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

19

• • •

About an hour later, Jinx was still in wolf form, trotting through the halls surrounding Umbridge's office. She kept an eye on her friends from afar.

"Jinx!" A whisper shout caused her to turn around. Draco was walking quickly toward her. 

Turning back to a human, she met him with a strong embrace. They pulled apart quickly though. "What's going on?" Jinx asked, "what is she doing with them?"

"Umbridge has everyone in her office," he reported, "she was prying them for answers about Dumbledore's Army. But she just left with Potter and Granger. And she wanted me to find you and bring you in too."

With an exasperated sigh, Jinx thanked him. "We've got to get the others out of there," she spoke confidently and began to walk briskly to Umbride's office. But she stopped when she realized, Draco wasn't following her.

She walked back to him, a conflicted look on his face, and she knew exactly what he was thinking. "Draco, I know you want to maintain your family's status," she began, "but you're allowed to make your own choices. Will you help me?"

At this, Draco looked into Jinx's beautiful eyes and his mind was made up. Of course he would help her, he always would.

After coming up with a plan, Jinx and Draco raced back to Umbridge's office. Draco entered first. "Can't find her," he casually stated. 

However, Ron could easily guess that something was up. But he never would've guessed what was about to happen. For the door opened once again, and in came Blaise.

But Blaise was also in the room already.

Shocked by the double, everyone looked between the two Blaises, unsure what to think. "What in the bloody hell do you think you're doing?!" The real Blaise demanded, approaching his duplicate in anger.

The fake Blaise grinned, then looked to another boy in the room; Goyle. In a split second, Blaise turned into Goyle.

Everyone felt their blood freeze. Except for those who knew, of course, that this was none other than Jinx. "How--" Golye began to ask but he choked on his breath out of fear. 

Then Jinx turned herself into yet another one of Umbridge's minions. "You should all leave," she spoke in a tone that Draco had never heard before, and it scared even him for a moment, "we have it covered."

Within seconds, the scaredy-cats were out, but Dumbledore's army was no less tense. Their eyes were all on Jinx.

Her heart sped up when she realized she hadn't thought this through entirely. She would have to share her secret with all of them now. With a sigh, she turned back into herself. Ron gasped a bit, knowing that Jinx was about to tell everyone. 

"I'm really Jinx, I promise," she started with a nervous laugh.

"..How did you do that?" Asked a beautiful red haired girl. 

"It's an ability I was born with," Jinx explained briefly, "I'm a special kind of witch."

"Goodness, Jinx," a small, airy voice piped up. Jinx turned to see a girl with long, blonde waves speaking, "I didn't know you were a Phantom."

Everyone eyed her with surprise. "Luna," a boy began, "a what?"

"A phantom; a witch that can change form without the use of polly juice potion, they're only ever female," Luna explained casually, "they're quite rare."

The same boy, Neville, looked at Draco who stood quietly to the side. "And you," he asked in a suspicious voice, "you knew?"

Draco looked down as if ashamed. Sensing his awkwardness, Jinx spoke, "this isn't about him; but you all must promise to not tell a soul of my secret. Now come on, we're getting out of here." With those final words everyone made their vows never to tell, there were a few cheers and thanks, and everyone was gone. 

However Jinx didn't follow. 

"Aren't you going with them?" Draco asked.

Jinx shook her head and smiled, "no, they've got things covered on their own, I'm sure."

"You think they'll keep your secret?" He questioned. 

"Of course; they are my friends. And beside that," Jinx paused and took Draco's hand, leaning her head against his shoulder, "I think it's time my kind becomes known again."

They stood just like this for a few minutes in silence. Draco's heart was pounding as he replayed what had just happened in his head. He let them go. Umbridge would be furious, and his father ashamed. He'd become a disappointment to his family name. He knew all of this, yet at the same time it didn't matter one bit.

He'd made his choice now. Draco didn't choose to change his way and be a good guy, but he didn't choose to follow Voldemort any longer either. He didn't choose a side in this war; he chose Jinx. 

Eventually they left before anyone came back and found them. Jinx stayed up that night, waiting for her friends to return. Draco, who tried to stay up with her in the Slytherin common room, had fallen asleep on the couch, his head in Jinx's lap.

But there was no more commotion that night from outside the Slytherin quarters; there was no sign of their return. Of course, Jinx was worried, but she had faith in her friends and she knew that they would make it. But once the sun began to rise, her tiredness got the best of her, and she drifted to sleep right there.

• March 22, 1996 •

Harry and the rest of the gang had safely returned and were settling back in at Hogwarts. Today, Dumbledore would return.

Jinx picked up a newspaper on her way to breakfast, delighted to see that the whole wizarding world now believed Harry that Voldemort was back. When she arrived, she sat with her Gryfindor friends and ate. The loud chatter that surrounded them was cheerful and uplifting, bringing her a new found feeling of hope.

She soon joined back at the Slytherin table to sit with Draco. Yet as she sat down, a familiar old face entered the dining hall.