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

8

"Jinx, why did you ever leave?" Hermione questioned once Hagrid had finally run out of stories to tell.

Jinx's smile faded and her eyes drooped sadly. "Dumbledore, before he'd become headmaster, was the only one I trusted with my secret. I'd been there for five years, not aging a bit...I knew that if I stayed too long, my secret would be out," she explained.

"So you left," Harry concluded for her, sounding somewhat disappointed. There was a pause of quiet before he continued, "you taught Voldemort, didn't you."

"Yes.." Jinx replied calmly, "I taught Tom Riddle. Dumbledore had entrusted me with the task of helping him, he thought I was the only one who could. But I failed."

"Now, now," Hagrid began, "don't go blaming yourself for how the boy turned out. He was just a bad egg to start with."

"You know, Hagrid's right. It's not your fault," Ron added in attempts of comforting Jinx. 

Hagrid squinted his eyes for a moment as something occurred to him, "Profes-er, Jinx..pardon me for asking but, uh..you wouldn't happen to be a Phantom, would ya?"

Their past conversation forgotten, Jinx's head whipped up as her eyes met Hagrid's. "You've heard of us?" She asked in awe, "I thought no one paid mind to us any longer."

"Well, I'm quite knowledgeable on magical creatures," Rubius stated proudly, then quickly added, "oh, not that you're, um--"

"It's okay," Jinx assured with a laugh, "I am."

Now Ron piped up, "Hagrid, where on earth did you find any information about Phantoms? We've searched everywhere and found nothing."

Hagrid proceeded to rummage around his cabin for a moment before pulling out an old, beat up book. He handed it to Ron and let him examine it. "It's a diary," he observed, "belonged to a young man named Newt Scamander in the 1910-"

"Newt?" Jinx interrupted with wide eyes.

"Wait, did you know him, too?" Harry asked. 

Jinx only smiled a memorable smile, "..he was an old friend of mine..."

With a glance out the window, Hagrid stood once again. "Well, you four best get back to the school," he concluded, "sun's almost gone." With four, unison nods, Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Jinx all got up and made their leave.

"Can I see that?" Harry asked as they walked, gesturing to the diary Hagrid had given to Ron.

"Sure," the red headed boy shrugged and handed his friend the book.

Harry held it with care as he examined the faded cover and broken spine. "This diary really is old," he remarked.

"It's not so much it's age that ruined it, but what it went through in all of it's years," Jinx corrected wisely.

"Well go on, Harry," Ron pushed a bit, "have a look inside."

"Not smart, Ronald," Hermione concurred rather roughly, "we can't risk being seen with it by Umbridge. Let's hide it for now."

Seeing her point, Harry nodded and shoved the book under his cloak to conceal it. The rest of their walk was quiet and rushed; they couldn't afford to miss another curfew.

Later that evening, when the sun finally disappeared over the horizon, leaving nothing but a watercolor sky behind, Jinx snuck into the Slytherin Common room after curfew. "Late again, Miss. Metlock?" A familiar voice teased.

Jinx turned with a start to see a nicely dressed Draco Malfoy leaning against a wall with a sly grin. "Oh no, whatever will I do?" Jinx began to act out a dramatic scene.

Draco showed a cute crooked smile and made his way over to Jinx. He looked down into her eyes causing her heart to melt. There was something about him this night that was different, something that gave her a nervous excitement. His hair had been combed perfectly to the side revealing those icy blue eyes. He wore an all black suit that contrasted beautifully against his pail skin. He had never looked so handsome before.

Realizing that she was only still in her uniform, Jinx felt her cheeks blush. She turned away to hide her face and retorted, "haven't you ever learned it's impolite to stare?"

Draco chuckled, a melodic sound that turned Jinx to jello, and wrapped his arms firmly around her waist from behind. With a lobster-red face now, Jinx was grateful he couldn't see her. "What are you being so touchy for all of a sudden?" She questioned him suspiciously. Not that she was opposed to his touchiness; it was unlike Draco to be like this, given he still wasn't quite used to being romantic yet.

But all he answered with was a gentle whisper, "put on something nice and meet me back out here; I want to take you somewhere."

Caught in a daze of excitement and admiration, Jinx went straight to her room to change. She couldn't wait to see what Draco had in store for her on this beautiful night.

• • •

Meanwhile, Harry and Ron were putting on their night-wear in silence. There was no sound other than the rustling of clothing and suitcases. Once dressed, Harry found himself staring down at the diary that lay on his bed.

Noticing his friend's staring, Ron came up on the other side of the bed. "Let's read it," he suggested, startling Harry back to reality. 

Harry shook his head and moved it to his night stand, "no, we should wait for Hermione and Jinx."

"But, aren't you curious?" Ron urged.

Harry had to admit it, he was indeed very curious. Especially with the fact that Jinx knew the diary's original owner.

Ron took this hesitation as a chance to explain. "Hagrid said he learned about Creatures from that book, and Jinx said she knew the author," he began, "I'll be bloody damned if this diary isn't all about her."

This connection had finally peaked Harry's interest. He gave Ron an unsure look, but grabbed the diary anyway. The two sat across from each other on the floor between their beds as Harry opened the front cover.

A piece of parchment fell out of the first page, parchment that didn't match the rest of the diary pages. "What's that?" Ron asked.

Harry picked it up and examined it, "it's a note; it must've been added into the diary after it was written."

What ever was it that inspired me to spend my life studying magical creatures? It's a question I hear often. And the answer could be a whole prequel in itself, really. So that is what I plan to give you.

-N. S.