Unknown | Draco Malfoy

seventeen | strange

unusual, odd

"HAVE YOU SEEN ANYTHING STRANGE?"

        "So, what does this entail, exactly?"

       McGonagall had been very carefully examining Kota's wand, her ears starting to ring, when the words of the wand's new owner brought her back to reality. With a quick inhale to fill her lungs and get the gears turning in her mind again, the Transfiguration professor lowered the wand slightly to look at the exchange student. Aulani was looking more nervous than she had ever seen her.

       And she was more nervous, something she didn't think possible after her first day in this world. But, since last night with Dumbledore and Draco Malfoy, Aulani was far from behaving like herself, even farther from the girl she had been on the island, long deserted in 2016. She held her arms across her chest, rubbing away the chill that she couldn't exactly place the origins of. It was almost November, and she was further north than she had ever been in her entire life, but the iciness that spread through her almost felt like it was coming from within.

       McGonagall cleared her throat, but for whose benefit neither of them could discern. "It's a mimicry charm, of sorts," she started, "created by Eulalie Hicks - she was American as well." The attempted connection did not penetrate the distant look in Aulani's eyes. McGonagall shifted in her seat and turned her focus back to the wand. "In short, it will allow anyone, even a Muggle, to produce a limited amount of spells for a limited amount of time. Basically, this is how you will participate in your Charms and Defense Against the Dark Arts classes."

       "Limited amount of spells?" Aulani asked in nearly a whisper, though her mind was reeling at the thought of actually being able to perform magic, even if it's just an echo of it. "How will I know which spells I'll have to perform in class?"

       "Us professors are known to exchange lesson plans occasionally," she smiled. "Filius and Severus will be understanding."

       Aulani sank further into darkness at McGonagall's last sentence. Seeing her holding Snape in such a high regard only reminded her that it wouldn't be like that for long. Her heart dropped at another thought, a connection she had somehow missed. Draco. Dumbledore. The Astronomy Tower.

      "That's why I've arranged these meetings before those classes," McGonagall continued "so I could make sure you'll have all the spells you'll need."

       Blinking herself out of the shadows of her mind, Aulani focused her attention on McGonagall as she silently performed the charm on the wand Rory had given her. She looked older than Aulani thought she would have, like she had lived through a lot more than she let on. Aulani knew her background well enough - how she had had a somewhat strained relationship with her parents, how she had fallen in love with a Muggle who she was forced the cut out of her life, how she had lost both that Muggle and one of her brothers in the first war with Voldemort - but it felt like there was more. And yet, she was going out of her way to help a stranger she had every reason not to trust.

       "You're doing so much for me," Aulani murmured.

       McGonagall paused again, looking up at the young girl. The wand was hovering about an inch above the desk, humming slightly, with a faint gold hue around it. The spell did not falter, even though the caster seemed to. "Yes, well," she started awkwardly, "Dumbledore asked me to. And Rory, of course. She's like - " she was stumbling over her words, something very un-McGonagall - "she's like family."

       This revelation came as a bit of a shock to Aulani, but she decided it best to leave it alone. Instead, she mustered a smile. "I don't know how I'll ever be able to thank you."

       The spell came to a gentle end, the wand lowering to the desk once more, looking as unassuming as it had before. McGonagall gave the teenager her full attention, a look of understanding sympathy on her face that she knew the girl would not understand. "All the thanks I'll need will be getting you home."

       Aulani looked bashfully down, feeling slightly more burdensome, though she knew that was not the intention.

       "It's all ready," said McGonagall, holding up the wand. Aulani took it from her cautiously. "Wand movements are going to be particularly important with this spell, especially in Defense Against the Dark Arts. The main focus in your sixth year is non-verbal spells. Pay careful attention to your instructors and your peers, and try your best to mimic them."

       "Thank you," Aulani said, and she meant it. Her eyes scanned over to the far side of McGonagall's desk, where her book lay. She gestured towards it. "Are we going to dive into that at all today?"

       McGonagall followed her eyes, and when they set upon the book, her fingertips reached towards it almost subconsciously, but she held herself back. Aulani's eyebrows furrowed as she noticed this. "Not today," McGonagall resolved. "I've heard your sleeping patterns have been a bit off." Aulani swallowed at this. Dumbledore had spoken to her. "I think it's best to keep your focus on one thing until you've adjusted. Today, focus on your classes."

       "Yes, Professor McGonagall."

       "You can call me Minerva."

       The declaration seemed to surprise them both. After a silent pause, they found it in themselves to move on. "Thank you again," Aulani said, beginning to turn away.

       She was almost to the door when McGonagall called out for her again. "Aulani?" She stopped and turned back. McGonagall was standing at her desk now, hands upon the surface as though she had stood up very suddenly, her expression almost desperate. Aulani noticed how one hand was resting on her book. "Since you've been here, have - " she tried to compose herself a little - "have you seen anything strange? Anyone strange?"

       Aulani had to stop herself from taking offense. Of course she's seen strange things. Her whole life now was made up of strange things and strange people. She's living in a fictional story, four years before she was even born, clear on the other side of the world from everything she's ever known. "I'm not sure what you mean," she voiced.

       "Right," McGonagall said, sitting back down. "Nevermind."