Having a Centaur teach Divination was a- unique experience to say the least. The classroom was now a forest and the ceiling enchanted. Harry now spent his classes laying on his back laying on his back to learn about the stars instead of peering into teacups and crystal balls- 'Human Nonsense' as Firenze called it.
It was three weeks into the lessons when Malfoy ran into the classroom with a message for Firenze. Harry had forgotten that he was a prefect. Malfoy stood with his back straight while he awaited further instructions- his face showing nothing but respect for the Centaur. Harry was confused by this- with all of Malfoy's bigoted views Harry would've thought that Malfoy would be sickened by Firenze's very presence. So the next moment totally shocked him.
"Child of the stars. Tell me what you see?" Firenze asked Malfoy. Malfoy didn't question what the Centaur asked him and dropped to the floor immediately. He seemed to melt on the ground, all the tension Harry didn't know Malfoy carried drifted away as he closed his eyes and breathed in the magical forest around him.
Breathing out slowly Malfoy smiled as he opened his eyes. Harry blushed as he watched him. He'd never seen Malfoy smile properly before, it was quite beautiful. Harry berated himself for the thought as Malfoy's eyes flickered over the ceiling. His smile dropping away slowly until a look come across his face that could only be described as terror. His breathing now harsh- seemingly seconds away from hyperventilating.
"It can't be. I-I didn't see this before!" Malfoy exclaimed panicked. Firenze nodded solemnly. "I'm afraid so. I knew you would see it too Child of the stars. You must speak to Bane for me".
Malfoy looked faint. Harry wasn't suprised by this. He and Malfoy had a bad experience in first year meeting Voldemort in the Forbidden Forest. What he was suprised about was how Malfoy bowed to the Centaur before leaving and the fact that Firenze had asked Malfoy to approach Bane, who hated humans and at the moment Firenze- for associating with them.
But Malfoy didn't even question who Bane was- Harry only knew because of his visits to the Forest with and for Hagrid. The whole interaction was a mystery, and Harry liked Malfoy mysteries the best.
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"and don't you think its weird that Malfoy respected him so much? - he even bowed to him! Firenze had a nickname for him. He didn't act all though he was below him at all."
Ron who had been asleep beside Harry through the visit snorted as Harry excitedly recalled the visit to him and Hermione. "Of course he wouldn't. He's a Black." Ron replied as if that explained everything. Harry waved his hands at Ron in ways of requesting an explanation. Ron smirked. With Hermione about It wasn't often he had the opportunity to feel smug about knowing something the others didnt "The older Pure blood lines- the actual Pure blood's have certain gifts. The Malfoys and the Blacks the most prominent. Probably because they're not human." Ron said thoughtfully. Well that explained why he was unafraid of the Centaurs then.
Harry felt dizzy with the news "Not Human? So what's that Pure blood nonsense about then?" Harry asked confused. Hermione rolled her eyes "Honestly Harry! If you stayed awake during History of Magic you'd know this. All the old Families come from Magic itself." Harry smiled guiltily before asking "So what does that mean?" He asked. Ron smirked "It means when I call him a Fairy I'm saying it in more ways then one. He's half Nymph on his mum's side- That's where Tonks got her name- then there's Veela blood on old Lucius's side". He explained.
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The usual chaos surrounded dinner. Food being thrown, students shouting across to other houses, and the odd person stabbed with a fork while reaching for food. Harry didn't need to look at Hermione to know she had a large book on her lap as usual. Occasionally missing her mouth as she tried to eat and read at the same time. Harry wasn't interested in whatever it was this time, he only had eyes for one thing.
Malfoy.
The Child of the stars Firenze had called him, and he'd often heard him referred to other similar names- Luna for instance referred to him as Starlight. It'd taken him an embarrassingly long time to realise she was referring to Malfoy. Especially as her stories were so positive. But it made sense that her experiences with the blonde boy very different to his, he was after all her Cousin.
Harry snarled at Pansy from across the room as she joined the Slytherin table, stroking Malfoy's hair. No one seemed to notice Harry's strange reaction to the Pug faced girl. If Harry had been in his right mind he'd have been worried about the surge of jealousy that passed through him and the deeply upsetting feeling that she was touching what was his. He'd never hated the girl more.
If he'd been more aware of his surroundings he'd have heard Hermione reading out exsactly what was happening to him from the book she was devouring. The need to have Malfoy in his sight, the irrational jealousy, the sheer obsession he had with the Slytherin pointed to one thing. Draco's Magic had chosen him as his Soul-bounded. His Mate.
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Harry grimaced as his trainers squelched in yet another puddle. He may have mastered the umbrella charm but it didn't stop the ground from being so sodden with rain before him.
The invisibility cloak grew wet and muddy at the bottom. Harry was glad this would only be visible from the inside but briefly wondered how to safely wash such as magical fabric. The House elves wouldn't touch it. The elves didn't touch any clothing, and refused to clean their dorm if any item lay around, offended by the sheer sight of discarded clothes. Of course this didn't stop Hermione from her frankly pointless quest to liberate them. He'd heard only this morning Lavender telling Parvati that if she found Hermione hiding one more misshapen scarf she'd strangle her with it.
Snorting at the memory Harry reached into his robes for the Maraunders Map. He knew Malfoy had left the castle and was heading towards the Forbidden Forest (presumably to go see Bane) but in Harry's opinion the Forest itself was harder to navigate then the castle and he had to be sure the Centaur's clearing was where Malfoy was going for sure. Especially in the Dark of the night.
Damn near wading through the mud and puddles now Harry didn't notice his compulsion to pocket the long golden feathers or sparkling ice-blue flowers from the ground as he passed them. He felt a thrill run through him as he neared closer to Malfoy and Bane's names on the map, voices in the distance becoming clearer with each step.
"- Know what this means Bane". Malfoy's voice sounded exhausted. Harry had the feeling he'd been saying the same thing over and over. Bane was a stubborn one to be sure. "Pah! As if the stars would predict such trivial matters" Bane sneered angerily "Anyway I have seen nothing of the sort!"
"If you could just come to the Castle you would see-" Draco implored "Firenze has a wider and closer view of the heavens with the castle's magic. You can see what is not visible from here!"
Harry could hear the sounds of hooves pacing and the Centaur snorting with anger "Don't mention that horse's name to me! He is a disgrace to our kind! Sharing our secrets with humans of all people! He is mistaken!" Bane sneered.
Malfoy spoke softly to Bane then. A somewhat magical tone Harry had never heard from Malfoy. "Trust me then Bane. I have seen it for myself. A war is coming. One that won't just be kept between the humans. One that will affect all beings. Voldemort will return and soon. We need to be ready"
The sound of crunching ground got closer before Harry realised was happening, still trying to process what he had just heard. The meeting was now over. When he finally blinked at the sound and prepared to hide it was too late. Dispite the invisibility cloak Malfoy had spotted him. Harry closed his eyes in embarrassment at being caught.
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When Harry opened his eyes he was suprised to see he was standing in a room- his dormitory in fact. The curtains open and a breeze cooling the room. The sun had clearly been up for a while. Heart pounding he walked towards his bed and pulled back the curtains. Laying on top of the duvet was his invisibility cloak. Neatly folded and completely clean. Turning away a flash of colour caught his eyes. A strange bouquet of flowers and feathers poked out of a vase on his bedside table that he'd never seen.
What the hell had happened?