Disclaimer: I have no claim over the original 'Harry Potter' characters and am not receiving any finacial benefits from using them in my fiction...
A/N: The benefits are simply fot my warped mind ;) I hope you like the story.
Duality
Another healer exited the room with a grave face and shook his head at the two men waiting anxiously outside the room.
The two were so much alike that they could have been mistaken for twins, only one was much older than the other. They were Lord Lucius Malfoy and his son Draconnis Malfoy.
The older man's eye twitched and without a word he stormed out of the small sitting room that was connected with his wife's personal chambers.
"I am sorry Master Malfoy but there is nothing I can do."
The young man before him heaved a sigh but nodded his head and politely showed the way out for the healer.
Just as the old healer was mounting his mare to return to his distant mountain village he turned and looked at the young Malfoy then seemingly deciding something he nodded to himself.
"There is a boy, they say, that lives in the woods not far from here. People tell stories of him being a wizard with unmatched powers…Perhaps you should search for him, maybe he could help the Mistress." The man finished and nudged his mare to move before adding his parting words. "But be cautious Master for not everything is as it seems."
Draco gazed contemplatively at the man's back until he was no more than a black spot on the horizon before entering the castle again, his thoughts weighting heavily on his mind. Was this wizard just a myth? And if he was not would he be able to help his mother?
That evening at dinner he and his father sat at the opposite ends of the long dinner table eating quietly as always, each deep in thought.
Finally resolving to talk to his Father Draco put down his fork and waited patiently until his Father acknowledged him.
"Yes Draconnis?"
"The last healer told me something today just as he was leaving that I thought would interest you."
A frown showed on the Lord's face.
"And might that be Draconnis?"
"He told me of a boy, a wizard, who might be able to help mother."
Immediately he had his Father's undivided attention. The man had desperately latched to any hope he could find ever since his mother had fallen ill a few months back.
"Who is this wizard and is he real? Where did he hear of him?"
"He was vague Father but he said the boy is rumored to live in the forests of our lands."
The elder Malfoy leaned back on his chair in thought, his food forgotten. His silver eyes, so much brighter than his son's dark grey ones, became distant for a minute before coming to focus on his son again and he nodded.
"Gather a small group of my guards and go find this boy. Bring him to me no mater what. Offer him payment and if he refuses bring him against his will."
"Yes Father. I believe we will be ready to leave the day after tomorrow."
"Good."
The sun was still very low on the east horizon when Draco let his group of men out of the castle and into the village below. They stopped there and Draco set his people to ask the locals about this wizard and his whereabouts.
Most people refused to talk and Draco was getting increasingly irritated with his subjects to the point where he was about to order his men to make them talk before he was approached by an old woman.
She was nearly bend in two, her hair white as snow with a single streak of blood red running trough it. Misty dark with age green eyes looked at him with an unreadable look. She was heavily leaning on a crude walking stick and her clothes betrayed her poverty.
"You are searching for the wizard boy young Master?"
Draco simply nodded.
"I can tell you where to find him. It is not far away from here, perhaps a day and a half on horseback." She said slowly her voice frail and shaking
"Spit it woman. I am in a hurry!" he snapped at her his irritation getting the better of him.
"Of course, I will young Master. He lives in the east, at the Five Creeks. You know where that is, young Master?"
"No, I don't!"
The woman cringed at his harsh tone.
One of his men approached him and the woman obviously having overheard their conversation.
"I know the Five Creeks young Master. It is a harsh path to travel though." He said a little worriedly" Wild beasts that can kill a man with one look of their eyes are said to roam there. It is not a good place milord."
"People say, people say! I don't care what they say! We are going to find that wizard and bring him to Mother, is that clear!" The soldier nodded meekly.
"Good then what are you waiting for? Gather the men and let's be on our way!"
With that Draco nudged his black stallion and trotted away.
Shaking his head the guard shouted for the rest of the men to mount and follow the young Lord.
The men were tired and sweaty; many had small cuts where the thorns of wild thorn threes and thick bushes had bit into their skin. They had abandoned their horses on a clearing a few hours ago when the forest had become too thick for their mounts to carry them so now they fought their way though the wall-like foliage, heaving their provisions along with their weapons and heavy armory, which they had cursed many times as the day progressed.
Suddenly the forest gave way to a large clearing and the first few men stumbled as they entered it gazing around with wide eyes at the heavenly beauty that was before them.
Lush emerald green grass that reached their knees covered the space. It was sprinkled with spots of aromatic wild flowers and buzzed with the sound of insects that lived among it, the tips of the blades of the grass lightly swaying with the gentle wind that mysteriously swept trough the deep forest clearing.
On the far end of it five tall and narrow waterfalls sparkled and fell with that special sound of rushing water that refreshed and calmed the mind. The five falls hit the rocky wall they fell from at different heights from the ground and created shimmering pools of clear water that then spilt into one big one that was carved into the base of the wall. As they watched the water fall Draco realized that they must be near the Verissa Mountain.
A narrow creek started from that larger pool and ran trough the centre of the clearing and was lost into the woods. Over it was the only sign of civilization – a crude bridge, made of the trunk of a tree that had been obviously cut in two and put there by human hand.
They were still in awe when they heard a voice, a beautiful angelic voice singing, and the birds in the trees singing along with it.
Carefully Draco made a motion for his men to disperse around the clearing in formation to close in on the direction the voice was coming.
As they came close they could hear words but they were in no language they could understand yet it touched their very souls and more than a few could not help the smiles that crept on their faces.
Finally they reached the source and stood shocked as in the small secluded corner of the clearing they watched a man that was no more than eighteen and no younger than sixteen, with lithe sun kissed body dressed in only a loose brown open at the front sleeveless tunic that reached his knees and low riding brown pants held by a string, bent over a small herb garden, singing. His short hair was the blackest of blacks and looked wild but somehow fitting its owner. It shone lustrously when stray rays of sun hit it making it seem alive on its own.
The sight had mesmerized the men to such a degree that they had not noticed when the singing had stopped and broke out of their reverie only when the figure straightened brushing his hands in a rag that was tucked in his belt and turned towards them. They had no choice but to stare again.
If they had thought the body was a sight to behold then the face left them uncomprehending. It was beautiful but not effeminate, the skin was smooth and golden on which the man's amazing deep emerald eyes stood out under lustrous long lashes and perfect curved eyebrows. High cheekbones sculptured his face perfectly and his slightly parted ash of roses lips were welcoming, looking soft and tempting.
"Hello." He said with a slight smile, his voice was like the sound of small bells ringing and brought the men to Earth once again.
Draco shook his head to clear his thoughts and smiled back.
"Hello. Are you the wizard that lives in these woods?" he said not seeing the point of delaying.
The boy shrugged his bare shoulders and motioned for Draco to follow him as he made his way towards the creek.
"Some call me a wizard and my Gift magic. I don't know if it is."
The boy made his way to the water and kneeled down to wash his hands of the dirt he had picked up gardening.
"Why do you seek me?" he said standing again.
"A man told me that you might help me and my Father. My mother fell ill a few months ago and since then we had been searching for a cure for her but all healers gives us no hope."
"Ah, I understand now." They made their way back to the men.
Smiling the boy spoke to them.
"Why don't you all rest, use the creeks to freshen yourselves while me and…" he looked questionably at Draco
"Draconnis Malfoy"
"…while me and Draconnis talk about why you have come in search of me?"
The men gave out sighs and without further prompting let their loads fall to the ground then made their way towards the cool water.
"Come" said the wizard and Draco followed him past the small garden towards an undersized cabin that the gray-eyed Malfoy just noticed.
The boy politely opened the door for Draco and he entered the one-room cabin.
Various dry or drying herbs hang from the ceiling. The room was sparsely furnished – a stove that didn't look like it had been used in ages, a small cot in one corner and a table with two chairs in another, right under a small window with shutters. Shelves lined the room close to the ceiling, filled with ceramic bows and bottles, sealed and protected from falling by a thin wooden board on the outer side of the shelves. A lone cabinet occupied the wall next to the bed and Draco noticed it was the only thing in the entire cabin that had a lock opened by key on it. Looking back at the young man beside him he saw a small golden key hanging on a thin golden chain around is neck resting over his heart on a slightly muscular chest.
Quickly he looked away and missed the flash of amusement in his host's eyes.
"Welcome to my humble home. Please, sit down." He said gesturing towards the table and chair while he busied himself with producing two cups out of seemingly nowhere and taking down one of the ceramic bottles from the shelves. He put the cups on the table and opened the seal on the bottle then filled them with something thick and greenish-gold liquid from the bottle. Closing it he put it back on the shelf where he had gotten it from and sat himself next to Draco on the table.
"Drink" he offered with a smile" it will restore your energy. I know that the way here is not easy."
Draco eyed the drink wearily.
"What is in it?"
Taking a sip from his drink the wizard smiled again.
"Just some herbs and water from the creek with some flower honey for taste. Don't be afraid it's nothing to be weary about" he said taking another sip from his drink.
Gathering his courage Draco took a tentative sip and nearly moaned in pleasure as the sweet drink made his mouth explode in taste so intense he could swear it washed over him like the waves of the sea he had seen as a child.
"This is good." He said finally.
"It is."
The two continued to sip their drinks as they discussed Mrs. Malfoy's condition.
About an hour later the two returned to the clearing wearing smiles. Draco's one of hope and the wizard's the same one that had not left his face since they had found him.
"Get up men! We are going home!" the men looked up from where they were lying around the grass and saw the wizard with a small bag over his shoulder and wearing a heavier dark green tunic that reached his heals and a white long-sleeved blouse over black trousers standing next to their young Lord, who was looking happier than he had in months.
A/N: A not so little button that says review is calling to you!