A/n: Wow I have a lot of catching up to do with reading everyone's stories plus a lot to write.
Quesomonkey: Lol I want some therapy too! Know anyone good in the Southwest Florida area? Lol I'm just kidding. Yup I was in class one day and I was sitting there next to Paige thinking of what to write and then I'm like "OMG I HAVE THE PERFECT IDEA THAT WOULD BE SOOOOO SICK!" and so Paige asked me what it was and I wrote it down and showed it to her and she was very much grossed out. Lol. Yeah, there will be random deaths. Thanks for your support!
Anasazi: Yup, Hermy is a brave girl. And I totally enjoyed my vacation. Thanks. :-D. Hehe you reviewed and that's the important thing. lol. As soon as I finish typing up everything I wrote in my notebook I'm planning on reading the chapters of yours I missed ASAP!
Chapter 14: "Start the WildFire"
Helen could see how worried Hermione was.
"Do you think he'll believe us?" Hermione asked anxiously, "What if he threatens to take my badge away?"
"First of all, I'll make him believe us. Second, Alby and Minerva wouldn't let him. Ready?"
Hermione took a deep breath and nodded. Before Helen could knock, Snape opened the door to his office.
"Helen, Granger, what is it?" Snape folded his arms.
"Students from your house attacked me?"
"Oh really? Then how is it that you're still with us?"
Hermione was about to reply but Helen gave her a let-me-handle-this look.
"Professor, I just happened to be walking by and I saw Paige stun Hermione."
Snape stood aside and motioned for them to step inside his office.
"And what did you do after that, Miss Cliff?"
"Paige tried to get me too but I stunned her first."
"So what do you want me to do about it?"
Helen looked at Hermione.
"Well…just know that there are twelve stunned Slytherins lying outside the Great Hall."
"TWELVE?" Snape snarled, "You didn't mention there were others involved."
Helen diverted her gaze from Snape, back to Hermione. Before she could open her mouth, the doors opened again.
"Gryffindors at—oh." Paige stopped when she saw that the two of them were already there.
"What is it, Miss Larson? Have a seat."
Snape hadn't offered them a seat!
"Granger and Cliff attacked us all."
Helen gripped the edge of the chair to restrain herself from doing Paige some serious damage.
"Explain."
"My friends and I were coming back inside and Granger went berserk and started cursing us like crazy and then Cliff joined in."
"These girls claimed it was the other way around."
"They're lying!" Paige said in her best truthful-sounding voice. Snape leaned back in his chair and thought the situation over. Helen knew he was wondering if he should be mean and take points off of Gryffindor for damage of two verses damage of twelve, or actually punish his house for a change.
"Clearly, this is your word against theirs," Snape started, "I would take the word of a Slytherin any day, however, since there are no other witnesses to back up either claim—"
"Lovegood."
"Malfoy."
Snape shook his head.
"I can punish both houses for fighting in the first place or all of you can keep away from each other. Take your pick."
"So you're giving Cliff special treatment because Dumbledore's her guardian, too then."
"Really," Snape raised an eyebrow, "I was not aware of that piece of information. And no, Miss Larson, I favor no one."
Paige glared at him, then at Helen and Hermione, and stomped off.
"The puzzle is finally solved," Snape sneered when she was gone, "All the interest the headmaster had taken in regards to your safety."
"Why does it matter to you?"
"Oh it doesn't," he laughed in her face, "For some odd reason or another I thought there was something significant about your capabilities. Now I see he was merely doing his job by keeping an eye on you. How very foolish of me to assume as much from a friend of Potter's."
"Professor, I believe your first assumption was correct. I do have potential and it would be foolish for you to think otherwise."
Helen smiled and Snape gave her an appraising look.
"You are aspired, no doubt. A quality Salazar always prided in himself. Unfortunately you are also a bit cheeky and could use a lesson in humbling. You have a detention. Now leave my office."
Helen started walking in the direction of her dorm and Hermione followed.
"You do no you could have escaped there without trouble at all right?"
"I know."
"You're so lucky Snape thinks you are 'aspired' or else you'd probably have had a week's worth of detention and lost about twenty points."
"Oh well."
"Why does he give you exceptions anyway?"
"What do you mean?" Helen stopped to look at her, "I always end up getting in trouble for what I say."
"But it's so much less than any other Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, or Gryffindor would have gotten. Besides, I think he would much rather not even punish you at all. It's almost as if he's forced to, in order to seem like he isn't picking favorites."
"I'm no where near being his favorite, but I see what you're saying," Helen nodded, "Lately I've been hearing that I'd be better as a Slytherin."
"What? That's bull!"
"Is it?" Helen frowned. Hermione could see how upsetting the idea was to her, "I am overlydetermined and ambitious and secretive. Can you imagine what Alby would have thought if I really did become a Slytherin?"
"Well you're not! You're not sneaky, dark, sly, or power-hungry and you certainly don't believe purebloods are better than others. I don't think the sorting hat made any mistakes."
Helen gave a quick smile.
"Thanks."
"I'd better go feed Crookshanks."
Helen nodded. She had to go to Quidditch practice anyway. Hopefully the rest of the day would be uneventful.
[PAGE BREAK]
A/n: Anyone read the manga, Ceres: Celestial Legend? Good stuff; affects the soul.
Soon the month of November came upon the students of Hogwarts. Because of Trelawney's death, ministry officials were sent to help guard the castle and curfew became earlier. Around that time someone broke into Azkaban and released half the prisoners (gee I wonder who), including Lucius Malfoy. The crime rate rose astronomically, causing the students to become restless and highly fearful for their lives. Helen was left feeling helpless. She hadn't been able to find anymore books on ancient magic and there weren't anymore clues about the Worset Stone. The only upside was the increased time she and Draco were spending together. Also, Ravenclaw beat Hufflepuff in Quidditch 220 to 90.
"I'll meet you tomorrow at Hogsmeade," Draco murmured in her ear before kissing her goodnight. Helen smiled as a not-so-familiar feeling of warmth washed over her. Lately she'd been feeling that way around him. Was this how it felt to be rid of justified paranoia? How long would this last, until the deaths started hitting closer to home?
Stop worrying! You're happy again so just shut up and go to bed!
The Hogsmeade trip would be the last day before Christmas holidays; her last day with Draco before he left to visit his mother.
GO TO BED!
So Helen did.
THE DREAM
She was standing in a dimly lit room, armed with a wand in one hand. She was looking for it. Where was the magician?
"Helia-su-tamen," a voice pierced through her. Only one person sounded like that.
Suddenly the room was alive with death eaters.
"Chain her," the voice commanded. The crowd of Voldemort's followers separated to let one hooded wizard pass in front of them. Helen stood, paralyzed with fear and cold with terror. Suddenly everyone was gone, except the hooded wizard, amidst a circle of fire that was consuming everything. This wildfire would be her death.
"Please, whoever you are, don't do this!" Helen sobbed.
The wizard ignored her pleas. He gripped her arms and chained both of them to the wall. Once this was done he turned and slowly started walking away.
"NO! DON'T LEAVE ME!" Helen cried as the fire burst and rose even higher.
"Why give up everything I have for you?"
"I'LL DO ANYTHING! PLEASE JUST DON'T LEAVE ME!"
"I hold the world in the palm of my hands. To save you would gain me nothing but a tombstone."
"Kevin! Kevin will save me!"
The wizard just laughed heartlessly.
"The one you speak of used to save you, but you left him to burn long ago." The hooded man waved his hand. The smoke in one area moved away to show Kevin also chained to the wall, enveloped by flames.
"Draco! Draco will come for me! He promised!"
This time the wizard did not laugh. Instead he reached up to lift the hood from his head. Chilling eyes. Stone cold and empty as his heart.
"I am Draco."
Then he was gone. And she was left alone. To be fed to the WildFire.
End of Dream (Helen wakes)
Helen was shaking from head to toe as she got out of bed to get changed. How much more frightening can a nightmare be? She just dreamt that someone whom she'd started to care for left her to die! It took her longer than usual to get ready and she was still shaken up by the time she reached Honeydukes (Harry and Hermione ran off together and Ron sought out Pansy).
"What's wrong," Draco lowered his voice, making sure to look like he was examining his chocolate bar instead of talking with Helen.
"Nothing," Helen lied, inspecting the malt balls; hoping no one was paying attention.
Draco looked at her full on with his eyes full of tenderness that was so different from the ones she saw in her nightmarish dream.
"We'll talk about it later?"
"Sure." Helen said quickly, just to appease him. After checking to make sure everyone's eyes were diverted he boldly gave her hand a gentle squeeze and a quick peck on the lips before going up the counter to pay for the sweets. Helen sighed as she watched him go. Hiding their relationship was tearing her up. Could it even be called a relationship when she found she wasn't able to trust him completely and had to hide secrets from him, too?
Later that day she met up with Harry and Hermione and they all went Christmas shopping together. Helen was very tired and almost untroubled when she came back to her room that night, until Draco brought it up again.
"So what's the big secret?" He took her hands in his.
"Just a realization."
"About what?"
Helen breathed out deeply.
"Your family would never allow us to be together. So what happens when they find out? Would you stop seeing me?"
"I still would in private."
"So when they arrange your marriage with someone else so you can produce heirs…I'll just be your mistress?"
"No…" Draco looked away.
"That's exactly what you'd been thinking, isn't it?"
"Why are you worrying about this now anyway? We've got plenty of time to figure this out."
"No we don't. I know this is it, where either Voldemort or Harry will die by the end of this school year."
"You don't know that."
"I do."
"I'm going to bed." Draco stood up, "You're welcome to join me."
Helen gave him a look.
"Well, that's a no." he lifted his arm up to touch her shoulder but at the last second he put it back at his side, "Goodnight."
Helen watched his retreating back moving further and further away from her. Was there any truth to that dream she'd had? By sticking with her, Draco would be disowned, losing all the power of a Malfoy, as well as a target. Voldemort would have him killed. Was she worth the stakes?
"Helen," Draco peeped his head out of his room, "Why is there a Jobberknoll in my room?"
"Oh. I wonder how Buster got in there."
"Buster?"
"My jobberknoll."
"That thing is yours? I never knew you had one."
"Yeah, his cage is in Mrs. Baker's room."
"Why?"
Helen shrugged.
"She gave him to me when I was little but I guess she still considers him hers. I don't know."
Helen made a sound that was similar to a click and whistle combined. As soon as her bird flew out Draco mumbled goodnight again and shut the door.
[PAGE BREAK]
Draco arrived at the mansion at precisely noon. His mother was away on a shopping trip, leaving him alone in the house. At least he thought he was alone, until he went into the den.
"Father!"
Draco's spirits soared for a brief moment. His father seemed to be in good shape despite his stay in Azkaban.
"Draco."
"Don't move any closer." An unpleasant voice commanded. It seemed to be coming from the lounge chair by the fire. Draco looked at his father questioningly. Who was sitting there with his back towards him?
"I sense a change in the boy. What happened to him?"
"I'm not sure my lord. He looks the same to me."
So it was the Dark Lord who was here!
"His eyes."
Lucius walked forward and stood in front of Draco. After a minute of silence he spoke.
"I don't see."
"They are dissimilar to yours."
Lucius's eyes widened. Draco couldn't see what the big deal was.
"Why is this so, Draco?" Lucius asked.
"I don't know." Draco replied.
"He is lying." Voldemort rasped. Lucius looked at Draco in disbelief. He'd never lied to his father before, well, at least not while you-know-who was present. "The boy is not as loyal to you as you'd like to believe, Lucius."
Draco's father looked at him angrily.
"Draco…"
It was in the same tone he used with the headmaster, restrained but contemptuous all the same. But for some reason Draco couldn't bring himself to tell his father what he'd been doing since school started.
"Where do your loyalties lie!" Voldemort raised his voice. It was more demanding that asking. Lucius looked from the chair to Draco and back to the chair as if he felt they were playing some sickening joke on him. The mere idea of a Malfoy defying Voldemort was sheer ludicrous.
"With the Dark Lord."
"Wise answer," the room got quiet, and Voldemort rose to his feet, "Lift up your right sleeve." He directed his order to Draco. On instinct, Draco gripped his arm. Lord Voldemort faced Draco, towering over his with his red snake-like eyes glowing. Draco immediately lifted the sleeve of his robe.
"No!" Lucius whispered, "He can't be—"
Voldemort pointed his wand at a spot on Draco's arm.
"Proof that he is."
WHACK!
Draco was flung against the wall. Lucius cringed at the sight of his son in pain.
"So this is how you changed! You are a Via!"
Draco stood back up, despite his father's warning glare to stay down.
"What does that mean?"
The Dark Lord sized him up.
"The one destined to kill Helen."
Draco took a step back.
"But you won't yet. We need her alive for now."
Wait a second…Helen saw his mark before and she said he was a Via... so obviously she knows…but if he was only meant to kill her then why would she still choose to be around him?
"How am I the one who's going to kill her?"
"It's just what the Vias of Sacred Keepers do. How close to the girl are you?"
Draco frowned. There was NO WAY he was going to tell him that!
"What if she joined us? Then there'd be no need for her to die."
"You care, why?"
Then Draco was suddenly away of a little prickly feeling in his head, as if someone was inside searching for something. Draco forced his mind to be black, forming a wall. Instantly the pricking ceased.
"She will not join us. I know who her guardian is."
"I can make her join." Draco insisted. Voldemort's face contorted with rage.
"You never answered me," he started, suspiciously, "How close are you to the girl?"
"I've gotten her to like me. That's how I believe I can get her away from…Dumbledore."
"Do you take me for a fool? It is YOU who like her. It is YOU who she will turn against and kill if you do not do it first. I need to speak with your father, go!"
Once Draco left the Dark Lord seated himself back in his chair.
"We have a problem, Lucius."
"My Lord, if anyone can bring Cliff on your side, it's her Via! If anyone can break her, it's my son! He's very promising and—"
"I'm aware of the advantage of his use, Malfoy, however the one problem is if he discovers he's not only destined to kill her…he could love her too as well."
"He won't."
"He does already."
Lucius clamped his mouth shut.
"Keep an eye on your son. Stamp out this foolishness or there will be dire consequences."
"Yes my lord."
"One more thing, Lucius…tell him about the stone."
[PAGE BREAK HERE]
Christmas morning Helen woke to the sound of fluttering wings. In front of her were presents from Harry, Ron, Hermione, Hagrid, Mrs. Baker, Dumbledore, Mrs. Weasley, Kevin…and Draco. She opened the other presents and came upon Draco's. Inside was a platinum armband with the mark of the Via encrusted in diamonds, emeralds, and a single ruby in the center. Along with the extravagant gift was a note:
Helen,
Do you remember seeing a strange emblem of some sort on my arm? Well, no one else knows about it (I usually put a charm on it) and so I figured it means you've seen a secret part of me. I had this made for you (yes, Slytherin colors but there's a ruby at least) because I don't want you to forget it. Not too long ago you asked me what I'd do if someone knew we were dating. I don't want to lie to you, Helen; I don't want to sacrifice my life for something I'm unsure about. In other words, I'm unsure about us, our relationship, and my own feelings. The one thing that's certain is that I've never been serious about anyone except you. No matter what happens, please don't forget or doubt the sincerity of what I've said. Regardless of what may come in the future, know that I will never physically hurt you; I'll try to protect you in my own way whenever I can.
Mine, Yours,
Draco
p.s. I didn't want to give you a necklace because of that whole amulet thing.
Helen had no idea what to make of his letter. It was both ominous and sweet at the same time. She tucked it in the secret compartment of her drawer and put the band around her upper arm. One thing was left…Kevin's. His present was a single tiglolilox, (a/n: combination of tiger lily and foxglove) her favorite flower. His letter was short and to the point.
To Helen,
This must be my 58th letter. I've said I'm sorry enough already. You may be relieved to know this is the last time I'm writing to you (unless you write me saying not to…which I highly doubt). Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Kevin
Helen put the letter down with a sigh. Now for the big question…make up with Kevin or not? Before it would have been a definite no but the dream gave her new insight. Kevin always used to take care of her when no one else could. She still cared about him…at least a little, right? Besides, wasn't he under a potion when he cheated? Helen picked up a piece of parchment.
Kevin,
Merry Christmas.
Helen
As an afterthought she added…
p.s. Don't make that your last letter. Write again soon and your present is included.
The next day Kevin wrote back and she replied. In fact they corresponded everyday; the day Draco returned was no exception.
[PAGE BREAK HERE]
A/n: I wanted to mention that I include certain quotes or whatever from songs and even cometimes from books or something (if I didn't say who then it's subconsciously).
"Draco! Omg I'm so happy to—" Helen stopped. Between Draco's once again changed eyes (dark grey this time) and bottle of extra potent firewhisky swinging in his hand, Helen could tell something was wrong with him. Strangely wrong.
"Helen," He stood up so abruptly that Helen jumped back in surprise.
"I think you should um…rest or something. You don't look too well."
"Uh uh doll, we've gotta talk about your initiation as a death eater."
"Excuse me?"
"The Dark Lord will spare your life if you join us, baby, you and me! It's the only way we can be together and I know you want that as much as I do. It's perfect! It's simple! Just become a death eater. You'll love it."
"I'm not going to be a fucking Death Eater!" Helen's temper fired up.
"You don't have a choice!" Draco frowned at her reaction to his suggestion. "If you're worried you won't be accepted…no worries. The Cliffs weren't respected by our side but at least they were rich purebloods. The Bastet and Isis families, however, had even MORE money and were looked up to by almost everyone. See, love, no worries."
"Talk to me when you're sober."
"I AM sober!"
"No you're not, now Move!"
"Only if you give me an answer first; Are you going to be smart and join or foolish and turn against me?" Draco demanded.
"What the hell happened to you," Helen's eyes flashed angrily, "Why are you being like this?"
Let's talk this over
It's not like we're dead
Was it something I did?
Was it something you said?
Don't leave me hanging
In a city so dead
Held up so high
On such a breakable thread
You were all the things I thought I knew
And I thought we could be
"Me? You're the one with the issues! I offered you a chance to be with me and you're not fucking taking it!" Draco shouted.
"Did you EVER," Helen yelled, "think I could possibly ally with Voldemort after I got this?" she took off her armband to show the amulet scar on her arm, "They tortured me! Do you have any idea what that feels like?"
You've got your dumb friends
I know what they say
they tell you I'm difficult
But so are they
But they don't know me
Do they even know you?
All the things you hide from me
all the shit that you do
"You won't have to go through it again if you comply with—"
"What will it take to get through to you? I'm not going to help people who MURDERED MY FAMILY!"
"Do you want to die? Do you want me to have to kill you?"
Helen looked as though she had been slapped in the face…twice.
"If they asked you to kill me, could you do it?"
"At this point…"Draco's face filled with rage, "I would. I'm your Via after all."
"Then I guess that's it…I guess all that shit you wrote about protecting me was a bunch of garbage. And just when I started trusting you too." Helen tried to step around Draco to open the door but he grabbed her roughly and pinned her against it.
"We're not finished here." Draco held her down with the force of one hand and the weight of his body; in the free hand he conjured up a ball of fire, "Scared?" he waved the flame in front of her face.
Helen could feel a tear fall from her eyes, then another one.
"Why does every fucking person turn against me!" she screamed in anger, frustration, and sorrow. Anger was the strongest emotion at the moment and she shoved Draco, catching him off guard, and ran out.
Thanks for acting like you cared
And making me feel like I was the only one
It's nice to know we had it all
Thanks for watching as I fall
And letting me know we were done
He was everything, everything that I wanted
We were meant to be, supposed to be, but we lost it
All of the memories, so close to me, just fade away
All this time you were pretending
So much for my happy ending