Hogwarts: Era of Darkness

The plan was surprisingly easy. After the pair of vampires arrived at our home a day later, we discussed how we would do it with them on board now. After revealing the vault that Voldemort had and was the target of our little heist, we also learned that Volgonid's one was only a dozen or so below it, at least going by its number.

"They are related." Eleonora explained, "The numbers are connected to the level they are at. The first two numbers give their position on the Y axis and the second two on the X axis, compared to the Gringotts on the surface. The main building."

"How do you know that?" I asked, surprised, while Lockhart was sitting in his armchair next to us, still too nervous about speaking, feeling that he was in a cage with snakes and he was the little mouse waiting to be devoured.

"I was there when it was being built. I had a vault once there, too, and I was explained of it before. You see, I was always someone who asked a lot of questions, ahaha! Of course, that was in the past, but we can stop at HIS vault while going towards ours, and nobody would realize it."

"With you helping us, it should be fine." I nodded, showing them the contract we made with Old Gold. "With this, we will be taken to the vault discretely, and nobody would be the wiser if we stopped there as our route falls in line with your current one."

"Colour me astonished, young Conrad. 'Tis been eons since mine eyes beheld a contract penned by goblins that bore not the mark of deception."

"Thank you, Count." I chuckled, feeling proud that he thought so. It is not every day that you get acknowledged by an ancient being.

"Hey..." Herpo grunted out of nowhere, almost making me laugh.

"Still, I do not trust goblins!" Without batting an eye, I continued, "And even if they stop the cart there and open the vault, I don't want them to know what we are doing. They could immediately go and snitch on us, not directly, but to one of Old Silver's goblins, who then relays the information to others."

"Astute observation. Thou thinkest as a goblin would. Wherefore didst thou not include such clauses within this contract?" Volgonid asked, raising an eyebrow questioningly while returning the contract to me.

"It was hastily written, and if I start specifying it that much, it would raise a bigger concern than I would have liked it. It was an in-the-moment situation, which is a double-edged sword, but it was the best guarantee that the old goblin agreed and also had no time to sit down and think it through! This is enough; I got what I wanted and can deal with the rest." The old vampire said nothing this time and simply leaned back, watching us with a half-smile until finally, Professor Lockhart gathered enough strength to interject.

"Are we going to... masquerade ourselves? I don't think we can walk into England just like that. If the esteemed Lord and Lady aren't, we are wanted people! The moment we arrive, the Death Eaters and the Order will want to try and kill us!"

"Naturally!" Quincy nodded, making Eleonora laugh, but then Volgonid quickly broke down her good mood.

"Forget not that shape-shifting spells and potions hold no sway over us. Furthermore, we shall be the scapegoats, hence altering our visages is an option not afforded to us."

"Oh... too bad. It sounded so much fun; I wanted to try it!" She moaned but very quickly got over it. Looking at us, she continued with a slowly widening, a bit creepy smile, "So... you would change into what? Servants?"

"Yes." Quincy answered her, continuing the explanation. "It wouldn't be weird that someone at your status would have servants accompanying them. And I don't think the goblins are the ones who would start asking questions now, would they?"

"You do know that servants of vampires are usually walking foodbanks, yes?" Eleonora asked, smiling and flashing her sharp teeth. Suddenly, her aura changed from overly friendly to frightening. "Well... you already invited us into your abode..."

It was at that moment that I suddenly realized that we were still talking to two bonafide vampires. The way she was looking at Quincy made her freeze, her chest beginning to heave, while Professor Lockhart also froze up. In his case... he was forgetting to breathe. At that moment, my blood flared up, helping me throw off their aura, but I could only do it to myself, unable to dispel Eleonora's dark pressure weighing down on Quincy's body. It was only I who became free from the dread we all felt at that moment.

"Enough." I answered, standing up and brandishing my wand at her without hesitation.

"Dismiss thy thoughts." Volgonid spoke, and I could feel his words wriggling their way into my mind, trying to override my instincts. It was probably how the imperius curse feels for others, but I wasn't having any of it. Fuck. Off.

"We are not prey; you better remember that, bloodsucker!" I answered, sneering at him. I could feel my eyes burning up as my skin began slightly transforming. Dark, snake-like scales started appearing all over my neck and the side of my face, glinting in a purplish hue as the light fell on them from the chandelier above us. 

I wasn't simply training my spellcasting with Grindelwald in the time that passed by but also my control over the basilisk within me, thanks to the lessons of Herpo. Although it was still not perfect, I could partially draw on it when needed, but if I loosened my concentration, I would transform for real. But... at least it has become somewhat more obedient in the past year. 

"Thus, this odor hath been the source of mine irritation from the outset..." Volgonid murmured, as now both vampires were looking at me. Both of them were keeping their mouths slightly open, their teeth showing as if they were trying to identify the taste in the air originating from my half-changed body.

Grindelwald's eyes were the same when he first saw it. But, as he always did, he simply nodded, not asking any questions or wanting an explanation from me. I couldn't tell what he was thinking, so I told him everything voluntarily before he misunderstood it. At least, I wanted to, and I was only planning on leaving Herpo out of it... But he stopped me, saying that he was happy with the gesture but that I should keep my secrets close to my chest. Those are the things that could save one's life in the most dire situations.

The moment Eleonora's attention was diverted from Quincy to me, Lockhart also felt himself freed up from her influence. This time, instead of running, he used a spell, helping Quincy calm her mind while he stood behind her chair at once, protecting her. I only saw it from my peripheral vision because I couldn't look toward them right now, having to focus my mind on the two vampires. I was facing two apex predators... I was ready to change form and let them look into a basilisk's eye the moment they made a move. Although... would that kill them? They are undead, no? I didn't have any answers.

"Are you finished?" Grindelwald's voice echoed in the room after pushing the door open, walking in, yawning loudly, "I got woken up by your blood-smelling aura; it feels horrible. If you want to test the kids, do it in another way because they are spicy! They wouldn't be afraid of going toe-to-toe with you two, and then I would have a chance backstabbing you two old bats!"

"Test?" I asked and watched as the duo smiled, retreating their suppressive presence, dispelling it with a simple blink of their eyes as they lost their crimson brilliance.

"Any plan can fail at any moment," Eleonora said with a happy smile, winking at Quincy. "When danger arises, there are two types of reactions: people without a spine who escape and run away and those who stay and fight with you. Now we at least know what kind of group we have."

"That still scared the hell out of me..." I grunted, voicing my frustration while lowering my wand, glancing at Quincy and Lockhart, nodding toward them, and ensuring everything was okay.

"Bravery is not the absence of fear. That is called foolishness." She continued while her husband nodded his head in agreement. "When you are afraid, terrified to the bone, yet you still do what you must... that is bravery. When you acknowledge that the thing you are facing terrifies you... Yet it does not break your determination, and you still face it. That is what bravery is."

I didn't know how to answer that because I felt both surprised, embarrassed, and a bit angry about what they pulled on us just now... tsk... Old bastards. Both of them!

...

....

......

"Shouldn't have we apparated?" Lockhart asked the same question I was thinking of while we were sitting on a muggle airplane flying toward London.

"But isn't it fun?" Eleonora giggled, sitting beside the window, looking out, "They made such a thing... how wonderful the ingenuity of normal people! Yeah, you could hop on a broom, and off you go, but they? Never had the chance... But look at them! Which broom can bring along more than 300 others?!"

"I can't and won't argue with that." I answered, raising my hand because it was true. I only disliked the fact that I had to go through customs and whatnot because she wanted to experience it all. I would be fine if I were in my usual appearance, but now I was looking like a different boy with too pale skin, and it was like wearing a rubber suit. Uncomfortable in the long run. The same was true for Quincy and Lockhart... And Grindelwald, as all of us were playing the role of a half-ghoulified servant.

"Can you even...?" After thinking about it, Quincy asked, and the two vampires shook their heads.

"No, we have a different method." Eleonora answered her, but seemingly, she wasn't about to explain it any further.

"Oh well..." I mumbled, turning away from them, "Let the rest of the road be similar, and we will be done before the sun sets..."