Miracle Child

Summary: She was born like others of her year in a time of war. She was brought up in the shadows of the chaos. Her parents loved her...that was all she knew and all that mattered. She didn't care if they were killers or if they had tortured ten or twenty witches and wizards, she just knew love.

Anime/Book/Movie: InuYasha/Harry Potter

Pairing: Kagome/?

Genre: Romance/Adventure

Rated: M for Mature Content

R.I.P – Alan Rickman

(Severus Snape)

Remember

The Half-Blood Prince

~ALWAYS~

-x-x-x-

July 31th, 1991

Kagome was leaning forward as she looked over the counter at the wands behind Olivander. "There must be something among this collection of woodwork. Surely so,"

"I've never failed to procure a wand for a customer, my dear. There is most certainly a wand t― oh, you know, perhaps that one."

Kagome glanced back at her Uncle, who gave a slight eye-roll before she turned her attention back to the wandmaker. Harry Potter, the-boy-who-lived, had tried nearly all the wands in his shop, or so it had seemed. Watching as he seemed to deflate a bit, she nudged him and grinned. "Olivander says he's never failed to find a wand for a customer, Harry. Don't worry, and just relax."

"Right."

Draco pulled at some of the wands curiously only for his father's cane to settle carefully on his shoulder by the fangs.

"Don't mess with anything unless it's handed directly to you, Draco."

Her cousin placed the long box down as Olivander stepped back into the building, Hagrid leaned forward a bit to see the box and the wand, curious as to why Olivander was taking his time in handing it over. He seemed, well, hesitant. Finally handing it over, she watched as sparks of red and silver shot magically from the wand and smiled at the excitement in Harry's eyes. "Nice! There ya go, Harry!"

He smiled as he looked over towards her before he looked back at his wand.

Olivander smiled before shaking his head with a heavy sigh, "curious, Mr. Potter. Curious indeed."

"What is?"

"...I can recall every wand I've ever sold, Mr. Potter. Every wand. It so happens that the phoenix whose tail feather resides in that wand, gave another feather, just one other." He emphasized, "it is curious that you should be destined for this wand...when it's brother gave you that scar."

Kagome's eyes widened; her eyes turned to meet Lucius, but he was too distracted by Olivander to pay her much attention. His hand was tightening its grip on his cane as he also listened.

"And who owned that wand?"

"We do not speak his name," he glanced past Harry, and he looked at both Lucius and Hagrid.

'I wonder what's going on in this old man's head. He must have some idea of who Uncle Lucius is, what's he thinking.'

"The wand chooses the wizard, Mr. Potter. It's not always clear why." Olivander returned his gaze to Harry, "but I think it is clear that we can expect great things from you. After all, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named did great things. Terrible! Yes, but great."

Kagome watched the older man and Harry lock eyes, and the heavy silence between the two turned unbearable. "Enough of that, what the wand? I get phoenix core, but the wood?"

"Ah, an interesting combination, my dear!" He smiled excitably at Kagome as his attention turned away from the Dark Lord. "Eleven-inch Holly and Phoenix Feather Core. What do you know of wands and their making? Anything?"

She shook her head, "I only know that some cores and woods are harder to come by than others."

He nodded, "nothing wrong with that. A bit of information then, for your young mind. Nice and supple, this wand. Wands made from Holly wood tend to pair up with those who need help overcoming anger and impetuosity. They also are known to choose owners that are engaged in, shall we say, dangerous and, at times, spiritual quests? As for your core," he redirected his attention to Harry, who looked a bit taken aback at the idea that he might be on some dangerous quest, "the Phoenix feather is a core that learns the most varied of magics and is the hardest to pair. You have quite the wand, Mr. Potter, treat it well." He cleared his throat and turned to Draco, "now, shall we, young Mr. Malfoy? You've been ever so patient, despite your obvious curiosity, my boy."

Draco grinned and moved forward.

It didn't take long for Draco to get a wand, he went through three failed attempts before a handsome and cleanly polished ten-inch long, Hawthorn and unicorn tail hair core, made it into his perfectly manicured hand.

"Another lesson, my dear?" Olivander asked as Kagome stepped closer to listen. "Reasonably springy, Hawthorn is particularly suited towards healing magic, though they are quite adept at curses. These wands are most often found in the hands of wizards and witches with a conflicted nature. Those who suffer periods of turmoil, distress, and is not easily mastered. They are, however, when talent is proven, loyal to their owner. Unicorn tail hair produces the most consistent sort of magic and bonds strongly with its first user. Again," he turned to Draco, "treat it well."

Lucius cleared his throat, and Olivander chuckled, "in a hurry, Mr. Malfoy." He patted Kagome on the shoulder before walking back to his counter and looking around his shop. "Your wand arm is your right, my dear?"

She nodded as she lifted her right arm. "Yes, sir,"

"I never once thought I'd have the pleasure of gifting another wand to a Lestrange." He murmured more to himself as he perused his collection, pulling a long box free after a moment and turning to face Kagome. "Kagome Lestrange...that is your name, yes?"

She smiled, "that's right."

"You have your fathers' curious blue eyes, my dear, and your mother's untamable black locks. Shall we only pray that you don't share their poor choices."

A loud scoff came from Hagrid, and her eyes darted back to the man/giant. Kagome brought a hand to a lock of her hair, feeling the curious eyes of Harry on her, she smiled confidently at the man as she took the wand in hand and waved it just past his head. The wand was certainly not a match for her as the wands behind him shot forward and clattered loudly behind him. "My choices, whether they are poor or not, will be mine and mine alone." She set the wand down and sighed, "this one doesn't seem to be a good fit."

Draco chuckled from behind her as he played around with his wand. The wide eyes of Olivander made the moment all the funnier, but he wouldn't push his luck. Harry wasn't aware of their parent's atrocious crimes, and neither did they plan to tell him until they were sure he could be trusted not to turn his back on them. It would take time, but time was something that they had plenty.

Ten-Inch, Redwood, Dragon Heartstring. Lashed out dangerously in her hand, causing her to drop it onto the counter almost as soon as she'd taken it in hand. "No, no, I don't think so."

Twelve-Inch, Cherry, Unicorn Hair. Dauntingly, the repaired vase beside her hummed threateningly before exploding when she waved the wand at it. "Ah! Not this one either, my dear."

She watched him pull the wand from her grasp and lay it back in the box before taking a calming breath and returning to the collection of boxes. Eight-Inch, Larch, Unicorn Hair. Nothing. It didn't even hum. Nothing blew up, but it certainly didn't accept her.

Ivy, Mahogany, Holly, English Oak, Elm, Yew, Sycamore, Willow, Fir, Ebony, Poplar, and Walnut, Dragon Heartstring, Unicorn Hair, Veela Hair, Dittany Stalk, nine-inch, ten, eleven and twelve-inch, nothing...

Kagome sighed.

"Hm, difficult, very difficult. A challenge you might be, but we will find you a wand yet. I just wonder if it'll be in my shop."

Lucius frowned, "where would you suggest that she get her wand?"

"I merely think the core her magic is searching for might be one I don't carry. I―oh, no, wait, there is one. Only one. This is not an Olivander wand, mind you!" He yelled over his shoulder as he wandered to the furthest part of his shop. "A friend of mine from overseas...Shikoba Wolfe is an American Wizard who was one of four wandmakers in North America. He crossed over to the Greater United Kingdom to further his research on wandwork and woodcarving. Cores and their properties. While here..." he coughed as a layer of dust flared around him as he pulled a long burgundy box from the highest shelf furthest from the counter. "...he gifted me with one of his creations. A powerful wand, and a picky wand. He had held onto it for nearly fifty years before realizing that the witch or wizard it was searching for wouldn't be one that came floating into his shop. So," he placed the dust-covered box down before Kagome and smiled eagerly. "Here we are, my dear. Ten and a quarter-inch, Ebony..."

"...what's the core?" She asked, her hand pausing above the box as she looked up at Olivander.

"Thunderbird tail feather."

Lucius stepped forward and nudged Kagome to open the box as she seemed to stall.

"Is it okay to be selling this wand if it―"

"If I manage to sell this wand to a witch or wizard, I will be too happy to mail the proceedings to Shikoba." He smiled. "Every wand needs an Owner, and my dear...this one needed a little help finding hers. Shall we try?"

She opened the box carefully, and the weightless silver fabric drifted up with the lid before lightly falling to the side of the box as she let her fingers trail over the intricately carved Ebony wood. Lifting it into her hand, it didn't take but a second before the wand glowed a light pink. She waved the wand towards Draco, who flinched back before a gust of silvery wind spiraled around him and played with his robe's before settling. She smiled and turned to Olivander, who seemed as happy as she was. "So, it chose me?"

"It did, indeed, Miss. Lestrange. It did, indeed. This is a potent wand, and I don't say this lightly. Ebony wands are highly suited to all manner of combative magic. Dueling, my dear, is this wands specialty. Though it is quite talented in Transfiguration as well, I am sure you will excel splendidly in both. Happiest in the hands of someone with the courage to be themselves, Ebony will frequently choose non-conformists. Those who are highly individual or comfortable with the status of being an outsider. In my experience, the ebony wand's perfect match is someone who will hold fast to their beliefs, no matter what the external pressure. Someone who will not be swayed lightly from their purpose." The look he gave her seemed almost as if it were a warning, or reprimanding...no, maybe not. It was like, unrequested guidance. "As for your core, the Thunderbird tale feather is Shikoba's specialty, a powerful core that is of the most difficult to master. It is particularly prized by Transfigurers and, special only to this core, can sense danger and cast curses on its own if it means protecting its owner."

Kagome glanced down at her new wand. "Like its alive?"

"Every wand has a personality, my dear child. Do not be fooled into thinking that you control the wand. Wands can, if they feel abused, mistreated or misused, turn their back on you. Loyalty is a double-edged wand. I say it often, child, but I'll repeat it. Treat it well..."

Clearing his throat, Lucius reached into his pocket, "we've lingered long enough, I think. Shall we pay and be off?" Spoken with a soft tone of inquiry, though underlined in finality. He placed a bag of Galleons on the counter and held his hand out to sop Harry, "a gift. I do believe I heard mention of it being your birthday?"

Harry smiled and nodded, "yes, sir, th-thank you."

Lucius shook his head and turned to Hagrid, "Was there anything else he required?"

Hagrid gruffly shook his head, "Nah, he's got all his supplies with him, he has. Made sure of it m'self, I did!"

"I'm sure. Then," he turned to Kagome and Draco, "the two of you wished to look at the brooms, I will meet both of you there once I've seen to Harry's caretakers. Shall we, Harry?"

Kagome took her new Owl in hand and waved goodbye to Harry and her Uncle before Draco finally managed to drag her off towards the brooms. "Why does it matter if they have a new broom, Draco? We can't very well take one to school."

Draco grinned, pulling from his robe a bag of galleons before moving quickly out of Kagome's reach when she made to grab them. "Hey, hey! I asked mum for some galleons for spare in case you and I saw something, not on our list that we really wanted. Well," he eyed the broom, "I really want a Nimbus 2000. What's say you?"

She eyed him cautiously, his sparkling silvery eyes had her smirking, "I say we might need to get a few more galleons." She pointed her thumb at a price under the broom. "Let's go pay mum's vault a visit!"

The two raced through the crowd in a run, making their way towards the bank with Kagome leading Draco.

-x-x-x-

Lucius felt his lip curl as Hagrid explained that they'd need to take the Muggle express to get to Scotland. "No, I think not. Apparating will do fine. Come here, Harry." He held his hand out and nodded when harry took it, "side along will be our best option. Don't let go," he turned his eyes to Hagrid. "Will you be joining us, legally or illegally?"

Hagrid bristled and glowered silently before placing his hand on Lucius's shoulder. The man vanished with a pop, and the three appeared in Scotland in an alleyway nearest the station.

"Whoa..." Harry murmured through the unease of his stomach, lurching.

"Don't move too much. You aren't quite yet accustomed to Apparating, and I imagine it's left you feeling quite unsettled. Where is his home?"

"Rough twenty er so I'd say if we take the bus―"

"I will not!" Lucius was regretting bringing the half-giant along. His ill-placed ideas were enough to make him want to fire several unforgivable curses. The very idea of him, a Malfoy, setting foot on that disgusting Night Bus, "No, no, absolutely not. Harry, do you think you can handle another side along?"

"Harry is too young, he is, t' be getting pull'd through li' that!"

"I'm fine, really, I am." Harry grinned, "I'll be okay, Hagrid." He was excited about disappearing and reappearing again, like earlier. "Do you need an address or..."

"The nearest landmark to your muggle housing."

-x-x-x-

Kagome glared at the Goblin that was giving her a hard time, the fact that she had Bellatrix Lestrange's key, she couldn't possibly be her daughter. Draco stepped up and argued with them, but they were both kids. It was one of the elder goblins that told the one that had been fighting them tooth and nail, to take her to the vault as she was undoubtedly Bellatrix's daughter.

"You must really look like Aunt Bella, Kagome. That old Goblin gave you one look and pushed them on to let us through."

Kagome shrugged, "I guess I do. I hear it a lot from Aunt Cissy."

Watching the Goblin lift its clankers and shake them loudly, she watched as, from the shadows, a dragon suddenly woke and slithered swiftly and fearfully away from her parents' vault. This was the first she'd been to it. She had never needed to come here, as her Aunt and Uncle always cared for her financially. That there was a dragon guarding the vault...she shivered and looked at Draco. "Touch nothing. It's no secret that my mother and father were the most loyal among the Dark Lords followers; I'd not be surprised to find this vault filled with dangerous and cursed artifacts. Um..." she moved a bit closer to the Goblin, "can you tell if something is cursed?"

The Goblin scoffed, "of course I can. Do not underestimate my kins magic!"

She nodded and fell back beside Draco as the Goblin stopped before the massive vault door and pressed his palm fully against the door. Still shaking the clankers as it opened. "The Nimbus is three hundred Galleons…I don't want to count three hundred..."

The nameless Goblin stepped forward and pointed to a bag. "based on size, roughly two hundred and fifty are in those there."

"Then grab one of those Draco, I'll grab this one, and we can grab a small bag, that should be―" she paused, and her eyes took in a sword that was lingering in the furthest depths of the neatly put together vault. "...strangely medieval, a sword. It seems rather pointless to have when one carries a wand."

"The boy can't touch anything in here."

Kagome frowned, "Draco can't?" She turned around and cocked her hip a bit in annoyance. "what should I do then? I need exactly six hundred galleons."

"...tch, I can apply a weightless charm, and you can carry them out, but he can't touch anything inside the vault. The vault is heavily charmed with security hexes and spells of a great many different types." He waved her forward to grab some bags, ignoring her as she complained. "Only Mrs. Lestrange or one with her blood can touch the artifacts within her vault."

-x-x-x-

"What a tacky neighborhood. Muggles have no elegance whatsoever." He stepped up along the concrete sidewalk and followed Harry. "Matching transportation, matching residences, lawns all perfectly manicured and tackily colored homes." He paused beside Harry and turned to face Hagrid, who was still upset about Harry possibly going with the Malfoys. "Come, man! Will you dawdle and waste my time further?" He turned away from Hagrid, who muttered an insult that went ignored and knocked his cane heavily on the door. Refusing to touch it as he set the cane down in front of him and watched the door open.

The stout, bulbous form of a well-spoiled and ill-kept child opened the door. "Who are you?!"

Rude, very rude. Lucius narrowed his eyes on the boy and smirked as he shrunk back from the door fearfully. "I've come to speak to your parents, boy. Perhaps you should inform them that they've guests waiting for them in the sitting room."

Harry watched as Dudley scurried away from Lucius faster than he'd ever seen his cousin run. Guiding both Lucius and Hagrid inside to the Living room, it didn't take long for his Aunt and Uncle to come in yelling obscenities and curses after hearing that the Giant and Harry were back with another freak. Though, both stopped speaking when they got one look at the Aristocratic Lucius Malfoy that stood unimpressed in the middle of their living room. "Harry, where did you sleep."

Harry blushed and walked past him into the hallway before opening a door that was connected to the stairway. "The cupboard, but don't tell Kagome and Draco, please."

Tightening his grip once more on the head of the snake, he inhaled, seething, he glared down at the Muggles. "How could Albus think it wise to leave such an important part of our society with such cruel muggles. If witch burnings were still a thing, these two would certainly be at the forefront of the mobs." He calmed himself and sighed, taking a seat and motioning for the two silent adults to sit down across from him.

"N-no, you'll get out! Get out now!" Vernon finally spoke once he shook himself free of his surprise.

"You couldn't possibly think I'm to leave without speaking to you, not after I've come all this way. Now, sit...down." There was a cold, cruel threat underlined in his sudden drop in volume as Vernon and Petunia slowly sank into the couch across from Lucius. Hagrid, in all his hatred of the Malfoy Monarch, reveled silently beside Harry as they watched the two Muggles quake in fear.

"What do you want?" Petunia tried this time; arm wrapped nervously around Vernon's as she glared in disgust at the man across from them. His unmistakably attractive appearance was lost to her. Too much a freak, she wouldn't be fooled by his looks! Not a bit, she wouldn't. Not like her parents had been. Not like her sister.

"I am extending an invitation to Harry on behalf of my son and niece to come stay with us until school starts. He would go with us on September first to the Hogwarts Express and travel there together with my niece and son. That he is in your care, I thought it best to seek your permission."

"Y-you are asking to take him off our hands?"

Lucius took in the way she worded that and wondered if harry would hold it against him if he accidentally fired the killing curse once or twice. "For tonight and the Holidays, yes."

"Do it," she waved the man off, "take him, keep him! I don't care, just never come back again. All of you, all of your kind, freaks, the lot of you!"

Lucius smirked, "I thank you for your time. Harry, gather whatever you might need, and we will take our leave. I'm sure, after this visit, Hagrid will be most considerate in letting you stay at the Malfoy Manor." He watched their eyes widen at the word manor. Rich friends were a rare commodity. To insult potential ones is foolish no matter who you are. He was a man of money and a powerful one at that.

Hagrid gruffly stood, "he'll still need to come back over the summer, but I'll not force him t' spend a moment longer with these Muggles than necessary. The worst kind they are."

Harry walked back with a small bag of clothes, and Lucius swore by it that he'd be the one to rid the world of these muggles if ever the opportunity presented itself.

-x-x-x-

(Later That Evening)

-Malfoy Manor-

"Harry Potter?" Narcissa whispered ever so softly. It was late, and the kids were out playing on the brooms. Harry was with them while they tried to show him to fly one of their spare Comets.

"Kagome and Draco ran into him during their robing."

"And you thought to bring him here..." she raised a brow, "thinking ahead, dear husband, or not thinking at all?"

The insult was hardly veiled. "Kagome asked for him to join us; I saw no harm in acceding to her request."

Shaking her head, Narcissa watched the three from Lucius's office window. "Love, when they become friends, how will you handle this? Can you serve our Lord at the cost of our son and niece's happiness?" She turned to face him, "what of mine, Lucius? What of yours?"

He stared long and hard at her before finally speaking. "What would you have me do?"

"Nothing, love. Do nothing."

He sighed, "I'm afraid that's not an option. Think of it no longer. We have a guest to entertain, and..." he chuckled, "it's his birthday. Shall we not celebrate such an occasion?"

-x-x-x-

Ushered inside, Kagome pushed Harry lightly as Draco pulled him after his mother and father. Entering the dining hall, they grinned widely at the birthday cake situated on the table and surrounded by a banquet of fine meats, sautéed vegetables, and an assortment of sweet fruits and salad. It was a grand sight for Harry, nothing the likes he'd ever seen.

"A little bird told me it was your birthday," Narcissa jested playfully at the young Potter. Watching his eyes widen at the realization that this spread, this feast...it was in his honor. He shook his head and turned to Narcissa. "Mr. Malfoy already gifted me a wand, ma'am; this is too much."

"Nonsense!" She scoffed, waving him off, "a gift from my husband is not a gift from me. Besides, this is just a little get together."

Kagome laughed, "Harry, let her spoil you! How often is it that you are gifted a small party?"

He frowned, 'not often, actually.' Nodding, he changed his attitude quickly and thanked the lady of the house, er...mansion. "Thank you, Mrs. Malfoy."

"Oh goodness, he'll spoil me with his sincerity. Draco, you could learn from him."

Draco had the decency to look embarrassed at the slight jab from his mother as he pulled the chair out for his cousin and chose not to reply to his mothers' comment. "Where is father?"

"He's gone to his office for some last-minute ministry work; you'll see him tomorrow morning, I'm sure. Enjoy the feast, children." Narcissa left the three to their own before she turned in for the night.

Laugher sounded in the room. Draco was regaling Harry with stories of Quidditch and whispering about the brooms he and Kagome would be smuggling into Hogwarts. They got to talking about Severus, Harry asking who he was had sparked the conversation concerning the four Houses and their attributes. She listened, watched, and continued thinking about the school year, mostly in silence before speaking up. "I hope you're in Slytherin, Harry." She smiled, "it'd be nice if mine and Draco's first real friend, were in the same house as us."

"Real friend?"

"He has a couple...well... I don't want to call them hired muscle, but with so little intelligence, there's very little else to consider them."

"Why keep them around then?"

Draco shrugged, "my father is business partners with theirs. As far as seniority goes, the Malfoys are above most wizarding families, so the Crabbe family and Goyle family have always somewhat served the Malfoys as...mn, backup? It's complicated; I try not to think about it too much. Kagome's usually all the backup I need anyways."

Kagome raised her head only slightly. "I don't know how, I tend to leave to my room when those two duffers are around. They make me feel like my brain cells are trying to crawl out of my ear in their vast attempt to escape their stupidity."

Harry and Draco laughed at how blandly she'd spoken, but Kagome made no effort to cover just how serious she was.

"Wait a few days, Harry. I'm sure you'll meet them. What of the other boy I've seen around? Theodore Nott? He comes, but only talks really with Draco since his father brings him around the time I'm leaving for practice."

"Theo's a good one! Smart as they come, but hard to get along with. The Notts are another Aristocratic family among the Sacred Twenty-Eight."

"Sacred Twenty-Eight?" Harry frowned, "what's that?"

"There is a book in my father's library that goes into deeper detail, but it's a Pure-Blooded Directory. Theo's grandfather or something wrote the text, so he knows all about the pure-blooded families that are still held in high regard."

Stuffed, and sleepy, the night came to a slow end as they walked up the steps to their separate rooms. Harry, who was seeing the room for the first time, couldn't comprehend what he was seeing. It was a bedroom, yes, but the size of it was the same as Aunt Petunia's living room! Taking in the furnishing and the size of the bed, he'd wager it was a bit larger. "Blimey...this is a guest room?!"

"Breathe, Harry," Draco laughed, "it's your room. When you come to stay, this is your room. During the Hols, during Summer, the week before we leave for Hogwarts, or whenever!"

He didn't know what to make of this. It wasn't charity, was it? No, no, it didn't feel like charity. It felt...magical, though. Like, it was unreal. "Your family is...really amazing, Draco. Were your parents similar, Kagome?"

Kagome smiled, something dark and sinister in her eyes as she turned towards her room. The shadows in the halls seemed to crawl up along her form as she walked with light and silent steps to her door. "No, Harry, I'm afraid that my parents were a bit more intense than Aunt Cissy and Uncle Lucius are. The Malfoys are..." she paused and took Draco in for a moment as she looked back at him and thought how best to describe her extended family. "In three words…the Malfoys are, Meticulous, Cunning, and Resourceful. They are true Slytherins. I'll let you be the judge on which of those fits who best. Goodnight, boys,"

Harry glanced curiously at Draco, who shrugged, "she reads a lot of my mothers' books, and it's evident in how she speaks. Don't let her intimidate you. Night Harry!" Draco passed his door and entered his room before letting the door close softly behind him. Harry did the same thing, quietly making his way to the bed, he eyed his trunk at the foot of it, the books and potions equipment. He smiled and picked up one of the books. 'Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger.' He flipped it open to the table of contents, "wonder if it's anything like cooking." Climbing back onto the bed, he turned the page of the book:

Professor Arsenius Jigger was born on January 3, 1792, in a Wizarding Village near Bournemouth, England. His father, Magnesius, came from a long line of Potioneers, and his nine-times great grandfather, Mercurious Jigger, was the founder of the well-known Slug Diagon Alley apothecary& Jiggers.

He smiled, "Arsenius, Magnesius, and Mercurious...I wonder if Arsenius had a sister named Beryllius...maybe his mother was Lithius? Oh, and his Uncle could be Polonius!" He flipped forward past the bit about the Author.

Within these pages, the Author seeks not to romanticize or glorify the profession of Potioneer. Those who practice know well themselves how difficult their position is within the magical world, as they hold responsibility for most of our primary medicinal mechanisms. They also know what glory can be found in the correct discovery and interpretation of ingredients and magical mixtures.

Harry probably should have gone to bed. Probably, but he didn't. Staying up till a soft knock sounded at his door, and his head shot up at the sudden rapping. His concentration from chapter nine of the Potions book he was losing himself in, broken. Standing, he placed the book down on his bed before opening the door to see a confused Lucius Malfoy. "Y-yes, sir?"

"Harry, why ever are you still awake? Even Kagome has turned in for the night, and she is usually the last among the household to do so."

He wanted to ask why that was, but instead, he pointed at the book on his bed. "I got distracted. I was reading my Potions text. I didn't realize that there were so many things one could do with everyday plants and herbs. I mean...valerian root grows everywhere, but I wouldn't have ever thought you could use it to create a sleeping potion."

"Ah, yes, and what would you use to make a sleeping potion, Harry?"

Harry grinned; he'd just read this in the book! "The ingredients are powdered root of asphodel, infusion of wormwood, sloth brain, and…uh...sopophorous beans. These ingredients create a sleeping draught called the Draught of Living Death that can last indefinitely; I was in the middle of reading about the Wiggenweld potion when you knocked."

Shaking his head, Lucius smirked, "Severus will like you. Well, perhaps." The afterthought of just whose son Harry was lingered, briefly, before he motioned the boy to bed. "Now, if you don't' want me force-feeding you such a potion, you'll turn in for the night. Its already one in the morning, you can read more tomorrow before bed, turn in an hour earlier if you want the time to read."

Harry nodded and bid Lucius goodnight before glancing briefly at the page number and closing the book. Placing it alongside the rest of his school supplies, he changed quickly into a fresh pair of pajamas' that was lying across his bed before he laid down. So into the book, he hadn't realized just how tired he was. Sleep...came easily.

-x-x-x-

Me: Here is chapter 10, rewritten. You'll never read the first chapter 10 I wrote because I hated it! LMAO. Tell me what you think! It's also 3000 words longer.