Chapter 5: The Letter

"I guess I'll leave you here then..I really shouldn't be here.." Harry nearly protested.

The wind blew cool and softly across the field as Eriol marveled at the sight of the stadium a short distance away.

"Nonsense. Just keep me company for a while. You may leave when he arrives, if it really bothers you." Eriol replied.

Harry nodded.

"Why..does it bother you so much anyway?" he prodded on.

Harry sighed. "He's bloody irritating. I've been under his verbal, if not sometimes physical or magical, assault for a year now and it only seems to get worse."

"Why do you think that is?"

"I don't know..and frankly I don't care. I found him annoying even in the beginning before we formally met, when we were being fitted for our robes. Just the way he talked about other people was enough to label him as the sort to stay away from. Then when he came to me with an offer of friendship, after insulting my friends naturally, I readily declined. Since then we've made enemies of each other and he tries at every moment to upstage me in anything possible. If it's not me, it's my friends. You are the only one he has taken a liking to and hasn't ridiculed for hanging out with me...yet." Harry explained, looking off into the distance.

Eriol laid back on the grass and chuckled, "It probably wont happen. I don't talk back nearly as much as you do."

Harry peered down at him, "Well I have to defend myself you know. It's true I can't say I haven't given Malfoy his share of trouble. Half the time I put a stop to things before they start if I can.."

"True, Harry isn't quite the angel, that's for sure."

Both boys turned to see Ron approaching with Hermione at his heels.

"Hello Ron, Hermione!" Eriol greeted as Harry nodded in agreement.

The two Gryffindors took places beside the Potter twins.

"On the subject of Draco Malfoy, I'd like to add that on top of his mean treatment of people, his family background is no exception to the rule." Ron added.

"Absolutely. His father Lucius, who holds a prominent position in the Ministry, practically owns the Slytherin Quidditch team. I wouldn't be surprised if he fixed a match or two in his day." Hermione agreed.

Eriol had a flashback of Draco murmuring about his father in his nightmare and decided to dig a bit further.

"What do you know of his father?" he asked.

"Last I heard.." Ron began, "Was that he was an ex-death eater. Though I for one believe he's an active one."

"Death Eater?"

Harry explained, "Death eaters are loyal followers of Voldemort. More so his lackeys almost. They are the wizarding community's biggest problem these days. You know, out to rid the world of Muggles, un-purebloods and 'useless' wizards who wont bend to the Dark Lord's will of world domination."

"And they are always looking for more recruits. I wouldn't be surprised if Malfoy followed his father's footsteps and joined his ranks." Hermione nodded.

Eriol brought a pensive hand to his chin, "Or forced to.." he whispered.

The trio looked at him as if begging for an explanation, but just then a gush of air whizzed by them forcefully.

On his broom Draco floated above them. He held another broom in his freehand and Eriol looked up in time to catch it as it was tossed down.

"You'll be needing your own broom soon enough Eriol. Come, class awaits."

~*~

"I don't like the smell of it one bit Harry." Hermione chimed in as the group left the field on route back to the school.

"Yeah something is definitely off." Ron agreed.

"It's like he's been ignoring us ever since he met Eriol. Not a single valid verbal joust in how many days?" Hermione continued.

"And isn't Malfoy usually the one itching to start things? This just isn't like him..it's almost troubling." Ron finished.

Harry sighed. It did seem odd. He had noticed this almost subdued side to Draco lately and even he couldn't really figure out why it was happening. The only thing he could conclude was that it had to do with Eriol.

"I don't know.." Harry finally responded, "Ever since Eriol arrived to Hogwarts, things among the Slytherins has been off. There is something about that kid and his form of magic. It's definitely different than ours and yet he melts into our customs with ease."

"Well he's definitely powerful. You know he brought a few books with him from Clow's library. Anyhow he let me borrow one and I have been reading up on it. It's interesting to say the least. Did you know that this magician 'created' his own form of magic? I hardly believed Eriol when he told us about his friend's in Japan..and about how they use simple enchanted cards to pull off such advanced forms of magic. But well..this book only proves all his claims." Hermione added matter-of-factly.

"And yet..how this is all affecting Malfoy.." Ron trailed.

"We don't exactly know.." Harry stated.

They reached the school and hurried in to escape the chilly air of the outside. Almost shrugging the cold off of him Harry turned to his friends.

"I suppose the only thing we can do is be relieved that Malfoy is too preoccupied to bother us."

"It's almost scary though.." Ron almost seemed to whimper.

"I'm glad Eriol can tolerate him. I don't know how he does it, it's very un-Slytherin of him, but in a way he is a very good influence on Malfoy obviously. We should only hope some of his kindness rubs off on him." Hermione added.

Harry looked off into the distance pensively.

"And hope at the same time that some of Malfoy doesn't rub off on our Slytherin friend." he whispered almost to himself.

~*~

Eriol stepped out of the shower room with a towel wrapped about the waist and another tussled through his hair. He walked into the Slytherin dorm room still beaming with his performance these past few days. Not only had he taken an interest in Potions and excelled enough to earn some respect from Snape, but Care of Magical Creatures was a breeze, even taking time to add his own input with experience from Spinel under his own belt. His best class was, not surprisingly, Divinations, as he didn't need a crystal ball or planets to tell him the future. Flying came so naturally to him as well. Well, considering the fact he had never needed the use of a broom to do so in the past. He smiled to himself. Sakura would have made an excellent flier as she was already so used to flying on her staff from earlier days. He missed his friends dearly and it was at this point that he decided he would send Nakuru an owl; and to his friends in Japan, a good old fashion muggle-style letter. Satisfied with his task he maneuvered himself to some parchment and quills and began to write.

He wrote to each of this friends individually. He allowed himself a sly grin as he drew a little heart mark by his signature at the end of his letter to Syaoran. He could already see his descendant bristling at that part. Part of Eriol could never truly stop teasing his not-so-secret crush. He placed a stamp on each and put them away temporarily to be mailed in the morning. Lastly he prepared Nakuru and Spinel's letter which he could owl tonight directly.

Eriol hurried along the corridors of Hogwarts on his way to the Owlrey, his letter to his guardians in hand. He walked briskly to make sure he got to his destination before bed time, which was approaching fast as the late afternoon seemed to race him just as swiftly towards night.

It was here that he ran across Draco Malfoy standing all by himself, leant up against the wall of the Owlrey perimeter, engrossed in a parchment he held tightly. He held it so close to him, in fact, it almost seemed as if he was guarding some huge secret from thousands of imaginary prying eyes. Eriol immediately knew it was something important and he suddenly felt awkward approaching him. He knew it would interrupt the moment. And yet, being how he is, he found himself equally curious as to what it was that the boy was paying so much attention to in the letter.

He had no choice, he had to make his way in that Owlrey. He cleared his throat decently as if giving the other boy fair warning of his arrival. Malfoy's head snapped up to the sound and Eriol pretended as if he hadn't seen him there previously.

"Draco! I'm surprised to see you here.." Eriol said.

"What, you don't think I receive owls too? I DO have other friends besides you..people DO write to me." he drawled agitatedly.

Whats eating him? Eriol thought. Draco was obviously in a bad mood and it probably had something to do with his letter.

The spectacled boy made for the door swiftly. Draco moved aside giving him a wide berth and quickly stuffed the letter into his pockets as if feeling threatened by Eriol's proximity. Eriol stopped and turned to him.

"Well? haven't you got something to drop off or are you gonna stand here and gawk at me all afternoon?" Draco snapped.

Eriol nearly winced at his comment but knew that behind the haughty facade Draco was actually troubled by something. The unmistakably sad and worried look behind his eyes said it all. Eriol made a mental note of talking to him about that as soon as he was out the door. He walked in to the place and no sooner had he dropped off his letter than he reappeared outside...only to find Draco gone.

He must have gone back to his quarters..there is no other place he could be right now, Eriol assured himself. He too needed to be there.

In less time than it took to get to the Owlrey, Eriol arrived at the Slytherin entrance.

"Green Crumpets." He uttered and the wall allowed him access to the common room.

Eriol nearly flew up the stairs and into the dorms. Slowly he made his way to his bed. On the neighboring bed, Draco sat absently pulling the covers over himself while staring off into space. Something was definitely troubling him and Eriol debated with approaching him now or in the morning. He decided to take a chance and talk to him.

As if anticipating Eriol's intentions by his motions, Draco shot him a sharp look. A silent warning not to bother. Eriol stopped midway and retracted, taking the hint. Instead he slipped under his own covers and turned over as if to avoid his companions intense glare. Maybe things would be calmer in the morning.