(A/N - This chapter is more like filler, so it's shorter. Just touching base on specific things, building some background for MC. Sorry if the writing isn't the best, I'm a new writer, so I'm learning as I go.)
_____
Adrian sat in the dining room, a thoughtful expression on his face, surrounded by several letters. It was the afternoon, not long after accepting his dual lordships.
Adrian felt the manor's wards for the first time the moment he arrived home. It appeared, once acknowledged as the true owner, the intricate workings of the wards became clear.
He mentally traced each ward, discerning its purpose and function. He found himself able to remove, alter, or add to them as he saw fit—a rather satisfying revelation.
His first action was to adjust the wards governing incoming mail. He altered them to scan all received items, stripping away and highlighting any compulsion charms or other malicious magic. This precaution was necessary.
The change revealed the contents of the pile of letters.
One, from Durmstrang, practically dripped with compulsion charms, all designed to make acceptance of their invitation a foregone conclusion. Adrian shook his head in disgust.
The second the telltale blue glow surrounding the letter was seen, it was tossed into the fire. "I'm here to have some fun and 'learn'," Adrian thought, "why would I go to a school I've heard nothing about?" The flames consumed the unwanted influence.
Honestly, the sheer audacity of it!
The second letter was addressed to him from Beauxbatons, in France. Though there were no obvious enchantments on this one, its tone rubbed Adrian the wrong way; it felt overly pretentious. It spoke of elegance and tradition, but to Adrian, it just sounded stuffy, and more than a little pompous.
Finally, Hogwarts had also sent its standard letter, congratulating Adrian on his coming of age, and acknowledging his acceptance into their "prestigious" school.
"It seems they're unaware that I have become a lord," Adrian mused, rereading the letter.
"And it's got compulsions on it too, almost the same as Durmstrang. Seriously, are they that daft to think someone wouldn't check? Maybe they think I'm just some clueless orphan who wouldn't know any better."
The sheer audacity!
Chuckling to himself, Adrian quickly penned a response to Hogwarts, accepting the opportunity they had granted him. "Honestly, what other school would I go to? This way, I get a front-row seat to the chaos that's going to happen."
_____
(Six Months Later)
Adrian sat in his office, his feet swinging under the large chair that had become his perch during study sessions. Before him lay a book on transfiguration, a tome unearthed from the depths of the library.
Because of his genius-level intellect, Adrian possessed both an eidetic memory and monstrous comprehension. For the past six months, he had voraciously consumed book after book.
When he first began his studies, Adrian had Grim purchase every book required by Hogwarts throughout its years. The further he delved into each branch of Hogwarts' education, the more dissatisfied he became with the curriculum. Hogwarts and Britain itself had dumbed down their education to a shocking degree!
At his insistence, Grim, ever the most efficient of house-elves, bought the ICW standard textbooks, which thoroughly supplemented everything Hogwarts lacked.
After six months of dedicated study, Adrian could confidently say he had far surpassed the standard of British schooling.
Every day, after completing his physical training, which comprised progressive weight training and cardio, Adrian would lock himself in the training room to work on his magic. To this day, he still had not found his magical energy being exhausted.
Today was the last day before he would board the Hogwarts Express and leave for his first year of 'education'. Grim had taken his measurements and picked up all the ingredients and additional items he required for the year.
Though the letter 'suggested' he purchase a wand from Olivanders, the system granted Adrian his wand. His 'Heirloom Wand' was, in fact, a masterpiece of magical wandcraft.
Measuring 14 inches long, the yew wood wand surprisingly contained a core made from strands of hair belonging to Dracula Tepes and Morgana Le Fay.
The 'wand' was, in actuality, the 'Heirloom Ring' bound to Adrian's blood and soul. It could change to multiple forms, depending on his template assimilation level.
Currently, it was sitting in his wand-holster latched to his forearm.
"Okay, so game plan," Adrian spoke aloud.
"This year is when the Chamber of Secrets will open. The end goal is to disillusion myself, follow Harry as he kills the snake. Technically, as a vampire, I won't die from the Basilisk's poison. If I can consume the blood, I should gain a boost to my physical capabilities, and maybe even steal an ability from it?"
Though he got no response, it always helped Adrian when he spoke out loud, possibly hoping one day the system would respond.
Unfortunately, Adrian had questioned the System in the past half-year, but it was exactly as God had said: a basic system interface and an inventory that could hold a near-infinite amount of items.
Pulling up the system interface, Adrian grinned internally as he read the screen once more.
[Name: Adrian Fahrenheit Țepeș
Race: Dhampir (Vampire/Human)
Age: 11 (NEW!)
World: Harry Potter
Title (NEW!): Lord Tepes / LeFay (NEW!)
Assimilation: 3%
Skills:
Combat (Beginner: Hand to Hand)
Magic (Wanded/Wandless) + Silent Casting (NEW!)
Dhampir Body (Superhuman Strength, Speed, Durability, Agility, Stamina, Senses) + Superhuman Regeneration (NEW!)
Genius Intelligence + Eidetic Memory, Superhuman Comprehension (NEW!)
Devour (Consumed blood can aid in faster assimilation, additional skills, or benefits.)
Inventory:
Heirloom Ring (Currently able to turn into Heirloom Wand. Increased assimilation will lead to more forms.)
Gringotts Key
Heirs Ring
Lord Ring x 2]
Adrian couldn't help but smile at his simple progress. He had gained some new abilities, plus progressed further in his training.
He knew that his training would become much slower in Hogwarts, but life wasn't just about that; he wanted to enjoy his new life as well. Maybe he would make a new friend or two. Who knows?
The only thing Adrian truly knew was that tomorrow, everything truly began.