinion, after all he had the occasion to enter into Theo's study a few times, all of which he was invited to do so. This was, shall we say, more chaotic than Dr. Digger's own study. It may have been the poor lighting, or maybe the age of the room itself may it seem jumbled and disorganized. It's appearance wasn't threatening in any way, outside the phoenix which kept his gaze on Vlad. He didn't like the way the bird looked at him.
"Punctual Dumbledore? I just spent the last thirty minutes lost in this place and you call me punctual?" Vlad asked in a good natured way. The man the question was addressed to was standing with his back turned to the door and his head turned down into a pool of glowing liquid.
"Yes, you arrived precisely when intended to." Dumbledore replied now facing the two guests in his room. "And I take it that my letter was received before your arrival? I am sorry that I did not leave you time to reply."
"I got your message thank you, and it was a pretty good ride thank you for asking."
"Splendid, now come...sit please." Dumbledore instructed as he motioned to a pair of chairs in the front of his desk. Vlad's bag made a thud when it hid the floor beside him.
"Would you care for a lemon drop Professor Maximov?" This was the traditional Dumbledore greeting, with an atypical response.
"Don't mind if I do thank you." Vlad said popping one of the treats into his mouth.
Minerva McGonagall was shocked, or rather surprised to see that someone actually accepted the Headmaster's offer. Never had she seen anyone eat on of those Muggle sweets before. Dumbledore just smiled his small smile, and chuckled slightly.
"Professor McGonagall would you like one?" Vlad asked handing the plate to her.
"Ah...no...thank you." She responded with an upturned hand.
"Now that the...pleasantries are over with. I would like to formally welcome you to Hogwarts Professor Maximov, and...perhaps later...introduce you to the whole of my staff."
"I am grateful to be here Professor Dumbledore. I don't often have the chance to take in scenery on my assignments."
"Assignments Professor?" McGonagall asked.
"Professor Maximov is a professional in ...shall we say...the arts of fighting evil? And no stranger to the details of the job at hand. I have asked a dear friend of mine to have Professor Maximov fill our lacking faculty position"
"Professor, please tell me that this man isn't another Lockheart."
"Not at all my dear McGonagall. I assure you that such a mistake will never happen again."
"If you are referring to that pretty boy who has all those books of himself, I am nothing like him. Not to mention that a dear friend of mine lost his memories to that charlatan, and then Lockheart had the audacity to claim my allies work as his own. Please do not refer to me and him in the same sentence." Vlad's stridency caught the female professor off guard for a moment.
"I am sorry professor, but we have had several...poor experiences we must make sure never happen again."
"And thus I have enlisted the aid of this man Professor McGonagall. However, I must ask to be alone with him for a little while. I think that it would be more comfortable if it was just the two of us please."
"Very well Dumbledore. Professor Maximov." Professor McGonagall nodded while leaving.
"It was a pleasure, and thank you for getting me where I needed to go."
The old door creaked as it was shut.
"Now that we are alone, I have a few...personal questions to ask."
"As long as you don't pry too deep I'll answer them, but their are some things which are private."
"I can understand your need of privacy, but I must personally insure my students will be in the hands of a capable instructor."
"You likely looked over my file sent from the office in Rome, so what more did you want to know?"
"The file I have read was....lacking in some respects. For instance that sword you weald." Dumbledore pointed to the hilt on the man's back. "And what items from the Muggle World were brought into my school."
"This, Professor Dumbledore, is a sword intended for me, and only I can truly wield." Vlad said pulling the blade out of its scabbard and placing it on DumbledoreÆs desk. "None living of this world can even hold the hilt."
"And you're...unique nature....allows you to be the master of it?" Dumbledore said rubbing his chin. "And who soul is it that resides within the blade?"
"How did you....It is the soul of an ally I wouldn't be alive if he hadn't sacrificed himself, willingly, to be the soul within this weapon; the Soul Reaver." Vlad said looking into the blue glowing eyes of the skull shaped hilt. "Raziel, in life and death my right-hand man."
"Ah, allies in this and other worlds are sometimes few and far between. I cannot judge you in this regard. If Dr. Diggers trusts you, not to mention your superiors, then I shall trust your motives." Dumbledore said. "Now I understand that you have...shall we say very little understanding of the wizarding world in general."
"I have very little understanding it in any rank sir." Dumbledore looked curiously at him for a moment. "Sorry military humor."
"Ah. I will just leave you to such things. It is more important that I give you a few...rules...while you are a teacher at this school. For starters, we can't have you being so public with your mission can we?" Holding out a copy of the "Daily Prophet" with the grizzly scene of a dead Death Eater by then name of Mulciber. His throat was torn open, but oddly far more than merely the two holes needed to feed with. His overall appearance was that of a mummy, with his skin drawn as if all the life and moisture had been taken from it and his cloak and chest had been stabbed through with enough force to cave in the area of his heart.
"I have no doubt one who's side you are on Mr. Maximov, but I do not appreciate the rather brutal manner in which you deal with your enemies. Such can not be tolerated while you are in my school, nor for the duration of your assignment here."
"If you think I took any pleasure in it you are wrong. I did that so no one could trace it back to me. Rest assured the man's death was quick, clean, and painless."
"Ah good. I would hate to have you act as another Vlad before you."
"I only take what little blood I need to survive; about 15 pints a month. You also don't have to worry about my meals, my hunger is for food not human flesh. I have other ways, more preferred ways, of sating my bloodlust. And, even though I hold no weaknesses as others do, I have a problem with long voyages over water. Which is why I had to feed my thirst last night."
"I am well aware of some of the legends of other vampires, and I am quit fond of Bram Stoker to be honest." Dumbledore smiled.
"Well you won't catch me sleeping in dirt. But another thing you should know; I am alive and I have my soul. Beyond that, very little else about me matters."
"It is good to hear a man I will be working with have such priorities. However, I still must know what...tools of the trade shall we say you have brought with you."
"So long as you don't mind me showing you in person rather than me just letting you take a look at them by yourself." Dumbledore thought it over for a moment, then relented.
"I see that this is a point you will not concede on."
"I don't like having my equipment out of my sight for too long." Vlad said flatly. "I don't trust what other's may do with it."
"Then I suggest that you make yourself comfortable, reading your report this may take sometime. But perhaps you can answer a few, non-professional questions why we are at it?"
"Okay." Vlad said taking off his coat and setting it on the back of the chair. This was the first time that anyone in Hogwarts had gotten a good look at this new man since the black jacket had obscured any details of the man wearing it. Vlad was not only tall, about 6'9" to 6æ11ô, he was also built like a tank. He wore an undershirt of deep blue and red velvet vest which stretched over his muscles like a second skin, revealing himself to be defined as well as large. This unfortunately left little to the imagination and why Vlad chose to wear the jacket most of the time.
"Before you ask my wife had this made for me. It's made strong enough to stop a knife or deaden the blow of a blunt object, and she says it looks good on me." Vlad blushed.
"Women can make men do things they rarely thought they would, and being married you know this." Dumbledore chuckled as the two started talking like old friends.
The swirling grey reappears as the crystal balls gets back into view.
"Ah is the chapter over already." Rabby pouts. Agent Reptile is covered in lipstick kisses and has a goofy expression on his face.
"Unfortunately." Lufy deadpans.
"Well I hope you all enjoyed this first chapter, please be kind enough to review and comment on what you liked and didn't like."
"We'll be looking forward to them. And be here for the next chapter when Brianna and Brenda get their first taste of Diagon Alley, and Harry has another dream." Lufy says waving goodbye.
"See you then."
"Bye." Both say as the screen goes black.
by Agent Reptile
Disclaimer: not to seem lazy but for the purposes of secrecy I will only say that those who own some of the stuff in this fic have the rights to them and the stuff that they don't own is mine.
Key: "spoken" "telepathic"
"Welcome my faithful readers. I hope that you are not disappointed for starting another fic before I updated Through the Years, but this is a story that I have been trying to tell for quite some time now." A ninja garbed in green and black is sitting on a large red leather easy chair and grasps a crystal ball from a cushioned holder. "I hope that you enjoyed your first taste of this story. It is the tale of my student Vlad, and his experiences at Hogwarts. I will say no more at this time because to reveal any more would ruin the story."
"Meaning that you want to act all sophisticated and mysterious and bug the heck out of everyone so that they will review your boring and disinteresting story." A woman says blocking the screen.
"Lufy do you have to do that?" The male sighs and drops his head to his lap.
"Only when I can." The mostly blond woman in fighter pilot uniform which seems several sizes too large smiles.
"Can I do anything for you my dear?"
"Well their is one problem that you can help me with dear." Licking her lips her body morphs into a taller, more shapely cheetah woman. "I'm in heat and guess who happened to be my stud?"
"Since neither one of you will introduce this fic I guess I'm stuck doing it." A redhead smiles at the audience. "Hi I'm Rabby. You may " she ducks her head growling " or may not, "rises head" remember me and Lufy from Gall Force: Eternal Story. Well that's sort of a side note and if you want the whole story on why we are here, not to mention lycanthropes, you'll need to look up our husband's character bio on the GDficheaven group on yahoo. Anyways this is the start of Harry Potter and the Half Bloods." Rabby says grabbing the orb and holding it to the camera. "Lufy stop hogging him, move over." Rabby says turning into a tiger girl and runs off camera, dropping the orb on the ground.
The image swirls as a close up zooms to the grey mass forming in the ball.
Fog. It is common knowledge that England has some of the worst fog in the entire world, and this evening wasn't any different. The thick dull grey color blinded all unfortunate enough to journey within from realizing true danger of the trap they had set foot in. It is within these times that the most primitive and basic instincts take over, like a mouse can feel when he is caught in sights of a cat. The hairs on your back stand on end, your skin releases a cold and clammy sweat, your ears begin to pick-up every sound around you, and your heart races like mad. It is only the fools who do not head these warnings.
It is the unfortunate case of one Nymphadora Tonks finds herself in. A witch and member of the Order of the Phoenix she is no stranger to danger, yet this night's outing is different to her; the kind that she wishes that she had come up with any excuse, no matter how half-assed, to not journey into the darkness.
Subconsciously she was fingering her wand in her free hand as she carried some supplies towards the old Black house. It wasn't the same without Sirius though. She could have easily just apparated back to it, but she wanted some time to think before going back, maybe that was why she was out in this nearly suffocating mess; looking back it wasn't exactly the best idea that she had had in her life, after all there is a reason that instincts still exist within us today.
Tonight was a demonstration in why.
The sick inky felling of something dark and vile crept into the back of Tonks' mind as she turned to see the familiar shadow of a Death Eater apparating a few feet behind her. In every mammal body be it human, magic, mutant, or beast of field, there is something called the fight or flight response. A split-second stop of the body as it loads with adrenaline to either attack it's foe or run from it. This unique evolutionary trait is a reason for the great success of mammals as the dominate terrestrial life form, and Tonks is thanking whatever force behind it for it.
She dropped to the ground and threw the bag that had been in her arms to the side as she pointed her wand towards her foe.
"Stupli....AHH." But was grabbed from behind before she could react.
"Now now my pretty. There is no need to fight." The cold and predatory voice behind her said. His hands were cold as ice and when Tonks looked she saw the signature long canines of the undead. "The master has need of you, and their is no reason for us to have to harm you. The master likes his treats undamaged. HAHAHA."
"Enough, we have what we came for bloodsucker. Let us go."
"Easy for you to say. I have been promised this one's blood and I must feed soon. I can almost taste it already. So...so long since I had a fresh bite." the monster's fangs were almost at the young witch's neck when...
BLAMM!!
The defining eco of a gun rang through the night and Tonks felt an unfamiliar heat next to her as the powerful grip of her capture dissipated into nothingness. Both her and the Death Eater were transfixed at the sight of the vampire's burning body turning to ash at their feet.
"Leave the girl alone or die maggot." A new, unfamiliar voice called from the fog. At first it was only a sound without form, yet that form seemed to materialize from the fog itself. "I won't tell you twice."
The man was in black from the top of his hat to the bottom of his boot. Leather coat and gloves with denim pants. His mouth was covered like a bandito from the old west with a red piece of cloth with an upside-down pyramid with and eye radiating beams form the center. The only sound, outside of her own heartbeat, that Tonk's heard was the cocking of a pistol's hammer.
"I am to frightened by a cowboy wanabe? Pathetic. Avada Kadava!" The Death Eater yelled at the impertinent foe, only the green beam seem to be absorbed by the fog itself.
"I told you I wouldn't ask twice." An eerie red glow came from the man, and his cloths became lined with rune symbols to far to be recognized. It was then that Tonk's could make out the hilt of a sword on the man's back reflecting the otherworldly glow he had. What manner of being was this?
The next shot hit straight and true, through the Death Eater's wand and hand destroying both with one shot.
"What? What have you...done?" The Death Eater cried was grasping the bleeding stump that was once his hand. With fluid grace the pistols returned to their holsters inside the man's jacket too fast for Tonk's to see inside.
As the man walked towards them the sound of ringing metal reverberated in the street with each of his footfalls. The eyes of this savior were the most reflective blue that Tonk's had ever seen, but these weren't human eyes. Slit pupils seemed to delve into her very soul, but she was at peace. A calm presence slowed her racing heart and relaxed her breathing. Her mind was almost going to into a dream-like trance as he was ever closing the gap.
The Death Eater was another story. His heart raced and his face poured with sweat as the figure grew closer. A great light transfixed him from the man, a great and terrible light penetrating all that he was. The darkness the Death Eater had for so long felt afraid of was nothing to their terrible light, nor the pain from his hand any match for that in his chest. It was if a sword had been forced through his heart and was tearing it apart.
Turning towards Tonks the figure uttered this:
"You didn't see me." Tonks fell back and dropped the unused wand from her hand. Her heavy eyes shut as her body relaxed.
For the Death Eater however, he felt a great and terrible heat all around him. A burning, flaming sensation all around his body as if he was thrown to a great inferno. To this the crucious curse was nothing. The villainÆs entire perspective became the man now towering over him. Pulling the cloth away from his face the Death Eater was given full view of the one who had defeated him. His face immolated strength, power.
Clean shaven with tightly drawn lips the man stood there with an expression like that Malfoy wore. But this being with arched brow and ruthless demeanor seemed to radiate power from a limitless source inside him.
"You have been judged." Faster than his mind could process the Death Eater was grabbed, the cloth around his neck torn off and a sharp stabbing pain shock him as something tore into his throat. The flame became all that the Death Eater knew.
It would be hours before Tonk's returned to the land of the living to find herself in bed at the Black house and none the worse for wear. Yet for some strange reason every time she tried to remember what had happened that night it was a blur, a sort of mental fog.
The scenery shifts to a old train winding it's way through the Scottish countryside. This famous track has very few users at this time of year, but give it about a month and you would have children clamoring through the thing looking for seats and dreaming of what new and wondrous spells they would learn that year. Today, however, it appears to only have one passenger.
Resting under the brim of his hat the hero of last night rests his weary eyes with his feet propped up on the other side of bench and his luggage over head. Essentially dead to the world his slumber is about to be interrupted.
"Pardon me gent, but are you V.G.K. Maximov?" a female voice asked rousing the intended party back to the realm of the living.
"That would be dependant on whether you are friend or foe." The man shot back smiling. "And since you are wearing the traditional Hogwart's teaching uniform I would say friend." He said taking his feet off the bench across from his and ushered the woman to sit down.
"Thank you. I am Sinistra, Professor Aurora Sinistra; teacher of astronomy at Hogwarts." This Maximov's handshake was quite strong, and for a moment she was afraid he may accidentally crush her hand.
"I'm sorry did I frighten you?" He asked politely.
Looking down at her hand the witch noted that nothing was damaged, but she was a little embarrassed by it.
"Oh no, I was just not expecting such a strong handshake that's all."
"Sorry I keep forgetting how strong I am sometimes. I didn't upset you did I?"
"No, no you didn't...I'm just not used to people with great physical strength, at least not any really polite ones I mean...no offence or anything."
"Let me guess no one works out that much at Hogwarts?"
"Well in complete honesty it is a school for the mind after all. Magic does not rely on physical strength."
"But your life just might. Something I am going to have to deal with this year I take it."
"Oh you must be the new DADA teacher this year." The which smiled, probably trying to be polite.
"Correct. I got drafted to fix the screw-ups of that Umbrage woman, something I am not looking forward to."
"You have something against teaching I take it?"
"I have something against bureaucratic idiocy, but that is something for another day. I take it that there was a reason for you knowing my name?" He smirked.
"You are only now getting to this?"
"I wanted to get a feel for the person standing across from me and I was enjoying the conversation." He genuinely smiled.
"Why thank you. But yes I was asked by the Headmaster to give you this. Please do not ask me how he knew we would be on the same train, or why he didn't use an owl, but this letter is for you." She handed the gentleman a small brown note with a red stamp on it, hardly modern mail but it still worked.
"Dear Mr. V.G.K. Maximov,
I am pleased to hear that you have arrived in our fair land and hope that your trip was a most delightful one. I see that you have not wasted your time in starting your mission and I thank you very much for saving a comrade in arms life last night. Ms. Tonks is doing well and has no recollection of last night's events, to which I would like to speak with you later. But on to the matter at hand. I can not trust the usual system of mail for this message, and I do not have an e-mail account nor computer for that matter so I apologize for the odd method of delivery. I will, however, be there to greet you when you arrive today at Hogwarts and will insure that you and your family will have a large enough room for your stay. Concerning your teaching equipment, I will like to know what you have brought, if nothing else the safety of my students, and will meet you in private some time in the evening when you have had a chance to get in order from your trip, along with all the minor details you need to know about the school.
Sincerely Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and
Wizardry."
"Pardon me sir, but since we are working together I would like to know what exactly your name is." Sinestra asked politely, staring into the man's blue eyes, wonderful blue but completely normal now.
"Vlad Gabriel Kain Maximov my dear, but you can call me Vlad."
"And you can call me Aurora." His smile was genuine enough, but odd; preditory in some way. "And I take it that this is your first time at Hogwarts?"
"It is my first time anywhere near here to be honest." Vlad answered.
"Really? Were did you learn magic then?"
"Here, there, places that probably would have no meaning to you."
"Such as..."
"Nosgoth and Makai for starters." The sight of sheer confusion was obvious on the face of the female across from him. "Lets just say I am over qualified for the job and leave it at that." Vlad sighed an popped his neck and knuckles.
"I'll take your word for it then. Sorry if I sound...prying, but it is a little further to the grounds and I have been enjoying the company."
"So what is it that you want to know?"
"Well family is always a good place to start..."
"Well, I am married and have a daughter for starters."
"Really? It is odd that a teacher be married, much less a family man."
"As I said drafted into the job, but I'm going to be doing my best to whip those students into shape if you pardon the expression. I don't have time to waste on niceties with them."
"They are just children you know..."
"Children who, for better or worst, are pawns in a war which cannot be lost. 'It is not ours to wonder why, it is but to do and die. Sempter Fi.' as it is put."
"Where did you hear that?"
"It it the motto of the United States Marine Corps."
"United States? I was wondering about the accent, but your name sounds..."
"Eastern European? I have a mixed ancestry, in more ways than one."
"That will put you at odds with some of your students. Old families and all."
"Old families, old blood, weak genetics if you ask me."
"Weak what?"
"Sorry I keep forgetting that not everyone understands DNA. Long story short the copying and recycling of old blood without adding new blood into the system leaves them open to health problems and deformations. Like in European royalty how hemophilia runs rampant.." A nod meant that she understood. "Same sort of problem."
"Well please tell me about your wife and child, do you have pictures?"
"Yes, but they're not the same as you're probably used to."
"Muggle pictures, those flat things? Well still I would like to see."
Vlad pulls out an old brown leather wallet and takes out a series of plastic flaps from the inside.
"This is my wife Brianna, the one with the eye strip and spotted hair."
"What spell did she use, it's so natural. Not to mention those cat-like ears of hers."
"Do you have a problem with..." Vlad said almost recoiling.
"Oh no no no, perish the thought. I was just curious that all, is she a metamorphmagus by any chance?"
"Ah, no. She's...well it's hard to describe." Vlad sighed and placed his right hand over this eyes. "She's one of a kind and lets leave it at that."
"I think it's just as well. The Hogwarts stop is right here." The more practiced teacher said while getting up and walking out the door. "Thanks for your time Vlad, I hope that you find your time here enjoyable."
"As do I ma'am." Vlad said pulling his baggage from over his head. The odd sounds of metal against metal mixed with what may have been the falling of coins filled came from within the worn, dull colored bag that Vlad effortlessly draped over his shoulder.
Hogwarts, or what Vlad could see of it from the train station, was the stereotypical gothic castle with ramparts, courtyard, and a moat (or at least a lake), and one of the last places on earth Vlad wanted to set foot. Kids he could put up with, the ghosts weren't going to be a problem, it wasn't even the freak'n arrogance of the idiotic politicians in this world.
What really pissed him off was the fact that he had to pretend he was something he was not: a wizard. Oh he knew magic alright, quite a few spells in fact. But his abilities were so different from those of the wizards of this realm as a lion was to a puma; both cats but two totally different animals. Here wands were needed to cast any real spells, but all Vlad needed was concentration usually. For the really difficult stuff he needed an amplifier of sorts as well, but that was something he would think of later.
Said amplifier was vibrating within his bag violently, sensing its masters thoughts of it.
"Patients, I will have need of you soon enough." He said too quite for a normal person to hear, but for one like himself it was easy. However, getting up to the castle was something more than just slightly challenging for most people on foot, much less with such a large bag on ones back. However, Vlad was not, nor had ever been, most people. His time with his mother-in-law was enough to train any human to carry this much stuff to the castle with ease, but then again most people had not practiced with Julia Brigard Diggers the Armsmaster of Jade.
Then again most people weren't able to use magic and he could just make the excuse of a strength spell or merely weight removal spell. Pondering this problem for a moment the answer to his situation came to him, literally, in the form of a coach pulled by the sickest horses he had ever seen. Pail as sheets and boney as all get out they looked like they were taken from someone's idea of what happens when the Horseman of Famine's beast gets in the same stable as the Horseman of Conquest's.
"Okay where exactly is the Grim Reaper?" Vlad jokes looking the steeds over a few times.
"Don't rightly know that bloke, but I could see if ol' Dumbledore could find him for ye." A tall, broad, scraggily looking man with a long black beard and mane-like hair said smiling down at Vlad from the stage coach's stand.
"That was a joke, and you are?"
"Rubeus Hagrid: Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts here." The broad hand of the man passed a broad swipe across the horizon marking the bounds of his responsibility. "And I guess that'd make you the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor don't it."
"Vlad Maximov at your service." He smiled and tipped his hat. "So tell me do these horses not get enough to eat or something?"
"Well to tell you the true sir these be thestral's. Only look like horses, and they love meat. But don't worry they don't hurt nothing that don't hurt them." Vlad tossed his bag onto the luggage and sat up with the half giant.
"Not that's it any of my business sir, but how is it that you see these beauties?"
"My eyes take in the light bouncing off them, but barring the wise-ass answer I don't get what your talking about."
"Well I don't know any really wise asses..." Hagrid smirked. "But these can only be seen by people who've seen blood. You know, death and the like..."
"Believe me Hagrid I've seen death, believe me."
"Not to bother you Professor, but you seem a little occupied."
"Ah just thinking of my wife and kid waiting for me to have our room ready for them here."
"Ah it's been a while since a married man taught at Hogwarts. Be a right fine change of pace if you ask me."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence."
"Well here we are, the ol' 'Ogwart's castle. This brings back many memories."
"Buildings like this always have memories Hagrid. Thanks for the ride." Vlad said shaking the larger man's hand.
"That's some grip you got there...well let me get your bags..."
"Thanks, but it's my responsibility, and you've done so much already."
"Thank you, just wonder'n something. Why are you wearing so much for the summer?"
"I'm not really used to the cold around here. Just in from the middle of Georgia."
"Ah, an American. It's been a bloody long time since we had any from over the ocean come here. Dumbledore must be really impressed by you then...It wouldn't do to prove him wrong."
"In my line of work Hagrid; wrong is equal to dead." Vlad says walking into the old structure with moving paintings.
"I like that Hagrid man, fist time on a mission that we go somewhere and they aren't trying to kill us."
"Not yet at any rate." Vlad groaned mentally. "Alright Raziel lets go see what this Dumbledore guy has to say about us." Vlad smiled pulling a long bended sword with skullish hilt out of the bag and setting it to the scabbard on his back.
Dumbledore was smiling as he watched his new professor walking all over the place trying to find the dang door to his office. However, one could not fault Vlad for being so lost in this place as the vast maze of halls and stairs which changed on the drop of a hat, and sometimes didn't even wait for the hat to hit the ground. It was a good thing that he had the foresight to ask Harry if he could borrow the MarauderÆs map for the day. With any luck Vlad would have found his way to the Headmasters office by the start of the semester on his own.
Vlad on the other hand was not smiling one dang bit; in fact he was scowling. Why the heck did they have animated paintings in this place if they weren't helpful enough to give directions. The last portrait laughed at him when he asked and the one before that that was some deranged knight who wanted to know what kingdom Vlad was from, and explaining his situation did nothing but irritate the knight and he paraded off to another painting. Hell, Atlanta wasn't this insane and he was stuck here for at least a year?
"Pardon me, but you seem to be having some trouble mister..." An older woman's voice said as he felt someone walking down the hallway.
"Maximov, Vlad Maximov." He said turning to see a woman, probably in her fifties to sixties, dressed like a stereotypical witch's costume. 'Great what have I gotten myself into now?' he thought to himself. This was going to be one of his weirder assignments, and that was including the time he was sent to Quagmire. That town was just plain insane and he just had to meet that Prof. Steamhead. Oh well, they've probably repaired the downtown region by now.
"Mr. Maximov, I must say it is odd to find someone of your age wandering our halls lost. I am Professor McGonagall, head of Gryffindor house. Now please come with me, our Headmaster would like to have a few words with you."
"Finally someone actually able to give me directions."
"Let me guess you've been trying to get the portraits to give you directions?" McGonagall smirked as the two trod the hallways towards the statue of a bird of prey.
"More like they've been trying me. Sorry ma'am but this place is more confusing than my In-lawÆs house."
"You're married?" McGonagall asked in honest shock.
"And you're the third person today who's commented on it to be quite frank." Vlad groaned.
"Sorry, that was very improper of me to comment on." It was only now that Vlad's body turned enough that his baggage no longer blocked the more tenured professor's view of his back.
"My word what are you doing with that sword?"
"Carrying it in it's scabbard so that it doesn't slice my bag. I am to be the Defense Against Dark Arts professor am I not?"
"Yes but, that sword looks like it belongs to some dark wizard, all twisted and sinister. How is it that you came by it?"
"I...well...um...." Vlad was stalling, but thankfully Dumbledore pulled him out of the dive.
"Ah Professor Vlad, you are punctual as reported." The older wizard smiled welcoming the man into his office.
It was not that big a surprise in Vlad's opinion, after all he had the occasion to enter into Theo's study a few times, all of which he was invited to do so. This was, shall we say, more chaotic than Dr. Digger's own study. It may have been the poor lighting, or maybe the age of the room itself may it seem jumbled and disorganized. It's appearance wasn't threatening in any way, outside the phoenix which kept his gaze on Vlad. He didn't like the way the bird looked at him.
"Punctual Dumbledore? I just spent the last thirty minutes lost in this place and you call me punctual?" Vlad asked in a good natured way. The man the question was addressed to was standing with his back turned to the door and his head turned down into a pool of glowing liquid.
"Yes, you arrived precisely when intended to." Dumbledore replied now facing the two guests in his room. "And I take it that my letter was received before your arrival? I am sorry that I did not leave you time to reply."
"I got your message thank you, and it was a pretty good ride thank you for asking."
"Splendid, now come...sit please." Dumbledore instructed as he motioned to a pair of chairs in the front of his desk. Vlad's bag made a thud when it hid the floor beside him.
"Would you care for a lemon drop Professor Maximov?" This was the traditional Dumbledore greeting, with an atypical response.
"Don't mind if I do thank you." Vlad said popping one of the treats into his mouth.
Minerva McGonagall was shocked, or rather surprised to see that someone actually accepted the Headmaster's offer. Never had she seen anyone eat on of those Muggle sweets before. Dumbledore just smiled his small smile, and chuckled slightly.
"Professor McGonagall would you like one?" Vlad asked handing the plate to her.
"Ah...no...thank you." She responded with an upturned hand.
"Now that the...pleasantries are over with. I would like to formally welcome you to Hogwarts Professor Maximov, and...perhaps later...introduce you to the whole of my staff."
"I am grateful to be here Professor Dumbledore. I don't often have the chance to take in scenery on my assignments."
"Assignments Professor?" McGonagall asked.
"Professor Maximov is a professional in ...shall we say...the arts of fighting evil? And no stranger to the details of the job at hand. I have asked a dear friend of mine to have Professor Maximov fill our lacking faculty position"
"Professor, please tell me that this man isn't another Lockheart."
"Not at all my dear McGonagall. I assure you that such a mistake will never happen again."
"If you are referring to that pretty boy who has all those books of himself, I am nothing like him. Not to mention that a dear friend of mine lost his memories to that charlatan, and then Lockheart had the audacity to claim my allies work as his own. Please do not refer to me and him in the same sentence." Vlad's stridency caught the female professor off guard for a moment.
"I am sorry professor, but we have had several...poor experiences we must make sure never happen again."
"And thus I have enlisted the aid of this man Professor McGonagall. However, I must ask to be alone with him for a little while. I think that it would be more comfortable if it was just the two of us please."
"Very well Dumbledore. Professor Maximov." Professor McGonagall nodded while leaving.
"It was a pleasure, and thank you for getting me where I needed to go."
The old door creaked as it was shut.
"Now that we are alone, I have a few...personal questions to ask."
"As long as you don't pry too deep I'll answer them, but their are some things which are private."
"I can understand your need of privacy, but I must personally insure my students will be in the hands of a capable instructor."
"You likely looked over my file sent from the office in Rome, so what more did you want to know?"
"The file I have read was....lacking in some respects. For instance that sword you weald." Dumbledore pointed to the hilt on the man's back. "And what items from the Muggle World were brought into my school."
"This, Professor Dumbledore, is a sword intended for me, and only I can truly wield." Vlad said pulling the blade out of its scabbard and placing it on DumbledoreÆs desk. "None living of this world can even hold the hilt."
"And you're...unique nature....allows you to be the master of it?" Dumbledore said rubbing his chin. "And who soul is it that resides within the blade?"
"How did you....It is the soul of an ally I wouldn't be alive if he hadn't sacrificed himself, willingly, to be the soul within this weapon; the Soul Reaver." Vlad said looking into the blue glowing eyes of the skull shaped hilt. "Raziel, in life and death my right-hand man."
"Ah, allies in this and other worlds are sometimes few and far between. I cannot judge you in this regard. If Dr. Diggers trusts you, not to mention your superiors, then I shall trust your motives." Dumbledore said. "Now I understand that you have...shall we say very little understanding of the wizarding world in general."
"I have very little understanding it in any rank sir." Dumbledore looked curiously at him for a moment. "Sorry military humor."
"Ah. I will just leave you to such things. It is more important that I give you a few...rules...while you are a teacher at this school. For starters, we can't have you being so public with your mission can we?" Holding out a copy of the "Daily Prophet" with the grizzly scene of a dead Death Eater by then name of Mulciber. His throat was torn open, but oddly far more than merely the two holes needed to feed with. His overall appearance was that of a mummy, with his skin drawn as if all the life and moisture had been taken from it and his cloak and chest had been stabbed through with enough force to cave in the area of his heart.
"I have no doubt one who's side you are on Mr. Maximov, but I do not appreciate the rather brutal manner in which you deal with your enemies. Such can not be tolerated while you are in my school, nor for the duration of your assignment here."
"If you think I took any pleasure in it you are wrong. I did that so no one could trace it back to me. Rest assured the man's death was quick, clean, and painless."
"Ah good. I would hate to have you act as another Vlad before you."
"I only take what little blood I need to survive; about 15 pints a month. You also don't have to worry about my meals, my hunger is for food not human flesh. I have other ways, more preferred ways, of sating my bloodlust. And, even though I hold no weaknesses as others do, I have a problem with long voyages over water. Which is why I had to feed my thirst last night."
"I am well aware of some of the legends of other vampires, and I am quit fond of Bram Stoker to be honest." Dumbledore smiled.
"Well you won't catch me sleeping in dirt. But another thing you should know; I am alive and I have my soul. Beyond that, very little else about me matters."
"It is good to hear a man I will be working with have such priorities. However, I still must know what...tools of the trade shall we say you have brought with you."
"So long as you don't mind me showing you in person rather than me just letting you take a look at them by yourself." Dumbledore thought it over for a moment, then relented.
"I see that this is a point you will not concede on."
"I don't like having my equipment out of my sight for too long." Vlad said flatly. "I don't trust what other's may do with it."
"Then I suggest that you make yourself comfortable, reading your report this may take sometime. But perhaps you can answer a few, non-professional questions why we are at it?"
"Okay." Vlad said taking off his coat and setting it on the back of the chair. This was the first time that anyone in Hogwarts had gotten a good look at this new man since the black jacket had obscured any details of the man wearing it. Vlad was not only tall, about 6'9" to 6æ11ô, he was also built like a tank. He wore an undershirt of deep blue and red velvet vest which stretched over his muscles like a second skin, revealing himself to be defined as well as large. This unfortunately left little to the imagination and why Vlad chose to wear the jacket most of the time.
"Before you ask my wife had this made for me. It's made strong enough to stop a knife or deaden the blow of a blunt object, and she says it looks good on me." Vlad blushed.
"Women can make men do things they rarely thought they would, and being married you know this." Dumbledore chuckled as the two started talking like old friends.
The swirling grey reappears as the crystal balls gets back into view.
"Ah is the chapter over already." Rabby pouts. Agent Reptile is covered in lipstick kisses and has a goofy expression on his face.
"Unfortunately." Lufy deadpans.
"Well I hope you all enjoyed this first chapter, please be kind enough to review and comment on what you liked and didn't like."
"We'll be looking forward to them. And be here for the next chapter when Brianna and Brenda get their first taste of Diagon Alley, and Harry has another dream." Lufy says waving goodbye.
"See you then."
"Bye." Both say as the screen goes black.