Inheritance

She walked in. The silence of Hogwarts greeting her like it did everywhere else. She followed the first years up to the front and watched as one by one they were sorted into their houses. Once they had all been seated it was her turn. Dumbledore got up and announced that a new girl had transferred from Durmstrang and would be joining sixth year.

'Othila Laguz.' At her name she sat on the stool with the sorting hat. A moment later McGonagall stood in front of her and said

'Slytherin.' A smug smile crept across her face as she joined her fellow Slytherins for the feast.

The next morning at breakfast everyone received their timetables. Othila's was the same as Durmstrang except she had to study runes instead of stones and gems, but that didn't matter. She knew enough about stones and gems already.

By the looks of things she had Defence Against the Dark Arts first with the Gryffindors. It won't be as good, she thought. So far she hadn't really met anyone from her house, though she knew they were, so she followed the other sixth years to the room.

She reached the room to find most people already there. She lent against a nearby pillar and waiting. She saw, walking towards her, a pale haired boy. He stuck his hand out.

'So you're the new kid. I'm Draco Malfoy.' She looked at his hand and back up to his face, her arms still crossed. He dropped it and continued. 'You're from Durmstrang, right? I was gonna go there, but my father thought it better to send me here. Can't think why.' He shrugged. 'So why have you come here now?' Othila just looked at him, not breaking eye contact. 'You gonna speak?'

I don't speak. Her fingers made swift movements. Everyone stared at her. Draco's jaw dropped. She loved having this effect on people.

What? You've never seen a deaf person before. Guess not. She looked at Draco. Close your mouth. It looks like you're catching flies. Draco's head whipped around as he heard someone sniggering behind him. He saw Hermione Granger hiding a smile.

'Oi Granger,' he said. 'You understand her?' She smiled.

'Yes.' Next to her Ron asked

'You know sign language? Where from?'

'My cousin is deaf. I had to learn it.' She made some quick hand movements, although they weren't as smooth as Othila's.

Hi, I'm Hermione. Don't worry about the others. They probably haven't met a deaf person before. I could translate for you if you like?

Thanks, but I can lip read perfectly good enough-

'Whoa, whoa, whoa. What are saying to her?' he demanded from Hermione.

We were just saying how gorgeous guys are always stupid. Hermione laughed.

'What was that?'

'She was just asking why are all gorgeous stupid.' Some of the other Gryffindors laughed, including Ron and Harry.

'Well you tell her I hate being made a fool of by people in my own house.'

'Tell her yourself. She can lip read perfect enough.' However when Draco spun to face the girl the professor rounded the corner dispelling all activity.

'Right class, you may enter.'

By the end of the day it had spread through the school that the new girl was deaf.

Othila stood in her room. She had her own dorm, since there weren't enough beds in the sixth year dorm, and she was glad about this. She felt so different from everybody here, which is true in more ways than one. It was different at Durmstrang. Everyone had their own secrets, however good, bad or drastic.

Sitting on her bed Othila reached for her diary. It was hidden. No one knew of its existence. It contained secrets only known to her. The green cover, spelled shut by four spells, could only be opened by Othila's unique power.

She knew that she hadn't written in it since the summer of last year, but that was and emergency and this is too.

She took hold of the quill inside the cover, which was also spelled to prevent others from reading what was written. When the quill was put to parchment Othila's mind was almost poured out on to the page.

Her soul was never shared. No one really understood her anyway. Her parents disowned her when she was six, the muggle/ magic family she lived with knew nothing of her past and her old 'so called' friends are as ignorant of her as the people of Hogwarts.

The words flowed easily from her mind like lightning running down the sky. When she sat back to read what she wrote she realised something.

It's the same here as it was there ignorant people, restrictive rules and worst of all no uniqueness. Everyone was the same, in attitude, look and thought.

I enjoy being different. Even though, at the moment nobody knows yet, but they will. I will shine here.

They will all bow down to Her and not him. He is filled with hatred and pain. She is the light and the dark. I will make them see.

From across the room Draco was whispering to his friend Ash. Fortunately for Othila Draco was facing her and she could read what he was saying.

*She's bloody gorgeous. *

*Yeah. Better than Pansy. You know how much I hate her? *

*So. Doesn't mean we're going out. Look, this Othila chick is mysterious. Why did she leave Durmstrang? Why come here? *

*-Well Dumbledore's a pratt. As I was saying, she has this look that says I-know-more-that-you. *

*Exactly. Here's the plan. *- Just then Snape walked past and blocked her view.

'Othila I suggest you concentrate on your work and not on other conversations.' She looked at him. When he walked off she saw Draco smiling smugly at her. Damn it, she missed the plan.

That night, once she was sure that everyone was asleep, she went down to the common room and positioned herself in front of the fire. She crossed her legs and closed her eyes. The heat radiating through her skin was glorious. She loved using fire. It was so unpredictable. She placed her hands face up just above her knees. As she concentrated she felt energy building up in her fingers and her breathing deepened. Then, when she opened her eyes, they locked on to depths of the embers. Her hands passed through the flames and she felt them flicker up her arms. Her hands moved deeper in to the fire until they were embedded deep in the embers. She closed her eyes again and concentrated on finding the Link. It was there. She sank into a deeper sense of mind, deeper, until she found her gateway into the centre.

There it was. The very essence that made... and is... and will become... of The One. She felt suspended in the very centre of all things. She sensed flames lick at her skin as she drew power from herself, the fire, and the core. As she withdrew, her eyes opened and she slid her hands from the embers. They remained unscathed, as always. She smiled as a pure essence of magic ran through her veins.