Shifting to You // Draco Malfoy x OC

Chapter 3

I woke up the next morning, a little later than the previous day. Golden beams of sunlight highlighted my walls, a stark contrast from the dreary rainy gray day of yesterday. I stretched, feeling my joints crack. Geez, it's like I'm 30 already.

I quickly showered and got dressed to head down to the dining hall. Since it's considerably drier than yesterday, I got to wear my nice leather flats. I stopped in the dining hall to grab a breakfast to-go. After swiping my ID card, I waited in line to grab a fresh bagel, trying to search for Sophie to find her. I needed to talk to her more about shifting.

I decided to head to the library, to hopefully find a book on shifting and alternate realities. I hated feeling like I couldn't understand something. And so, my first option was to turn to books. I headed a few minutes through campus to get to the library, which was mostly empty. It was a Friday after all.

I walked up the big steps, stopping briefly to admire the architecture. The Suzzallo library was my favorite part about attending the University of Washington. It's a gothic literature fan's dream.

I hit a couple different sections, grabbing any book I thought might hold any sort of info- The Hidden Reality by Brian Greene, Parallel Worlds by Michio Kaku, and many more. I just needed something that could prove the theory of shifting false. Something I could take back to Professor Mark and say "Ha. Science wins."

I pulled out a leather-bound journal and started with The Hidden Reality, a book that discusses multiverses and physics. I flipped open the book and started reading.

~

I was interrupted eventually by who? You guessed it. Sophie. She seems to always pop up when I'm studying.

Sophie placed a Starbucks cup on my desk. "Well, Hello. I've been looking for you. Are you aware it's 2pm?" I didn't glance up from my book.

"No actually, I wasn't Soph. But thank you for the update. And thanks for what I'm hoping is a coffee for me." I finally did glance up, and I smiled. Sophia today had her hair in pigtails, with purple and yellow bows in it. Her hair matched the weather.

Sophie took a sip of her coffee. "Yes, you are so welcome for your Starbucks. I figured you would like it. What are you doing here anyway? Not that you need an excuse to visit this library, because it's gorgeous. It actually looks like the Great Hall at Hogwarts. Anyway I know it's not homework you're working on. You finish all your homework before Friday so that you can have a nice relaxing weekend when you go back home to your parents." Sophie started to look suspiciously at my journal, and I quickly sheltered it from her view.

"Well, Soph, if you must know, I am researching the multiverse theory. Or the theory that your magical Hogwarts can exist in an alternative reality." Sophie rolled her eyes at me, and I raised an eyebrow.

"Why the sass, Soph?" I took a sip of my coffee. I almost moaned at the exquisite taste of it. My best friend.

Sophie snorted at me. "I just think it's funny that the science girl is now suddenly interested in shifting realities is all. Sarah if you want to shift just ask me to help you. You don't need a textbook to shift." I scowled, and slammed my book closed. It was so loud that a few people at neighboring study desks turned to look at me.

"No Sophie, I do NOT want to shift. I just want to understand it. You and your Harry Potter obsession ae slowly taking over my dorm and my life. Did you know that your creepy ghost boy poster haunted my dream last night? Thanks for that." Sophie nearly spat out her coffee at this.

Her face reflected one of surprise and glee- I don't know what's scarier. "You had a dream about Draco Malfoy? Oh my god Sarah. Sarah do you know what that means? Maybe you should try and shift! Sarah now that I think about it, maybe you would like Draco. I think you're his type. A little arrogant, educated, and well dressed." Sophie looked off into the distance like she was thinking hard about something. I glared at her.

I cleared my throat to bring Sophia back to the present before replying. "First of all, I am not arrogant. Second, shifting is not real." My comments did nothing to deter Sophie.

Sophie took another huge gulp of her coffee. "But Sarah, you're already manifesting him! And what if it's meant to be? Draco Malfoy is a pure blood wizard in the wizarding world. He's rich, like, filthy rich. You two have so much in common. Draco is, well, was a Death Eater but later in the books he's not so bad. You both have prominent families too! Yours is a great academia family, his is a Pure Blood one. Next time I shift I'm going to talk to him about you. Yes, that's a great idea." Sophie pulled out her crazy 'script' and flipped to a blank page and started writing. All I could do is stare.

I spent the next two hours in the library, and Sophie stayed with me. She continued reading her Harry Potter book, and I continued researching multiverses. Eventually around 4PM Sophie and I parted ways. She headed back to her dorm. Sophie prefers the dorm to her room back at her parent's house. I think she likes the privacy. I on the other hand, like to spend my weekends back home with my parents. There's nothing like my own bedroom with my books and private room. I've had Sophie come visit a few times with me, but she doesn't particularly like staying at other people's houses (which I can understand).

I headed to the monorail station and swiped my card and got on. The monorail only goes to a few places around Seattle so far, they're still constructing it. But it gets me close enough to my parent's lab that it's only a short walk.

The monorail takes me from the U-District where the university is towards downtown in 15 minutes, and I step off the train and start walking. It's busy downtown, as everyone is out enjoying the rare sunshine peaking through. Eventually I get to the gray industrial building where my parent's offices are and walk inside.

My parents rent an office space in one of those shared office complexes. The first floor contains a lobby, the elevator, stairs, and a directory. My parents, Dr. Joseph, and Dr. Amy Mason operated on the third floor. I pressed the button on the elevator to go up and watched as the sleek silver doors closed on me.

As I went up, I contemplated discussing my new research with my parents. My parents have doctorate degrees in biology, not philosophy or physics. I'm not exactly sure how much they could contribute, or whether they would approve of me becoming interested in something like philosophy. Philosophy, anthropology, and sociology; the three "worthless" degrees, as they say.

I reach the third floor and step out of the elevator. I walk down the long hall, taking a few lefts and rights before stopping at a door. The name plate read "OFFICE OF BIOLOGY RESEARCHERS DR. JOSEPH MASON AND DR. AMY MASON." A little beneath that, a white piece of paper had been taped. It read, "Sarah, your Mother and I are hard at work. Please take an Uber back home. We will reimburse you for the trip. Sincerely, your Father. P.S. please order takeout for all of us for dinner tonight. We will reimburse you for that also."

I sighed. So basically, I came all the way here for nothing. I went back out of the building; in my irritation I bypassed the elevator and took the stairs instead. What my parents did wasn't new to me – they tend to put their work before me sometimes. But that doesn't make it hurt less.

I called an Uber as I stood outside the building. It started to rain, and the sky quickly darkened as clouds rolled in. Great. Typical Washington weather. Rather than wait outside in the rain, I went back into the lobby of my parent's building. According to Uber, I still had 10 minutes before someone in a Honda Accord came to get me.

I strolled around the lobby, examining the various artwork in the room. One painting stood out to me.

It was a painting of what I assumed was a depiction of one of the scenes in the Bible. A big green tree branch was there with an apple hanging from it, and a silver snake wrapped the branch. The snake was poised to eat the apple. A quote was underneath the painting. It read,

"There are many, many, many worlds branching out. At each moment, you become aware of your environment and then make a choice."