Alternate Universe - brothers Draco & Harry

Chapter 34 - the Letter

Some time had passed. 

For now things in Hogwarts seemed calm, too calm even. On the front, everything looked peaceful, but behind the scenes - a war was already starting. Dumbledore had contacted the Ministry, the high-ups were informed of Tom Riddles return, but everyone was moving in the shadows. The main focus was on finding the lost boy, finding Harry Potter. But Tom Riddle was just a step ahead, he had planned this far, looming in the shadows, he waited for opportunity to strike. He waited for Dumbledore to finally find the child.

The Malfoys and the Petrovs had a large role to play, at this point, Voldemort was planning on combining the Wizarding Worlds, connection to all wizards who despised muggles, already branching outside of the UK. His plan was larger than the UK, than Hogwarts, than muggle-borns themselves. His plan was world domination. 

Meanwhile, back at school, emotions were at an all time high. Saskia could barely look at Draco, thankfully there were not many times when they needed to interact outside of Potions class. At the same time, her sister, Aurelia, was starting to feel more and more confused. Theo had come back in her life, he was already getting comfortable fast, monopolizing her time. But the girl's eyes only focused on one person, Hercules Malfoy. Something about him seemed to occupy her mind, and even though she tried to push such thoughts away, most days he was all she could think about. Young love and teenage hormones were not a good combination. 

"Theo!" Aurelia rolled her eyes. "Try to concentrate, we need to memorize this."

"I can't~" the boy whined, slouching and sinking deeper into the green couch. "This is just too much information."

Theo and Aurelia were sitting together, both studying and practicing Transfiguration, just the two of them. Meanwhile, Hercules, Blaise, Crabble, and Goyle were sitting close by in the common room. Whilst Blaise was being entertained by the two doofuses, watching as Crabble and Goyle stuffed their mouths full of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans, Hercules's eyes were glued to the pair across the room. He quietly watched Aurelia and Theo sit and study together, make jokes and laugh. Hercules also noticed just how much Theo was leaning on the girl, or how often he'd touch her by pretending it to be a mere accident. 

"Come on," Aurelia smacked the boy's head with her quill. "Focus! If you don't want to study, then just say so."

"Fine. I don't want to study," Theo stated, smirking.

"Okay, then," Aurelia chuckled, straightening her back. "Pack up your books and go. I'll stay here and finish the homework, alone."

"Ugh~" Theo sulked. "You are no fun."

"I am no fun because we have a test coming up and I want to pass," she retorted, her nose up in the air. "So you either stay here and be quiet or you are free to go."

"FINE!" Theo rolled his eyes, succumbing to the girl. "I'll be quiet. Hand me your notes then, I don't really understand what mine say."

"That is because you have worst handwriting out of anyone I've ever seen," Aurelia retorted slightly smugly. "Can the professors even understand what you write?"

"Sometimes McGonagall uses a spell to read my work," Theo confessed, making Aurelia's mouth drop open in shock as Theo, very amused by the girl's reaction, sent a wink her way. "Now, Aurelia, enough talking. Can't you see I'm trying to study?" he added in a joking tone.

Hercules still could not pull his eyes away from the two, a weird feeling gnawing at him. He didn't like Aurelia, he couldn't like her. There was no way he would. Hercules knew that deep in his heart, he was not free to act on his whims like Draco, he wouldn't be swayed so easily by a mere girl. Hercules had a goal, one goal, and that's all. All he wanted was to prove himself, to bring glory to his family name, and no girl would ever get in the way of that. Ever.