Unofficial Portkey Archive

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, don't sue me!

(a/n: Thanks to everyone for reviewing!

My apologies for the late chapter - I had a bad case of writer's block.

There is smut near the end of the chapter.

Read on, oh faithful ones!)

Chapter Fourteen

Tuesday, Sept. 17

Ginevra woke up from her dream, a smile on her face. She listened to Relo snoring for a moment then sat up and looked at Bexley, who was resting on her dressing table.

She changed into her uniform after showering and left her room to find Pansy standing in the corridor, looking like she had been awake all night.

"Hi Pansy. Sleep well?" Ginevra asked with a grin.

"Stop being so damned cheerful," Pansy muttered in return, yawning widely. "Greg and Vince snored all night and I couldn't get to sleep until I put silencing charms on them," she grumbled.

"You didn't take them off, did you?" Ginevra asked seeing Gregory and Vincent behind Pansy, stern looks on their faces.

Pansy turned to them, glaring, unfazed by their looks.

"Don't look at me like that! You two were snoring louder than the Hogwarts Express last night! Next time you're going to stay up so late, have anti-snoring potions before going to bed!" Pansy said, taking the spells off.

"But they taste disgusting," Gregory whined.

"Then don't stay up so late," Pansy said with a glare.

"What's going on?" Draco mumbled as he came out of his room, yawning widely.

"Gregory and Vincent kept Pansy up last night with their snoring," Ginevra replied, then left quickly, the memory of her dream making her feel embarrassed.

Draco looked after her with a smirk, her lust evident to his senses. He chuckled softly, then headed after her, leaving Pansy, Gregory and Vincent confused.

"Ginevra?" Draco leant against her doorframe, a smirk still playing on his face, and waited for her to turn around and acknowledge him.

"Yes?" she asked, going red and not looking at him, instead choosing to shove all of her books into her bag as if it was the most interesting chore in the world.

"Look at me," he said, going over to her.

Steadying her emotions, Ginevra looked at Draco, and immediately wished that she hadn't, details from her dream pushing into her mind.

"I can smell it, you know," he whispered in her ear.

"Smell what?" she stammered and wished that her blood wasn't pumping quite so fast.

"Your lust," Draco murmured, kissing her neck.

Ginevra's highly sensitive nerves practically exploded and she could do nothing but melt in Draco's arms.

Smirking against her skin, Draco wondered if he should admit that he knew exactly what she had dreamt about, then just decided to torment her some more, and bit at her neck, eliciting a deep moan from Ginevra.

"I'd tell you two to get a room, but you're already in one... Next time close the door," Millicent said, interrupting them with a smirk.

Ginevra glared at her through hazy senses, but Millicent just smirked at her again then shut the door.

Before Ginevra could think or say anything, Draco was kissing her fiercely. Her arms wrapped around his neck and she kissed him back hungrily. Ginevra moved her attention to his neck and licked his skin before biting him. She Drank, loving the way that he moaned in pleasure. Biting her own wrist, she offered it to Draco, who Drank from her eagerly, watching her intently. Dropping her wrist, Draco pulled Ginevra to him, his blood stained lips covering her own, their tongues waging war on each other.

"Both of you get out of this room right now!" Pansy said, opening the door and glaring at them. "You're going to miss out on breakfast if you stay here any longer."

Draco and Ginevra hissed at her, their eyes red, but Pansy was unfazed.

"You can make out tonight. You're both going to the Great Hall and eating breakfast, then you're going to class. I will drag you both there if you don't come of your own free will," Pansy said with another glare.

"Fine," Ginevra hissed then grabbed her bag and left.

Draco glared at Pansy, before going to get his own bag. Smirking, Pansy grabbed her own bag, then made sure everyone was in the corridor before heading to the Great Hall.

8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8

"Sit down and get your wands out," McGonagall said, smiling at the class.

Curious, everyone did as she said. Ginevra wondered how much coffee McGonagall had consumed during breakfast to make her this cheerful at this time of the morning.

"You'll all be attempting to turn this parrot into a chair," McGonagall said, the parrot flying down from the rafters and onto the perch beside her. She turned it into a bright-coloured chair, then back into it's normal form.

Obviously a lot of coffee, Ginevra mused as the parrot started screeching loudly, and McGonagall seemed unfazed.

"Watch carefully as I demonstrate the wand movements. This spell is quite different from the other spell you learnt, so pay attention," McGonagall added.

Everyone craned their necks to see what she was doing, Hermione practically standing to get the best vantage point. Raising her eyebrows slightly at Hermione's desperation, Ginevra watched McGonagall calmly. McGonagall finished the complicated twirling motion, instructing everyone to follow her slower movements.

Draco yawned at it, having memorised the motion the first time she'd done it. McGonagall caught his yawn and narrowed her eyes at him.

"Mr. Malfoy, did you not get enough rest last night?" she asked, her voice cool.

"Oh, I had plenty of sleep, thank you Professor," Draco said, a slight smirk on his face.

"Then why are you yawning in my class?" she asked sternly.

"I think this is a waste of time. If they didn't get it the first time you did it, what makes you think that they will now on the third try?" Draco said.

"If you are so sure of your talents, then please, come to the front and show the class the spell," Minerva said, not liking to be told how to teach from a student.

Draco nodded, walking to the front and ignoring the looks he was getting. Ginevra smirked at him, knowing the extent of his power. They even excelled her own, not that he was egotistical enough to prove it. When she was a Full Blooded Vampiress, her power would match his... She couldn't wait.

Flicking through the motion easily, the parrot turned into a magnificent chair, delicate and intricate carings around the edge of the chair. The cushioning wasn't even as bright as McGonagall's had been - hers was a reflection of the parrot's feathers, while Draco's chair was green and grey, completely different to the red-orange colour of the parrot.

"You should really look into getting Advanced classes," Draco drawled, bored again, returning to his seat.

Slightly annoyed at being proven wrong, McGonagall just gave a nod. She went through the motions once more, then made all of the students line up and do the spell. Ginevra got it on her second try.

8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8

"Today's class will be outside. Please, follow me," Firenze said, leaving the tower through the staircase.

Everyone grabbed their things, hurried down the trapdoor, and followed Firenze outside.

They stopped after a while, practically centred to the lake, forest and castle.

"Lie down. There is no need to worry about your clothes, the ground is not wet," Firenze added when Lavender looked to the ground, pouting.

The class did as he instructed, feeling slightly foolish and hoping that the other students wouldn't see them.

"Close your eyes and try not to think of anything. If you do think of anything, let it go. Your mind has to go blank. You can also do this by thinking of a colour. Black is preferrable," Firenze said, his soft voice flowing over them.

After a few minutes, Firenze instructed them all to even out their breathing. More minutes passed, and when he was satisfied that they were ready, he continued to talk.

"A light is in front of you. A small white light," he said quietly, watching them. "The light comes towards you and it changes colour," Firenze said, his eyes closed too.

Ginevra watched the light coming closer to her, changing to a blood-red colour.

"Now the shape changes. Watch the shape carefully, and when you are sure it is still, remember the image," he said, his voice still quiet. "Now open your eyes and sit up slowly. What did you see?" Firenze asked, indicating to Sally-Anne.

"A bright sun," she said, a smile on her face. "It warmed me inside out," Sally-Anne said, hugging herself.

Pansy stared at her, one eyebrow raised in disbelief. She muttered to herself, Ginevra and Draco stifling chuckles at her words.

Firenze turned to Pansy, a smile on his face.

"What did you see?" he asked.

"My grandfather," Pansy replied.

With a nod, Firenze continued through the rest of the class.

Hearing someone say 'a squirrel', Ginevra had to bite her tongue very hard in order to stop from laughing out loud. Blood seeped from the small wounds and her eyes started turning red. Draco smelt the blood and looked at her quickly.

"Take her to the hospital wing," Firenze said quietly.

Ginevra's senses tuned into everyone around her, the beating of their hearts and the rush of their blood becoming too much. She opened her mouth with a hiss and went to leap on the person who was emitting the most delicious scent of all: fear.

Draco grabbed Ginevra around the waist, ignoring her when she hissed at him angrily. He put her over his shoulder easily and ran to her rooms faster than the wind blew.

Ginevra scratched at Draco angrily. How dare he do this! She wanted blood, and she wanted it now.

Sensing how out of control Ginevra's Thirst was, the animals scattered out of Draco's way. Bexley flew out of Ginevra's body gratefully, a headache forming. He herded the others into the meeting room with Dodger's help, the door closing once they were all inside.

"Calm down," Draco soothed, locking them both in her room.

Ginevra hissed at him, her fangs extended, and her emotions in control.

"Blood," she growled, jumping on him and sinking her fangs into his neck.

Draco stumbled slightly, not expecting her full weight. He held her against his body, pleasure flowing through both of them as Ginevra Drank from him greedily.

"Ginevra," he said, starting to feel a strain on his energy. "You have to share with me."

Not stopping, Ginevra considered ignoring his suggestion for a moment. She eventually pulled away and bit her wrist, offering it to him. Thankful, Draco accepted her wrist and sucked eagerly.

Ginevra groaned as she felt her blood flowing into him, pleasure filling every part of her body. As Draco Drank more, she blanked out, her pleasure overloading her mind.

Draco pulled away when Ginevra went limp in his arms. In a second she was awake again, and eager for more blood.

8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8

Neville walked into Ginevra's rooms cautiously. He'd seen the look on Ginevra's face, and had seen how worried Firenze was, despite hiding it very well. He almost expected to find every living thing in Ginevra's room drained of blood, and was extremely relieved when Blaise and Seamus found the animals in the meeting room.

"Ginevra?" Neville called. "Draco?"

Draco heard him calling, then muttered a curse, pulling away from Ginevra reluctantly.

"Stay," she moaned in his ear, her lips moving down to lick his neck.

"Just let me get rid of them," Draco said, pulling away again.

Neville jumped when Ginevra's door opened. He looked at Draco, who had his shirt off and bite marks along his neck and shoulder. Draco glared at him, and Neville didn't miss the gleam of blood on his lips.

"We'll be in the next class. Now leave," Draco hissed.

"Right," Neville said, hurrying to get Seamus and Blaise.

Draco barely closed the door when Ginevra pushed him against it, biting his shoulder.

8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8

Lupin called out attendance, Moody searching the room. They both noticed when Draco didn't answer, then saw that Ginevra was absent too.

"She's probably off drinking his blood somewhere," Ron sneered.

"Your point?" Draco drawled as he walked into the classroom with Ginevra.

Their eyes were red, their skin paler than normal, showing the various marks on their neck and wrists. Both Ginevra and Draco's lips were as red as their eyes, a shade that no cosmetic product could achieve. Ginevra's eyes were glazed, her body still feeling the after affects of Drinking the sweet liquid that flowed through Draco's veins. She was content enough to ignore the sound of the blood pumping in the other students.

Ron paled and Lavender turned green when they realised that they really had been drinking blood.

"That's disgusting," Lavender said, her face turning a darker shade of green.

Ginevra seemed oblivious to her words, and sat at her seat. Draco sat beside her, a smirk on his face.

"You're both late," Lupin said to Draco and Ginevra, ignoring Lavender easily. "Do you have a valid reason?"

"We were getting Ginevra's urges under control so she wouldn't start Drinking from everyone else," Draco drawled.

Lupin looked at Moody for a moment, wondering if that was a good enough reason to refrain from giving them detention. Moody looked just as perplexed, so Lupin coughed slightly and just ticked the two students off the attendance scroll.

"I'll check with Dumbledore after class if your reason is valid," he said.

Draco just nodded, and again, Ginevra seemed oblivious to everything that was being said.

Pansy looked at Gregory and Vincent, concern showing through her eyes. Ginevra had never been like this after Drinking. She'd been quite the opposite in fact, full of energy and attentive.

"She's fine," Draco assured them quietly.

"You sure?" Seamus asked softly, looking at Ginevra.

She was staring at her quill as if she'd never seen it before in her life.

Draco chuckled softly when he saw her do this, then nodded at Seamus' question.

"Ginevra's just a little sensitive to everything. She Drank a lot of blood," he replied.

Colin glared at Lavender, seeing how she was listening in on their conversation. Lavender paled when she noticed his look, then quickly returned her attention to Lupin.

Millicent slipped Colin a note when Moody pretended that he wasn't looking.

'She could accidentally fall off a cliff.'

Colin stifled a laugh. Luna just shook her head at Millicent, who looked disappointed to say the least.

"You will do the Room of Requirement task again next week. You will continue to do the task each week until you have finished all of the scenario's available," Lupin said.

"That includes the one where dead bodies are in the room with you," Moody said, looking far too pleased in the opinion of some.

Ginevra raised her eyebrow at Draco, who just smirked in return.

"Professor Lupin? Just how many scenarios are there?" Seamus asked.

"At the moment, there are only fifteen. Death eaters, animals, Muggles, plants, and a combination of these," Lupin replied. "There are then variations of these, one of which includes dead bodies, as Professor Moody just pointed out," Lupin said with a nod. "The other three are landscape changes."

"For today's lesson you will be learning how to defend yourself against animals," Moody said, tapping his wand.

Screams erupted as various animals appeared throughout the classroom, Muggle and wizard alike. They were all under the three 'X' rating, meaning that any competent wizard could handle it, but the spiders and snakes had most of the Gryffindor's screaming and jumping onto tables and chairs.

Lupin and Moody watched their hysteria in some disbelief. Ron had paled and was sitting on his table, staring at the spider that was making its way up his chair leg. Lavender was screaming as a snake started to slither over to her. Harry and Hermione were trembling as various animals made their way past them, sniffing them curiously.

Pansy picked up a Streeler, careful not to touch the poisonous trail it left behind, then began to stroke the snail's shell, a smirk on her face as she watched everyone.

Vincent and Gregory conjured a large tank for the Shrake, carefully putting it inside. Blaise, Seamus and Neville picked up the baby sea serpent, who was just under ten metres long, putting it in with the Shrake. Luna caught the flopping Ramora, placing it in with the other two animals, after ensuring that the sea serpent wouldn't eat it.

A Red Cap cornered Sally-Anne, an evil smirk on its face. It could smell the blood from a small cut she had on her hand, and was eager to taste her. Sally-Anne screamed, then stunned it with her wand.

A Puffskein hopped around the room playfully, its tongue hanging out of its mouth and flying behind it. He happily searched the nearest person for boogers and was kicked away instantly. It whimpered, then hopped over to Draco, who calmed it with a few words.

Ginevra watched with curiosity as a Crup ran over to her, its forked tail wagging happily. The animal ran over to Hermione, growling ferociously, before returning to Ginevra, jumping up to stand against her chair. Ginevra picked the dog up and stroked it softly, amazed at how soft it was beneath her fingers. Smiling, she continued to hold the dog, oblivious to the chaos around her.

Shocked at how the students weren't handling the situation, Moody and Lupin began to go along the aisles, helping the students, or calming them down in Ron and Lavender's case.

The Puffskein was on Draco's desk, sleeping now, its tongue rolling out of its mouth and creating a wet patch on the table. Pansy was calming the sea serpent down, Luna crooning to the Shrake. Colin was taking photos of the Puffskein, laughing as it rolled over, its tongue hitting Draco.

Pixies flitted around Parvati and Padma, chattering loudly with them.

Gregory and Vincent were talking with Terry and James, all four of them holding gnomes calmly. The gnomes growled and tried to squirm out of their grasp, but the four of them ignored them easily, continuing on talking.

Moody and Lupin finally settled the class down, and had everyone sitting on their seats once more.

"One by one you will come to the front and confront the animals. You need to make sure that the animal does not scare you, nor move away," Lupin said.

"A spell will monitor your temperature and blood flow," Moody added.

At the word 'blood' Ginevra's eyes snapped to the front and she watched the first person - Hermione - go against a large tarantula.

Hermione could feel everyone watching her, and suddenly wished that she hadn't volunteered to go first. She was nervous, and she could see Ginny eyeing her as if she was her next meal. She hurried to keep the tarantula away with a spell, then went to her seat.

"Your heart beat increased due to your fear. You need to keep your emotions under control," Lupin said, calling up the next person.

Hermione just nodded, not wanting to admit that it was Ginny who had scared her, not the spider.

Ginevra smirked at Hermione, knowing that she had scared her. Ignoring the increasing pulse of the student at the front, Ginevra kept her attention on Hermione, sneering when she paled.

Not wanting to stop Ginevra, Draco watched them, a broad smirk on his face.

Throughout the lesson, Ginevra taunted Hermione, staring at her and licking her lips any time the older girl looked at her. Even when Ginevra was called to the front to confront the animals, it seemed as if she was still looking at Hermione's throat.

The students watched Ginevra curiously, wondering if she would use a spell on the animals as the other students had. A few watched her temperature and heart beat. Draco noted that her heart was beating quite slowly, but her pulse and her temperature remained constant.

The animals walked over to Ginevra calmly and she started to stroke them, crooning softly. An evil look came over her face as Ginevra smirked over at Hermione, the tarantula crawling onto her palm.

Ginevra stood and walked over to Hermione, ignoring the strangled gasp that pushed out of Ron's throat when she passed by him. Hermione pushed her chair as far away from her desk as possible. With another evil smirk, Ginevra sat on the desk and calmly swung her feet back and forth, still petting the spider in her hand.

Again, the animals made their way through the class, but this time they moved with stealth and grace. Most of the students were too stunned or scared to try and pick up their wands. The snake started to curl its way up Draco's chair and his leg. He let it continue all the way up so that it was curled around his arm, then began to hiss to it softly, stroking the leather-like scales.

With a bark, the Crup returned to Luna, who happily picked it up once more, crooning to it again.

Moody nodded to Lupin, who left the classroom with a few students, returning to get more. Soon, the only students left were Hermione, Ginevra and her friends.

"Right you lot, follow me," Moody barked angrily.

Calmly and without complaint, they followed him out of the room, the animals still with them. Hermione was pale and trembling, but the other students ignored her easily. Lupin led Hermione away to where the other students were so they could continue the lesson.

Moody led the other fourteen to the Room of Requirement, then told them to put the animals down. As they did so, the animals disappeared.

"We can't have you disrupting the class like this, Ginevra," Moody said with a glare.

"I just did as you asked," she replied with a smile that had her fangs showing.

"You purposely scared the other students!" Moody replied.

"They weren't all scared," Ginevra said, her indifference evident.

"How much blood did you give her?" Moody asked, turning to Draco.

"What was necessary to refrain from blood being shed," Draco replied with a smirk.

"It was obviously too much if she's acting like this," Moody hissed.

"Acting like what?" Ginevra asked, her voice cold and soft. She glared at Moody, anger filling her eyes.

"Go to the hospital wing now, Ginevra," Mad-Eye said, ignoring her question.

"No!" she said, her Vampiress form taking over.

With a sigh, Neville threw a punch at Ginevra.

She turned and grabbed his fist, bending it back and almost breaking his wrist. He snarled at her, wrenching his hand from her grip. Neville turned into his nymph self and started fighting with Ginevra.

As his thumbs glowed a bright green, plant tattoos covered Neville's now-bare chest. When Ginevra punched his chest, the plant tattoos creeped onto her fist. In minutes, the plant tattoos were replaced with real plants and Ginevra was bound up. Power flickered in Ginevra's eyes, the plants dropping to the floor.

As Ginevra threw another punch, Blaise stopped it, snarling at her. His hooves blocked a kick, then he tried to corner her. Ginevra smirked and with a move that became a blur, she moved around Blaise, hitting Neville.

Seamus growled low in his throat and plants surrounded Neville in an instant, protecting him. Ginevra turned on Seamus, hitting him. He moved out of the way, then retaliated with his own punches. The plants around Neville withered and he started fighting Ginevra too. Ginevra hit Seamus in the stomach, then turned to Neville, kicking at his chest.

As Neville hit Ginevra, Draco's Veelan side took over and with a snarl, he hit Neville, intent on defending Ginevra.

Gregory and Vincent tried to stop the fight, and ended up fighting against Ginevra, who had hit and kicked them too. Pansy glared at Ginevra, then joined in the fight too.

Colin debated whether he should take pictures, turn into a dragon or Apollo. He started snapping pictures, staying out of the fight.

"This is going to be an interesting ending," Luna / Cassandra murmured, conjuring popcorn.

Parvati and Padma nodded in agreement, taking handfuls of popcorn themselves. Millicent and Theodore hovered on the edge of the fight, making sure that no one got hurt so much that they couldn't heal them.

On hearing Cassandra's voice, Apollo took Colin over and headed over to her.

"I want to get photos, damn it," Colin growled, fighting against the change.

"Let him take photos, love," Luna / Cassandra said absent-mindedly, watching the fight.

With a pout that made him look even sexier, Apollo let Colin resume control. Smirking, Colin grabbed his camera and headed back over to the fight.

Moody was torn between his love of fighting and his duty as a teacher. He knew that he should probably try and break the fight up, then give them all detention, but he also realised that Ginevra probably needed to get it out of her system. If she didn't fight now, then she'd be picking fights with the other students who weren't able to defend themselves against her. He sighed, then watched the fight intently, picking on points that would need work.

8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8

"I'll presume you're all worn out now?" Moody asked as the fight finished.

They all returned to their human forms, too weary to reply. Bruises, cuts, scratches and broken bones were quickly healed by Theodore.

"Your next lesson starts in a few minutes. All of you will return here on Saturday, is that understood?" Moody asked, glaring at them.

"Yes sir," Ginevra said, then left with the others.

"Feeling better now?" Neville asked Ginevra with a grin, his arm around her shoulder.

"Yes. Sorry about that," she replied, sounding embarrassed.

"Nothing to be sorry about," Neville said cheerfully. "You've been itching for a fight all day, and you had to get it out of your system."

"True," Ginevra admitted.

"The look on Granger's face was priceless!" Pansy said, laughing.

"We better hurry. You've got to talk with Faolan too," Millicent said to Ginevra.

As they left the castle, they ran down to Hagrid's hut, arriving just before he started to call attendance.

"Yer all know what yer doing. If yer going into the Forest, take someone with yer," Hagrid instructed.

Padma and Parvati left to go to Fred and George's shop. Gregory, Vincent and Theodore went to Ginevra's room, Seamus not far behind them. Pansy went over to the lake, diving in and flicking her tail as she swam over to the squid. Colin went behind Hagrid's hut, where the Hippogriff was tied. Blaise went back to the castle to talk with Firenze.

"We're an odd number now," Luna pointed out.

"One of yer can come with me," Hagrid said.

"I will," Neville volunteered.

Millicent and Luna nodded their thanks, then they headed into the Forbidden Forest with Ginevra and Draco.

"We can go talk to Faolan first," Luna said with a smile.

With a nod, Millicent led them down a path and they went deeper into the forest.

After about fifteen minutes of walking, a low growl came from the side clearing, and hundreds of yellow eyes appeared, watching them. Not surprised, Millicent growled back, her eyes turning a yellow colour. Moments later, a wolf stepped out onto the path. Millicent bowed to him. Without a sound, the wolf turned and led them into the clearing.

It is a pleasure to meet you, Queen Ginevra and King Draco, Faolan said with a bow.

The wolves behind him bowed too. Ginevra and Draco bowed in return, then sat in front of the pack leader.

It is a pleasure to meet you too, Faolan. Please, call me Ginevra, she said.

Call me Draco, he added.

As you wish, Faolan replied. You may introduce your friend, Faolan said to Millicent.

"Faolan, this is Luna Lovegood. Luna, this is the wolf pack, and their leader Faolan," Millicent introduced.

Lovely to meet you all, Luna said with a curtsy.

Faolan sniffed at Luna, then leapt back, a growl stopping in his throat.

I did not know that you were one of them. We have not seen one of your kind here for a long time, Lady, Faolan said, sounding apologetic.

It is quite all right, Faolan, Luna / Cassandra said, an amused smile on her face.

Ginevra and Millicent looked to Luna for an explanation, but she just smiled and didn't say anything.

Ginevra, Draco. I admit that you are not what we expected, Faolan admitted. But I can sense your power, and I wish you all the luck.

Thank you, Faolan, Ginevra and Draco replied, bowing to him.

You may do your project now, wolf-girl, Faolan said, turning to Millicent.

Though she was surprised that Faolan didn't want to talk to Ginevra and Draco further, Millicent bowed and thanked Faolan profusely.

"I will stay with Millicent, you two go meet the yeti and the Gytrash," Luna said with a smile.

Ginevra nodded, then left the clearing with Draco.

8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8

"That was odd," Draco muttered when they were out of earshot.

"Definitely," Ginevra agreed with a nod. "It was like he just wanted to see that we were real or something," she said.

"I wonder what he expected," he mused with a smirk.

"Probably someone older," Ginevra said.

"Do you want to meet the yeti first, or the Gytrash?" Draco asked.

"Might as well talk to the yeti," she replied.

"Right," Draco said, then turned onto a different path.

They headed through the forest, keeping to the clearings as best as they could, hearing centaurs moving between the trees.

They heard the yeti growling long before they reached him. As the distance between Ginevra, Draco, and the yeti closed, the growls became louder.

Ginevra frowned as she listened closely to the sounds.

"It's like he's in pain, not trying to scare something away," she muttered, hurrying her pace.

Draco hurried after Ginevra. They both came to a hard stop when they saw the yeti on the ground, blood staining its white fur, an arrow deep in his chest.

Ginevra groaned, recognising the arrow tip.

"Alexander, I swear you're going to have to learn what's okay to shoot and what isn't," she said, turning around to see her Protector in the trees, watching her with a sheepish grin.

"I did not mean ... "

"Save it," Draco growled, pushing into him as he went over to the yeti.

He changed into his Veelan form, crooning to the wounded creature.

"I need your help, Ginevra," he called.

Alexander glared at Draco, even as Ginevra walked over to Draco, her Vampiress form already helping to soothe the yeti. He watched as Ginevra moved over to the yeti, completely fearless. Her body glowed red and his breath caught at how beautiful she was. Then Draco moved to block Alexander's view. He growled deep in his throat at the intrusion, then slipped away quietly, knowing full well he couldn't challenge Draco while he was in his Veelan form.

Ginevra pulled the arrow free, healing the wound. A bare patch of skin would forever show that the yeti had been hit by an arrow and survived. He wouldn't allow them to clean the blood from his fur, as yeti's had to bathe in hot springs located within the Tibetan mountains.

Thank you, the yeti said, then looked for the one who had shot him. If I see him, he will not survive, he growled.

Fine by me, Draco replied, ignoring the scathing look he was getting from Ginevra.

Grateful that they had saved his life, the yeti gave Draco all of the information he needed for his project, as well as answering the questions Ginevra had for him.

She found out that when a new Queen or King is announced, all animals have the ability to travel to see him or her for a month afterwards. It not only explained the increase of magical creatures, but also why Ginevra was suddenly the most popular witch in the animal kingdom.

As he said goodbye, the yeti gave them the honour of knowing his true name, Kilaa. Draco and Ginevra thanked him, then left after they watched the yeti disappear back to the Tibetan mountains.

8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8

"Where did your Protector go? Why didn't he stay and face the consequences of what he'd done?" Draco growled as they walked along the path to where the Gytrash was.

"He probably went off to the unicorns. I don't know why he left. Maybe he didn't want to get killed by a yeti?" Ginevra suggested with a shrug.

Draco muttered something incoherant, then continued to mutter about the not-so-protective Protector until they reached the Gytrash.

Ginevra! Ryder and Maden said, hurrying over to her eagerly. Draco, they said, just as eager to see him as they were Ginevra.

"Hello Ryder and Maden. How are you both today?" Ginevra asked, patting them.

Well, thank you Queen Ginevra, the Gytrash replied. We are very eager to be in your project.

"That is definitely good," she replied. She officially gave up trying to get the 'Queen' away from her name. It didn't work when she asked them not to call her 'Queen', and she supposed 'Queen Ginevra' was better than nothing.

Draco sat down and watched as Ginevra started talking with the Gytrash about her assignment, asking all of the necessary questions in order for her to complete it. His mind wandered back to Alexander, and he gritted his teeth in anger at the Protector. He was obviously useless at protecting Ginevra, and had no sense of responsibility! He began muttering about him yet again, stopping when he realised that the Gytrash and Ginevra were looking at him strangely.

"Never mind," Draco said, going slightly red in embarrassment.

Ginevra just grinned at him, then turned back to the Gytrash, getting their attention once more.

"Thank you very much. I appreciate your help," Ginevra said, smiling at them.

It was our pleasure, Queen Ginevra, Ryder and Maden said, bowing deeply to her. We hope that whatever troubles you, King Draco, will be no more.

"So do I," Draco grounded out, bowing in return to the Gytrash.

They left the clearing quickly, listening out for any centaurs.

"That wasn't nice, Draco," Ginevra said with a raised eyebrow.

"I never said I was nice," Draco replied, smirking at her.

Ginevra rolled her eyes at him, then left the forest.

8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8

"Have you seen Pansy?" Ginevra asked Gregory and Vincent at lunch.

They barely remembered to swallow their food before answering.

"Not since she went in the lake," Vincent said, shaking his head.

"She's got family down there, nothing to worry about. I hope," Gregory added with a frown.

"That's what I'm worried about. I might go for a swim," Ginevra said, leaving the Great Hall.

After grabbing an apple each, Gregory and Vincent followed her. That shocked a few people into silence, and they wondered what was so important that had Gregory Goyle and Vincent Crabbe leaving the Great Hall in the middle of a meal. The others packed up their lunch and practically ran after Gregory, Vincent, and Ginevra.

Ginevra almost started running in her worried state. It wasn't like Pansy to be late for lunch, especially when Gregory and Vincent had the opportunity to get there early. It really wasn't like Pansy to be late for anything...

As soon as the lake came into view, Ginevra did start running. She dived into the water, then did a bubble spell on her head before she started kicking over to the squid.

Hello, Queen Ginevra. I hope you are well, the squid said, bowing to her.

I am slightly worried for my friend, Water Pansy, Ginevra replied, using the name the squid had given Pansy.

I have not seen her since she left to see her family. Water Pansy chose to do a project on me, the squid said, obviously happy about it.

I am sure she will say nothing but the very best about you. Water Pansy is very fond of you, Ginevra replied. Do you know why she went to see her family?

I did not ask. But her gold band was glowing, if that is any help, the squid replied, now sounding concerned.

Thank you very much. I hope you have a nice day, Ginevra said, bowing to the squid, then returning to the surface.

"Is she all right?" Gregory and Vincent asked immediately, going to help Ginevra out of the water.

"I don't know. She left the squid to go to her family. Her band was glowing apparently. Do you know what that means?" Ginevra asked them.

"The only thing we've heard Pansy say about her band is that it means she's a Royal, and that it's an emergency if it glows," Vincent said, worry shadowing his features.

"We should go out there," Gregory said, looking to the lake as if Pansy might pop up at any moment.

"If you two want to go, then we all will," Luna said.

"There's a problem with that," Parvati said.

"If you say that your hair will get wet, I swear I'll throw you into the lake," Padma drawled at her twin.

Parvati just raised her eyebrow at Padma, then continued.

"We have no way of getting there, and not only that, we may not be allowed to see her until whatever is happening with her family is over," she said.

"I'll fly us all there," Colin offered. "One of the times I'm thankful to be a dragon," he muttered, grinning.

"We should be able to get in as King and Queen," Draco said to Ginevra.

"You might not be able to, and if even you two do, that doesn't mean the rest of us can," Blaise pointed out.

"We're wasting time by doing this, we'll work it out when we get there," Millicent said.

"How close can you fly to the water?" Ginevra asked Colin. "I need to be able to see where I'm going."

"You're going to try and find the hippocampus, aren't you?" Draco asked.

"Don't fly too close to the hippocampus, I don't think it would be too happy to see a dragon," Neville said.

"We'll be fine," Ginevra said, nodding to Colin.

Colin gave his camera to Luna, kissed her cheek, then moved away from everyone and started to Change. In seconds, a golden dragon stood where Colin had been.

Too worried to appreciate Colin's new look, they all hurried to climb onto his back. With a little effort, Colin rose into the air and flew over the lake. At Ginevra's word, Colin got closer to the water, turning when necessary.

"Stop!" Ginevra yelled.

Colin quickly slowed and stopped with a degree of difficulty, then hovered for a moment, wondering what was going to happen.

Ginevra looked down at the water, frowning. It was all so different from up here! Deciding to take her chances, she stood unsteadily and jumped into the water, her legs turning into a fish tail, and gills pushing out of her neck. In a second, Draco was beside her, kicking his legs under the water.

As a Full Blooded Veelan, he didn't need to change into a fish. His power made him immortal, and breathing under water was no longer a difficulty.

Draco looked at Ginevra as she swam around in circles a few times, trying to ascertain where they were.

Recognising a few things to her left, Ginevra's shoulders slumped in relief. She quickly began to swim that way, Draco following her.

Overhead, the others were looking at the water, trying to figure out which way Ginevra and Draco had gone.

"I can't smell a thing. The salt is too overpowering," Millicent said, wrinkling her nose.

Theodore closed his eyes, then began to murmur in Elvish. His eyes flung open, their colour an electric and unnatural blue.

"Head east," he said to Colin.

With a flare of his nostrils, and some resulting smoke, Colin was heading east quickly.

As a weather elf, Theodore was able to use the weather to his advantage, and as all lakes, streams, rivers and seas are part of the weather, he had simply been able to ask the lake where Ginevra and Draco had gone. If he hadn't been in his Elvish state, Theodore would have found it amusing that the lake kept referring to them as 'Queen and King of All'.

After about ten minutes of swimming, Ginevra and Draco arrived at the mermaid's underwater city. They swam faster, still worried about Pansy's safety. Their worry increased further when they saw how deserted the city was. Not one person was in their house, no one was swimming around at the market, the market itself had been abandoned. Ginevra and Draco kept swimming, eventually arriving at what seemed to be a castle. All of the missing people were gathered around the castle. They were singing, but everything about their manner and the song was filled with sadness.

As Ginevra swam amongst the merpeople, she realised that they weren't paying any attention to her. They didn't stop singing, not even if accidentally bumped into. They wouldn't stop singing for anything or anyone.

Ginevra shot out above the merpeople. She was still no where near the castle entrance.

"Cimroan, I need your help!" she called.

Within minutes, the hippocampus was by her side.

You called for me, Queen Ginevra? Cimroan asked, sounding as sad as the merpeople.

"What's going on? Where is Pansy? Is she all right?" Ginevra asked, her worry making her words string into each other.

Draco swam up to them, bowing to the hippocampus. Cimroan returned his bow, seeming surprised that royalty would bow to a creature like him.

"We would appreciate your help, Cimroan," Draco added.

We should go to the castle. Less ears, Cimroan said quietly, then began to swim away.

Ginevra and Draco hurried after him, the song of the merpeople following them.

Cimroan swam into the castle without getting a second glance by the guards. Ginevra and Draco were stared at by curious onlookers, who found their tails almost insulting.

Fish tails indeed! one or two muttered as they swam by.

Cimroan led them to a large room, then looked at them.

Pansy's grandfather is very ill. Water Pansy was called to be by his side. She is fine, Cimroan added. Water Pansy understandably, is quite upset, as she is very close to her grandfather. I presume she told you her was her Teacher? Cimroan asked. Ginevra nodded, and he continued, Grand Royal Hyler was not only teaching Pansy the main four studies, he was also teaching her how to run the city of Tler, Cimroan explained. Water Pansy is the next in line for the throne.

"What?!" Ginevra's surprised cry seemed to echo in the underground castle.

Hush! It is important that none of the merpeople find out how ill Grand Royal Hyler really is. The worst of it is, that we do not know what is truly wrong with him, Cimroan said, sounding sad.

"Can we go see him? Or Pansy, at least?" Ginevra asked.

Cimroan looked troubled by her request. It took him a full five minutes to decide.

You must be quiet. Come with me, he said, swimming out of the room and along the passage.

Ginevra and Draco hurried, but all three of them turned when one of the mer-guards called out for Cimroan. The hippocampus swam in front of Ginevra and Draco, shielding them from the mer-guard's view.

"We have caught some legglings outside of the castle. They say that they are with them," the guard said, indicating to Ginevra and Draco.

Cimroan just nodded and swam out of the castle quickly, to where they'd been caught.

The other eleven of them were there, Colin included. They all had bubbles around their heads, and were struggling against the mer-guards.

"Ginevra! Tell them to let us go!" Gregory called.

Both he and Vincent looked thoroughly annoyed, and reading to break some noses if they couldn't get to Pansy.

"Cimroan, they're our friends. And Gregory and Vincent are dating Pansy," Ginevra added quietly, not wanting the mer-guards to hear.

They are safe to come inside, Cimroan said to the mer-guard.

Reluctantly, the guards released them and swam back to their posts.

Luna swam over lazily, smiling at the hippocampus.

"You will find them soon, do not worry any longer, dear Cimroan," she murmured, stroking him affectionately.

Cimroan looked surprised, then bowed to her.

"I thank thee, Lady Cassandra," he said, then swam back into the castle.

"What's going on? Where's Pansy?" Vincent asked Ginevra immediately.

"We're going to her now, but we have to be quiet," Ginevra replied absent-mindedly, hurrying after Cimroan.

The group fell silent, and concentrated on swimming after the hippocampus. Cimroan swam along the long passageway, finally stopping at the end doors. He swam inside, motioning for them to wait.

Vincent and Gregory waited impatiently, fidgeting silently.

In a minute, Cimroan returned with Pansy. She barely looked at them as she swam away with Cimroan. They all followed, confused to say the least. When they were in the same room Ginevra and Draco had been in earlier, Cimroan left after nudging Pansy to comfort her. Once the hippocampus had left, Pansy looked at them, then burst into tears. In seconds, they were all around her, hugging her tightly.

It took a few minutes for Pansy to compose herself. When she did, she turned away from them and looked out of the small window at the merpeople, who were still singing mournfully.

"They have no idea what's wrong with him, and won't take a chance on any of the medicines we have," she murmured. "Everyone keeps expecting me to take some kind of command, but I can't. Not while he's still breathing... I can't," Pansy said, falling to the ground as her tail gave way.

Gregory and Vincent immediately swam over to help her up. She started to hit them with clenched fists, crying at the same time, even as they held her tightly.

"I don't know why this is happening! He's still young, damn it!" she cried.

"Water Pansy," Luna murmured, swimming over to her with ease. "Come with me," she said quietly, offering her hand.

Pansy took it, her tears still falling from her face and floating into the surrounding water. Luna swam out of the room with Pansy by her side. Without a second's hesitation, the others all followed them. Luna swam along the passageway with confidence. She stopped only twice in order to not be spotted by the mer-guards, then continued, just as confidentally as before. They swam into a small room near the one that Pansy had exited from, then watched as Luna touched a particular piece of coral. It looked no different than any other piece of coral, but it opened a small window looking into the Grand Royal Hyler's room.

"Drink this, sir. It will help you get better," a male voice crooned. "Drink it!" he commanded.

Hearing the hostility in the man's voice, Pansy looked into the room intently. She gasped when she saw who was in the room with her grandfather.

"Who is he?" Padma asked as she looked over Pansy's shoulder.

Pansy's grandfather had managed to knock the goblet over, and the other merman was now pouring more of the liquid into the goblet from a vial which he hid behind his Band.

"One of Grandfather's Advisers, Jalk. Grandfather never trusted him, he always said that Adviser Jalk was after the throne," Pansy said quietly, watching as the Adviser forced her grandfather to drink from the goblet.

"We'll go deal with him," Gregory and Vincent offered.

"You can't. It's against the law to hurt another. The law applied to guests too," Pansy added when they didn't look concerned. "If you hurt him then you'll be put in gaol for twenty years, and nothing I say will help you... I need to find out what's in that vial," she murmured, watching as the Adviser went to leave the room.

"We'll get it," Padma and Parvati said with grins. They left before anyone could protest.

A few seconds later, everyone heard a loud bang, and Parvati apologising profusely. The Adviser growled at her, then hurried off, not noticing Padma slipping the vial into her pocket.

"Too easy," she muttered, then returned to the small room with her twin.

"How can we find out what's in it?" Colin asked, looking at the vial curiously.

"You can give it to Snape when you get back," Pansy suggested. "I'm staying here with Grandfather. I don't want to leave while Adviser Jalk is around," she grounded out, sounding angry.

"What if he tries to hurt you too? You're next in line for the throne," Ginevra said.

"I know. That's why you all have to hurry," Pansy said. "Before you go, take one of these Bands. They will grant you access to the castle, so you don't get caught by the guards again," she said, handing them each a strip of seaweed, fashioned into a hoop.

Pansy gave the vial to Padma, who hugged her tightly and swam off.

"We'll be back as soon as we can," Ginevra said, hugging Pansy and swimming off too.

They all hugged Pansy, swimming off. Vincent and Gregory had to be pulled out of the castle before they would leave.

8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8

As soon as the were out of the city of Tler, Colin swam up to the surface. He started to change into a dragon, pushing himself out of the water and into the air. Grateful to be out of the water, he shook himself slightly, then went down closer to the lake to get the others.

A few minutes later, they were all on his back and heading towards Hogwarts. The entire way there, Gregory and Vincent muttered about Jalk, wishing that they could hurt him.

"That bastard made Pansy cry," Vincent growled.

"Wish she'd let us at least punch him out cold," Gregory muttered for the hundredth time.

"If you two don't shut up, we're going to leave you behind!" Parvati said, glaring at them.

"Like you could stop us from coming!" Gregory replied, glaring too.

"Don't talk to her like that!" Padma said angrily.

"Shut up!" Ginevra yelled, calming them all with a spell.

Draco encouraged Colin to hurry up.

They arrived at Hogwarts, touching down in the courtyard. Some people screamed, others caused a lot of commotion, but all of them were ignored. Draco and Ginevra hurried down to thte castle entrance, the others right behind them. Colin changed back as quick as he dared, hurrying after them with a pale face. He was tired, but he didn't want to say anything. He was just as worried as the rest of them were.

They practically ran down to the dungeons, pushing students out of the way and ignoring their shouts of annoyance. Filch yelled at them as they trailed wet footprints throughout the castle, but he too, was ignored. In minutes they arrived at the Potions classroom, banging on the door and yelling for Snape to let them in.

Severus opened the door, annoyed that he was being interrupted just as he was beginning class. Third years were a nuicance, and it would take them a very long time to settle down after this interruption. Someone had better be dying...

"We need your help," Ginevra said immediately.

Snape heard the distress and urgency in her voice, and put one of the more serious Ravenclaws in charge of the class, before going with them to a different room.

After about five minutes of hurried explanations, Snape figured out what was wrong. He took the vial, and immediately started to work on it.

"Can we do anything?" Neville asked, wanting to get back to Pansy as soon as possible.

Severus went to growl at the young boy for saying such a foolish thing, then remembered how well he was doing at Potions now.

"Get a parchment and quill, then write down everything I tell you," Snape said, turning back to the vial. "Luna, would you please dry everyone off before Filch gets all of you expelled," he added.

Luna and Neville did as they were asked. Colin took the opportunity to sit down and try and get his breath back. Gregory and Vincent stood around nervously, fidgeting again. Theodore and Millicent waited, watching Snape with impatience. Padma and Parvati murmured to each other, holding hands to offer some comfort. Blaise and Seamus helped Neville, trying not to think about what could be happening to Pansy this instant. Draco watched Ginevra, who hadn't said a word the entire time. She was paler than usual, and was watching Snape with such an intensity that Draco was sure she'd forgotten to breathe and blink. Going over to her, Draco touched her shoulder, making Ginevra jump.

"She'll be okay," he said softly.

Ginevra just nodded, then returned her attention back to Snape.

"Longbottom," Snape said, making Neville hurry over, parchment and quill in his hand. "The main ingredients are Alihotsy leaves and Streeler poison. What's wrong?" he asked, seeing how pale Neville had turned.

"I suggested that combination to Pansy to get rid of Plimpy's. She said that she'd talk to the merpeople about it," he muttered. "It's all my fault."

"That's ridiculous, Neville. You suggested it for Plimpy's, not for Pansy's Grandfather," Parvati said soothingly.

"Yeah, it's still that jerk Jalk that's poisoning him, not you," Padma added.

"Can you make an antidote?" Ginevra asked Severus.

He nodded briefly, then turned to a cauldron, putting various ingredients in the boiling water.

Minutes later, they had three vials of the antidote, just in case something happened, or if Jalk had decided to use it on other people. Severus told them that he would inform their Professor's of their absence, and added that they could miss out on Potions if the need be. They were grateful, but still hurried down to the lake.

It took Colin a full five minutes to change into a dragon, the effort of the change making it harder for him to get into the air. He flew there, and despite the urgency and his own worry, Colin was too tired to go very fast.

"We'll go now and get Cimroan to take us," Ginevra said.

She checked that the antidote was secure, then jumped off Colin's back, landing in the water with a splash. She quickly returned to tail and gills, then called out for Cimroan, Draco, Vincent, and Gregory beside her.

It took a minute or two for Cimroan to arrive, having travelled such a long distance, but he was grateful when they told him they had an antidote for the poison that Grand Royal Hyler was being forced. With the four of them on his back, Cimroan swam faster than he ever had before, heading towards the city of Tler. Even when the castle came into view, the hippocampus didn't slow down. He shot past the mer-guards and went straight down the passageway to the Grand Royal Hyler's room. He burst through it in time to find Pansy struggling against Jalk, who was trying to force her to drink the poison.

Gregory and Vincent jumped off the hippocampus, then pulled the Adviser off Pansy. Despite the warnings Pansy had given them, they punched him out cold, watching with satisfaction as blood floated out of his broken nose.

"Are you all right?" they asked Pansy, helping her off the floor.

She sighed, looking at the Adviser.

"This is going to mean weeks of court, you know," she muttered, then turned to Ginevra and Draco. "Did you find out what the potion was?"

"Alihotsy leaves and Streeler poison," Neville replied as he swam in with the rest of them. "Sorry, Pansy."

"As long as you have the antidote, there's nothing to be sorry about," she said firmly.

Pansy took the vial from Ginevra, then swam over to her Grandfather.

"Snape said it might take a few days for the poison to get out of his system, so he won't be able to move much until then, but he should be able to talk as soon as he's had the antidote," Parvati said as Pansy opened the vial.

Pansy nodded gratefully, then helped her Grandfather sit up before putting the vial to his mouth. The poison-influenced paralysis made sure that he couldn't hold onto the vial himself, but he didn't struggle against Pansy, obviously having heard everything that had been said around him.

They all watched as the Grand Royal Hyler drank the antidote. He swallowed a few times, moving his mouth experimentally to see if it did work.

"Thank you," he muttered. "By the way, there will not be a court case against your boyfriends' for what they did to Adviser Jalk. He deserved it two times over... That was not a permissive statement, boys," Hyler added when Gregory and Vincent started to go back over to Adviser Jalk.

Pansy started laughing, somewhat hysterically, as she hugged her Grandfather tightly.

"Go get the rest of the court please, Cimroan," Hyler said. "I apologise, Water Pansy. I cannot return your embrace," he said, sounding annoyed.

Cimroan swam out of the room quickly.

"It is all right, Grandfather," Pansy said with a brief smile, pulling away. "I am just happy that you're not sick any longer."

"So am I. Thank you all for your help," Hyler said, looking to them all. "Lady Cassandra, it is a pleasure to see you once more," he said fondly.

"Thank you, Grand Royal Hyler. It is a pleasure to return. I am sorry it had to occur under these circumstances," Luna replied with a bow.

"As am I, Lady Cassandra. Before the court arrives, I think you should introduce me to your friends, Water Pansy," Hyler said with something resembling a smile.

Jalk groaned, and made some kind of movement. In an instant, he was out cold again, Vincent and Gregory 'accidentally' whipping him with their tails.

"This is Gregory Goyle and Vincent Crabbe. Purebloods for ten and eleven generations respectively," Pansy began.

"I think a shortened version will be necessary, Water Pansy," Hyler said.

Pansy nodded, then continued. "Parvati and Padma Patil, both purebloods. Millicent Bulstrode and Theodore Nott, also purebloods. Neville Longbottom, Blaise Zabini, and Seamus Finnigan, purebloods. Luna Lovegood, you know. Colin Creevey, half-blood. Ginevra Weasley, and Draco Malfoy, both purebloods," Pansy finished.

Hyler looked at Ginevra and Draco curiously, his eyes calculating.

"It is a pleasure to meet the new Queen and King of All," he said, barely able to move his head in a bow.

"Thank you, Grand Royal Hyler. It is a pleasure to meet you too," Ginevra replied, Draco bowing beside her.

Everyone went silent as Cimroan returned, and announced the various Royals, Advisers, Teachers, mer-guards, and other important merpeople that entered the room.

"Thank you for coming so quickly," Hyler said with a brief smile. "I understand that a lot of you were hoping I was dead, and I am quite pleased to still be alive to nettle you all," he said, a few people looked guilty, while others laughed nervously. "My granddaughter and her friends have helped me as you have not been able to; they discovered that I was being poisoned and have stopped it. The traitor is behind you. Help Adviser Jalk up, would you boys?" he asked Gregory and Vincent.

They grabbed him roughly and pulled him up, but refrained from hurting again. There were too many people that would call for a court hearing.

"It is my understanding that you have left during one of your school days. You should return with Cimroan now, so he may explain to the Headmaster what has happened. I do not wish for you to get into trouble for helping an old man like myself," Hyler said, looking to the non-mermaids.

"You don't look a day over fifty, Grandfather," Pansy protested, smirking at him.

"Considering I am over one hundred and eighty years old, I doubt it," he replied with a chuckle. "Get gone with you then," he said, but not unkindly.

Hyler bade them all farewell, then nodded to the hippocampus, who led them out of the castle.

If you do not mind, I would prefer to hurry while Grand Royal Hyler is talking to the others; I do not want to miss out on anything important, Cimroan said.

When they all nodded, he had them hold onto his mane, then began to swim quickly. He broke the water's surface within a matter of minutes, and was so close to Hogwarts that they were able to swim the distance without much effort.

"Thank you for everything, Cimroan. We will not forget it," Ginevra said with a bow.

You are welcome, Queen Ginevra. Fare well, Cimroan replied, then swam back to the mermaid palace quickly.

They swam to the shore silently, all emersed in their own thoughts. Gregory and Vincent swam on either side of Pansy, but she barely noticed them.

As they got out of the lake on shaking legs - only Pansy and Luna seemed to be fine - Ginevra and the others saw the Runes class coming out of the Forbidden Forest. When Professor Yepir saw them, she rushed over and quickly did drying spells on them.

"How long were you in there? Your skin's all blue!" she muttered, doing a warming spell on them now.

"Since lunch," Ginevra said, her teeth chattering slightly.

"Right. We'll talk about your absence from class later on. For now, I want the lot of you get to the hospital wing this instant," Yepir said, shooing them in the direction of the castle.

Ginevra and the others hurried up to the castle, and to the hospital wing, knowing that Yepir would be in to check on them, as well as ask questions.

As they walked along the corridors, Ginevra and Draco heard an argument between a girl and guy. It was nothing physical, and it was too far away for them to intervene, but they both heard the words the girl yelled at the boy very clearly.

"Just because you think that we went out some time last week, it does not mean that I will 'get back together' with you! You can not 'get back' with someone that you have never been with before!"

Ginevra smirked at Draco.

"I told you it didn't sound like either one of us," she muttered as they walked through the hospital entrance.

"Are you all right?" Madam Pomfrey asked, looking at all fourteen of them.

"We've been in the lake for a while, and Professor Yepir wanted us to come up here because we were blue and cold," Millicent said, sneezing loudly.

"I thought you would be more than capable to handle a simple cold, Theodore," Madam Pomfrey admonished, but continued to heal them all.

Theodore blanched slightly, and opened his mouth to say something.

"That was my fault, Madam Pomfrey. I told them all to come up here. I needed to ask them all a few questions about their absences, and as not all of the students are in my class, I thought it best to keep them together," Professor Yepir said as she walked in.

"Have you told the other Professor's of their appearance? I am sure that they would have worried," Pomfrey murmured, frowning.

"Yes, I have told Professor Sprout, and she will be here momentarily. Thank you, Poppy," Yepir said, subtly dismissing her.

Madam Pomfrey gave a slight huff and went to her office once they were all warmed and healed properly.

"I'll wait for Professor Sprout to get here before I start with my questions," Yepir said with a friendly smile.

A few seconds later, Professor Sprout bustled into the room, dirt flying from her robes.

"There you are. I was beginning to worry. You never miss a class, Neville," Sprout said.

"I was just about to question the students of their whereabouts, Pomona. Did you get Albus?" Yepir asked.

Pomona nodded, then looked behind her with a slight frown.

"I'm sure he was right behind me," she muttered.

"No need to worry, Pomona. I am right here," Albus said, walking into the hospital wing with a brief smile. "Now, what seems to be the problem?"

"The students were absent for our lessons, and they came out of the lake... I thought it might be important for you to hear what they have to say," Yepir said.

"Severus told me a little of what happened, but I would like to hear the entire story from you," Albus said with a nod.

It took almost half an hour to tell what had happened, various questions coming from the two Professor's and Headmaster. Sprout was quite pleased with Neville for the poison he'd thought up, even if Adviser Jalk had used it in a menacing way.

"You didn't know that it would affect people in that way, so there's nothing to be sorry about, Neville," she said kindly.

Neville just nodded. He still felt bad about it, no matter what anyone said.

"I believe you all have a Potions class to attend. Take this note with you," Albus said, a scroll appearing in his hands, "and tell Professor Snape that you are not to get detention for being late," he added.

"Yes, Professor Dumbledore," they chorused, then practically ran down to the dungeons.

8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8

The original classroom was practically destroyed. Apparently the serious Ravenclaw who had been left in charge of the class hadn't known that someone was in possession of Filibuster fireworks near a hot cauldron.

Ginevra shook her head at the mess. It would take a lot of magical and manual energy to clean the mess up. As there was no note on the door to say where their class would be, Ginevra and Draco had to change into a Vampiress and a Veelan in order to hear where their classmates were.

The scratching of quills further down the tunnel indicated that it was going to be a theory lesson, and Snape's stomping told them that he was not happy at all. Neville voted that they skip the lesson entirely, only half joking.

They hurried down to the substitute classroom and opened the door a crack. Unfortunately for Neville, the door squeaked, and alerted them to Snape's presence immediately.

"Don't dawdle at the door. Get inside the classroom!" he bellowed.

Neville paled and followed his friends inside, glad that Seamus and Blaise were on either side of him. Small vines started crawling up and around his arm, reacting to his nervousness.

Seamus saw how nervous Neville was, and took his hand to soothe him. The plants around Neville's arm disappeared into his skin and he looked at Seamus gratefully.

As soon as they passed Lavender, her hand was up in the air like a shot.

"What is it, Miss Brown?" Snape glared at her.

"You said that people aren't allowed to hold hands in your class!" she said, pointing to Neville and Seamus.

"I said that you and Mr. Weasley are not to hold hands, as you don't get any work done!" Snape bellowed.

"They won't get any work done either!" Lavender protested, ignoring his anger.

"Yes they will. Mr. Finnigan writes with his left hand, and Mr. Longbottom writes with his right. Even a child could see that they can still do their work!"

"Lucky I'm ambidextorous, or else we'll be proving him wrong," Seamus muttered with a grin as they sat down.

Neville refrained from laughing. Blaise watched them with a smirk.

"You should have three arms, Neville. I want to hold your hand too," Blaise murmured quietly, smirking when Neville blushed.

"Blaise, stop doing that to Neville under the table, or else you'll have to go back to the hospital wing," Ginevra hissed at them, hitting Blaise's shoulder.

He just laughed, then moved both of his hands away.

"Damn, I was enjoying the show," Seamus muttered, sounding upset.

Neville blushed when they continued to pay him attention. A touch on the shoulder, a linger of a hand, a quill innocently brushing against him.

Ginevra held her head in her hands as their thoughts assaulted her mind. She did not want to know how Blaise and Seamus were planning on seducing their lover! At a particularly detailed image, she winced and looked over at Draco, who had gone paler than usual.

"I don't want to see this. I really don't," he whimpered softly, shaking his head.

"What is gonig on back here?" Snape drawled as he swept to the back row where they were all seated.

"We're doing our work, Professor," Blaise said innocently.

Snape narrowed his eyes at him.

"Then why are Miss Weasley and Mr. Malfoy as pale as ghosts?"

"I don't know, Professor," Blaise said, turning to look at them, and smirking when Snape couldn't see his face.

"Perhaps we should take them to the hospital wing," Seamus suggested, turning to smirk at them too.

"No!" Ginevra and Draco said quickly. They knew exactly what Blaise and Seamus would do while they so 'gallantly' took them to the hospital wing!

"I'm fine," Ginevra said, smiling innocently.

Severus didn't reprimand her, only raised an eyebrow and stalked over to where Lavender was talking to Ron in not-so-hushed tones.

"We're going to get you back for that," Draco hissed.

Seamus and Blaise just smirked at them, then returned their attention to their work and Neville.

"Exactly how are we going to get them back?" Ginevra muttered to Draco as she answered a question from her workbook.

"Your brothers, Parvati and Padma can help us with that," Draco replied.

Ginevra smirked, then finished her work silently.

8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8

After Potions, Pansy went back to the lake with Gregory and Vincent. Neville went straight to his room, Seamus and Blaise with him. Theodore and Millicent went to the hospital wing for his round. Luna convinced Colin to become a dragon in the courtyard, and they flew away as fast as the rumours that followed them. In Ginevra's rooms, Draco Floo'd Fred and George, while Ginevra got Parvati and Padma into the meeting room.

"I'm going to assume this is about what Seamus and Blaise did earlier?" Parvati drawled, grinning.

"Oh, I hope so. Fred and I have been working on a new product," Padma said, rubbing her hands together eagerly, an evil gleam in her eye.

"What's up?" Fred and George asked as they sat on the table, looking at Ginevra and Draco.

"We need your help," Ginevra said.

"Trouble in the bedroom?" Fred said, grinning.

"What?!" Draco said, looking both offended and confused.

"That's the name of the product!" Padma said quickly, laughing. "He's not saying that you're impotent!"

"Oh..." Draco murmured, going red slightly.

"What's the product do?" Ginevra asked, getting the attention away from him.

"Exactly what the name says. It causes a couple, or three people, as the case may be," Fred said with a smirk, "to have trouble in the bedroom. A person will become impotent for approximately three hours, give or take an hour, depending on the amount of hormones they produce," he said, close to laughing now. "The only side affect is that they will be extremely horny after the product wears off. We don't know how to stop that yet," Fred said.

"More like you don't want to," Parvati said with a laugh.

Padma just smirked, but George was looking very annoyed with Fred.

"You tested that on me, didn't you?" he asked angrily.

Fred paled slightly, then looked guilty.

"We promised to never test products like that on each other!" George said.

"The thing is, Fred didn't do it. I did," Padma said, looking guilty too. "Fred didn't want me to do it at all, but like I told him, it was either you or him. And I knew that Parvati wouldn't be over for a few hours anyway. Sorry," she said, hanging her head.

"I thought he had a bit more energy than usual..." Parvati murmured, going bright red.

George flushed brightly, then sank down onto a chair, his head in his arms.

"I can't believe you did that, Padma! That wasn't very nice," Parvati said.

"I never said I was nice. You got all the nice genes, remember?" Padma said with a smirk.

"But still... I didn't get all of the moral genes! Weren't there any morals stopping you?"

"A few postponed me for about ten minutes, then my bad genes voted that my morals were stupid and made me do it," Padma said.

George laughed through his arms at her statement.

"So can we get that product now?" Draco muttered to Fred, who smirked and produced a vial from his pocket.

"One drop for each of them only. Any more and they might be impotent for a very long time. You don't want all of those frustrated thoughts and feelings bombarding your brain, do you?" Fred said with another smirk, patting their heads.

Ginevra shook her head, then left with Draco quickly so the twins' could make up.

8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8

"Before dinner, during, or after?" Draco asked as they sat in his room.

"It would be easiest to slip it in their drinks at dinner. That will give it a while to take effect," Ginevra replied with a grin.

"Exactly what do you plan on doing to us?" Blaise asked.

Draco and Ginevra looked up to see Blaise and Seamus standing at the door, wearing nothing but their bathrobes. Seamus smirked at them. A vine slipped to the ground, uncurling quickly and heading for the vial that was sitting next to Draco on the bed. Draco went for the vial, getting it mere seconds before the vine did.

"Oh, you almost got it!" Ginevra drawled sarcastically. "Why not try some time when it's not next to him?" she said, waving them out of the room.

Blaise snogged Seamus, leaving Draco and Ginevra with some detailed images as Seamus pulled Blaise back to their room where Neville was waiting.

"I wish we could do it back to them. That'd teach them," Ginevra said with a laugh.

"They'd probably enjoy it," Draco said, shaking his head.

Luna knocked on their door, smiling when they looked at her. Ginevra grinned when she saw how wind-whipped her hair was from flying on Colin.

"You could change it, you know," she said dreamily. "Change their thoughts of each other to your own of one another," she explained. "It wouldn't take much imagination," Luna said with a soft laugh. "Coming, dear," she called to Colin, even though he hadn't said a word. "Think about it. You can take that literally," she added, her eyes twinkling.

With another soft laugh, Luna headed back to her room, Lyra flying above her lazily.

"Do you think it would work?" Draco asked Ginevra, slightly surprised he hadn't thought of something similar before.

"It could. Do you think we should risk calling Blaise and Seamus back?" she asked with a grin. "They'll probably walk up here naked just to spite us," Ginevra said, laughing now.

"We could call Neville then," Draco said with a shrug. "I hope he'd have enough sense not to walk around naked, but then he is dating those two," he said, indicating to Blaise and Seamus who were standing at the door again, trying to be discreet and obviously failing.

"Good, now you're here, you can help us," Ginevra said, waving her hand at them.

Blaise and Seamus were pulled into the room unwillingly. When they'd straightened themselves out, they glared at Ginevra.

"I'm being nice. You should be grateful that I don't slip this entire vial into your pumpkin juices at dinner," she said, holding the vial.

"What's it do?" Seamus asked curiously.

"Causes impotency for about three hours," Ginevra replied calmly, ignoring the shocked looks they were giving her. "Now, since we're not going to put it in your drinks, you can be nice and help us," she said, smirking.

Both Blaise and Seamus looked wary and suspicious.

"We just want you to do what you did before. Snog each other and send us images," Ginevra said, rolling her eyes at their paranoid behaviour.

Blaise grinned broadly.

"Now that I'm all too happy to comply with!" he said, saluting her mockingly before pulling Seamus to him.

An assault of images hit them both.

"Just one, for the gods' sakes! Are you trying to kill us?" Draco muttered.

Blaise didn't say anything, or stop snogging Seamus, but the images slowed down to one as requested.

The scene changed slightly, Seamus and Neville fading to become Draco and Ginevra instead.

Yelping, Blaise pulled away from Seamus.

"Why'd you go and change it for? Now I'm going to be stuck with the image of you two doing ... " Blaise trailed off as he shuddered.

"At least we didn't put the quill in, like your last one," Draco said with a smirk.

"Now you know what it feels like. Stop intentionally sending the images to us, or we'll change them to be as detailed as yours have been!" Ginevra said cheerfully, smirking at the horrified look both boys were giving them.

Blaise and Seamus left, muttering about them under their breath.

Ginevra laughed hysterically after Draco shut the door, then quietened and looked at him playfully.

"You wouldn't happen to have a quill, would you?" she asked, laughing again when his jaw dropped.

Draco smirked, then pulled her up to him, kissing her eagerly. Ginevra responded quickly, her arms around him in seconds, and her eyes turning red as she listened to the quickened pulses of Draco's blood.

She bit into him, licking the blood from him as a cat would drink from a plate. Draco fell onto the bed, leant on the wall and eagerly took the wrist she offered him. Ginevra straddled him, licking at his neck again. Without really thinking, they were both undressing each other fervently, kissing and Drinking at different intervals.

A knock at the door stopped them for a small moment. Draco growled and threw his hand towards the door.

8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8

Colin yelped as an invisible hand dragged him away from Draco's door and down to the meeting room.

"You could have just asked me to leave!" he yelled, trying to control Apollo's anger.

"Apollo, dear. Let them be," Luna murmured, not looking up from her homework.

Apollo pouted and sat down with a huff. Slowly, a playful smirk graced his features.

"And stop doing that to my leg. I'm doing my homework. So should you, Colin," Luna added, unfazed by what he was doing.

"Cassandra," Apollo said, making her look at him.

A soft glow surrounded his body, but Luna just shook her head and looked away easily. Apollo pouted when she didn't respond to the hormones he was sending her.

"Do not pout or complain to me, you always said that you liked that I never looked at you like the other women. Now, do your homework, or Colin will be kicked out and you won't see us again," Luna / Cassandra said.

Apollo pouted once more, then Colin returned with a small shake of his head.

"Sometimes I wish he'd stop doing that hormone thing. Gets me all worked up," Colin muttered, looking to his parchment.

"You're not the only one," Luna murmured, laughing softly when Colin looked at her abruptly.

8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8

Draco watched as Ginevra Drank his blood. She seemed to glow with pleasure and he was the cause of it. His blood was the only thing that could make her look like that, he was sure of it. The thought made him growl low in his throat, and he pushed Ginevra against the wall. He held her wrists above her head with one hand, and used his other to do a spell.

Ginevra's breath caught in her chest as she watched Draco grow fangs. She knew that it would be painful for him, but then his teeth sank into her neck and she moaned heavily, pleasure blocking out any thoughts.

Draco Drank from Ginevra, the experience definitely new considering he'd only ever Drank from her wrist before. Blood literally flowed from her neck, and he barely had to suck in order to get the liquid out. He licked at her neck eagerly, disappointed when the wound healed.

"Draco," Ginevra said huskily. "Arms," she murmured, moving her wrists against his tight grip.

"Not yet," Draco growled at her, biting into her soft neck again and Drinking from her.

Ginevra moaned and struggled against his grip, eager to touch his body.

"Draco," she begged, struggling again.

He just continued to Drink from her.

Ginevra growled at him, and when Draco pulled away, she quickly moved her head and pierced his neck with her fangs.

Draco's grip loosened on her wrists as Ginevra moved further down his body. Smirking, Ginevra licked his hardened nipple, Draco eliciting a moan.

Ginevra moved up to kiss Draco eagerly, her hand moved down his chest and abdomen. He sucked in a breath as she took his cock in her hand. Smirking, Ginevra began to stroke him, her fangs sinking into his neck. As she Drank from him, her hand moved in unison with her tongue.

"Fuck," Draco groaned, his hips jerking forward.

Ginevra guided Draco over to the bed, pushing him down onto the mattress.

She straddled his hips, lowering herself onto his cock. They both groaned at the feeling, anticipation flowing through them. Ginevra smirked at Draco, a sharp fingernail sliding down his chest, a trail of blood following. She lapped at him, Draco bucking beneath her.

He couldn't think straight. Not that he wanted to think straight. Thinking was definitely overrated, Draco decided as Ginevra lapped at the blood flowing from his chest. He wanted to turn her over and pound into her until she cried out for mercy. He wanted to Drink more blood from her, the red liquid too sweet and addicting to give up after just one taste.

"Ginevra," Draco groaned as the wound closed up.

He turned them over and pushed deeper into her, his lips attached to her breast.

"Want more blood," he hissed, biting her nipple.

"Not Full Blooded. Can't Turn you," Ginevra replied in her own hiss.

"Blood," he growled, biting her harder.

Ginevra cried out in pleasure and pain, then moved Draco away from her breast before trailing her nail along her breast, blood seeping out of the wound.

Entranced, Draco watched as blood trailed down the curve of Ginevra's breast, almost as if it was caressing her. He licked the blood from the valley of her breasts, then sucked the wound on her breast eagerly.

"Please," Ginevra moaned as he continued to tease and taunt her.

She could feel his cock twitching and pulsing inside her, and she wanted to feel more of him. She wanted more of everything he could give to her. At his request, she drew another line of blood on her other breast, moaning in esctacy when his tongue lapped at the wound. She bucked, her hips pushing towards Draco's.

He groaned, his eyes shutting tightly of their own accord. Draco stopped Drinking from her, the wound closing soon enough, and started to push into her, unable to hold back any longer.

Ginevra wrapped her legs around Draco's waist, her hips eagerly rising to meet his own. A primitive sound left Draco, making Ginevra look at him. He seemed to be completely out of control. His hair was everywhere, sweat glistened along his body, his breathing was harsh, the incoherant words leaving his mouth even worse, and his movements became more erratic and fast with each passing moment. She loved that she was doing this to him.

Time seemed to stop, or go faster. It didn't matter anymore, their feelings were in complete control. The only thing they realised was each other, and even that realisation was limited to the feelings they were creating.

As her orgasm faded, Ginevra found that she could breathe, but her body felt numb from the aftershock. She smiled at Draco, caressing his face and kissing him softly.

"Keep that up and I'll lose control again," he murmured against her lips.

"Don't mind," Ginevra replied with a soft laugh.

Draco smirked and pulled out of her, cleaning them up with a few spells. He pulled the blanket over them, then wrapped his arm around Ginevra's shoulders. He kissed her forehead, then they both slept.

8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8

"Are they okay? They haven't left their room for the entire night," Millicent muttered.

"They're fine, Millicent. They're just happy and tired. I wouldn't expect them to leave for the rest of the night," Luna said with a laugh.

"I think they're giving us a fine example to follow. Care to stay in our room for the night?" Gregory asked Pansy, smirking at her.

Vincent smirked and wrapped his arms around her, murmuring something in her ear. Pansy's eyes widened slightly, a grin forming on her face.

"Definitely," she said, leading them both out of the room.

"Great. Now I'm going to be stuck with the image of those three going at it," Millicent muttered, wincing.

"Well, I don't have a shift tonight. I'll make you feel better," Theodore said with a laugh.

Colin winced and covered his ears as the couple continued to talk, both of them leaving within a few moments.

"Everyone looks like they've taken a Lust Lolly," Padma said, shaking her head as she walked into the meeting room with Parvati.

"I don't think it was a Lust Lolly, Padma. Probably just the hormones Apollo released earlier today. They didn't affect me, so they went to everyone else instead," Luna said, grinning at Colin.

"Don't blame this on me! They're the ones that are all off screwing each other," Colin muttered, pouting.

"I think someone's jealous," Parvati said with a laugh as she and Padma left the room again.

Parvati and Padma laughed quietly, then headed down the corridor to Fred and George's shop. Apollo's hormones were working very well...

8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8----8

Waking up very late in the night, or early in the morning, Ginevra looked around Draco's room for a clock. Not seeing one, she yawned and lay down again. She smiled at Draco's sleeping form. In the early morning light she was able to see the healing wounds on his neck and shoulder. She touched them lightly, waking Draco up. "I'm sorry for waking you up. Is your neck all right?" Ginevra asked him softly. "Well, you might have to bite it again to see for yourself," Draco replied smirking. She laughed and kissed him instead.

"So what's wrong? Why did you wake up?" he murmured, yawning.

"Nothing's wrong. I was just wondering what the time was," Ginevra replied.

"Four o'clock in the morning," Draco said.

He pulled Ginevra closer to his body, wrapping his arm around her.

"I'm not tired," Ginevra protested, yawning.

Draco smirked at her and closed his eyes.

It only took them ten minutes to fall asleep again.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Draco smirked at Ginevra. She glared at him half heartedly, then smirked in return.

"Are you going to let me go now?" she asked, looking up at her tied wrists.

"Not yet, love. We still have a few hours left before we are to meet the Lords," he murmured, kissing her eagerly.

His hands trailed along her arms, eventually coming to a rest at her breasts, cupping them.

Ginevra moaned at his touch and struggled against the binds. She could get out of them easily enough, but Ginevra liked them as much as Draco did.

Draco's fangs pushed out with ease and he bit Ginevra's breast, watching the blood flow. No matter how many times he did this, it always seemed so intimate. Her blood caressed her skin softly, the red trail leading him downwards towards her nest of curls. He followed the blood with his tongue, the fangs withdrawing as he licked her centre.

Bucking at the sensation, Ginevra briefly wondered at how he always managed to make her feel this way. The years they'd spent together were more than any Muggles, and most wizards, but she never tired of him. She loved the way she could make him lose control with just a simple touch or look. He would glare, especially if they were in public, but that only showed her how close he was to simply ripping her robes off and shagging her senseless. Just like he was about to now...

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(a/n: I hope you liked the chapter! Thanks for reading!)