Inheritance

The next day passed not much like the first. People were careful around her. It was like they avoided her. Not wanting to talk to her in case they thought she couldn't understand or they couldn't her. Even her fellow Slytherins kept their distance. They usually included her in group discussions, but rarely talked to her alone. This was fine by her. She didn't really want to have awkward friendships like the last time. Hermione was the only person who really talked to her, except for the teachers.

Now Hermione was nice enough. She was friendly, hard working, like any normal person. She was the same, just like the rest of them, except she didn't care what other people thought of her. Othila had to give her credit for that.

Draco, however, always seemed to catch her eye. All the lessons she had with him she could see him whispering to a friend, looking at her and smiling, though never talking to her. She still wanted to know what he meant by 'the plan.'

That evening she had just changed out of her school robes and put on khaki trousers and a cream jumper when the door opened. Pansy's head appeared.

'Hi,' she said. Othila smiled, not so sweetly. Pansy came in followed by another sixth year Slytherin, Robin. Othila grabbed her hairbrush and ran it through her long black hair. Pansy sat on the bed and said, 'The Slytherins are having a... thing outside. Do you wanna come?'

Othila nodded and answered Sure. What is going on?

'What?' Oh yeah, they can't understand me, Othila thought. Just one annoying thing about being deaf.

Never mind.

She picked up her lipstick and walked towards the full-length mirror to apply it. She then stood back to check herself. Not bad, she thought. She turned and made to leave. She picked up her long black coat and followed them outside.

It was dark and there was a bitter wind. Her coat billowed out behind her as they walked through the grounds towards the lake.

As they approached Othila could see five or six forms gathered at the tree. She drew nearer and they came into focus - Draco, Ash, Mikhal and Cara, with herself, Pansy and Blaise that made seven of them. They watched her approach. The wind had stopped leaving an eerie stillness in the air, made even more so when the others encircled her. They stood three feet away in an almost perfect circle. She looked at them. She showed no fear on her face as she stared at their blank expressions. She finally stopped on Draco. He'd always seemed to be the boss. She stared into his cool, grey eyes, then her gaze shifted, as his lips started moving.

'You may not know this, but when you join Slytherin you have to prove your loyalty.' He paused looking round at the other people in his circle, though her gaze stayed focused on the blond boy in front of her. His gaze shifted back to hers, his gaze penetrating the air between them.

'We have decided that our newest recruit should jump into the lake.' One of the people sniggered, and Draco silenced him with a look. 'There is a prize at the bottom of course, a bag of Galleons awaits the champion.' He stepped back from the circle and gestured towards the cold, blue basin of water. He looked back at her. 'Do you accept?' She looked at the stillness of the water, then back at his face. A smile slowly spread across her face. He watched her as she shrugged off her coat and with a kick both shoes lay abandoned on the ground. She enjoyed the feeling of the cool grass on her bare feet. She was connected to the earth, one of the elements. She had a better idea. Keeping her eyes on Draco she walked towards him and stood directly in front of him. She kept her gaze and concentrated. She felt her other magical energies swirling inside her. She drew her power from the earth into herself. Once her fingertips began to crackling with energy she knew she was ready. She watched Draco's eyes flicker to her hands and followed them as she lifted them up. She reached for his hands and he drew them back at first, looking into her eyes. She kept staring steadily as his gaze shifted back to her hands and he allowed her to take them.

When her skin came into contact with his she close her eyes, it was easier that way. They were now connected.

-Draco-

-What?-

-Draco-

-What's going on? What have you done?-

-We're connected. It's a little trick I learnt. It's like talking only different-

-Oh that's descriptive-

-You know, it's funny. We used to do pranks; however, we were twelve, not sixteen. Though if you still want me to prove my loyalty I can show you something no other can. Meet me tomorrow, same time, same place. Tell no one.-

She let the connection break, but kept hold of Draco's hands until all the energy had flowed back into the earth. She opened her eyes. Draco was staring at her. She smiled at him, grabbed her coat and boots, turned and walked up to the castle. The moonlight caght the tops of the turrets, making them look ghostly beautiful.

All through breakfast Othila ignored her fellow Slytherins. They were curious as to what happened last night. Draco also acted different. He wasn't his usual snarky self. Whenever she saw him, it was alone, almost thoughtful.

Othila sat alone at lunch. She was planning her meeting with Draco that night. She saw something in him, something different. He didn't seem like other people she'd met. She'd show him her strength and would convince him. He would join her, if she showed him enough.

At about ten o'clock she went up to her room to prepare herself; she needed to be ready for whatever She said. Othila was sure he was the one. She'd watched him all day, whether it be alone or with others.

Othila opened her wardrobe doors. Amidst the black school robes was a different kind of robe. She brought it out and laid it on her bed. The material was as light as silk and felt cool on her skin. It was a mixture of colours, moving from green to blue to red and yellow. It was gorgeous. She slipped it on over her clothes and undid her hair so it fell down her back to her hips, a mass of black against the coloured robe. Othila felt gorgeous in it. It had once belonged to her grandmother and belonged to other ancestors Othila didn't know about.

Once Othila had pulled a white leather belt around her robe she ran a brush through her hair a few times and slid her boots on. She was ready. She prayed everyone was in bed as she moved down to the common room. Fortunately it was empty although Othila didn't hear a door close upstairs.

She made her way across the grounds quickly and reached the tree by the lake. She cast a look around to make sure she was alone before taking off her boots and laying them by the tree. Moving her bare feet across the cool grass she bent down and placed her hands in the cool water. She swirled her fingers in the lake, feeling the water refresh herself.

She did plan to join with The One again, but thought better of it. It would be better to connect when Draco was here.

Othila spent half an hour meditating her back against the tree. She only sensed Draco approaching because she was connected to the earth. She opened her eyes to see the pale form approaching.

Once he was in what she thought was speaking distance she motioned him to sit down. His expression was wary and his eyes never left hers. She moved so that their knees were touching and reached for his hands. This time he was a little more prepared. She rested her wrists on her knees. His hands were slightly cold in her warm ones. She could feel he was a bit nervous. She looked back up to his eyes and gave his hands a reassuring squeeze. A small smile passed over his face as Othila slowed her breathing and closed her eyes. As she relaxed she felt him follow suit. His breathing slowed and she felt it pass in time with hers. She even sens4ed his heart beat in time to hers. She kept her eyes closed till he was totally relaxed before finding the connection. It was easier to find since she'd done it before with him, therefore she opened her eyes to see his expression.

-Hello Draco- He opened his eyes. A confused looked passed over his face, Othila felt his questioning tone, most likely because her eyes were different. When she used her power they tended to shine brighter. She never noticed it, considering she'd been practising for a few years and usually she closed her eyes anyway.

-So we're here again- he said. His voice interrupted her thoughts.

-Yes we are- He shifted uncomfortably. She guessed he was not used to this.

-What did you want to show me? - His comments, though blunt, showed his fear and curiosity.

-I will show you in a minute. First I want to tell you a story. It's important so listen. Nobody in this world knows this- so here goes, she thought. -To start with you must believe that there are other forces in this world besides our gift of magic. A long time ago the Earth was made by a powerful being. She looked after all her children who walked on her surface. Then She created humans. To some She gave the gift of magic with which to rule the people. They began to multiply. Soon they covered the planet. Nothing could stop them. She lost control. The people fought each other for ruler ship. The world was split into the natural and the supernatural and it has been that way for a long time. However She didn't lose hope. She placed her power into a child, a witch. This child could connect with Her, to the elements. She would be able to rule through and with the child, although a sacrifice had to be made. The child lost her hearing. Now the child had the abilities of a witch and that of The One. Yet this failed for reasons unknown. The child grew up, lived her normal life. Now when she died her passed were passed to another down the line. Nobody knows who they are or what it is about, except those with the power-

-So that means you must-

-Shhh. Let me finish. The last person to have it was my grandmother. She was deaf. I found her diaries and secretly read them. She died when I was six. I inherited the power from her and hope to succeed in the mission-

-Which is? -

-To regain control over the world-

-How will you do that? What makes you think know if everyone else failed? -

-My grandmother figured it out. Though I won't tell you in case you're not the one. I need to show you first. I can sense doubt in you therefore I will call upon Her power to squash any doubt in you. Be warned, I hope you can handle this. -