Thicker than Blood (Draco Malfoy love story)

Chapter fourteen: Chosen one

Draco's POV

"So who is your friend, anyway? And why are they in the forest?" I ask, cold and tired. We've been walking for at least an hour now.

"Stop whining, Draco. I know you're used to being pampered, but a few minutes of walking won't kill you." She answers irritably. I can't help wondering where that shy girl I met the first day went.

"I'm sorry, but we've been walking for over an hour and you won't even tell me who we are going to see!" I answer back, trying to stay calm.

For all of my bravado, I have always been terrified of the woods. Dark and said to be filled with horrible creatures that would be all too happy to eat us.

She finally stops. "Well, you're about to find out."

Then she turns her head northward. "Layha, I need your assistance." She says loudly. I resist the urge to shush her.

"Then assist you, I shall." Says a smooth, feminine voice from behind me.

I jump and turn around. A woman was sitting there on a horse. Wait... no... she has the body of a horse. A Centaur.

Phoenix doesn't even flinch. "Thank you. What do you know about this?" She asks, shoving back her sleeve.

Layha inspects it for a minute, touching it gently. She gets an expression of pride and hope. "You have been chosen by the gods to lead us to freedom..." she says slowly, as if in a daze.

Her head jerks up and she looks at Phoenix with an intensity that would put many a man on his knees. "Call your dragon, child."

Phoenix looks unsure for the first time. "How?"

Layha looks at her for another minute, then sighs. "You have not borne the mark long, then. Call to her with your soul, and she will answer no matter the distance between you."

I look between them, unsure about this. I lean close to Phoenix and whisper in her ear. "Are you sure we can trust her? I mean, this is huge... What if she tells Dumbledore?"

She answers in her normal voice, making me flinch. "There's no point in whispering, as Layha is blessed with extraordinary senses. And yes, I'm sure. I would trust Layha with my life."

I suddenly wonder how she knows this centaur. She only got here this year...

Layha laughs, a honey-like sound. "I appreciate your trust, young one. And I assure you, we will all stand with you."

Phoenix takes a deep breath, then whispers her dragons name. She repeats it over and over, each time a little louder, until her voice becomes a battle cry.

I step back as her mark begins to glow, blinding me. I look at Layha. "It's that..."

Suddenly, I hear something tearing through the woods. I look up, trying to pinpoint the source of the sound.

I stare in awe as her dragon bursts through the woods, glittering as bright as the mark. It's wings burn everything they come in contact with. It's amazing how much damage something so small can cause.

The dragon itself it's barely the size of a quidditch ball. It finally comes to a stop on Phoenix's shoulder. I jump forward to get it off before it burns her, only to freeze when she just smiles and strokes it's head.

Suddenly, I can't help laughing at the irony. "The dragon is on fire." I point out.

"Yeah, and?" She asks, confused.

"I guess I shouldn't be surprised that fire doesn't bother you. What with you being a Phoenix and all." I say, laughing at my joke.

She blinks, then told her eyes at me. "You're an idiot."

I pout, pulling my arms back slightly so that my robes show of my muscles. "I think I'm adorable..."

She freezes, looking at me. I see her odd yellow eyes darken for a moment before she turns around.

She looks at Layha, then looks at the sky for a second. "Dawn will break soon. We need to get back." She says, looking at me.

I nod and we start making our way back to the castle, leaving Layha staring at the stars.

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A/n) Hey peeps. Been way too long. I've actually been having some serious technical difficulties, but I basically got everything together now. Sup, I'm going to try to update every few days, to a week. Love y'all!!