A Bet to Fallon
First Year
Chapter Fourteen - Second Bets
Draco cannot believe his ears. He knows Zander is special, he's always known - that's why he befriended him that first night, after all - but never did Draco suspect that Zander can see into the future.
A grin spills across his features, and the boy chuckles in glee. His best friend can see into the future. His, not anyone else's.
Draco's father is always telling him that good judgment is key to success, and this has to be the best decision Draco has ever made.
Just wait until his father hears about this.
Draco's chuckles come to a grinding halt when he sees Zander shiver slightly. His friend cries out, gaining Draco's full attention.
"Draco," Zander says softly. "I said to tell no one, especially not your father."
Draco's jaw drops.
Can Zander read minds too?
Zander smiles at the sight of Draco's excitement. He had been half-expecting denial, but Draco seems to not only be taking this news well, he's ecstatic about it.
Zander is glad. He likes Draco, and he doesn't want to think about what would happen if Draco ostracized him now.
Suddenly the world around him shudders, and Zander begins to catch brief glimpses of an alternate future, different from his own current path. Zander has not experienced this kind of vision before, he has never had the magical strength to witness a decision being made. Zander realises that Draco is the one currently making a decision, and looks closer.
White blond hair, ruffled by the breeze, lips moving, praise from a father. Darkness, words spoken between father and master in the darkness of shadows and black intentions. Fallons murdered, stolen away. Alexandra taken, beaten, tortured. A flash of green light, a scream. Alone…
Zander snaps back into the present with a shiver and a cry. Whatever Draco is planning on doing, it has to stop. The vision is wavering, uncertain - there is still time to change his mind, fix this before the vision becomes truth.
"Draco," Zander says quietly, urgently. "I said tell no one, especially not your father."
The green eyed boy stifles a wavering chuckle at Draco's expression. It's obvious he's wondering how Zander knows what he's thinking.
"Your choice, the one about whether or not to tell your father, it will change the future, if you decide to do so." Zander explains quickly. He can not allow this future to become concrete, it would spell disaster.
"What will happen?" Draco asks curiously. Zander shivers once more, reliving the sight of his sister being murdered.
"It will lead to the destruction of my family."
Draco feels terrible, and confused. How could one small decision hold so much weight? He had been one short letter home away from destroying his best friend's life, killing his family! That was impossible to comprehend.
Draco quickly changes his mind once more, firmly resolving to hide this from his father at all costs. He is determined to protect Zander and his family. Zander is HIS best friend, after all.
"Don't worry, Zander," Draco smiles reassuringly at his friend, his mind very firmly made up. "I won't tell anyone, I promise."
Zander sits quietly for a brief moment, his eyes out of focus, before blinking and smiling, a small strain in his shoulder relaxing minutely. Draco notices and nods approvingly. Zander's smile widens slightly, and he sighs in relief.
"I know you won't," Zander says.
The school is still buzzing with hushed gossip as Alex strolls down the stairs to breakfast on the morning a week after what has become known as the 'Troll Incident'. She is used to the sidelong glances and quiet conversations by now, and often waves to the stunned students as she passes.
Alex is very happy with the progress she has made with Professor Snape so far. Since that first bizarre meeting, Snape has overcome his denial and is finally willing to accept her help. She has been given a detention, for absolutely no reason the day before. However, Alex did not see him make any note of it to go onto the school records. She will go to her designated time with Snape after dinner, but she suspects that it will be a discussion of something far more important than misbehaviour in class.
This is looking to be a good day.
Alex turns to head down another flight of stairs - the last before entering the great hall - only to halt in her tracks when she spies Harry, Ronald and Hermione standing at the foot of the stairs. Alex likes Hermione, who had apologized to Alex for making her take the blame for the troll. Alex had happily denied the need for such an apology, and they have become even closer friends as a result. Harry she has no qualms with, but Ronald is a problem.
The boy is paranoid, wary of Alex and her brother. After Halloween night, Ronald has been either avoiding the Fallons at all costs, ignoring them completely, or else loudly spreading rumours about the twins to any who will listen.
Alex continues down the stairs, toward the Great Hall, hoping to avoid serious confrontation. Embarrassing Ronald will not help anything in the grand scheme of things. Upon approaching the three other Gryffindors, Alex overhears them talking excitedly about the upcoming Quidditch season. Alex smiles, Harry will do well in his new position as Seeker, she is sure of it.
Alex moves to walk past her housemates, only to pause as her sight wavers. She sighs, resigning herself to another vision. She really needs to see Zander before her strength fades once more…
Flight. Blurs of red and gold battling against blurs of silver and green. A small flash of light ducking and diving through the air, eluding all, trying to escape. Red and gold pitch, tumbling to the ground, and flash of light in its sights…
Alex blinks, dragging herself back to the present. As she becomes aware of her surroundings, she has to fight back a groan. Hermione and Harry are looking at her worriedly, obviously anxious as a result of her black-out. Ronald, however, is happily beginning to rant about 'the weird Fallon girl eavesdropping on secret strategy meetings'.
Alex shakes her head once, twice, thrice, dispelling any remaining dizziness. She feels Zander hurrying to meet her, regain strength, talk about the vision.
Alex turns in time to see Zander walking swiftly towards her, Draco Malfoy smiling knowingly a few paces behind. There has been no trouble from the Slytherin since his discovery of their secret, and Alex shoots him a grin on her way to embrace her brother.
"I Saw," He murmurs into her neck as they hold each other close, reveling in the swirl of shared magical power. "Shame, Draco was so looking forward to an after-game celebration."
Alex laughs as she pulls away from her brother and punches him lightly on the arm.
"Let's not ruin his spirits just yet, brother," she smiles. She is forever being surprised by the progression of their magical abilities since their separation. That they could share a vision from so far away without thinking about each other was unheard of before Halloween night.
"Ruin what?" A loud voice interrupts Alex's thoughts, and both she and her brother fight the urge to sigh loudly. They turn towards Ronald as one, easily falling back into their simultaneous movements.
"Ruining your day, Weasley," Zander smiles cheerfully, taking his sister's hand and curling his pinkie finger around hers in the familiar, welcomed gesture. Ronald snorts and says he finds it hard for them to ruin his day, given that he has already had it ruined by Potions first.
"Shame," Zander's smile never leaves his face, and Alex begins to grin in return. She knows this face, and the whirring mind behind it. This should be good.
"How about I just ruin your wallet instead. I propose another bet, on Quidditch this time."
Alex chuckles at the lazy grin spreading across Ronald's face. Poor thing thinks he has it in the bag, with all his knowledge of the sport. She hopes Zander will not be too hard on him.
"Bring it on," says Ronald, mush to Zander's amusement.
"I bet you another three galleons that Harry Potter will not catch the snitch with his hands." Zander announces, much to both Ronald and Draco's delight. Alex can see Draco grinning his head off, obviously having clued in that Zander will win.
Ronald, on the other hand, was laughing and shaking his head.
"You saw Harry out there that first time hee was on a broom, there's no way he can lose!"
"Then you shall have no issues with betting for money this time," Zander smiles.
Alex wonders how red Ronald will go when he loses.
AN~
I'm so, so sorry about the delay, I had major writer's block, and there've been a couple of major family events that had me very distracted.
Also, I apologise profusely for the use of the Father line, but I couldn't resist ;)
Poor, poor, Ronald just can't seem to catch a break, can he?
Ah well, it's entertaining for us at least.
Next time: sporting events and misplaced bets!
Until next time, where I promise to try to be faster with updates,
Zanchev.