Chapter Two: Draco Malfoy, Relative Genius
Alysia awoke only a few hours later, before the sun had even begun to rise. Snores were coming from Susan Bones' bed, right beside hers, and across the room, someone was talking in her sleep. A soft breeze was causing the yellow curtains to billow into the room eerily. Returning to the world of sleep would be impossible, Alysia knew, so she climbed out of bed and dressed in her school robes. Pulling her long hair back in a braid, she slipped out of the dormitory and went down to the common room to write in her diary.
She'd kept a diary since she was six years old. Without a father to talk to and a mother who was often busy, Alysia had few friends to whom she could talk. Rather than waiting for her mother to become un-busy or her father to be released from prison, or even for a few sporadic friends to arrive, Alysia took comfort in the pages of her diary. It was a small book, bound in red leather and filled with bewitched parchment that caused the ink to disappear if the diary was ever in the hands of someone other than Alysia. Curling her legs under her on an overstuffed chair in the Common Room, Alysia dipped her quill in ink and began to write.
2 September
Welcome to Hogwart's, Alysia Karadhras, daughter of convict and Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. It's begun, and I don't know how I feel about being here. On one hand, I'm so happy to be with other people my age that I could burst with joy, but on the other, I'm terrified that people will want to get too close to me. I'm also terrified that the wrong person will find out whom my father is and where he is, and that before I know it, he'll be right back in Azkaban. Things have been going so well, too. He and I were able to see each other nearly every day during the summer and I feel like I'm finally getting to know my father, after all these years. He can't go back there, he just can't!
Harry Potter goes to this school. I've known that for a while, but I had no idea what it would be like actually meeting him. He's more than "The Boy Who Lived". He's practically my brother, though he doesn't know it. I know that once dad's name is cleared, he'll take Harry in, and maybe even adopt him legally making me the sister of Harry Potter. I'm not too impressed with how famous he is. I know what it's like to be stared at. When people at my elementary school found out who my father was, they all stared at me as if I had two heads. I hated it. I HATED it. Harry must not like being stared at either. So I don't stare.
His friends seem nice. Hermione is just like my dad said, really smart and friendly, too. Whoever says that Muggle-born wizards are less than "purebloods" needs a sanity charm. Hermione's a great girl. I hope we'll be friends. And Ron is just like my dad told me, too, red hair and all. (She paused in her writing to laugh at this.) He's also very outspoken and passionate. If he was a Muggle, Ron would make a wonderful lawyer. I think he and I will be friends, even though we're in different houses.
Which brings me to a problem. I told Harry, Ron and Hermione that my mother had been a Gryffindor. I didn't mean to tell such an overt lie, but I almost said something about my dad being in Gryffindor. That would have tipped them off immediately. And I know I can trust them, but I'm just not ready. I want to know that they like me for me before I let them know who my father is. I hate lying, but I can't help it. I'm just so afraid.
Well, to change the topic quickly, that boy that mum and I skied with last Christmas goes to Hogwart's as well. His name is Draco Malfoy, and apparently he does not get along with Harry and his friends. I don't see why. They all seem perfectly nice to me. I'd forgotten how handsome and charming Draco was, but I suppose I'll wait and see how things turn out. He is, after all, a Malfoy. Dad and Lucius Malfoy didn't get along when they went to school here. But I'm not Dad and Draco isn't Lucius.
But that's about all for now. I think I'll take a walk.
Alysia closed the diary and slipped up to the dorm. Sliding the diary between the mattress and the box spring, she felt completely assured at its safety and went back downstairs. The sun was beginning to rise, but it was still hours until classes began. Alysia knew that the grounds were safe, so she decided to take a long walk in the early morning sunlight. She knew that Filch, the groundskeeper, and his cat Mrs. Norris would still be prowling the halls this early, so she made sure that her black shoes were as scuffed as possible before sneaking out through the hallways to the rolling green hills of the Hogwart's property. Silently, she walked through the dew-drenched grass until she found herself at the edge of the Dark Forest. There were centaurs in there somewhere, and unicorns as well. Granted, there were other less beautiful things there, but Alysia felt that it was worth sneaking around these creatures to find a unicorn or centaur. She began to enter the Dark Forest, and nearly shrieked when someone dropped out of a tree in front of her.
"Are you mad?" he asked. "Why are you going into the Dark Forest by yourself? You could be killed!"
Alysia felt a stab of relief. It was Draco. "I wanted to do a little exploring, see if I could find a unicorn or centaur," she explained simply.
"You're more likely to find a werewolf or worse in there," Draco drawled. "We had a teacher who was a werewolf once."
"Oh really?" Alysia pretended not to know this. "What did he teach?"
"Believe it or not, he taught Defense Against the Dark Arts. Dumbledore was just showing off his idiocy in hiring that man. Remus Lupin. . .a danger to everyone when he was here," Draco bragged. "Come on, we'd better get away from the woods."
Alysia followed halfheartedly, wishing her morning walk could have remained a lonely one. She'd probably be petting a unicorn by now, or having breakfast tea with the centaurs. It was a gift she had, being able to communicate with magical creatures. She and Draco were about halfway to the castle, when she suddenly realized something. "Draco, what on earth were you doing by the Dark Forest?" she asked, causing Draco to stop in his tracks.
"That's none of your business," he sneered, and Alysia gave him a small smile.
"Well, then it's none of your business why I'm going back," she told him, turning around and marching straight back to the forest. She heard his feet hurrying after her and grinned even wider.
"But the forest is more dangerous for you!" Draco exclaimed, trying to keep his voice calm and drawling, yet he could not suppress a note of panic.
"Why is it more dangerous for me than for you?" Alysia asked, turning to face him.
"Well. . .because you're a girl!" he managed, and Alysia laughed.
"That's the most chauvinist and stupidest thing I've ever heard," she told him. "But since you seem to be so concerned for my welfare, I won't go. Not now, at least."
"Good, then!" Draco exclaimed. They continued their walk back to the castle.
"So, a boy who's prejudiced against Muggles, poor people and girls: that's you. Is there anything you do like?" Alysia asked, pausing to pick a dew-laden daisy.
"I am not prejudiced," Draco stated haughtily, and took the flower from Alysia's hands. "Some things are true. Some people are better-off than others. Some need more protection than others." He slid the flower into her hair behind her ear. "Some deserve more attention than others."
Alysia blushed and took the flower from her hair, not wanting Professor McGonagall to yell at her for deviating from the wardrobe with a flower in her hair. "What classes do you have with Hufflepuff?" she asked Draco, twirling the flower in her thumb and forefinger.
"Divination and Transfiguration, I believe," Draco answered. "I'm surprised you're in Hufflepuff. You seem more like Slytherin material to me. Ravenclaw at the very least."
"Well, apparently I'm supposed to be in Hufflepuff, so we'll just have to make do, won't we?" Alysia smiled at him. "I think we have Transfiguration first, don't we?"
"That we do. McGonagall's a bit strict. . .takes some getting used to. She's also the head of Gryffindor House," Draco drawled knowingly. "We're lucky to have Snape as head of our House. He's brilliant."
"Oh, so you have a special place in your heart for Professor Snape? You wouldn't believe half the stuff my mother told me about him, from when they went to school together!" Alysia teased. Draco sent a sneering smile back at her.
"And you wouldn't believe half the stuff my father told me about your mother when they went to school together. She was friends with Lily and James Potter, wasn't she?" he asked.
"She never told me," Alysia lied, shortly. "But she told me plenty of stories about Snape. I guess she's trying to help me find amusing things to think about my teachers. Did you know that Dumbledore once had flaming red hair, like the Weasleys?"
Draco snorted. "Seems to be a trait for Muggle-lovers. Did you know that McGonagall sleepwalks every time there's a full moon?"
Alysia laughed. "You're full of interesting knowledge, Mr. Malfoy," she commented. "Let's go get some breakfast."
They hurried back up to the banquet hall, and Alysia followed Draco to the Slytherin table. Breakfast was relatively empty this early in the morning, and those who were up were too tired to take much notice of the girl from Hufflepuff eating with the boy from Slytherin. By the time Harry, Ron and Hermione entered the hall, Draco was long gone and Alysia was enjoying a steaming cup of breakfast tea by herself at the Hufflepuff table. When the three came in, she waved, and they invited her to join them at the Gryffindor table. They were all dressed in their school robes and were going over the schedule with weary eyes.
"Double Potions with the Slytherins today," Ron groaned. "How do we always end up having that the first day of classes?"
"Dumb luck," Harry muttered, smiling at Alysia as she sat down. Hermione also smiled, but Ron was too busy bemoaning his current predicament to notice her. Alysia cleared her throat and Ron finally looked up and managed a smile.
"'Morning, Alysia," he greeted her as she sat down.
"Good morning, Gryffindors!" she sang, merrily, making them wonder where she had all this mirth and energy. "I hope you all slept well."
"Ah. . .fine?" Hermione answered, as if she'd never been asked anything along those lines before. "You seem rather cheery this morning, much more than last night, at least. What did Dumbledore have to say to you?"
"Oh, nothing really. My mum was up there. . .they just wanted to make sure I was adjusting to the new environment alright. I think we have Defense Against the Dark Arts with you. You'll love my mum, she's a wonderful teacher," Alysia bubbled. "What do you have first?"
"Well, Harry and the rest of the Gryffindors and I are going to Divination, in the North Tower. Hermione dropped out of that, so she's got. . ." Ron began, but Hermione cut him off.
"Arithmacy. Do you think your mother will want to stay as a teacher here?" she asked pointedly. "We've had five other teachers already, and they all left, for various reasons. What about your mum? Do you think she'll stay?"
"I hope so. I'm starting to like it here," Alysia admitted, and then excused herself to go to Transfiguration. She'd overheard Professor McGonagall telling her mother that they would be starting human to animal transfigurations today. Sure enough, there was a gray tabby sitting on Professor McGonagall's desk when Alysia entered the classroom. She spotted Draco smiling at her from his desk across the room. The desk next to him was open, and Alysia was quite prepared to take that seat, when Susan Bones appeared at her side.
"Hi, Alysia! I haven't seen you all morning! Where'd you go?" she asked breathless and excited like a little puppy.
"I took a walk and had breakfast," Alysia answered shortly, wanting very much for Susan to leave her alone. "We should probably sit down."
"Come sit over here! Moira and I saved you a seat!" Susan pointed to the third desk in the front row, next to which sat a girl with curly red hair, green eyes, freckles and glasses. She waved to Susan and Alysia, who was dragged to the third seat, shrugging her apologies to Draco. He did not look pleased.
"Good morning, Alysia! I don't think I introduced myself last night! I'm Moira Angel O'Hara," Moira cried, grabbing Alysia's hand and shaking heartily. Alysia forced a smile.
"Hello, Moira. I'm Alysia Karadhras," she stated colorlessly, and was extremely relieved when the gray tabby leapt gracefully from the table and transformed into Professor McGonagall. The lecture was on animal transfiguration and animagi, or witches and wizards who transfigured into animals on a regular basis. Alysia smiled secretly, having understood animagi and human-to-animal transfiguration since before she understood reading. Later, Professor McGonagall told the students to split into pairs and spend the remainder of the period trying to transfigure each other into either a bullfrog or a cat and back again. Moira and Susan were preparing to ask Professor McGonagall if they and Alysia could be a group of three, but Alysia politely declined.
"I'm sure I can find someone else to work with," she told them, looking over at Draco, who did not yet have a partner. Before Susan and Moira could protest, she had hurried over to the other side of the room and was sitting next to Draco.
"Not that I blame you for taking the first chance to escape that you had, but aren't you worried what people will think of you?" Draco asked in a lazy drawl, returning Alysia's smile with a smirk.
"Why should I be?" Alysia asked. "Everyone else is taken and you didn't have a partner. It's simple logic." This made Draco laugh.
"It's pure genius," he told her.
"Relatively speaking. Let's get to work. I'll transfigure you first," Alysia stated. "Would you rather be a cat or a bullfrog? Or, I can really impress everyone and turn you into a ferret."
Draco flushed pink at that. "How about you go first? I'm sure you'd make a lovely black cat," he stated. Alysia felt her face go slack at that.
"I'd make a better falcon than cat," she muttered under her breath, looking away.
"What was that?" Draco asked.
"Nothing. I still think you should go first," she told him, but Draco laughed, shaking his head.
"Nonsense! Animagus Transfigurarem!" he exclaimed, flicking his wand at her. His eyes widened in surprise when, rather than seeing a black cat on the ground in front of him, a black falcon took flight. The entire classroom gasped as the falcon landed on the desk in front of Draco, with a look in her eyes that clearly said, "Change me back, now." He muttered the reversal spell, and Alysia resumed her normal form. Professor McGonagall was annoyed.
"Mr. Malfoy, I said either a bullfrog or a cat, but not a falcon!" she stated, glaring at them. "Five points from Slytherin." She then whirled around and started to lecture two Justin Finch-Fletchley and Ernie MacMillan, as Ernie was only half transfigured into a bullfrog and was hopping around the back of the classroom on enormous legs. Alysia turned sheepishly to Draco, who looked confused and irate.
"How did that not work? I did everything right, the pronunciation was right on and I was picturing you as a gorgeous black cat. Were you doing that, too?" Alysia sighed and nodded. "I don't understand. Why did you turn into a falcon?"
Alysia bit her lip, and was about to speak up again when Professor McGonagall dismissed the class. She sighed in relief and gathered her things. Surprisingly, Draco was waiting for her at the door. He still could not understand why Alysia had turned into a falcon rather than a cat.
"And she took points off for it! I can't believe that!" he exclaimed, vehemently. "Didn't I tell you she was strict?"
"The strictest," Alysia murmured, noting the looks of shock on Susan and Moira's faces as they walked past and began whispering.
"But how. . .? Unless. . .but you can't be. . .can you?" Draco looked at Alysia questioningly, obviously lost in his train of thoughts.
"Can I what?" she asked.
"I think I remember reading somewhere that animagi can only turn into their animal form, and no other animal. But you can't be an animagus, can you?" he asked, incredulously. A look of devious mischief came over his face. "Unless you're not registered."
Alysia gave him a look, and started walking quickly towards the library. Draco followed, almost having to run at some points. When they finally arrived, Alysia hurried to a secluded table in the back and pretended to be terribly interested in a copy of You and Your Dragon. "My whole family are animagi. I had to become one as a part of my education last year. I know it's illegal and all, but my mother insisted," she said in a low voice. "I could get into a lot of trouble for this, so don't tell anyone."
"I won't," Draco whispered, looking a bit awestricken. "What does your mum turn into? If she's one too, I mean."
"A lioness. She's beautiful when she transforms," Alysia turned the page, which showed a picture of a Norwegian Ridgeback baby, drinking from a bottle of Muggle kerosene. "The animal chooses the animagus. I'm not sure why she became a lioness."
Draco paused. "What about your father?" Alysia looked away, and Draco put a hand on her shoulder. "You don't have to talk about him if you don't want to."
She turned back and gave him a small smile. "Thank you. I. . .I'm just not ready to talk to people about him, that's all," she replied softly.
Draco looked like he wanted to say something, but didn't. After a quiet moment, Alysia picked up her backpack and started to leave for Defense Against the Dark Arts. Before she was all the way out the door, Draco called after her. "Do you fly on a broomstick as well?" he asked.
"Yes, sir, I do," she told him.
"I'll bet you play Seeker, then."
"How'd you guess that?"
"I'm a genius."
Alysia laughed aloud. "Relatively speaking!"
A/N: Hmm.I don't know if I like how Draco's turning out. Well, that's okay. And Alysia's an animagus, too. Wasn't expecting that, either. The things that come out of my fingers. Well, leave me a couple of reviews and we'll see how the plot develops, next chapter.
Alysia awoke only a few hours later, before the sun had even begun to rise. Snores were coming from Susan Bones' bed, right beside hers, and across the room, someone was talking in her sleep. A soft breeze was causing the yellow curtains to billow into the room eerily. Returning to the world of sleep would be impossible, Alysia knew, so she climbed out of bed and dressed in her school robes. Pulling her long hair back in a braid, she slipped out of the dormitory and went down to the common room to write in her diary.
She'd kept a diary since she was six years old. Without a father to talk to and a mother who was often busy, Alysia had few friends to whom she could talk. Rather than waiting for her mother to become un-busy or her father to be released from prison, or even for a few sporadic friends to arrive, Alysia took comfort in the pages of her diary. It was a small book, bound in red leather and filled with bewitched parchment that caused the ink to disappear if the diary was ever in the hands of someone other than Alysia. Curling her legs under her on an overstuffed chair in the Common Room, Alysia dipped her quill in ink and began to write.
2 September
Welcome to Hogwart's, Alysia Karadhras, daughter of convict and Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. It's begun, and I don't know how I feel about being here. On one hand, I'm so happy to be with other people my age that I could burst with joy, but on the other, I'm terrified that people will want to get too close to me. I'm also terrified that the wrong person will find out whom my father is and where he is, and that before I know it, he'll be right back in Azkaban. Things have been going so well, too. He and I were able to see each other nearly every day during the summer and I feel like I'm finally getting to know my father, after all these years. He can't go back there, he just can't!
Harry Potter goes to this school. I've known that for a while, but I had no idea what it would be like actually meeting him. He's more than "The Boy Who Lived". He's practically my brother, though he doesn't know it. I know that once dad's name is cleared, he'll take Harry in, and maybe even adopt him legally making me the sister of Harry Potter. I'm not too impressed with how famous he is. I know what it's like to be stared at. When people at my elementary school found out who my father was, they all stared at me as if I had two heads. I hated it. I HATED it. Harry must not like being stared at either. So I don't stare.
His friends seem nice. Hermione is just like my dad said, really smart and friendly, too. Whoever says that Muggle-born wizards are less than "purebloods" needs a sanity charm. Hermione's a great girl. I hope we'll be friends. And Ron is just like my dad told me, too, red hair and all. (She paused in her writing to laugh at this.) He's also very outspoken and passionate. If he was a Muggle, Ron would make a wonderful lawyer. I think he and I will be friends, even though we're in different houses.
Which brings me to a problem. I told Harry, Ron and Hermione that my mother had been a Gryffindor. I didn't mean to tell such an overt lie, but I almost said something about my dad being in Gryffindor. That would have tipped them off immediately. And I know I can trust them, but I'm just not ready. I want to know that they like me for me before I let them know who my father is. I hate lying, but I can't help it. I'm just so afraid.
Well, to change the topic quickly, that boy that mum and I skied with last Christmas goes to Hogwart's as well. His name is Draco Malfoy, and apparently he does not get along with Harry and his friends. I don't see why. They all seem perfectly nice to me. I'd forgotten how handsome and charming Draco was, but I suppose I'll wait and see how things turn out. He is, after all, a Malfoy. Dad and Lucius Malfoy didn't get along when they went to school here. But I'm not Dad and Draco isn't Lucius.
But that's about all for now. I think I'll take a walk.
Alysia closed the diary and slipped up to the dorm. Sliding the diary between the mattress and the box spring, she felt completely assured at its safety and went back downstairs. The sun was beginning to rise, but it was still hours until classes began. Alysia knew that the grounds were safe, so she decided to take a long walk in the early morning sunlight. She knew that Filch, the groundskeeper, and his cat Mrs. Norris would still be prowling the halls this early, so she made sure that her black shoes were as scuffed as possible before sneaking out through the hallways to the rolling green hills of the Hogwart's property. Silently, she walked through the dew-drenched grass until she found herself at the edge of the Dark Forest. There were centaurs in there somewhere, and unicorns as well. Granted, there were other less beautiful things there, but Alysia felt that it was worth sneaking around these creatures to find a unicorn or centaur. She began to enter the Dark Forest, and nearly shrieked when someone dropped out of a tree in front of her.
"Are you mad?" he asked. "Why are you going into the Dark Forest by yourself? You could be killed!"
Alysia felt a stab of relief. It was Draco. "I wanted to do a little exploring, see if I could find a unicorn or centaur," she explained simply.
"You're more likely to find a werewolf or worse in there," Draco drawled. "We had a teacher who was a werewolf once."
"Oh really?" Alysia pretended not to know this. "What did he teach?"
"Believe it or not, he taught Defense Against the Dark Arts. Dumbledore was just showing off his idiocy in hiring that man. Remus Lupin. . .a danger to everyone when he was here," Draco bragged. "Come on, we'd better get away from the woods."
Alysia followed halfheartedly, wishing her morning walk could have remained a lonely one. She'd probably be petting a unicorn by now, or having breakfast tea with the centaurs. It was a gift she had, being able to communicate with magical creatures. She and Draco were about halfway to the castle, when she suddenly realized something. "Draco, what on earth were you doing by the Dark Forest?" she asked, causing Draco to stop in his tracks.
"That's none of your business," he sneered, and Alysia gave him a small smile.
"Well, then it's none of your business why I'm going back," she told him, turning around and marching straight back to the forest. She heard his feet hurrying after her and grinned even wider.
"But the forest is more dangerous for you!" Draco exclaimed, trying to keep his voice calm and drawling, yet he could not suppress a note of panic.
"Why is it more dangerous for me than for you?" Alysia asked, turning to face him.
"Well. . .because you're a girl!" he managed, and Alysia laughed.
"That's the most chauvinist and stupidest thing I've ever heard," she told him. "But since you seem to be so concerned for my welfare, I won't go. Not now, at least."
"Good, then!" Draco exclaimed. They continued their walk back to the castle.
"So, a boy who's prejudiced against Muggles, poor people and girls: that's you. Is there anything you do like?" Alysia asked, pausing to pick a dew-laden daisy.
"I am not prejudiced," Draco stated haughtily, and took the flower from Alysia's hands. "Some things are true. Some people are better-off than others. Some need more protection than others." He slid the flower into her hair behind her ear. "Some deserve more attention than others."
Alysia blushed and took the flower from her hair, not wanting Professor McGonagall to yell at her for deviating from the wardrobe with a flower in her hair. "What classes do you have with Hufflepuff?" she asked Draco, twirling the flower in her thumb and forefinger.
"Divination and Transfiguration, I believe," Draco answered. "I'm surprised you're in Hufflepuff. You seem more like Slytherin material to me. Ravenclaw at the very least."
"Well, apparently I'm supposed to be in Hufflepuff, so we'll just have to make do, won't we?" Alysia smiled at him. "I think we have Transfiguration first, don't we?"
"That we do. McGonagall's a bit strict. . .takes some getting used to. She's also the head of Gryffindor House," Draco drawled knowingly. "We're lucky to have Snape as head of our House. He's brilliant."
"Oh, so you have a special place in your heart for Professor Snape? You wouldn't believe half the stuff my mother told me about him, from when they went to school together!" Alysia teased. Draco sent a sneering smile back at her.
"And you wouldn't believe half the stuff my father told me about your mother when they went to school together. She was friends with Lily and James Potter, wasn't she?" he asked.
"She never told me," Alysia lied, shortly. "But she told me plenty of stories about Snape. I guess she's trying to help me find amusing things to think about my teachers. Did you know that Dumbledore once had flaming red hair, like the Weasleys?"
Draco snorted. "Seems to be a trait for Muggle-lovers. Did you know that McGonagall sleepwalks every time there's a full moon?"
Alysia laughed. "You're full of interesting knowledge, Mr. Malfoy," she commented. "Let's go get some breakfast."
They hurried back up to the banquet hall, and Alysia followed Draco to the Slytherin table. Breakfast was relatively empty this early in the morning, and those who were up were too tired to take much notice of the girl from Hufflepuff eating with the boy from Slytherin. By the time Harry, Ron and Hermione entered the hall, Draco was long gone and Alysia was enjoying a steaming cup of breakfast tea by herself at the Hufflepuff table. When the three came in, she waved, and they invited her to join them at the Gryffindor table. They were all dressed in their school robes and were going over the schedule with weary eyes.
"Double Potions with the Slytherins today," Ron groaned. "How do we always end up having that the first day of classes?"
"Dumb luck," Harry muttered, smiling at Alysia as she sat down. Hermione also smiled, but Ron was too busy bemoaning his current predicament to notice her. Alysia cleared her throat and Ron finally looked up and managed a smile.
"'Morning, Alysia," he greeted her as she sat down.
"Good morning, Gryffindors!" she sang, merrily, making them wonder where she had all this mirth and energy. "I hope you all slept well."
"Ah. . .fine?" Hermione answered, as if she'd never been asked anything along those lines before. "You seem rather cheery this morning, much more than last night, at least. What did Dumbledore have to say to you?"
"Oh, nothing really. My mum was up there. . .they just wanted to make sure I was adjusting to the new environment alright. I think we have Defense Against the Dark Arts with you. You'll love my mum, she's a wonderful teacher," Alysia bubbled. "What do you have first?"
"Well, Harry and the rest of the Gryffindors and I are going to Divination, in the North Tower. Hermione dropped out of that, so she's got. . ." Ron began, but Hermione cut him off.
"Arithmacy. Do you think your mother will want to stay as a teacher here?" she asked pointedly. "We've had five other teachers already, and they all left, for various reasons. What about your mum? Do you think she'll stay?"
"I hope so. I'm starting to like it here," Alysia admitted, and then excused herself to go to Transfiguration. She'd overheard Professor McGonagall telling her mother that they would be starting human to animal transfigurations today. Sure enough, there was a gray tabby sitting on Professor McGonagall's desk when Alysia entered the classroom. She spotted Draco smiling at her from his desk across the room. The desk next to him was open, and Alysia was quite prepared to take that seat, when Susan Bones appeared at her side.
"Hi, Alysia! I haven't seen you all morning! Where'd you go?" she asked breathless and excited like a little puppy.
"I took a walk and had breakfast," Alysia answered shortly, wanting very much for Susan to leave her alone. "We should probably sit down."
"Come sit over here! Moira and I saved you a seat!" Susan pointed to the third desk in the front row, next to which sat a girl with curly red hair, green eyes, freckles and glasses. She waved to Susan and Alysia, who was dragged to the third seat, shrugging her apologies to Draco. He did not look pleased.
"Good morning, Alysia! I don't think I introduced myself last night! I'm Moira Angel O'Hara," Moira cried, grabbing Alysia's hand and shaking heartily. Alysia forced a smile.
"Hello, Moira. I'm Alysia Karadhras," she stated colorlessly, and was extremely relieved when the gray tabby leapt gracefully from the table and transformed into Professor McGonagall. The lecture was on animal transfiguration and animagi, or witches and wizards who transfigured into animals on a regular basis. Alysia smiled secretly, having understood animagi and human-to-animal transfiguration since before she understood reading. Later, Professor McGonagall told the students to split into pairs and spend the remainder of the period trying to transfigure each other into either a bullfrog or a cat and back again. Moira and Susan were preparing to ask Professor McGonagall if they and Alysia could be a group of three, but Alysia politely declined.
"I'm sure I can find someone else to work with," she told them, looking over at Draco, who did not yet have a partner. Before Susan and Moira could protest, she had hurried over to the other side of the room and was sitting next to Draco.
"Not that I blame you for taking the first chance to escape that you had, but aren't you worried what people will think of you?" Draco asked in a lazy drawl, returning Alysia's smile with a smirk.
"Why should I be?" Alysia asked. "Everyone else is taken and you didn't have a partner. It's simple logic." This made Draco laugh.
"It's pure genius," he told her.
"Relatively speaking. Let's get to work. I'll transfigure you first," Alysia stated. "Would you rather be a cat or a bullfrog? Or, I can really impress everyone and turn you into a ferret."
Draco flushed pink at that. "How about you go first? I'm sure you'd make a lovely black cat," he stated. Alysia felt her face go slack at that.
"I'd make a better falcon than cat," she muttered under her breath, looking away.
"What was that?" Draco asked.
"Nothing. I still think you should go first," she told him, but Draco laughed, shaking his head.
"Nonsense! Animagus Transfigurarem!" he exclaimed, flicking his wand at her. His eyes widened in surprise when, rather than seeing a black cat on the ground in front of him, a black falcon took flight. The entire classroom gasped as the falcon landed on the desk in front of Draco, with a look in her eyes that clearly said, "Change me back, now." He muttered the reversal spell, and Alysia resumed her normal form. Professor McGonagall was annoyed.
"Mr. Malfoy, I said either a bullfrog or a cat, but not a falcon!" she stated, glaring at them. "Five points from Slytherin." She then whirled around and started to lecture two Justin Finch-Fletchley and Ernie MacMillan, as Ernie was only half transfigured into a bullfrog and was hopping around the back of the classroom on enormous legs. Alysia turned sheepishly to Draco, who looked confused and irate.
"How did that not work? I did everything right, the pronunciation was right on and I was picturing you as a gorgeous black cat. Were you doing that, too?" Alysia sighed and nodded. "I don't understand. Why did you turn into a falcon?"
Alysia bit her lip, and was about to speak up again when Professor McGonagall dismissed the class. She sighed in relief and gathered her things. Surprisingly, Draco was waiting for her at the door. He still could not understand why Alysia had turned into a falcon rather than a cat.
"And she took points off for it! I can't believe that!" he exclaimed, vehemently. "Didn't I tell you she was strict?"
"The strictest," Alysia murmured, noting the looks of shock on Susan and Moira's faces as they walked past and began whispering.
"But how. . .? Unless. . .but you can't be. . .can you?" Draco looked at Alysia questioningly, obviously lost in his train of thoughts.
"Can I what?" she asked.
"I think I remember reading somewhere that animagi can only turn into their animal form, and no other animal. But you can't be an animagus, can you?" he asked, incredulously. A look of devious mischief came over his face. "Unless you're not registered."
Alysia gave him a look, and started walking quickly towards the library. Draco followed, almost having to run at some points. When they finally arrived, Alysia hurried to a secluded table in the back and pretended to be terribly interested in a copy of You and Your Dragon. "My whole family are animagi. I had to become one as a part of my education last year. I know it's illegal and all, but my mother insisted," she said in a low voice. "I could get into a lot of trouble for this, so don't tell anyone."
"I won't," Draco whispered, looking a bit awestricken. "What does your mum turn into? If she's one too, I mean."
"A lioness. She's beautiful when she transforms," Alysia turned the page, which showed a picture of a Norwegian Ridgeback baby, drinking from a bottle of Muggle kerosene. "The animal chooses the animagus. I'm not sure why she became a lioness."
Draco paused. "What about your father?" Alysia looked away, and Draco put a hand on her shoulder. "You don't have to talk about him if you don't want to."
She turned back and gave him a small smile. "Thank you. I. . .I'm just not ready to talk to people about him, that's all," she replied softly.
Draco looked like he wanted to say something, but didn't. After a quiet moment, Alysia picked up her backpack and started to leave for Defense Against the Dark Arts. Before she was all the way out the door, Draco called after her. "Do you fly on a broomstick as well?" he asked.
"Yes, sir, I do," she told him.
"I'll bet you play Seeker, then."
"How'd you guess that?"
"I'm a genius."
Alysia laughed aloud. "Relatively speaking!"
A/N: Hmm.I don't know if I like how Draco's turning out. Well, that's okay. And Alysia's an animagus, too. Wasn't expecting that, either. The things that come out of my fingers. Well, leave me a couple of reviews and we'll see how the plot develops, next chapter.
