Chapter 4
Chapter Four
The next morning Harry woke to the smell of something cooking. Yasu whining softly and pacing by his door. Harry groaned and dragged himself out of bed and over to the door opening it just enough for the canine to dart out of the room and into the common room. Harry had enough sense to grab a robe and pull it on before stepping out of his room, yawning. Rubbing at his eyes. His sleep had been less than perfect. The sight that greeted him was odd to say the least. Two other boys were in the room. One looked maybe a year or two older than him and the other the same age. Both were talking in the kitchen while the older looking one was cooking something over the stove.
“What the hell there is a dog?” The younger shouted and backed up front he canine quickly. Who came up to him curiously but stopped before full approaching.
“Yasu, leave them be.” Harry called and watched the canine come trotting back to him and blushed, “I’m sorry. He is my familiar. Uhm. I’m Harry.”
The one cooking turned and smiled, “Hello Harry. I am Aarav, this harsh mouth idiot is Adrian. I hope you like bacon and eggs. Mama says food is the best way to introduce yourself.” the boy gave a bright smile and began serving up the eggs onto the plates, “Adrian why don’t you set the table.”
“Why the hell do I have to set it. I don’t even eat this stuff.”
“Because Harry is new and doesn’t know where everything is. Or will you drive this poor boy off as well?” The other shot at him.
The younger growled and flashed sharp canines. His black hair stuck up in short spikes and the red eyes clarified that he was indeed the vampire of the Havok, “Fine. Hey, kid. You watch where I am taking stuff from. I am not going to be serving you every day.”
Harry fidgeted, “Oh I can help. If you just tell me where the things are?”
Aarav gave a bright smile, “Nonsense. Ignore his sharp tongue. He has no manners but I have been working on it.”
“Hey! You can’t just insult me. I am standing right here asshole.”
Green eyes widened and he backed up a little, “Really. It’s okay.” but he stopped talking as the vampire began setting the table for the three of them but the red eyes kept glancing at Yasu suspiciously.
The other boy in the kitchen carried the plates out and smiled brightly. He wore soft brown robes over a white pair of pants and shirt. His hair was long and black pulled into a high ponytail. His eyes were a bright yellow that seemed slitted slightly down the middle. He set the plates down and went back into the kitchen to return with a couple glasses of water and one glass of a dark red liquid he guessed was blood.
He looked to Harry, “Come sit, eat. You must be starving.”
Harry nodded and stepped up to the table and sat at one of the plates with eggs. Arranging the silverware to be straight along the edge of the plate, the glass in front and to the right of the silverware. “Uhm, Thankyou.”
Aarav just kept on his smile, “Oh your welcome. So, I suppose we should all introduce ourselves. I am Aarav Mora, Naga, and I am 14. I am starting as a second year this year.”
The vampire glared at him and sat down taking a long gulp of the glass, “Adrian Havok, Vampire obviously. I’m 54 but I guess I am 12 by human standards, second year.”
Green eyes looked at them both curiously, and when they both stared back he quickly swallowed his bite, “Oh right. Harry Chang. Human Wizard and I am 12. Second year transfer.”
Adrian looked at him oddly, “Wizard, really? You don’t smell like a wizard. You smell like a bird.”
Aarav sighed and rubbed at his head, “While he isn't wrong that was rude I apologize.”
Harry gave a small smile, “I’m adopted by the Chang Clan Tengu.”
That got them both nodding like it should have been obvious before the vampire finally spoke up, “How you get adopted by a bunch of birds?”
“It's a long story. I'd rather not talk about it.” Harry answered honestly, “Oh! This is Yasu. He is an Inuyokai and my familiar.”
The vampire startled and coughed as the blood went up his nose instead of down his throat. He gasped and slapped his chest, “How did you get an Inuyokai as a familiar?'' What the hell kid.”
Aarav laughed softly and wiped up the blood that had splattered on the table, “I am sure it is a very private story, Adrian. We should not push him about it. Though if you're ever willing to share the tale.”
Harry blushed, “I found him caught in a trap. His leg had been broken. I got him out of the trap. He ran off but then I found him later in a cage. Some lady wanted to kill him and called him dangerous. But then he bit me and sealed the familiar bond and now we are best friends. Right Yasu.”
The canine looked up, his tongue lolling out of his mouth as he gave a soft woof.
Aarav smiled softly, “A beautiful bond indeed. Inuyokai are highly protective creatures. It is an honor to meet the bond of one.”
The wizard looked over, “You said you were a naga? My brother said the Mora family has never revealed their creature blood.”
The other rose a brow, “Yes I would think that correct because I am the first. The blood has always been there but it has been dormant for many generations. I am the first the blood has become active in. It is why I am starting school so late.”
Harry nodded, “That is really cool. May I ask what the difference is between a naga and a gorgon?”
The other seemed surprised, “Well many things. Naga can assume a human form, inbetween, and full snake form. Naga can also be male or female while Gorgon are only female and can only have the one form. Then there are Lamia as well. They are like naga but more akin to a basilisk than a snake like a naga is. Lamia are also increasingly rare and have to come from another Lamia or a basilisk line.”
Greene yes widened, “Oh wow. That is really cool. I want to work towards a Magizoology Mastery. So forgive me if I get a little to pushy with questions.”
“Nonsense, ask as many as you like.”
Adrian snorted and leaned back in his chair draining the rest of his glass, “Sure talk to the split tongue about what he is.”
Harry blushed, “I didn’t think you would want to answer questions.”
“Well maybe you shouldn’t assume kid. Ask away.” Then gave a grin that showed off the blood-stained fang.
The younger flinched a little and looked down at his plate, the other made him nervous. “Uhm, no I don’t want to bother you.”
Aarav sighed, “You are scaring him Adrian.”
“Wha…” The vampire groaned and stood up grumbling to himself as he grabbed empty plates and put them in the sink, “Look. I’m not going to hurt you kid. I’m not like the others in my coven. Now, what are you good at huh? We normally have a chore schedule so everyone helps out.”
Harry looked up, “I can cook, clean, normal stuff like that. “But I prefer by hand, rather than magic.” Watching as the vampire waved his hand and cleaned the dishes and floated them back to their places.
“Magic is quicker and probably cleaner too.” Adrian stepped from behind the counter, “But suit yourself. The fridge was stocked when we went shopping the other day. There is a list for things we need next to the door for the monthly market trip. The jar for the money is on the table next to the door. No parties, no wild loud nights. You can have people over just keep them to your room or the common room got it?”
The youngest nodded, “So you said you're in your fifties?”
The other laughed and nodded, “I am a born vampire. Not turned. We age slower. We remain children longer, then have a growth spurt and progress mostly normally until our twenties where our aging tends to freeze.”
“Wow. What is the difference between the two?”
Adrian came over and seemed to be thinking, “Born dont have to learn to control their thirst like a turned one does. Born have to feed from their parents for the first fifty years. That is what slows our growth. Then once we start drinking from other sources thats when the growth spurt happens and we age normally.We have stronger abilities but turned can have unique abilities that come from their previous life.” He tapped the table, “oh, eye color. Born will always have red eyes. Turned can revert to their normal eye color when well fed.”
Harry listened and nodded along with the explanation, “I never knew there are born vampires. They don’t teach that in Hogwarts.”
Aarav winced, “Of course not. Wizarding Britain is one of the most restrictive countries. They don’t allow you to learn about many things. Too dark.” He stood and stretched, “Opening Ceremonies will be starting soon, we should all get ready.”
The youngest stood up, “Oh yeah, I was supposed to have breakfast with my brother but…” He looked at the clock in confusion.
Adrian waved him off, “He won’t be able to get in. You have to get approval from the Dorm Superior. This is a hive building so you need to approve all entering and exiting visitors.”
Green eyes squinted a little, “Hive building?”
It was the other who spoke up, “Yes. Everyone in this building except a select few are all lone creatures. Even our Adrian is a lone vampire and has chosen to not be with the rest of his coven. Let's see. We have a pair of elf twins and a werewolf that share this floor. Above us is a couple veela and one other vampire as well as a hybrid. Not sure exactly what he is a hybrid of though. Then we have a demon and of course our Dorm Superior is a Seelie Fae.”
Harry blinked a couple times, “Wow. You know a lot about everyone.”
Aarav laughed, “Well I make it my business to know and most I can recognize by scent. We are one of the more diverse dorms. The misfits and the like. Which makes me wonder why you were placed here and not in one of the other dorms with some of the other bird folk. As a tengu fledgling you would have a strong bond with a nesting dorm.”
He shrugged, “I was told to trust the process and it's okay. Aki and Hibiki know where I am and they can come see me or I can go see them.”
Adrian snorted, “You're related to Hibiki Chang. Man you got the short straw. That guy is a walking disaster. I heard he blew up an entire potion wing.”
Harry frowned and crossed his arms, “Just one lab and it was an accident. He isn’t good at potions. I don’t allow him near my lab. Hibiki is a wonderful person and you shouldn’t talk bad about him”
“Chill kid, wow you are a defensive one.” The vampire held up his hands, “I'm going to go get ready , you two do what you want.”
The wizard watched the vampire before thanking Aarav and ducking into his own room with Yasu. Dressing in a pair of slacks and button up before pulling on an over robe of hunter green, dragon hide boots, gloves, before sitting in front of his vanity and brushing his hair. Twisting and braiding it up into a single bun were he fanned the feathers and used a silver and jade comb to clip them all into place. A few decorative hair pins of jade were added as well before he let a single small braid fall on the right side of his face twisting green ribbon and two beads of jade into it. He felt more put together and ready to face the world.
Standing he stepped over to help Yasu into his harness before sliding his letters, supplies, books, and other things into the pockets of the vest, took his potions and made sure he had everything he needed before stepping out with Yasu, “Let's go.” He nodded to the other two who looked at him oddly as he stepped through the living room and out the door into the main hall. He could hear the bustle from down below and took a few even breaths before heading down onto the main floor.
It was chaos. Two girls were arguing with a tall male who had a handprint bleeding his face red. Two others were playing some game in the other room and another female was perched in a chair with her nose in a book and a glass of deep red liquid in her hand. Harry blinked at the chaos and was about to make a run for it before someone was clapping for attention.
“Alright, Alright enough. Let me get a head count before we head to the assembly.” The voice was deep and carried over the den of excitement.
Harry jumped a little when he felt two people approach from behind him but as Adrian passed by him on one side he relaxed knowing the other was probably Aarav. He looked for the one that spoke and his eyes widened. A tall beautiful fae stood in the doorway to the office. His pale green skin was smooth against the charcoal gray button up and slacks he wore. His long auburn hair was braided behind him and the same bright pansy eyes glowed with playfulness. Even the bright wings that trailed behind him seemed identical to the fae dancer he had seen in the market.
The fae looked around and when he saw Harry he nodded politely and gave a little wink before facing the rest of the crowd, “Alright, I see we are all here. Now as you can see we have a few less students than most dorms but that is just fine. Now before we head the assembly I want to go ahead and go over our dorm rules and who I am for those that are new to our dorm this year!”
He gave a flourish of a bow as vines and flowers began to bloom and curl up the doorframe he stood in, “I am Olivier Lavigne and I am your Dorm Superior.”