Jay Morris

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, just the gremlins in my head.

"Chapter 3: Devine Appointment"

Draco was sitting in the Slytherin common room. He had just received an owl from his father, and his pompous attitude had deflated. According to his father Professor Devine could not be touched, and that he was allowed to be as serious, nice, or extreme as he needed to be. This also meant that Draco couldn't get out of the three detentions that he owed Devine. Draco looked at his watch and gasped. He had six minutes to get to Devine's classroom, and that was no easy task. He tore out of the common room as though all of Gryffindor house were out to get him. Draco opened the door just as a clock in Devine's classroom chimmed seven o'clock, the start of his detention.

"Cuttin' it kinda close aren't you Draco?" Devine looked up from his desk.

"Yes Professor; sorry."

"What did the owl from your father say?" Devine showed no emotion on his face.

"How did you know about that?"

"Do you really want to know?"

"Yes."

"Allright. I informed the Ministry, and your father, myself just so they would know before your owl got there."

"Yes sir."

"Well, I have nothing for you to do yet, but you still owe me a detention. And I would rather not have you for detention every day; so sit down and talk to me. Talk about yourself."
Draco was shocked. He was being told by a teacher who had blasted him twenty-five feet into a wall, and given detention to just sit down and talk. As he sat down in the desk right in front of Devine's he asked, "What do you want to know?"

"I want to know about your life Draco. Tell me about your secret crushes, current grades, and personal goals. And don't worry, no one will ever know about these things you tell me. I put a special charm in this room, that whenever 'school' is over and I have appointments no one will be able to eavesdrop in any way. Feel ready to talk now?"

Draco told the whole story of his life, he just couldn't help but feel safe with Devine. He told of how abusive his father was, how his mother ignored him when he was home for the summer, how boring school was sometimes, and that he wanted to be an Auror when he graduated. He even told of how he really did like Granger, and pretended to not like her so his father wouldn't banish him from his profits, and he would save face in front of his fellow Slytherins. All through this Devine didn't shift his position, move his eyes, or even blink; until Draco had finished.

"Have you ever tried to tell her?" Devine's voice was very concerned, almost as if he felt his pain.

"No. I entertained the idea of me and her once, but I just don't see that happening." Draco felt depressed now.

"Why don't you think it will work?" Devine was serious now.

"Because she is smart, a Gryffindor, and a muggle born. My father would murder her in front of me, and then send me to Azkabhan prison, and that was if he was having a good day."

"Want my help?" Devine blinked for the first time, and a tear rolled down his face.

"You want to help me? How could you do that?"

"Remember that owl from your father, he and the Ministry of Magic can't touch me. So, if I were to require you be with her for some reason, they couldn't throw a fit. But remember, you couldn't come too fast; she must be willing for you to be with her as well, otherwise you'll hurt her as well as yourself."

"You say that like it's happened to you before."

"Not that exactly, but I know first hand your fear." Devine closed his eyes as tears rolled down his cheeks again. "I was so young and so in love. We had both just graduated from Hogwarts and were living together in a simple house outside of London. She was working as an Auror and I was working in the Ministry of Magic in Muggle Relations. I came home one day to find the Dark Mark over our house, and my wife murdered in bed. I went into such a rage that I had no contact with any people other than Death Eaters. I attacked and killed one of them in my rage, and left a note of where to find me. I went into seclusion and endured attack after attack with the Unforgiveable Curses. Only my rage kept me going, my rage caused by love. During a break in being attacked I learned dozens of ancient curses, charms, and spells forgotten to wizard-kind since the days of Merlin. And since then, I have been given the Order of Merlin First-Class, named Official Magic Expert, and have a higher pay level than the other teachers. So I know love and I know loss, and I don't want you to go through half of what I went through what I went through."

Devine opened his eyes, and Draco was in tears. "I have something for you. I prepared it in hopes of giving it to at least one student." Devine took a ring out from a desk drawer and tossed it to Draco. It was a silver ring with a snake head on the crest with emerald green eyes. "This is a ring for a Slytherin in love. Put it on, and close your eyes." As soon as Draco put it on, he closed his eyes and could see Hermione. She was studying her Transfiguration homework while leaning on one arm. Draco opened his eyes and she disappeared. "What did you see?"

"I saw Hermione. She was studying." Draco closed his eyes and saw her again.

"I thought so. That ring will allow people who have feelings for one another to communicate with thought, but only with one of three other rings." Devine pulled out three more rings; a bronze ring with a sapphire eyed eagle, a golden ring with a ruby eyed lion, and and a black ring with a topaz eyed badger. "These were the rings my beloved wife, our two best friends, and I used in school to plan group dates. They will adjust to the proper houses but we each were from another house. Myself from Ravenclaw, my wife from Hufflepuff, and our friends from Gryffindor and Slytherin. Offer Hermione the Gryffindor ring, and see what she says. Don't tell her what it does, just offer it to her in class when you get your opportunity. Now it's ten thirty so you need to run to bed young man. And remember this, I am always here."

"Thank you Professor." Draco walked quietly out of the door, and didn't make a sound as he shut the door. He walked slowly and thoughtfully back to the Slytherin common room, said nothing to Crabbe and Goyle, who were fighting over the last Chocolate Frog in the room, and went straight to bed.

N/A: I realize it's a bit short, but then again some of the best chapters will be. Sorry if you really would like my writing to be longer.