No Longer Helpless

Chapter Sixteen
A Sexy Memento

Druids Mantra was a fairly small school. Very few witches and wizards were accepted.

As such, when two newbies arrived the whole school was buzzing with anticipation. It had been rumored for the past week that the Valor twins were going to be attending, starting at the beginning of the summer semester. But that was only rumor, which meant everyone believed it to be true. Finally all the wondering about the famous duo would be stopped, as they would all see first hand just what Val and Vera looked like.

Just shy of two hundred students, the school was divided by three grades. What would have worked out as Hogwarts’ fifth, sixth, and seventh year would be their first through third. There was no division of houses, just age groups.

Sometimes it wasn’t even by age, since their policy leaned more toward capability than how old you were. There were some younger students mixed in here and there above their year, though the reverse was never tolerated. If you couldn’t hack it, you were gone. Part of Hermione actually agreed with this policy, though she knew being moved up a year or two, meant she’d miss her friends terribly.

At breakfast, Val and Vera sat at the third year’s table being blatantly ogled by every other student. No one had dared to approach yet, on account of the aura surrounding the brother and sister. The atmosphere demanded privacy.

As whispers flew, and forced normality of conversations filled the dining hall, students ate. Many just sat waiting and watching.

Val was an attraction for every female in sight. Several sighed as he squeezed his arm that was wrapped around his sister’s shoulders. He was far more than any of their wild imaginations had conjured him to be. Tall, lithe yet built, and gorgeously handsome. The only fault they might find was within the sister, she clung to him and he indulged her every whim. However, they also found that attractive in the sense that if they were to replace the sister, then it would be them his arm encircled protectively and them he was whispering to and laughing with and being near.

Several more sighs were heard.

While all the witches drooled over Val, similarly all the wizards sat quietly, unable to carry on a normal conversation as they lusted after Vera. Considering they were young males, it didn’t take much to set their hormones off, but she was more than a small trigger.

Their eyes were drawn immediately to her. Those golden curls, bright eyes, pink lips, shapely curves. The list went on as each set of eyes found a new part of her anatomy to stare at discretely in each glance they stole. What really made their blood boil was the shyness she exhibited, how innocent she must be, how ready for a long night’s lesson in making friends. The only trouble was the brother. Damn that Val, if he didn’t hold on to her as if warding off every one of them and staking a claim that no one was to touch his sister. But there would have to be a time when he couldn’t watch her, a time when they could swoop in and make their move. Perhaps whisking her away to a small corner, or deserted room to talk.

The doors to the dining hall opened, and in strode the two class presidents, Michael Dayton and Sarah Giovanni. Surprisingly, Mr. Fabriano soon followed. It was unusual for the principal to join them for breakfast.

The dark haired man cast a lingering glance at the two new students. It would be in his favor to separate them. The timid and shy one would be far too difficult to persuade into anything with her overbearing brother nearby. Of course the twins’ relationship was to be expected. They had only ever known each other as far as peers went, or so their records had shown, so they would be close, no doubt about that now. He’d have to let her settle for a few more days though.

Vera was now looking up at him through long lashes and deep brown eyes. She had no idea how vixen like her look was, how seductive. ‘Or did she?’ Fabriano wondered. Just how innocent was their new celebrity student?

When she smiled at him all thoughts of her being anything but nervous and pure were diminished. He smiled back accordingly, before turning his head back to watch where he was going.

Since they had arrived late on the previous day, he would make their new arrival announcement now. Mr. Fabriano stood from his table, which seated the two presidents and several staff members, and cleared his throat. No volume enhancement was needed as a dead hush fell within seconds.

Hermione quirked a brow at this, she was slightly curious and disturbed at the strict reaction.

“I’m sure you are all well aware of two new arrivals this morning.” He paused as everyone seemed to nod in concurrence. “Val Valor and Vera Valor.”

Did Hermione detect a slight emphasis on her female alias’ name?

“They will be starting as third years this semester.” He waved a hand to them, and gestured that they should stand up. The twins stood up from their seats.

Val dropped his arm, but Vera clasped his hand still and stared at the floor intent on pretending people weren’t watching her. Suddenly someone gave a cat call, which seemed to be a sign for several more. Vera promptly colored in the face and turned swiftly into her brother’s chest to bury her embarrassed face from view and somehow escape by shrouding her vision in the material of his shirt. Val raised an arm around her and glowered in the direction of the whistles. The message was clear from the venom his eyes spat, ‘Don’t even think of doing that again and if you approach her I’ll rip your throat out.’

Following Vera’s reaction were a few groans from the boys and even one from Mr. Fabriano. There was just something about the flush of her cheeks and naïve nature that tightened his pants. Images of her face flush with color while she lay beneath him breathless flashed in his mind.

Mr. Fabriano cleared his throat. “I hope you all give them a warm welcome.” That was all he said before resuming the breakfast.

Hermione and Draco took their seats again. Hermione had had a really hard time with that one. The moment she heard the first whistle, she nearly broke out into uncontrolled laughter and had to stifle it in Draco’s shirt. She already found the way everyone acted like programmed minions amusing, so the underlying current of mirth had been there to provoke her fit.

Draco on the other hand was feeling the exact emotions that were perceived by his new peers. While Hermione giggled into his shirt, he glared sharp daggers at the cat callers, willing them to instantly combust on the spot. Staying in character wouldn’t be too hard for him, being protective of Hermione was something he had already started forming a complex about, not that it meant anything other than if she were to be harmed or taken away he would never find another Auror more suited to be his partner.

Once breakfast was over, a chime rang through the room. Everyone stopped eating and stood at once to head off for their first class. Michael and Sarah approached Vera and Val, who had stood but remained rooted for lack of a place to go. They hadn’t received their schedules yet, which was why the class presidents were about to talk to them.

Extending his hand, Michael firmly shook Val’s own. “Pleasure to meet you, I’m the student body president Michael Dayton.” Once he released Val’s hand he gestured to Sarah. “This is our other class president, Sarah Giovanni.”

Michael waited for Sarah to shake hands also. Then he moved on to Vera, all thoughts and intentions hidden from his eyes. “And you are Vera, it’s a pleasure.” There was a smooth and gentle tone to his voice, as though he were trying not to frighten her.

Vera smiled warmly at the Michael, even going so far as to reach out and shake his hand, which was something she usually wouldn’t have done on her own. Val eyed this exchange keenly. Sarah noticed Val’s reaction with a small smirk that she couldn’t help.

The game was on now. Val and Vera were the next targets of the two presidents’ pass time amusement.

Between Michael and Sarah, they had all the conniving, sly, and most devious of ways. For kicks they played with the other students’ lives and emotions. It only served to prove their superiority when they were successful in swaying and controlling all situations. This was why they were the presidents. Together, they were an unstoppable force, and even Mr. Fabriano was reluctant to get in their way.

The night before, it had been decided what game they would play this time. According to the twins’ profiles, Val was a self righteous, protective older brother. Vera was an innocent little angel who was lost without her counter part. What made the game all the more fun was that the Valor kids had looks to kill.

Simply put, Sarah would seduce Val and Michael would seduce Vera. Not only would they both get a good lay, but they would also prove their superiority once again, while knocking Val off his high horse and corrupting Vera.

They only expected the game to last a week at most, and then they would be on to some other amusement. It was terribly easy to get bored these days. Now that more people knew to stay away from them, no one seemed up for playing.

Divide and conquer was the initial tactic. So, Val went with Sarah to a first period of Potions and Vera went with Michael to Dueling.

**

Being led so forcibly was not something Draco enjoyed. He narrowed his eyes discretely at Sarah as she dragged him along, one hand on his forearm and the other wrapped around his upper arm, clutching it inappropriately close to her chest.

If this was the game being played he was going to have an easier time getting information, but harder time trying to concentrate. What little Sarah didn’t know was that Draco was the prince of Slytherin. Seduction and weaving intricate webs was an art for him, and he was indeed a magnificent artist. ‘Whether Granger sees it or not,’ he thought ruefully for moment.

It would seem this school played host to more than the dark arts involving magic, and he had the distinct feeling that it had nothing to do with the disappearances.

As Draco and Sarah walked along to corridors, the sly witch spouting off smooth remarks, Draco tuned her out and reviewed some facts.

The first student to vanish was Regina Former. Regina was a first year and from a wealthy family. The school claimed she had dropped out, emphasizing that she was from a money based background and like so many who only had money, she couldn’t keep up. No one seemed to question this explanation, except for the girl’s family, who hadn’t seen her since the previous semester when she went to live at the school.

Draco didn’t believe the story either. Aside from being told by Moody that something deeper was going on, his tip off was from the grade record he pulled for little Regina, learning that her scores were impeccable. So, if Regina couldn’t hack it, he didn’t think even Granger could.

Marco Fiyori was the next student to run away from the pressure. Marco was also a first year, with great promise according to the teacher evaluations. There were faux reports about how he had gone to counseling sessions to talk about the stress and pressure he’d been feeling, but Draco found no scheduled times in the date book. He’d even gone back an extra semester, and not a single time did Marco feel the need to express himself to a trained psychologist user.

It was Draco’s conclusion that the third year wizard who followed shortly after Marco was legitimately gone. Not only was the student a third year, but he also had enough standing to graduate early. It had been the end of a semester, so the boy had most likely just decided to graduate. Draco’s theory was confirmed when there had been reports of a home coming party from the mother of the student in question.

Most recently, Adriana Fudge was no longer sending letters home to dear old Dad or Uncle Cornelius. It was slightly more difficult for the board of education to reason this one off, since Adriana had connections which put her in a more public eye. It was also a folly on the culprits’ part to not know how obsessive compulsive the father-daughter duo were about writing each other.

There was suspicion on the first night Hugo Fudge didn’t receive his daughter’s owl. The ministry had managed to curtail the man from charging down there and making demands in person, but only just.

Thoughts of the missing students swarmed Draco’s mind and became the focus. His attention was so consumed that he didn’t even notice the gentle petting Sarah was doing to his arm. Had he realized from the start he would have instinctively torn his arm away in disgust and anger.

As it was, he didn’t notice until they reached the potions classroom and she let him go. She sat beside him, not even asking. The audacity she possessed astounded him. No one did anything around him without his permission. He was a Malfoy, better than this self-proclaimed seductress, the conniving wench that she was.

Part of him began to hope she was involved in the case, so that he could exact revenge for the personal vendetta starting to form.

Sadly, no matter how much he wanted to protest her touch and gazes, all he could do was feel disgusted and outraged while keeping an impassive face. While assuming the identity of Val, he could only show extreme emotion when around Vera, and those emotions would usually be anger and happiness. Anger towards all guys who looked at her and happy to be around her.

As far as Draco or Hermione knew, Val and Vera weren’t even that close. But extreme times called for extreme measures, so their relationship would be a bit extreme to follow. Besides, as a matter of convenience, this gave them an excuse to always be together when possible, which meant they could discuss any and all headway in their investigation.

While potions passed in a foul mood for Draco, Hermione could hardly contain herself throughout her dueling class.

Being the asexual bookworm know-it-all she had been all her life, Hermione was unused to having someone make passes at her, or at least try to seduce her. Even someone like her knew what was going on, although it wasn’t until after Draco had told her.

Draco had informed her, during their goodbye hug right before they went their separate ways, that Michael was going to try and seduce her. While it seemed preposterous to her, she believed him, not sure what to expect.

There were so many signs and gestures that she was unsure how to interpret. Michael had placed a hand on the small of her back, much as Draco had done when they first walked in.

Was that Michael coming on to her? If so, had Draco done the same? This seemed most unlikely, but Draco said it.

There was a casual brush of hands when they were sitting together, but he had been reaching for a pen. There had also been a whisper in her ear, more casual touching, tucking her hair behind her ear for her. None of it seemed out of the ordinary, Harry and Ron had done those things hundreds of times and she knew they weren’t trying to get her to sleep with them.

About half way through the class, when Hermione was proudly writing notes for proper dueling etiquette, which she already knew by heart, she felt Michael’s hand on her thigh. Not even she was naïve enough to have wondered, ‘What a strange place for his hand to be.’ She knew this was the start of his more forward gestures.

Perhaps she should have been outraged at such behavior, but she wasn’t. It might have been because she had been waiting for it and wondering so much, but when it happened she nearly burst out laughing.

She had to bite her lip so hard she thought she might be bleeding. A small squeak escaped, she couldn’t help it. She covered her mouth quickly and tried to stifle it.

‘Maybe he’ll think I’m really ticklish or something,’ she hoped.

Beneath her mirth, the part of Hermione that wanted to be more like Draco, which was a very small and subconscious bit, wondered what the class president would do if she started to respond wantonly to his advance.

She squished that thought with the fact that if she did, it would be out of character and jeopardize the mission.

How Hermione felt and how Vera was perceived were two completely different things. Luckily, Michael blamed her reaction as a surprised innocence and shock. While he was entirely turned on, she was merely amused.

**

After the first day, neither Draco nor Hermione had heard any rumors milling about surrounding the missing students. They had found little opportunity to bring the subject up themselves, without causing suspicion anyway. So, the two retired after a day of repetitive classes, slightly sulking from their lack of progress.

**

A knock sounding at Draco’s door brought him from his reverie as he lay on the perfectly made bed of his singles dorm room. The rooms were small, but sufficient, and they were private for each third year, where as first and second years had one roommate. He considered getting up, but found he was quite comfortable where he was.

Instead, he called out, “Door’s open.”

The door opened hardly more than a crack, allowing Hermione to scurry inside and out of the hallway, where anyone could spot her. She beamed at Draco, trying to show her appreciation that the day was finally over.

Draco, who had been lounging in his pajamas, which were a set of black flannel pants and a grey t-shirt, sat up fast as lightening when he saw Hermione.

He hadn’t really been expecting her, but her presence wasn’t what shocked him at the moment. Swallowing a lump in his throat, which was oddly dry all of a sudden, he stared as she pattered her way over to the bed in bare feet.

Her feet were not the only bare part of her. As far as he could tell, all she was wearing was an oversized forest green t-shirt, his shirt at that. For a second he spotted a hint of red peaking out from underneath, indicating that she was at least wearing shorts. But, considering the shirt came down to at least a six inches above her knee, they must have been awfully short shorts.

Still slightly shocked from her appearance, he blurted out the first thing that came to mind, not even thinking, “What the bloody hell do you think you’re wearing, Vera?”

Hermione stopped a couple feet short of his bed, furrowing her brows and looking down at herself. “Oh,” she exclaimed, suddenly realizing why he seemed a bit irked. “I’m really sorry, I was going to return it, but then the house elves gave it back to me, and it’s really comfortable…” she trailed off and winced, awaiting his reaction.

Flustered, Draco rung his hands through his hair and growled, “That’s not the problem!”

Didn’t she have any idea what she looked like? Didn’t she know the kind of thoughts she could illicit from a man? He groaned and pinched the bridge of his nose. ‘Of course not,’ he concluded.

Again, he wasn’t sure whether or not her being the know-it-all bookworm had helped or hindered. She wasn’t one to notice the increasing attention she drew over the past few years. On the one hand, if she knew how beautiful she really was, then she might be as bad as Pansy, who wasn’t in the least bit attractive but seemed to think so anyway. Then again, because she didn’t know, he was forced to constantly use his unmatchable self-control and restrain all stray thoughts, which she unknowingly conjured within him.

She was still just standing there with her long, tanned, and sexy legs on display.

Shaking his head, Draco tried that one over.

She was just looking at him, unsure what she’d done wrong but sorry nonetheless. He could see it in her eyes, and he felt guilty for being a bit harsh. Draco was about to apologize, but hesitated.

Hermione bit her lip, unsure of what to do since Draco still hadn’t said anything more.

Draco became concerned when she gave a little whimper and stopped biting her lip.

Standing swiftly, he stood before her and leaned down a little. He tilted her head up by placing his hands on either side of her jaw. It was then he saw, her lip was cut, now bleeding a little.

“What happened?” again he growled fiercely, with an uncalled for urgency. He didn’t mean for his tone to be so severe, especially when he felt her shy away, but he held her in place and waited for an answer. The worst possible scenarios were running through his mind. Had that bastard Michael tried to kiss her and do it? He’d march right to the president’s dorm room and beat him to a bloody pulp.

Confused at the dancing emotions in Draco’s eyes, Hermione answered tentatively, “I bit my lip too hard in class.” Seeing disbelief she explained further, “I was trying to keep from laughing, and just went a little too far.”

He ran his thumb across the slightly swollen cut. She winced almost imperceptibly. “I believe you,” he said finally, in the gentle voice he’d been meaning to use since she first arrived. His thumb lingered a little too long for his liking, as he felt some sort of barrier within him begin to buckle.

Taking a safer route, he stepped away.

All too soon, the heat from Draco’s body was gone as he stepped back and sat on the edge of his bed with a sigh. Taking this as a sign that he was no longer angry, she considered herself welcome to be there.

Finally feeling welcome, she dove onto the untouched bed top, just behind him, and lay on her stomach, face buried in the pillows.

A muffled sound came from within the pillow. “What was that Granger?” he asked with a scoff.

Hermione raised her head. “I said, ‘I’m tired.’”

Rubbing his face, Draco sighed. She was out of sight at the moment, so he wasn’t forced to think about the way she looked or what it did to him.

Suddenly he felt weary, it had been a long day, full of heightened emotions he wasn’t used to feeling. It had taken energy to conceal each and every one of them. “You and me both kitten.”

He almost didn’t even notice he had called her by his and Moody’s pet name for her other persona. When he did, he froze. The words had just rolled off his tongue. Damn it if he didn’t find himself unable to keep any guard up around this insufferable know-it-all.

He coughed. “We should go over today in greater detail.”

He waited for a response. When none came he looked behind his back. His kitten never lied. She was indeed tired. Hermione was fast asleep in his bed.

The situation was suddenly all too familiar and comfortable for him to do anything but what felt natural. Draco lay down besides her, pulling her close, but only for body heat since they were on top of the covers. Within moments, the world faded away and he too was asleep.

Neither of the two were concerned that Hermione’s entrance might set off an alarm. While no charms were set off, that didn’t mean a certain principal wasn’t going to pay a very special visit to a desired new student that morning only to find her room empty.

>>