If there's one thing i know, it's that Hogwarts has always been, and always will be beautiful. I'm sat outside under an oak that hangs partly over the black lake. It's sunny and sweltering hot. The sand is moist enough that i feel it as the wetness seeps through the back of my pants. I don't even mind though at least not right now not in this moment because i'm to.. oh what's the word? Happy! After the literal summer from hell. I Draco Malfoy am happy.
We're meant to be watching Unicorns, and cataloging something. Which on their own the beasts are stunning enough, as they prance and play together in the sand, but right now they play second fiddle to Grace Lordon.
Her headband has failed to contain some unruly flyaways, there is a gentle breeze next to the lake, and some spindly silver hairs stick out every which way. Reminding me momentarily of Potter but whereas on that idiot he looks, well like an idiot she is perfection. There are 2 good reasons i can think of, for her being sorted into Slytherin. The first is that Green is her color there's no questioning that, it brings out the green hues in her blue eyes. The second is that it's allowed me the extraordinary privilege of getting to know her.
She's relaxed and drunk on the magic of the moment like the rest of us. She's next to me under the oak. Although were an entire person apart i can't remember ever being closer in proximity to her, at least in public. Perhaps though as careless first years, we might have hugged or our shoulders bumped on accident. When i was a first year i had no idea just how dangerous the world was. We were both naive.
When "Professor" Hagrid led us down here for class i started spinning in my head various ways i might sit close to her. Not to close, not to obvious, never to obvious. I couldn't afford to appear to know her anymore than any other Slytherin in our year. Outwardly we were respectful to one another so anyone close enough to hear got the picture. Fellow Slytherins, and that is all we are, and what I desperately need the world to believe. If anyone had an inkling of anything else, things could end very badly for us both.
I'm not sure what she knows of my involvement in the Dark Lords plans. She's never pressed me for information, but she was understanding enough in 4th year when i explained why we could never be public. Why we would be forced to meet in the shadows, and communicate in secret. She must know something, it's the only reason i can explain as to why she resigns herself to this half life with me. Why she never presses me to the point she knows we cannot cross.
This tree was the perfect spot. A small gift from the universe usually intent on my destruction. I caught her eye in the crowd of students milling around. She followed my lead. She sat in the seat next to me and we piled our bags, and books in between us strategically. To ensure our hands would not be seen hidden behind the pile. She draws lazy circles on the back of my hand, and manages to keep jotting down notes. She is Incredible. I am concentrating on her and only her, notes be damned. It's not like i'll be here to finish out the year anyway. My friends found me already sat down and formed a huddle around me, as did her own circle of friends. Typically the Slytherins all sit together, and today we did plus one Gryffindor girl who sits in the ranks of Grace's group. I try to avoid paying the Gryffindor's much attention, i'm not even sure of this one's name. The girl must know someone in our group. Grace breaks contact with my hand to rummage in her bag, the lose is like a sting.
"Malfoy, could i have a spare quill mine's gone dull." She says Malfoy, but i know it's to keep up the facade, when we're alone she only calls me Draco. First name basis is reserved for people who can be known to be close to one another. Asking for a quill is just another excuse to touch again. I oblige gladly.
I hand over a spare without looking up, because i'm afraid if i meet her eyes i might smile. "Lordon." I say clipped enough to pass for annoyance. As far as the lot of Slytherins around us know i am listening to the great oaf with rapt attention, and Grace has just interrupted my reverie.
I peer over at her and something about the way she holds the quill just makes me fall for her all over again. Maybe it's because it's one of my quills. Father special ordered them before the start of term. An albino raven had been the gracious donor. The lot of them had been a luxury the Malfoy's would not dare to spare their only heir, especially this year, because it could be my last term ever. The white feathers stain easily, and Grace has a penchant for marking them with her ink but i don't mind. It actually makes me like the quills even more once she has marked them.
My efforts to stay focused on Grace are dashed much sooner than i'd have liked, and i'm forced to look away from her. It's the bushy hair wonder other wise known as Granger.
"Hagrid, they're even more magnificent than the Hippogriffs from third year!" Her voice is jarring and the tone of innocence she always connotes with grates on my nerves.
There are audible sniggers as the class is reminded of the oafs bloody chicken. Yes haha. It's to bad the thing ended up getting away, i'd have liked to have had a quill or 2 off of it after they'd killed it. I have my suspicions as to how, or more precisely who had helped it "get away". I roll my eyes at Granger curse her bleeding heart, and ignore the laughter coming from where the other 2/3 of the golden trio sits. I can tell without even looking at them Potter and Weasley are leaned together conspiratorially in that way that annoys me to no end. A joke or secret for just the two of them, surely, they're so obvious. The dark lord doesn't have to wonder who Potter loves or what could hurt him most when the time comes. He knows exactly the people it would kill Potter to lose. Honestly the boy wonder has brought it on himself. If some day the dead bodies of Granger, and Weasley appear at his feet he can only blame himself. He's made no effort to keep them hidden, like i said he's an idiot.
Who cares about them though? I'm out of here any day now, as soon as i can get that blasted thing working. I didn't think it would take me this long, the dark Lord is growing impatient. Any day now i'll be called to answer to him.
If there's one thing i don't know it's why they've allowed the oaf to continue to teach classes here. This year i've been more than apprehensive at the start of each week when he introduces us to his latest beast. After the chicken, it's been hard to trust animals. The oaf is as likely to fly as he is to pick something that can't kill us all. First week this term and he brought out Dragon eggs, which mind you are illegal to own, our headmaster pulled some strings i'm sure. He partnered us to hatch them. Which was fine, until the thing actually hatched and, well Goyle's eyebrows have yet to grow back. His face has been burnt, and he looks in constant shock without his thick set of brows. It's hard to hold a conversation with him when he looks like a shocked burn victim, which i guess he is. Since then each week just got progressively scarier, until today. By bringing us to see the unicorns the oafs actually done something right in my book. If only for the extra time in her presence, i am in my way grateful. Not that i can forgive the Bloody chicken ordeal, but i can allow some form of appreciation i think, if i can think of one.
I don't know how much time i've got left here, at Hogwarts and at life in general, so i plan to soak up all the good times i can get.
"I'm glad ye like them Hermione. Could ye tell us a bit abou em?"
Of course Granger is over the moon. So pleased with herself to be patted on the head simply for breathing.
"The unicorn is a symbol of purity, and divinity. Good omens. I read that their horns can be harvested and used in potions, and to cure some poisons. They can also sense good and evil. Thats to say they know a good wizard from a bad one." She says and nods her head proudly. Snapes right shes an insufferable know it all.
"Thas correct. Great! Now who wants ter help me demonstrate?" The oaf booms. He'll just pick from his favorite 3, how typical.
Grace however doesn't give him a chance to pick any of them. She's really taken with these unicorns i realize, i'll have to remember that. Maybe she would fancy a unicorn hair lined coat? She sways right up to him with a grin he can't be blamed to return. He's thrilled to have one of the Slytherins participating. We rarely do.
"Great, no what yer gon do is com up ner her, wit yer hand out like this, an if she wans she'll let ye pet her." He says excitedly but half of it comes out quickly, and sounds like gibberish.
For a moment i worry this could turn into another fiasco, but Grace is so sure she's very much in control. So i force myself to stay in my seat, force myself not to move a muscle, and to trust she can handle herself.
Grace nods thoughtfully, and walks up full of confidence that i lacked in 3rd year. Tiny fingers reach out to the unicorn like she was instructed. Someone's been over feeding this beast in particular, it's much more portly than the other's. Or maybe It's just had a very large meal. There are at least 10 of them out here with us, that i can see. Preening themselves, and drinking from the lake. They seem relaxed, like they don't mind us out here. The other unicorns look brighter, more white somehow, in the distance.
The unicorn not only allows Grace to pet her, but she fully starts to nuzzle into her, effectively licking her face until slobber starts to run down it. Slytherin house falls into a ruckus of laughter. The unicorn follows Grace, when she moves the unicorn moves. The beast seems to be as taken with her, as Grace is with it.
"Oi, get a room." Theo jibes while looking half disgusted. Grace is not though, she's exceptionally brave for a Slytherin. She's enjoying this quite a bit, ear to ear grinning.
"Well done!" Pansy cries. Pansy and Grace aren't what i would call close but what you can say for Slytherin house is we show up for one another. This house stands as a family. Our individual triumphs are everyone's triumphs in our house. We get so few of them.
Grace is running her fingers along the unicorn while the oaf looks on in a knowing way. Her face scrunches up, and i can see a lightbulb go off in her head. "She's pregnant, is'nt she?" She asks.
"Thats righ i was hopin yed notice." Hagrid chuckles. "Durin their pregnancy unicorns have been known to be extremely affectionate as we just saw. Now theres a very special spell that can be performed on unicorns when carrying a wee babe. But i'll be needin one mor of ye. Is a spell for 2."
Without even realizing it my hand is up. Shit.
"Mr. Malfoy then, wonderful!" Great this will only further the delusion in his head that his class has any meaning. Just when i was starting to think the bloke wasn't so bad. I'm sure he's just patting himself on the back for having not one but 2 Slytherins up and participating in his class.
It's to late now but I've got to be more careful. Moments like this could ruin us. The two of us singled out, together, in front of the entire class. It's not hard to start making the jump to us being a couple. I worked tirelessly to maintain the distance between Grace and i for years now, and it would all be for nothing if i couldn't control myself.
Keeping myself seemingly distant from Grace was no easy feat considering how often we were forced to be in the same classroom, and same table at dinner everyday. At night we sleep a few feet away from one another. If she's in the Slyhterin common room i make it a point to never stick around. The library we try to keep a rotating schedule on. The less frequently we are seen together the better.
The one place i had deemed inaccessible to ever going was the greenhouse. Grace was obsessed with herbology. Constantly finding new sprigs of this or that on her nature walks as she called them. Sometimes i was lucky enough to trail behind and watch her become enamored at the newest discovery. I avoided the greenhouse not because of how happy it made her, but because each time i'd been with her there i had lost myself. Surrounded by humidity and fauna it was all to easy to succumb to her feminine allure. One friendly smirk led to more all to quickly in that greenhouse. She likes to test me i think. She how far she can push me until i shut down, and remember where we are. Maybe the thrill of it does something for her.
If we were different people we might know the pleasure of letting loose. But our match was as star crossed as it can get. Although Grace is a pureblood, just barely by most standards, my parents would never approve. She seems to think her mother would approve but i've heard she's quite mad so there's that.
It feels positively sinful to stand this close to her, she's practically touching my robes. Then Professor Hagrid, as i swear to call him in all honesty from this moment forward, tells me to take Grace's hand. Crabbe, and Goyle are nothing but grins, the damn tossers. The best way to play the moment i think is just to follow his instructions as aloof as possible. Keep my face blank, act like i haven't a care in the world.
Grace doesn't meet my eye as i place my hand on top of hers. Following my lead again. Good girl. The unicorn barely even acknowledged me on my approach. I was a tad hesitant to walk over, probably a form of PTSD from the bloody chicken. Our hands are'nt entwined merely laying against one another with the steady rhythm of new life thrumming below them atop the massive bulge of the unicorn. The unicorn has gone quite still, as if in anticipation of something. I can smell Grace's shampoo.
"Now i bet none of ye knew unicorns could be imbued with the magical properties of 2 people, as long as the unicorn finds them both to be pure of heart. Judging from Thunder there, she has deemed em both worthy." He smiles down at us both. I don't breathe. I simply stare straight ahead. Me pure of heart, utterly laughable.
"Pure of heart?" Weasley questions sarcastically. He's for once got a fair point. Slytherins can't be be pure of heart. Except Grace, she's the exception. Can the sorting hat be wrong? Could it make a mistake. The thing is sentient enough, humans make mistakes after all.
"Hagrid i, you don't mean to have them perform the Tenula Charm surely.." Granger says seeming apprehensive. "That's performed by married couples."
And just like that i took Professor Hagrid right back out of my vocabulary and permanently redeemed him the oaf. Now the insinuation of Grace and i is completely out there. Great.
"Er yeh but no. The Tenula charm is part a old marriage ceremony but were not filing nothin at the Ministry. So it's fine. It's no traditional anymore, gone out o' fashion it seems." I did me research i promise.
Oh well if the oaf did his research it must be fine! Professor oaf it is. I step back, "i don't think this is-"
He cuts me off. "Now, now is easy enough, be over with quick. Now jus do as i say. Take out yer wands, flick em 3 times to the left o each other. Dont let go o' each other it'll break the spell. Think of ye happiest moment like your conjurin a Patronus, think of it like yer feedin the babe your happiness."
Grace is concentrated on our hands. I want to know what memory she picked. I can feel sweat collecting on my brow. The choice is not hard for me. We were first years, and i'd pilfered my mothers jewlery box. I stole a single emerald hair clip shaped like a butterfly over Christmas break, i think a house elf was blamed for loosing it. But in reality it was never lost i gave it to Lordon when term started back that year. She wears it still, usually hidden under her headband. I think of her hair clip, and her laugh.
And then there is a glow. It's iridescent and warm. The warmth whirls around us, as the class celebrates the success of the spell. Rivulets of silver sparks start to emerge from the tips of both of our wands. Grace looks up at me and smiles that demure smile that's just for me. "Later" her smile says. The unicorns stomach begins to glow. The baby deep inside is taking in our magic. Imbuing itself with it. This is probably the most intimate thing i've done with Grace, and we have an audience unfortunately.
Something dawns on Granger as she watches the remaining sparks titer out and she manages a pained "oh". Grangers just dying to say more i know it. Probably already has an entire speech already transcribed in that massive brain of hers. She's rocking from one foot to the other, whatever it is she wants to say she decides against saying it aloud.
Granger has beelined to the two witless wonders she calls friends. Honestly i am not sure why everyone thinks Potter's their leader. Grangers the only brain among them. She's talking fast whispering, and her eyes are darting to Grace and i still glowing in the heat of the spell. Grace doesn't notice. Granger looks worried i don't know her well but that is definitely the look of someone who is troubled. I rationalize that they must be trying to decipher how the unicorn deemed the two of us pure of heart, their guess is as good as mine, but i cannot convince myself fully. Grangers worried eyes follow and disturb me all the way back to my seat, but Potter's glower makes my blood run cold. It's the look i might give someone i want to avada.
Potter's been a bit to close for my comfort this year. At every turn that four eyed Gryffindor has become a nuisance. Every move I've made he ends up right there. I don't know how he's doing it but i suspect he's tracking me. I ran diagnostics over myself and had not found any kind of trace or jinx. So whatever he's doing is not ordinary magic. After what happened to madame Rosmerta and Katie bell he was already on my tail and now he was nearly impossible to shake. The next time i see him in the bathrooms i might just throw a hex or two his way and make a run for it. He knows its me after Dumbledore i think, but he has no proof. Dumbledore's days are numbered, get with the program Potter. If Potter is my handicap for the year, then Snape is his. Running interference has been no small task on his part, and i will owe him for this, greatly.
My jaw drops when Hagrid comes over to tell Grace and i that he wants us there when the baby is born. Our memories will make the transition of birth easier or some nonsense. "When it's born the placenta will be ready for potion brewing. Professor Snape, and professor Slughorn have been fighting over who gets it when the time comes. I told em first come first served." Professor Oaf laughs.
I have only 2 things on my checklist for this year i want to yell at him. Neither of which includes attending the birth of any kind of animal, imbued with my magic or not. Can't a guy just fix a cabinet and kill his headmaster in peace
