Hey guys! Sorry about the late update, but I'm trying to keep my chapters long and with a constant word count. Which means I have to write double what I previously did.
But away from that.
Thanks to:
Honoria Granger, Guest (you know who you are!), PinkyAndTheBrains, StormLight129, electric strike, KLGomez, awalther,InceptionJunkie123, mcollis3, Daniela P, kamarooka, Ic606600, Axiogenesis, Gumbogirl, Ray49, missbad92, belowthemasondx, Karate Chic, jsgirl2dae, and Rayne236
for all your followings, favorites, and reviews! This chapter's for you guys!
And a very special thanks to Honoria Granger for clearing some things up for me, and being an altogether awesome person! :p
And this story has reached over 200 favorites! WHOOOOO! Thank you to anyone who favorite!
P.S. If you're interested in the songs for the chapters, I'm leaving some suggestions at the bottom and I would like your feedback!
(posted 6/18/14)
"You're quiet," Hermione noted as they were walking through the dark halls.
"I'm just thinking," Draco said quietly.
Hermione didn't say anything for a minute. "Do you want to talk about it?"
Draco stopped walking and sighed.
There was no one else in the hallways. The one thing about patrol that was beneficial was that they could talk quietly. Not that they didn't talk any other time, but it was more private this way. It was peaceful.
"Do you remember when I got drunk and fou-"
"So you do remember!"
Draco looked taken aback for a moment. He rubbed the back of his neck with a sheepish look on his face. "Erm, yeah. Well, do you remember? Everything?"
"Which part? Where you got drunk and said you liked my smile, or the part where you got drunk and kissed me?" She asked with a mischievous grin.
He gave her a look that said 'really?' and shook his head. "No. The, um, other part…." He trailed off.
"Are you talking about how you said you were a bad person?" Hermione asked softly.
Draco nodded. "The...The Ministry. They're making me take these sessions. So they can keep an eye on me. It's sort of like therapy, I guess. Well, I had one earlier today. I have one every two weeks actually. It's why I disappear so much. But if I don't participate in these sessions, or the Ministry doesn't think that I'm distancing myself from my previous beliefs, I'll be expelled."
"What?" Hermione demanded. "They can't do that!"
"Granger, it's ok. Well actually, it's not. But I've gotten over it. I think they're making me do these sessions more for peace of mind than anything. But the point of all of this is that I….I really am a coward. I told my therapist the truth. That I did all of those things during sixth year because I was afraid to die."
Hermione grabbed his hand. "That doesn't make you a bad person, Draco. People, people have the instinct to survive. That's all you were doing. And you were a kid as well. Honestly, I can't think of many people that would have done differently."
"Potter wouldn't have. Or Weasley. Or you. Definitely not you."
She shook her head. "Draco, you don't know that. Unless we are put in that situation, we could never know. It's not cowardly to want to survive. What makes a person a coward is knowing the difference between bad and good and going through with the bad. And you didn't kill Dumbledore. You didn't follow through. You're not a coward."
Draco gave her a look. "You basically just said that if I'm not a coward, I'm lazy."
Hermione laughed. "Yes, well we all have our faults." Her gaze softened and she cupped his cheek with her right hand. "But don't ever blame yourself for Dumbledore's death. I won't allow it."
He smiled and pulled her close. "You know, you called me Draco. Twice."
She rolled her eyes. "That is your name, isn't it?"
He smirked and kissed her.
They hadn't really done much in their month and a half of dating. Frankly, Hermione thought it was still too early and she felt that she still wasn't ready. They had stolen kisses when Ron and Harry weren't looking (even though they really were...blech). Hell, even then, it was only when the group was in the Room of Requirement. It was the only place where they could talk of everything freely and not have to worry about others overhearing. Pansy and Ron, while not keeping their relationship secret, did not show displays of affection in public settings. Pansy was worried that hell would rain down on Ron. Ron had protested, saying he didn't care what the others said, but Pansy made her wishes clear and Ron submitted.
Hermione and Draco had talked things over, and they still planned to keep things a secret. They weren't sure when they would make the relationship public, or even if they ever would. But Hermione didn't need the rest of Hogwarts to know. The people most important to her knew, and that was enough.
Hermione felt his arms wrap around her waist and pull her closer. She would never get tired of this. Draco made her feel. The time she was with Ron, she felt, but nothing like this. There just wasn't any passion. But with Draco, there was plenty. Hermione had always put the emotional before the physical. She felt it important that there was an emotional connection in a relationship first. Yet with Draco, it was as if she was experiencing both things at the same time.
Hermione wasn't the most sexual person out there, she knew that. It was difficult to be a teenager when you weren't really interested in such things. She did have hormones like any other person, and she took care of such issues, but she felt that there were more important issues in the world than her libido.
Draco had slowly walked her backward until her back had hit the wall. She felt his tongue trace the bottom of her lip and she opened her mouth, allowing his tongue to slip inside. Hermione ran her hands down his toned back and up to his hair, fisting her hands in his hair. It was soft, and she loved fisting it through her fingers.
They continued to make out until Hermione pushed back on his shoulder. "We need to finish patrolling," she panted.
Draco rested his forehead on hers. "Patrolling can wait."
"Draco, we need to finish our job," she said in a stern tone.
"Fine," he grumbled, standing up straight and walking forward. "But we're making out after!"
XXXXX
"I think this is the least excited anyone's ever been for a party," Potter inquired.
Draco snorted and tightened his tie.
Draco was getting ready for a party. And like Potter said, Draco was less than enthusiastic about going. Draco had remembered the stuffy pureblood party's that his father made him attend. What he wouldn't give to be going to one of those.
Not that he wanted to go because of his old beliefs, but because of how Valerie made this party sound. Someone was going to try to kill her, apparently. It was strange to hold knowledge like that. Even if Valerie couldn't die in the conventional sense, it was frightening to think about. It was similar to how Draco held the knowledge his parents would die if he hadn't cooperated with Voldemort. Draco's already sunken chest fell even more.
This party was making him nervous, and he wasn't even there yet. He had half a mind to go to Blaise and beg him to take his spot. He wouldn't though. If this party was as bad as it sounded, than Draco wasn't going to put Blaise in harm's way.
McGonagall had called Draco and Potter to her office about ten minutes ago, telling them to be dressed and ready. It was already 5:17. Not even fifteen minutes until Valerie was supposed to come retrieve them. Draco felt like he wanted to throw up. He wasn't this nervous at Samhain. Although, that probably had to do with the fact that Granger, Blaise, and the others were there. This time it was just he, Potter, and Valerie.
Potter was supposed to do his Potter-y thing and be all political, which surprised Draco. Draco never figured Potter as the kind to be involved. Potter's stint as The-Boy-Who-Lived was more or less forced upon him, and Draco had the impression that Potter had a begrudging acceptance toward his situation. Potter didn't like dealing with Fudge, although no one really did anyway. From what he had noticed, Draco thought that Potter hated politics.
Yet here the boy was, sacrificing his safety and time to try to help people he didn't know.
Draco wanted to hate the boy, but after spending some time with Potter - something he had to blame Granger for - and Draco found that Potter wasn't as bad as he thought. Draco cringed at the admission. Potter was still annoying at times granted, but Draco's previous opinion of Potter may have been wrong.
It seemed like Potter really wanted to help with the Magical Creatures, however, and that meant that Draco was going to be stuck alone. With Valerie. This would usually not be a problem; the two had been alone several times doing homework or having conversation. But this time would be different. Valerie wasn't going to be Valerie. She was going to be the Vampire Queen.
Something which scared Draco.
Valerie he knew. The Vampire Queen he did not.
Draco was stewing in his nervousness when the fireplace whooshed to life and out stepped….
Kingsley Shacklebolt?
Draco was really going to throw up now.
The Minister of Magic was here. In McGonagall's office. With Draco.
Scenarios of him being expelled and arrested along with his parents ran through Draco's head. Draco was thinking of excused to give and defenses to say when the Minister spoke up.
"Pleasure to see you all again," the man said while dusting off his robes. He looked at each person in the room, including Draco. Potter and McGonagall gave a smile and returned the pleasantries, but Draco stayed silent and still.
Shacklebolt pulled something out of his pocket and turned to Potter. "I received your message, Harry. The Queen contacted me earlier as well, confirming your attendance."
Potter scrunched his brows for a brief moment before giving his head a small shake in understanding. It was very strange to have Valerie referred to in such a formal way. Valerie was not the first one to come to mind when someone said 'Queen'.
"Now," Shacklebolt said, reaching in his pocket again, "here are your Portkeys, as requested." The Minister pulled out folded handkerchiefs for the boys to put in their front pocket. The boy's took them and placed them in their respective pockets, leaving a corner to peek out of the pocket. No one would suspect the two items as portkeys.
"Now, they won't be active until you leave school grounds. Once you leave though, you must be careful."
Each boy nodded.
Shacklebolt looked back and forth between the two students and sighed. "I'm not going to lie and say I'm comfortable with this. The Queen came to me to explain things, and I could understand Mr. Malfoy's attendance. I don't it still, but as I understand, Harry, you don't need to go."
Potter shrugged his shoulders. "I want to help. Besides, you did say that you weren't sure how to approach the Magical Creatures. They don't know how to approach you either. I want to act as the go between."
Draco saw something in Potter's eyes and heard something in the boy's tone, and Draco's thoughts clicked.
Ah.
So Potter wasn't just doing this out of the kindness of his heart.
He wasn't doing it for nefarious reasons either.
Potter had been a key name, a key person. The boy had been raised being told that he was some big savior to the magical world. And while Potter was obviously uncomfortable with the spotlight, Draco knew that Potter had gotten used to it. Potter had grown so accustomed to being the hero, to being important, that Draco wasn't sure if the boy knew how to be normal. Draco supposed it would be a difficult transition from being a savior to normal human being.
Perhaps that was why Potter hadn't really gone against Draco and Granger's relationship. There was some discomfort that Draco had expected, but Potter didn't come outright and say 'No' to the relationship. Potter didn't want to be the bad guy.
Draco was pretty sure Potter didn't even know how to be the bad guy.
That still didn't mean that the boy wasn't stupid at points, but as for being a total ass, Draco didn't think Potter was capable.
Shacklebolt nodded at Potter and turned to look at Draco. Draco could feel his blood pumping and feel his heart speed up.
"Mr. Malfoy." The man actually gave Draco a small smile. That didn't help.
"Mr. Kidner tells me your sessions are going well. I'm glad to hear it. I apologize for the need for the sessions, but…."
Draco ignored Potter's curious stare, and gave Shacklebolt a nod in understanding.
"It's alright, sir." Lie. "I figured there would be something." Half-truth. Draco just figured that something would be his arrest, or better yet, the school and Ministry ignoring his existence.
The Minister nodded. "Well, try to keep your wits about you. I would not want this to turn into another Samhain."
Draco and Potter gave Shacklebolt a startled look. The Minister looked at both boys, raising a brow.
"I assumed the Queen told you that I was informed."
Draco remembered reading something along the lines of 'Sorry. Protocol,' in the note Valerie gave to him. He had assumed from the lack of anything happening, that she had said something very brief on the Hogwarts students' involvement. Either that or that she full out lied to the Minister. Draco wasn't sure Valerie did or not. Granted she didn't want the students or McGonagall to get in trouble, something told Draco that she didn't want to risk being caught lying. Not with the bill being passed.
Hell, not even Mr. Kidner knew of Draco's involvement with Samhain. All the man knew was that Draco was friends with the Vampire Queen.
The Minister gave Draco a look and chuckled, shaking his head. "The paperwork says you were invited. But I am aware of what happened. As far as anyone knows, it was a peaceful gathering." Shacklebolt lost his smile. "But I know the truth. I'm not so foolish to believe it is that simple with you two," he pointed at Draco and Potter, "are involved. And the Queen is not so foolish to lie to me, not with this bill that has been passed. I did not feel the need for everyone to know about such events, however, because of teenage stupidity."
Shacklebolt sighed.
"I am trying to fix this rift. That is the only reason the two of you are participating tonight. A 'hail Mary' pass, as the Queen called it. The Creature Community makes up almost seventy five percent of the Magical Community. We've already gone through one war. I won't see this world torn apart by another."
Draco gave a stiff nod.
He was rather glad that Shacklebolt was Minister. The man had a penchant for being polite, no matter whom it was. And it wasn't the fake polite that promised retribution later. Granted there were some times that Draco thought the man was a bit naive, it seemed as if that was a face. Shacklebolt hadn't even sneered at Draco upon seeing him. The Minister was very business professional.
It also seemed as if this Magical Creature bill was bigger than Draco thought. He figured it was just one of those issues that would pass eventually. If things were really as bad as the Minister said they were Draco felt like he needed to pay attention to the Party's events.
He had a really bad feeling about this party to begin with, what with Valerie and her death talk. Now it was as if the fate of the world weighed on the results.
The Minister gave the two boys a nod and a 'Good luck' before leaving through the Floo. When he left Draco and Potter turned to McGonagall.
"I want you two boys to be on your best behavior. I know you've become friendlier over the past month, and I want you to watch out for each other. And Valerie. I know she is a Queen where the Magical Creatures are regarded, but she is still one of my students, and one of your friends."
McGonagall donned a worried look. "I don't want you to do anything stupid." McGonagall's face hardened into a look of disapproval. "Especially since the last time you were stupid enough to go wondering into the Forbidden Forrest on Halloween night! Follow everything Valerie says. Granted she is a student, but she is one of the more mature and level headed beings I've met."
The two boys smiled at their Headmistress when the fireplace whooshed to life.
Draco's heart leapt into his throat for the second time, only to drop back down to his chest when the figure in the fireplace stumbled out, tripped over his own feet, and landed face-first on the floor.
The three wizards shared a look of confusion.
The man gathered himself up off the floor, brushing the soot off of his clothes and muttering unintelligible words. He wore a brown leather jacket that went to his knees, a white button up, and black slacks. Draco recognized the man as the Vampire from Samhain who had him and Blaise go over to Valerie. The Vampire finished cleaning off his clothes before he looked up at the two young wizards.
"I assume you lot are the ones gatecrashing?"
Potter opened his mouth to say something, but the man swung an arm up to cover Potter's mouth with a hand.
"That was rhetorical, dude. I know who I have to take. Valerie gave specific instructions to get the 'spectacled nuisance and the arrogant bastard'."
A chuckle burst from McGonagall of all people, before she schooled her features once more and cleared her throat.
"Yes, these are the two students. Minerva McGonagall." The Headmistress stuck her hand out. It was a polite gesture, but there was a slight shake to it that Draco noticed betrayed the woman's nervousness.
Regardless, the Vampire grew a grand smile and shook the witch's hand with vigor. "Lincoln, at your service." He let go of the Headmistress's hand and swept into a bow. He stood back up and pulled something out of his sleeve. A folded piece of paper.
"I believe those were the estimated numbers for the upcoming project. Valerie's own lawyers have looked them over, and everything seems sound," Lincoln said.
McGonagall took the paper from the Vampire and unfolded it. As she looked over the paper's contents, Lincoln let his eyes travel all over the office in wonder. His gaze stopped on the many contraptions littering the desk and he cocked his head to the side and shrugged his shoulders. He continued to look around the office when McGonagall started speaking, drawing the Vampire's attention back to her.
"I will have a copy sent to the Board immediately. If there's any news, I shall inform Miss Jacobson immediately."
Lincoln stuck his tongue out in a playfully disgusted manner. "Ugh. Just call her Valerie. But not Your Highness. Merlin knows she doesn't need her ego even more inflated." Lincoln rolled his eyes.
McGonagall seemed at a loss of words, and did not comment further.
Lincoln turned to Potter and Draco. "I assume you have your portkeys?" The wizards nodded.
"They're the-" Potter started, but was unable to finish as Lincoln lunged forward slapping both of his hands over Potter's mouth.
"For cryin' out loud kid, don't tell me! What part of 'secret Party' do you not get?" When Potter just blinked rapidly at the Vampire, Lincoln sighed. "It means that everything is secret. I can't know in case someone peeks into my head. Which reminds me…."
The Vampire took his hands off of potter, and reached into his jacket withdrawing two vials and handed them to the two wizards.
"Bottoms up."
Draco and Potter looked at the two vials, uncertain of the strange orange liquid contents. When neither boy made a move, they received an exasperated look from Lincoln. "Or, ya' know, you could just leave your minds wide open for the Vampires to peer into."
That was all the coaxing the two boys needed, and they both uncorked the vials and drank.
"It's just a potion made with dragon's pee."
Potter stopped drinking.
Draco, who had been in the middle of drinking the potion, spewed out the amount that was in his mouth. Lincoln gave him a satisfied smile and Draco saw his fangs. "Just kidding."
"What is this stuff then?" Potter asked.
"You don't want to know," Lincoln said. "But you need to drink it. It acts as an inhibitor. Sort of like locking the door to your mind."
The wizards gave the Vampire a skeptical look, but drank the potion regardless. Despite what Lincoln said being a joke, the liquid did not go down with comfort.
Draco coughed and pounded his chest with his fist, glaring at the Vampire. "I thought Valerie was going to be the one escorting us to this party."
Lincoln smiled with good nature. "Please. She's a Queen. She's busy. Escorting you two," Lincoln lifted his hands up and made finger quotes, "'is peasant's work'." Lincoln rolled his eyes again. "I don't suggest working for Valerie. Or any Monarch, really."
Draco shared a look with Potter.
Lincoln inhaled. "Well, if that's all, then we should probably be leaving. It was nice to meet you Headmistress," he said, turning to the woman. She had not moved from her standing spot and had witnessed the events with amusement.
Lincoln guided Potter and Draco over to the Floo. "Two way Floo. Don't need to say your destination," Lincoln said, and shoved Potter into the fireplace, who disappeared in a whirl of green flame and a whoosh.
"See?"
Lincoln went to do the same to Draco, but the Slytherin dodged the Vampire's hand.
"I can bloody well walk into the damned thing," Draco ground out.
McGonagall cleared her throat at his word choice.
Lincoln gave a mocking bow. "Well then, my liege, by all means. Hurry up."
Draco stepped forward into the fireplace. He felt the familiar pull of the Floo, and then the sensation of falling. Draco lost his footing upon landing, and fell out of the fireplace without grace. He picked himself up off the floor and dusted himself off. Draco looked for Potter, only to see the Gryffindor doing the same thing.
They had landed in what looked like a closet. It was small and wooden, and he and Potter could barely fit inside together. Judging from the looks, it was a private Floo, to be used for emergencies.
"I don't think that Floo is very stable," the dark haired boy said, cleaning his glasses off.
As if to further to point, the fireplace flared to life, and Lincoln came tumbling out, once again falling on his face.
"Dammit!"
The Vampire flashed up muttering about 'fixing the damned thing' and brushed himself off yet again.
"Alright then kiddies, let's get this over with." Lincoln squeezed past Draco and Potter and exited the little closet.
The closet led into a hallway with yellow painted walls and a large window that showed the sun starting to set. There were nature paintings hung every so often throughout the hallways that Lincoln led them through. It was well lit through the house, and it surprised Draco how comforting the place felt. He was expecting some creepy house with cobblestone walls and spider web-covered coffins that creaked in a disturbing fashion. Certainly not yellow walls and warmth.
The house was about the size of Malfoy Manor, although without all the pomp and circumstance. From what Draco had seen through the windows, there was a spacious backyard that went into empty fields. He could see a tree line beyond the fields, but it quite a ways away. Potter was looking around the house in wonder as well.
They passed through one long hallway that had paintings of all the Vampire Monarchs. The amount of portraits covered the length of the hallway. There were paintings of men in leather skins and women in wraps. Draco could follow the course of history with the paintings. The art wasn't just of the Monarch. There were scenes in the background that depicted events. Some depicted the Plague, the Crusades, the Troll Wars, and others peaceful fields. There were men with top hats and women with ball gowns. Each Monarch was in a regal pose; sitting in a chair with a leg crossed or a hand propped up. The portraits were still. Draco was used to the figures in art moving about and chatting up their painted neighbors. These were frozen in time.
"They don't move or talk. Not that you'd want them to, the bastards. Wizards use a spell to animate their paintings. Vampires are rather cautious when it comes to your lot's brand of magic," Lincoln said in a bored voice.
Draco stopped walking and looked at the Vampire, wondering about the effectiveness of the potion they were given. As if the Vampire read the boy's mind again, Lincoln chuckled.
"Don't worry. I can't read that pretty boy, blonde head of yours. You were just lookin' at the paintings funny. Vampires have their own brand of magic, and we're cautious of wizards' magic."
"Uhh, you do realize your current Monarch is a witch, right?" Draco said, giving Lincoln an exasperated look.
Lincoln grabbed his chest in mock surprise. "No! It can't be!" Lincoln returned Draco exasperated expression, and whacked the blonde upside the head with a hand. The Vampire tsked, muttering 'dumbass'.
Draco clutched his head, and glared at Lincoln. The two beings had only just met, and the Vampire was already smacking Draco. The man was incredibly forward.
"I was just stating. If Vampires don't like us wizards so much, then why did you make one your queen?"
Lincoln pondered that. "Eh. Beats me. Trust me, when Valerie was first announced as a candidate she got laughed at. She was the butt of every joke. In fact, most Magical Creature-wizard crosses aren't fully accepted. We are afraid of you, just as much as you are afraid of us. But Valerie had what the previous Monarchs lacked; the balls to, well, get the ball rolling. Most Monarchs wouldn't touch the issues with the wizards. She makes outrageous suggestions. I think when she was elected, the Vampires wanted to test run Valerie. And considering she's still Queen that should tell you how great she is."
"What would have happened if she had failed her test run?" Draco asked.
"More than likely, she would have been 'taken care of', if you catch my drift. We've lost about six different Monarchs that way. Then there would be another election and we would go through the whole process of getting a Monarch again. That's why the disappearing act doesn't happen that often. But if the situation was dire, than the Monarch is removed." Lincoln cocked his head to the side, deliberating. "I think the twelfth, no, thirteenth Monarch was the first to be removed. Ivan something or other. All I remember was that he was terrible."
"How would you define an awful Monarch, considering how the Vampires are so….." Draco trailed off. He didn't want to be rude and say that the Vampires were merciless, but from what he had seen, the word was warranted. He didn't want to insult the Vampires, but Valerie had admitted that their nature was a violent one.
It seemed Lincoln knew what the boy was asking, for he gave Draco a sharp-toothed grin. "So bloodthirsty? Vampires expect some level of, well, terribleness. But if said terribleness harms Vampires more than any other creature, or too much attention is drawn to our race, then the Monarch is removed. Or if the Monarch is completely incompetent. There have only been like two cases of that though."
Lincoln started walking again.
They reached the end of the hallway and turned a corner, where even more paintings lined the walls. This group of portraits stopped in the middle of the hallway, and Potter stopped to look at one Monarch. The second to last portrait was of a woman with graying brown hair. She had dark skin and red eyes. She was seated in a spiked chair of black leather. She held a small walking cane in her hand with a silver skull as the grip. There were silver rings adorning each finger. She had a velvet looking choker around her throat and blood red jewels decorating her throat. The dress the woman wore was black and shredded in some areas, revealing a red fabric under-layer. The background did not show a major event, but instead showed a dark cavern with wet stone.
"Timira. She was the Queen before Valerie. She had a taste for the theatric. Nothing major happened when she was On Throne, but she didn't want the usual nature scene for a background."
Draco looked at the portrait for another minute before he moved his gaze to the last portrait of the Monarchs.
Valerie's portrait was different. In shape and frame. The other Monarchs' portraits had been slightly rectangular, with the longer part running horizontal. Their frames had been a dark cherry wood, carved with intricate care. Valerie's portrait, however, was framed in silver. It was ornate, but plain compared to the others. The portrait was still rectangular, but the longer side ran vertically. Valerie was standing in her portrait. All the other Monarchs had been seated one way or another. But Valerie was standing in the middle of hers.
It was obvious that the painting was done a few years earlier. Valerie looked younger, and her stance was a little unsure with her hands fisted at her sides. The previous Monarchs' portraits had given off an air of power and superiority, despite their seated pose. Valerie's portrait did not give off quite as much power. She wore a plain black dress that was absent of any design. The sleeves went to her wrists, and the neckline only dipped enough to show off her collar bone. The dress was long enough to cover whatever shoes Valerie was wearing. She wasn't wearing any jewelry and her hair was let down without any style.
The expression Valerie wore was not the blank, poker face she often donned, nor the smirk she usually wore. Her eyes were a little wider, as if to take everything in, but they were nervous. Draco could almost picture them darting around.
The background was absent. Meaning there was just a dark grey shroud behind his friend.
Both boys turned to look at Lincoln. The Vampire noticed the two boy's attention on himself, and one side of his mouth dipped down in childlike disappointment.
"Do I look like your tour guide? I'm not here to answer all the questions you have."
When the two wizards kept staring at him, Lincoln sighed. "Valerie's portrait is symbolic. You have the silver frame, showing her to be the youngest ever elected. She's standing up because she also happens to be the first Vampire-wizard cross to ever become a Monarch. And the background is just grey because her reign has not ended. Backgrounds aren't added until after the Vampire Monarch leaves. Then whatever major event happened is painted in. If nothing history book worthy made it in, then they get a nature scene. There's your history lesson, ya happy?"
Lincoln strode off down the hallway, and the two wizards followed suit after one last glance at the portraits.
"He's very strange, for a Vampire," Potter whispered to Draco, leaning over slightly. Lincoln had lengthened his stride and was further down the hallway than the two.
"Seriously," Draco whispered back, "I was expecting someone-"
"-who can hear you!" Lincoln called back.
The two boys straightened up and became silent.
They arrived to a hallway that did not fit the rest of the house. Draco peered around the hallway, suppressing the need to shiver from the cold and the creepiness. It seemed Potter and Lincoln shared the same thoughts from their look of disdain.
The hallway opened back up into the normal interior, and Lincoln led them to a set of double doors.
Lincoln whirled around in a smooth motion, bringing both of his hands up with his pointer fingers sticking up.
"Alright then kiddies. Last little moment to be human. The party won't start for another, oh, four hours, but you have other business to attend to."
"Other business?" Draco and Potter said at the same time. Both boys donned a frown at the synchronization.
Lincoln took on a French accent. "Oh, but of course." He went back to his regular American accent. "Valerie's the Monarch, and the Monarch is part of the Council. And part of being a Monarch on the Vampire Council means that you have to deal with Council meetings. Don't worry. It shouldn't last for more than an hour. I hope." The Vampire grimaced. He turned back around and grasped the door handles.
Draco and Potter looked at each other, and gave a small smile to the other. They weren't exactly friends, but they weren't enemies. And like McGonagall said, they had gotten friendlier. They were two little wizards going into the Vampire's den. Or was it Coven? Either way, they only had each other as human companions. Draco certainly wasn't going to shirk the responsibility that McGonagall had given him. He was going to watch out for Valerie, and Potter, too. Plus, something told him that if he went back to Granger saying that her close friend was injured or dead, it would put a serious strain on their relationship.
The humans softened their face, and donned neutral expressions, ready for whatever was on the other side of the doors.
"Oh, and you boy's may be participating in a Vampire blood-orgy later, so I hope you brought protection!" Lincoln threw open the doors with a flourish and stepped through.
Neutral expressions gone.
Lincoln walked into the grand ballroom, ignoring the panicked expressions on the two humans and strode up to front, where his queen sat.
Draco and Potter schooled their expressions back to one of ease in no time, but they were still nervous. They entered a yellow ballroom with large windows and a glass ceiling. The hardwood flooring was light, and it went with the bright colored theme of the room. Draco was used to the doom and gloom of dark greens and black when his father threw parties, but the room calmed his nerves on some level.
Draco followed behind the smug bastard of a Vampire, who had stopped at a raised platform at the foot of some stairs. In front of the platform were six chairs. They weren't the stone behemoths from Samhain, but rather ballroom chairs that had pastel yellow cushions to match the walls and a dark wooden frame. Only five seated a Vampire. If Draco remembered correctly, these were the Chairmen of the Vampire Council. There were two men and three women. One woman he recognized as Plaka from Samhain. They were dressed differently than Samhain. At Samhain, they had been dressed in casual, if mildly business professional. Draco had a feeling that the higher ups were the only ones that did such a thing on an occasion such as Samhain. Now, they were dressed in formal business party with the women wearing bland dresses that covered everything, and the men wearing just as bland suits.
Each Vampire looked at Draco and Potter with interest and curiosity, but moved their attention back to the front of the ballroom when Lincoln spoke.
"My lady."
The Vampire bowed, and Draco followed suit, as did Potter. When they stood back up, Draco raised his eyes to see Valerie seated on a throne with two other Vampires, standing with hands behind their backs and serious expressions, on either side of the girl.
It struck Draco as funny how well Valerie sat in the chair.
In her painting, Valerie had been a child. She had been new to the experience and had not known how to behave. Her stance had been rigid and nervous.
But seeing Valerie sitting in the throne in front of him, Draco saw a completely different person.
She was wearing a black dress again. It was similar to the dress in the portrait, but with a few alterations.
The neckline went just past her collarbone, and Valerie's shoulders were exposed, save for two thin straps. The sleeves of the dress became more open the closer they came to Valerie's wrists, and there was excess fabric that continued down the under-half of the sleeve, trailing down the throne. She had her right palm clutching the arm rest with ease. Her left hand had her pointer and middle fingers resting against her temple, and the ring finger at the corner of her mouth. Her fangs were protruded, leaving indents in her bottom lip. Valerie's legs were crossed left over right in such an exaggerated way, that she was leaning to the left, supporting her weight on her elbow on the arm rest.
The bottom of the dress was shorter, leaving from her knees down, exposed. The edge of the bottom of the dress had a simple ruffle. She wore simple black, round closed-toe felt pumps with a thin, tall heel. There was an anklet on her left leg with small sapphires. She wore a matching necklace with a larger jewel resting in the center of her chest. She had dark ruby rings on her right hand's pointer, middle, and ring finger. Her left hand had a lone silver ring on her middle finger. Her hair was pulled back into her signature ponytail, revealing teardrop sapphire earrings.
She smirked at the newcomers.
Valerie was not as frightening looking as Samhain. She wore eyeliner and mascara, but not eye shadow. It was a natural amount, but somehow this Valerie frightened Draco even more than Samhain Valerie. Perhaps it was the way the girl sat in the throne with ease, not a panicked and angry mess.
With a twitch of her right hand, Valerie had the doors close themselves. Another few swishes and the windows became tinted, so that it was impossible for others to peer inside. The ceiling took the same effect, but it grew no less dark in the room. With one last swish, Draco felt the familiar magic for a silencing charm.
"Your Guard and Mr. Potter, as requested," Lincoln spoke.
Valerie nodded and looked at the Vampire on her left. "Reyes," she spoke in a low, calm tone.
"My lady," the man said, leaving her side and exiting the ballroom.
Valerie looked at Draco and raised a brow. Realization hit him, and Draco climbed the stairs to stand in the vacant spot. He stood straight and put his hands behind his back.
"Harry, you can take Marcus's spot," she nodded to the empty chair.
"Thanks," Potter said, and strode over to the empty chair and sat down.
Lincoln went and stood behind Potter, crossing his arms and leaning on his chair.
"Always a pleasure to see you Lincoln," one of the women spoke with amusement.
Lincoln gave her a wide smile and the woman turned back to Valerie, shaking her head fondly.
"So I take it Marcus will not be attending?" Lincoln asked.
The Chairmen all groaned or grunted.
"He will. He sent an owl earlier explaining that he will be tardy," Valerie said.
Lincoln shook his head in annoyance and scoffed. "So what's it to be this year? Killer bees, rabid dogs? Ooo, maybe falling pianos?"
Valerie smiled. "No idea. I haven't heard one word." She looked at the seated Vampires.
"Don't look at us," the woman from earlier spoke. "He's said nothing about his plans this year. We're just as curious. Although I hope your fashion nymph does attend. She makes the most adorable combat outfits."
Valerie rolled her eyes. "That's been taken care of, Amy. Any news of his movements?"
The male Vampire next to Potter leaned forward. "It's not official, but I did hear news of Rett in America. Near your childhood home."
Valerie didn't let her face show expression, but Draco could feel her tense next to him. "Hm." She turned to the Vampire on her right side. "Have Reyes dispatch some of the league in America to check it out. And post a few guards outside my parents' house, if you would."
The Vampire nodded, bowed, and left.
It was another hour of discussing various points. So far, Draco learned that the Vampires knew of Marcus's attempts to kill Valerie, but did nothing about it. Valerie seemed not to care about that fact. She seemed more annoyed at Marcus's attempts than anything. There was some Vampire business that Draco didn't understand, not knowing everything about the species and their traditions.
There was one moment where the Vampires in the room changed to the language of the magical creatures and kept glancing between him and Potter. Potter was radiating irritation, but said nothing. He did glance at Draco a few times to see if he understood anything, and Draco only frowned his answer.
It couldn't have been something too horrible because before long, Draco learned that the Sphinxes and Nymphs were preparing for an altercation if the Ministry was going to enforce the new laws. There were rumors that the Fairies were to follow suit. The Vampires, for now, were waiting and seeing.
"I assume the boy is reporting everything back to the Ministry?" Amy asked, looking at Potter.
"Yes," Valerie said simply.
"Are we sure this is wise?" Another female asked.
"I've met the European Minister of Magic. Strange, but very fair and just. He's willing to fight for our cause, but he needs something substantial to sway the Wizengamot. We haven't given them anything but fights and arguments, so they are not too keen on listening to us at the moment." Valerie spoke.
"Doesn't the Wizengamot realize what the new bill will mean for us? For the Community?" One of the males asked.
"No."
All heads swiveled to Potter. He looked at each Vampire as he spoke.
"Look, no offense, but I knew nothing about the Community of Magical Creatures until this year. And the only reason I know a fraction now, is because I'm friends with Val- your Queen. To the wizards, you are a dark part of our knowledge, in the sense that we have none. And from what Val- the Queen has told me, your society is complicated. I know for a fact that there would be people willing to listen, willing to fight, if they knew. I myself still don't know what the bill means for the Community. That's why I'm here."
The Vampires all looked at one another, then to Valerie, who gave a dip of her head.
"It means," Amy said quietly, "that we'll be hunted. Most of it will be out of fear, the other part to be captured and butchered for parts. The blood of any magical creature has use. The only reason we've been so secretive against the wizards is because we fear what you will do to us."
Potter pondered that for a moment. "Have you thought of sharing your science or research with the Ministry?"
One of the Chairmen sputtered. "What, and give the Ministry all of our secrets?"
"No, no," Potter rushed out. "You misunderstand me. If anything, the Ministry is curious, as I'm sure you are. I've heard that Vampires have a different sort of magic than wizards, but magic all the same. Maybe if you collaborated with the Ministry, we could find out - together - just what that sort of magic is capable of. How it can help this world."
"You have a point Mr. Potter, but that would not stop the Ministry from taking our kind. From experimenting on us."
"Well then, cooperate with them that way as well. I'm sure you have your own scientists. Share the knowledge of what you can do, set up a volunteer system, but have it work both ways. The wizards share their knowledge with you, and the Community shares with them. If Vampire blood has healing properties, have them work with Medi-Wizards on how to cure a disease. If Fairies are in more in tuned with the earth, then have them work with the Department of Natural Restoration and Health. If I remember correctly from Samhain, Sphinxes have a way of learning things that still requires effort, but where you can retain much more information. Have them work with the schools. Find something that each specie can help with, and work with the Wizards to benefit both parties."
There was a heavy silence that hung over the occupants of the room.
"It seems that the boy knows much," the man next to Potter, Jeremy, said to Valerie. He had been quiet most of the time, and listened with intense interest when anybody had spoken.
"I have shared some information with Harry, yes," Valerie answered the silent question.
"And you were not at all worried?" Amy asked with curiosity.
Valerie shrugged. "I trust him."
That seemed to take the Chairmen by surprise because they widened their eyes and sat back in their seats. Regardless, it seemed to do the trick because they accepted the statement. Draco had the feeling that Valerie didn't trust many people.
In a spontaneous moment of pride Draco felt toward his somewhat-not-really-friend-but-fellow-wizard, he smiled at Potter. Well, smirked, but anyone who'd ever met him knew that that was how he smiled. Potter caught sight and relaxed, giving a small smile back.
"Alright," Jeremy said. "If everyone is in agreement, I suppose we could send a message to the other Monarchs with the idea of working with the wizards. As well as sending Mr. Potter back with the message of the POSSIBILITY of such workings.
The chairmen nodded, as did Valerie.
Jeremy stood up. "I figure I can write to the Sphinxes and Nymphs. Something tells me they'll be the most difficult," he rolled his eyes and left. I should back in time for dinner."
Amy stood up. "I suppose I can talk to the Fairies. The King happens to listen to me when I talk." She flashed a smirk with fangs, and strode from the room.
The rest left, relaying their choice of Monarch to contact, and the ballroom was empty of Vampires, save for Valerie and Lincoln.
The doors closed with a thud, and Lincoln let out an exaggerated sigh of relief. "Phew! That went better than I thought it would." He ruffled Potter's hair. "Good job little buddy."
Potter gave the Vampire a weird look and attempted to fix his untamable hair. Draco stepped from behind the throne and walked down to Potter. "Well done, Potter." Draco dipped his head and Potter stood up, giving him a small smile.
Valerie stood up from her throne and stretched, cracking her back. "Alright. We have an hour to kill before dinner."
She glided down the steps and walked over to Lincoln.
Valerie's hand flew up, and clutched his ear between her thumb and pointer finger.
"YOU IDIOT! Are you trying to freak them out!?"
Lincoln repeated an 'ow ow ow ow ow, uncle, uncle' mantra, and bent his neck, toward his pulled upon ear, trying to relieve some of the pressure. The girl drug Lincoln forward, toward to where Draco and Potter were standing. Lincoln's hands were hovering around his clutched ear, not daring to pry the girl's hands off of his ear, but reacting on instinct anyway.
Valerie literally kicked Lincoln's butt, so that he fell in front of Draco and Potter, on his knees.
"Apologize. Now," Valerie said in a stern tone.
"What did I do?" Lincoln whined.
Valerie loomed over him. "A blood-orgy fest? Protection? What the hell is wrong with you!"
"I thought it was funny!"
"Yeah, you and the rest of the Council!"
"I don't see why you're making such a big deal," he pouted. "They took to the humans. They even liked the 'arrogant bastard' as I recall."
Valerie put her face in her hand and muttered in the strange language. "Yes. But they weren't the one's we have to worry about. Still, that does not mean you can freak the humans out!" She threw her arms up, exasperated.
"When did they say they liked me?" Draco asked.
"Oh, when we were talking about you. Although you probably didn't understand it." Lincoln said thoughtfully.
Draco glared at him.
"What? It was all good things!" Lincoln whined again.
Valerie smacked him upside the head and looked at Draco. "Don't worry about the Council. If there's anyone you could trust tonight, it's them. They know full well you're just posing as my Guard, but I trust them. That's why I chose them."
"If they knew that I'm just a farce, then why did I bother coming at all?" Draco asked.
"Would you rather I eased you in with my fellow blood suckers, or just dive in headfirst?"
Draco didn't answer.
"That's what I thought. And they find it admirable that you'd put your life on the line, just to prove your stuff. My Council members are not the ones you need to worry about. It's the rest."
Greeeeaaaaaat.
"Wait. Did you say you chose your Council?" Potter asked.
"Yes. The Monarch suggests whom they want for their Council, and the Public gives their opinion. You want someone the Public loves, but also someone who knows their way around the political bend. I have Amy and Jeremy. As for Tasha, Plaka, Rukio, and Damon, they each have their own skills, but all are useful."
"So you don't just….order them around?" Draco asked.
Lincoln snickered. "And do all the work? Yeah ri-" Valerie smacked a hand over his mouth.
"When it's the Vampire Council, we each pitch in where it concerns our kind. I only really take the whole Monarch thing to its fullest when it's the Council of Magical Creatures. And even then, I value their input."
Valerie was just a teenager, and already she could run a species better than most adults. Draco smirked.
"So what are we going to do for an hour before dinner?" Lincoln asked.
"The house elves will have to decorate the ballroom, so we should probably head to the library."
She started walking.
"You have house elves?" Draco and Potter asked at the same time.
Valerie looked at them in surprise. "Yes."
"Don't let Hermione know," Draco muttered.
"Actually, she already does. And trust me, my house elves are well taken care of. They're paid wages, and after letting Hermione know, they're being paid double. Even before that, they had weekends off, only worked so many hours a day, and they have their own bedrooms."
Valerie stopped walking and donned a nervous look. "Heaven help us if that girl ever becomes Minister."
Ohhhhhhhhh, fanfiction. How thou art a strange wench. Anyway, I'm sorry if the beginning of the chapter wasn't as heated as some of you would like. Like I said before, it is ten THOUSAND times more difficult to write smut than read it. At least for me. And normally I would do research on how to get better at something, but that would basically be me reading lemons all day on my couch...maybe that isn't so bad :p jk.
Regardless, if you write lemons, or know someone who writes lemons...help?
And here are the music choices I have picked out so far. Some of the songs will be for characters instead of chapters. But please review, PM, or email me your feedback and song suggestions! *means that you should listen to the song, simply for the fact that it's awesome!
Ch. 1 Alex Band - Only One
Ch. 1 Jason Walker - Echo
(special thanks to EllaChocolate for those song recs!)
Draco/Hermione - Sugar - Paper Route*
Valerie - Monster - Imagine Dragons
Ch. 8 Worthy - Jacob Banks*
Ch. 10 I Don't Wanna Be In Love - Good Charlotte
Ch. 9 Do I Wanna Know - Arctic Monkeys
Ch. 4 Beat the Devil's Tattoo - Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
Ch. 13 The Wolf - Fever Ray (beginning)
Ch. 13 / Draco/Hermione - Tear You Apart - She Wants Revenge*
Ch. 15 Seven Devils - Florence + The Machine*
(yeeeeeeaaaaaah. I listen to A LOT of Indie music)