Chapter 3
Chapter 3
4th January 1991, Malfoy Manor, Wiltshire, England
Draco woke up the next morning in a hurry. He had been late for breakfast, but that wasn’t his fault. He was dreaming—seeing the girl with the owl in his dreams, how her bushy hair had fallen from her shoulders, and for a Muggle, she didn’t particularly look bad.
“So this evening we are going to resume your task, in the same Muggle town, but in a different place. Do you have the object that you collected in the park?” Lucius asked with a straight face.
“Yes, Father, I do have it in my room, but I haven’t figured out what it does,” Draco replied.
“That is a Probity Probe. It’s used to identify hidden magical objects and concealment spells. Since you don’t currently have a wand, it is supposed to help you determine if an object is magical or not,” Lucius stated.
Draco nodded, intrigued by the tool. “Alright, Father, I’ll try not to fail the task today.” Draco looked determined. Lucius gave him a sharp nod. His father was not completely mad, because Draco had not failed to retrieve the first object and, to his thought, an important item for their assigned task, so he gathered he hadn’t completely messed up yet.
Draco understood some things clearly: he absolutely would not and could not talk to Muggle strangers, and his father was always watching, whether he was visible or not.
“Dracooooo!” The voice of Theodore Nott echoed into the dining room. He looked very cheerful today.
“Hey, Theo,” Draco smiled at Theo, who took a chair at the table beside his mother.
“Good morning, Narcissa, and Mr. Malfoy,” Theo greeted politely.
“Good morning, darling. You look quite cheerful today,” Narcissa greeted Theo with a side hug.
“Yes, I am. I just got a Shakalaka Pencil,” Theo mused loudly, giving Draco an amused glance.
“What’s that?” Draco asked with a scowl.
“It’s a quill-like object, which when used to draw simple things on parchment, turns them into real objects,” Theo declared to the table.
“Where did you get it from? I want that too,” Draco said, looking hopefully at his mother.
“Perhaps, if you do well on your task, you can get it as a reward. It seems like the ridiculously named quill is an old artifact from the Nott family,” Lucius eyed the boy curiously.
“No, it’s actually from my Mum’s family. She set a few objects aside for me before dying that will come to me at special moments. I think this gift might be my soon-to-be-joining-Hogwarts gift from Mum,” Theo explained, his voice cheerful but with a hint of sadness.
Narcissa’s face melted into pure maternal instinct, and she hugged the boy, grabbing his shoulders sideways. “That’s so amazing, Theo. Clara was a brilliant witch, and I’m not surprised she still made her presence felt in your life after all these years. She loved you so dearly.”
Ever since Theo lost his mother, Narcissa had acted as a second mother to him. She cared for him deeply, and he cared for all the Malfoys in the same way, with the same sense of gratitude.
“Thanks for telling me, Narcissa,” Theo said with a teary-eyed smile.
“Well, go on then! Finish your breakfast quickly, and then you both can go and join your lessons,” Narcissa told the both of them.
Lucius excused himself and left to see to his day’s business, while Narcissa sat and chatted some more with the boys. Draco was excited to share the news of his Muggle escapade with Theo, who listened intently and wide-eyed at his best friend. Theo loved the Muggle world; he was always interested in their knick-knacks and enjoyed the stories that made their way to Wizarding London.
Their first lesson was History with Professor Praveen Mohan. He loved magical, and dare I say, Muggle history and their mysteries as much as he loved the very air, and he also loved teaching the subject. Draco was particularly fond of their teacher, but not particularly fond of the subject itself.
His second lesson was French, the third was Music, and lastly, the fourth was Economics. There were many more lessons Draco had learned over the years. Ever since he turned six, he had learned dancing, literature, poetry, painting, and whatnot. These were his last subjects to master, as he was soon leaving for Hogwarts, where he was going to learn how to become the most powerful wizard of all time.
**Hermione**
Hermione enjoyed her lovely evening with her grandmother yesterday. They visited the church, ate ice cream at a famous shop— despite the cold wheather— had a lovely dinner at a French restaurant, and came back home to dance together as a family.
One particular moment from yesterday made Hermione flush. The boy with very blonde hair and black clothes looked exactly like a ghost, and his sudden disappearance from the street made her feel weird. She thought that if she hadn’t turned, would she have had more chance to talk to him? He looked nice, despite his white hair and pale skin. His eyes were particularly drawn towards Hermione; they were a very bluish-grey sort of colour. She had never seen that kind of eye, or hair, on anybody before. She was very intrigued.
She hadn’t shared this information with anyone in her family. There were incidents in school where people called her a “freak,” like this one time when a boy in kindergarten pushed Hermione off the swing and she landed on her arse in the mud. She was furious, and suddenly the boy was soaked as if someone had dumped ten buckets of water on him from the sky, but only he was the one who was soaked.
Similar incidents happened to Hermione, which could not be explained. She thought something might be wrong with her mind because when she asked her parents about this, they had no answer and looked very anxious during the discussion. She absolutely did not want to be looked at or called a “freak” ever again, so she hadn’t discussed the boy from yesterday with anyone. This is the reason why Hermione had so little friends at school.
Today, Hermione was going to spend some time with her grandma at the shop. She loved playing with the baby animals there. She was particularly fond of a pair of hares and kittens from the shop. They were the softest, most adorable animals she had ever laid hands on.
“Mina, darling, I have a gift for you, dear,” Grandma Jane brought Hermione back from her thoughts as they were sitting in the shop. Her grandma was reading something about knitting patterns on an armchair in the corner of the shop, and Hermione was sitting near the kittens.
“What is it, Grandma?” Hermione squealed loudly and ran towards her grandma happily.
“What’s the hurry, dear? Don’t you want to wait for Mum and Dad to see the surprise with you?” Grandma mused.
“Oh, but they’ll take ages to come home!” Hermione whined.
“Now, now, Mina, thirty minutes of walking on the beach is not considered ages, darling!” Grandma Jane laughed. She loved teasing Hermione.
Hermione whined again.
Just then, the door to the shop opened and her mum and dad entered. Hermione ran up to them and shouted excitedly, “Mum, Grandma has a gift for me!”
They all went into the cottage's living room, and Grandma Jane retrieved a small blue velvet box. Hermione eyed it with excitement.
“Mum, you didn’t have to do that-” John told his mother.
“Oh, shove off, you two,” she gently scolded them.
“Open it up, Mina, darling,” Grandma Jane handed her the box.
Hermione opened the box and gasped. Inside was a pendant with a thin gold chain. The pendant was shaped like a circular coin, with an etched design that resembled a plant or flower of some sort. Its bud was made with a tiny red ruby stone.
Hermione looked up to see her grandma and parents.
“That looks so expensive, Mum, why do you—” John started.
“No, John, don’t be ridiculous. I can gift my granddaughter whatever I want, and besides, this is a family heirloom. This was gifted to me by my mother and passed on through generations. This should be passed to the next daughter in the family. You didn’t have any sisters, so now it belongs to Mina,” Grandma Jane smiled sweetly at Hermione.
“Thank you so much, Grandma. I love it,” Hermione said as she hugged her grandma.
“Can you put it on me, Grandma?” Hermione asked, turning and handing the box back to her grandma.
“You know, my mother gave this to me when I was your age, so I thought this is the right time for you to have it, my darling,” Grandma Jane hooked the beautiful necklace around Hermione’s neck.
“Oh, it looks so wonderful on you!” She kissed Hermione’s forehead affectionately. “It’s supposed to keep you protected and give you magical powers,” Grandma Jane declared with a smile.
Hermione giggled and ran a thumb over her new necklace.
Draco and Lucius landed with a pop in a grimy alleyway of the Muggle town, Draco’s eyes darting around as he realized they were in a different spot from last time. The area looked a bit unfamiliar, not that it mattered much.
“Off you go, Draco,” Lucius drawled, his voice carrying that unmistakable tone of dismissal.
Draco gave a slight nod and moved slowly, gripping the golden rod in his hand. He cursed internally—how the hell was he supposed to find a magical object with no clue what it looked like, where it was, or what it even was? He loathed this task, knowing full well it was meant to test his instincts and his magical core. Draco knew that after this, his father would drill him on how to sense the magic in the air. This was a tough job, and tough jobs always came with tough lessons.
Taking a right turn out of the alley, Draco resolved to get this over with as quickly as possible. He headed towards a road intersection, his eyes landing on a large candy shop across the street. As he mingled with a group of Muggles crossing the road, he couldn't help but sneer inwardly at the ridiculous “metallic animal contraptions” speeding by, unsure how to avoid getting flattened by one.
The candy shop was a kaleidoscope of colours, bursting with energy and sweets. Giant lollipops dangled from the ceiling like some child’s fever dream, and every shelf was packed with brightly wrapped candies, chocolates, and treats. It reminded him of Honeydukes, though he begrudgingly admitted it wasn’t half bad for a Muggle place. Still, his father would never hide anything in here—especially not something this important. Draco loved candy, but there was no way Lucius would let him waste time or money on such nonsense during an important task. He left the shop without a second thought.
Outside, he scanned the area, feeling lost. How was he supposed to find anything when he didn’t even know what he was looking for? Draco took a deep breath, closing his eyes. You can do this, he thought, trying to steady himself. But then, he heard it—a voice, familiar and unsettling. The same voice he’d heard yesterday. He clenched his eyes tighter, the voice growing louder until he snapped them open, only to find no one there. Fan-fucking-tastic, he thought bitterly, Now my mind’s playing tricks on me.
Pushing the unsettling encounter aside, Draco pressed on, heading right down the street. A large antique shop loomed to his left, its eerie presence reminding him of Borgin and Burkes. His father had taken him there once, warning him not to touch anything. This place had the same unsettling vibe, filled with dark, mysterious objects that seemed to whisper secrets.
He yanked the golden rod from his pocket, waving it in front of the shop. At first, nothing happened, but as he moved it up and down, the rod suddenly glowed with a red aura. Draco let out a small chuckle, a wave of relief washing over him. Finally, he was on the right track.
Draco entered the shop, greeted by a haunting silence. The air was thick with the weight of artifacts. A carved stone lion rested on the floor, its eyes seeming to follow Draco’s every move. Glass cases displayed weathered idols and ornate brass figurines, each radiating a history that felt almost tangible. A strange, unsettling energy hung in the air, especially around the wooden statues and faded paintings that lined the walls. A man stood in the midst of it all, eyeing Draco with a polite smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. Draco nodded back warily, then began to wander deeper into the shop, his senses on high alert.
He passed through sections filled with china, silver jewellery, clocks, and furniture—all items Draco was familiar with, though the versions in his home were of much finer quality. He eyed the merchandise with distaste, clearly unimpressed.
Draco decided to use the rod again for guidance. He pulled it out of his pocket and waved it in the air, hoping for a sign. Nothing. He moved it over an hourglass, and the rod glowed green. Confused, Draco tried another item, and again the rod turned green. He experimented with a few more objects, each time getting the same green glow. So, if the object is non-magical, it glows green, Draco deduced, and if it’s magical, it’ll show red. Satisfied with his conclusion, he moved on.
In the back corner of the shop, Draco found a small, dimly lit section filled with old books. The shelves were crammed with volumes that reminded him of the library at Malfoy Manor. As he browsed, his attention was caught by a small girl standing on a stool at the far end of the aisle. She wore a woollen hat, a red skirt, white stockings, and a matching white sweater. The book she was reading looked far too heavy for her, yet she seemed engrossed, her concentration unbroken. Draco moved closer, pretending to look at the shelves, but really, he couldn’t stop staring at her.
When the girl finally looked up from her book, their eyes met, and Draco froze. It was the same girl he had seen yesterday outside the pet shop. He moved slowly towards her, as if in a trance.
Realizing someone was approaching, the girl startled, losing her balance on the stool. Draco reacted quickly, rushing forward and grabbing her by the waist to steady her as the heavy book slipped from her grasp. For a moment, neither of them moved, Draco’s hands still on her waist, both shocked by the sudden closeness.
She looked at him, wide-eyed and just as surprised as he was. “T-Thank you,” she stammered, clearly flustered. Draco quickly pulled his hands away, muttering, “Sorry, I thought you were going to fall.”
Her cheeks flushed as she recognized him—he was the boy from yesterday. And now, he just saved her. Draco offered her a hand to help her down from the stool. As she put the book back and took his hand, a jolt of electricity shot through Draco, and it seemed to have the same effect on her. They both yanked their hands back, staring at each other in shock.
Awkward silence hung between them as they each took a step back, both visibly flustered.
“Um, you should be more careful,” Draco said, his voice wavering slightly.
“Well, you startled me!” she shot back, her tone accusatory.
“What are you doing here? Are you even real?” she asked, her eyes narrowing with suspicion.
“What kind of question is that? Of course, I’m real,” Draco retorted, matching her tone.
“Well, excuse me for questioning your reality, because you vanished yesterday!” she accused, waving her hand in exasperation.
Draco shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. “Uh—well, I had to leave suddenly,” he answered warily.
Hermione narrowed her eyes at him, clearly unsatisfied with his response. “Why are you here?” she demanded, her hands planted on her hips.
Draco rolled his eyes. “I guess the same reason as you. It’s a shop, if you didn’t know. People come here to buy products.”
“Fine,” Hermione hissed through her teeth, frustrated. “But I didn’t even see you leave. You just vanished from the spot.”
Deciding to play it cool, Draco shrugged again, “Are you mad or something? I left just as any other person would leave a spot. Did you expect me to say goodbye? or kiss you on the cheek?” he added, his tone deliberately mocking as he tried to gaslight her.
At that, Hermione’s face turned even redder. “I just didn’t see you leave, is all,” she mumbled, clearing her throat awkwardly as she turned to face the other direction, suddenly shy.
“Mina!” Her mum’s voice called out from somewhere in the shop, trying to locate her.
“Yes, Mum! I’m here,” Hermione called back, before turning her gaze back to Draco. She observed him carefully. He was dressed in black trousers and a black shirt, his hair slicked back, looking far too mature for his age. It was strange—he dressed like a grown man.
“Do you go to school here?” Hermione asked, curious.
“No,” Draco replied curtly.
“Do you live here?”
“No.”
“Are you here with your parents?”
“No.”
“Did you purchase the owl?”
“No.”
“How did you find me here?”
“I didn’t.”
“Do you always give answers in negative?”
“No.”
Hermione sighed heavily. A heavy silence fell between them. Both Draco and Hermione were visibly flustered, unsure of how to proceed with the conversation. Yet, despite the awkwardness, they found themselves wanting to know more about each other.
Just then, Hermione’s mum arrived and asked her to leave with her. Hermione looked back at Draco, a hint of hesitation in her eyes. “Bye, and thank you for saving me,” she said, smiling sweetly at him. She lingered for a moment as if she wanted to say more, but ultimately, she turned and left quietly with her mum.
Draco stood still in the tiny library, staring at the spot where Hermione had been. He was transfixed, unable to shake the strange feeling that had come over him during their encounter. He didn’t even manage to say goodbye as she walked away.
Shaking off the daze, Draco decided to focus on his task. There would be time to think about this odd encounter later.
He pulled out his probe and began moving it along the bookshelves, searching for any sign of magic. When the rod turned red over a particular book, Draco eagerly grabbed it. It was some sort of ancient diary, the cover adorned with the Malfoy insignia. Finally! Fucking finally, his task was over.
The Pendant: