Creature of Kinds [1/3] - A Draco Malfoy Love (Harry Potter)

Prologue

• April 29, 1943 •

A young woman who looked to be in her late teens stood firmly in Professor Dumbledore's office. There was a strong stiffness that the girl's posture projected, almost as if she were trying to become a strong stone wall. But in her ocean blue eyes swam an unmistakable weakness. The rosey lips upon her porcelain skin sunk with an cracking frown. It wasn't long before she finally broke the thick silence. "Professor Dumbledore," she called for the attention of the aged wizard.

Dumbledore turned from his pensieve with a smile. "Ah, Professor Metlock, what a pleasant surprise. What brings you here on such a lovely Saturday afternoon? I would've guessed you'd be watching the Quittich teams practice."

The young woman forced her eyes to keep from spilling as she felt an unwelcome stinging in them. "I suspect you already know why, Professor," Jinx responded in a professional tone of voice. Her normally-welcoming tone had been stripped this afternoon by the vicious truth she'd come to realize just earlier that day.

The smile faded from Dumbledore's mouth, and she knew that she'd been right; he knew. "..So the time has come," he observed, taking a few slow steps toward the young professor.

"It would be dangerous to stay much longer, people would begin to notice," she explained carefully.

Dumbledore nodded. "That is true," he agreed, "but that is not all, is it."

He'd hit the nail right on the head. Metlock took a deep breath, and as she let it out, she spoke tiredly, "...I can't stand him any longer," her voice quivered so slightly, "I can feel the darkness leaking from his very soul."

Grief flooded Dumbledore's grey eyes and he placed a gentle hand on his good friend's shoulder. "Jinx, you may be the only one able to help Tom Riddle," he urged. 

But Jinx only shook her head, her voice low as she replied, "I used to think that I could, but...there is no help in this world for that boy. And the moment he finds out who I really am...I fear he will at last lash out; he cannot find out who I am."

Dumbledore took a defeated step backwards a cleared his throat. He nodded in reluctantly acceptance; he couldn't change her mind. "Very well," he sighed, "after you go, I will inform the others of your departure."

"Thank you," Jinx replied with wet eyes. 

"Just know, my friend," the professor added softly, "you will always be welcome at Hogwarts; whenever you feel afraid in the world, know that you can always come home."

Home. 

At his simple word, the ocean began to slip from the young woman's stormy eyes. She let her head fall against Dumbledore's robes as he embraced her. And when she let him go, Jinx's lip quivered as she asked a final question, "how did it ever come to this? How is any of this possible?"

Dumbledore frowned as he responded, "...I don't know."

Jinx nodded and the two said their goodbyes. Outside of the professor's office, students waltzed merrily around the hallways with their friends. Everyone she passed shot her a greeting or a smile, for everyone knew and loved her. But none of them knew of her curse, none of them knew her darkest secret. And they wouldn't understand why she would have to leave, so she did not tell them. They would feel abandoned, betrayed, and confused, but Jinx would be long gone, never to see the sad faces of her beloved students and friends.

The Womping Willow outside of the castle was blooming with creamy white and pail green buds, signifying the beginning of spring. Tall, stringy grass swayed in the warm breeze, moving out of her way with every step she took. Eventually, she came across an endless field of wild flowers that stretched their petals up to the sun. 

Jinx turned around. Hogwarts had faded into the distance like a fond memory; it would not always be visible, but it would always be there. Her home. And she turned back to her path ahead, with a feeling of deep dread in her gut, because she knew that one day she would return. This should have brought her joy, except for one dangerous factor that stil excisted. Tom Marvolo Riddle.