Nicole Stevens: Dragons and Deceit

Chapter Thirteen

Everyone in the entire school knew what had taken place. In a record-breaking twelve hours the Slytherin girls had managed to spread the story throughout the school. Even the first years walked as far from Draco as possible. It was a simple matter of being afraid of him, really.

Pansy and the rest of the fanclub were, for the most part, telling people that it was my fault. When they saw me in the halls they smirked and became intensely quiet. It didn't bother me very much; I had bigger problems to worry about.

At the moment, my biggest problem was getting through detention. Snape and McGonagall had decided that making Draco and I work together on something was horrific enough to keep us both from going to blows again. We had been sentenced to working with Hagrid in the Forbidden Forest.

My feet dragged as I headed downstairs. I was not overly fond of the forest, having had previous experiences there. Some of the things that had happened to me had emotionally scarred me--such as an unfortunate encounter with the Dark Lord--and I was not looking for more permanent damage.

Umbridge trailed after me, her notebook and quill in hand. I hoped she would be lost in the forest, because though she had apparently had an unpleasant experience with the centuars, she had acknowledged her duty as Guardian and put her fears to the side. It was, supposedly, a huge sacrifice on her part--an opening of old wounds, or some nonsense. I just wanted to find the centuars and hand her over. But I didn't want to be accused of murder again.

Draco was waiting at the foot of the marble staircase, looking as Malfoy-ish as he could. He saw me, nodding in greeting. I ignored him entirely and continued down to the hut. Draco walked beside me, but he kept his distance. At the doorway, he turned to Umbridge as said, "Could you check to be sure Hagrid's there?" She considered it for a moment, and Draco added, "Otherwise we might have to go into the forest by ourselves." That brought her to her conclusion. She pushed open the door and hurried to the hut.

Draco turned to me, taking my hand. I recoiled. "Won't you even listen while I try to apologise? I don't do this unless it's important. So just...calm down. Relax a little. Hear me out."

"If you remember, I heard you loud and clear. And when I showed you what I thought about your comments, I ended up with a concussion and you were left with a red handprint across your cheek. Did it bruise?"

"Yes, it had a little bruising. Now, won't you listen?"

"No." I opened the door, stepping out into the cold night. He followed me with a kind of sad desperation.

"I need you to hear this," he said.

"I don't need to hear it, and I don't want to hear it. In fact, I don't want to hear your voice at all. I'd like it if you just weren't here at all, but as that's not an option, the next best thing is for you to be so silent that it's like you didn't exist."

He sighed.

"That's not silent," I said. "And I want silence from you and nothing else." Draco stopped walking, as I realised what I had said.

"You mean that?"

I shrugged, and we continued to Hagrid's cabin. Draco took off his cloak, offering it to me. I stared at it for a few moments.

"What's that for?" I asked.

"It's a cloak. Keeps you warm, you know."

"No, really? I thought it was a straightjacket," I mocked. "Because the entire school now thinks I'm deranged."

"Do you want it?"

I hid a shiver, "Not at all." He wrapped it around my shoulders despite my words, fastening the clasp at my neck. "I said I didn't want it."

"I don't care what you said."

"Fine. But I'm not giving it back, mind you. It's your fault if you liked it."

"That's all right. I don't need it."

We reached the hut, where Hagrid was waiting with Umbridge. Umbridge was eyeing Hagrid with distaste, but she knew that he was the only thing standing between her the creatures in the forest.

"Let's get going, then," Hagrid said. "We're going to be checking on the thestrals. Some of the younger ones are being attacked...I dunno what's attacking them, but they're being hurt pretty bad. So, if you'll just follow me. Be quite now; mind the tree roots."

He held the lantern above our heads and led us into the forest. Draco walked behind me, and I walked behind Umbridge. A bird screamed overhead. Umbridge jumped when I cracked a twig. I tried not to laugh, but it was difficult. From behind, Draco murmured, "No, this is not a pointless detention. We're just meandering through the dark forest. Great."

"Shut up. It's our fault we're here in the first place. I just want to get it over with."

He shrugged, staring darkly into the forest. "I don't like this. Something's...not right."

"What?" I asked sharply.

"There's something wrong. I don't know what it is. But I don't think being in the forest is the best idea. We should go back to the castle. Dumbledore needs to know."

I glanced over my shoulder at him. "What do you know that I don't?"

"There are vampires in the forest. They've been here for a while. My father decided to station them here. Damian Vitale was the head of the group, but now it's Xander Adelmare. Both are good fighters, but Vitale is younger. He has renown, which is why he was initially chosen. But he doesn't follow directions well. He does it his way. Adelmare is willing to take orders. So Vitale was removed from his position. His job is smaller now."

"Oh, great. Are we in danger from them?"

"Always. Do you have the necklace with you?"

"No."

"Good. They're watching us. They'll be able to tell."

"Where are they?" I whispered.

"That dark shape by the black willow, do you see it?" He nodded to a tree on the far side of a clearing. A dark shape hovered behind it like a shadow.

"Yeah."

"That's Vitale. He was the one who caught you."

"And he was removed because he botched it?"

"Yes. He's not too happy about it. Watch out for him," he warned. "He's been sent to keep an eye on us, I guess. Adelmare trusts him to do that."

"How many are there?"

"Twelve in the camp; three watching us. The other two are women. Lenore Arian, and Ravenna Nyx. They're powerful, but not the most dangerous vampires you might come up against. Go on. They're getting too far ahead."

I quickened my step, which resulted in my tripping over my own feet. Draco caught me and pulled me back to my feet.

"Now, you two'd better keep quiet. There are dangerous creatures in the forest. It's why we're here in the first place."

"Hem, hem," Umbridge coughed. "Actually, we are here because Miss Stevens lost her temper and struck another student."

"That's not entirely true," Draco broke in. "I hit her too."

Umbridge shrugged, saying, "Miss Stevens provoked you." She turned back to Hagrid and we followed him. We were in the depth of the forest now; shouldn't we have already reached the thestrals?

Draco tapped my shoulder, whispering, "Vitale on your right. I don't like this. They're getting too close to us. If they're just watchers, this is odd. But they might have been sent for more than that. Stay alert. I'll keep my eye on Vitale, you watch the others. They're on the left. For now."

I nodded. Hagrid stopped in a moonlit clearing, waving at a dark shape on the ground. "This thestral's been hurt bad. Throat slit. But it's alive. Malfoy, I want you to go with Miss Umbridge back to my cabin. Can you carry it?"

Draco surveyed the thestral. "I think I can, yeah."

"Hagrid, I am not permitted to leave Miss Stevens' side."

Hagrid thought for a moment. "Can you carry it?" he asked me.

I frowned. "I doubt it."

Hagrid pondered this for a moment. He nodded his head silently, staring at the ground. "Yeah. Okay, then. Malfoy, you carry this thing to my cabin on your own. Stay there with it. We'll be back in an hour or so. Keep out of trouble, hear me?"

Draco agreed, kneeling and picking up the thestral. It was the size of a large dog, but thinner. Hagrid coughed suddenly, saying roughly, "It's a young one. Get it back fast. Go on, now." He waved Draco away. Draco glanced at me one last time, before heading back to the cabin. "Now, we've got to find whatever's been hurting them. It's some big thing, I know. But I can't think of what it is that would kill them. Humans are the only things that could really do it. I don't think it's a human, though."

I thought for a moment. Vampires needed blood to live. The thestral's throat had been slit. "Probably just vampires," I growled softly. "They tend to do things like that."

Hagrid looked curiously at me. "Not too many vampires around here. But it's a thought. Let's move deeper into the forest and see if we can find anything else."

I glanced around us at the trees; I couldn't see any vampires, but they were there. Umbridge cleared her throat, motioning for me to hurry. I followed after her. Hagrid was only a few paces ahead; he seemed to sense that there were creatures in the shadows, but he wasn't sure what kind of creatures they were. I was unlucky enough to know.

A breeze blew through the trees, stirring the leaves. I paused. Umbridge was getting further ahead. A hand covered my mouth suddenly and I was pulled back into the forest. I lashed out, clawing at the hand. But I was already deeper into the forest. "Don't you humans know when to leave? I told that giant to get out of the forest, but he ignored my warning. But that's not important anymore. I've caught you."

"Vitale? Let go of me. I don't have what you want."

"I don't want anything particular from you. Now shut up. I'm taking you back to camp. Alistair will want to question you. Not another word out of you before we get back. Don't make me bite you again."

"You'd get in trouble for that."

"You taste good. I don't really care about the trouble. I can get out of trouble easily. Now," he wrapped his fingers around my throat. "Come on."

He pulled me back into the forest, and after a few minutes he let go of my throat and grabbed my wrist instead. "You're far more trouble than you're worth. Do you realise that? If it hadn't been for you, I could've stayed as the head of this camp. But no," he sighed. "You had to go and make trouble. I wouldn't have bitten you if you hadn't fought against me. At least this time I have permission to bite you if you fight."

I shrugged. Vitale scratched my arm, drawing blood. He wiped the blood onto his finger, licking it away. There was a fire ahead. He pushed me toward it. A woman caught me by the hair and shoved me into a tree. "Ravenna," a man said warningly. "Don't."

She glared at me for a moment, before stepping back and hissing, "There you are, Alistair. Take her."

"Alexavier," another woman said, moving out of the shadows, "who is this?"

"The girl. The one we were sent to watch," Vitale replied. "She doesn't know who you are, Alistair. Introduce yourself."

The man came towards me, extending a hand for me to shake, "I am Alexavier Alistair."

"Why should I care who you are? You're a vampire."

He sighed, nodding and running his hands through his brown hair. "Yeah. I noticed. Come on, now. I need to talk with you," he took me by the arm. "Ravenna, your death vision doesn't work on me. I'm sure Miss Stevens is already well aware that you're intimidating, after that lovely welcome you gave her." A woman moved into his path, " Get out of my way, Leonore." The black haired girl crossed her arms over her chest and didn't move.

"Move, Arian," a dark voice growled from behind me.

She looked shocked and stumbled out of the way. "Rayne. You're back. So soon. I thought it might take longer because you had so much to report, but I guess I was mistaken. I didn't mean to offend Alexavier."

"I'm sure you didn't. Alistair, take her and talk with her. Explain. Arian, go to the hut. Tell the boy we have her. He'll know what to do. Nyx," Rayne addressed Ravenna. "Just go. Get out of camp. Go for a walk. Do something, but whatever it is, do it somewhere else. And Damian--"

"You don't tell me what to do," Damian snarled. "You don't have any power over me."

"Adelmare said to go round up the others from patrol. Do it, Damian."

Damian muttered something, to which Rayne replied, "Immediately. And I'll fall on a stake at my leisure."

Damian scowled and left. "Alistair, go."

He nodded and took me out of the clearing to a tent. I stepped inside, finding a seat on a wooden bench. Alexavier sat across from me. "You're Stevens, right?"

"Yeah."

"So you have the Opticilym with you now?"

"No. Which is why I told Vitale that it was pointless to bring me here. But he didn't listen. So, I might as well be taken back to the castle. Because it doesn't matter that I'm here. No one can get the Opticilym if I'm here."

"True. Damian was told to follow you until you were out of Draco Malfoy's protection, and then he was supposed to bring you here. He was following orders. Don't blame him for that. If you want to blame him for something, blame him for treating his brother like an enemy. Then your blame will be warranted."

"Well, can I go?"

"Not yet. Later, I suppose you will be let go. But not yet."

"I'm sick of talking about myself," I said. "It seems everywhere I go people want to know more about me. So let's talk about you. Who are you?"

"Fine. I'm Alexavier Alistair. I was changed about half a century ago, when I was twenty-five. Sharliana, Ravenna's sister, is the one who changed me. I always knew I hated her for some reason...well, I found out quickly. Anyway...I've been working with Gabrielle Adelmare, Xander's sister, for the past few years. We do odd jobs for people, for good money. She came to work with her brother, so I followed. I'm not a Death Eater, if that's what you're thinking. I don't really trust them. I haven't picked a side. I just happen to be working here, for now, and for good pay, as well."

"Fun."

"Yeah, I guess it would sound like fun to someone who's had as many problems as you've had. How long have you lived in England?"

"Three years. The best and worst three years of my life."

"Best and worst? Isn't that a paradox? Or are you just a walking contradiction?"

I laughed. "It would seem so. I've fallen in love twice, been taken by the Dark Lord more times than that, and the Cruciatus Curse really does hurt even after the first time."

"Ouch. Sounds like a busy three years."

"Blame it on the hormones. Everyone else does."

"I was a teenager too. I know what it's like."

"Hmn...I used to think being a teenager was going to be so fun. It sucks, though. Some parts are great, but other times make you want to die. When I was ten the only thing I was worried about was whether Billy Mitchell would curse me again. Now I have to watch my back because someone's always trying to kill me, or someone close to me."

"Where has the fun of youth gone?" he sighed. "I think the others are back now. Rayne should be announcing what the plans are soon. Adelmare'll be getting back soon. You'll be out of here within the next hour or two, I think."

A man entered the tent, smiling at me. "This is her? No wonder she caught his eye." I did a double-take. He sounded like Draco. He looked like Draco.

"Who are you?"

"Griffin Malfoy."

"You're related to Draco. How?"

"I'm his father's second cousin."

"You're a vampire," I noted. "And I thought his family was weird before...now I need a new word. Weird seems too ordinary."

He laughed. "Yes, I quite agree. Alexavier, Adelmare's back with Gabrielle. They have news. Rayne's catching them up. Do you want me to take over from here?"

Alistair's eyes brightened at Gabrielle's name. "Yeah. Just take her outside and keep her from being pummeled by the others. Don't stand near Vitale...he might lash out."

"Which Vitale?"

"Damian."

"Ah, right," Griffin said. Alexavier left the tent quickly. Griffin held out a hand, and I took it. He helped me to my feet, and led me outside. Vampires stood all around the clearing. I recognised some of them, and some I didn't know. Griffin took me to stand beside a tree. "You surprised me," he whispered, so as not to attract attention to me. "I thought that any girl Draco fell for would be a full succubus. It was hard to tell what you were, but I wasn't far off. Half isn't bad. Still pretty powerful."

"Succubus?"

"Don't you know what a succubus is?" I shook my head. "A succubus is a demon, of sorts. She is one who can seduce men, and does it without even thinking or realising that she's doing it."

"And you thought I'd be one?"

"You are one," he replied. "Not a full one, but...it's there. I doubt even Draco realised it."

"I'm a demon?!"

"Oh, don't overreact. So is Draco. He's not a full-blood, either. As a male demon, he's a incubus. But that's where lots of the attraction comes from, I'm sure. You naturally attract men. It's just what you do, so you needn't look so horrified. You couldn't control it if you wanted to. Even I was struck by it. The undead--vampires, I mean--aren't even immune to succubi."

"I'm a demon?!"

"Yes."

"Draco's a demon?"

"Yes."

"And the only reason he likes me is because incubi and succubi naturally attract each other?"

"No. I'm sure that's why he noticed you in the beginning, and why he worked so hard to get to you, but after all that, he fell in love."

"Harry wouldn't have been affected by it, would he? He isn't just attracted to me because I'm a demon, right?"

"He would have noticed you, but he wouldn't have known why. And after a while, he would have fallen in love with you. Surely he's not just in it for attraction. That would be stupid."

"Yeah," I reassured myself. "Of course. That's it."

Rayne came out from the shadows, nodding around the clearing at the other vampires. "Adelmare is back from the meeting. It has been decided that the girl is to be released, and escorted back to the castle. On to the next issue: another meeting has been set up. It will take place in one week. We all must be present for it. I believe that's all for now. You may go." He walked toward us, looking grim. "Griffin, go smooth things over, if you will. I'll escort Miss Stevens back to the castle."

Griffin turned to me, grinning, "I suspect I'll be seeing you soon. Have fun messing with Draco's head."

Rayne waved him away. "Let's get out of here. Staying much longer would be a bad idea. If Gabrielle sees you..." He faded off, looking darkly into the shadows. Then he and I headed out of the camp. "You've met Gabrielle, haven't you?"

"I don't think so."

"She mentioned something about a door on a train...and a message."

"Oh! The girl who blew up the door to my compartment! Yeah. I met her. She gave me a message and a bracelet. I wore the bracelet for a while, but then I started getting death threats. So I stopped wearing it and threw it out the window. I didn't want to be in more danger than I already was."

"It was probably a good idea that you stopped wearing it. Lucius put a tracking charm on it. He wanted to know where you were at all times. But if you threw it out, I doubt it's done you much damage. So, I heard that you and Draco had an incident. What happened?"

"Oh, he was bad-mouthing me so I slapped him. And in return he shoved me into a wall. It's not really important. I got over it and so did he. Do you know how close he is to Dumbledore?"

Rayne frowned, pushing past a bush. "Don't you know?"

"Know what?"

"Draco's working with Dumbledore. He's a spy. Part of some organization that Dumbledore leads. I don't remember what the name is, but it's high priority. Draco has been working with them for several months. I thought that he would tell you, as you two are so close. It's odd...you're sure he never mentioned anything?"

"He's never said anything about working with Dumbledore."

"Maybe I shouldn't have told you, then. It might have been kept secret for a reason. I don't know."

"I'll speak with him about it."

Rayne and I were nearing the edge of the forest. I could see the lights of Hogwarts glittering in the distance. He stopped, and I followed suit. " Go to Hagrid's cabin. Draco will be waiting for you, I think. Goodbye." He turned and disappeared into the forest. I continued on to Hagrid's hut, with questions spiraling in my head.

There were some things that I needed to know. And I needed Draco to give me the answers I was looking for.