Title: More than Mrs. Potter

Author: Joy

A/N: I will try to explain Hope's magical power as best I can: An EMPATH in this case is an individual that can feel everyone's emotions around them. If the emotions are strong enough she can actually hear their thoughts. Any physical contact between her and other people will leave an emotional impression on her. If people have direct contact with her skin the connection is intensified. Hope does however have the ability to put up 'walls' between herself and others. 'Walls' are like the Legilimency. Hope can also 'push' people; meaning if she is with someone that is tense or angry she can 'push' feelings onto another person...i.e. touching Harry on the neck and calming him down. Where the problem lies is if someone accidentally very upset touches Hope, she tends to actually respond the way that individual would have responded. Read the following chapter and hopefully you will get a better sense of it.

Okay, we are under a new system...let's see how this works.

4. The Slytherin situation

The welcome feast went off without a hitch. Hope was indeed sorted into Slytherin but it appeared to Harry as if she too were asked by the sorting hat where she would like to be placed. Upon hearing the proclamation, Goyle was forced to move the line of students at the Slytherin table down by one to make room for Hope next to Draco. Pansy had never even gotten that treatment...something that she complained about... loudly. Draco let everyone know with subtle ways that Hope was to be treated well...mostly by the fact he actually smiled at her. No one had ever seen that before. While there was no hand holding, kissing, groping, or inappropriate touching going on at all most would believe that Draco Malfoy was actually smitten with a girl.

The 'nicer' Slytherins flocked to Hope. She was their guiding angel. Hope was Dumbledore's proof that Slytherins did not have to be evil. With her happily installed as a 'leader' of sorts in the Slytherin world Pansy had less power and Draco had some support on his new path.

Pansy however did not like this arrangement at all. A rumor was whispered to Pansy by her mother that Hope J. Nigellus...yeah that's right... had one of those odd talents that the Nigellus or Black families were known to possess. One in which if she touched someone with very strong emotions she would actually act on those emotions. Somehow Pansy would find a way to use that to her own advantage... use it to break the bond between Hope and Draco.

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Problems didn't actually begin until classes did. There was an unwritten rule that Hope was off limits due Draco's obvious attraction to her, which suited Hope just fine. What surprised all was the quick bond that formed between Ginny and Hope. Ginny was one of those people that really didn't care what house someone was in...nor did she feel the need to only spend time with Gryffindors. Now by all accounts Hope was Draco's girlfriend so the fact that he permitted his girl to associate with a 'blood traitor' and St. Potter's girlfriend seemed suspicious to some of the die hard Slytherins. However no one questions the Slytherin prince so it all worked...for a little while.

Pansy set her plan in motion after she caught Draco staring at Hope a little too long. Then it happened that they returned together late one night the first week of classes... They were laughing and talking. Pansy could only assume that they were having fun...the way she and Draco used to have fun. Pansy's plan was very simple really...all she had to do was break Draco's trust. Draco didn't know about Hope's little talent, so Pansy could use it against her...and she planned to.

One night when the couple returned from where ever they went Pansy let her controlled emotions boil to the surface...all her anger, hurt, jealousy, and lust. She timed it perfectly. Hope and Draco came through the door laughing together.

"Hello Pansy," Draco said in greeting. Pansy eyed him before she 'slipped' catching Hope by the wrist to steady herself. The direct skin contact heightened the intensity.

"Picking up mum's habits are we Pans?" Draco taunted knowing that Pansy's mother was known for getting tipsy rather easily.

"No, Draco...I just slipped," she growled and made quick work of getting to the stairs to be out of sight but still observe.

After the other Slytherin girl department, Draco turned to Hope who was breathing heavily, and grabbed the wall. "You okay?" he asked as he saw that Hope's normally blue eyes had turned almost black.

"What's it to you? You let that April girl fall all over you. Why would you care about me?" Hope hissed.

"What the hell is that about?" Draco snapped. "I'm not doing anything with April." He didn't like this turn of events at all.

"Right...the Slytherin 'Sex god' must be getting laid some way since I'm not putting out. Oh wait its probably Weaselette...you would love that wouldn't you? That would get back at Potter for everything, wouldn't it?"

He was dumbfounded. Hope had never behaved like this before. "Where is all this jealousy and anger coming from?" Draco asked in a soft tone since there had to be a logical explanation.

"Pansy," Hope panted as her eyes returned to their normal color before his eyes.

"What? What do you mean Pansy?"

"When she grabbed my wrist...I felt everything she was feeling...everything she was thinking. That's what that was."

Draco stepped back from Hope, "Are you telling me you can read people's minds?"

Her face became pained, "Yes, but not always...its more about what they are feeling. I do my best never to read you or Ginny."

"But you have," he snapped.

"Not intentionally," she begged. "But sometimes you would touch my hand at a meal or in the hall when you were really upset about something...I just got an impression of your feelings."

"How could you not tell us? Not tell me?"

She swallowed getting very nervous, "It's not the most normal thing. I was afraid you would look at me like you are right now...like a freak. I didn't really feel like anybody would get it but..."

Draco watched her cut off her words, "No one but Potter right? After all he's saint Potter. He can understand anything...anything but me being friends with his girlfriend."

Hope went to touch him but he pulled his arm away. "Get away from me...I'm not letting you in my head."

"Draco?" she muttered.

"Leave me alone, freak," he snapped and left her standing there alone while Pansy stood smirking out of sight.

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Harry found Hope in the hallway near the dungeons about an hour later crying. "What's the matter Hope?" he asked. "You're crying like you lost your best friend."

"I did," she whimpered.

"What are you talking about?"

Hope's chin quivered. "Pansy was really upset with Draco but didn't say anything...she tripped and grabbed my wrist. Suddenly I became her mouthpiece. I was saying awful things... I told him why it happened and he freaked...especially once he figured out that you knew...that I had told you." She stifled a sob, "He wouldn't let me touch him Harry."

"I'm so sorry," Harry muttered remembering how awful it was when Ginny had nearly ended things between them the same night they got together.

Harry mustered every feeling of compassion, empathy, love, and safety in him before he wrapped his arms around her. He made sure to touch the skin on the back of her neck to transmit those emotions to her. Hope took a deep shuddered breath, and began to cry anew.

"What did I do?" Harry asked. "I was trying to help."

Hope shook her head; "No one has touched me in that loving a manner since my mom died. It's overwhelming."

"Give Draco time to get used to the idea. He'll come around. He has behaved toward you entirely differently than I have seen him act toward anyone else. He won't want to lose you."

"I wish I was that confidence," she muttered and dried her tears. She slipped back into the Slytherin common room with no further issue.

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Harry turned around to head up to Gryffindor Tower when he caught sight of Draco's white blonde hair. He followed the other boy a minute. "Malfoy," he called.

"What do you want Potter?"

"I want to talk to you about Hope."

"What? It's not enough that you don't let Ginny chat with me anymore now you have to turn Hope against me too," Draco spat.

"What the bloody hell are you talking about? I was comforting her because you made her cry. I told her you would come around...I defended you," Harry snapped.

Draco snarled, "Like I believe that. You would do anything to make sure I hurt."

"No, I wouldn't," the raven-haired boy stated.

The blond boy glared at him, "That was a pretty intense embrace you two shared. Maybe I'll tell Ginny about it."

Harry shook his head, "You know what Hope is...what she can do...I was trying to use it to comfort her. Ginny will understand that. I will tell her myself...You need to let this go. There is no conspiracy here against you."

"I need to let this go...you're the one that pulled the ultimatum on Ginny. You're the one that made it you or me. I know you are gloating that she chose you."

Harry growled to himself, "I am going to walk away now. You can continue to mutter crazy thoughts to yourself... You best fix things with Hope. She's one of your only true friends. Don't lose that."

"Don't tell me how to live my life or what I need to do. You worry about yourself Potter," Draco snarled.

"Hey! I am trying to help you... You really hurt her tonight. Your opinion matters to her... Why I will never understand but hey... You made Hope feel that her worst fears were validated. None of that has anything to do with me," Harry snapped.

"Well she is a freak," Malfoy spat.

"You're a piece of work Malfoy...you really are. She can do something magical... useful... amazing...and you recoil in fear of it. All you have to do is walk in there and get a hug and you will feel calm and loved. Things I don't think you get very often... After all you tend to make your world very small." With that Harry Potter left Draco Malfoy stand in the hallway hating him all the more.

TBC...

A/N: What did you think Draco was going to become squeaky clean in this story? Redemption takes work...and normally some major missteps before the ultimate freefall moment. We aren't close to that by a long shot. Also get used to the fact that the major players in this story will be Harry, Ginny, Draco, and Hope. Ron and Hermione will make appearances but will not play a huge role.

Now guys...I am begging. REVIEW my story, PLEASE. If you don't like it, tell me. If you like it, tell me. If I am screwing up my grammar, please, please, please tell me. I have a couple iffy chapters coming up that need serious re-writes. I need REVIEWS to inspire me.

So... I will REVIEW to make Joy stop begging. I will REVIEW to make Joy stop begging.

Thank you.