Author's Note: Thanks to those of you who reviewed, (Rebuky! Brittney! *glomps*) and itchy, red corneas to those of you who didn't. A big hug to my beta, Jess. She's the best. Go read her fics. Here's a nice, convenient link: Jess' fics. Anyway, here's Chapter Four. I'm not bothering with the damn disclaimers. You know what I own, and what I don't own. See the prologue for details, if you insist on being a dolt.
Fate vs. Free Will
Chapter Four: Insensitive Instruction
By nycscribe46
When they arrived at the library, Hermione introduced Kayla to Madame Pince, who was delighted to find a new student who admittedly spent a lot of time in the library, reading up on obscure topics. The astral plane was obscure to most people, Kayla thought. But she'd put a lot of those 'theories' into practice just that morning. And people with the Sight didn't really go around broadcasting it. She sure wasn't going to.
Kayla followed Hermione to an unoccupied table, and they set down their bags. Kayla was still smiling, remembering the look on Ron's face when Hermione asked him and Harry if they wanted to come to the library with the two of them. Harry had sighed and looked as though he might be dragged along, but Ron had looked as though she'd asked him if he wanted his legs waxed. He proceeded to drag Harry back to Gryffindor tower, muttering about insane girls who acted like the O.W.L.s were the day after tomorrow, rather than eight entire months away.
"So," Kayla said to Hermione innocently. "What's going on with you and Ron, anyway?"
"Nothing," Hermione snapped irritably, and then caught herself. A hasty denial is often a sign of guilt. "I mean, we're just friends. He'd never say anything, even if he did, you know, like me like that."
"Oh," said Kayla, in a voice that was meant to convey understanding, but came out sounding more patronizing than anything else. It didn't help that Kayla was trying to hide a smirk.
Hermione's eyes narrowed.
"I don't know what Lavender and Parvati said-"
"You know, the curriculum here really is something, isn't it," Kayla said brightly, hastily changing the subject. "I mean, it seems mainly designed to prepare students for life in the wizarding world, doesn't it?"
"Well, yes, of course it is. That's the whole point," said Hermione, wondering what Kayla was getting at.
"Yeah, but what if you want to work in the Muggle world? Nothing here will prepare you for that. I haven't seen a single computer. I mean, I know the place is old fashioned, but there isn't even a high school equivalency! You don't get a degree or anything?"
Hermione frowned. Kayla waited for her response.
"Well, I can see your point. I guess if you want to work in the Muggle world, you have to go to a Muggle school, then. I don't think we have a big enough staff to start teaching enough Muggle classes to even come close to something approaching a high school equivalency-" Hermione broke off, thinking. Until she was eleven, all she'd ever wanted was to go to med school and become a neurosurgeon. She knew now that she was a witch, and magic was a part of her. She didn't want to live and work in a world where she couldn't use magic, but even if she did, if she continued to go to Hogwarts and become a full fledged witch, the option was lost to her.
"It's not really fair, is it?" Kayla said. "It's like we're all being trapped into working in the wizarding world. Lord knows if half the children here went to work for IBM or Microsoft, there'd be a labor shortage on this side of the realm. My old schools aren't like that. Manhattan Intra Secular is designed to prepare you for both worlds, so you can choose. I lived in a magically integrated community in Atlanta, so my elementary and middle schools were the same. When I saw the course requirements for Hogwarts, I really wondered, but-"
Kayla stopped suddenly, and really looked at Hermione.
"You're muggle-born, aren't you."
The way Kayla said it was eerily reminiscent of Draco Malfoy, and it gave Hermione the creeps, but she answered truthfully.
"Yes. What of it?" Hermione steeled herself, preparing for a pureblooded tongue-lashing.
"Nothing," said Kayla calmly. "You knew what I was talking about, and you didn't ask what IBM or Microsoft was. It's obvious-you must have gotten those diligent study habits from a Muggle school. Fine establishments, they are."
Hermione nodded. Something about what Kayla had said was prickling at her mind.
"What did you mean by 'magically integrated community'?"
"Oh, that. Everyone in our district knows we're witches. They have known since, what? My grandparents-add a few dozen greats to that-back in the 1700's. They opened an apothecary-odd that, the family business, and I can't make a potion to save my life, never mind someone else's-and medical hospice. You know, people will overlook or keep quiet about a lot of things once you've saved their husband from sure death."
"But-" Hermione was a little shocked. Things were very different in America, apparently. "How is that possible? I mean, here there are whole sections of the Ministry designed to keep Muggles in the dark, and there you all are, performing magic in hospitals-"
"You misunderstand me," Kayla interrupted, trying not to laugh. "Okay. Let's start over. People in our district, which is a very small portion of a very large city, are mostly witches. The Muggles, who happen to live there as well, know that we are witches. They don't care, because we don't try to keep it from them, and we haven't used our magic for anything but good for hundreds of years. My aunt and uncle, who work at the hospice, are licensed doctors, who happen to be a witch and wizard. The only magic they use on a regular basis is magical stasis, rather than anesthesia, because it's better for you anyway.
The schools in our district are run by Muggles, who hire witches to teach the classes with magical subject matter, but for the most part it's mixed. We all learn math, science, and reading together. That's how I grew up. If I'd stayed in Atlanta, I'd be going to the Academy with my cousin, learning everything you all have here, except for Muggle Studies of course, and earning a high school diploma. It's a lot of work, but it's worth it, and it's what I'm used to. When my parents find out about this curriculum, they'll probably let me go back to the Academy. I'll just visit on holidays." Kayla sighed, thinking about Draco. Maybe she wouldn't tell her parents just yet.
Hermione was busy processing the information she'd just heard. She loved Hogwarts, and it was the best school in Europe, but it definitely came up short in comparison to these American schools, especially when it came to job opportunities. Hermione bit her lip. She turned to see what Kayla was doing. The other girl had been leafing through Hermione's copy of Hogwarts, A History.
"Hmm," said Kayla.
"What?" Hermione was at least comforted by the fact that she'd read the book from cover to cover, and there were no shocking revelations that could be made from its' contents.
"Oh, it says here that the school is controlled directly by the Ministry of Magic and a board of senators."
"Yes, that's true…why are you bringing that up?" Hermione looked at Kayla warily.
"It certainly explains why the curriculum is like that. I mean, old fashioned is one thing-you know, the candles, the quills and ink, the whole robes for uniforms thing-but anything that deprives the students of a proper education is either an amazingly enormous lapse in judgment, or something caused by the Board of Education, in this case the Ministry, deliberately and with an ulterior motive." Kayla said all this while still skimming the pages of Hermione's book, and completely missed the look on the other girl's face.
Hermione was absolutely horrified at the notion that Hogwarts was merely a front for wizarding Britain to cultivate and utilize a work force. She opened her mouth to say something in Hogwarts' defense, but nothing came to her usually sharp mind.
"Uh…"
"Or maybe I'm just a cynic, eh? I would think that, because it would be so much fun to go to the same school as Nikki again. Nikki's my cousin, by the way. Want to see a picture?"
Kayla had set the book aside, still oblivious to the distress her comments had wrought upon poor Hermione, and began to rummage through her bag for her wallet.
"See, this is Nikki and me with Andruw, and us with Chipper, and us with Javy-oh, he's so cute when he's smiling, isn't he?" Kayla looked up at Hermione, and finally noticed her ashen face and somber _expression.
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," said Hermione distractedly, looking at Kayla's pictures. Oddly enough, the young men posing with the two girls in each photo were each wearing the same color t-shirt. She noticed that Kayla and her cousin looked incredibly alike. She couldn't tell them apart, even when comparing the photos to the girl beside her.
"Which one are you? You guys look like twins, especially with those hats and matching jerseys on."
"That's me," Kayla said, pointing. "Nikki's hair is longer, see? And our noses are different, but I guess you can't really tell that much from a picture. Especially when we're both grinning like fools." Kayla pointed to yet another picture. "Man, Nikki almost died when J.T. put his arm around her. What a nice guy, huh? Even though he's a Giant, and it was so obvious that we were Braves fans, he still took a picture with us."
"A giant?"
Kayla rolled her eyes.
"Yes. 1st baseman for the San Francisco Giants. A baseball team, and not the one we support, at that. Nikki would not shut up about it. I think she's a closet Giants fan, the little bugger. I won't rub it in, but she wants him bad. Oooh-hoo, am I gonna have fun with this." Kayla smirked evilly. Can't blame her, she thought. J.T. Snow was cute…
Hermione's hands trembled slightly as she set Kayla's photos down on the table. She hadn't been completely distracted from what Kayla had been saying about Hogwarts. It was only growing in her mind, becoming bigger and bigger until it seemed to devour her future and the future of everyone else in one gulp.
"I have to talk to someone about this," she muttered under her breath.
"What?" Kayla couldn't understand her words; she'd said them too quietly.
"I have to do something about the curriculum!" Hermione cried.
"Er, Hermione?" Kayla glanced around nervously, hoping no one had noticed Hermione's little outburst. "Calm down, okay? It's not that serious. It's not like you were going to be a make-up counter girl, anyway. You're a natural born witch."
"I know, but it just doesn't seem right," Hermione said, her voice sounding almost painfully tight.
"Look, maybe I'm wrong. What do I know? I'm just a kid with a big mouth that doesn't have a mute button," Kayla pleaded, using one of Nikki's favorite nicknames for her. "Don't do anything drastic."
Kayla saw the look of determination on Hermione's face as she began to gather her things.
"Hoo boy."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
As Hermione marched straight to the Headmaster's office, seemingly deaf to Kayla's pleas to just forget the whole thing and have a nice sit, Kayla had decided that there was only one other option. She didn't know Hermione all that well, and in her opinion, the girl was out of her gourd. She needed backup. So she went to Gryffindor tower, in search of the only two people who might be able to talk some sense into her.
"Hi!" Kayla said, trying not to sound as desperate as she felt, to the first red haired person she saw. "Have you seen Ron? Or Harry, maybe?"
"They're in their room," said the boy. "Why? Has something happened?"
"Not yet, hopefully. Thanks, err…"
"George Weasley. And you are?"
"In desperate need of your brother. See ya!" And with that, Kayla ran up the stairs to the boys' dormitories, leaving a slightly miffed Weasley behind her, and unceremoniously shoved open the door marked '5th Years'.
"Hey! You can't just come in here like that! I could have been changing!" said an indignant blond haired boy with an Irish accent.
"Like anybody would want to see that," Kayla said snappishly, and then she turned to Harry and Ron, who were snorting with laughter.
Seamus was not amused. He glared at the two of them, and made a face at Kayla, who was oblivious.
"Listen you guys, Hermione's gone off the deep end."
The laughter stopped
"Wha-"
"Honestly, all I did was present a theory on the economic state of the wizarding world, and how it might be a cause to the effect of the miseducation of Hogwarts students, and suddenly she's marching off to the Headmaster's office, talking about changing the curriculum. As if any of us can actually do such a thing. What's wrong with that girl, anyway? Does she want to be expelled for insubordination? Or do they not do that kind of thing here?"
Ron glanced at Harry, who was smiling.
"If they did, we wouldn't be sitting here right now, to tell you the truth."
"Yeah, listen Kayla, Hermione's always been like this. The girl has to have a cause, and lucky you, you happened to present her with one. Too bad she wasn't here for spew, eh Harry?" Ron elbowed Harry, and grinned.
Harry laughed.
Kayla frowned.
"Spew?"
"Yeah, Hermione tried to liberate the house elves last year. They didn't take it very well, though," Harry explained, although it was the understatement of the year.
"So you're saying that Hermione Granger is Miss 'Let's Start a Revolution' of Hogwarts, and I've overreacted and run all the way up here for nothing." Kayla sighed.
"Yeah, you could say that," said Ron, amused. "That's a new name for her", he thought.
Kayla plopped down on the bed beside the two boys and put her head in her hands.
"Arrgh," she said. Then she looked up sheepishly at Seamus. "Sorry, I didn't mean to be rude," Kayla said awkwardly.
"Oh, it's all right," he assured her. Good natured guy that he was, Seamus wouldn't hold a grudge, especially if she'd been distraught when she'd said it. Besides, he didn't much care what Kayla's opinion of him was; he'd had his eye on another Gryffindor in their year for a while now. Seamus smiled at Kayla, and told Harry and Ron he'd see them later, as he went to go find the object of his affection.
"So, this school must be pretty lenient with the students, then? If she can just go up to the headmaster and tell him she thinks that the lesson plan is wrong?" Kayla asked Ron.
"Well, I don't think Dumbledore'd expel her for a thing like that. Jeez, were you in military school or something?" Ron said incredulously.
"No, but you know. Most adults don't like being told that they're wrong, especially by someone they consider to be a child. And-"
*beep* *beep* *beep*
"Oh crap," Kayla muttered, looking at her timepiece.
"What is it?" Harry asked curiously.
A tiny yawn escaped from Kayla's bag.
"What is that noise? I was sleeping!" a small voice squeaked angrily.
"Oh shut up, you. We're late. Sorry, Ron, Harry, but I have to go. See you at dinner, okay?" Kayla grabbed her bag, waved goodbye, and dashed out the door in much the same way she'd come in.
"Oookay," said Ron, watching the smoke trail Kayla had left behind as she ran out of the room at the speed of a mad bludger.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Kayla raced down the hall, cursing and ignoring the muffled cries of the doll in her bag, who was protesting at being jostled about, as she finally arrived at the library. She tried to smooth her hair a bit, as she walked in slowly, glancing around. She was at least ten minutes late. She sighed, and walked down an aisle, the one where Madame Pince had said the main texts on the astral plane and its effects upon the mortal plane were housed.
There she saw Draco, reading one of the large, dusty volumes. He didn't look up, but she could see the beginnings of a smile on his lips. She couldn't help it, when she saw him she smiled as well, and went over to see what he was reading.
"Hi," she said, her voice a soft whisper, as she smoothed the page he was turning, and read the words upon it silently
The astral plane; the sector between this world and the next; the vast, immeasurable place where souls of unrest and the undead exist in a state of consciousness. Few understand it, and fewer still are possessed of the capability to navigate its infinite depths. It is unwise to attempt to enter the astral plane without a guide, but it is possible, using various potions and ill-advised spells, mainly of the dark variety. However, these methods can only bring one's soul to the place of unrest; they are incapable of returning one to either the plane of the living, or the plane of the dead. There is no escape from the astral plane, if indeed one without the sight or a liaison to a Sighted One has so chosen to venture into the depths of discord.
Draco closed the book suddenly. Kayla straightened, looking up at him questioningly.
"What is it? Everything seems to make sense to me, except for-"
Draco looked at her, his eyes fixated intensely upon her own.
"Except for what?"
"Well, I think I know why you could talk to me in the astral plane last night. I mean, at first I didn't really think you were there. I saw Harry there too, and-"
Draco's eyes widened. He had seized Kayla's arms tightly and drew her to him before she even realized that he had moved.
"You saw Potter? What does that mean?" He said through gritted teeth, clenching his fists, his fingernails digging into her arms.
"Nothing! It doesn't mean anything at all, Draco!" Kayla tried to keep the panic out of her voice as she struggled against his iron grip.
"Oh, really? Is there something I should know, Kayla? Anyone else you happen to be having a "liaison" with?"
"No! Draco, listen to me. That book was not written by someone with the Sight. There are a lot of things it doesn't even go into. Like what, exactly, someone with the Sight sees when they are in the astral plane."
"Trapped souls? The one you love?" Draco's voice betrayed his emotions; the sarcasm in the last sentence he uttered was palpable.
"No," Kayla said firmly. "Not really. I see many things. I see the souls of the undead, yes, but I also see the souls of the living. But they're not really there. I just see their astral counterparts. There are billions, one for every living sentient being. Of course, I can't recognize all of them, because I don't know all of those people. But I know Harry because I've met him, and I know you. I also saw Hermione Granger there. But they weren't actually present. Do you see what I mean?"
Draco nodded slowly. He relaxed his grip slightly, and she continued.
"But when I saw you, it wasn't just a shadow of your soul, or your astral counterpart. It was you. You saw me, and you talked to me. You might not realize it because you were asleep at the time, but you did. And that shouldn't even be possible. Unless you have the Sight-which you don't; trust me, you would have known since you were a baby-or, like the book says, a-" Kayla tried not to laugh at the word, "liaison with someone who does."
She looked up at him. He looked a bit flustered, as he considered what she'd said. Then a look of gleeful maliciousness came over his features.
"So you're saying that because we're together, our magic has become cohesive, and I can roam the astral plane, just as you do. Right?"
Kayla grinned. She knew he'd understand eventually. Draco released her arms and took her hand instead.
"Smart boy. Yes, I think so. I'm going to write to my grandmother, just to make sure. She has the same gifts, and more. If anyone can explain this properly, she can."
"You do that. In the meantime, I want you to tell me everything you can about the Sight. I want to know what my capabilities are. What our capabilities are. But not here. We need to go somewhere more private." Draco's gray eyes glittered.
Kayla found herself captivated by the legendary Malfoy charisma, which, once engaged, can be devastating. He oozed power and dominance, but at the same time he wanted and needed her.
It was intoxicating.
"Okay," Kayla said breathlessly. "Where to?"
"You'll see." Draco glanced around surreptitiously, and smirked, taking Kayla's hand as they walked down the aisle and exited the library.
And Pansy Parkinson appeared out of thin air, placed an even stronger concealing charm on herself, and followed.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Is everything to do with Slytherin down in the dungeons?"
Draco laughed, at both Kayla's question, and at her suspicious tone.
"I suppose so. Although the location of this particular place has nothing to do with Slytherin, and everything to do with discretion."
Kayla rolled her eyes.
"Okay. I figure it's plenty secretive, because who in their right mind would want to come down here anyway?" She shivered, hating the chill of the place.
"Someone who has plans that they don't want the entire school to overhear," Draco said as they neared the end of a dark corridor. "Because no one with any sense would discuss sensitive information in a public area. Unless they wanted someone to hear them, of course." Draco turned suddenly, and stared at a spot directly in front of him, seemingly empty of anything at all.
Kayla concentrated silently. Yes, there was someone there, but she didn't recognize the signature.
Draco drew out his wand.
"Come now, Pansy," he drawled. "Did you really sit there and listen to us talk, and not learn anything? I know you're there. You really ought to come out voluntarily; the only revealing spell I can think of at the moment is quite painful when performed on living things." Draco smirked devilishly, and was delighted to see a matching _expression on Kayla's face as well, before Pansy finally appeared before them, an angry look on her homely face.
"You're disgusting," she spat at Draco.
"Thank you," Draco said coolly. "And you're incredibly stupid." With that, he stupefied her, and levitated her still form a few inches off the ground.
"That was brilliant," Kayla said proudly. "How did you know she was in the library?"
"I could sense her. I see what you mean by feeling the souls of the people you know. Of course, you couldn't tell it was Pansy, but-" Draco stopped and looked at Kayla seriously. "Kayla, you should have felt that there was someone following us. Just because you can't see a threat doesn't mean it isn't there. You don't use your power the way you should. Now I see why you were put in Gryffindor. You're going to have to learn a few things."
Kayla resisted the urge to take offense at Draco's words. He was right; she should have been looking out for them. It was just lucky that Draco had been using their power openly, and sensed Pansy from the beginning.
"Right. So what are you going to do with her?" she said, nodding at the floating body at their feet.
"Oh, we'll just bring her along. I'll erase her memory later." Draco turned and appeared to be staring at the wall.
"Okay…Draco, what are you doing?" As far as Kayla could tell, he seemed to be contemplating the bricks.
"Ah, here it is." Draco pressed his hand against the wall, and muttered an incantation. The wall emitted a hissing sound. Draco winced, and pulled his hand back. Blood flowed freely from his palm.
"What the hell?" Kayla grabbed Draco's hand and murmured a healing spell, looking at him curiously. "What exactly were you trying to do?"
"Not trying. Did. See?" Draco pointed at the wall, which as far as Kayla could tell, was unchanged despite his efforts. There wasn't even any blood on it.
"I don't see anything."
Draco looked at her quizzically. "It worked. There's a doorway, see? I know it's small, but-you mean, you really can't see it?" A light seemed to go on in Draco's eyes.
"Oh. Never mind. Come on, then." He took Kayla's hand and pulled her into the wall.
"Aughh!" Kayla cried, expecting to smack her head soundly on a solid brick wall, and really starting to scream when she went right through it, and everything went black..
"Why is it so dark?" Kayla asked, once she had gotten herself under control again. "And furthermore, what the hell is going on? Where are we?" She stood, folding her arms across her chest. It was so dark, she could barely make out Draco, and Pansy's floating form, just in front of her. She could feel steps beneath her feet, and followed Draco down the stairs.
"On our way to that private place I was telling you about," Draco replied. "We're not really in Hogwarts anymore. You can thank my great-uncle Morgoth [A/N: What?! ;)] for the darkness. He created this place. Apparently, since you aren't a Malfoy, and really shouldn't be here, you can't see it. Oh, and try not to touch the walls. I'm not sure what will happen if anyone who isn't a Malfoy touches anything. Hmm…I have an idea."
Famous last words, thought Kayla. And then her head was split open. At least, that's what it felt like. And evidently, the rest of her body was jealous of all the attention her head was getting, and decided to join in on the fun. Kayla screamed and struggled to remain standing, but the pain was too much. She collapsed and leaned against the wall heavily. Nothing happened.
"Well, I can see that it worked," Draco started.
Kayla's glare halted his words.
"What. Did. You. Do."
"Congratulations, Kayla. You're a Malfoy. I'm sorry if it's not the wedding you've always dreamed of, but pain is the Malfoy way, and I'll bet it was better than the way people are usually initiated into this family." He reached out a hand and pulled Kayla up. She was still glaring at him, but looked a little confused.
"What the..."
Kayla was looking around, realizing that they had reached the end of the tunnel, and were surrounded by opulence. Apparently Draco's great-uncle Morgoth [A/N: *Snerk*] was quite flashy. Everything was a gleaming silver and jade.
"Kind of showy, isn't it?" Draco remarked, giving Pansy a good kick, as she floated underneath the large bed in the center of the room.
"Yeah..." Kayla muttered, eyeing the bed. "You're right, Draco. I don't want to know what your great-uncle used this place for. Where is it, exactly?"
"Hmm. Possibly inside a small white vase on my father's windowsill, but who knows, he could have been joking." Draco grinned, which only succeeded in making Kayla even more nervous.
"Wait a minute," Kayla said sharply. "How did you-what do you mean, I'm a Malfoy now?"
Draco's grin widened.
"What's the matter? Are you afraid of committing incest? I won't tell if you won't."
"Cut that out, and stop smirking. I'm serious. What did you do?"
"I used our connection for something other than emotions. I'm surprised you haven't tried it before, actually." Draco's grin faded. "You really are too innocent, my dear. There are so many things I could teach you. And I've only been conscious of this gift of ours for a few hours. Imagine how powerful you could become. How powerful we could become together." He sat down on the bed, and motioned for her to sit beside him. She did, never removing her eyes from his. "Was the pain so unbearable, Kayla? Could you go through it again, if the rewards were great? I would. Go ahead. Try it."
"Try what?" Kayla said in a voice filled with uncertainty.
"What I did to you. Do it to me. I added you to my family's bloodline, by altering yours a bit. You look a little different now, but still as beautiful as ever. I'm sure it goes a bit further than your looks, though." Draco opened a drawer in an intricately carved bureau, and pulled out a silver mirror. He held it in front of her.
Kayla stared at herself. Her eyes-they were the same stormy gray as Draco's. She blinked, but they were still the same. She gasped, covering her mouth with her hands. She looked up at Draco in shock..
"I can't-what am I going to do?" she cried.
"Relax. I can put a spell on them. No one will know. And I'll do the same to myself once you've changed me."
"I'm not going to do it."
"Why not? I can take the pain. It would be interesting," Draco murmured, thinking of himself with Kayla's formerly coal-like eyes, or perhaps her dark hair.
"Draco, this is really weird," Kayla said, still staring at her eyes. She barely recognized herself. "Did my blood type change too?"
"Depends. What was it before? I'm B negative."
"I was O positive. Oh my God, I can't believe this." Kayla ran her hands through her hair nervously, and nearly shrieked. It felt so strange. Thankfully, it was still black. But the texture was straighter, and more fine than it had ever been. The strongest hair relaxer couldn't produce hair like this. She wondered if it would ever grow the same again. She began to laugh. Thanks to Draco, she'd never have to get a perm again.
"What's so funny?" Draco demanded.
"You just saved me a hundred bucks per month, that's what," Kayla said, between laughs. She shook her head. Maybe my hair will finally grow out, she thought. A little voice in the back of her mind was saying that this was wrong, that she shouldn't be letting this happen. She should make Draco reverse the spell.
"But there is no spell," Draco whispered in her ear, as if he were reading her mind. "Just the connection between us; that's all I used. That's all you need. That, and whatever you can think of. The possibilities are endless, Kayla. It all depends on how far you're willing to go. It's not like we're hurting anyone."
"But how-I mean, I thought we could only send each other emotions. What you're saying you just did is like transferring genetic code. That's-that's impossible." Kayla was stammering, and felt as though she was short of breath.
"Nothing is impossible, Kayla. Impossible means we just haven't figured out how yet. And the boundary of emotions only seems to apply to you alone, Kayla. You're an empath. Obviously, our connection doesn't play by the same rules as your empathic abilities."
Things aren't so clear cut anymore, are they? Draco's voice whispered in Kayla's mind.
No, they aren't, she replied grimly, speaking to him in the same way he'd spoken to her. Well, my grandmother is going to get an extremely long letter tonight. Kayla tried to remember exactly what her grandmother's prophecy had said. It had been really vague and annoying. Something about being confused? Well, she sure was.
Wait…Is your grandmother a seer? Draco's mental voice suddenly asked.
Yes…are you reading my mind?!?
Heh. Maybe.
Cut that out!
Why? Something you don't want me to know about? Hmm. That's quite an image, but I don't own any leather trousers…
Draco!
Not yet, anyway… If you like, I'll buy some. If you promise that someday we'll do what you were imagining that we were doing.
*groan*
Wow. That was even better than my dream.
*mental slap*
Ooh! Please ma'am, may I have another?
Then she slapped him for real.
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A/N: Heh. Even I can't stop laughing at that one. Okay, let me defend myself for a couple of things I couldn't help putting in there. #1) Yes, Draco's great uncle has the same name as everybody's favorite Dark Lord. [points and laughs at Voldemort; Ha ha! It's not you! You're in fourth place! You got beat by Morgoth, Sauron, and the Digimon Emperor! Loser!] It's just a coincidence. No, I am not planning on turning this into a Lord of the Rings crossover. I hate implausible crossover fics. You can bet your ass that Draco is not related to Legolas in this fic. This ain't no Harry Potter and the One Ring. If you haven't read it, do yourself a favor-don't. It's HORRIBLE! Aieee! #2) Do you really want to imagine who Morgoth would have brought to such a room? With a king size bed in it? *shudders* And oh yeah, please review, and feel free to ask questions if there's anything that doesn't seem to make sense. And I beg you, please notify the author of any plot holes. They're embarrassing, and I will love you forever if you tell me before I get a slew of emails making fun of me for it. Thanks.