When Draco stirred, he was most certainly not on the forest ground anymore. If he was, the dirt had never been more soft and comfortable.
"Phoebe?" he muttered, dazed.
he received no answer, however, he could hear a muffled argument through what seemed to be the bedroom door.
"Look Perce, you knocked him out. You know you need to pay more attention to the amount of magic you use. The golden blood that flows in your veins makes you an amazing witch but also a volatile weapon!"
"I know that! I'm a ticking time bomb. It's only a matter of time before I blow. Then what happens? To my friends, to you? What happens when I finally explode. Grandfather, You should put me in solitary isolation. you should lock me in a chamber miles below ground. It's barely safe for me to be around Draco, with all of the charms that protect him. And now you want me to live with other kids? With innocents who picked the wrong side? I will kill them, Grandfather. There's too many of them to protect. And then what? I go to Hogwarts? That's hundreds of children you're putting at stake for the sake of an education you already gave me! The lives of the innocent aren't worth one spy. Even Grandpa is not so inhumane and cruel."
Draco stumbled out of the bed and tried to get to the door. His eyes hadn't yet focused so he ran into the door soon enough. As soon as his body hit the door, the conversation outside stopped. The door creaked open and there stood Phoebe and Callum Coldwell.
"You guys really shouldn't discuss private information outside someone's door, whether they're sleeping or not."
Perci rushed forwards and engulfed Draco in her arms.
"Oh Draco, Thank the Gods you're ok. I was worried you were going to be out for longer or suffer permanent brain damage."
She began to search his scalp for signs of bleeding.
Callum raised a brow at the pair, Perci lovingly combing her fingers through Draco's hair.
"I'll give you two a moment"
He strode out of the room to give the pair some space.
"Dray..." Perci started.
"No Phoebe... Perce... Whoever you are."
A single tear ran down Perci's blotchy face, leaving a trail from her eyes to the corner of her mouth
"Look Dray, I know what I did is wrong but you just got knocked out. You're more important right now. How did you not hear the chessboard crashing through the trees back in the woods? It was rather deafening. I tried to warn you but it was as if you had gone deaf. You just stared at the grass in a daze before it knocked you senseless. What thought consumed you so?"
Draco paused unsure of what to say. He found that her time in virtual isolation had rendered her a tad touch starved. Of course, the romance novels that she read religiously, pining over figments of some middle-aged pervert's imagination, did not help in the slightest.
"I was thinking of the fact that you were leaving tomorrow." he compromised "I'd miss you terribly of course but you'll get to meet new people."
"I get to meet bigoted wankers that think my true identity's blood is 'Tainted by an incurable evil'. They don't deserve a moment of my time."
"Yes well, some of them are just kids, only influenced by the adults around them. The 'Light' are somewhat loose-lipped when it comes to their personal opinions."
"Of course," A shadow of a smile graced her face "I'll get to meet the ever so famous Weasel family and the Dashing Boy Who Lived"
An unpleasant pang of emotion shot through Draco. He couldn't pinpoint the feeling exactly but he decided he didn't like it at all. Expression darkened with his ire for Perci and this newfound emotion.
Instead of growing concerned at the darkening of his expression, Perci's pathetic excuse for a grin grew wider. Her conspiratory air was concerning. Not once has that look crossing her face ended well for Draco's ego or pride.
"Now, Who are you Phoebe Coldwell."
Perci sighed as Draco looked at her expectantly. She slipped off her glamour ring before responding.
"Persephone."
Draco nodded for her to continue.
"My name is Persephone Jackson."
Draco's eyes widened.
"The one that the old goat has been searching for relentlessly?"
"The very same."
"He's tried to search our home but father wasn't having it"
Perci and Draco's conversation trailed off in favour of a pensive silence.
"Look Jackson, you betrayed my trust. But I understand your reasons for it. You're being hunted. You're still my best friend, whether it's as Phoebe Coldwell or Persephone Jackson or whatever you'll be calling yourself when you're with the order."
"Phoebe Hearst" Perci muttered.
"Just promise me, no more secrets."
"Dray I can't. I can't promise you that. Because I know that one day I'm going to have to break that promise."
"Fine then, no more lies. If you cant tell me something, just don't tell me. Don't lie about it,"
"I can do that,"
"Alright then. It's nearly bedtime. We should go to sleep,"
"Of course, a Malfoy needs his beauty sleep after all."
Draco shoved her playfully.
"You need your beauty sleep too Jackson, You need to look prim and proper when meeting the 'dashing' boy who lived"
"Who said he was dashing?"
"I was fairly sure you did but I'm not taking it back, that boy really is a handsome devil."
"Got a crush Malfoy?"
Draco blushed to the roots of his hair.
"No Jackson, I just have eyes."
"Mm well, I'm not going to change, too much effort."
Perci jumped into the bed Malfoy was currently occupying.
"Hey!"
"What Malfoy, did you expect me to levitate another bed in here."
Draco sighed.
"Fine, just keep your frozen feet away from me."
"Goodnight Dray," Perci muttered as she slowly drifted to sleep.
"G'night P" Draco whispered back, nearly asleep.
/
Perci was falling. This time, however, she could see where she was falling. Straight into Hard granite coloured rock. She tried to brace herself for impact but her roll was off timed and she crashed into the ground. A shriek of pain echoed through the stony plain, a river of what seemed to be magma flowing off in the distance. She looked up to see the ledge from which she had fallen before she felt something tightening around her ribcage. She was lifted like a ragdoll, unable to move an inch, her vision slowly going dark.
She was seized with terror unlike any she had ever known. This was it Thanatos had come for her. Her eyelids stayed open but the light dimmed, slowly becoming darkness.
/
Perci jolted awake. She sat suddenly and fell back down once the blood rushed to her head. She placed a hand over her pounding heart, still terrified out of her mind from her prophetic dream.
"You alright there tweety?"Draco asked, his voice muffled by a pillow.
"Stellar" She replied, her heart still beating out of her chest.
"Mmm, what did we say about lying"
"Really, I'm fine. It's just a bad dream."
"Alright well, you'd better get ready for your visit with the light."
"I suppose I should."
Perci slipped out from under the warm covers. She padded towards her dresser, pulling out a silver long-sleeved top and a Slytherin green dress, matched with a simple pair of silver earrings and of course, her trusty glamour ring was secured on her middle finger. She took her getup to the bathroom so she could properly bathe and fix her hair.
A wave of relief hit Perci as she stepped into the hot frothy water of her bathtub. it was pretty big and she figured that this might be her last bath in luxury before moving to the Weasley hut. She swam across the tub, smiling as bubbles floated around her.
/
"Hey tweety, you drowning or something?" Draco's voice called through the door. "It's nearly been an hour. You're due to leave in... 15 minutes."
Perci's eyes widened as she scrambled out of the tub. barely drying herself off, she clothed herself and wrapped a towel around her head. She ran out of the bathroom, nearly knocking over Draco and picked up her wand.
"Accio Trunk, Accio red top, Accio cropped Jumper, Accio plain Knickers..." Articles of clothing flew around her room as she continued to summon what seemed like every article of clothing she owned.
Soon enough, her clothes sat in a pile on her bed as she ran around the room grabbing any kind of breakables, jewellery, shoes and books she didn't want to part with. She picked up the pile and put her foot into the trunk, much to Draco's surprise. Then came her other foot and Percy disappeared into her trunk.
"You own a Bradley's trunk?"
"Yeah, it cost a small fortune. Hop on in."
Draco stepped into the trunk and his jaw dropped. The inside of the trunk looked like a designer penthouse. It was huge and had a patio where you could either see what was going on outside of the trunk or look over different cities around the world.
"Wow."
"Yeah, this floor is my favourite."
"There are more of them?"
"Yeah, it's a seven-story building. There's even a dungeon."
"Wow, this must've at least ost half of your fortune."
Perci smiled sadly at her friend.
"It barely made a dent"
Draco's eyes widened even more.
"You must be the Lady of at least a dozen rich families to have that kind of money."
"No actually, the money I speak of was only my late father's vault. I'm unaware of any other Ladyships I possess."
An awe-filled silence filled the air as Draco was stunned out of his mind. One family?
"Dray, we're still in a rush, we've got to go back to my bedroom now."
She took his hand and led him to a magical lift. They stepped into it and pressed the 'O' button.
"O?" Draco enquired
"It's for out."
The lift let out a small chime to announce their arrival at their floor and the doors opened. they stepped out and found themselves standing in Perci's room once more.
"I just need to fix my hair then I can get going." Said Perci, heading back towards the bathroom.
"No, Jackson. let me do it."
"Do you know anything about hair?"
Draco scoffed. "Have you seen my marvellous mane of silky blonde hair. I obviously need to maintain it."
"Alright then, show me what you can do." Perci pulled out the chair at her desk and sat down. Draco rushed to the washroom to grab the products he needed, set them down and got to work. The lack of a mirror meant that Perci couldn't see what her friend was doing until he finished. All she could feel was an occasional tug here or a brush stroke there. After ten minutes, he had finished.
He led her to a mirror and showed her the kind of braided ponytail he had fashioned. She let out a whistle, genuinely impressed.
"Damn Draco, not bad."
"No time to marvel at it, you're gonna be late!"
"Ok, ok. Let's go."
Perci slipped on a pair of silver heels and the pair nearly ran to the parlour where Callum was waiting.
"Ok kiddos, First Lover Boy here is gonna floo home then we're off."
A mischevious twinkle appeared in Perci's eye as she carried out their scheme.
"Oh Dray, I'll miss you so terribly" She whined as she thrust herself into his arms.
Draco smiled as he played along. "It can't be helped Perce. We'll see each other at Hogwarts."
Perci sighed, positioning her head. "I guess I'll have to leave you with a parting gift."
She captured Draco's lips with hers, snogging her best friend senseless. Draco gasped surprised but gave in, eventually kissing her back.
They pulled apart. after a couple of moments, definitely long enough to make Callum uncomfortable.
Callum was watching the display wide-eyed. "What..."
The pair collapsed in fits of laughter, wiping their lips off violently.
"He- he believed it!" Perci wheezed.
"Holy Circe the look on his face!" Laughed Draco.
"Haha, very funny guys," Callum said once he regained his composure.
"You deserved it" Perci pointed out.
"Sure. Now Draco, you do need to head home."
"Of course Lord Coldwell." He walked over to the fireplace.
"Bye Babe." He winked at Perci before throwing down a handful of floo powder and saying "MALFOY MANOR"
"Perci burst into another fit of laughs."
"Have fun explaining your swollen lips to the order"Callum muttered as he apparated the two away.
The familiar, nearly indescribable feeling of sidelong apparation hit Perci at full force and her vision flashed black.
When Perci could see again, she was standing in a rundown but surprisingly large kitchen. An oval wooden island stood in the middle, surrounded by foldable chairs.
Several of the chairs were occupied and Perci recognised some of them. The insane-looking dark-haired man, the balding redhead and Sally Jackson were all sitting there as well as the elderly man, who sat at the head of the island.
A grandfatherly twinkle appeared in his eye when he caught sight of Perci. Something about him terrified Perci. it was irrational of course. He looked like any other kindly old man. But something about him... he was never to be trusted.
There were also an array of people she had never met before. A man with a glass eye and a scowl on his face, a woman with Neon green hair, A redheaded woman, A man covered in scars and scratches and A plump man in fig coloured robes and a bowlers hat. Out of the corner of her eye, Perci saw the tops of a pair of heads, red like the balding man and the woman. 'Their children' she thought.
She forced a placating smile on her face and walked towards the pair of redheaded adults.
"Please to meet you, Lord...?"
"Weasley, Its just Arthur though."
"Of course Lord Weasley. And your lovely wife?"
"Molly Weasley" the woman piped up
Perci curtsied.
"A pleasure"
Perci moved on to the next group of people.
"Phoebe Hearst, at your service." She told the Mr Insane, Scratch boy, Neon Lady and Glass eye."
The Scratch Boy smiled. "Hello, I'm Remus Lupin. This is Sirius Black, Nymphadora Tonks and Alastor Moody." He pointed at Mr Insane, Neon Lady then Glass eye.
The two men scowled at her while Nymphadora offered her a hand to shake.
"Just Tonks." She said as they shook.
Perci reluctantly made her way to the last trio, The minister for magic (Who was in the fig robes), The elderly man and Sally Jackson were conversing quietly. Their conversation stopped abruptly when they heard Perci's heels clicking towards them.
"Good day Minister, M'Lady, M'lord."
The Minister for Magic scowled down at her.
"What do you need little girl?" He asked.
None of Perci's anger showed in her eyes.
"I simply wanted to introduce myself to our esteemed minister and those he deems worthy of his presence." She told him with false innocence.
His chest puffed. "Of course dearie. This here is Sally Jackson. She is My best Auror, with the chagrin and honour of hunting down and executing You know who's remaining family; Callum, Saline and Persephone Coldwell. And this here is Albus Dumbledore, one of the most wonderful wizards of our age."
Perci gave them a small bow. "A pleasure to meet you all. And best of luck on your hunt Lady Jackson." She turned swiftly and made her way back to Callum who was speaking to Arthur and Molly Weasley.
"Uncle?" he turned to see her.
"Yes Phoebe."
"May I go out to the Gardens?"
"Of course, just drop off your bags first."
"Where sir?"
"I can show you." A new voice interrupted
Perci spun around to see who exactly said that. She saw a boy, a bit shorter than her. He had a mop of black hair that nearly reached his shoulders. He had piercing green eyes and his lips were downturned in a permanent pout. He looked to be maybe a year or so younger than her judging by his height. Especially considering that Perci was short for her age.
"She's staying in the girls' room right Mrs Weasley?" The boy continued
"That's right Harry dear."
He grabbed her hand and pulled her towards a flight of stairs.
"Sorry to leave you in there for so long. It is rather daunting to be in a room full of adults."
"Indeed." She smiled. "It's nice to finally meet you, Harry. I've heard a ton about you from a... mutual acquaintance."
Harry frowned "And who exactly might you be?"
"Phoebe Hearst, niece of Garrett Hearst"
"Harry Potter, in case you didn't know."
Perci's face formed a false shocked look. "Oh dear, I thought you were Harry Houdini, master 'magician'. I'm rather disappointed."
Harry chuckled as they continued to climb the stairs.
They finally reached the girls' room. Perci opened the door and set down her trunk.
"All of the other kids are playing games in Ron's room. We should go join them."
"I've got a better idea," Perci said as she unlatched her trunk. "You sir are going to see the prettiest view you'll ever see in your life." She opened her trunk.
"Hop on in."
"In your trunk?"
"Yep"
"That sounds a bit kidnappish"
"Fine, I'll go first you wuss," She said as she hopped into her trunk.
Harry's eyes flitted from the trunk to the door. Rationally, he knew that he should never jump into unknown situations with strangers. Some other part of his brain longed to jump in right behind her. Something about Phoebe Hearst drew him in.
Cursing his Gryffindor personality and low impulse control, Harry jumped into the trunk after Perci.
Harry looked around, taking in his surroundings. He saw plush furniture, a luxurious looking lift and a balcony.
He walked towards the balcony to see Perci looking out at the view. Her silver hair fell past her shoulders in a delicate ponytail. The Slytherin colours she was wearing blended in with the unnaturally coloured sky.
"Funny, the last time I was here, just a half-hour ago... It was with a different boy. You know Harry, I'm fairly sure we were talking about you. My memory, of course, is far from perfect.
"You uh... bring a lot of boys out here... in here? You know what I mean."
"Just the two of you guys"
"Hmm" Harry said awkwardly. "You remind me of someone."
"Oh yeah?" Perci smirked. "And who do I remind you of?"
"I can't quite put my finger on it"
"Good luck with that then, do get back to me."
Harry nodded
"So... I saw you met Minister Fudge and Sally Jackson. They're very important people you know." He tried.
"The bitch and the egomaniac?"
"Is that really what you think of them?"
"The minister will do anything for someone to stroke his ego. He's everyone bitch. He has no power over the ministry and is just a pretty little figurehead for backwards operations."
'Wow' Harry thought, surprised. 'She's rather opinionated'
"And that bloody prick, Sally Jackson. She's the light side's executioner. Quite literally. She hunts her prey, dark wizards and tears them apart when she gets to them. She hunts to kill. And right now, shes hunting a teenage girl. A girl our age. The side she's on may call themselves 'light' but light does not mean good. Hunting a child is cruel and inhumane, no matter the motive"
Harry bit his lip pensively.
"True. But isn't that an ethics thing? Do the action that benefits the most people? It's textbook utilitarianism. The death of Voldemort's daughter will benefit the majority of people, hence its necessity."
"Yes, but it's also a violation of the poor girl's rights, of which the most important one is the right to live. Besides, utilitarianism is always unsure. It depends on predicting the consequences of an action, whether they're good or bad. Often times, the consequences are assumed and are not in fact what you believe them to be. What do you know of Persephone Jackson? You have no knowledge of who she is, her beliefs, her traits. A person is not the sins of their forefathers."
"Yes, but at this point its damage control. Some traits are blood inherited. How do we know that Voldemort's insanity isn't one of those traits? Persephone Jackson could be the most powerful witch of our age and we would be better off eliminating her and her potential insanity than taking the risk and killing us all."
"But now you've moved on to genetics. Even if insanity was in her blood, she wouldn't automatically be insane. Insanity is the result of experiences as well as genetics. And you don't even know if Voldemort's insanity was hereditary. If it is as you say and he was a practitioner of the dark arts, could it have been dark rituals that drove him insane? He could've cast spells or done rituals that tear his mind and soul in two. There are too many factors to just assume."
Harry sighed. He couldn't come up with any other reasons to defend his opinion.
"I suppose you may have a point."
Perci smiled. "That was a rather invigorating conversation. I had begun to wonder if there was still anyone truly educated in the world today."
Harry scratched the back of his head.
"Yeah well, I read a lot. I tend to dumb it down at school 'cause Hermione hates it when people do better than her."
This caused Perci to frown. "A true friendship is one that encourages both parties to grow and learn. This one seems to be lacking that."
"Hermione's a great friend!" Harry defended. "She just has a bit too much pride. She is a Gryffindor after all."
Perci gave him a sideways look.
"Uh well and... ever since I was little, I've been taught to please others. Pleasing others has been my motive for as long as I can remember." He told her, a bit unsure why he was admitting this to the near stranger.
Perci's look softened. "Y'know, pleasing people is great. But Harry you're not a slave nor a servant. You do not owe people. In fact, I think more than anything the people owe you. I'm aware that growing up in muggle households, one is often encouraged to be subservient however thinking for yourself is the most important thing in the real world."
"Thanks for the advice, Phoebe. And for the debate. You know, I'd love to hang out more."
"Well, you're welcome here any time you would like. The password is riptide." She winked before turning away to look at the sky. "The 3rd floor just so happens to be my private library. The whole trunk is warded so, unfortunately, no plus ones."
Harry wandered back towards the elevator. He paused before hitting the button and turned around to gaze at the sky and the beautiful fiery girl he had just spoken too once more.
It seemed like a wind had picked up outside because her platinum ponytail was swaying in it. She stood, leaning over the edge as though she had no care in the world. That was when he finally made the connection. This girl looked eerily like the Slytherin Prince, Draco Malfoy.
Harry hopped into the lift and continued to think about the female Malfoy, not noticing a dark blush rising in his cheeks.