Chapter 1: First A little Background
Harry Potter was once again contemplating what he was going to do with the rest of his life. It has been seven years since the defeat of Voldemort, a memory he wishes to forget. The pain, the suffering, the casualties of a war that ended with him and him alone with one of the most evil Dark Wizards to have ever lived. He was twenty-four years old and had his entire life ahead of him. His pale skin seemed to glow in the shadows of the shop. His eyes glossing over the inventory as he just merely tapped his wand on the counter of the store.
"Oi…oi! Harry!" said a George Weasley, "Turn into a bat! Come on, just this once."
"I told you George," sighed Harry as he lazily levitated a box onto a shelf, "it doesn't work that way. It's usually animagi that do that sort of thing."
"How about mist?" said George, "you can turn into mist right? Pass right through door cracks?"
"No George," said Harry, "I can't turn into mist. No person on earth can turn into mist."
George looked a tad miffed at the statement. Fred however seemed determined for something to happen.
"Turn invisible!" he suggested with eager eyes, "just for us. Come on!"
"Oh lay off it," said Harry, "it's really not that impressive you know."
"Come on Harry," said George, "it's the least you can do. After all, we did give you this job you know."
"Oh that's rich. I gave you the money to start up this business," replied Harry.
"But we gave you this job. Harry. Please for your friends?" said Fred batting his eyelashes making them very round.
"Oh alright!" said Harry, "anything to get you to leave me alone."
Harry stood up from the stool as the Weasley Twins waited in anticipation. Harry cleared his throat once, closed his eyes and concentrated. He thought of every fibre of his body disappearing. He imagined melting into the floor, the counter taking on the very colour of the wood. When he opened his eyes, he saw Fred and George with strange looks on their faces.
"Is that it?" questioned Fred.
"That's just….pathetic," said George.
Harry had become invisible. Except for his glasses which floated between his robes and his messy black hair. His eyebrows frowned as his sleeve hovered near where his cheek was supposed to be.
"I told you it wasn't impressive," he said and with a small blow of breath, his head appeared again.
"An invisibility cloak it ain't," said Fred, "But still cool nevertheless."
"Actually. There are some vampires that can become entirely invisible," started Harry, "but they are really, REALLY dedicated. They shave everything…everyday. They are usually used for stealth assignments where usually they don't wear anything."
"Nudist vampires. They sound like a pleasant lot," said George.
Harry didn't laugh. He looked extremely bored as if he had done everything. However the problem was that he hadn't done everything. Ever since becoming a vampire he couldn't do anything normally anymore. His problem, as Fred and George called it, caused him to be blacklisted from many jobs that he would easily get had he not been a vampire. Vampires were still one of the most misunderstood people, even in the wizarding world, and continuing stereotypes didn't exactly fall into Harry's favour. His most favorite excuse for not being hired was that he was cited as a liability.
"Oh Harry, we finally put up those sun blocking curtains so you won't burn all up in the morning. Now you don't have to sleep in that stuffy coffin anymore," mentioned George as he checked off inventory.
Harry nodded in thanks wondering if George had noticed that he was sitting right by the window where the sun was falling directly on him. He considered telling them that sun doesn't kill vampires…again. And that his so called "coffin" was just his trunk…again. He did appreciate it though. Even though the sun doesn't kill vampires, it does leave them extremely vulnerable. Bruises can appear on them on the slightest touch, and limbs ripped off with enough force. So in a way the sun can kill vampires, if they are caught in a dangerous situation.
In another way the sun had killed Harry. It killed any hopes for leading a normal life. He can't play quidditch, even apply for a job at the ministry because of the light. He can't even teach at Hogwarts because he'd just be too weak in the daytime to even stand on his two feet. He didn't even want to work in any of the shops in Knockturn Alley which eagerly accept vampire employees. He could barely keep up with helping out at Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. He didn't exactly need the pay considering the small fortune his parents and Sirius left him but the change of pace gave him strength. It made him feel happy if only a little.
"Excuse me sir, what does this do?" asked a small child as he brought up a small flesh coloured string.
"Oh that…that's an extendable ear. You just put one end into your ear and the other end picks up noise or conversations you want to hear on the other side. Use it to listen in on your parents or you sister snogging her boyfriend," explained Harry in a very blasé way.
"Oh," said the child looking a tad confused, "Then…I'll buy one sir."
"That'd be five sickles," said Harry.
The small child gave him five small silver coins and walked out of the store, the extendable ear in his own ear and his hand pointing the other end randomly around the air.
"Hey Harry," said Fred as he came over, "Listen…we appreciate the help and all."
"You're going to fire me aren't you?" said Harry completely not surprised.
"No," said Fred quickly, his face full of concern, "We appreciate you helping us out for the summer…but really can you act a bit more chipper in front of the customers?"
"Yeah Harry," said George, "Just…smile a bit more. You've been such a gloomy git since you became a vampire."
"Well I can't help it," said Harry defensively, showing the first signs of life in what seemed a long time, "it's that blasted castle I've been living in for the past six years! Everyone's so pale and gaunt in there, I'm surprised they all haven't fell down on the floor with boredom. Not to mention all these 'elder vampires', the supposed ones that 'lived for centuries' and 'seen all that humanity has to offer'. Yet all they do is drone on and on about their own miserable lives through ages of conflict and darkness. It's really no wonder considering they probably haven't seen daylight since they were bitten. They never have any fun, all they do is drink wine and talk about being a vampire and what they can do. Now imagine that every night for six years."
"That sounds terrible Harry," said Fred looking a tad sympathetic, "I can't imagine what we'd do if we were stuck in a place like that."
"You'd probably pull some pranks and they'd all die from the shock of something so funny," laughed Harry.
They all laughed a bit, Harry having a great big smile. He imagined some vampire's cheek cracking from a laugh that would shatter their stiff face caused by centuries of glowering and solemn looks.
"Why don't you just leave Harry?" asked George.
Harry sighed as if remembering a painful bitter memory, "I can't. The one vampire who bitten me can control me at times. In the end he can always bring me back if he ever needs my services. Besides the castle is really the only place I can go to be accepted. It's not great, but it's home."
"Well how do you get released from his control Harry?" asked George.
"When he dies," said Harry very matter of factly.
Fred and George laughed but stopped soon after they saw Harry was dead serious. Harry had thought about trying to escape, plenty of times. However it didn't help that his vampire master was right hand man to the head of the entire vampire population. Taking him out personally would result in making some very unsavory enemies. Harry looked outside at the sunlight as children played, wizards and witches went about shopping and shopkeepers chatted with customers.
"Well Harry you can stay here as long as you want," said George.
"Like our dad used to say, 'A man's nothing without pride in his work'". And if we can help you in anyway don't hesitate to ask," said Fred.
Harry smiled a small warm smile. Children had come into the shop with their parents who looked very apprehensive in promising to buy them something from here. Harry politely greeted them and forced a mechanical smile as the parents nodded nervously reading some of the product details. The children seem especially interested in the Skiving Snack Boxes. Fred and George were about to go into the back when Harry stopped them.
"Say, there is one favour I need to ask you to do," said Harry.
"Sure thing Harry, just name it," said Fred.
Harry handed them a small bag of clinking coins, "I need some new dress robes. Would you please go out and buy some new ones for me? I need them for the reunion this weekend."
Fred smiled, "Don't worry Harry. You'll look right spiffy for that reunion."
The Twins disappeared into the back telling some children to stop mucking around. Harry told Verity that he was going on his break. He walked outside into the sunlight which shone harshly on his eyes. He put up the hood of his cloak, already feeling fairly tired. He walked down the street and stopped in front of the only store he would bear going outside for. It was Quality Quidditch Supplies showing the latest models of brooms in their store windows. A small group of young wizards gathered around staring at it with hungry eyes, frowning whenever they saw the price tag. He could feel his two teeth growing longer…sharper as he eyed the broom in the window. Controlling his urges he quickly turned around putting his hand up as if he was coughing.
Harry smiled as he walked back to Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. He imagined flying on a new broom, his hair flowing in the wind, far away from the vampire castle; away from the gloom and the darkness and off to find new adventures.