A/N: A bit of a short chapter, more to come soon! Thanks for all the lovely comments. :)
Alice returned home to her flat still contemplating the changes she was going through. She placed the wand box on her desk unsure of whether to open it. A strange feeling came over her when she first grasped it at the wand shop. Has this wand been waiting for her arrival for fifteen years as the old man Ollivander had said? Draco mentioned that wands were semi-sentient, working well with their chosen owner and not so well with others. The wand chooses you. It was that piece of wood that expressed the truth of her heritage, for the gene she possessed was imperceptible. Opening the box, she looked in on the polished stick as it quietly laid there. She could not bring herself to touch it at that moment, somewhat afraid of what it could do. "If only she was a child, for children's minds bend easily," she thought, "Just like learning a second language is easier for youth, learning magic would be too, wouldn't it?" Alice wondered if she was apprehensive because she felt incompetent, a feeling she wasn't comfortable with.
Upon leaving the Leaky Cauldron she picked up a discarded Daily Prophet newspaper that highlighted the trial's outcome. She didn't read it on the bus because she was unsure how to make the pictures stop moving. Retrieving it from her bag she began reading the article under a repeating picture of her embracing Draco after the trial.
Perhaps more surprising than the verdict or McNally's broken enchantment were the unexpected displays of affection from the Malfoy heir and the former muggle. Inside sources tell us that she spent the week in seclusion at Malfoy Manor, yes, the prior headquarters of You-Know-Who and his Death Eater clan! What would her grandfather say? How did Lucius Malfoy manage? From her entrance via Floo Network until her exit after the trial, Draco Malfoy did not waver far from the young woman's side. The couple even disapparated together after the day was done. Did this pure-blood prior Death Eater have a sudden change in heart upon meeting the enigmatic McNally? The Daily Prophet is just as curious as its readers and wants to know what you think! Comments are welcomed; just owl them along to our headquarters…
"Lucius is going to love that," Alice thought sarcastically turning the page. The paper also had transcribed her speech, which she reread at that moment. She had not necessarily scripted what she would say; it had been the comments from several members of the Wizengamot which prompted her to mention her feeling of dehumanization. She was always surprised at her ability to speak sense under the most stressful circumstances.
That evening Draco would arrive slightly after five with a bag of books that he retrieved from Malfoy Manor on his way from the Ministry. Alice's wand continued to lay in her box untouched even though it was placed next to her on the desktop as she furiously typed away. She was finishing a short commentary for an online newspaper and did so right after Draco got in.
"Perfect timing," she said, finishing off the last sentence.
Draco looked around her now spotless apartment, noting her minimalist style which was somewhat unnoticeable under all the books and boxes she had before. "You cleaned," He exclaimed, sounding slightly impressed.
"I did, I figured I better if you're going to be my guest more often," Alice got up from her chair, "There's a lot more space now without all those boxes and I shelved all my books and filed all my papers."
"I like it, very simple." The modern contemporary style contrasted with everything he grew up in.
"Thanks, I think the organizing did me good. I seem to go in cycles. When I start a project my space is like this and when I end one it gets like before," Alice said looking around her flat.
"So are you starting a new project now?"
"Many," she blushed slightly thinking about one in particular. Draco immediately noticed her look and blushed as well.
"I brought some books, they're actually my class books from my first years at Hogwarts," he said handing Alice his Standard Book of Spells, Grade 1. "I figure it would give us a starting point."
Alice opened the front cover to find Draco's name scrawled on the first page, "Property of Draco Malfoy," it read in fancy cursive writing, "How cute," Alice mused noticing how professionally done it was for his age, "You were eleven, right?"
"Yeah," Draco suddenly felt embarrassed and hoped he hadn't scribbled anything incriminating in the book's margins, "First year is the most basic, we'll learn what you want to learn. I also brought grade two and three."
"This is great," Alice said flipping through the book's detailed pages. It was filled with pictures of wand motions along with straight forward text. Not terribly complicated to go through since learning it relied heavily on practice.
"I figured you're not interested in learning Herbology, Divination, or even Potions for that matter; just basic spells and charms," He placed the various books on her desk along with her notebook that she left with him before the trial. Alice was grateful that he remembered to return it. "Once you master these, I do want to teach you defense against the Dark Arts, for protection purposes."
"Protection?" Alice replied slightly surprised, "Well, I guess, but I don't think I'll need it."
"Perhaps not, but I'd feel better if you knew it," Draco could not hide his concern.
This made Alice feel warm inside, having someone that cared about her and caring equally about that person was one of the best parts of being in a relationship.
"I'll do my best professor," Alice said gleefully knowing it would make Draco blush, "And you're right about not needing to learn such things as Potions. If I ever need a brew made I have you!"
Draco was already blushing at the professor comment, "You're going to give me a hard time, aren't you?"
Alice smiled, "No, I'm usually a very good student but I do ask a lot of questions. Here's one, do most spells have a Latin base?" Alice immediately noticed the Latin used as the incantation to spells. She had studied it in school so it was easily recognizable.
"About 90 percent do," Draco said and then thinking it was time to show her something, "Where's your wand?"
Alice retrieved her wand from the box on her desk, it was the first time she touched it since being at the wand maker's shop. It felt comfortable in her hand and incredibly light.
"It's all in how you say it and in your wrist motions," Draco got his wand out from his inner pocket, "But even more so it's in your mind; you have to believe it to do it. Want to learn something easy?"
"Okay," Alice said skeptically, she was still apprehensive about doing magic.
Draco flicked his wand at the textbook Alice just placed on the nearby table and said, "Page 18." The book's pages turned and stopped on the commanded page.
"Showoff," Alice smirked as she went to look, it was a hover charm used to make items levitate. "Levitation, okay," she noted the wand motion and the words, Wingardium Leviosa.
"What should we levitate?" Alice asked, looking around in thought. She pulled out a hot pink highlighter from her desk drawer and placed it on the table.
"That's fine," Draco remarked on her choice of object, "Watch me first." He swooshed and flicked his wand carefully while saying the words in a kind of rhythm, "Wingardium leviosa." Immediately the highlighter levitated off the desk and with his wand he directed it over towards Alice, whose eyes watched it move through the air.
"Just like that, huh?" Alice remarked, thinking it probably looks easier than it is.
"Now you try," Draco levitated the highlighter back to the table.
Alice nodded and held out her wand. She hesitated while swooshing it, "Could you show me the motion again?"
Draco went to stand directly behind her and placed his hand lightly on her wrist to help direct her wand. Feeling his heat closely behind her made Alice's heart flutter, especially when he placed his other hand on the side of her arm.
"Swoosh and flick," Draco said as he moved Alice's wrist in the proper direction. She repeated it several times.
"Now your flick needs to be directed at the object," he repeated the motion with her pointing at the hot pink highlighter on the table. "And during the motion you say with the correct intonation, Wingardium leviosa." He repeated the words with Alice as he directed her hand. "Go Ahead."
Draco released Alice's hand and stepped back from his position, though he had wanted to remain close to her. Alice swooshed and flicked while saying the words but nothing happened, so she tried again.
"A little slower," Draco said, noting she was taking the swoosh too fast.
"Wingardium leviosa," Alice said, but nothing happened.
"Visualize the object levitating when you do it," Draco thought perhaps she was only going through the motions but not believing in the outcome.
Alice nodded and concentrated, in her mind she thought, "Levitate hot pink highlighter," as she moved her wand and repeated the incantation. After she flicked, the highlighter began to wiggle and slowly it rose off the table into the air.
Alice's jaw dropped open and having lost her concentration completely it fell back onto the table. "I did that?" She stammered, still surprised that it worked.
"You did, but you have to keep your wand and mind focused on it to keep it in the air," Draco advised, though he was inwardly proud it worked for her. "Try it again, but don't lose focus."
Alice nodded and repeated exactly what she did the previous time with the same results. The highlighter levitated and Alice moved it around the room before lowering it back on the table.
"I can't believe I just did that!" Alice exclaimed, grinning happily.
"Not bad," Draco said coolly, wondering what reaction a snarky attitude would get.
Alice's smile left her face and was replaced with feigned shock, "Not bad? Not easily impressed I see. Well professor, let's try something else," Alice remarked with some confidence, amazed how suddenly she was eager to learn more.
"You should probably keep practicing that spell before moving on too quickly," Draco cautioned, though he was glad she was finally eager to learn. "Let's try it again on a different object."
Alice levitated a pillow, a coffee cup, and even a chair, which she found to be considerably more difficult due to its size. After lowering it back on the floor she went and flopped herself down on it. "Okay, I think I'm done," she said exasperated, feeling a bit overwhelmed by the strange experience.
Draco laughed at her and said smugly, "And here I thought you wanted to learn something else."
Alice's eyes shifted to him and she got up confidently, "Alright, what's next professor?"
"A simple one," Draco said holding his wand upright, with a short flick he said, "Lumos." His wand tip lit up brightly. Then he said, "Nox," which made the light extinguish.
"It's like a battery-less flashlight," Alice mused, though Draco didn't know what she meant, the she added, "It's actually kinda useful."
She positioned her wand upright and flicked it slightly as Draco did saying "Lumos." Nothing happened. She tried again, but no light.
Draco decided to guide her hand again, since her motions were slightly off with her chant. He moved behind her and rose her wand hand up. As he moved her wrist he repeated, "Lumos." Then they did it together, "Lumos." Suddenly her wand tip lit up causing her blue eyes to sparkle in wonder and a wide smile graced her face. She turned to meet Draco whose eyes showed pride in her accomplishment. He brought his free hand to her waist and pulled her closer to him, his other hand remained on her wrist. The kiss was instantaneous and magnetic, lasting longer than they have kissed before. The light from the wand highlighted their features and neither felt the need to stop. The moment couldn't have been more perfect.