Nicole Stevens: Blood and Daggers

Chapter Six: Of Vampires and Argelfraster

When we last left our heroine and her blood-sucking vampirish friend...

A tall, black haired man stood in the doorway.

Rayne, the vampire.

"Aha, my prize is found," he said once he saw me. Remus stared unbelievingly at the young man. Except, he wasn't young, he was quite old, as he WAS a vampire.

"Your prize? Well, then I suppose you must mean that you have been looking for Remus' broken wand, too. Here you go," I said, taking Lupin's wand from his hand and tossing it to Rayne. Rayne caught it deftly and threw it back to Lupin.

"Ah, but you are my prize. I am taking you, and only you."

"Oh no you aren't!" I called, hopping up and stepping around him, making for the door. The vampire dragged me back.

"Either you come willingly with me, or I make this difficult."

"You know what, Rayne? I'm going to be the one making things difficult!" I struggled to get out of his grasp, but the vampire was ten-times stronger than any human.

"Fine, then. I shall take you the hard way," Rayne grabbed me around the waist and hoisted me up onto his shoulder. He started out the door, but not before Lupin cried,

"Stop! You can't just TAKE her like this!" He lunged at Rayne, but he stepped out of the way.

"I can and I am. Now, goodbye." There was a whoosh and everything went dark.

"Where are we?" I asked Rayne fearfully.

"We are travelling in the underworld. Do not fear, Milady, the demons will not seize us. They do not dare, I am a vampire. I rule them."

"I'm scared," I admitted tremulously.

"Do not be. The only thing you need to worry about, is what Master Draco will do when he finds you like this. Being dishevelled and crying will not please him."

"D-Draco?" I asked, quavering. "How did you know I was crying?"

"You sniffled," he informed me. "How else was I to know how you were feeling? Besides, I understand why you would be upset. Oh, good, we're here."

The darkness suddenly shuddered and shifted, revealing a large stone room. There was a chaise in the centre, directly in front of a fireplace. Against one wall, there was a luxurious bed, and I longed to just go flop down on the silken black sheets and fall into a restful sleep. The carpet was a deep, velvety green, and I noticed a small stain of brown that looked an awful like--

"Blood!" I cried, flinging my arms around Rayne's neck. He wrapped his arms around me as I began to cry loudly. I did not hear the door opening, or the quick footsteps on the carpet.

"Nicole!" a voice came from behind me. I spun around, coming face to face with Draco Malfoy.

Once he saw my tear-stained face, Draco embraced me in a more-than-friendly hug. I did not struggle, not only because it would be futile, but because I had sub-consciously wanted him to. Draco let one of his hands slip down to my waist, and he pulled me tighter to him. Rayne walked away, though I did not notice. Draco pulled one of my hands from his neck and kissed my palm, pulling away from me.

"I'm sorry if this whole endeavour frightened you," he said softly. "I had to get you here, though. It was the safest place. I apologize for spoiling your transportation spell, but I had to get you out of danger. Lucius would have known how to get you if you had gone to Hogwarts. I'm so sorry."

"No, don't apologize. I don't need to hear it. Just explain this whole thing, Draco, and we'll call it even."

"Yes, of course. You might need to lie down while you listen. I have a feeling some of this will be very hard to believe. Now..."

Draco explained that he had been with the Death Eaters who broke into my suite yesterday--was it only yesterday? He said that he had deliberately cast a back shock charm to change my destination. Draco told me that he had cast the spell to send me to Durmstrang, where he could send someone to get me. He also informed me of the present condition of Voldemort's captor.

"Black's holding up quite well. He hasn't told them anything...yet. But, everyone has their breaking point. Black's close to it, I'll vouch for that. He's not doing too well mentally either; he's suffering traumatic loss of memory. If someone doesn't get him out soon, he'll go mad as a hare. So, that's about it."

"Okay. Well, where is he? I mean, I'll get him out, if I can, but I need to know WHERE he is before I can. Besides, Dumbledore will need to know. So, where is he?"

"He is, as far as I know, somewhere inside here. I don't know where, though. Lucius kept moving him, so none of us would be able to--"

"Lucius! Oh my god, Draco! I have to go. I need to go. I'm just going to go to Durmstrang, get Harry..." I began mumbling hurriedly, making plans.

"Whoa, Nicole. Slow down, you don't have to leave. Father won't be here for at least two days, so you'll be safe until then."

"No, no, no," I argued. "Harry and Remus. They'll be worried about me, and I have to go. I'm going now, seriously." I rubbed the silver ring on my finger and said,

"*Convey this crowd,

On wind and cloud,

To the castle of the king,

By the power of this ring.*

Durmstrang!"

Before I realized what Draco had done, he grabbed onto my arm as the mist consumed the room around us. I shot a furious glance at him. He was looking frazzled, but just as charming as ever.

We landed on grass with a thump. I looked around us, seeing some sparse trees, and Draco brushing imaginary dust off of his ruffled black shirt and muttering under his breath.

"Why did you do that?!" I yelled, punching him hard on the arm. "You weren't supposed to come with me to get Harry! Go back this instant!"

"I will not," he said with a smug air. "I came with you because it's safer this way. Now, where is Durmstrang?" he asked, clapping his hands together expectantly.

"I don't know! We just sort-of ambled north last time! But, that was then, and this is now. Okay, I think north is--" I pointed to my left, "--that way."

"You're wrong," Draco informed me. "It's that way." He pointed straight ahead of us.

"Oh? And how, Mister-High-and-Mighty, do you know that?"

"Because my compass says so," he had pulled out a tiny compass. "And I believe a compass more than you, at least in the matter of which direction is north."

"Where did you get the compass?"

"I don't remember. I think I just stuck it in my pocket this morning. And I think it's Somnus's."

"It would figure," I muttered. "Well, then, let's go north!"

"I think we should," Draco said, beginning to walk at a fast pace through the trees.

"Wait up!" I called, running after him.

*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*

"Hello, we happen to be looking for someone. Do you know if there's a--"

I cut Draco off, saying,

"Shush. Let me handle this. Hi, I'm Nicole. I was here earlier today. Some of my friends were here, and I need to know if they're still in the school. Could you let me pass?"

"Vhat are you talking about? I have strict orders not to let any'vun pass. Go back where you came from, girl," the man at the gate said. His accent was heavy, and I could hardly understand him.

"Look, Smorgasbord-Boy," Draco put in, "let us by or I'll let myself break your nose."

"Excuse me? Is there a problem here?"

"Krum! Thank god! Come here and tell this thug who we are," I jerked my thumb at the heavyset guard. Krum, on the other side of the gate, strode forward and began conversing quickly with the other man.

"I don't think they like us," Draco whispered in my ear.

"No wonder, after your threat," I shot back. Draco smirked and began cleaning under his nails. I shook my head, noticing that if there had been a tree nearby, Draco would have leant on it. He was so vain sometimes.

"Come vith me," the guard said, indicating me. "He stays here."

"What?! No way I'm staying here. I am coming with her if it's the last thing I do. I took valuable time finding this girl, and I am NOT leaving her in the hands of a brute, who will probably ravage her!" He finished his rant out of breath.

"I am not a brute!" the man shouted.

"Of course not, he's just mean. Come on, let him pass. He's my...uh, best friend. I don't go anywhere without him."

"I am NOT your teddy bear Nicole! Though, I do like the idea--"

"Shut up, Draco. Please let him come. I'll be sure to put him on a leash when we get inside. Please?"

"Very vell. But be sure he doesn't bite any'vun." I laughed at the guard's joke, but Draco scowled and pouted,

"'Make sue he doesn't bite anyvuuun," he mimicked, enunciating the end. "I swear, I'm going to--"

"Come on, Draco!" I held his hand to try to coax him.

"You will not put a leash on me," he stated flatly.

"Of course not."

"And I'm beating up Potter when we get there."

"Of course you wi--No you won't!" I caught myself. "Now we are leaving with this nice man, to go find our best friends."

"Fine," Draco said sulkily.

I nodded at the guard and we went through the gate. Inside, there was a huge courtyard. All the grass was knee-height off to the sides, with one beaten path leading up to a small castle. Draco and I trotted to keep up with the sentinel. We reached the castle in five minutes, and our guide knocked seven times on the heavy wood door. It swung open, and Draco peeked inside. I hit his shoulder and we walked through.

"Vhere vere your friends staying?"

"Second floor, rooms twenty, twenty-one, and twenty-two."

"All right then," Draco exclaimed, hurrying to the stairs. The guard waved us ahead, leaving us to find the rooms. I dashed up the stairs, Draco at my heels. Once we were on the second floor, I slowed down and looked for our doors. At door twenty, I said,

"Here's Harry's room!" I knocked on the door, and waited. And waited. And waited.

"He's not here," Draco said after a while.

"Of course he is," I snapped. I opened the door and stepped in with Draco, looking around. Harry's belongings were here, but where was Harry?

"My door's open," a voice from the corridor called.

"It is? Maybe a cleaning woman came."

That was Lupin's voice! Then the other voice must be Harry!

"Hello? Is anyone--Nicole!!!" Harry ran to me and wrapped me in a warm embrace. "I'm sorry. I overreacted. I didn't come in time to get you before that vampire took you. I'm so sorry," he faded into a string of unintelligible 'sorry's.

"Excuse me, Potter, but before you go and snog her, I need to talk with you."

"Malfoy!" Harry cried, jumping back from me and surveying Draco as if he was a ghost.

"Oh, very good, Potter. I didn't think you'd recognize me."

"Did he send the vampire to take you?" I nodded. "You! Die, Malfoy! Die!" He threw himself at Draco knocking him to the floor. Harry began assaulting Draco, pounding him with furious blows.

"Harry, STOP!" When Harry didn't stop beating Draco, I walked forward and grabbed him arm mid-punch. Harry looked amazedly up at me, then stood up, reddening.

"Erm...oops. I got out of control."

"No duh. Harry, go stand over in there," I waved at the bed. "I'm going to have to see how many ribs of his you've broken."

"Okay," Harry said dejectedly.

I sighed, kneeling down beside Draco, who had not risen from the floor. I looked at his bloody nose and shook my head. Draco reached up and brought my lips down on his. I gasped, allowing Draco a chance to slip his tongue in my mouth. He shifted, sitting up and pulling me onto his lap without breaking the kiss. Harry saw, and darted over, trying to push Draco away, but only succeeding in making me fall off Draco's lap. Draco smirked up into Harry's face.

"What, Potter, didn't like the sight? I thought it was quite enjoyable."

"You----! How dare you! I am going to break six more of your ribs before this is over!" He socked Draco in the stomach, and a groan escaped Draco's lips.

"Stop it Harry," I said, wiping my mouth pointlessly. "You're being foolish."

"Inane?" said Harry, shoving Draco back to the ground. "I'm not finished with you yet," he spat at Draco. "I've still got three more ribs to go."

"Argh!" Draco yelled, frustrated. He used Harry's distraction as a time to get his retribution. Draco lunged at Harry's throat, causing Harry to fall backward. Draco crawled on top of him and began giving Harry his comeuppance. Soon, I gave up on trying to make them stop, and just went and sat on Harry's bed, but when I heard a loud crack, I had to go check. Draco was lying on the floor, and I realized that Harry had broken another of Draco's ribs. I kicked Harry in the shin and pushed him off Draco.

"Draco? Draco, how many fingers am I holding up?" I held up one finger.

"You're holding up one finger, you moron! He didn't sock me in the eye, okay he did, but not twice. I can still count, even though I'm seeing two fingers," Draco slurred some of his words, and I had an insane urge to hit him.

"Okay, hold on a minute. Harry, go get Lupin. This is stupid."

"I can't," moaned Harry. "I taste blood in my mouth, and I think it's a bad sign."

"The reason you're tasting blood is because your nose is bleeding. Now stop being a baby and go get Remus!"

"Fine!" He stood and stalked out of the room.

"You know what, Nicole?" Draco whispered.

"What?"

"I think you love me, too."

"Draco, not now."

"It's true. And I think that kisssssss proooved it," he began slurring even worse.

"You're delirious," I told him. "You're slurring, too."

"Kiss me again."

"What!"

"If you won't do it willingly, then I'll make you," he said slowly.

"Uh-uh," I protested.

"Yes." Draco pulled me down, and kissed me again. He slowly deepened the kiss, allowing me to feel every second. And I let him.

"...yeah, I did some damage..."

"...how bad is it?"

I pulled away from Draco and looked at the door, not wanting to see Draco's face. The door burst open and Lupin strode in, and upon seeing Draco's dishevelled and bloody state, he ran to him and kneeled beside the boy.

"Look who it is," Draco said, trying to raise his voice from a whisper, but failing. "It's loony loopy Lupin."

"Shut up, Malfoy," Harry said from the other side of the room.

"It's alright, Harry. Now..." He began to heal Draco, using magic. Remus did reasonably well, only making Draco pained occasionally.

"There. I'm finished. Can you stand?"

"What do you think?" Draco asked viciously.

"I'm warning you Malfoy, I let Lupin cure you first, but if you say another word, I'll kill you," Harry shot at him.

"Sod off Potter, or I might have to kiss Nicole again."

"That's it!" cried Harry, hopping off the bed and scrambling to get at Draco. Lupin restrained him, and then ordered me to take Harry somewhere else.

I took Harry into my room, instructing him to sit on the bed. He complied, but only because I gave him my 'you-will-die-if-you-argue' look. I hurried around the room, picking up all of my belongings.

"Turn around and don't watch me change clothes," I commanded him. Harry nodded and buried his face in one of the pillows. I changed into my freshly washed clothes, tossing the red dress on the floor. Then I grabbed my bag and put my nightdress into it. Lupin had my wand, so I wasn't missing that, but what else didn't I have?

My communication mirror.

"Harry! Where's that mirror I stuck in the pocket of your jeans the other night?"

"Er, it's probably still there. D'you want me to go check?"

"No, you stay here, I'll get it." I walked out into the hall, but stopped at the door of Harry's room when I heard low voices.

"...don't touch her...she's Harry's...I'm warning you, he's serious about her..."

"...ha...as if...she's not in love with him...I don't care what she says...and Potter won't do a bloody thing to me...now, I'm going to try and walk..."

I knocked and walked in. Draco was trying to stalk across the room with his usual air of narcissism. He looked at me when I entered, asking slyly,

"Did Harry send you here to threaten me?"

"No, actually. I'm here to get something of mine."

"What is it, a pack of birth-control pills?" Draco teased.

"Would it matter if it was?" I countered.

"Yes. Is it?" he tried to sound nonchalant, but failed miserably.

"No," I said in a carefree manner. "It's a mirror."

"Oh, please," he said exasperatedly.

"Remus, do you know where Harry's laundry is? I gave my mirror to him to hold for me."

"They are over on the chair," he pointed at the chair beside the dresser. I thanked him and went to rummage through Harry's pockets. When I found the communication mirror, I stuck it into my shoulder bag and left. I ran back to my room, where Harry was sitting on my bed, humming some tune.

"Got it," I said happily. "So, when d'you think Lupin will be ready for us to go?"

"I dunno'," Harry replied. "But I know that if I have to spend more time cooped up in a tiny a room, I am going to injure someone; preferably Malfoy, but I don't know."

"You have hurt him. I mean, three or four of his ribs. That's not good. I didn't know you were so violent."

"Well, I'm not," I gave Harry a don't-give-me-that-crap look. "Okay, okay, maybe I am. But, normally I'm not violent."

"Right."

There was a knock at the door and I called,

"Come in!"

"I was going to," Draco answered, pushing the door open. "Hello Potter! I didn't know you were going to be here, I would've changed into something bit less fancy. I'm sorry to make you feel inferior, though you ARE."

"Draco, shut your mouth, or I'll turn you into a rat. Where's Remus?" I asked.

"Lupin's coming. He says we're going to Hogwarts. It's not a good idea, in my hardly humble opinion."

"Well, Malfoy, we know how useful your opinion is, don't we?"

"No," Draco quipped.

"Hey, you want me to call this a girly fight?" Both boys gave me startled looks. "Good. Now be quiet."

Lupin came in some time later. He was muttering to himself and counting on his fingers.

"We're going to Hogwarts. Nicole, do you believe you could perform the transportation spell again?"

"Correctly?" Harry added.

"I did the spell correctly last time, but Draco screwed it up by using a back shock charm. Of course I can do it again."

"Then we're all going. Not you," Harry shot at Draco.

"Oh? And why not?"

"Because you're mean."

"Am not."

"Are too."

"Are too."

"Am n-- No way, Malfoy. I'm not going to fall for that one. Lupin, we're not taking him. Right?"

"I'm sorry, Harry, but we have no choice," Remus apologized. "We can't leave him here. Professor Krum says that if we left him here, that he'd just toss him out."

"All the more reason to leave him behind."

"No, Harry," I interjected, "Draco is coming with us. That's not a question; it's a statement. I am telling you that Draco is coming with us."

"Fine."

"Now, everyone. Does everyone have all of their belongings?"

"Yes," we all said together.

"Then, Nicole, cast the transportation spell. Grab hands."

Harry took hold of my right hand, Draco my left. Remus took hold of Draco's left hand, and Harry took Remus' left hand.

"*Convey this crowd,

On wind and cloud,

To the castle of the king,

By the power of this ring.*

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry!" I cast the spell.

The room around us was filled with mist, and we stood in silence. The mist swirled around us, consuming my friends around me. I exhaled, leaving a gap in the fog. The water molecules swarmed to fill the gap. There was a thump, and we all landed on hard turf. Once the haze had cleared, I saw that we were standing directly in front of a large gate: The Hogwarts Entrance.

"See, I told you so. I said I could get us here. Who's the fool now?" I crowed proudly.

"Okay, Nicky, you win. You were right; you can do the transportation spell. Now, let's go in and see if anyone's there."

"Thank you," I said, stalked up to the gates before anyone else had a chance. I pulled them open; ignoring the surly looks the stone lions gave me.

"Yes, we should go ahead quickly. It's nearly nightfall," Lupin pointed out. "Dumbledore isn't expecting us, I don't think. Well, he won't be asleep now, at any rate. Let's go."

"So, what shall I do while we're here?" Draco drawled.

I heard Harry mutter under his breath, "Pretend to be useful," before he saw me staring at him, and shut up.

We trudged up the gentle slop to the castle. Draco fell into step next to me and I whispered,

"You could try to be a little bit less pessimistic."

"Of course I could, but I won't be. It's my nature to be annoying and if you have a problem with that then you can kiss me and I'll stop."

"Yeah, right," I growled. "Like I'm going to go to do THAT just to get you to shut up and act like a normal person."

"But I'm not normal, Nicole. I would think that by now you would know how different I am. Of course, darling, you may believe whatever you like, if that's what will change your mind about me," he replied.

"A lengthier explanation than needed," I mentioned. "What you're saying is you're above everyone else and I should just sleep with you. Correct?"

"Something to the extent of that, yes."

"Oh, darn, my schedule's all filled up tonight, and tomorrow night, and ditto, ditto, ditto," I faded off.

As we continued walking up to the castle, Draco waited for an opportune time before saying,

"Who ever said we would have to do it at night?"

"You are a cold-blooded, pitiless little snake."

"Tut, tut, Nicole. I am not a snake. I am a sixteen year-old teenager who, though wicked hot, is quite warm-blooded. Now, back to the matter at hand. All it would take to make me behave is a quick kiss. Just one. I'd make it enjoyable."

"No, nope, no way. I'm not going to prostitute myself just for a snooty little Dragon-boy who acts like he is the ruler of the world."

"It would NOT be prostituting yourself. Do you really believe I would let you do that? Even for myself I wouldn't debase you to such levels of lesser ethics."

"So, what would you call it?" I hissed, keeping my eyes on Harry's head in front of me.

"I'd call it payback. I helped you escape from the Dark Lord's castle last year. You OWE me, and that's a wizard's debt. You're mine until I believe you have repaid me. So, if I told you to kiss me, you'd have to do it. If I ordered you to lick my shoes, you'd do it. Also, if I told you to perform a striptease for me, then you would. Now, what do you have to say to THAT?"

"You are slime, Malfoy. Now stop being a pervert and sod off before I let Harry beat the crap out of you."

Draco paused and tilted my chin up. I looked up into his face, my insides wriggling. He bent down and gave me a quick kiss on the lips.

"You just wait, dear. You'll see."

I gaped at him as her strode to walk beside Lupin, who he towered over. Draco had grown considerably over the summer, and he was now three inches taller than Harry. I stood frozen in one spot, watching as Draco walked up to the castle. Regaining my senses, I ran ahead to catch them up. When I finally came to walk beside Harry, they had reached the castle.

Draco was walking through the doors first, followed by Lupin. As Harry and I went through the door and came to stand in the Entrance hall, I waited for Draco to look at me before grabbing Harry and giving him a kiss to remember. He leant me backwards, arching my back slightly. I twirled a strand of his raven black hair around my finger as we kissed, feeling Draco's hot glare. Harry ran his hands down to my hips, then raised one of his hands to support my neck. I pulled apart from him then, before we went too far.

"I'm sorry for all the secrets," I whispered.

"I don't care about them," he replied.