I followed the sound of Leo's voice to the lounge room after getting dressed, sliding my lip piercing through the tiny hole in my flesh and clipping it up. I saw Leo kneeling on the floor in front of the fireplace, talking. I raised an eyebrow and headed towards him.
There was a head in the fire.
I clamped in a shriek of surprised and nearly dropped the other two piercings, fumbling and catching them before they hit the ground. Leo looked up quickly and snorted.
"Professor McgGonagall-"
"For the last time, Leonardo, it's Minerva to you now. I'm no longer your professor." The head protested stiffly.
"Fine! As I was saying, Minerva, this is is Aria." Leo waved a hand at me and I hurriedly put in my other two piercings, kneeling beside him awkwardly.
"Aria, this is Professor Minerva McGonagall, the House Head of Gryffindor."
"That's the courageous or brave one, right?" I frowned and McGonagall nodded, the ashes and coal moving weirdly as she spoke.
"Correct. It's a pleasure to meet you after so much time searching. You're certainly an elusive one."
"Not by choice." I said impulsively, then cringed. "Sorry, Professor, that was rude."
"Not at all, not at all. And, seeing as I'm not technically your professor yet you can call me Minerva as well if you like."
"Seems too informal." I chuckled. " I'll stick to Professor."
"As you will. Now, Leonardo, what were we saying?"
"We were going to try and sort out our little tutoring situation and maybe get one or two current fourth year students to write back and forth to Aria?"
I rocked on my heels awkwardly as I listened in on their lukewarm conversation before getting up and watching a large blue butterfly stumble past on tipsy wings. Butterflies always seemed drunk. Leo glanced at me and not long afterwards, he and McGonagall bid their farewells.
"So, what's happening?" I asked, turning to him and he stood up and stretched, the professor's face disappearing from the fireplace.
"We were discussing your tutors and 'penpals' and such. We were thinking that we could have one from Gryffindor, and one from Slytherin because house rivalry and all. They'll probably end up being two of your tutors as well. " He informed me, slumping onto the lounge.
"Who are they? What are they like?" I cocked my head to the side with interest.
"They themselves writing to you. Your DADA- Defense Against the Dark Arts- and Charms tutors are already being set, but you're choosing out of a few people's profiles for Herbology, Potions and Transfiguration. I'd help you with the last one but I've never Transfigured so much as a teabag." He grinned lopsidedly and I laughed.
It was only as Leo and I were scoffing steak and chips that the first owl arrived through the open kitchen window. The eagle owl glided straight to us and landed on the arm of the couch chair I was sitting in, giving a low scree and dropping the the letter beside me. It barely missed my plate and I set my dinner on the table, glaring at the owl as the greedy thing eyed it hungrily.
"Hey, Leo, another letter." I yawned and waved it at him.
"Nice." He said noncommittally. "Where's it from?"
I flipped the shiny envelope over, looking at the address on the back. "Malfoy Manor." I read out. Leo seemed to stiffen slightly but he nodded and kept his eyes on the TV.
This time, the letter seemed to sing with importance and expense, the green-tinted cream paper gleaming neatly. There wasn't a crinkle or tear in sight, not even on the letter when I opened it. Words shone darkly in emerald green ink, again done in the distinct font of a quill and ink. The writing wasn't quite as swooping as Dumbledore's had been, but it was incredibly neat nonetheless.
Miss Aria North
Hello. Professor Snape, the Head of Slytherin and the Hogwarts' Potions Master has informed me of you current situation, of sorts. He explained that Professor McGonagall has finally located your magical signature and says you may be attending Hogwarts next year. As you have only been living in a Muggle state of mind, it may be difficult for you to understand well; this has come to the decision of you being tutored.
I am, if I do say so myself, quite exceptional at Potions, but this may be due to the fact that everybody else- except, unfortunately, Hermione Granger- is terrible. Never mind that, I've forgotten to introduce myself.
I am Draco Lucius Malfoy, descendant of Salazar Slytherin, and of course I am in the Slytherin house at Hogwarts. If you are not as smart as I've been told, Salazar founded Slytherin.
I doubt you have been revealed much about Hogwarts. There are four Houses:
Hufflepuff values, above all else, justice, loyalty and perseverance
Ravenclaw- Intelligence, knowledge and wit
Gryffindor- bravery, daring, nerve, chivalry and if you're in Slytherin, stupidity.
Slytherin- ambition, cunning and ambition, and me.
Call me bias if you will, but it is entirely true.
I was told to reveal things about myself, but in truth, I'm not too interesting. I may be the hottest piece of eye-candy you ever lay eyes on, but many people don't seem to like me. Perhaps that is because of my father, Lucius Malfoy. He is a powerful person in the Ministry Of Magic
I started to laugh. "He certainly isn't modest, I can tell that much!"
I have included a photo of myself- firstly, don't question with yourself about the lack of a smile, and secondly, it moves. Don't have a cardiac arrest.
Best wishes to you, Aria Regal North
Draco Malfoy
PS. There's a potion we develop the photos in to make them move. All wizards do. It's normal for us, but don't be too surprised if I disappear from the frame every now and then. Also, you intrigue me so I expect a photo back.
I frowned and picked the envelope up again, opening it up and looking it. I cursed myself for not noticing it the first time and pulled out a dual photo.
The first had a family of rather pale people. I assume the tall, long-haired blond looking down over his nose at the camera was Lucius, and the proud-looking boy was Draco himself. There was a lady in the photo that I assumed was the mother, as he hadn't mentioned anything about siblings.
The second was of just Draco himself. His blond hair was slightly longer there, but still as neat and perfect as the robes he was wearing. A little green emblem adorned the material where a coat pocket would sit and I assumed it was his Hogwarts robes that Leo had spoken about. His surprisingly cold grey eyes stared forlornly back at me, and I startled as his hand reached up to brush the hair away from his eyes.
I reached forwards and touched the photo with one finger, chuckling quietly as he shied away from it and threw me a disgusted look before returning to his original position. His scowl softened slightly. I slid the photo back into the envelope.
A soft snore echoed from beside me and I realized Leo had fallen asleep. Getting up, I stretched and headed to my room. Jack and Jamie had left long ago, not bothering to clear up after themselves. I'd have to yell at them for that.
I pulled my notebook out from a drawer and slumped at my desk, casting the letter down beside my hand and picking up a pen. This should be amusing. Where on earth was I going to find a photo to compare to that?
Mister Draco Malfoy
Hi! I don't see a need to be so formal, but what should I call you? Draco? I incredibly tempted to address you as Dray-Dray but I fear that may terminate any chance of us being friends. I am indeed, Aria. but my friends call me Annie. Feel free to name me by whatever you choose from the two.
If that's okay with you.
It might be nice to have a friend that isn't terrified of of you or a is band member- I scribbled that line out hurriedly.
I figured McGonagall would tell the other professors. How many of them are there, anyway? I hope I don't have to make too many decisions on this whole tutoring thing, I hate learning but I hate decisions even more.
You seem incredibly modest...? That's a lie, but at least I don't have to deal with yet another self-conscious twit. I deal with enough of them already.
Doesn't 'Draco' mean dragon in Latin or something? That's pretty cool. My name seems a little boring now- and how did you find out my middle name, anyway? (It's pretty stupid, I know. Who name's their kid 'Regal'?)
I reckon I'd fit into Ravenclaw or Slytherin. What do you think?
You're bias.
I hope you're not this formal in every letter, I can't stand uptight people. Let loose a little- or if you were trying to make a first impression, I find them pretty easy to change. I hope you've got a sense of humor.
I was told to say a little bit about myself as well- as you said, I'm not all that interesting either.
1.) My hair and eyes change color- my eyes change all the time, but they seem to like green. My hair's currently purple, but I can change that at will. I never really have because I thought I was a freak. Still do.
2.) I terrify people. A lot. maybe that's because anybody who annoys me gets a particularly gory death threat? Or maybe it's the piercings and the music.
3.) Don't expect me to flounce into Hogwarts wearing a pink short skirt and crop top- I'm more of a leather jacket, skinny jeans and combat boots kind of girl.
4.) I've got 3 lip piercings and a a nose piercing- you'll see them in the photo.
That is, if I find one that compares to your eye-candy.
(note the sarcasm)
5.) I wouldn't still be standing here if it weren't for music. As in, not that I'm suicidal or anything, I just wouldn't live without it. Can you bring technology into Hogwarts or what? And I so hope there's a music department. I need to keep playing instruments- I sing well enough, but I have to back it up with my guitar and piano and such. Do you play anything other than girls? (I'm kidding- but I am curious)
6.) I honestly can't think of anything else. You'll have to meet me for an okay first impression, just please don't pop up in my fireplace or something. McGonagall did enough of that this morning.
Well, I think that's it. I'll enclose a photo or two in the envelope if I find any worthy of your presence. I like your eagle owl- what's his name? I don't think he likes me much. Ah, His loss.
P.S what does P.S even mean? and also, I like circles. Circles are nice.
In inceptum est finis.
I added my favorite Latin quote to the end and folded it up, sitting it aside and fetching my phone. I figured I had some okay photos on there, but suddenly none of them were good enough to send so I picked one that had both Mike and I in it. Mike had taken me down to a lake near my old house- the lake was massive and surrounded on all sides by tall, dark trees. The was a tiny beach in front. Leo followed us. It was a little after I met Mike, which was only last year as he'd been abroad until then. I looked practically the same between now and then, so I printed out that photo and tucked in into the envelope.
Walking back out to the lounge room, where Draco's owl was still waiting. It snapped at me as I tied the letter to its leg, but I didn't so much as flinch and it stopped trying and pushed its head into my hand. I gently pat it and gave him one of the owl treats Leo had pulled out earlier. It swallowed it greedily and took off.
"What's going on?" Leo yawned sleepily and I chuckled. " I was about to finished my dinner- hey! My chips are gone!"
Bloody owl!
