Chapter Text
It was the nightmare that woke him up, sweaty and adrenaline racing through his body as he jolted upright. Cedric screaming. Harry screaming and then Voldemort… He ran a hand through his hair, messing it up more than it already was and hoping that he had been quiet enough to not wake the Dursleys. Hedwig peered at him through her cage idly, her golden eyes narrowed in concern and he sighed, yawning, as he stood up and opened her cage.
“Hey girl,” Harry whispered, running his fingers through her feathers. “I’m okay.”
Hedwig looked up like she was calling him out on his bullshit and Harry closed his eyes, before helping her up onto his left shoulder. His right one still ached even though Madam Pomfrey had healed it thoroughly that night after Mad Eye Moody had morphed into Barty Crouch Jr.
“Come on. Let’s go for a walk. I’m not going to be able to go to sleep after this.”
Hedwig chirped quietly and nipped the bare skin at his neck. Harry rolled his eyes and pulled out his cloak before pulling on light clothes. Hedwig nipped him again and he sighed again, reaching for the small bag that he had bought in Hogsmeade a couple of weeks ago. The twins had filled it with things that he didn’t really want to know about a couple of days ago, saying something about wanting their brother not being caught unawares. Granted he had given them his Triwizard winnings, hoping that they would use them to pay for a joke shop. He tucked his wand into his pocket and strode out through the door, heading downstairs and ignoring the way the hairs at the back of his neck stood up.
Maybe his aunt or uncle saw him go but he didn’t care. They wouldn’t care at all except for him waking them up at a god awful hour of the night. Harry grimaced and stepped out into the night air and Hedwig nuzzled into his neck, perhaps not fully awake either. He glanced up at the sky above them, seeing the whole moon shining down on them and the stars glowing.
He walked over to the sidewalk and ambled along, rubbing his eyes in the hopes that he would wake up or at the very least rub the nightmare from his vision. Hedwig chirped and rustled her feathers, her wings, and hooted in the otherwise quiet night air. Harry continued to walk, passing by buildings that had long since blurred together. He passed by alleys and narrow, short streets that as he looked were not… familiar at all.
Hedwig whistled and nipped him on the nose and Harry scowled, his heart starting to race at the sight around them. This was not Privet Drive. This was not even London. This was… New York? Harry stopped walking on the sidewalk he was on and watched as cars drove by at… 2:00 am, as people walked by in the city that apparently never slept.
And no one stopped to pause at the boy who had an owl on his shoulder. Harry’s eyes widened as his heart raced, wondering what had happened to make him appear in New York City of all places. He hadn’t felt a thing since he had stepped out from the Dursleys home.
Hedwig let out what sounded like a hiss at a loud thump and Harry stiffened, reaching down to grasp his wand. Harry let out a huff under his breath and backtracked, stopping at an alleyway that looked to be deserted. People continued to walk past them, ignoring them entirely.
“Hedwig, do you see anything?” Harry whispered, still keeping his eyes peeled. His shoulders curled inward as he rocked back on his heels, trying to decide if he should draw his wand. Hedwig hooted quietly and took off from his shoulder, flying above him and above the rooftops next to the alley.
Harry pondered casting a spell, taking in the sight around him, and then shrugged. He was in New York City. He had been teleported without any rough manhandling. No bumping. No jostling. Not even Hedwig had noticed the difference in landscape until she had whistled for his attention. He hadn’t heard the tell tale sound of apparition either.
Hedwig hooted and drew his attention, winging her way down into the narrow alley, and Harry paused for just a moment before stepping into the alleway, gripping his wand tightly in his pocket. He swerved around metal trash cans, wrinkled his nose at what were clearly junkies lying on the ground, stoned out of their minds, and spotted Hedwig sitting atop a dumpster.
A man crouched against the back of the wall of the building in front of Harry, messy, thin strands of dark hair lying limp against his skull. Harry blinked at the sight in front of him, taking in the fact that the man was apparently… eating a rat? His magic hummed in warning and a low growl emanated from the man’s throat as Hedwig chirped another warning.
The man’s brown eyes flickered up to Harry and then he shivered, trembling like it was freezing out. The guy’s coat and other clothing looked threadbare, like they hadn’t seen a good day in months, if not years.
Harry blinked again and knelt to be at the guy’s eye level and raised an eyebrow. A raw noise left the man’s throat, almost a bleeding whimper, and Harry sighed. He glanced up at Hedwig, who met his eyes easily, and then looked back into the man’s eyes.
“I don’t know why I’m here or where I am other than New York City, but I’m fairly sure that in no time and place, did anyone eat rats,” Harry remarked, taking a closer look and seeing… fangs in the guy’s open mouth. “Or I suppose they do. You’re a vampire.”
The guy’s eyes widened, a flicker of yellow passing through the brown and then disappearing just as fast. Harry closed his eyes briefly, wondering why the fuck he was here in the first place, wondered if he was still in the wizarding world, and shrugged. “You alright?”
Hedwig whistled in alarm and Harry snorted. “I know what I’m doing. I think.”
Hedwig chirped in irritation and took off, flying up into the sky.
“Stay close, Hedwig! I don’t know where we are!” Harry exclaimed, not tearing his eyes away from the vampire. The vampire that looked rather thin. If it wasn’t for the ratty clothes, the shadows under the guy’s eyes and the uncared for hair, Harry rather thought that the guy would have been attractive. “There’s gotta be someplace around here where I can rent a room.”
Hedwig hooted and he automatically held out an arm, letting her land. Land and nibble at his skin in warning. She dug in her claws, scratching him through the shirt he was wearing. “Ow! Fuck. Why’d you do that for?”
“Who are you?”
Harry turned back to the vampire, seeing slight curiosity in the man’s eyes. “I’m Harry and you’d be…”
“Angel.”
“Nice to meet you. Now… do you have a room or some place around here?”
Angel stayed quiet at that and Harry met the man’s eyes before sighing.
“Look. I don’t know why I’m here. I don’t know where I am. I don’t even know if I’m in the same world I was twenty minutes ago. And a month and a half ago the man who killed my parents and tried to kill me came back to life. Or I suppose he got a body again. My friends aren’t talking to me and no one is sending me letters. Do you have a place or what?”
“No. What do you mean the man got a body again?” Angel questioned, his eyes narrowing dully.
“It’s complicated. Come on. I’ll rent us a room,” Harry argued, reaching a hand down. Hedwig jumped off his shoulder and flew up, hovering in the air above them.
Angel stared at him like he was crazy. Harry stared back, raising an eyebrow.
“I can be stubborn when I want to be,” Harry retorted, keeping his arm out. “And given that you’re still holding the rat… Looks like you can be stubborn too. I don’t know why though.”
“I’m a vampire.”
“Yeah. I got that much. The fangs were a dead giveaway,” Harry added.
Angel flinched and Harry’s eyes softened a little. “Come on. Something or someone sent me here.”
Angel continued to watch him for another minute before slowly reaching out his hand.
“Might want to leave the rat,” Harry muttered. “Might freak people out. It’s freaking me out a little bit.”
Angel slipped his hand into Harry’s and cold seeped into his palm. Harry twitched and then lifted Angel up, taking in the trembling arms and body. He shivered again as Angel tripped on his own feet and caught him just in time.
“You’re light,” Harry murmured, letting the man lean on him more than a little.
“And you’re only what… 13?”
“How old are you that you’re forgetting how humans age?” Harry retorted, elbowing Angel a little. “I’m 15. Though… it’s not like that’s better. Come on. We’ll just say you’re drunk.”
Angel shuddered, turning his head into the crook of Harry’s neck before immediately pulling away. “I… I can’t. This is… I can’t go with you. Not now.”
Harry met Angel’s frantic eyes and then huffed out a breath. “You’re starving yourself. Why? I’m pretty sure that even vampires can feed on other criminals. You know… take murderers and rapists out of the equation. Or just feed and go. It’s like a hit and run except you feed and run.”
“No! I can’t! It’s… You’re so warm…” Angel trailed off, closing his eyes.
Harry ran a hand through his hair and then reached his hand into the bag he had brought with him. He didn’t know what he was looking for but… His fingers found crinkly plastic in a matter of seconds and he pulled out what he had grabbed, his eyes narrowing at the sight in front of him. “Why did Fred and George put this in the bag? I swear to Merlin… I don’t know what those two are thinking half the time. Here, Angel. It’s a blood popsicle. It should tide you over until I get you some actual blood.”
Angel’s eyes opened and he blinked at the treat that Harry held out to him. It was red, deep red, like blood and it smelled… It smelled delicious and his stomach growled, tightening in pain and hunger and he slowly reached for it. “It’s not made from real blood?”
“No. At least I don’t think so. It is a wizarding product but I’m pretty sure it just tastes like blood,” Harry explained quietly, their fingers brushing as Angel grasped the treat. “Come on. Let’s go get a room. I’m tired.”
Angel stared at Harry, at the 15 year old boy who hadn’t backed down or done the smart thing and run away yet. “Wizarding product.”
“I’m a wizard. I guess it’s fine to tell you since you’re a vampire,” Harry commented, shrugging and leading the way out of the alley. “Hedwig, go find us a hotel. You drink human or do you… are you going vegetarian?”
“I haven’t drunk human blood since… I got my soul back.”
Harry blinked and turned to meet his eyes as they walked, half of his attention on Hedwig. “You… You got your soul back. Did you… not have it before?”
Angel shook his head slowly.
“Huh.”
“Hedwig, by hotel, I meant less fancy hotel. We’re trying not to get noticed,” Harry argued, looking up at the tall building in front of them. The lobby and outer walls of the building were strung up with lights, bright and warm and making Angel blink multiple times. Harry flinched at the reminder and handed over his cloak to Angel, gesturing for him to put it on. “It’ll hide you if you want. I don’t mind being stared at.”
Angel peered down at the cloak in Harry’s hands and then pulled it over himself. Fingers reached out and helped him pull it over himself, making sure there was nothing visible.
“Alright. Here goes nothing. Would you mind carrying Hedwig under there or is that too… risky?”
Angel glanced over to the owl that sat on Harry’s shoulder, licked his lips and shook his head. “No. It’s… I’m too…”
“That’s fine. I’ll hide her with a spell,” Harry whispered, reaching out to squeeze Angel’s shoulder. The warmth that came with the touch made him shudder and tremble and he wanted… “Stay close to me.”
Angel nodded even though Harry wouldn’t be able to see him and followed him into the hotel lobby. Hedwig vanished from view but he was still able to smell her, smell the blood pulsing through her body and… Angel turned away from the owl, focusing on the smells that blasted into his face from the warm air. People walked back and forth around the hotel lobby, making him remember the Hyperion and wince.
He kept close to Harry’s back, hearing people talk and chatter between themselves. No one paid any attention to Harry, the 15 year old kid, who walked steadily through the lobby. Angel inhaled deeply, trying to catch a scent of the kid and caught a scent instead of… power. He shivered as a touch of it brushed against his senses, making the hair on his arms and back of his neck stand up. He hadn’t sensed anyone this powerful in a while though Darla’s sire, the Master, had been a powerful vampire. Harry’s kind of power was magic and it was like he was living magic.
Wild and only partially contained and yet… schooled. It smelled like the ozone that filled the air right before a storm and his demon pushed and prodded him, wanting a taste of the boy. Angel winced and watched as Harry stopped at the check in desk, asked for a room. For a big room and waved his fingers. The clerk at the desk went still, her eyes rolling into the back of her head briefly before nodding.
With a room procured for the night, Harry grasped the door key and walked over to the elevator. Angel padded over the floor and followed him, tilting his head in thought as he wondered what Harry had done. As soon as the elevator opened up and closed behind them, Harry let out the breath he was holding and reached out, pulling off the cloak.
“I didn’t know if it would work but… that was a confusion spell,” Harry explained idly, meeting Angel’s eyes. “We’ll find out in a few minutes if I’m in the same world I was in.”
“Confusion spell? You didn’t say anything.”
“I’m trying out nonverbal magic,” Harry offered, shrugging. “And I wasn’t going to cast the imperius curse. That’s a sixth year spell and not one I want to use.”
“Imperius?”
“Let’s me control people. I saw it used during the third task and the maze…” Harry trailed off as the elevator door opened up, chiming at their arrival. Harry shook his head, his nose wrinkling. “Not doing that spell ever, thank you very much. Come on.”
“Why are you doing this…” Angel paused as Harry led them through the hallway ahead and then turned a corner, heading to the far room at the other end. “We just met. I could kill you.”
Harry sighed and pushed the door open after unlocking it. He stepped inside, glanced around and sat down on the one bed, watching as Angel closed the door behind them. He called the magic back that he had put over Hedwig and watched as his friend flew over to the window perch. He looked out over New York City for a second before turning to look at Angel, who was standing almost hesitantly in front of him.
“I’ve seen worse,” Harry finally said, meeting the vampire’s eyes. “And my friends say I have a people saving thing. Besides… distraction.”
“You’ve seen worse.”
“A friend dying right before my eyes. My parents dying to protect me when I was one. Voldemort coming back to life after taking some of blood and coming back… wrong. I think. I’m not so sure about that one but whatever. And… Dumbledore and my friends… I haven’t heard a single word about the wizarding world since I left for the summer. You’ve seen some things too, I suppose?”
“Done some things too,” Angel admitted, his eyes dull.
Harry stared at him, his green eyes narrowed. Angel stared back without comment.
“Killed people?”
“They called me the Scourge of Europe.”
“Ah. That kind of done things.”
“I can leave.”
“No. It’s alright. You haven’t killed me yet.”
“I could be planning on it,” Angel said, seeing Harry raise an eyebrow.
“You look like a thick breeze would knock you over,” Harry returned, his lips curling into a thin frown. “I take it you didn’t have a soul then.”
“No.”
“Now you do and… you’re what… feeling guilty? Is that why you’re starving yourself? I can feel something from you, something dark. Is that your… demon? Is that what vampires are?”
“Are there vampires in your world?”
“Ah… Well… There are werewolves,” Harry offered, shrugging. “The boyfriend of my godfather is a werewolf. I figure there are vampires somewhere.”
“Vampires in this world are demons. Or part demons. That’s what you sense. I did… He did… things that would make you scream and leave the room at a run.”
“Alright. Do you want to do those things now?”
“No!”
“Fine. Let’s get you some blood unless you want some of mine?”
“No. Please don’t make me do that,” Angel whispered, shaking back a step or two.
Harry held up his hands and pondered over Angel’s words. “I haven’t received any owl letter about me being expelled from Hogwarts and I would have if I was in the same world. What about… Dobby?”
Almost immediately Dobby appeared without a sound, smiling up at him widely. “What can Dobby be doing for Master Harry? Master Harry is not…”
Dobby trailed off as he turned to look at Angel. “Master Harry is in trouble?”
“No. I’m fine, Dobby. I just… What were you about to say?” Harry asked, watching as Angel’s eyes widened.
“Master Harry is not in the wizarding world,” Dobby finished, his eyes narrowing. “This is not the same world.”
“But how can you… if I’m not in the same world…”
“Dobby is tied to Mister Harry Potter,” Dobby remarked like there it was simple.
“Uhhh… right. You’re still working at Hogwarts, right? You’re enjoying that?”
“Dobby is very much enjoying working at Hogwarts. What can Dobby be doing for you and the master vampire?”
“Master vampire?” Harry mouthed, turning to look at Angel in question.
Angel shook his head as he looked on bemusedly at Dobby.
“Can you bring some animal blood in chilled packets and some clothes?” Harry asked, looking at Angel again. “And new clothes.”
“Dobby can be doing that, sir. Dobby will be right back.”
Harry let himself fall back down onto the bed as he yawned.
Angel stared at the boy as he lay back down on the bed and took a step towards him, bringing himself to peer down into the boy’s eyes. Harry peered back up at him, poking him in the ribs. “You stink, you know that? Even Hedwig thinks you smell bad, don’t you girl?”
Angel raised an eyebrow and looked over to where the owl had gone back to sleep, sitting on the window perch. Her head was tucked into her feathers, quiet and content. He wished he could just do that, go to sleep without dreams. Without his demon pushing at its bars within his mind.
“Your owl is asleep. She doesn’t think I smell.”
“Does too.”
Angel grinned faintly, watched as the boy’s eyes drooped closed and headed over to the bathroom to bathe. “I don’t deserve this.”
“Yes, you do. Everyone deserves a helping hand now and then. Besides, I think you forgot the aforementioned people saving thing. I’m gonna go to sleep now.”
“I’ll keep watch,” Angel whispered before he stepped into the bathroom.
“Thanks.”
When he got out of the rather nice shower, there was a bag waiting for him and clothes on the bed. He strode out of the bathroom, with only a towel hugging his hips on and peeked into the bag that lay on the table. It held bags and bags of blood, enough to last weeks, and it wasn’t even cold. Must have been a magic thing.
He was staring at it long enough to be startled when Harry cleared his throat. He peered up at the boy, who had sat up on the bed and was staring.
“What?” Angel asked, meeting those bright green eyes and feeling entranced by them.
“You’re…” Harry trailed off, swallowed and then lay back down, muttering something under his breath. Angel idly ignored the words, half hearing something along the lines about attraction. “Those blood bags are under a preservation charm. Only say ‘phoenix’ and they’ll warm up and need to be eaten within an hour. I don’t know if this is a dream or not but Dobby’s pretty good about getting things. And hey, you don’t stink now.”
Angel’s lips twitched up into a faint grin and watched as Harry finally fell back asleep.
Harry woke up to the walls of his bedroom at the Dursleys, feeling Hedwig toddle over onto his legs. The sun came streaming in through the window and he was back in London. He rolled over in bed and pushed his head back into the pillow, wondering if Petunia would make him make breakfast for them again. It was the third time that week and he thought they had stopped.
“Hey, girl,” Harry murmured, reaching out to pet her wings and then jolting upright. He hadn’t woken up with a nightmare and he had… “Hedwig, did we really meet a vampire last night?”
Hedwig chirped and nipped at his knee.
“Angel. Merlin… I think I was… What if it was a dream? A twin hallucination?” Harry tried, sweeping the covers up and over him. “That’s possible right?”
Hedwig hooted in annoyance and whipped him with a wing. Harry sighed and rolled his eyes. “Okay, fine. It was real. What happened to us though? We traveled between… dimensions.”
“Potter!”
Harry shuddered and then steeled himself to get up.