Inspired by the following from the Dramione Fanfiction Writers FB Page:
Today we're bringing you Troping Thursday with a writing twist. We want to give you a trope and then see what you can do with it in 100-500 words. We've chosen something a little obscure to really force us out of our comfort zones.
Today's trope: Dramione AU...in SPACE! Or sci-fi. A Dramione sci-fi. Magic may or may not exist, let your imaginations run wild!
(Also inspired by A Wrinkle in Time, the novel by Madeline L'Engel)
This Darkness Does Not Live In You
"This is Mrs. Which," said the elderly woman, gesturing toward a shimmering light on the wall.
"Mrs. Witch?" asked Draco. He glanced at Hermione.
"Mrs. WHICH," said the elderly woman. "She is billions of years old, and corporeal form is difficult for her."
"Like a Patronus," murmured Hermione, curiously taking in the sight before their eyes. They were in the Astronomy tower at Hogwarts. Filch had reported students out of bed, but hadn't been able to catch them, as they'd seemingly disappeared before his eyes. He'd told Professors Granger and Malfoy, who'd been having tea (AND NOTHING MORE) in the staff room, despite it being nearly midnight, "they must have apparated when I came 'round the corner!"
Hermione was tempted to point out that one could not apparate on Hogwarts grounds, but Draco spoke first.
"There aren't any corners in the tower. It's cylindrical."
Both Filch and Mrs. Norris had growled at this.
Setting down their mugs, Draco and Hermione made their way to the tower to check, and were surprised to find not a student out of bed, but two elderly women dressed in exotic layered rags, and one shimmering beam of light... Mrs. Which.
"You are the boy Draco Malfoy?" asked Mrs. Whatsit, who'd called herself the youngest of the three.
"I am."
"Your cousin is in grave danger. The child has been taken from this planet to another by The Black Thing, a dangerous darkness threatening to take over all the universe. She is in grave danger."
"My cousin?" Draco glanced nervously at Hermione. Few knew of the existence of his aunt Bellatrix's daughter, now-five, and his mother was hellbent on keeping it that way, not merely for the family's reputation, but for the girl's safety.
"She has been taken in by The Black Thing, and you - the only light close to her - must save her. You are her family. Only you."
"Yooouuu muuusssttt coommmeee wittthhh uussss tooo Caaammaazotttzz," said the voice of what they could only assume was the flickering Mrs. Which.
"Why me? I'm not her only family. Why not my mother?"
"'Darkness cannot drive out darkness,'" said Mrs. Who, speaking for the first time since their arrival. "'Only light can do that.' Martin Luther King Junior, American."
"My mother is-" he started.
"Your mother is a Black by birth," said Mrs. Whatsit. "She is no match for the thing which lives dormant inside her. It will swallow her up. But you - your heart has changed. You - you feel love." She looked from Draco to Hermione and back again. "You know love. The love of the light, one who is one with the light. This darkness does not live in you."
Draco was about to protest, to swear he did not know love (and in particular that he did not love his coworker and friend, the woman standing beside him and looking at him as if he's grown an extra head) but to his surprise she reached out, grabbed his arm, and nodded at the women with a confidence he couldn't share.
"We'll do it," said Hermione, looking determined. She squeezed his hand. "We'll save her."