Pathomagus. A very rare form of witch or wizard. They can sense the feelings of others, feel them as their own. They put others happiness in front of their own, giving up their happiness for the greater good of those they love. Pathomagus' rarely live a happy life.
"Your move, Alice" Lucius said. My uncle's library was pretty much empty except for me and my childhood friend Lucius Malfoy, playing what was going to be a pretty intense game of Wizard Chess.
"Alright," I said, pondering what I was going to do with my knight. Wizard Chess is a very logical game, and I prided myself in being pretty good at it. Usually I could beat people in a couple moves, but Lucius knew my normal strategy too well. I guess that's what you get from using certain moves too much. I ran my fingers through my long, shockingly red hair. My yellow eyes narrowed in concentration as I decided what I was going to do. "Knight to E12," I called out.
Following my instruction, my knight moved to the designated square on the board. He didn't say anything, all my pieces knew better than that. As long as they didn't question my moves, they almost always had a sure victory.
"Pawn to C4," a very aggressive-looking pawn obeyed his master's wishes.
It seemed such a long time ago that we first met. To be honest, it had been six years ago; not too long after my father had died in a car crash. Not too long after my uncle had come to take me from my home in Canada to live with him at his mansion in Britain. Not too long after I discovered that my mother that died when I was born was a witch and that I was too. A half-blood to be precise; a child born of a muggle and pure-blood witch.
"Pawn to B13," I tried to keep my mind focus on the game but I had too many thought on my mind. For example, I was eagerly awaiting my Hogwarts acceptance letter. Lucius had already been going for four years going on five now and had told me many wonderful stories about the famous wizarding school. I just couldn't wait to go. For another, I couldn't help but wonder what Lucius' parents were doing in Bulgaria. I knew they must be having a wonderful holiday, but I didn't understand why they didn't bring their son with them. If I was gone for most of the year, my uncle, or even my father if he was still alive, would've tried to spend as much time with me as possible.
Lucius and I made moves back and forth as I pondered my many thoughts. Suddenly, I felt a little pang of fear. Okay, I didn't really feel it, I just sensed it, and it was coming from my now not-so fierce opponent. Then I understood why. I had him trapped. Just one move of my bishop and I would have him in checkmate.
"Scared, Malfoy?" I asked playfully.
"No I'm not, Cross," he replied defensively, but still a little playful.
"Stop lying. I always know what you're feeling," I giggled.
"You always know what everyone is feeling," He retorted.
That statement was true. I could always tell what anyone was feeling, due to being a Pathomagus. Actually, at this age I could feel their emotions as well, but if I kept my fringe covering my left eye I wouldn't have to deal with that. Nifty, eh?
"Checkmate," I declared as my bishop cornered his king and pulverized it.
"You really annoy me sometimes, Alice," Lucius stated.
"Only because I challenge your male ego," I smirked.
"Did somebody say male ego?" said a perky voice from outside the room. Soon the voices owner strutted into the library, my sandy haired, blue eye, and completely fabulous Uncle Eleutherius Alexandra. "Lucius, did you allow Alice to beat you in wizard chess, again?" he said playfully, while trying to conceal some suspicious looking envelopes very badly behind his back.
"I didn't allow her to beat me, I just messed up," Lucius replied.
"Spoken like a true Slytheryn" I remarked.
"Well guess what I have Alice?" My uncle looked like he was about to explode from joy as he handed me the envelope. One look and I knew what it was: my Hogwarts letter.
HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock,
Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)
Dear Ms. Cross,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on 1 September. We await your owl by no later than 31 July.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
I was happy I nearly was jumping up and down squealing. Uncle Eleutherius and Lucius were just laughing at how excited I was as I read through the letter and supplies list. Lucius also got a letter, that contained his supply list for the year and something else. It contained a letter of congratulations and a badge with the letter P.
"You've been made a Prefect!" squealed my uncle while squishing Lucius in a bear hug, "I'm so proud of you son!"
"I'm not your son," Lucius said breathlessly, his face turning beet red.
"Shut up, yes you are."
I decided that I didn't want to miss out on the fun and hugged Lucius too. After that wonderful, intimate, and completely unembarrassing moment, we settled down a bit to some tea and biscuits.
"This just gives me more reason be sorted into Slytheryn," I said to Lucius, "Merlin, Uncle Eleutherius, and now you being a prefect. Just seems fitting I should be sorted there, eh?"
"Now don't get to hasty," Uncle Eleutherius said, "Just because you want to be in Slytheryn doesn't mean that you get to be in Slytheryn. The Sorting Hat is a very interesting article of clothing. You don't always get what you expect."
"Well, if it won't let me in Slytheryn then I'll just insist to be in Hufflepuff. That was Mom's house and Lucius says they're like the Canadians of Hogwarts anyway. I'll fit right in. I'm more Canadian than they'll ever be." I said proudly. If their one thing I'll never forget it's my Canadian heritage. No matter where I go I will always have maple syrup in my veins.
"Well before you get sorted into any house there's one place we need to go," my uncle stated, "Diagon Alley."