Fates Collide

Thea finished her e-mail to her friend and sat back with a sigh. She looked over it once before sending it out. Then, she shut down her laptop and leaned back against the back of Hagrid's chair. She rubbed her eyes, still unused to the feeling of no contacts.

When she had returned home her parents had presented her with strange news. She was to lose the disguise, and not just the contacts but everything. Her parents informed her that it would soon be pointless anyway, that her own magic would rebel against hiding her true self and would produce situations that would completely throw her into the spotlight. When she asked what sort of things, they simply suggested that certain key clothes would disappear at random times. Thea had already noticed that her hair was being completely rebellious, but that would be horrible. She got rid of her disguise, though she still wore boring clothes and never looked up. Might as well not change too drastically or people really would notice. Though when she returned nobody had paid any attention to her, which was both a relief and a disappointment.

At that moment Hagrid handed her a cup of tea and she accepted it with thanks. She sipped it carefully and discovered that it tasted quite good. At least he can make tea, she thought to herself. When he offered her food she had politely declined, noting that they seemed to be the same texture as bricks.

"Like I was saying I can't believe you haven't asked to come in afore. Out there writing you're letters in all sorts of weather." Hagrid had accidentally stumbled on her while she had been writing her e-mails. She had installed a satellite on Hagrid's shed, placed an invisibility spell on it, during the first week she had been at Hogwarts, allowing her to use DSL to stay connected to the internet.

Hagrid had come out and discovering the door opened to let air in, had found her writing her e-mails. He had immediately invited her in, but she explained that the connector was in the shed. He had then offered to move it. She agreed, though she had installed a splitter in order to still connect in the shed, and she was soon set up inside the comfort of Hagrid's hut. He sat down at the table and looked at her for a moment. She knew he was about to pepper her with questions about the laptop, but since was in no hurry as she usually was she decided to humor him.

He sat back and regarded the laptop with a mix of curiosity and suspicion, and then the questions began. He wanted to know everything and Thea was happy to explain. After about two hours of questions Hagrid couldn't think of anything else to ask, Thea stood up and apologized, but explained that she had to leave. Hagrid told her she could come back tomorrow night, telling her he would probably have more questions and showed her to the door. He waved goodbye as she called up her invisibility spell and disappeared, to hide her reentrance back into the castle. He then reentered his hut.

As soon as he was gone Thea turned in her tracks and headed into the forbidden forest. She always felt guilty about not telling Hagrid who she truly was, but had decided that telling him would be a bad idea. She walked briskly along the path she had walked for over five years and within a few minutes she arrived at the clearing she had sought, dispersing her invisibility spell. It was a fair sized one and it was completely blocked from view by the closely packed tress. She walked into the center and began to clear her mind.

Her skin prickled and soon felt as if it had disappeared. She felt herself shift shape, her blood pounding in her ear, as it did every night, and then, suddenly it was over. She raised her draconic head and let her eyes adjust to the light.

The moonlight shone off her rich turquoise scales. Her iridescent silver crest, which ran from her forehead to the end of her tail, flexed and hardened to protect her back. Silver talons shifted through the dirt allowing Thea to feel the ground beneath her paws. She stared out of rich blue cat like eyes, her iris expanding to give her the best vision. Her ears were perched on the top of her skull, rotating independently to catch any sound. Two rows of razor sharp silver fangs were barely visible inside her mouth. She stretched out both wings, flexing them to get ready to fly. The topside was protected with hard scales but the underside was a delicate skin. Each wing was a skin membrane stretched over delicate bones, shaped much like a hand that's fingers had been stretched to accommodate wings. The thumb on each wing was replaced by a huge talon that gleamed in the dim light.

She stretched her wings one more time before preparing to fly. She pulled her wings close to her body and crouched down, bunching her leg muscles. She then called up the invisibility spell, when that was complete she launched herself into the air. Her wings snapped out and pumped to give her lift. She soon had gained enough altitude and began to simply glide over the forest and grounds of Hogwarts.

This is what she did every night, hunting only when she needed. She had feasted well last night, taking out a healthy buck deer, and wouldn't need to eat for another few days at the least. She would only fly for a short time before returning to the clearing and going to sleep for the night. Unfortunately in order to remain healthy, a dragum had to keep a balance between both shapes and had to lead the lifestyle, including the diet, of both. She changed every night to keep that balance, simply drawing her bed curtains back at Hogwarts so nobody would suspect she wasn't there.

Thea continued to glide for another half hour before deciding to return to the clearing. She landed softly, dropping the invisibility spell once more, and quietly lay down as Tobin, who had been waiting for her, entered the clearing. He walked over; found a spot right next to her, lay down and quickly went to sleep. Thea lay her head down and didn't remember anything after that.

Thea awoke, dim light filling the clearing. She took a few deep and calming breaths and began to shift to her human shape. Tobin awoke just as she finished, "So how was your night?" he asked with a yawn.

"Fine, and how was yours?" Thea asked as she began to head back to Hagrid's hut. Tobin stretched then trotted to catch up.

"Great, I had a wonderful dream, but I was asking you since sleep hasn't been coming so easily of late." He replied.

He never lets me forget does he, she thought angrily. "Yes well I believe exhaustion had something to do with that." She replied shortly trying to give him a hint to drop it.

He didn't take the hint. "So, why does this boy occupy so much of your time?" He looked up at her as the left the cover of the forest and entered the paddock.

"I don't know!" She cried out in frustration, wishing desperately that that she didn't have such problems. Malfoy had been on her mind a lot lately, ever since those two incidents before Christmas. "I can't believe I'm losing sleep over him. I mean I'm suppose to be watching Harry and thinking about ways to better protect him and all the time I'm thinking about his arch enemy." She wanted to pound herself for her own stupidity. This was turning into a disaster. She was failing in her duty and knew it, but no one else seemed to. She had become so frustrated that she wrote to her parents saying that another should be sent. They had told her that she was doing fine and would handle this in her own way. In other words they had simply tried to soothe her like any normal parent and push her on her way.

"Well, he has been paying more attention to you too, if that helps." Tobin remarked.

"What!" She asked horrified. "Of course that doesn't help," This was even worse, how was she to gather information if the key source was now paying attention to her. "Shit! What the hell am I suppose to do. Wait," she paused thinking quickly, her emotions weren't letting her think clearly. "What do you mean he has been paying attention to me." She asked slowly.

"Well, it hasn't been as if he has been focusing in on you or anything but every so often he seems to realize he doesn't know where you are and he looks around for you." He paused choosing his next words carefully. "From what I can see he simply can't figure you out. He probably noticed you for the first time that day on the train."

"That was the point!" Thea snapped, then immediately regretted it. "Oh, I'm sorry Tobin I just need to get this business sorted out." Tobin seemed to want to say something else but when he didn't Thea turned towards the shed, hopeful that the ride would help her clear her head.

*****

Thea cantered along the flat, even grounds, trying to sort out her thoughts. Malfoy was now paying attention, what should I do?

Should you do anything? Asked her reason equably

I'm not sure, maybe he is only making sure I actually go to school and that's it. If that's the case then there isn't anything to worry about. I just act as I always have and it will be set firmly in his mind that I'm a nobody. Maybe this would even help her investigation.

Ok, now you're just dreaming, her mind voice chimed in.

Ignoring it, she decided that that was the best she could do and relaxed, simply enjoying the ride. The rhythmic movement of Bristol lulled her into comfort. She looked around at the mist covered grounds and noticed that a human shaped shadow was hovering around the green houses. She immediately became alert again. An early student? I think not. She decided glancing at her watch. Classes didn't start for another hour at least. She turned Bristol towards the greenhouses, thinking that it could simply be Madame Sprout.

Well, I'll know soon enough, she thought as she entered the greenhouse area. The shadow seemed to be simply walking, but it was definitely not Madame Sprout. It was stalking back and forth, seemingly oblivious to her approach. The shadow was taller and thinner then Sprout. The mystery was soon solved, however, when the cold voice of Malfoy floated over to her.

"Go away, stupid ghost. Go ride somewhere else." Malfoy's shape clarified and Thea could see that he had come out here in a rush. She slowed Britol to a stop about ten feet away from him. His clothes hung at odd angles and his hair was slightly disheveled. Thea quickly called up the schedules, she had them all memorized, and came up with the sixth year Slytherins in herbology.

Well, at least he is supposed to be here. He must have left straight from Quidditch practice. Realizing his appearance was simply due to the practice.

"Fine," He said turning in her general direction and leaning against the greenhouse. "I've got nothing better to do, amuse me with your tragic tale of death." He slide down the wall of the greenhouse and sat there still looking in Thea's general direction. Thea's lip curled in disgust. He doesn't even have respect for the dead, she thought revolted. She wanted to snap back at him, but knew she couldn't dare risk speaking so she simply sat there, waiting for him to speak. Maybe she would get lucky and he would start to brag. He could let something important slip, she though expectantly. She didn't have to wait long. "Not a talkative ghost I see, well then I guess I'll just have to find another way to amuse myself."

As he started to get up, the wind shifted, which until that moment had been coming from her right and suddenly was coming straight a Thea's back. Bristol's scent and hers was carried over to Malfoy, who's face twisted in disgust.

"Ehh, when's the last time you washed that beast of yours." He said covering his nose. Thea knew that he was simply smelling Bristol's sweat, but that's not what concerned her. Ghosts didn't smell, and if Malfoy made that connection he would know she wasn't a real ghost. She hastily turned Bristol around and started heading back towards Hagrid's, eager to get as far away from Malfoy as possible.

Draco slunk back down to the ground, listening to the retreating hoof beats of the ghost. Far too sensitive he decided all ghosts were. He let his mind begin to wander again, now that he didn't have anything to distract him. His mind wandered back to where it had been before the ghost, onto the mystery girl. He had found out a few details, and discovered, to his great disappointment that she was a perfectly ordinary student. A few times he hadn't been able to find her, but those times were always later in the day when she'd probably be in Gryffindor tower. The only other thing odd was that she never, not once, came to breakfast. He checked every morning, sometimes staying the whole time just to make sure but she never showed up. He had noticed the change over winter break, but nobody else seemed to.

Distant voices pulled him out of his reverie, as Crabbe and Goyle approached. "Hey Draco how come yous wasn't at breakfast?" Goyle asked puzzlement covering his normally dumbfounded expression.

Draco shrugged, "Didn't feel like it," he replied.

They started up a conversation, waiting for class to begin.

*****

Draco began gathering up his things at the end of potions. Potions was his favorite class, namely because he got away with anything in it. He loved to see Potter and his friends humiliated. As he shoved the last of his equipment into his bag he noticed that Snape was walking towards him. He straightened up and Snape stopped beside his desk.

"I would like your assistance in my next class." Snape said immediately. "One of my students is sick and so there is a person without a partner. And since you are one of my best students I would like you to assist them." Draco noticed that Granger had winced at Snape's appraisal as she left the class, he smiled inwardly. A slight frown creased Snape's face as he added, "Unfortunately it is a Gryffindor student, so I will understand if you decline. I have already asked your other teacher if you could be excused and he has agreed."

Draco thought it over. His next class was Care of Magical Creatures with that half beast, Hagrid. He'd miss the chance to annoy Potter but with Hagrid ready to give him detention, he never had much fun in that class anyway. He smiled at Professor Snape. "Sure," he said thinking of the time he'd have making a Gryffindor miserable, "sounds like fun." Snape nodded and swept back to his desk as Draco went to get lunch before Snape's next class began.

*****

Thea looked around the class nervously. The class had to concoct a potion with a partner today and she was alone. Ginny, her normal partner, had gotten sick and was resting in the hospital wing for the day. Thea had figured that Ginny would be nice and had asked, when they had first started school, to be partners. Ginny had agreed and they were partners in all their classes ever since. She had never considered Ginny a friend, since they never talked outside class, but just a partner and Ginny didn't seem to expect friendship.

Today, however, without Ginny she would either have to ask to join a group or try it alone. As she looked around the room she knew she would be on her own. The other Gryffindors always ignored her, and she didn't have the nerve to ask them. The Slytherins were completely out of the question. She could already picture their mocking laughter at her being alone.

She looked over the potion a final time hoping that she could pull this off by herself in the time limit that Snape demanded. He would just love the chance to take points of Gryffindor and she had never lost any points for Gryffindor. Of course, she had never earned any either, but that wasn't the point.

She began setting out her ingredients as the last of the students wandered in. She set her books on the empty stool, to give her as much room as possible. Once that was done, she leaned her head against her hand and faced away from the door, simply doodling on spare parchment, waiting for class to begin. She heard Snape approach her desk to check on her ingredients and she continued to draw, knowing he would barely glance at her ingredients. If a Gryffindor got it wrong, then it would be impossible for them to produce the correct potion, a great opportunity for Snape to deduct points.

As Snape passed by her desk, another set of footfalls stopped behind him. Just as she was about to wonder who it was, out of the corner of her eye she saw her books knocked to the ground, creating a loud bang that echoed through the dungeon.

She looked at the books strewn over the floor and then looked up into Draco Malfoy's smirking face. She slid off her stool and began gathering up her things, silently wishing she could wipe that smirk off his face.

"That's for the train ride," he said as he slid onto the stool he had just cleared of her things. She got up and placed her books as far away from Malfoy as she could, then moved her chair to the far side of the desk.

Snape gave final reminders to the class before telling them to begin. Thea immediately selected the roots of the night creeper and began slicing it into thin slices. That's when the criticisms began. It was never ending and completely useless. Malfoy, who was supposed to be helping her, simply sat there and told her how wrong she was doing things.

She checked the potion list constantly, his criticism making her nervous, and always found that she was on track. At one point he stopped and Thea, getting suspicious, looked at the potion. Sure enough, when she checked she found that she had nearly skipped a step that would have ruined the whole potion. She went back and corrected her mistake, never even glancing at Malfoy. She was trying her best to control her emotions and from the look on Malfoy's face, when she did sneak a peek, she was succeeding. He was looking more annoyed by the minute. This brought her some relief and she was able to quell her growing temper before it exploded.

She finished adding the last ingredient and sat down with a sigh. The potion bubbled and turned a pale purple. Thea looked at the book and smiled, it matched the description perfectly. She looked around at the class and was surprised to see that she was one of the first done. She propped her head on her hand again and stared off into space, absent mindedly drumming her fingers. Snape announced that time was up and the potions would be graded.

As Thea sat up she glanced over at Malfoy and noticed he was giving her an odd look, not knowing what it meant she faced forward and tried to ignore him, still drumming her fingers. That's when she realized what she was doing. Her fingers were drumming a canter beat, exactly what Malfoy had heard that morning. She immediately stopped and clenched her hand, ignoring the headache she could feel forming at her temple.

When Snape finally came round to check her work she was ready to leave on the spot. Instead, she sat still and waited for Snape's verdict. "Well, it seems you have performed to your usual excellent standards Mr. Malfoy, though I didn't require you to do so much work." Thea looked down at her desk and tried no to scream how this wasn't fair. She could hear the Slytherins snickering in the background. Everyone knew that Malfoy had simply yelled at her all period and he was getting all the credit. Never mind she told herself firmly at least you still get full marks.

She could see Malfoy smirking at her and, again, she had to fight the urge to lash out. When class was dismissed, she waited till Malfoy was safely out of the class before she gathered her things and headed towards the exit. She could feel that her face was still flushed with anger and she didn't want to give Malfoy the satisfaction of how he had gotten to her.

*****

Draco had been thrilled to see that his victim was the mystery girl. It turned out that she wasn't as easy to get to, though, as he had thought. He sat through the potions class, getting more irritated by the minute. No matter what he said, or didn't say in one case, he couldn't seem to get to her. He couldn't think of any other way to get at her. He didn't know anything about her so he had no way to insult her. When she finished and turned away from him. He sat there thinking about what he knew. Then she had started drumming her fingers. It was the same sound the ghost had made riding up this morning. His thoughts drifted to that morning and he remembered the smell that had been wafted at him by the wind.

It was at this point that the realization struck. How could a ghost smell, they didn't have flesh. So that rider couldn't have been a ghost, it had to be a live rider wearing a cloak or charm. He remembered the smell once more and caught an underlying hint that was almost overpowered by the smell of sweating animal. The closest he could describe it was that it smelled of the wild things, like nature itself, clear and clean. As he concentrated on it, it became stronger and stronger until finally he realized that his memory was not the only thing contributing. He looked at the girl and realized that it was from her. She was the rider! He looked at her, stunned. At that moment she sat up and looked over at him. A look of puzzlement crossed her face and she quickly turned towards the front of the class. When Snape finally dismissed his class Draco got up quickly and left, plotting of a way he could prove his theory.