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He walked briskly behind her, trying to catch up.
"Granger! Granger dammit, would you slow the fuck down?"
Of course she didn't.
"Would you like to explain that back there?"
She sighed and stopped. "You've become dense, Malfoy."
"What's that-"
"It means," she said in frustration, "that you are ignoring the obvious. Ignoring all the facts."
"I don't see how that applies to anything."
She crossed her arms over her chest. "Oh, no? Look at yourself, Malfoy. You just let one of your good friends go. And for what? Because of what she is? When did that start defining anyone?"
She took a deep breath. "I don't know what it is, Malfoy," she said quietly. "This year, it's insane. I know. And my mind can't process it all. But what I do know is that...is that you've changed. For the better. I don't know why you're acting like this."
Draco looked at her. He wanted to say he knew why, but he didn't. He just saw what Valerie had done to that woman and felt nothing but disgust. For Valerie, or for himself, he could not tell. Because the truth was that Draco had done horrible things in the war. He had tortured, had gone with Death Eaters when they went on killing sprees. He didn't kill anyone, but that didn't lessen the brutality of everything. Valerie had saved them, but all that Draco saw was the darker side.
And he did the same thing with himself. Whenever there was a happy or a good moment, be it with Blaise and Pansy or just by himself, he often wondered if life would punish him for the misdeeds he had done.
He didn't deserve Granger. He didn't want to be with her because he was afraid that she would be ripped from him.
And not just Granger, but everybody. His mother, Pansy, Blaise, and hell even Valerie and Felix.
Seeing the darker side of Valerie, this new Vampire side with the situation they were in, it scared him.
He sighed and let his head fall back until he was looking at the tops of the trees.
"I have to apologize, don't I?"
He didn't even have to look to know that a smile was blossoming across her face.
"Yes," she said with an amused voice. She walked forward and linked her arm through his. "Now, escort me back to this lethal party, so that I may flaunt my 'feminine whiles'."
Draco smirked. "Speaking of 'feminine whiles', I distinctly remember that you had a lack of-"
She yanked him forward.
Felix walked up to Valerie. "You want to explain why-"
"No."
He sighed. "Later then."
"No. Not now and not later."
He cocked a half-smile. "Oh, my stubborn little blood drinker. How you do make life difficult."
She glared at him.
"Alright, if you're not going to explain why you're pissed by epic proportions, then please explain why you're watching Blaise and Luna like a hawk."
This time she allowed her lips to twitch. "I'm waiting."
"For?"
"For Zabini to make a damn move."
Felix chuckled.
He had to admit, it was quite hilarious, what the Italian felt for the blonde. The normally funny and collected boy was lost and disorganized when it came to Luna.
Felix looked over to the side to see Malfoy and Hermione enter the party. He felt immediate despair from Valerie and noticed she had a pained expression on her face. He grabbed her arm, pulled her forward, and kissed her hair.
"Don't worry about it," he whispered, before walking off.
Valerie sighed, looking up at the sky. Damn. It was time.
She traveled over to Marcus and the rest of the Chairmen.
"I believe we have a meeting to hold." The Chairmen nodded and left to spread the word.
"Ladies and gentlemen! Please settle down. We are about to commemorate this gathering with a very important issue. As you all know, every voice in the Community has a right to be heard, and we will hear it!"
The music had stopped when the older man had started speaking. Draco gave Granger a look and Blaise did the same.
"If my council members and royalty would please take a seat, I would be honored to start this meeting."
Draco saw Valerie move from where she was, over by a group of men, and move to a circle of chairs. They were not there a moment before. There were seven chairs for the Vampire Chairmen and then a little ways to left, the Veela Chairmen, with the pattern repeating for each magical being. They were made from stone with a simple blocky design. They looked bloody uncomfortable. Nonetheless, Valerie sat down in the end chair to Draco's left. The dark haired brood, Marcus sat to Valerie's left, and then the Vampire, Lincoln in the next chair. Each chair was filled with a Chairman, none who seemed too happy.
Draco felt someone grab his arm and spin him around.
"You and Blaise need to go over and stand behind Valerie. Hands clutched behind your back." Felix gave him and Blaise a look of importance. "Don't speak unless spoken to, and give Valerie your complete submission. Any act of defiance will force her hand, and she will have to punish you, most likely killing you." Draco and Blaise gave Felix a questionable look.
Felix lowered his voice. "This is not the time to be you. Any snarky attitude or small witticisms will get you two in trouble. You have to remember, you are a part of Valerie's Guard. Nothing more. You two are human, and to them," he gestured to all the creatures around, "you are expendable. Don't give them a reason to kill you. Stay unreactive. Keep a poker face. Now go." Felix gave Draco and Blaise a little shove in Valerie's direction. Felix turned to Luna and Hermione.
"You two, as the Guard's consorts, will sit at Valerie's feet. Same thing I told them. Be invisible." He gave the two girls a nudge as well. Hermione and Luna dodged around the crowd to Valerie. Blaise and Draco were already behind Valerie's chair, stone faced with their arms clutched behind their back. Hermione sat on the right, the same side Draco was standing on, and Luna sat on the left in front of Blaise.
Felix directed Harry and Ginny over to a rock, where they took a seat. He gave them the same order of silence he gave the other four.
When all the chairs were filled, and the rest of the magical creatures around them, there was empty space in the middle between each Council in the circular shape.
The older gentleman stepped forward in the center of the circle.
"As you well know, there is a current bill that has been pushed through that would allow the Wizarding community and their Ministries access to our information. We would need to tell the world who we are and register that fact. This is the time where we should...discuss these problems."
There were murmurs of outrage all through the clearing.
"Should we be talking about this now?" A woman to Draco's right made a pointed look at his direction.
Valerie snorted. "They are loyal to me. Anything said or done does not leave the barrier."
That satisfied the woman and she turned her attention back to the man.
"Yes, your little humans. Strange you gave no mention of them before this." The man to Valerie's left, Marcus gave her a cruel smirk.
"They are none of your business."
Marcus leered down at Luna. "Still, one would wish you had said something sooner."
"I don't believe I need your permission, Marcus." Valerie kept her gaze focused on the man in the middle.
Amused chuckles filled the air.
Marcus gave Valerie another glare and stood up.
"Yes. Your little wizards. Yet we forget that they," he pointed at them, "are the problem. They are the ones that passed this ridiculous bill! I think we should strike back!"
Murmurs.
"Strike back?" A man on the side of what Draco assumed were the Fairies spoke up.
"Yes, strike back. These wizards, they seek dominance over everything! Including us! I say we-"
"What?" Valerie interrupted, standing up. "We what? Go to war?"
Marcus gave her a twisted smile. "Exactly. We go to war. The wizards have just finished a war, they are weak! This is the time to strike."
"And kill thousands in the process, when we could solve the entire problem diplomatically. No, we won't be going to war."
Draco had to admit, he fought hard to keep his resolve. Here was a man talking about going to war with his people. Acting as if the Second Wizarding War was nothing. That it was just a tool he could use. Draco looked over at Blaise and saw that he was thinking the same thing.
Marcus sneered at her. "For all your talk of overcoming oppression, you sure have no problem with it."
"There is a difference between oppression and dealing with a madman."
Silence.
Valerie stepped forward, speaking to the rest of the crowd. "We have a fragile relationship with the wizards, yes. But we cannot blame them. They are as afraid of us, as we are of them. And what sort of image have we given them, other than the one they fear?"
"Are you saying that we should give up who we truly are, just to appease them?" Asked a Veela.
Valerie shook her head. "You misunderstand me. We toil away in secret, not giving any sort of argument about who we truly are. I'm not saying we give them our entire way of life, but we can make some effort to make them see us in a different light."
The murmurs broke out again, discussing what Valerie had said.
Draco could see why Valerie was Queen. She spoke with logic of course, but she also spoke with passion.
"What do you propose?" A Vampire asks.
"We go more public. Get involved with repairing the wizarding world from the effects of the war. Bring notice to the dangers of the bill."
"Do you really think that's going to work?" Marcus asked. He gave her a condescending grin and turned back to the audience. "These views are that of a child, a child who makes a play at Queen. She's hardly qualified for-"
"Then why is she Queen?" The crowd focused their attention to Ariann, who slowly rose from her chair.
Marcus gave a dark chuckle. "Timira's influence-"
"Timira merely brought attention to the girl. She did not force the Community, or the Vampires to accept Valerie as their Queen. She, one whom you call a child, has more knowledge than you. You talk of war as if it is some grand achievement. That dying in that war would be a noble sacrifice. Lines with the wizards are already growing thin. They do not see us as people, because we do not give them another reason to think so. You must also realize that it is just the European Ministry as well as the Asian Ministry that passed the bill. The American Ministry has never supported such laws, nor do they intend to start. You would punish an entire race, based on the actions of some ignorant few?"
The murmurs grew louder. Some called out in agreement. Others said nothing. Some agreed with Marcus.
"Well, I have inside sources that say otherwise. There is talk amongst the American Ministry that calls for the same bill the European Ministry has put into effect!" Marcus voice rang through the hill.
"And who is this source, Marcus," Valerie asked.
Marcus gave another smile. This smile was different from the others. It still had its evil nature, but it was laced with that of a secret. A secret only Marcus knew.
"You've met him before, my Queen." He beckoned with his hand to someone in the crowd.
A man stepped forward. He had light brown hair, with soft features. He had a kind face, and his skin was tanned. He walked and joined Marcus, stopping in front of Valerie.
Draco focused his gaze on Valerie. She had become petrified. She did not appear to be breathing and she did not blink. Her eyes had widened, and she clenched her fists so hard, blood dripped off of her palms.
The man looked at Valerie and gave her a kind, warm smile.
"I've missed you, my pet."
XXXXX
Hermione watched Valerie fight for control. She was trying for control so much, that she was shaking. She had turned pale, all blood drained from her face. Fear, anger, and disbelief passed over Valerie's face. Whoever the man was, he was obviously not welcome.
Valerie fought for breath before speaking.
"I, I was not aware that your source..." she cleared her throat, "I wasn't aware that your source was a criminal."
The silence on the hill was astounding. She wasn't sure if people knew who this man was or not. But everybody was holding their breath, waiting for something to happen. Marcus, judging by his look, was waiting for Valerie to snap. To either yell at the man or break down and cry. At this point, Hermione could see Valerie doing either.
The man gave her another soft smile.
"I was let out of Alcatraz. A, ahem, technicality."
"A technicality," Valerie murmured. She had gained a little more control, and now her anger was directed in her voice. "Tell me, how can you get off on a technicality when the Community sentenced you for life?"
The man gave her a sad look. "I saved your life.'
Valerie snorted. "Oh, you and I know that's bullshit."
"Language, Valerie," Marcus reprimanded.
Valerie stepped up to Marcus, and brandished her wand.
The silence broke, and there was a collective gasp.
Marcus looked at the tip of her wand, and back up at her in outrage.
"How dare y-"
"How dare I?" Valerie asked. She took a deep breath.
"Let's ignore the fact that you would need MY permission to review any criminal case. And since he is here, let's all assume that he didn't break out of Alcatraz. Then let's add that you would need my signature to even SEE him at Alcatraz, and since I'm positive I gave no such signature, you would have had to forge it. Which is illegal."
"I don't need your signature. I am a Chairman."
"Which means nothing in regards to seeing Rett."
She slipped her wand back up her sleeve.
"I apologize. I should not have brandished my wand."
She took a step back.
"We will not be going to war. Acts of war need the agreement of all the Monarchs, and I will not be agreeing. We have a serious problem with the wizards, and I am not so prideful that I won't admit that we are part of the problem. But what I do have a problem with is you bringing him," she gestured to the man, "here in the hopes that what? I'd flip my lid, show you that I'm unstable and you could call for a re-election. Now you have taken a personal vendetta and blown it way out of proportion. We are here to deal with things that actually matter." She gave Marcus a lingering glare and walked back to her chair.
She had gotten back to her seat when the man, Rett, flashed over to her. He reached for her arm, but Malfoy surged forward, stopping the man's hand.
Hermione had to give Malfoy credit. He did not flinch, and his face betrayed nothing. He just looked at the man calmly and said, "I do not believe my lady wishes you to touch her."
Rett looked at Malfoy with disbelief. Malfoy still held his hand, stopping him. Valerie had turned around to look at the scene. Malfoy dropped Rett's hand and stepped back, placing his hands back behind his back. Valerie raised a brow at Rett, and he gave her another smile before backing away before flashing off.
Valerie looked at passed between the two and Valerie winked at him.
The meeting continued with the Community talking about their issues with the new bill.
The majority of them followed with Valerie. They came up with plans to go more public, to get more involved with the wizards.
There were the few that agreed to Marcus, but unfortunately there were more that were undecided. They were not used to being so immersed with the wizards.
The older man from earlier stepped forward. "That concludes our meeting. Samhain is almost over. First though, the new initiates must pay Penance."
A group of younger, and some older, stepped into the center of the circle. Valerie, Ariann, and others gathered in a line, side by side. Hermione could see these were the Monarchs.
The group sorted out, standing in a straight line.
It was weird. The Sphinx Monarch at the end that asked the line in front of them riddles. The Manticores battled. Ariann put her hands on their head and closed her eyes. Hermione wasn't sure what that did. They went down the line with the Monarchs doing strange things to their lines. Then it got down to Valerie. She held a cup, and one by one, the Vampires in her line came forward, spilling some of their blood into the cup. There was the angry teenager from earlier who gave Valerie a dirty look. She just looked at him.
When the line was done, Valerie raised the goblet to her mouth and drank.
Hermione flinched in disgust. Hermione didn't judge Valerie for what she was, and she understood what she had to do, but...ugh.
Valerie finished and put the goblet down. She made a face and shook her head. Ariann walked up and spoke to Valerie. Valerie laughed.
Whatever it was, Penance was over.
Valerie spoke briefly with Ariann before walking back to Hermione, Malfoy, Blaise, and Luna. Felix joined her, and Harry and Ginny came over as well.
"Alright. Time to leave, assuming you all have danced."
Hermione shared a look with her fellow wizards.
"Uh, should we have?" Blaise asked.
Valerie sighed and rolled her eyes. "Why am I not surprised? Alright, you all know the myth surrounding dancing and a Fairy Ring, correct?"
"If you dance with them, you're forever stuck," Hermione said.
"Correct. Except that's wrong. Humans mistranslated. You have to dance if you want to leave."
"You haven't danced," Malfoy pointed out.
"I'm not human."
True.
"Ok. Felix, if you would go request a song for them. I have...things I must attend to."
Felix gave her a serious look. "Want me to go with you?"
Valerie shook her head. "No. I need to do this alone."
Felix nodded his head and left to go to the band.
Thenora came walking over. "You almost get to leave and I'm still playing babysitter."
"You don't need to watch us. We can handle ourselves," Blaise told her.
"Not from what I've noticed. And besides, Valerie asked me to."
"And do you always do what she tells you?"
Thenora looked at Valerie. "Let's just say I owe her. Anyways, partner up if you would."
Thenora began to walk away, but Hermione stopped her.
(Start playing Seven Devils by Florence + The Machine here)
"Um, Thenora. I noticed that, I well that I have a...that I'm missing-"
"You finally noticed that did you?" Thenora gave her an amused glance. "Sorry about that dear. But a dress like yours, I couldn't risk lines." She walked off.
"Right," Hermione said under her breath. She felt a tug on her hand, and looked at Malfoy taking her hand.
"Shall we Granger?" He pulled her to the dance floor. Well, where everyone was dancing.
A song started to play, and Malfoy spun her away from him. They circled each other, still holding the others hand. They got closer and continued to circle with their palms touching. Malfoy spun her again.
Blaise and Luna danced, a strange dance that Luna initiated, but Blaise went with it.
Malfoy and Hermione clutched the others arm, stepped back and made one, two steps in a clockwise motion.
Malfoy noticed that Valerie walked the perimeter of where everyone was dancing. Her hands were behind her back and she strolled, really, before cocking her head to the side, and then disappearing into the tree line.
Malfoy spun Hermione back to his side. He clutched one hand, with the other on her waist. She kept her hands on his shoulders.
The music rang through the hill, drowning out any of the sound. Hermione let everyone else disappear.
In true Malfoy fashion, he was a graceful dancer. He looked at her, spinning her again.
Blaise, taking the lead this time, grabbed Luna and pulled her close. She widened her eyes in surprise and he gave her a smirk. He spun her, before pulling her back, closer this time. Both of his hands were on her waist, with hers clutched around his neck. She smiled back at him.
There. The mischievous smile, the twinkle in her eye. Oh, Luna Lovegood may play the vague and vapid blonde, but she knew what she was doing.
Felix watched the two couples dance. Emotion raged in him, most of which was happiness. There was desire in all four of them, and they were losing themselves in each other's company. But deep down, the emotion he was focusing on, was fear. And anticipation.
Valerie walked through the trees slowly. She could sense him. That was the unfortunate part of being a Vampire. Being stuck to someone like this, even when you didn't to be. Even when you hated the person you were connected to. He knew where she was, where she was going, and in turn she could feel him following close behind her.
She stopped after another minute and turned around.
Rett walked out of the shadows.
She gave him a smirk.
"I'm impressed. I don't think that you've ever acted that well. Pity, you trying so hard and getting nowhere."
He gave her a sharp toothed smile. It wasn't gentle like the smiles he had been giving her during the meeting. It was wicked, seductive, and sadistic. This was the Rett she knew.
"Who says it's acting?"
Valerie snorted. "Right. Because you hold me oh so close to."
"I hold you in the highest regard. Why do you think I chose you? Out of all the others?" He flashed so that he was in front of her. She could smell him. He smelled like home, like the trees she often walked through, and the dirt that would get caught between her fingernails. Because of him, the smell now made her gag.
"Why do you think I Made you?" He whispered.
XXXXX
She had been hiking. That part she did not lie about to Malfoy. Her family, every summer, went on a hiking trip. Her parents had been outdoorsy types, and they wanted her to feel the same things that they did when they adventured. Those were the best memories she had. Hiking with her parents. They continued the tradition even after finding out she was a witch. She felt that the summers helped to repair whatever gap had grown.
They had been hiking for about an hour and needed a break. Her parents had taken a seat, but she wanted to explore. She ventured a little ways away from her parents, passing through the trees until she came to a cliff. The scene was beautiful. She could see a valley and she smiled at the beauty that she saw. This was what she loved.
She heard a twig snap and jerked around. She smiled. "Mr. Becker?"
Mr. Everett Becker was the Charms teacher at Salem. He was one of the best teachers there. He'd been teaching for four years when Valerie entered Salem. He had the best rep as far as teachers went. He made the class fun. He was sympathetic. He was the teacher everyone went to if they had a problem. He was also Valerie's favorite teacher. He had helped her so much that year. She had shown a proclivity for non-verbal magic, and when they went on, Valerie was a natural at wandless magic. When she had shown him her skill, he had this strange look on her face, one that she could not decipher. But he smiled at her, and she felt proud.
"Were you hiking here as well?" Valerie had asked. She wouldn't have been surprised if he was. They were in a popular spot for hikers, and had even passed a few on the way up.
"Yes, I was," he answered. She made a face. Strange. He was wearing jeans and a t-shirt, and didn't seem to have any gear.
"Oh. Well, are you with someone?"
He shook his head. "No. I was just...passing by and I noticed you were here."
He walked over and stood by her, staring at the valley.
"May I ask you a question, Valerie?"
Valerie shrugged her shoulders. "Sure."
He gave her a smile. "Well, your skills with wandless and nonverbal magic: they are unlike anything I have seen."
"I guess."
He chuckled. "Oh, not a guess. Since I've worked a Salem, I haven't seen anyone with your power."
She gave him a strange look. "Power, sir? I mean, yeah, I guess I'm farther in my studies."
He had turned to her and gave her a very serious look. "Yes, power. You are strong, for a human wizard."
Human?
His tone gave her a chill, and she took a step away from him. "I don't see what any of this-"
"Power - ability - like yours should not be wasted. And it will be, unfortunately. See, you are human. You are born, you live a miserable existence, and then you die."
She looked at him. She had been in the wilderness enough to know when things got dangerous. She looked at Mr. Becker as if he was a wild animal. She backed away, slowly. Distraction that's what she needed. So she started to talk to him.
"I wouldn't say it's miserable. The fact that our time on earth is limited makes everything that much more special."
He gave a dark chuckle, so unlike the teacher she knew.
"No. It's moronic to think that way. Why chose an end, when you can stay and live forever?"
He was making her afraid. She made slow movements, drawing her wand out of her pocket. He didn't notice, but he advanced slowly. He stalked her like a predator, and she was so fixated on him and keeping face to face, that she didn't realize she had turned her back to the cliff.
"That's the thing you humans don't get. Immortality and power, those are things to live for." He had moved and the next moment he was in her face, clutching her hand, the one with her wand.
"I apologize for this. The wound must be made while you are still human."
He took his fingernails and scraped down her arm, beginning at her elbow and ending at her wrist. Three long, deep gashed appeared on her arm and she screamed out in pain. Her arm was turning red from all the blood, and she felt her legs give out. She would have collapsed, if not for the grip Mr. Becker had on her.
"And now, your new life." And then he shoved her back.
Valerie did not remember the fall, or crashing through the trees, or hitting the ground below. She had not landed on the valley floor, but on another cliff, below the one she had fallen from.
She didn't even remember the pain, but she knew she could not move. She didn't even bother trying. Her vision was going black, and she had a strange sense of knowing she was dying.
Mr. Becker appeared above her. He knelt, took the arm he had maimed, and bit her bicep. There wasn't some burning pain or some rushing euphoria. She just felt like she was getting a shot, but she could feel whatever was going into her system. She could feel it spread through her entire body, and Mr. Becker had stood back up.
A dark look passed over his face. "These wizarding Ministries. They think they can put restrictions on us, on who we are. I'm sorry for the pain, but it was the only way."
The spreading feeling finally got to every part of her, and she jerked. Her vision went white before abruptly going back to normal vision, like flipping a switch. It wasn't normal vision though. She could see details of EVERYTHING. She heard birds chirping and leaves rustling, and she could hear the scuffling of two animals in the distance. She was hit with such a sense overload that she had to stop breathing.
She felt her limbs. She tried pushing up and found that she had a newfound energy. She wasn't sluggish, and she didn't stumble. She got to her feet and looked at herself. The cuts on her arm had healed, but they were scarred.
"Wha-..." She trailed off.
"You are now immortal. Your power shall never die. You're a Vampire."
Valerie couldn't help it. She laughed. She laughed until she cried, and was bent over gasping for air.
She was still laughing when she asked, "I'm sorry, what?"
Mr. Becker was not laughing.
"You are a Vampire."
"Yeah, yeah. I heard you the first time. Is this some sort of fucking joke?"
He growled. "No."
Valerie stood there. Like any normal person, she could not comprehend what the hell just happened and it didn't wrap around her mind.
"Valerie!"
She jerked her head up. "Dad." She started to run to a path, but tripped and fell, not anticipating the speed.
Mr. Becker chuckled. "You will get used to that. I will teach you how to control it. But we need to leave, before your father gets help."
She glared at him. "You've got to be fucking kidding me."
She had an idea now about the speed, and when she took off this time, she didn't stumble.
"Valerie!" Mr. Becker called. She didn't stop, but she did focus on the fact that she heard him come up behind her. He had more control over his abilities and tackled her without any effort. She managed to kick him off and get back up before he grabbed her arm again.
"Valerie, you must come with me. I Made you. You are mine."
She just gave him a disgusted look.
"What do you think these marks mean?" He held up her arm, showing her the scars. Her arm was still covered in blood. He yanked her to himself and got right in her face.
"It means that you are mine. That you belong to me. There has been no one as talented as you. No creature will want you with these marks on your arm. You are coming with me."
This was the asshole that had just scarred her arm, shoved her over a cliff, and apparently turned her into a Vampire. Valerie continued to look at him in disgust. "No. Never."
He just gave her a sadistic smile and tightened his grip. "Do you really think you can go back to normal after this? Do you not take this seriously? Oh, you are in for a rude awakening." He flashed away.
Valerie just shook her head and made her way up to her father. He had just looked at her in horror. "Valerie what..."
She had contacted the Aurors then while her mother ran through the tress to join them. Both her parents had just stared.
When the Aurors came, they flew into action, cleaning her up and when they went to heal her. They took her statement, and when she got to the part of Mr. Becker saying he had Made her a Vampire and such nonsense, the Aurors had shared a look. They went over to her parents, and their eyes had widened.
The next thing Valerie knew, she was being transported to the Ministry.
They had officially taken her statement, and had put in the word with the Community, whatever that was. But Valerie noticed a difference. The wizards who dealt with her were stiff, and they were short with her.
Valerie had gone to Wizard's General Hospital, where they checked her over, but there was no need.
She had gone back to school then. She was the pariah of Salem.
There was no word on Mr. Becker. The school had not come out to the students with his true identity, and they had just said that Mr. Becker had gone to teach elsewhere. So her case, if there was one, was lost. Until spring break that year.
It was quiet, tortuously so, until her doorbell rang one night.
Two figures had stood there, with arms behind their backs. It was raining, and Valerie had always had a good laugh when she looked back on that moment, about how the weather fit the mood.
They had explained that they were Officials of the Community, and they required her presence. Her parents had been in the room and had just looked at the newcomers in confusion. When they had said that they needed Valerie, her parents stood up, gathering things to leave, but one of the men held his hand up.
"We do not require you there. This is a Community matter, and humans are not permitted."
Her parents had looked at each other and nodded.
What else could they do?
Valerie had walked out into the rain where the men had grabbed her and apparated away. She was not used to apparition, and had fallen down when they arrived at their destination. The men had stood there while she picked herself up off of the ground.
They were in trees, and Valerie tried to gather strength from that. The two Officials did not speak as they lead her somewhere.
"So...where are we going?"
Neither spoke.
"Hello?"
Silence.
Valerie stopped walking. The men had continued walking for a moment before they realized she was no longer following. They turned around. One beckoned with his hand.
"Where are we going?"
The man just beckoned again, like she was a dog.
She narrowed her eyes. "Look, you were the ones who took me from my house in the middle of the night into the middle of nowhere. The least you could do is explain what the fuck is going on?"
The two men shared a look, and the one who had beckoned her spoke.
"It has come to our attention that you filed an attack on a Rett Becker. We are taking you to his trial."
"Trial?"
"Yes."
That was it, and they turned around and continued walking.
Valerie couldn't breathe. After the initial shock and anger had worn off, all that was left was fear. Fear of Mr. Becker. Or Rett, apparently. He had attacked her, in a strange and violent manner, and she couldn't handle the aftermath. She was confused, so confused, about everything.
One of the Officials cocked his head to see if she was following, and when he noticed that she wasn't had flashed in front of her. Valerie stumbled back.
He was a Vampire.
"You're a..."
He smiled without humor, showing her sharp teeth.
The anger and hate filled within her again. But it was a different voice. It wasn't HER voice, V's voice.
"Are you afraid, child?" The Vampire had asked. It was obvious the two Officials were amused by her caution. So it was this game, was it? The thought did not come from Valerie, and she found herself shaking her head.
The man took that as an answer to his question. "I think you are lying."
Valerie rubbed her head, trying to clear out the foreign thoughts. "Think whatever the fuck you want, let's just get this over with," she muttered. She was getting a headache now.
The Vampire in front of her smirked, and grabbed her hand and pulled her forward.
One thing Valerie had learned about the Community: they were nomadic. They didn't have a headquarters like the wizards had the Ministry buildings. The Community chose some remote area in the wilderness to commence their business.
This night it was where she had been attacked. The cliff, the valley...it all brought memories. Her breathing became hard, and the Vampire holding her hand leaned down and whispered in her ear.
"Show no fear." He dropped her hand.
"Lincoln!" The Vampire who had held her hand moved away. The other man, who Valerie assumed was a Vampire as well, moved her over to a gathered group. They were gathered in a circle and Valerie was deposited in the center. A random person came up to the Vampire next to her and said something.
Lincoln appeared through the crowd. "Where is the Queen?" He asked.
"She couldn't make it. Complications with portkeys."
"Hm. The Chairmen will have to act in her place then. She'll have to review later."
The circle hushed and a figure was pushed forward into the center with Valerie.
Mr. Becker.
He looked at her and hope filled his gaze.
"Valerie! You must tell them, tell them I saved you! They think I attacked you."
He was putting on a face. The old Mr. Becker, Rett, whatever the hell his name was. She could feel him, and she understood that the foreign feelings and thoughts were his. She felt violated. There was calm underneath the panic. He looked at her, and she could feel that he was trying to use her, to twist her.
This was the bastard that had attacked her. He had maimed her, created her into something she didn't want to be. He had ruined her life, and here he was, forcing his will on her.
She didn't think. She moved forward, expertly this time. She had practiced with her newfound speed, and it was exhilarating. She tackled him, and a cheer went up within the crowd.
He clearly wasn't expecting any of that, and Valerie had managed to punch him three times before he threw her off. Valerie flew across the open space in the circle of beings, and rolled to a stop. She picked herself and flew at him again.
He did not go on the offensive. She could tell that if he wanted to, but that might look wrong to the crowd.
"Valerie! You must stop!"
She didn't listen to his words. She kicked him in the ribs, but he caught her leg and flung her away. She spun in the air, but landed on her feet. She meant to move forward again, but hands grabbed at her this time.
"That's enough now, lass!" She heard. Others cried for more fighting, but hushed down when Lincoln stepped into the circle.
"Alright. You all know why you are here. Due to unfortunate circumstances, Queen Timira cannot attend. The Chairmen will, however, stand in for her as judge."
It was a hurried affair. Not all Vampires were there. Just enough that could act as witness and jury.
Valerie eventually understood. It was law that Vampires could not bite, nor change a human without that human's express permission. When Valerie had given her report of the attack, it had reached the Community's channels months afterward. The Community got a hold of it, and had arrested Rett for violation of Community law.
There was a loophole to the law, however. If the human was dying, then they could be Made into a Vampire. They could be bitten, even if they didn't want to.
That's how Rett made his case. He had stated that she had slipped on the cliff, and he went to grab her, causing the claw marks. His grip had slipped, and Valerie had plummeted to the earth. He had Made her to save her.
Valerie had to fight to keep her control. She could not stand the lies he was spouting off. Furthermore, most of the Vampires there believed him.
Valerie gave her testament, telling them exactly what had happened and even told them everything Rett had said to her.
But she was losing the crowd. Vampires, especially way back when, had often found a human and marked them for Making. It was nothing new. With the modern times however, collaborating with the wizards had passed the restriction of when a person could be Made.
By the end, Valerie could tell that the bastard was going to be able to walk free. Even worse, they saw her as his property. He had marked her, claimed her. Vampires respected the boundaries set.
They did not believe her claim of attack.
She had to make them believe, had to do anything.
So she closed her eyes and remembered.
There was an old entry in the diary Felix's parents had given her. The old King had found that if one thought about something hard enough, them it could be projected into a Vampires mind. Like accidental mind reading.
So she thought and thought and thought, putting all of her energy into the memory.
When Valerie opened her eyes, all eyes were on her. They saw, they could feel everything that had happened.
The Chairmen all agreed, minus Marcus, that Rett was guilty. And since it was the majority of the seven Chairmen, Rett was sentenced to life at Alcatraz, the American wizarding jail. She could remember the hate, Rett's hate, as they took him away.
Valerie was brought back to the present. Rett was still standing in front of her. She had not dealt at all with her Maker, not since spring break of fourth grade. He was still the sadistic and twisted bastard she had found him to be.
Rett raised an eyebrow. "Trip down memory lane?"
Valerie smirked. "What can I say? My fondest memory is kicking your ass."
He gave a deep chuckle. "Still the same, I see." He raised a hand to her cheek.
"My offer still stands. Come with me, let me mentor you."
"I don't need your mentorship. I've done fine on my own, as you can see."
He gave another deep chuckle, but it was darker this time.
"Yes. And how did you manage to pull that off, I wonder? Becoming Queen?"
"I guess I'm just special."
"Yes, you are special." He leaned down so his eyes were staring into hers, his face level. "But even you must know that a nobody, new-made, Vampire Queen was a longshot. How do you think Timira knew about you? You were so focused on staying within the shadows, I had to say something."
Disbelief filled Valerie and she backed away from him.
"You know Timira?"
"Well, she was my Queen. And do remember I wasn't arrested until that spring."
"No."
He grabbed her chin.
"It was always my plan to get you high on the Vampire political scale. I was hoping for just Chairman, but you managed to surpass that. Now I have two of my children in high places."
"Two...Marcus."
A smile with fangs. "Yes."
Valerie tapered down the betrayal she felt. She could not be sure if Timira called out her name because she was noteworthy, or because Rett had said something. She did not know Timira that well, but she felt some kinship with the old Queen.
That didn't affect anything now, however.
She gave Rett a sultry smile. "Well, that explains a lot. Like father like son, I guess."
"He is an impressive-"
"Oh, no. I wasn't saying that at all."
Valerie circled behind him, putting a hand on his shoulder and standing on her tiptoes to whisper in his ear.
"I mean the fact that you are both failures."
He spun around to face her.
"You tried to get me to go with you, to be some demented child or partner or what. I don't care. You failed. And then there's Marcus. Poor Marcus, who couldn't become King. Hell, it took him ten years to become Chairman, and he was plenty old by Vampire standards. That must have irked you."
Rett flashed. He slammed her up against a tree, his hand at her throat. Valerie clutched his arm with both hands.
"Oh, don't bother. I'm your Maker. You know you can't kill me. That's the way things go. I gave you the gift of eternal life."
"Just because I can't kill you, doesn't mean that I can't hurt you."
She pulled his arm, but it did not budge from her throat.
"I have been around longer than you. I am stronger than you. You bested me once, but that was only because you had surprise and I chose not to fight back."
He drew closer to her. "Do remember that."
She felt a burst of desire and her gaze widened. He leaned his head down to her ear.
"What? You didn't think I only chose you for your abilities. You cheapen yourself. You are a stunning creature, Valerie. I've always thought so. Those marks on your arm were to insure that no other male would try to claim what was— what is... mine."
Valerie laughed without humor. "How-"
"Complimentary of me?"
"I was going to say pedophilic."
"Please. I was 19 when I was Made-"
"Sixty years ago."
He ignored her. "—and you are 18 now."
"Still creepy," a voice rang out.
Rett turned around to see the blonde wizard from earlier with a dark skinned wizard and a Veela.
He chuckled. "You Guardsmen, always so-"
Valerie grabbed Rett and threw him on the ground. She placed her high heel on his torso and took her wand out, pointing at him.
"I would watch my mouth if I were you. The blonde one is delicate."
There was a chuckle from Blaise. Draco shot him a glare.
Rett laughed again and shook his head. "You're brandishing your wand at me. We just had this discussion."
Felix walked forward and took out his wand.
"She may not be able to kill you, but I sure as hell can."
Rett lost his smile and narrowed his eyes.
"A Veela protecting a Vampire."
"What can I say?" Felix asked. "Friendships can have fucked up situations."
"Indeed," Rett said slowly.
Valerie took her foot off of Rett, and he rose to his feet.
He looked at Draco. "Was I not mistaken, or was Hermione Granger your consort?"
Draco said nothing.
'Good boy,' Valerie thought.
With one last smile thrown at Valerie, he flashed off.
Valerie let out a relieved breath.
"I think it's time we left this Circle."
Valerie herded the group out of the tree line. They had walked straight through the Forbidden Forrest, away from the infernal Circle. Valerie had given her regards to Ariann and had given Thenora a hug goodbye. She collected the girls, Potter, and Lavender and led the group back to the castle.
Draco hadn't remembered ever being so happy to see the familiar towers.
They passed up the hills and through the courtyard.
"I expect you all have questions. However, considering how late it is and how...exciting tonight was, I think everyone should head back to their dorms and to their own beds. Is there anywhere we can meet tomorrow? Somewhere private?"
Valerie looked years older, and he could tell that the events of the night had affected her for the worse.
"Well, there's the Room of Requirement," Luna spoke up.
Draco jerked his gaze to the blonde. She was holding Blaise's hand. He shared a look with Potter and Granger before clearing his throat.
"Um, I don't think the Room of Requirement can work."
"Actually..." Blaise began to speak.
"What?" Draco asked.
"Well, earlier this year, I um, may have had a, erm, study session there. It still works, as far as the Room of Requirement goes."
"Study session?" Valerie asked dryly.
"Yes," Blaise said in defense.
Valerie waved her wand to calm him. "Alright. We'll meet there tomorrow and explain things."