Chapter 17
Partnership
London, England
Granger came with me as we left. Shock.
"What's the matter, Granger?"
"It's just- I never read that about werewolves in any of my research."
"Because it's rare that the host becomes a wolf before puberty. When they do it's an even larger symbiotic relationship."
"But still."
"You haven't read every last book on the subject, Granger. And as wonderful as researching may be, in my experience it's far better to touch and meet it head and hands on. I like to experience, not read about how others experience. Oh, sure, research is necessary, but I'd rather be proving it. I like to attempt. I like to follow through on my own knowledge. I like to, on occasion, miss. You never miss when you hide behind books."
"Which is why I have perfect scores."
"Which is why you'll never understand Sirius Black or Remus Lupin. They both were hands-on. Look at Black's personality to prove it, and don't tell me you don't remember Lupin's DADA. Everyday he'd bring in an animal, because just discussing it wasn't enough. I wonder what he would have done when he got to werewolves. Admit his secret, I wonder?"
"But you need to study as well."
"Which is why even though he was amazing at Arithmancy, even though he majored in it, he kept it as a back up. He was going into education no matter what. Like me, he could study quite well, it's just studying is different. It's like Quidditch, you can be a Chaser- Follow the ball, follow the course no matter what, keep pushing it in certain ways. Or you could be a Seeker, and chase the little ball until you've grasped it no matter the methods you use, whether by following it or following others or even just wining it and getting it. Or you can be a Beater- Wing it all the way, focus on nothing but one of many other targets, not caring which you hit or even if you hit one as long as you swing. Just get it out. I'm a Seeker. You're a Chaser. But even though I can be a Seeker by nature, which is the position I tried out for when I tried out for the team, I was actually a Beater on all my previous teams. So by nature I may be a Seeker, but by action I'm a Beater. And this means I can understand them better. Yet I need that Chaser, the one who pieces together facts and not impulses. These hunches have gotten me to a decent area, but I still get confused so easily."
"But why, Malfoy?"
"It just- it's like it was something part of me knew when I walked into that theatre the first time I went, and when I realized what it was it hid itself. And now I learn that I have been lied to my whole life. But I won't tell you how unless you agree to help, because I don't want to show you my mother's journals without a legitimate reason."
"You were lied to because your father didn't want to admit he was into men."
"No. He lied about my mother. And if I could show you, then I would."
Granger sighed. "I'll help. I admit, I was intrigued too. But you have to agree not to make fun of my ethnicity."
"Hermione. First thing I should admit. My mother was Muggle born. I'm a Mudblood too."
Shock. Go ahead, Granger. Laugh. At poor stupid Mudblood Malfoy.
Pity in her eyes. "Oh, Draco.! I know how proud you were of your heritage."
"Well, I'm still proud."
Confusion. Oh, what a beautiful sight indeed, Granger being confused by me.
Smile. "I hate my father. It was my mother whose heritage I loved. And she was Muggle born. Besides, it's been educational. I'm this powerful, and I'm a Mudblood. That means I've been giving them-us- too little credit."
Granger smiled. "Thank you."
Shrug. "Well, I can't help what I am. I'm still a wizard, and one of the greatest of our year."
"Yes, but maybe now you realize that so am I."
"Touché."
"I never thought I'd see this day. I'm fairly impressed with your attitude."
Smile. Glad I could surprise.
"I'm fifteen. The age of self-discovery and soul-searching."
"And I sincerely hope you find yours."
"Hey!"
She ignored me. "May I read some of the journals?"
"Sure." Hand her Mum's Year 1. "How's this one to start? You're a girl, you might be able to connect better, and I can take Lupin."
She begins to use her quill and write to Mum. Pull out Lupin year 2.
Papers fall out. Damn it all.
Start to reorganize when Granger picks up the letter from Lupin.
"What's this?"
"It's a letter."
"I meant, look at it."
"Lupin's hand writing."
"But look. This one's yours right?" She points at another.
"Yes."
"Well, see how you drew this picture? Almost as if you have to draw whenever you write?"
"It helps me put the words into place. It's weird, but it's something I've always had to do."
"Professor Lupin used to have sketches on his chalkboard, remember?"
"Well, he talked about animals."
"But they were always there! And then- Look at this letter."
I saw it then. I hadn't noticed it before because I'm so used to seeing sketches from my own writing that I never notice other people's, but Lupin had drawn a picture of Padfoot after where he'd asked if he could bring him, and little pictures of woodlands along the sides.
"Holy shit."
"Yes. And if you look closely, the pen strokes match yours. You're both very talented. I assume it's because you have to do it so often."
Nod. Amazing, it looks just like how I draw except after a lot more practice.
"I asked him once why he drew all over the board. He laughed, said the only other people who'd ever noticed were McGonagall, James Potter and Sirius Black. Except he didn't say Sirius, he said 'Si-' then stopped, but I was able to piece it together later. Anyway, he then said that it was to help him concentrate while writing. He would have a good idea of what he wanted to say, but he couldn't quite put it down without something to help him focus. So he would draw little irrelevant sketches, and he become quite good at written communication. He always got away with it on essays because the teachers never noticed, but they did notice he would turn in more than the other Gryffindors."
"So he did just like me. Huh. I thought I was the only one."
"It's not very common. In fact, I doubt it's very probable both you and Lupin would have the same attention deficiency, but something tells me there's a hidden factor in this."
"Oh?"
"Yes. And I think I need to find out what it is."
Well. Now Granger's interest was really piqued. Look at Lupin's sketches again.
Damn, they really did look like mine.
Even the handwriting.
Partnership
London, England
Granger came with me as we left. Shock.
"What's the matter, Granger?"
"It's just- I never read that about werewolves in any of my research."
"Because it's rare that the host becomes a wolf before puberty. When they do it's an even larger symbiotic relationship."
"But still."
"You haven't read every last book on the subject, Granger. And as wonderful as researching may be, in my experience it's far better to touch and meet it head and hands on. I like to experience, not read about how others experience. Oh, sure, research is necessary, but I'd rather be proving it. I like to attempt. I like to follow through on my own knowledge. I like to, on occasion, miss. You never miss when you hide behind books."
"Which is why I have perfect scores."
"Which is why you'll never understand Sirius Black or Remus Lupin. They both were hands-on. Look at Black's personality to prove it, and don't tell me you don't remember Lupin's DADA. Everyday he'd bring in an animal, because just discussing it wasn't enough. I wonder what he would have done when he got to werewolves. Admit his secret, I wonder?"
"But you need to study as well."
"Which is why even though he was amazing at Arithmancy, even though he majored in it, he kept it as a back up. He was going into education no matter what. Like me, he could study quite well, it's just studying is different. It's like Quidditch, you can be a Chaser- Follow the ball, follow the course no matter what, keep pushing it in certain ways. Or you could be a Seeker, and chase the little ball until you've grasped it no matter the methods you use, whether by following it or following others or even just wining it and getting it. Or you can be a Beater- Wing it all the way, focus on nothing but one of many other targets, not caring which you hit or even if you hit one as long as you swing. Just get it out. I'm a Seeker. You're a Chaser. But even though I can be a Seeker by nature, which is the position I tried out for when I tried out for the team, I was actually a Beater on all my previous teams. So by nature I may be a Seeker, but by action I'm a Beater. And this means I can understand them better. Yet I need that Chaser, the one who pieces together facts and not impulses. These hunches have gotten me to a decent area, but I still get confused so easily."
"But why, Malfoy?"
"It just- it's like it was something part of me knew when I walked into that theatre the first time I went, and when I realized what it was it hid itself. And now I learn that I have been lied to my whole life. But I won't tell you how unless you agree to help, because I don't want to show you my mother's journals without a legitimate reason."
"You were lied to because your father didn't want to admit he was into men."
"No. He lied about my mother. And if I could show you, then I would."
Granger sighed. "I'll help. I admit, I was intrigued too. But you have to agree not to make fun of my ethnicity."
"Hermione. First thing I should admit. My mother was Muggle born. I'm a Mudblood too."
Shock. Go ahead, Granger. Laugh. At poor stupid Mudblood Malfoy.
Pity in her eyes. "Oh, Draco.! I know how proud you were of your heritage."
"Well, I'm still proud."
Confusion. Oh, what a beautiful sight indeed, Granger being confused by me.
Smile. "I hate my father. It was my mother whose heritage I loved. And she was Muggle born. Besides, it's been educational. I'm this powerful, and I'm a Mudblood. That means I've been giving them-us- too little credit."
Granger smiled. "Thank you."
Shrug. "Well, I can't help what I am. I'm still a wizard, and one of the greatest of our year."
"Yes, but maybe now you realize that so am I."
"Touché."
"I never thought I'd see this day. I'm fairly impressed with your attitude."
Smile. Glad I could surprise.
"I'm fifteen. The age of self-discovery and soul-searching."
"And I sincerely hope you find yours."
"Hey!"
She ignored me. "May I read some of the journals?"
"Sure." Hand her Mum's Year 1. "How's this one to start? You're a girl, you might be able to connect better, and I can take Lupin."
She begins to use her quill and write to Mum. Pull out Lupin year 2.
Papers fall out. Damn it all.
Start to reorganize when Granger picks up the letter from Lupin.
"What's this?"
"It's a letter."
"I meant, look at it."
"Lupin's hand writing."
"But look. This one's yours right?" She points at another.
"Yes."
"Well, see how you drew this picture? Almost as if you have to draw whenever you write?"
"It helps me put the words into place. It's weird, but it's something I've always had to do."
"Professor Lupin used to have sketches on his chalkboard, remember?"
"Well, he talked about animals."
"But they were always there! And then- Look at this letter."
I saw it then. I hadn't noticed it before because I'm so used to seeing sketches from my own writing that I never notice other people's, but Lupin had drawn a picture of Padfoot after where he'd asked if he could bring him, and little pictures of woodlands along the sides.
"Holy shit."
"Yes. And if you look closely, the pen strokes match yours. You're both very talented. I assume it's because you have to do it so often."
Nod. Amazing, it looks just like how I draw except after a lot more practice.
"I asked him once why he drew all over the board. He laughed, said the only other people who'd ever noticed were McGonagall, James Potter and Sirius Black. Except he didn't say Sirius, he said 'Si-' then stopped, but I was able to piece it together later. Anyway, he then said that it was to help him concentrate while writing. He would have a good idea of what he wanted to say, but he couldn't quite put it down without something to help him focus. So he would draw little irrelevant sketches, and he become quite good at written communication. He always got away with it on essays because the teachers never noticed, but they did notice he would turn in more than the other Gryffindors."
"So he did just like me. Huh. I thought I was the only one."
"It's not very common. In fact, I doubt it's very probable both you and Lupin would have the same attention deficiency, but something tells me there's a hidden factor in this."
"Oh?"
"Yes. And I think I need to find out what it is."
Well. Now Granger's interest was really piqued. Look at Lupin's sketches again.
Damn, they really did look like mine.
Even the handwriting.