A hard day of being a teenage boy on August 2 would come to a strange end, a letter sealed with a thick, silvery wax seal marked with the eye that had been a trademark of a rather strange and somewhat relevant family. The letter was addressed to ℌ𝔬𝔴𝔞𝔯𝔡 𝔚𝔥𝔦𝔱𝔢, written in a dark blue ink that seemed to emboss the thick, heavy parchment. There was no obvious sender on the cover, it was too thick to see the contents without breaking the seal which would remain unbroken.

One might have thought that this was a love letter. Howard White upon reaching puberty was the focus of not one but several young women who had seemed to become enamored in him overnight. A teenage boy's dream for all the other gripes he might manufacture he had a rather good life and status in Hogwarts in spite of the recent media attention. He was a dhampir and according to some media outlets, a monster.

If Howard asked those who shared a tent with him, they would perhaps see a young, dark-haired half-Asian boy enter and leave the tent sometime in the afternoon. Nerdish attire, poofy hair, in his mid teens, lanky and tall, standing at about six foot give or take a couple of inches. Of course the actual letter came from someone else entirely he would soon discover once he broke that silvery seal and a tri-folded sheet of cream-colored paper would fall into his hands.

ℌ𝔬𝔴𝔞𝔯𝔡 𝔚𝔥𝔦𝔱𝔢;

𝔖𝔞𝔩𝔲𝔱𝔞𝔱𝔦𝔬𝔫𝔰 𝔶𝔬𝔲𝔫𝔤, 𝔢𝔰𝔱𝔢𝔢𝔪𝔢𝔡 ℌ𝔬𝔤𝔴𝔞𝔯𝔱𝔰 ℌ𝔢𝔵𝔴𝔦𝔷𝔞𝔯𝔡 ℭ𝔥𝔞𝔪𝔭𝔦𝔬𝔫, 𝔪𝔶 𝔫𝔞𝔪𝔢 𝔦𝔰 𝔗𝔥𝔞𝔡𝔡𝔢𝔲𝔰 𝔄𝔱𝔥𝔞𝔫𝔞𝔱𝔬𝔰 𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝔥𝔞𝔳𝔢 𝔟𝔢𝔢𝔫 𝔪𝔢𝔞𝔫𝔦𝔫𝔤 𝔱𝔬 𝔪𝔞𝔨𝔢 𝔶𝔬𝔲𝔯 𝔞𝔠𝔮𝔲𝔞𝔦𝔫𝔱𝔞𝔫𝔠𝔢 𝔣𝔬𝔯 𝔰𝔬𝔪𝔢 𝔱𝔦𝔪𝔢. 𝔜𝔬𝔲𝔯 𝔱𝔦𝔪𝔢 𝔦𝔫 ℌ𝔬𝔤𝔴𝔞𝔯𝔱𝔰 𝔞𝔰 𝔞 𝔅𝔢𝔞𝔱𝔢𝔯 𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝔞 𝔡𝔥𝔞𝔪𝔭𝔦𝔯 𝔥𝔞𝔳𝔢 𝔟𝔢𝔢𝔫 𝔴𝔢𝔩𝔩-𝔡𝔬𝔠𝔲𝔪𝔢𝔫𝔱𝔢𝔡 𝔟𝔶 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔭𝔞𝔭𝔢𝔯𝔰 𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝔬𝔣 𝔠𝔬𝔲𝔯𝔰𝔢 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔐𝔦𝔫𝔦𝔰𝔱𝔯𝔶 𝔬𝔣 𝔐𝔞𝔤𝔦𝔠. 𝔜𝔬𝔲𝔯 𝔯𝔢𝔠𝔢𝔫𝔱 𝔡𝔯𝔞𝔴𝔦𝔫𝔤 𝔞𝔰 𝔱𝔥𝔢 ℌ𝔬𝔤𝔴𝔞𝔯𝔱𝔰 ℭ𝔥𝔞𝔪𝔭𝔦𝔬𝔫 𝔴𝔞𝔰 𝔬𝔣 𝔠𝔬𝔲𝔯𝔰𝔢 𝔫𝔬𝔱 𝔟𝔶 𝔥𝔞𝔭𝔭𝔢𝔫𝔰𝔱𝔞𝔫𝔠𝔢 𝔞𝔩𝔬𝔫𝔢, ℑ 𝔣𝔢𝔢𝔩 𝔱𝔥𝔞𝔱 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔱𝔦𝔪𝔢 𝔥𝔞𝔰 𝔠𝔬𝔪𝔢 𝔣𝔬𝔯 𝔶𝔬𝔲 𝔱𝔬 𝔪𝔢𝔢𝔱 𝔶𝔬𝔲𝔯 𝔟𝔢𝔫𝔢𝔣𝔞𝔠𝔱𝔬𝔯.

𝔐𝔢𝔢𝔱 𝔪𝔢 𝔞𝔱 𝔗𝔥𝔢 𝔅𝔯𝔦𝔞𝔯 ℜ𝔬𝔰𝔢 𝔗𝔢𝔞 𝔖𝔥𝔬𝔭 𝔬𝔫 ℭ𝔞𝔫𝔱𝔢𝔯𝔟𝔲𝔯𝔶 𝔏𝔞𝔫𝔢 𝔦𝔫 𝔏𝔬𝔫𝔡𝔬𝔫 𝔱𝔥𝔦𝔰 𝔚𝔢𝔡𝔫𝔢𝔰𝔡𝔞𝔶 𝔄𝔲𝔤𝔲𝔰𝔱 𝔱𝔥𝔢 3𝔯𝔡 𝔞𝔱 9:30 𝔭𝔪. 𝔜𝔬𝔲 𝔴𝔦𝔩𝔩 𝔥𝔞𝔳𝔢 𝔫𝔬 𝔭𝔯𝔬𝔟𝔩𝔢𝔪 𝔣𝔦𝔫𝔡𝔦𝔫𝔤 𝔪𝔢 𝔞𝔫𝔡 ℑ 𝔞𝔰𝔰𝔲𝔯𝔢 𝔶𝔬𝔲 𝔣𝔲𝔩𝔩𝔶, ℑ 𝔥𝔞𝔳𝔢 𝔞𝔩𝔯𝔢𝔞𝔡𝔶 𝔣𝔬𝔲𝔫𝔡 𝔶𝔬𝔲.

𝔈𝔰𝔱𝔢𝔢𝔪𝔢𝔡;

𝔗𝔥𝔞𝔡𝔡𝔢𝔲𝔰 𝔄𝔱𝔥𝔞𝔫𝔞𝔱𝔬𝔰

If Howard came to the coffee house, he would quickly understand why he would have no problem finding the older man. He was well-dressed and quite old, with white hair and a weathered face. It was his eyes that seemed the most eerie was his cold gaze, ice blue eyes that should be less unsettling than the red eyes of the woman sitting next to him.



The woman... he knew her.

She was beautiful, but that was hardly the point. He knew her because he had seen her before, she was on the Hogwarts grounds four years ago. The day that he had died. The day that he had turned into a bloodthrall. The day that everything had changed and while in some ways for the better as he had gained with that change the strength to make his own destiny and to fight back he has lost something irreplaceable in the process -- his 'humanity.'

She did not look like she did back then, or even the weeks that followed when he was a neophyte. During that time between being made and being able to leave the metaphorical nest, when she was in Hogsmeade. Dressed finely, her long white hair pulled back and adorned with shining baubles. Her face painted, not left bare with blood red lips that matched her eyes as well as his. She was dressed well, not like a muggle woman but something pulled from a Victorian novel with a corset and layers of chiffon and silk. In fact the two of them could have easily been pulled from any Victorian portrait and one would not have been the wiser. Not that anyone would notice, the tea shop was closed less the duo, not even a barista in sight.

Once seen, the woman and in some ways Howard's 'mother' would cock her head to the side and smile in recognition. Then the blinds, all of them would simultaneously close. This was a private matter deserving of privacy...

Howard laid in his tent bed, privacy curtain drawn as he read the letter over and over again. The whole thing had come as quite the shock, but two parts of it left him reeling. First of all the letter had come from a Thaddeus Athanatos. A surname that held quite some weight in the magical community and surely had to be related to Vladimir Athanatos. Howard's interaction with the Ravenclaw had been short, but rife with darkness. Literally. The boy's veins served as host for that living evil that had threatened Hogwarts for so long. He had heard of Vladimir's passing and thought that would surely be the last time he would hear that name, until now.

Although there were surely dark connections to be made by that first point, the real shocker was that the letter implied that Howard was not chosen by the Goblet of Fire by chance alone. Was it really possible that someone could have tampered with such a powerful artifact? Well, sure it was, but not only would they need the skill to do that, they would have to be able to bypass every security measure Hogwarts had placed around it. Not to mention the security of the castle itself! The whole thing felt off to Howard. Was this just some prank? He had no proof of authentication. Or perhaps someone did wish to draw him away from the safety of summer camp for more sinister reasons? This was just some silly school competition, no one would take it as more than that, right? The questions and scenarios bounced around Howard's skull until his head spun, yet one thing was for certain. His curiosity would not allow him to ignore. He had to know.

So, the teenaged Dhampir would find himself wandering towards The Briar Rose Teashop the following night, anticipation quickening his steps. He had stupidly assured himself that he would be able to handle whatever was inside. If all else failed he would just scratch his way out. Silly boy, but a mix of all kinds of emotions and bravado would propel him into the building. However, Howard wouldn't take but a step forward before he was frozen on the spot. His blood red eyes would bulge in shock as he quickly looked from the older man to the woman sitting at his side. The recognition was immediate. "Morgantha..." Only a whisper escaped his lips.

Interactions: @Howard White

OC: Sorry, thee world was basically turned upside down these past few months.

It had been some time since Howard had seen Morgantha, years in fact as he returned to the wizarding world where he grew in both physical power and popularity. He was co--Captain for the Hufflepuff Quidditch Team, he had a half-blood girlfriend and his advancement through the academic years as a young wizard. There was of course his home, a place that had come to mean less to him over the years as he lived most of his year among wizards among whom he could see himself as at least partially among his kind. Yet in the muggle world, there would be none like him. A lonesome existence held together by fragile threads, relationships strained by time, distance, differences and the tolerance of sins of the past.

He would have seen her last the spring of the year before last (when you were deactivated) and in the months that followed after he learned to feed, to avoid direct sunlight and to avoid garlic among other 'unpleasantries' he was left to his own devices. A burgeoning youth with no desire to remain constrained, he was left to find his own way. He did not write, why would he? Sentiment was a rather human emotion after all.

"Oh Howard, darling how have you grown," she announced like a mother or perhaps a prying aunt would. He had grown in fact, hardly the wiry teen that was forever changed that night on the Hogwarts grounds in an incident she was never asked to explained and she never offered an explanation for. "You see dear, look at him," she insisted as she gestured vaguely in Howard's direction with manicured hands.

Their wealth was obvious and apparent from the garments they wore. They looked like something someone would see in an old fashioned picture, the lapels and the ruffles, yet there was nothing 'old' about their attire. "My boy, you are everything Victoria has described," and perhaps a bit more... he claimed as he extended a hand in Howard's direction. His hands were not covered with gloves, an uncommon occurrence for the well photographed older gentleman Thaddeus Athanatos, a famed Greek philanthropist based in London. His hands were well groomed as one would expect, with short clean, filed nails, yet they were riddled with scars with were deep and numerous. An oddity for a pureblood and one he had often took precautions to hide. "Sit. Sit," he encouraged as he motioned towards a seat. There were many seats in this establishment but he was directing him to take a seat with them at their table.

"A bottle of 1984 red, a fine millennial vintage from what I have been told," Thaddeus disclosed as he pulled the cork off the bottle and it made a satisfying *pop*. The sanguine sent filled the air, it was not giggle water. "Victoria prefers a French harvest but there is something 'buttery' about the flavor that most seem to dislike. This is a fine Scandinavian collection known for the nutty, woodsy flavors." He would pour Howard a glass, the thick, dark crimson fluid would coat the edges of the glass and shift sluggishly. "Warmed to 37 degrees," he added as he poured the woman alongside him a glass and took none himself.

"You might be wondering why you were called here... you never call, you never write," normal motherly guilting at its finest. All women likely take the same required class on guilt. "I am not mad, you are a growing boy in need of space. In fact, almost a man," she added. There was a time when she was taller than him, growing like a weed had particular meaning in his case. "It is because you were chosen," a term that could have multiple meanings but in this case a term that was in reference to his post in the Hexwizard Tournament. "You have been the subject of so much discussion in the wizarding world," she continued as she took a sip from her glass. It was best when still warm. "Non-wizards, being anyone that is not entirely human, have been a point of contention in the wizarding world for years. There are a number of sentient magical beings capable of magic... but non-humans are a threat to human power in the wizarding world, whose society is built on blood status and pedigree."

"This is true," Thaddeus concurred. "I have spent the last three decades championing for the rights of sentient magical beings to have the right to a magical education, wands, an equal say, even vote in magical society." A truth in fact, labeled a philanthropist that had a concentration in medicine, specifically the care of the underprivileged and the needy in St. Mungos, he was also a vocal advocate for house elves and goblins. His political interests hardly ended there of course, "long before I found my present love of my life" a woman that appeared to be a third his age, how convenient.

"In any case, Howard... I can call you Howard, right?" Of course he could. A waiter would arrive and hand him a flute of amber colored bubby that he would accept once he covered his hand with a plain white glove. "My nephew was supposed to also participate in these games, but being the fickle" [idiot] "boy he is, he forfeited this opportunity in lieu of some young first" technically now second "-year Mahouokoro student." He took a long drink, not a sip from his crystal glass. "I am in need of someone that is willing to demonstrate the ideals we have been championing all these years. Something I honestly doubt my privileged nephew would have been capable of, so I am looking to sponsor you Howard in these trying times."

Victoria nodded in agreement. Howard was a better choice and a greater opportunity than their ambitious nephew ever could have offered. "We saw that you had a nice little girlfriend," she was referring to Falenta Black. "I am sure she is absolutely adorable, however..." It was in all of the papers. "Lesson one in these sorts of things dear, never admit what is important to you..." At least if you plan on having power and authority over other people that is. "People will take advantage of this, use it not only as a sign of weakness but as an opportunity to undermine you or knock you off balance," she lectured.

"Exactly," Thaddeus concurred with a shrug and a circular movement of his hand. "You must have the name of someone that has been irksome yet generally present in your life," everyone does. "Tell us the name of this person..." his soon to be claimed 'special person.'

OC: No need to apologize. Life can be a big ole B sometimes. I appreciate you RPing with me as always!

Howard would shift in his stance as Morgantha doted on him. Like any boy his age the public attention from a motherly figure was met with a tinge of embarrassment that hid the warm feeling inside of being praised. "Yeah, I suppose." He mumbled and grinned a bit. Though so much time had passed since they had seen each other or even spoken for that matter, there was a pull in his heart towards her. A desire to please her that took him a bit by surprise. Their wardrobe seemed out of place, no, out of the times really as they looked more like a pair from the Victorian era than the present day they were in, but the garments reeked of wealth. Something he did not remember from their time together, yet he noted it now.

Howard's long, clawed fingers would meet the man's extended hand in a shake. However, his eyes would dart between them as he referred to her as Victoria. His mouth opened to protest, but that feeling would stop the words in his throat. Some unexplained impulse to protect her. If she had told this man that her name was Victoria then he would not blow whatever cover she may have come up with. Pulling his eyes away from her and back towards their host, Howard would realize the hand he shook was heavily scarred. A bit of a surprise considering how fancy the rest of him looked, but what did he know of this person besides what he had briefly read in the papers. Howard took a seat as prompted when their hands separated.

The Dhampir's attention would be drawn towards a bottle on the table as Thaddeus explain its year and vintage and yada yada. Howard had no interest in alcohol besides the fact that it could give you a buzz, but as soon as the cork was popped the story would quickly change. The scent of the blood would find his sensitive nostrils quickly. It seemed so odd to have it bottled like some fine wine as he was just used to the almost medical like rations he got at school. Howard looked around the room as if they were doing something...not wrong, but perhaps against the rules? Did his kind really collect samples like this as a wine collector would? Did they savor the different notes that each human might carry? Stomach churning to most, but as the glass was poured he would only feel hunger. Howard held the glass in his hand, warm to the touch as was preferred, yet he paused. "I didn't know it was ever served this way. Is it common to find it like this out in the world? Is it...uh..." He leaned in and whispered, "Donated?" Again he would look around in a bit of a worry. Howard took comfort in the fact that the blood he received at school was from a reliable source. Here, in this odd place, with these odd people, who knows how it was procured. They as his eyes looked the glass over a part of him would question if it really mattered. A human could chose not to eat meat, but if the animal was already slaughtered, was their harm in a taste. He shook the thought away before the conversation continued.

Howard grinned sheepishly as Morgantha, umm Victoria guilted him for his lack of communication. Sorry Mom! "You didn't either." It would have been much more defiant, but it lacked any gusto as he felt a bit shamed. He had no idea really how he truly felt about her. She was his killer and creator all in one. She had both taken and given life in one night. Howard had lost much, but also gained. Would he change it if he could? Thoughts for another time as she claimed that he had been chosen just like Thaddeus' letter had claimed. The pair would speak of championing for half breeds and other sentient magical beings. An issue that peaked Howard's interest greatly as he too was beginning to become passionate about the subject in his own right. Just a student's movement in the making perhaps, but he was trying all the same.

"Yeah, sure." Howard agreed to being addressed by his first name as Thaddeus took a long drink. "Mr. Athanatos I presume?" He offered with a shrug. "So when you say chosen? Do you mean that you cheated my name to be chosen by the Goblet?" Howard wasn't sure how he felt about this. On one hand he would love to be the half breed champion they spoke of. To stand tall against those in the magical community that felt he and the others had no place in their community and show them what they were capable of. Yet the idea that the Goblet only chose him because of some trickery left him feeling a bit gutted. Howard had felt so reassured when he was chosen by the magical artifact. That something so powerful had picked him to represent Hogwarts was a big deal, but now that may all be meaningless.

The subject would shift to his special person. When Victoria mentioned his girlfriend he would smile again. Though he had picked Falentra when signing up he was now falling hard for Bloom. Regardless of his romantic endeavors the two of them cautioned against playing your true hand. That he would have been better off choosing a rival. Someone who was part of his life even if he wished they weren't from time to time. One name came to mind right away. The Slytherin with the famous name. The boy who had been both boon and bane. None other than, "Thomas Lestrange."