Third Place - Action/Adventure

Harry looked in the mirror with a grin; they would be leaving for Diagon Alley in a minute and he would be getting a wand of his own along with a bloody cauldron, of all things. Next they�d be saying that broomsticks are used to fly and witches really do melt under water. He chuckled to himself as he straightened out his clothes and nodded. He was wearing dark red robes with a large Corvus mark embroidered in the centre of the chest and he had the collar turned up. The dark red robes contrasted against his pure white skin and his eyes seemed to be glowing, but the blood red mark on his neck was visible to all, and that�s how he wanted it.

Around his waist he had his weapons belt and he placed his two Grandmaster guns in the holders as well as his sword, two throwing knives and a dagger. He had two more daggers strapped to his wrists and another one strapped to his left ankle. He certainly wouldn�t be unarmed. The robes were what his father wanted him to wear whenever he went out; they were made of the finest materiel and only the Corvus family were to wear them, the other members of the clan had blue ones or green, depending on their jobs.

When he was ready, he turned and exited the room with a smile, today was the start of a new life and he wasn�t sure whether he liked that. It was only seven years though, and seven years was nothing at all to a vampire, he would be free to return here at holidays and he would be able to see his fathers whenever he wanted too. They were only a touch away after all. He smiled as he ran his fingers over the mark, he felt complete now, felt like he belonged.

He shifted the sword slightly so that it didn�t trip him and instead rested against the outer side of his leg and then he hurried down the huge set of stone steps and into the entrance hall where his Pa, his Da and Blaise were waiting for him. He smiled when he saw his fathers were wearing their Corvus robes as well, and Blaise was in the blue one.

"Are you ready my son?" Dante asked and Harry nodded as he took the offered hands of his fathers. He walked in between them as Blaise walked behind at a respectable distance but close enough to intervene if anything goes wrong. As soon as they stepped out of the manor and onto the grounds, four armed guards stationed themselves around them; these ones wore green Corvus robes. Two walked in front with their guns across their chest and the other two walked behind.

"How are we getting there?"

"Jumping... Do you want to do it on your own or would you prefer one of us to do it for you?" Ivan asked and Harry shrugged indifferently.

"I�ll do it; it makes no difference really does it? What�s the name of the place again?" he asked as his looked around the vast grounds that belonged to the huge manor.

"The Leaky Cauldron, its-" Dante trailed off with a curse when Harry disappeared out of view and then he quickly closed his eyes and thought of the London pub called Leaky Cauldron. When he opened his eyes again, he was stood besides Harry and he rolled his eyes at the cheeky grin his son sent his way. The guards, Blaise and Ivan appeared at the same time and both of his fathers took his hands again while the guards pushed the doors open so that they could enter.

The infamous Leaky Cauldron was a sight for sore eyes. It was damp, dark, and full of mortals of all kinds. Witches, wizards, warlocks, hags, all of them stopped what they were doing and stared when the three Corvus�s entered after the first two guards. Harry looked around disdainfully but truthfully his curiosity had been caught. These were the witches and wizards he had been made to learn all about, he had always wondered what it would be like to meet an ordinary mortal wizard.

"Don�t mind us, just passing through," Dante said cheerfully and Harry looked up at his Pa with amusement. Ivan snorted the other side of him and Blaise bowed before moving in front and leading the way out through the back of the pub. They could still feel eyes on them when they came out into a small back yard.

Blaise took out his stick wand and tapped a specific brick. Harry made a mental note of the correct one as he watched the wall dissolve into an arch impassively. The two guards were the first to slip through it and then Harry and his two fathers followed them, looking around with interest. Mortals openly stared at them as they went passed; some actually stopped what they were doing. Looks of disgust, fear and wariness were what most people wore but Harry just followed the guards through the street.

"We need to exchange some money for wizard�s gold," Ivan explained as they approached a large white building at the end of the alley.

"Or fools gold, as some like to call it," Dante chirped with a grin and Harry sniggered to himself. The approached some huge burnished bronze doors and stood outside of them was what Harry recognised as a goblin. He had read quite a lot about them, having been taught of the great goblin rebellion and one would be stupid not to recognise a goblin when they saw one. Said goblin was about a head shorter than Harry, he had a swarthy, clever face, a pointed beard and, Harry noticed, very long fingers and feet. He bowed as they walked inside and Harry found himself facing a second set of doors, silver this time with words engraved on them.

Enter, stranger, but take heed
Of what awaits the sin of greed
For those who take, but do not earn

Must pay most dearly in their turn
So if you seek beneath our floors
A treasure that was never yours,
Thief, you have been warned, beware
Of finding more than treasure there

"So they can rhyme," Harry said with a grin as the doors were opened and they entered a huge marble hall. He waited with Dante, Blaise and the guards as Ivan approached the desk and dealt with the money. Harry ignored the looks they were receiving from those inside the bank and instead amused himself by watching the goblins work. His Da returned shortly with a sack full of coins and he motioned back out to the street.

"Do they know how to stop staring or is this something I have to get used too?" Harry mumbled as he followed the guards back onto Diagon Alley and looked around at all the shops. His fathers both laughed softly and took his hands again.

"Admittedly we look a sight Har. Most mortals have never seen a vampire before, especially ones who can walk in the sun. Then you must take into consideration that we are heavily armed. When you get to this Hogwarts, things will probably settle down after they have had time to get used to the idea of having a vampire under the same room" Ivan explained and Harry nodded with a sigh, refusing to allow these mortals to irritate him any further.

The first place they came to was called Madame Malkin�s Robes for All Occasions and Harry waited patiently outside while the two guards entered and checked for any threats. When it was okay for him to enter, he stepped through the open door and looked around with a gentle smile before he turned to look at the very pale woman who was sat behind a till.

"I am in need of some robes, Madame. Hogwarts" he said plainly and watched with a dull amusement as she stuttered soundlessly and visibly pulled herself together.

"Of course sir... If you could come into the back room, we�ll get you measured up," she said after a minute, and Harry nearly applauded her efforts as she didn�t stutter but he thought it would probably be rude of him. He chuckled softly at the thought and followed her into the other room with one of the guards while the others waited in the main part. He stepped up onto a stool besides another boy as he looked straight into the mirror, smiling when he saw no reflection. He willed himself to appear and then straightened his collar while the woman messed about with a measuring tape and some black material.

"I say! You�re a vampire!" the boy gasped and Harry turned his head slowly and quirked an eyebrow.

"I say! You�re a human!" he replied mockingly and then he rolled his eyes before turning away, clearly signalling the end to the conversation. He watched as the guard stepped forward and pointed his gun straight at the boy�s chest with a sneer on his face.

"You will not speak to the master without permission," he snapped and Harry did laugh at the look of horror, fear and fascination that crossed over the boys face. He held out his hand and waved the guard away dismissively

"I think he gets the picture, Arthion. Thank you" he said with a smile and watched as the guard bowed and backed away into the corner of the room. He looked from the boy to the woman and back again, wondering whether he could be bothered to waste his breath to talk to these... then again he had to go to school with a bunch of mortals so he had better learn how too.

"What can you tell me of this... Hogwarts?" he asked and then wished he hadn�t when the blonde kid burst into a serious of explanations about houses, points, quidditch and lord knows what else. He kept his expression attentive as he turned his thoughts inward and barely refrained from rolling his eyes at the smug smirk the boy sent to the guard. Harry looked over at him apologetically but Arthion just smirked and waved his hand to let him know that it was okay. He, at least, saw how interested Harry was in the conversation.

Which wasn�t very

"What�s the name of your servant anyway?" the boy asked and managed to drag Harry out of his thoughts. He arched an eyebrow and held up a hand to stop Arthion from attacking for the insult as he glared at the boy.

"Vampires haven�t yet sunk quite so low as to need servants, boy. We can still do things for ourselves, I wasn�t aware that the magical population were so...depraved" he sneered and heard a snort of amusement from the woman who was pinning some material together behind him.

"Who is he then? Why he does call you master?" the boy snapped angrily and Harry sighed with exasperation.

"He is my guard," he said simply, his anger rising by the second.

"Looks like a slave to me," the boy said with a sniff and Harry curled his hands into a fist at his side. He was about to pull out one of his weapons, if just to give him a scare, when he caught sight of the boys reflection and he stifled a laugh. It seemed like he had done some of that accidental magic again and the idiot was now sporting blue hair.

"That�s you done," the woman said, motioning to the other boy, and Harry breathed a sign of relief when he left the room. Blaise came in next and jumped up onto the stool the mortal had just vacated and Harry grinned when he saw his Da coming up behind him.

"Must I go to school with such fools?" he asked with a pout and then he laughed when he heard the boy screaming obscenities in the other room, he had obviously seen his new hair.

"Serves you right... fool boy... You�re lucky you didn�t get your throat slit... You can�t just go around insulted the Corvus clan... Especially those ones..." another voice interrupted the boys shouts of rage and Harry snickered to himself as his Da put a hand on his shoulder.

"That would be his father then, we just had the � ahh � pleasure of meeting him," Ivan said with amusement and Harry grinned sheepishly. "Do try not to get yourself into too much trouble at that school of yours my son, we have enough trouble with attacks from our own kind without adding more to them," he said and Harry pouted

"It wasn�t my fault! I didn�t even mean to do it anyway, he was bloody obnoxious. If they are all like that, I won�t be staying there,"

"There�re not all that bad dear," the woman interrupted before Ivan could answer. "There are some pure-blooded families who like to believe they are better than others. Not all are as... uplifting as Mr. Malfoy," she added and Harry nodded, sighing mournfully as he looked up at Ivan

"I have a lot to learn Da," he mumbled and Ivan smirked

"Just be grateful you learnt all the Wizarding laws and such years ago instead of now, or you would have even more to learn," he said and Harry rolled his eyes, muttering under his breath.

"I�ll explain it all to you when we get back to the manor little master," Blaise offered and Harry nodded his thanks. He stepped down when the woman had finished and then they all paid up, thanked the woman for her help, and stepped back out onto the street. He paid little attention to where they were going as he lost himself in his thoughts about what he had to learn, admittedly there were many things he did know that he could guarantee a wizard his age wouldn�t know, but the main facts that he would need if he was to live with these people where many.

He�d just have to get a few extra books and start reading...

"Ahh, I wondered when I would be seeing you Mr. Potter," Harry blinked and was surprised to see that they had entered another shop. An old man around the same height as Harry approached him with almost silver eyes. He didn�t seem in the least bit fazed by the guards or by the fact that they were vampires, in fact he didn�t seem to have noticed anyone but Harry. He briefly wondered whether there was any point correcting the mortal and pointing out that his name was Potter-Corvus, but he decided to let it slide for now. The man was weird and Harry didn�t want to stay in the shop any longer than necessary.

"Indeed," he said eventually and the man stopped in front of him, peering into his eyes.

"If you could hold out your wand arm," he said and Harry quirked an eyebrow before he held up his right arm. He watched disinterestedly as a measuring tape started to measure his arm and then his waist and his height, but he didn�t bother to protest. The old man was moving about again now, dragging boxes down in dozens. "Just take a hold of the wands and give them a little wave, we�ll know when you find the right one,"

Harry did as instructed without thought and rolled his eyes as the first wand was snatched out of his hand before he could even close his fingers around it. The second came and went just as quickly, then the third, the forth, the fifth... Finally after what must have been the fortieth wand, Harry gripped one that sent a shiver down his spine and pure white sparks shot from the tip of the wood.

"13 inches, phoenix feather and unicorn blood... freely given I might add. Made from Elvenwood, a wood that can only be found in the Elven realm... This is one of a kind Mr. Potter and extremely powerful..."

Harry grinned as he faced his Da and his Pa with his new swords in his hands. They had returned from Diagon Alley three hours before and he had put all of his things away and spent some time talking with Blaise. He had bought practically half of the damn bookshop so that he could read up and actually know about the school he would be entering. He had an eagle instead of an owl, which was simply beautiful and had flown onto his shoulder before he could even look at the owls; he also had a Boa Constrictor snake that appeared to have attached itself to him...

He had known he could talk to snakes since he was nine years old and had come across a common garden snake when he was out hunting with his fathers, though he had never actually considered having one for a pet until he saw that in the tank and talked to it. He would have to name them both later but right now he wanted to practice and it had been a long time since both his Pa and his Da had fought against him together.

He had a lot to read and he would have to start after this, but for now it could wait. He shifted his stance and checked his balance and then grinned as the first attack came, a simple, powerless one that he blocked easily. His Da went first, pushing Harry back as he forced his son into defence, Harry managed to keep up with him without effort, his eyes firmly fixed on the face of his Da as he tried to read what move he would make before he made it. When his Pa joined in, Harry was hard put to keep up.

He tightened his grip on the serpent master and the sword of war and then took a calming breath before he threw everything he had into his attack. He pushed himself out of defence and drove his Pa backwards while he batted the blows from his Da away. He closed his eyes and just allowed himself to feel, sensing the shift in the air whenever an attack was made so he could block it. It had taken him an entire year of being blindfolded for him to learn the differences in sounds but now that he could, they were like alarm bells when his eyes where open or closed.

"Excellent!" he heard his Da say and Harry grinned, sometimes it was like he lived merely to please his two fathers, and now was one of those times. He worked his arms as fast as he could as he danced around, avoiding other attacks. He winced when his Pa managed to get through his defence and slashed deeply into his side but he didn�t allow that to stop him as he shifted his stance again to centre his defence mainly around the wound.

"Good," his Pa approved when he noticed and Harry flashed him a grin before he attacked him with force. He made sure not to offer his back to his Da as he did so and instead kept an eye on the man who was watching with amusement and a little concern. Neither man liked to wound him and when they did they made a huge bloody fuss over him, even when he pointed out that when you play with swords, you expect to get harmed.

He pouted as one sword was flipped up out of his hand and into his Pa�s and then he changed his stance entirely as he now only had one. He feinted to the left, switched hands and then went to attack the right, but as his Pa brought down his sword to block, he shifted hands again and cut deeply into his left side instead.

"Enough for today," Ivan called and Harry grinned and took a step back, bowing to them both before he straightened up and put his sword back on his belt. He ignored the wound on his side that was still dripping blood as he retrieved the serpent master sword from his Pa and sheathed it. The wand that he had bought from Diagon Alley sat comfortably in the holder that had been made for it, but before he could use it there was still something he wanted to do. Ollivander hadn�t said anything about it, but the fact that the idea tugged at Harry so was beginning to annoy him, perhaps he should do that before he settled down to read.

"You will be unbeatable Har, if you keep working at your skills like you do now, you will be matchless in just a few years," Dante said as he put his arm around Harry�s shoulder and pressed a kiss to his head. His other arm wrapped around Harry�s waist until his hand was pressed tightly against the wound. Harry rolled his eyes and pulled back, lifting his shirt and as he watched, the wound pulled closed and left an angry looking scar.

"See, I�m fine," he said but still his fathers wrapped an arm around him, one across his shoulders and one around his waist as they lead him gently back to the manor.

"That�s not the point, we�re parents, we�re allowed to worry," Ivan said with a grin and Harry rolled his eyes again before shrugging. He nodded to the guards stood outside the main doors as they pushed the doors open for them

"You should worry about Pa too, he got hurt," he pointed out once they were inside and he grinned at the disgruntled look his Pa sent his way.

"Go on, go up and get ready for bed, we�ll be along in a minute to take a look to see if you healed properly and we�ll bring hot chocolate," Ivan said with amusement and Harry grinned as he pressed a kiss to his fathers cheeks and then took the stairs two at a time. As soon as his bedroom door was shut, he dragged the wand out of his pocket and placed it carefully on his desk.

It was carved differently than Blaise�s; it was silver for a start and very nearly transparent. He could see the phoenix tears and the unicorn blood softly floating from side to side, shimmering beautifully. It was shaped like a snake and the end where the spells came out had the snakes head engraved into it. He glanced over his shoulder once before he bit gently into the tip of his finger, enough to draw up blood. He squeezed it over the Elvenwood wand and watched in fascination as his blood dropped onto it and then the silver took a red tint to it as the wand began to glow.

"Cool," he whispered as the white/silver liquid inside the wand turned blood red, his breath caught in his throat and when he picked it up again, he felt a strong electricity shoot up his arm and down his spine. He grinned and then wrenched his eyes away as he prepared himself for bed. His eyes kept returning to his wand as he slipped into his pyjamas but it hadn�t changed, it was still blood red with a silver tint to it and it looked like the serpent had actually come to life as the blood and tears swirled inside of it.



The Heir of Corvus I: The Philosopher�s Stone - Chapter 4

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