In Evidence Of Magical Theory

Chapter 4 ~ Practice Make

"Fascinating!" Professor Highlash said, looking at them with wide eyes. "You were able to access each other's memories? Can you validate that they were real?"

"Well, er, I assumed so, Sir," Harry said, licking his lips and trying not to look over at Malfoy for fear of giving himself away by blushing. They sat propped against a long desk, the length of Malfoy's body pressed to his side. "I, um, saw Malfoy walking in a kind of garden when he was little with his father and he said something that made him laugh. His father picked him up, then. There were peacocks there."

"That sounds like our country estate," Malfoy said, nodding "Potter's never been there. I don't have a specific reference for that memory, but my father and I often walked through the gardens when I was small."

"And you, Mr. Malfoy?"

For the first time, Malfoy hesitated. Harry cast him a sidelong glance, curious, and Malfoy bit his lip. "I saw him on his first day at Hogwarts, with the Sorting Hat. He, ah, was almost Sorted into Slytherin."

Astonished for a multitude of reasons, Harry nodded dumbly. "You could hear it?"

"Yes."

"I couldn't hear anything. I only got visuals," Harry said. He wondered if his near-Sorting into Slytherin might be one of the reasons for Malfoy's sudden change from cruelty and reticence to the combination of lust and clumsy affection he'd displayed that morning.

"That's interesting," Professor Highlash interjected. "While both senses are important, sight is the most necessary when casting magic. Mr. Malfoy, how much could you see?"

"A little, here and there. Like bursts of image, just enough that I understood what I was seeing." He paused. "But, that's actually what I wanted to ask you about, Professor. Potter's magic is... It's very powerful."

"Well, one would assume so," Highlash agreed mildly, glancing at Harry. "The Boy Who Lived Twice..."

Harry winced. Malfoy shook his head. "No. I mean, he can do wandless, wordless spells. Occasionally accidental, but also intentionally." Highlash looked to Harry for confirmation and Harry nodded, confused. Malfoy continued, "And, when I was exploring his core... The fire I mentioned. It was strong. I haven't felt anything like it before."

The professor stroked his beard thoughtfully. "How would you describe his, Mr. Potter?"

"I... I don't know. There's power there, a deep well of it. But it's also very calm in places. I think he may have more control than I do," Harry admitted, a little grudgingly.

Malfoy scoffed beside him as if to say obviously, and Harry gave a nudge with his shoulder.

"Well. I appreciate that you two were able to get so well in tune with one another," Highlash said. Malfoy's scoff became a snort. Harry's lips twitched. "So, it seems as though we may have a power-imbalance. One of you has a lot of raw energy, the other, control." Harry opened his mouth to object that he had control as well, but Highlash anticipated it and waved a vague hand. "That's not to say that either one of you is magically weak or cannot properly reign in your abilities, but it is something to consider when it comes to untangling that your cores. Have you worked on spells together?"

Harry and Malfoy exchanged a swift look. The little practice they'd done hadn't gone well.

"Not a lot," Malfoy said. "We've been working on getting to know each other, like you told us."