Third Place - Action/Adventure

"My lord, the train is slowing, you should put your uniform on." Blaise said and Harry rolled his eyes again, it didn�t take a genius to work that out now did it? He opened his trunk and pulled out one of the many black robes he had and then he unfastened his weapons belt and put it on the seat carefully before pulling his Corvus robes off over his head. He folded them and put them back in his trunk before he adjusted the daggers and gun that he had strapped to his wrists and ankles before pulling the Hogwarts robes over his head.

He left the collar turned up and the black contrasted brilliantly against his pure white skin, the Corvus mark on his neck was in plain view as he put his belt back on again. There was really no question about his being immortal, he thought with a grin. Shack slithered up to wrap himself around his chest again and Rowan settled down on top of his cage. By the time he was ready the train had stopped completely and he pulled open the door, not in the least surprised to find that the two guards had vanished into the shadows, they would probably not be seen until they were needed. He and the girl, Hermione Granger, followed Blaise off the train and out into the night.

"Firs�-years! Firs�-years over here!" a large giant of a man shouted loudly, his voice piercing through the darkness. Harry winced as the words echoed around his head but he followed Blaise towards him and then stopped in front of him. When all the first years were gathered, they followed the large man down what seemed to be a steep, narrow path. The darkness seemed to be closing in them and Harry smiled as he saw the thick trees, so that was where he would be doing his hunting.

"Yeh�ll get your firs� sight o� Hogwarts in a sec," the man called over his shoulder. "Jus� round this bend here." The narrow path opened suddenly on to the edge of a great black lake. Sat on top of a high mountain on the other side was a large castle with many towers and sparkling windows. "No more�n four to a boat!" The man shouted as he walked past him and Harry cringed again along with Blaise. He and Blaise were followed into one of the boats by Hermione and a red-haired boy.

"Everyone in?" shouted the man again, who had a boat to himself. "Right then � FORWARD!" Harry�s hands automatically went to his ears and he growled low in his throat before glaring over at the fool. Hermione sent him a sheepish grin but the red-haired boy was just staring at him and paying little attention to anything else. The boats drew forward on their own and they gently floated across the lake. Harry sat back and looked up at the beautiful starry night with a smile, it had been a long day on that train but soon he would get to see his parents and perhaps a little hunting was in order... before they went to sleep.

Everyone was silent as they stared up at the castle they were slowly approaching and Harry looked across at the people who would be his classmates for seven years. He saw the blonde boy from Diagon Alley and he wrinkled his nose in disgust slightly. He ducked his head as they came to a large curtain of ivy which covered a wide opening in the cliff face. They were carried along a dark tunnel, which seemed to be taking them right under the castle, until they reached a kind of underground harbour.

Blaise climbed out first and then he offered Harry his arm and pulled him out. He dusted down Harry�s robes himself but Harry just turned back to the boat and helped the girl out, he had learnt some semblance of manners from his father, even if they were deeply buried. They walked up a flight of stone steps and crowded around the huge, oak front door.

"Everyone here...? You there, still got yer toad?" finally the large man raised a gigantic fist and knocked three times on the castle door. Before he had even pulled his hand back the door opened at once and a tall, black-haired witch in emerald green robes stood there. She had a very stern face and Harry�s first thought was that someone should show her how to smile once in a while. She pulled the door open wide and they stepped into what was obviously the Entrance Hall.

The stone walls were lit with flaming torches like the ones at Gringotts, the ceiling walls were lit with flaming torches like the ones at Gringotts, the ceiling was too high to make out, and a magnificent marble staircase facing them led to the upper floors. They followed the woman across the flagged stone floor and Harry could hear the voice of hundreds from a doorway to his right � the rest of the school was already there then. They went into a small empty chamber off the hall and they all had to stand rather close together to fit in.

"Welcome to Hogwarts," the woman said when everyone had finally shut up. "I am Professor McGonagall. The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall..." Harry tuned her out after that and instead turned his attention to the room in which they now stood. After a while the woman disappeared and then they were left alone while she went off to do something.

"How exactly do they sort us into houses?" a boy next to the red-haired one asked and Harry listened lazily, eager to get this over with so that he could see his fathers again.

"I don�t know, some sort of test I think. Fred and George say something about wrestling a mountain troll but I think they might have been joking." The red-haired replied and Harry snorted softly to himself. He wasn�t about to correct them but really! No wonder everyone else looked terrified if they believed shit like they, didn�t they know how to read?

He was distracted from his thoughts as about twenty ghosts streamed through the back wall. Pearly-white and slightly transparent, they glided across the room talking to each other and hardly glancing at the first years. Harry watched with curiosity, he had never seen a ghost before, though he obviously knew they existed, his father had mentioned them a few times before.

"Forgive and forget, I say, we ought to give him a second chance-" a little fat monk was saying.

"My dear Friar, haven�t we given Peeves all the chances he deserves? He gives us all a bad name and you know, he�s not really a ghost � I say, what are you all doing here?" said a ghost wearing a ruff and tights as he finally noticed the mortal students. Harry rolled his eyes and looked away as he looked at his watch. Blaise grinned beside him and then the woman returned again, Professor McGonagall, and she got them all into a line and led them, single file, out of the chamber, back across the hall and through a pair of double doors to the Great Hall.

Now he was impressed.

The large hall was lit by thousands and thousands of candles which were floating in mid-air over four long tables, where the rest of the students were sitting. These tables were laid with glittering golden plates and goblets. At the top of the hall was another long where the teachers were obviously sitting. Professor McGonagall led the first-years up here, so that they came to a halt in a line facing the other students with the teachers behind them. Harry looked upwards and saw a velvety black ceiling dotted with stars, the infamous bewitches ceiling of Hogwarts. He had read about that in Hogwarts: A History.

McGonagall placed a four-legged stool in front of the first-years. On top of the stool she put a pointed wizard�s hat. The hat was patched and prayed and extremely dirty. Harry wrinkled his nose again; the famous sorting hat of the four founders could at least be a little... cleaner. He watched as a rip near the brim opened wide like a mouth and then the hat began to sing.

�Oh, you may not think I�m pretty,
But don�t judge on what you see,
I�ll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.
You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I�m the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.
There�s nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat cant see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.
You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
If you�ve a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You�ll make your real friends,
Those cunning folk use any means
To achieve their ends.
So put me on! Don�t be afraid!
And don�t get in a flap!
You�re in safe hands (though I have none)
For I�m a thinking cap!�

Finally it shut up and Harry was hard put to stop from laughing out loud. It sounded like something you would expect on the Muggle cartoon channels. The whole hall burst into applause as the hat finished its song. It bowed to each four tables and then became still again. Harry shifted slightly so that he was hidden mostly behind Blaise for he couldn�t be arsed getting stared at for his snake or his weapons yet and so far no one seemed to have noticed he wasn�t the same.

"When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted." McGonagall said clearly as she held a long roll of parchment in her hands. "Abbott, Hannah!" and then a pink-faced girl with blonde pigtails stumbled out of line and put on the hat. Harry snickered softly to himself as he could imagine her cursing herself for the name that made her first. After a moments pause, the rip on the hat opened once more.

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

The table on the right cheered and clapped as Hannah went to sit down at the Hufflepuff table. Harry saw the ghost of the fat friar waving merrily at her. As Bones, Susan was called forward; Harry turned his attention back up to the ceiling and stared out into the night. He paid attention again when Hermione was called forward and offered her a reassuring smile as she walked on shaky legs over to the Gryffindor table.

Then Malfoy, Draco was called and that blonde haired boy walked forward, Harry glanced at him disdainfully as he walked confidently and with a grin on his face, towards the Slytherin table. Great, knowing Harry�s luck, he�d end up there. There weren�t many left now and so it was getting harder to hide his things but Blaise, who realised what he was doing, stood in front of him and blocked the view of the students and teachers.

Then it came.

"Potter-Corvus, Harry."

As soon as his name was called, several things happened at once. Harry stepped forward and into view and many of the teachers stood up and pointed their wands at him. In the blink of an eye, Blaise was stood in front of him with his sword out and his arms spread to cover Harry�s body as the four guards quickly surrounded Harry with their guns out and pointed. Harry flicked his wrists and his daggers popped out of their holders and into his hands as he bared his teeth at them, his fangs glittering in the light.

"I am the heir to the Corvus clan, think carefully." he hissed loudly as he met the eyes of each of the teachers who held him at wand point. He got into a fighting stance, ready to attack when finally an old man with a long white beard stood up and held his hands out to the teachers.

"Lower your wands immediately." He said as his blue eyes pierced into Harry�s with an unblinking stare. Harry met it defiantly and didn�t put his weapons away or relax, but the guards lowered their own guns slightly, making no move to disappear again. Harry kept his eyes locked on the old mans as he bit into the pad of his thumb until he drew blood and then ran it down his neck and over his mark. Immediately his two fathers appeared and the wands were lifted once more, along with the guns.

"Who are you and why are you here?" said professor McGonagall and Harry sneered.

"I am Harry Potter-Corvus, son of Ivan and Dante Corvus, and heir to the Corvus clan. I am here because I was invited, the same as everyone else, with a letter." he snarled and relaxed slightly as both his fathers placed a hand on his shoulder protectively as they glared daggers at the wizard.

"If this is the welcome my son will receive, then he shall return home with us and we shall get him a private tutor. We honour you by allowing him to attend." Ivan called clearly; his voice was the cold, ice laden tone that Harry only ever remembered being used on his Da�s enemies.

"There seems to have been a huge misunderstanding here, Mr. Corvus. My colleagues were merely caught my surprise, it is not often that one of you kind comes to Hogwarts and the last we knew, Mr. Potter was mortal." The old man spoke again as he nodded for everyone to relax again. Wands were put away as the old man summoned two more chairs at the side of his own. "Please, be seated and allow the sorting to continue, we will discuss this after the feast."

With a nod from Ivan, the four guards dissolved into the shadows again and Blaise returned to the line. Ivan and Dante sat in the chairs that had been summoned and Harry was left standing, with his daggers still out and prepared to attack. He narrowed his eyes slightly as they were still locked with the ones of Albus Dumbledore. After a minute he relaxed his stance and with a simple shrug of his shoulders, the daggers shot back into their holders and he lifted his head and approached the hat.

Everyone stared in absolute silence as he picked the hat off the stool and then sat down, he placed it on his head after a nod from his father and then he put a hand on Shack�s long body to calm him down.

�Hmm� said a small voice in his ear and Harry realised it was the hat. �Difficult, very difficult... Plenty of courage, I see... a mind of astounding quickness. There�s talent, oh my goodness there�s talent. Sharp, blunt, loyal... the attributes of all four houses, but where should I put you? You could be great, you know. It�s all here in your head, and Slytherin would help you on your way to greatness...�

�I couldn�t give a flying fuck to be honest. Why don�t you just hurry up about it so I can get the hell away from all these eyes hmm?� Harry thought irritably and rolled his eyes when he heard a chuckle.

�Quite a mouth you have there, Potter. Very well then, it had better be SLYTHERIN� the last word was shouted out to the whole hall and he snatched the hat from his head and dropped it unceremoniously on the stool. Dead silence followed this but he didn�t give a shit, he stalked across the hall and sat down away from the other students... and definitely away from Draco bloody Malfoy. He glared up at the staff table again as the sorting finally continued and met the eyes of the headmaster once more, he arched an eyebrow and once again returned the stare unblinkingly, his eyes iced over and cold with a glare that spelt death.

"ZABINI, BLAISE!" McGonagall finally shouted and Harry tore his eyes away once more to look up at his friend. He wasn�t surprised in the least when Blaise was sorted into Slytherin and he clapped lightly, smiling as the other vampire came to sit next to him.

"That�s what I call tense." Blaise muttered and Harry smirked.

"You can say that again." He replied as he looked up and nodded to his fathers. He watched as his Pa rolled his eyes up to the ceiling slowly and then snickered, aware that he was still getting stared at. Albus Dumbledore climbed to his feet once more and was beaming at the students, his arms opened wide, as if nothing could have pleased him more than to see them all there. Perhaps with the exception of the vampires of course, Harry thought with a smirk.

"Welcome!" he said," Welcome to a new year here at Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!" he sat down after that and Harry stared at him blankly. So that must be what you called a frigging Mugwump... someone who was completely and utterly insane. Before he could say anything to Blaise, the dishes in front of him were piled with food. There was roast beef, roast chicken, pork chops and lamp chops, sausages, bacon and steak... just about everything except blood, nor was there anything raw.

Harry pushed his plate away and sat back, he wasn�t in the mood to eat the mortal food now, he wanted blood and he wanted to speak to his fathers. He gently unwound shack from his chest and placed him on the table with a small smile, he ran two fingers down his head and laughed at the irritated hiss he received in return for waking him.

�You should have let me bite one of them, they would have learnt there lesson then.� Shack hissed smugly and Harry smiled again.

�Aye, they would have learnt their lesson and we would have been out on our ass with a one way ticket to Azkaban for murder. Thanks, but no thanks, I could have handled it on my own if anything went wrong.� He replied with a roll of his eyes, he didn�t know why he had bothered with all those years of training when nobody would let him look after himself anyway. It was beginning to get annoying... just as annoying as the gasps and stares he was receiving again! Someone near him even screamed! He looked up blankly and saw met the eyes of them again, wondering what he had done this time.

"They are not accustomed to hearing one speak with snakes, little master. It is called Parseltongue in this world and is seen to be a trait of a dark wizard." Blaise explained nervously and Harry shook his head before smirking.

"Well I am a Corvus; I�m not like normal wizards." he said and then he looked across the hall. He met Hermione�s eye and he offered her a smile, pleased when she returned it without hesitation. It didn�t seem like she was going to let these so-called house rivalries get in her way, perhaps he could even make a friend out of her. He leant further back in his chair and crossed his legs before looking up at the ceiling once more, allowing his attention to waver.

He looked up at the staff table once more and studied those who were to be his teachers. The large man who had brought them here was drinking from his goblet, Professor McGonagall was talking to Dumbledore, his two fathers were deep in conversation and another professor who was wearing an absurd turban was talking to a teacher with greasy black hair, a hooked nose and sallow skin.

The black haired man looked over the other mans shoulder and stared straight at Harry, a short, sharp, pain spread through the scar on his head and Harry winced a little and slapped his palm against the lightening bolt with a frown. Except he wasn�t staring at the black haired man now, he was staring in confusion at the professor in the turban. He sensed darkness there, not just darkness but the embodiment of evil itself. Something that clawed at his soul and the edges of his mind, he tore his eyes away and shook his head before looking back up. The pain had gone as quickly as it had come.

At last, the puddings disappeared and Professor Dumbledore got to his feet again. The hall fell silent.

"Ahem � just a few more words now we are all fed and watered. I have a few start-of-term notices to give you." He called, "First years should note that the forest in the grounds is forbidden to all pupils. And a few of our older students would do well to remember that as well." He said and Harry arched an eyebrow, if he needed to hunt then where the fuck was he supposed to do it?

"I have also been asked by Mr. Filch, the caretaker, to remind you all that no magic should be used between classes and in the corridors. Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of term. Anyone interesting in playing for their house teams should contact Madame Hooch. And finally, I must tell you that this year; the third-floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a very painful death."

Harry rolled his eyes again, telling someone not to do something was like giving them an invitation to go and do exactly that, had the old fool never heard of curiosity? He was brought from his thoughts as he heard singing and then saw that the words to what was obviously the school song now floated in the centre of the hall above everyone�s heads. When they were finished, they were all dismissed and Harry watched as a few older students started to round up the first years.

"You are to remain seated." Said a voice from behind him and Harry nodded without turning, he had seen the dark haired teacher move and so he wasn�t surprised in the least. He watched the other students leave and saw a few curious glances his way but paid no attention to them. Blaise remained seated as well and when the hall was finally empty, Harry stood and allowed Shack to wrap back around his chest as he turned to the front of the hall.

"Honestly Har, can�t you go even one night without getting yourself into trouble?" Ivan teased as he held his arms open. Harry pouted playfully.

"This time it really wasn�t my fault!" he said indignantly before he stepped into his Da�s embrace and hugged him tightly, unwilling to let go. "Da, are you sure we can�t just go home anyway?"

"It really won�t be that bad Mr. Potter. I must apologise for the rash actions of my staff, we did not mean to bring embarrassment to you." The old headmaster said gently and Harry quirked an eyebrow but didn�t bother to point out that they were the ones who would have been embarrassed if he had attacked.

"Corvus. My name is Harry Potter-Corvus." He said instead, it couldn�t really be that hard to remember a name could it?

"Ah, Mr. Corvus, forgive me but it is hard to adjust to such a change, I knew your parents when they were alive, and I delivered you to your aunts house personally, so I cannot understand how you became... who you are." The old man was obviously trying to be delicate and so Harry wouldn�t snap... too much.

"That�s generally what happens when you leave somebody on a doorstep, old man. Anybody could take them,"

"Oh dear, we have got off one the wrong foot haven�t we? Why don�t we start again? I am Albus Dumbledore, headmaster of Hogwarts." he said with a smile as he held out his hand to Harry. Harry rolled his eyes and took it, bowing stiffly.

"Harry Potter-Corvus. This is my Pa, Dante, and my Da, Ivan." he replied courteously and smirked as his two fathers shook the old mans hands. Dumbledore smiled and nodded widely and then his eyes fell onto Harry�s weapon belt.

"Ahh, I�m afraid it is not allowed for students to carry weapons..." he started and Ivan squeezed Harry�s shoulder to let him know that it was okay.

"He is the heir to the largest and most powerful vampire clan. There are weekly assassination and kidnapping attempts on him and he is therefore forbidden to go anywhere without at least two weapons at hand. He knows how to use them, if that is your concern, and they will remain mostly out of sight from the others." His Da replied firmly and Harry smiled to himself, it looked like he would be going home after all.

"How about we compromise? If he loses the belt, I won�t object to him keeping the weapons he has to his wrists and ankles... unless he ever pulls them out on another student." Dumbledore asked patiently and Ivan opened his mouth to object but Harry just shook his head with a sigh

"No Da, that�s fine. If I ever leave the grounds I�ll wear the belt but other than that I�ll keep it locked in my trunk. I�m hungry, I�m tired, and I�m pissed off, I do not want to stand around here arguing for the next hour." He said and then glared at the scowl he received in return, but his father didn�t say anything.

"Albus! This is absurd! Hogwarts is the safest place there is, there is no need for him to carry weapons!" Professor McGonagall interrupted and Harry sighed heavily before he fell back in a seat and crossed his legs.

"I have never tried to harm a person that has not tried to harm me. You do not have to worry about me killing your precious mortals, woman." He snapped and then waved his hand as she opened her mouth to speak again. "Nor will I feed from them. I know how to hunt and so I will, animal blood is a substitute that I have always been satiated with. Da perhaps this really was a mistake; I can learn all I need to from a tutor."

"Harry why don�t you and Blaise go hunting in the forest while your Pa and I sort this out? Perhaps we will manage it without insulting every one of your teachers even further. Come back here once you have fed." Ivan said with amusement and Harry grinned sheepishly as he climbed to his feet. He didn�t bother waiting to listen to any protests as he crossed the room with Blaise and slipped back out into the Entrance Hall.

Harry left Blaise on the ground as he leaped up into the trees once more. He peered through the darkness and grinned; now he felt at home. He opened his senses and crawled out with his awareness � figuratively speaking of course. He could sense many creatures nearby, as well as Blaise who was somewhere behind him. He was silent as he jumped from tree to tree, avoiding the leaves as he stared ahead with a wide smile on his face.

The gentle breeze brushed through his hair as the moon watched down over him gently and pondered whether to play games this time or whether he should perhaps hurry up and return to the castle instead, in case his fathers were waiting to take him home. He wasn�t sure what he wanted to do anymore, the most awkward part was over now and so he may actually be able to enjoy his time here... then again he wanted to go home to his family.

Besides, this night had proved to be amusing...

He jumped down to the ground again and followed his senses north as he tracked some kind of wolf... their blood was so much stronger than most. He picked up speed, intent on returning to his fathers, in case they decided to leave before he got back. He ran through the forest, dodging bushes with ease when he finally came to distinctive wolf prints and then he grinned again before following them as best as he could.

He found the beautiful beast shortly after and he sunk his teeth into its neck before it even realised he was there. He closed his eyes and moaned softly as the blood fell like silk down his throat and he could feel his strength returning to the max. A sudden shift in the air was all the warning he had and he rolled to the side just as a sword came crashing down where he had been seconds before.

He drew his serpent master sword and jumped to his feet quickly, managing to bring up his sword in time to block the next attack. Metal clashed together and Harry looked into the eyes of his attacker and then smiled sweetly before he pulled back and attacked with force, not sparing anytime for play. This one was much more advanced than the previous attacker, and yet he was still no where near Harry�s father�s level and this would no doubt lack challenge for Harry.

He thrust and stabbed him in the stomach and then growled as the vampire managed to cut him across his cheek. He could feel the blood running down as he threw up his sword, caught the blade and smashed the handle against the man�s head forcefully; wincing at the crack he received for that.

"Master..." Blaise came running through the trees and into the opening but then stopped when he saw the unconscious attacker lying at Harry�s feet. "Ahh, I see I�m a little late to warn you that you were being followed..." he said sheepishly and Harry grinned as he sheathed his sword and then threw the man over his shoulder.

"Come, let�s return."

They ran through the trees once more and came out into the open grounds quickly but they didn�t pause there, they only stopped running when they reached the main doors. Blaise opened them for him and Harry nodded before entering the Great Hall, unsurprised to see all the teachers there as well as his fathers. He smiled cheerfully as he dropped the vampire at his fathers� feet and then he looked up at the headmaster.

"Oh yes, I can see we are all perfectly safe here." he said innocently and wasn�t surprised when he didn�t get a reply. He noticed his Da�s stare and he grinned before shrugging once more. "I didn�t kill him; I figured you�d want to know which clan wants your money and your death this time. Though this one didn�t bother trying to snatch me, he aimed to kill."

"Are you okay my son?" Ivan asked worriedly as he cupped Harry�s cheek with concern and rubbed a thumb over the blood to take a look at the wound. Harry rolled his eyes and nodded, he could feel the tingling sensation of his cut healing now anyway.

"I�m fine, he got lucky. Sooo have you decided whether we�re going home yet Da?" he asked and Ivan laughed before pressing a kiss to his forehead.

"No, you can stay and keep you weapons, not the belt though... if you really do want to come home with us son, then you can..." he said seriously but Harry shook his head.

"No, I think it will be interesting here, though I knew I�d end up in the same house as the idiotic obnoxious twat from Diagon Alley." He replied with a frown and then remembered the teachers were there and looked up with a sheepish grin.

"Sorry, I was irritable and rude. Believe it or not, I have been taught to hold my tongue. I thought you would have known what I was when you sent the letter." He offered in way of an apology and was relieved when both Dumbledore and McGonagall smiled and nodded.

"We must be going now Harry, are you sure you are okay here?" Ivan asked after a minute and Harry nodded, wrapping his arms around him again.

"I�ll be fine Da; I�ll call you if there�s anything wrong. Send Aunt Cerelias my love wont you?" he asked with a smirk and then he hugged his Pa and pressed a kiss to his cheek. He watched as they left the room, dragging the unconscious vampire behind them and then he turned to look at the teachers once more and waited patiently.

"Come, I�ll show you to the Slytherin common rooms," the black haired man spoke up after a minute and Harry nodded his thanks before jumping to his feet once more. He bowed respectfully to the teachers and then hurried after the professor who may as well have been running.



The Heir of Corvus I: The Philosopher�s Stone - Chapter 6

Back to Chapter 4

Back to Results