The next morning sun was shinning through the windows onto Hermione’s face. She rolled over and shoved her head under her pillow. Draco smiled slightly as he watched her from across the room.
Last night she had asked him why he had changed. He had said he didn’t know, but that was a lie. He had never changed. He had always been this way, under the cold bastard his father had made him be. But not anymore, because Draco had moved away. Far away from Lucius and his whacked out sense of reasonability.
Draco sighed and walked out of the room. He looked around the common room and spotted a black owl in the window. Draco furrowed his brow and walked toward the window. The owl turned and flew off, as if startled by Draco’s movement. Draco narrowed his eyes as he watched the owl fly off toward a tower at the far side of the castle. Strange, he had never noticed that tower before.
The portrait door opened and Professor Dumbledore walked in. Draco grimaced on the inside, slightly embarrassed that his professor was seeing him in silky black boxers and no shirt.
“Good morning Mr. Malfoy. I trust you slept well?” Draco nodded and only then noticed the two bags in Dumbledore’s hands.
“What’s all that?” Draco asked as Dumbledore set the bags on the couch.
“Your new school books.” Dumbledore smiled. “I hope you and Miss. Granger enjoy reading, because it’s going to take you a very long time to understand what all this is saying. You will be learning about telekinesis, psychokinesis, parapsychology, ESP, telepathy, clairvoyance, precognition, retrecognition, scrying, divination, astrology….” His voice trailed off as he watched Draco’s face become a mask of confusion. “Well, you’ll see, but those are only some things that you will be learning. Don’t worry, as long as you keep up to the schedule I’ve set for both of you, which I’m sure you will, you’ll be fine. I’m not expecting you to know everything by the time school is out, just enough to help you in the real world. So I suggest you get started.” Dumbledore turned and left the room. Draco sighed and grabbed the bag with his name on it. He opened it and pulled out the first book. Parapsychology: the study of the paranormal. Draco sighed and flipped it open.
Hermione opened the door to the common room and froze. Draco was sitting on the couch with a thick book in his lap, reading, his brow furrowed his lips moving as he read. Beside him was a big green bag with his name embroidered in silver. It was bulging, almost over flowing with books.
‘What’s all this?’ Hermione asked.
‘Our new course books, and I’d get started, I’m only half way finished with the first book and it’s confusing as Hell.’
Hermione sighed and joined him on the couch after carefully setting both bags, which were very heavy, on the ground. She pulled out Retrecognition. She opened it to the first page and began reading.
‘Retrecognition is a type of clairvoyance involving knowledge of something after its occurrence through psychic means.’ Hermione sighed and made herself relax, preparing herself for a very confusing year.
Draco looked up at the clock. It was eleven fifty seven. He glanced at Hermione. She was still reading her first book, but was nearing the end.
‘When you finish with that, you want to get something to eat?’ He asked her. She looked up.
‘I didn’t eat breakfast. That would explain why I’m so hungry.’ Draco laughed and closed his book.
‘This stuff is so confusing.’ He said as he headed toward the kitchen. Hermione joined him and they sat at the table to discuss what they had just read.
‘Yeah it is, but at least I’m starting to understand it. I think retro-cog is awesome. And so is pre-cog.’ Draco laughed.
‘If you think that’s interesting, just wait until you read about parapsychology. That’ll make your head spin.’ Hermione laughed softly and then rose.
‘What would you like to eat?’ Draco thought about it.
‘Blueberry muffins’ Hermione nodded and quickly began to make it. ‘You do realize that you can call the house elves like Dumbledore did for us to last night.’
‘Yes, but I don’t care. I want to cook. I love cooking.’
‘Whatever, I’m gonna go take a shower.’ He stood up and left the room.
Professor Dumbledore stared at the fire, watching the flames lick the wood as it ate it. He felt that something was amiss, but he had no idea what. He turned and looked out the window and watched in confusion as a black owl flew past the window. He rose from his chair and opened the window to watch its progress. He frowned when he saw the owl perch in the window sill of the Head’s Common room. He watched it for a long time, but it never moved.
Suddenly it took flight, free falling and barley pulling up before hitting the ground. The window opened and Hermione looked around, confusion on her face. Dumbledore stepped back from the window and closed it.
Such a strange bird, he thought as he walked back to his seat. It had been a long time since he had seen an owl as black as this one. Dumbledore froze in the process of sitting down.
No, it couldn’t be. It had been so long ago. So many years had passed and things were different. They couldn’t be coming from their home now, would they? Fear stabbed at Dumbledore. He quickly went to the far closet and opened the drawer. He pulled out a mirror and spoke a name.
“Dumbledore,” a husky voice rose from the mirror. “It’s been entirely way too long. How are you this fine day?”
“I saw a black owl. Are you missing anyone?”
“Several. And now they are all wearing the Dark Mark.”
“Then our worst fear has been realized.”
“Yes. Albus, I am sorry. I am weak. There was a battle not that long ago. I’m simply tired. I had to save my bondmate’s life. She is carrying our child.”
“Congratulations. For the good of your people, I will pray that it is a girl.”
“Thank you. I will send Jacques to you. He will help you and protect you. So, how is my nephew doing?”
“He seems to be well. His abilities are growing more so now, within the last month than at any other time in his life. And somehow, someone else has it too. They are working together.”
“His bondmate.”
“We do not know this.”
“If this person has the same abilities as he, then that person is his bondmate. Do not question what I know.”
“I’m sorry, but I was not raised with you, I know what free will is.”
“And I am sorry too, my brother. I reacted too quickly and sharply. Please excuse me now, I need to go to ground now, before the sun is too high and I won’t be able to rest.”
“Good day.” Dumbledore put the mirror away and returned to his seat before the fire.
Hermione looked up from the book she was reading. The flashing light next to the portrait door was nearly blinding her.
‘What is that?’ She asked Draco. Draco’s answer came back in confusion. ‘The flashing light near the door, what is it for?’
‘I’m not sure. Maybe it’s to let you know when someone is coming.’
‘Who all knows our password?’
‘Blaise, but he’s here with me. He’s a pretty good chaser. Wow, gotta go, there goes the snitch.’ Hermione smiled as she watched through Draco’s eyes as he dove toward the ground. She could almost feel the wind rushing over her as the ground came rushing up to them.
She gasped as Draco pulled up at the last second, the snitch in his hand. He was silently laughing at her as he let the snitch go before chasing after it.
‘When you get done with practice, I’m going to kill you.’ Hermione thought at him before looking back at the light. It had stopped flashing. Hermione shrugged and returned to her book.
Draco pulled his robes over his head and headed toward the showers. The other guys were laughing and shoving each other, but Draco wasn’t paying attention.
“Hey Draco, do you know the answer to the world most famous question?” Blaise asked.
‘What are you talking about?’
‘Huh?’ Hermione sent him a puzzled look.
‘Sorry, never mind.’ Draco looked at Blaise who was looking at him strange. “What are you talking about?”
“Never mind, you’re off in your own little world. So how’s living with Hermione going?”
“Great. We have a lot of fun cuz all we gotta do is read the books and learn as much as we can from that, and then we can go on. I can’t wait, because some of this stuff is awesome. Like retrecognition and precognition. It’s really awesome.”
“Sounds good, can I come up and check them out?”
“Sure, let’s go.” The two dried off and yanked on their street clothes before heading up to the school.
A shadow passed over the ground, silently following them, but veered away as they neared the school. In the distance, a silent figure watched the two young men walk over the grounds and up into the castle.
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