Chapter Five

Fighting One's Self

Of all the people who had ever left or turned away from him this was the one person that he had come to never expect it of, someone who had over the years become an anchor, a light that never faded. Of course that was a foolish sentiment, after all hadn't they once been antagonists even if not clearly enemies? Even though his mind kept supplying him with such good common rational sense, Draco still couldn't get his heart to behave properly, it was still breaking bit by bit, demanding action on his part. And he had, doing the only thing he knew how, something he had been forced to learn through great pain, he had dismissed her from his life, or was at least attempting to.

Because Hermione was once again displaying the traits that had enabled her to endure, to survive every pain that life had given her, she was once again resorting to her extremely strong willpower. Over the last few days he had made it abundantly clear that he wanted nothing else to do with her, so instead she had made him come here and talk to her, with her influence as Headmistress hanging over his head.

At first she had tried to talk to him sensibly, not quite apologizing but giving the idea that she was. As if he would have ever fallen for that, the only response he had given her was a stony stare, not even uttering a word. She had quickly gotten the idea. So now she was sitting at her desk looking up at him, he had refused to sit after all he wasn't planning on staying long, actually she was actually having the gall to tell him that she insisted that he work with Tal on his…talent.

As if she had the right to insist he do anything, before maybe but defiantly not now. She had known exactly what she was doing when she forced him to answer Tal's questions. Then she had run off, to a man who irrevocably hurt her every time he saw her, leaving him in the hands of two near total strangers, one of which was already invading his life. No other options had been left to him, he had to tell them, not everything just enough to appease them. That didn't matter though because they still knew something that he had never wanted anyone else to know, he wished that he didn't know it about himself.

And damn her if she wasn't silently staring at him as if she knew exactly what he was thinking, she probably did, with all the late night talks they had together, she knew more about him then anyone alive. Which was exactly why what she had done hurt so badly. He couldn't deal with that again…ever.

Yes, he would work with Tal, not because she wanted him to though but because he didn't want something like this to control him. Yesterday he'd gone to Tal personally and not quite asked, more like demanded, that he teach him how to control the new abilities. He'd agree with her on this and let her think what ever the hell she wanted to about it because he wasn't going to talk to her any more than necessary, however childish it may seem.

He gave her a small nod, knowing she would understand what he was agreeing to. It was amazing how such a small gesture could be an acknowledgement of such a great concession for a person.

As he got up and walk away from the office he couldn't help think how his life was turning upside down. He was losing a friend, he was sharing dreams with a person he hardly knew, he was…well in his opinion he was finally losing his mind. Years ago, even days ago he would never have gone to anyone and asked for anything but now he had and somehow he knew it was going to royally screw him up.


"Look I know you think I should learn to control this…this magic, so I'll agree to meet with you whenever I'm free. But! I want to make this completely clear I'm only agreeing to this because the Headmistress demanded." And it would be a cold day in hell before Draco admitted to Tal that Hermione hadn't actually told him to do anything, but he didn't want Tal to think he had come willingly, the man was already overbearing as it was.

Draco felt a pull, a presence and then Tal was staring at him like he wasn't quite sure what to think of the request. Draco knew he should complain about Tal using his talent on him but right now he needed to stay on Tal's good side, after he knew what he needed then he could show Tal exactly how comforting it was to have some rummaging around your thoughts.

It was getting to be a bit unnerving having Tal just stare at him, Draco absolutely hated to be the focus of attention. That was something he had gotten over a long time ago.

"Well?" Draco finally asked in an even unrevealing tone, breaking the peculiar silence that surrounded them.

Tal's eyes traveled over his face, stepping closer until he was within arm's reach, Draco's hands itched to push him away but he held the impulse at bay, just barely though.

"Okay Draco I'll play," Tal finally said, "when can you be here?"

"Everyday, after seven." There was a hint of relief in his voice, which bothered him, he could usually control his emotions better, he hoped Tal had missed it.

He apparently had because there was no sign of amusement, or any other emotion, in his voice when he answered, "Okay, everyday at seven-thirty, that gives us both time to calm done from classes. Let's not set a time limit, just whatever."

"Fine." Now that the conversation was over Draco wanted to get out of the room as quick as possible and oddly enough Tal didn't seem to be finding a reason to prolong his suffering.

Draco didn't want it to seem like he was running away but as every second passed by he became more and more uneasy, he jumped when Tal's hand touch his shoulder and Draco quickly pulled away.

Tal just kept on staring but thankfully he also gave him a way out, "I'm going to the Main Hall now, we can start working tomorrow." He then walked out leaving a genuinely confused Draco alone in the room.


Even just remembering the conversation left him with an odd sour feeling in the pit of his stomach, he hoped he managed to get over it by tonight. If his stomach was any indication he was going to need his wits about him.


Tal awoke feeling surprisingly pleasant, last night obviously had a positive affect on Draco, even if it had taken considerable effort on Tal's part. No dreams seemed to have inhibited Draco's sleep and therefore Tal had also had a good night's rest, the first he hoped in many.

Normally he would have just tried to cut the link off, but that didn't seem to be a possibility for Draco and himself, it was always there no matter how they ignored it. There was no compulsion, it was just a very hyped up sensitive link. But if Draco kept learning technique this quickly Tal wouldn't need to bother trying to find a way to shut it off.

Tal couldn't help but wonder if the war would have gone differently if people had been able to have an advantage such as this type of link could have been. But then that was long gone, he couldn't change the outcome now, even if he could he might not, every part of his life had been changed due to it. Some good and some bad but nonetheless it was his life, one that he had created for himself and besides if he hadn't gone to America he would have never gotten Lillis, and she was defiantly one of a kind.

He smiled softly to himself, quietly dressed and made his way to breakfast. Musing over last night's success, and reminding himself to talk to Kirish about what else they should try and teach Draco.


"Does she have to be here?"

Tal gritted his teeth, ignoring Draco's irritating question. Kirish was staying whether Draco wanted her here or not. He was definitely not going to have any thing like last time happening again. If either of them got in to deep Kirish could pull them out. "Pay attention, you won't ever learn if you don't shut up long enough to listen."

Draco just continued to glare at Kirish belligerently, holding his aristocratic nose up so that he could look down at her. He didn't seem to have heard Tal instructions.

Tal drop his head into his hands, tapping his forehead with his fingers, it was turning out to be a long night. Kirirsh was taking sadistic pleasure in irritating Draco, who was in turn acting like his old school self. Which would probably have been considered a good thing, except it was driving Tal batty.

"Draco." No answer. "Draco!" Still no answer. "DRACO!" Well finally! "If it's not to much maybe you two could quit glaring at each other long enough for us to get this over with?"

"I wasn't doing anything." Kirish said deliberately trying to bait Draco, who gave her his once trademark sneer.

"It's amazing," Tal thought to himself, "even as a different person my mere presence seems to bring out Draco's worst manners." He wondered if the other man realized it. Tal decided to ignore their antics and hope they ended them fairly soon, he started giving Draco instructions once again. The blonde wasn't really paying close attention, Tal hoped he was hearing enough that they wouldn't end up dead.

About fifteen minutes later Draco proved he had been paying attention, enough at least to successfully manipulate the link between them. It was startling that he could learn control so quickly, it made one wonder exactly what they could get out of the mishap.

"Why do I have to go to all that trouble? From what you said I thought it was always there?" Draco asked after ending the exercise.

"There's a difference." Kirish said haughtily, speaking before Tal could give an explanation.

"Kirish." Tal warned, telling her with his eyes to act nicer. "It's not so much always open as it is there, a lot of the time emotions are getting passed between the two of us but that's just because you don't have quite enough control yet. For my part I can keep the link calm but it's very hard to do with you unconsciously using it. That's why I had you meditate before we started, it gave you enough control that the link was closed, but still there."

Draco looked confused and Tal tried to figure out how to explain.

Kirish apparently decided to take it into her own hands. "Normally, like when Tal and I talk we have to make a new connection, or link, every time but with you and Tal one is there all the time, it never actually closes off, as it would for me. But while it's always there, that doesn't mean it's easy to work. Every person has a signature that their thought patterns create, as you learn more signatures will become easier to recognize. Tal knows yours already so he can control what he lets through the link, you on the other hand don't know your own signature much less Tal's. That's why your control is sporadic at best. What you were just doing teaching you to locate and connect to a certain signature, or person. Physical contact helps," she laughed at Draco look of distaste, "but we didn't think you'd go for that, so your doing this exercise instead."

Draco nodded his understanding and Tal couldn't help but to be a little jealous that Kirish had helped more than he had.


He nodded to himself as he remembered how well the lesson had ended. Draco had found his own signature and Tal's before the night had ended. It was a pleasant surprise, even if Draco hadn't been able to get Kirish's. But Tal wondered if she hadn't been blocking him somehow, it would be like her to do that. He'd have to talk to her about that also he decided.

Tal stumbled and fell flat on his back as a warm body ran into him, and landed on top of him, knocking his breath out. He lay gasping as the body on top of him squirm around.

"Oh! Professor Wittman I'm sooo sorry! Really I am! I forgot my potions book and I was trying to hurry and get back before breakfast ended."

"This would be easier if you could get off me." Tal managed to choke out and thankfully the girl did. But in doing so she managed to grab parts of him that caused him to jump quickly to his feet, the girl didn't look at all embarrassed or repentant. He wondered if she had actually been getting a potions book. "You look familiar but I can't seem to recall your name."

"I'm Cheryl Jamis, my younger sister is in one of your classes." Ah so that's why she looked so familiar. The girl continued on, looking up at him coyly through lowered lashes, "She's only a fifth year but I'm a seventh year."

Oh, he could guess why she said that, as if he would go for a student no matter the age, he didn't even get involved with adults he taught, well not usually. "Is that so." he said pleasantly.

She looked at him, tilting her head and grinned suddenly, "Didn't work huh?"

"Nope."

"Well damn, maybe next time." She said in mock resignation, walking off.

Tal stood a moment shaking with silent laughter, a lot of women, and men, had propositioned him but never like that!

He'd have to give Kirish her money, he'd figured it would be another week before they started to physically chase him down.

Walking into the hall he plopped down beside Kirish, and handed her a wad of money.

She grinned at him, "So who was it?" He pointed the girl out to her and she laughed softly, "Her? She looks kinda shy!" She laughed even harder at Tal's expression, which clearly stated that the girl was in no way shy.

They ignored the strange looks the rest of the staff gave them.


For the first time ever Draco was glad that Tal was in the same room as him. If he wasn't Draco might have done something deliciously fun to the weasel.

The Auror had been at Hogwarts for nearly two weeks now, when he had finally told Hermione why he was at Hogwarts she had been very…upset. But then of course they had been all chummy again, Draco still couldn't believe she was talking to the man, even if it really hadn't been Ron who had attacked them. The man had still hurt Hermione worse than anyone else ever had and she seemed to be deliberately forgetting it. It would all end up bad and then where would she be? But that didn't matter because he didn't care anymore.

And since he wasn't talking to Hermione anymore he couldn't go and complain about Ron observing his classes. Draco was sure the Auror was including him in his little report to the Council and he'd be damned if he gave Ron an excuse to get him fired. And unfortunately he kept getting mad and affecting everyone around him, it wasn't enough that Ron had noticed but Draco was still nervous.

Nervous enough in fact that he had once again asked Tal for help. He couldn't believe he was slipping so badly as to ask someone he didn't even like for help. But he was intelligent enough to know that without Tal's calming influence he was eventually going to blow up in class and knowing Weasley he'd go right to the Council about it.

So there was Tal, standing at the opposite side of the room as Ron, he never took his gaze away from Draco but he did it in such a way that nobody noticed. Which Draco was extremely thankful for, he didn't need a bunch of hormonal griping little gossips going around making up stories about his personal life.

"Incorrect!" he hissed as his students once again failed to an correctly, he still couldn't believe how stupid Gryffindors were. "If any of you cretins had taken the time to actually go over your books you would have known that a Chimaera has a lion's head, goat's body and a dragon's tail. Not a rat tail!"

"Tut tut taking your anger out on the students. Would you do the same to the Slytherins?"

Just what he didn't need an amused sarcastic Wittman. "Get out of my head! I may have to endure your presence everyday for hours at a time but it doesn't mean you can crawl into my head whenever you please." Then he switched the link off, proud of himself for being able to do so. Across the room he saw Tal smirking at him but ignored him as he went back to berating the exceptionally dense Gryffindors.

After what seemed like hours the class ended and the stupid dolts ran out of the room as fast as possible. And gladly this would be the last class that Ron was going to be observing, he was leaving in two days, which Draco was quite thrilled about.

He'd be even more thrilled if Tal would haul ass out of his classroom, he might have needed the man here to stay momentarily sane but that didn't mean he actually enjoyed his company. It was his own bad luck that he seemed to always seemed to be in the same vicinity as Tal. But of course since he didn't want the man here any longer he would stay and probably talk, just to annoying him.

"Well that went well, you didn't let to much anger escape."

"I can take care of my self thank you very much, not matter what you may think," he sneered,, not bothering to look at Tal.

"Oh is that so? Hmm then why am I here? Because you can take care of yourself?"

Bloody hell, he hated the man, always digging away never giving him a moments peace. And Draco wasn't about to admit that having Tal around seemed to keep him calm, at first he had thought he was going crazy, but after working with Tal for more than a week he had to admit, if only to himself, that being near the man soothed him.

Around Tal he didn't feel so tired and dead, without even knowing it he would unconsciously act like his old self. It felt good to know he could be himself and no Aurors or Death-Eaters were going to jump out of the walls and kill him. Around people it had become habit to be another person, to put a mask up, become someone people could feel more in common with. It had saved his life on more than once occasion. Now he just had to figure out why he could never seem to get the act right around Tal.

"You're here because you're here, it wasn't my decision, you chose to come."

"Oh yes I always choose to come." Tal said in a sugar coated voice.

Draco looked up to see Tal staring at him in a suggestive way, and Draco damned himself for even giving the man a reason to say such a thing. Because he really, really didn't need to hear that.

"It is absolutely amazing," Draco said coolly, "that you ever manage to get any work done. I'm sure your always occupied or so it seems from those memories I got."

Before his very eyes Draco saw something incredible, Tal Wittman backing down from an argument. His face had first flushed then gone nearly white, then he abruptly turned and walked out of the room. Leaving Draco to wonder if he could ever get that response again, because he truly enjoyed witnessing it.


As Tal hurried through the student filled halls, he couldn't help but feel apprehensive of Draco's carefully spoken words. Either Draco was trying to figure out who he was or he already knew something. From now on he would have to be careful around the blonde man, as of late he had been more relaxed, letting some barriers down. He actually like how they sniped at one another, he found it amusing and relaxing.

His body stiffened as students took advantage of the crowed halls and landed stray touches on him. Normally he might have found it funny but right now he didn't feel like playing games with uncouth children.


When Draco arrived for his session with Tal he was still working out what had caused Tal's earlier discomfort. It couldn't have been the implication that he slept around because Tal himself made such insinuations all the time, so it must have had something to do with the thought that Draco had some of Tal's memories.

And Draco wasn't a Slytherin for nothing, no matter how he might have changed, he still had a naturally devious nature. That nature supplied the answer to his problem. As soon as Tal told him Kirish wasn't going to be there a plan formed itself in his mind.

"I'm sure we can manage not to kill one another without her, we are both after all adults." Oh he definitely wasn't going to kill anyone but he was going to find out exactly who the man standing before him was. Tal knew to much, he must have either been a student or a Death-Eater, either way it would explain why Draco found him so bloody familiar at times.

The session proceeded as usual, though Draco could tell Tal was distracted, on edge, he seemed to be hiding almost. But that was fine, it would make his plan work better.

"You ready?" Tal asked quietly from across the room, which was as close as he had gotten since Draco walked in.

"I'm ready, you can begin."

Across the room Tal closed his eyes, concentrating. It was always odd for Draco to see him like that.

As soon as he felt the push against his mind he opened his side of the link, but before Tal could join on his side Draco pushed through the link until he was firmly planted in Tal's mind. He could feel the resistance and effort Tal was making to push him away but Tal had also been the one teaching him, Draco knew how his mind worked.

"What the hell are you doing Draco?" Tal demanded harshly.

"Nothing you haven't done to me."

"I have never broken into your thought!"

"Is that so?" Draco sent back caustically, and began searching Tal's memories trying to find who the man really was.

Tal's mind was a mess though and Draco had no idea where or what he was supposed to be looking for. He picked things at random, some were no help at all, but others were quite helpful. In some he saw himself, or the weasel, Dumbledore giving his usual welcoming speech, sitting with the sorting hat on his head telling him he would make a good Slytherin, Snape teaching potions. Then the string ended abruptly much to Draco's dismay, he searched but couldn't find them again.

He knew he had to hurry, he could feel how pissed Tal was. Then he found something interesting, a full memory and he was pulled into it before he knew what was happening.


Beautiful emerald eyes, slanted slightly upwards, literally glowed out from a radiant face, a mass of fiery red hair curled around the face, wind blew and strands cover the eyes. Creating a beautiful contrasts of color.

The woman held out a delicate hand, reaching towards him, "I love you, no matter where I am that will never change."

Draco could feel the intense overwhelming emotions that the words brought with them. Pain, love, sadness, acceptance.

Out of the corner of his eyes he could see a head of white blonde hair but then the soft hand was resting on his cheeks, distracting him. And he was staring directly into the emerald eyes, which were so clear he could see his own reflection. And he looked closer trying --


"Well that was interesting," Tal said in a voice so devoid of emotion that Draco wondered if he had finally pushed the man to far. "You know not everyone can do that and then usually only after a lot of conditioning." Tal continued conversationally, "I didn't realize your control was at such a high level already. You must have been practicing."

Draco nodded mutely, not quite sure if he should say anything aloud or not.

"I really should kill you." Tal said still calmly, and Draco's nerves jumped, "But I'm not going to, it would be a waste. If I were you though I'd never try that trick again, you might not find the results pleasant."

Draco nodded again, as Tal walked to his side and squatted down. Looking directly into his eyes Draco saw he wasn't really as calm as he acted.

"I've got an idea Draco." And the latter couldn't help but hold his breath waiting for the inevitable. "You don't trust me that's painfully obvious, and we won't work well together if you can't. So I'm going to let you ask me any questions you want but in exchange you have to sit down and listen to me. What do you think?"

Draco licked his dry lips, "What's the catch?"

"No catch. Yes or no?"

Draco considered it, on one hand he would finally figure out exactly who Tal was but on the other hand something just felt…off. All Tal had asked for was for Draco to listen to him, there had to be a trap somewhere in those words. In the end Draco's curiosity won out. "Yes."

"Good choice." Tal said dryly. "Now lets open the link, that way you can know I'm not lying. But I think we'll meet in the middle this time."

They settled into comfortable positions facing one another, and then they reached towards each other mentally, snapping their shared link into life.

Tal nodded for Draco to start. Draco didn't answer for a moment as he formulated the questions he wanted answered.

"Who are you really?"

"Talon Wittman."

"I thought you were going to answer my questions?" Draco said irritably.

"I never said I had to answer in depth."

"So there is a catch."

"No, but we can quit whenever you wish."

Draco glared into the blue eyes, which looked into his so mildly. It aggravated Draco greatly for Tal to know that Draco would continue the questions no matter what restrictions existed.

"Fine but your an asshole. You were obviously a student here. Slytherin?"

"That's what the hat said isn't it?"

Draco ground his teeth together, "Were you a Death-Eater?"

"I wouldn't have been willingly."

Draco breathed deeply then let it out with a hiss, he knew Tal was being as unclear as possible. "During the war whose side were you on?"

"My own."

"Were you there when Voldemort was defeated?"

"Yes."

"What part did you play?"

There was a long pause and Draco silently waited in anticipation.

"One that nobody would care to know about."

Once again Draco found himself grinding his teeth in frustration. "During school were we ever friends."

"There were many people that I once considered friends."

"Answer the damned question!"

Tal showed the first sign of emotion as he smirked at Draco, "No we weren't."

"Was the ministry aware of your Death-Eater status?"

"They thought they were."

"And yet you're here?"

"Aren't you?" Tal asked softly. "One more question Draco."

"I thought I could continue as long as I liked?"

"I changed my mind, there were no rules saying I couldn't"

If anything convinced Draco that Tal had been a slytherin it was that. "Who was the woman in your memory?"

"Ah hah!" Draco thought.

Tal's jaw clenched and his eyes narrowed, but he still answered. "Lillis, someone who matters more to me than life." Then he stood and looked down at Draco before walking away, "I'm done and by the way I'm going to have Kirish work with you on locating memories, she's quite good at it."

"Wittman!" Draco shouted towards Tal's retreating back, "You said I had to listen."

Tal slowly pivoted around until he faced Draco, tilting his head sideways a cunning smile on his lips, "I never said when."


If it had been his students at home they would have realized by now exactly how much the flirting and obvious attempts were beginning to wear on him. But they weren't so it continued. He could see Draco, in the back of the room, still smirking happily over the latest incident, which had occurred moments earlier when a sixth year Slytherin had accidentally tripped in front of Tal giving him a full view of her breasts.

He was glad Draco found it so amusing, because he definitely no longer did.

"Pay attention!" Tal wearily snapped out. "On your desks you will notice a new seating arrangement, from now on that is where you will be sitting. You will be arranged in groups by your abilities. Also some of you will be working solely with Kirish from now on."

"But professor!"

"Yes Ms. Jamis?"

"Everyone knows I like to sit at the front, why do I have to be in the corner?" She asked batting her eyes rapidly.

"I explained that already." Tal said ignoring the girls crushed expression. "Now everyone move!"

The hourly class seemed to lag on, trapping him with the hormone driven teenagers, Tal didn't think he had ever been as bad as they were. The class finally ended and the students reluctantly walked out, but not before most of them stopped to have conversation with Tal.

When he was finally left in peace he dropped his head to his desk and thought about knocking himself unconscious. Just as he lifted his head and prepared to bang it on the desk Draco's sarcastic drawl stopped him, "Don't tell me your tired of your little fan club already?"

Tal just glared to tired for anything else and Draco had another good laugh at his expense before walking out of the room to prepare for his own classes.

It was unexpected he thought that Draco had become so much more relaxed around him just because he answered some bloody questions, not even clearly at that. He wondered if Draco had ever had any real friends, he and Hermione had seemed to get along well but obviously not well enough, they still weren't talking. Draco was flat out ignoring her presence.

Kirish seemed to think it was because they shared the link and Draco couldn't get away with acting anything besides himself. Tal wondered though if it just wasn't the chemistry they had always had. Even though they had consistently been at one another's throats during school they had actually been more alike than most people. From small things like Quidditch, to life changing things like the war. It was amazing that they had ended up so alike. Draco might not notice the fact of it but he must feel it subconsciously at least.

A small sandy haired head peeped inside the door and Tal was immensely relieved to see one of his first year students who, thank all that was good, didn't have a crush on him. "What can I do for you Ms. St Claire?"

"Hullo professor, the Headmistress wanted me to come tell you that she said that Mr. Weasley said that he needed to talk to you." She ended her rushed words with a shy smile.

"Thank you." Tal said with a smile of his own as he stood up.

"Welcome." He heard echoing back to his ears as she ran off in the corridor.

He made his way to Hermione's office, gave the password and interrupted an obviously private moment. Hermione and Ron quickly broke apart, a red flush marking Hermione's cheeks.

"Tal how nice of you to come so quickly." Hermione said a bit shakily as she sat in her chair behind the desk. "Ron needs to ask you some question before he can finish his report or the Council."

Tal gave a small snort, bringing Ron's attention to him. Ron might have made up with Hermione but it was abundantly clear that he still detested Tal's very presence. It hurt that Ron, his once best friend, couldn't see through the person he was and realize who he had once been. Draco who had once been a hated rival had nearly found the truth yet it never even occurred to Ron. But then Ron had killed him hadn't he?

"I have another class in an hour, so you'd better get on with it. Wouldn't want to keep the Council waiting."

"No we wouldn't." Ron agreed in a deceptively calm voice. "I need to know your personal opinion," Ron sneered at the word showing precisely what he thought of Tal opinion, "of what these students are capable of and to what a degree."

Tal looked to Hermione trying to see how much she wanted him to say but she only looked back at him pleasantly. "After testing all of them I found more than the estimated thirty that Ms. Granger thought she had, I believe in all there was forty-nine. So far only twelve of them exhibit enough potential to train at Talis, is they so wished." Ron's expression made it apparent that the children wouldn't have been allowed to go even if they wanted to. "As capabilities I've just now been able to sort them into groups, I'm seeing mostly telepathic ability, mixed with telekinetic there are a few minor empaths, and then some odds and ends."

The questions continued for another fifteen minutes before Ron realized there was no point in trying to bait Tal any further.

Tal watched with interest as Ron went to stand by Hermione's desk and make plans for dinner. She'd seemed to have gotten over her problems with Ron fairly quickly which surprised Tal.

After Ron had left the room Tal stood up and attempted to leave the room but Hermione forestalled him. "I was wondering how Draco was doing?"

Tal wondered if he should be honest with her, as close as she seemed to be to Ron lately he wasn't sure he should, for all he knew it would go right to the Council. In the end he decided she deserved to know, even if Draco was no longer talking to her. "He's doing good, learning quickly. Kirish and I have decided to register him in the Empath Division. He easily one of the strongest I've ever seen."

"I'm glad he's learning to control it, he seems to look better lately." She paused for a moment, "What did you mean by register?"

"From the beginning Kirish and I kept records of people who had potential or who might pass it to their children." Tal shrugged lightly, "There's a whole team in Talis dedicated to it."

Hermione fiddled with a quill not meeting his eyes, "How many have you registered?"

"I'm going to tell you but let me make it explicitly clear if I ever hear that it got the Council's ears I will make your life difficult." She turned incredulous eyes to him, and he continued speaking, "When I left to come here we had over ten thousand registered but you have to understand not all of the exhibit the potential they merely carry it. We've gone back through generations and found that certain families have a higher likely hood. And the only way anybody will find out more is if they steal our records but I wouldn't recommend that."

Hermione hesitated slightly, "Thank you for telling me about it and about Draco."

"Your welcome. I've got to go now, those bloody girls all try to get to class half an hour early."

Surprisingly though when he reached the classroom it was empty, he breathed a sigh of relieve and started walking towards his desk. As he passed the student tables he noticed a book that had drop underneath a chair, stooping down he picked it up. Sitting down at his desk he glanced at the book and was taken aback by the title, "The Fall Of Voldemort" by Percy Weasley. People apparently didn't care about uttering the dreaded V word any longer and it sounded just like Percy to have written a history book. Forgetting that he had made a promise to himself to never read such things he started to flip through it.

Ten minutes later the book was thrown across the room with such rage that as it hit the wall the book split in half. Tal was sitting at his desk, jaw and fists clenched. He couldn't understand how everyone could believe such horrible things about him. A bitter laugh echoed around the room, mocking him.

As a child he had been in the history books as a hero, defeater of Voldemort, now as a man he was in the history books as someone nearly more evil than Voldemort himself.

"Kirish!"

"Tal?" A startled Kirish responded.

"I need you to take over classes for the day, and tell Draco I'm not coming tonight."

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing, nothing at all." Tal responded bitterly.

And walked away knowing Kirish would take care of it.


Just as he had been for most of his early life, so he was again, alone and hated. He stood in the middle of the room, faces looked down at him from raised balconies. Friends, teachers, enemies all brought together to witness his trial. Believing that he was a Death-Eater, that he had murdered his own friends! He desperately tried to hold the tears back, not wanting to show any weakness in front of these people.

The mark upon his arm burned like fire, why would he willingly have the mark of Voldemort branded onto his skin, polluting his soul? Did they know nothing?

No, he couldn't explain how it had gotten there, it had just appeared. No, he couldn't explain where the plans had come from. He had kept denying the same things over and over until it had come down to these final tense moments.

Silence ruled as Minister Cornelius Fudge stood, "We find Harry Potter guilty of crimes as a Death-Eater. Including the murders of Susan Bones, Neville Longbottom, and others yet to be discovered, also treason in the highest degree." Glaring spitefully down at Harry, Fudge called out to the Aurors who carelessly hauled Harry to the chamber entrance.

"Please HELP!" He screamed in aguish. Albus Dumbledore turned his back to his most promising pupil, as did so many others.


The room around Tal was in shambles, broken shards of glass, papers, clothes all in disarray, reflecting his mood as he started blankly through the window in the clear blue sky.


Later that night a marked change occurred in Draco, one that wouldn't make itself known for days but still wrapped itself around his subconscious.

That night unknowingly he had his first true insight into Tal's past. Nightmares plagued his sleep, faces floated before his closed eyes, guilt riddled him, fear held him in place, blood stained his thoughts. And they continued into the early morning, not unlocking him until the sun burned the darkness away.

He awoke not realizing the hellish nightmares belong not to him but to Tal. His body and mind shook from fatigue as he dressed and prepared to face the school as he did every day.

Breakfast was uneventful, except that Tal was missing presumably not feeling well.

Morning classes were boring and irritating as always, except that he felt so depressed when he should have been gleeful as he took twenty points from Gryffindor.

Lunch was once again uneventful, except when Hermione tried to sit by him and a glass a wine accidentally fell into her lap.

Afternoon classes were again boring and irritating as always, except that he felt so depressed when he should have laughed as two seventh year Gryffindors screwed a potion up and their skin turned a bright Slytherin green.

Dinner was once again uneventful, except that by now Draco couldn't help but wondering where Tal was.

And for the life of him he couldn't figure out why he would actually care but all the same he still went to Tal's private rooms as soon as dinner ended. A brief bubble of emotion rose to the surface and burst when Kirish opened the door, he didn't know what he felt and he figured he really didn't want to know.

"What do you want Draco?" Kirish asked from the doorway in a tired voice.

"Where's Tal?" Draco questioned impatiently, wanting to shove her out of the way.

"Tal? When did you start referring to him as Tal?

"Just answer the bloody question you damned Yankee!" But he couldn't help but wonder the same thing too.

"Look blondy he isn't feeling well." Kirish spat back at him.

"Well that's perfectly clear, considering I've felt like shit all day. Tell him to at least have the courtesy to close his bloody side of the link!" Kirish gave him an outraged look but he pushed her out of the way saying, "Never mind I'll tell myself. As dense as you are you'll forget before you close the door."

"Get your fucking inconsiderate ass back here!" She yelled from behind him but he ignored her again and started looking through the rooms, astounded at the wreckage. He finally found Tal in the bedroom, sitting on the floor systematically tearing a stack of books into sheds and then tossing them into a fire.

If Tal was aware of Draco he ignored him, or at least tried. Whether Tal realized it not he'd had the link open ever since the night before and Draco was completely aware of how he felt. It was in that moment he realized who the nightmares belonged to, it was in that moment he realized how alike they were, it was in that moment he admitted to himself that he actually liked the man. It was in that moment that their link took a life of it's own.

In reality it only lasted a few seconds, but to them it felt like hours. A wide eyed Kirish rushed into the room, looked at the two men, and breathed out sharply, "What the fuck was that?"

An overwhelmed Draco sat down next to Tal who looked at Draco, "That's what I want to know."

"Well don't look at me, I didn't do anything and bloody hell I really don't want to know what just happened."


It was much later on in the night, after Draco had left, that Tal and Kirish sat on the bed trying to figure out how to deal with the new aspect of Tal and Draco's link.

"He has uncommon control, he worked my memories over fairly well with no training, I already told him you were going to work with him on it."

"Well we just won't. He doesn't seem aware of the memories and we just have to hope it stays that way."

"Ha not with the luck I seem to be having."

"Well what did you expect? You should have never open the damned book."

"That's just it," Tal said with tightly closed eyes, "I wasn't thinking, I just did it. I never thought they would write such tripe about me or believe it for that matter."

"Yea well from what I can see they're all idiots so it's understandable."

"Thanks Kirish," Tal said softly.

"What are you going to do about this by the way?" Kirish asked while he seemed to be in a better mood.

"Damn, I don't know, right now my head feels like it's about to explode. You and I swap memories all the time but I've never had a lifetime of them crammed into my head at once. At this moment I can't even sort through any of them, and besides how the hell do I know this hasn't ever happened before."


It was a groggy Tal that made his way to breakfast for the first time in two days, when he entered a large number of students stood up and clapped. All he wanted to do was yell at them to shut up, the noise wasn't helping his headache at all.

He made his way to the end of the main table and sat between Kirish and Draco, the latter had taken to sitting as far from Hermione as possible even if it meant enduring Tal and Kirish.

Tal looked at the other man closely for any sign of change, but unlike Tal he seemed well rested and entirely too cheerful, or at least for Draco.

"I see you kept to yourself last time." Draco said patronizing Tal.

"I might not tonight, might not be able to control myself, so have the bed ready," Tal shot right back. And hit his mark, Draco's hand paused in mid-air and his eyes widened before he managed to get himself under control. Setting his cup back down gently he turned to Tal and actually growled. Just growled. Tal didn't believe it and just sat there blinking.

Kirish ignored it, "Draco pass the sugar."

A moment later Draco's arm reached around Tal and slammed the sugar bowl into Kirish hand.

"Well I see your not as cheerful as you looked." She said with a raised eyebrow. "It's amazing how much you two act alike."

"I do not!" Two voices responded in unison. Kirish laughed aloud, drawing attention to the trio.

After that Tal and Draco didn't look at each other once, they completely ignored one another. Which Tal was fine with, his head still hurt and he was in a terrible mood.

It got worse when Hermione came up and asked him to be an escort for the student trip to Hogsmeade. Hermione wouldn't stop talking, which made his head throb even more and he agreed just to shut her up.


As Draco left breakfast and stalked back to his room he cursed Tal with any and every word that popped into mind. He couldn't believe that he had thought he might actually like the man or that they were alike.

Tal was an arrogant bastard who thought he knew everything, he always tried to tell people what to do. No he defiantly did not like the man and he kept repeating that to himself over and over.

Unfortunately for him as he rambled he also turned at the wrong corridor and knocked right into Hermione.

"Draco."

He ignored her and turned to walk away but she grabbed his arm and pulled him back to face her.

"No more of this! We have to talk about this."

"About what Headmistress?"

"Hermione! My name is Hermione!" She cried out in frustration, something she rarely did.

Draco looked at her, "I know what your name is and I don't want to talk to you, ever." He ignored her agonized expression. "I have to go pick up some research materiel in Hogsmeade, so if you will excuse me Headmistress?"

She turned her head and breathed deeply, trying to calm herself, "Fine Draco."


Bookstores had fascinated him ever since he was a child, following his father around in their personal library. Books held such power and knowledge, you could learn anything if need be.

When he had been a student people had never realized just how intelligent he was except of course for Snape and Dumbledore. Studying had been easy for him, he loved to read, he just didn't like all the incredibly boring homework that went with it. And besides there had always been Potter to irritate, Draco had to admit that had been the highlight of his school years, finding ways to irritate Potter to higher levels each time. But then Potter had turned into one of them, Draco still didn't know if he believed that or not.

He'd been present at the trial, Potter had denied everything but then Dumbledore had spoken against him and who was going to contradict Albus Dumbledore?

Draco was still mulling over his thoughts as he exited the bookstore, as he walked by an alley he saw something he hadn't expected.

Tal Wittman kissing a Hogwarts student. They were locked in a passionate kiss, the girl's arms clutched around Tal's neck and his arms pulling at her shirt. Draco felt an indescribable emotion and was about to turn away when suddenly Tal pushed the girl away, anger apparent on his face.

"What the hell was that?"

"Why professor Wittman, I'm sure you know exactly what that was." The girl said, lust ringing clear in her voice.

"Let me make this very clear to you," Tal said with more anger than Draco had ever heard and he could see the girl shrinking back, "I don't need students throwing themselves at me. I'm here to do a job, an important job, I don't need this shit"

The girl was brave though Draco had to give her that because she kept at it, "But I wouldn't be in the way professor, I'm seventeen not some little virgin." Then she looked up at him in with calculating look, "Or has someone already made the offer and you took it?"

From where Draco stood Tal look very affronted that the girl hadn't already backed off already.

"Your right actually there's already a special female in my life, her name is Lillis and she's waiting for me at home. And believe me you don't compare."

Draco felt something again and apparently so did the girl because she ran past him in tears. Tal followed a moment later and stood in front of Draco. "What no cracks Draco?"

He didn't answer he just stood in shock as he realized that he had been jealous. Jealous that the girl had been kissing Tal, jealous that Tal had someone.

He Draco Malfoy had been jealous of someone for the first time since Harry Potter died.


Chapter 6 - Truth Marred By Deception