Chapter 7

Jumping off the Bridge

Helena watched as her brother played Quidditch. It could be very violent but he was very good, he didn't just get to be Captain just because he was a Malfoy, no one seemed to be able to touch him. Of course their house won the first game of the year and Helena applauded with glee for her big brother, living vicariously through him slightly because Conk females were never allowed to play such a game because of their frail natures, even though games were made for them to practice their shields and it was being decided whether to make it a school sport in general.

She descended from the stands waving her little flag like the others and headed with her friends to the school…until she ran into someone's chest. "Oh, I'm sorry," there was a boy staring down at her, he was fairly good looking but staring intently into her eyes…this was getting annoying, another feeble attempt at trying to make a connection. "It's not there, you can stop trying now," Helena sighed.

The young witches that were with her were starting to giggle and the boy frowned a bit. "Come on then, you have to feel a little something?"

"I'm sorry," she shook her head and left, but felt her arm being pulled. "Please, let go."

"But, that can't be right…the way you look to me…"

"It's just my pheromones, others have learned to ignore it…there's even a potion you can take now that can guard against Conks that aren't meant for you. You should probably take it," she said sharply.

"My family has money, we are more than capable of taking care of you…"

"That's not the point! Let go!"

Helena felt a tallness over her, one she recognized all too well. The long and muscular arm reached out and had the boy who was harassing her by the throat, " you see fit to touch my sister in such a disrespectful manner?" There were gasps, Orion's eyes had turned red.

"I'm, I'm sorry…," he choked.

"You will be," Orion threw the boy a few feet and as he was coming towards him, Helena grabbed onto one of his arms only to be dragged.

"Orion! Stop! Don't…you'll get into trouble!"

Orion raised his clawed hand…he would do it, he felt eyes on him and he stopped. The boy practically urinated on himself, "a word to the wise, touch my sister again, remotely look her way, and I will end you." The boy nodded his head and took off faster than anyone had seen in a while. He looked down at Helena, "you see, I've gotten better."

"I suppose," she sighed. "I was going to use my shield to knock him out if he wasn't going to stop."

"Really? Then why didn't you do it sooner?" he eyed her.

"I was trying to talk sense into him first," she rolled her eyes.

"A man in lust cannot be reasoned with."

"Orion…"

"I smelled it on him," he grabbed her arm. "We are going now," Orion took her to her room and walked in with her. "You need to be careful."

"I know. But see, I'm much better at controlling it," Helena lifted her hand and made a small bubble of a shield in her hand.

"You still delay too long," he saw the small bubble go towards him…only for it to dissipate.

"Mine have never worked against you," she said softly.

"And you know why." Helena only nodded, he lifted her head up, " I'm worried about graduating next year, I won't be here when other wizards approach you and when word gets out that I'm off the grounds, I fear the harassment will never stop."

"They'll leave me alone…"

"Helena, you are not only one of the more beautiful Conks, you are also part of the most powerful family in the wizarding world."

"We have to tell mother and father, Orion."

"Not yet, mother might understand but father…"

"There are cases such as this, they're rare but it can happen. Maybe that's why mother was so hesitant to have another child?"

"I don't know. But we are getting off the subject. I am thinking of asking father to home school you instead, have tutors come to the house."

"NO!" Helena's eyes turned black. "You can't! I like it here, I like my friends, I don't want to be trapped in the house all day."

Orion growled at her, "Helena, do not challenge me on this. I know the dangers, the only reason you were even able to come to Hogwart's was because I was here. Father had wondered if he should even let you go and just school you at home anyway, but I convinced him that it would be good for you, an experience…you are his little girl."

She came up to him, her head bending all the way back to look up at him, "please Orion, don't…I want to stay. It would make me happy."

He struggled, he wanted to keep her happy but he hated the idea of leaving her alone and he couldn't visit whenever he wanted like he could at home. A heavy sigh came from him, "all right."

"THANK YOU!" her jubilation stopped when he didn't smile back, there was more to say.

"There are conditions. I will be keeping a sharp eye on you, if you are harassed more than I like, you will be yanked out this school in a heartbeat. Father may have the final say in a lot of things, but I pull the puppet strings when it comes to you, do you understand?"

Helena nodded, "but how?"

"I have my ways, just like father. The Dark Lord will leave you alone, he has not ever visited you, correct?"

"No."

"Good."

"He doesn't like our family, does he?"

"No. Father has warned me about him and I have learned to keep my mind closed, but take care, he watches you even if he doesn't approach you. Keep to your studies and do what you've always done."

"Yes, Orion."

"Now, we'll go downstairs to the celebration party I'm sure everyone is there already."

"Brother?"

"Yes."

"You were brilliant," she smiled.

"Thank you," he caressed her face and he took her downstairs to the Slytherin common room. He sat in the main chair and watched as his team mates were slapped on the back and girls batted their eyes as him - it was amusing that Helena rolled her eyes, his little sister that sat on the arm of his chair next to him, his arm strategically placed up and nearly around her but to others it just looked like it was resting near her. Once again a boy came by her to talk to her but backed off when Orion shot him a glare. Orion new what he himself was doing, keeping his sister's virginity intact until it was time for him to claim it.

It was like this every game, she would sit by his side and most nights they would sleep next to each other. Sometimes he would lay awake riddled with guilt over this, why them? Why were they going to bond? How would their parents react? His father would surely go ballistic, his mother…? Still, when Helena made her noises in the night, he instinctively checked on her and kissed her cheek. Was this wrong? It wouldn't be so bad if they didn't have to make love to consummate it. And what was even worse was that he didn't mind the idea, every time he had sex with another girl he only thought of Helena's beautiful face. Orion was angry with himself and hoped that maybe it was just the bond of two Conk children and that all of this was a natural phase…but then why wouldn't her shields work against him?

The Conk shield could be used against their own brother or sister, even their own parents but not their witch's or wizard's family which was something Orion never understood. He supposed it was because a mother Conk had to teach their children how to use their shields and how could she do that if it didn't work against them?

Helena blinked her eyes open, "Orion, are you all right?"

"Yes, I'm sorry I woke you."

"You feel bad, don't you?"

"About what?" like all Conks, she could pick up her wizard's emotions.

"I'm not stupid. You're worried about us again. Why don't we just tell mother and father and be done with it."

"NO," he said sharply. "If that happens…they may not let us see each other again, I want to tell them when you are of age and they can't hold you against your will."

"Mother will know," she said softly.

"We will jump of that bridge when we come to it."