A Reason To Be

“Did you have any idea, Albus?” Severus asked cautiously as he sat in the chair before Dumbledore’s desk. Albus was not seated, he was pacing behind his chair; playing with the white wisps of his long beard. Minvera was there as well, standing by the large bookcase; her hands wrenched in concern. After a short pause of contemplation, Albus spoke.

“We all knew he was an extremely gifted young man but I must admit this had not occurred to me. It has been hundreds of years since there has been one here at Hogwarts.” Albus said quietly. Severus merely nodded in agreement. He had seen with his own eyes what Draco had done to the door. The most important factor about this information was that Malfoy had done it without the aid of a wand.

“What do you think should be done?” Snape asked finally, after several moments of silence had passed. He glanced over at Minerva and then looked over to Dumbledore, waiting for an answer to his query but none came.

“We are agreed that the boy should be educated, yes?” McGonagall interjected. Professor Snape immediately nodded his head with great fervor. He agreed whole-heartedly with the Transfiguration teacher for once, it did not happen often.

“I agree Minerva, but whom do you suggest take on the task of educating him? I do not know what circles you travel in but I am not aware of any known Corporaan.” Severus said, shifting in his seat to turn and look at McGonagall.

“Well I don’t…but…” Minerva answered in a whisper, pursing her lips. Snape heaved a sigh and settle back in his chair. He looked back at Albus who was still pacing silently, a look of deep thought and determination on his face. He knew the two professors to be right. With this new information brought to their attention they knew that Draco was now in need of further magical training than any of them could offer. The old man had one thought, one idea that had a chance of working.

“Severus, would you be as kind as to go and find Mr. Malfoy? I think we should discuss this with him in attendance as well.” Albus said finally after the three had stood in the silence of Dumbledore’s study for a good, long while. Severus narrowed his dark eyes at the headmaster but then silently got up from his seat and went out the door. Albus sat down behind his desk and once again donned his usual knowing smile.

“I know you have class soon Minerva, you may go. Severus and I will see to this. Thank you for coming.” Dumbledore thanked McGonagall. She forced a smile and nodded. She said goodbye and left the room. As soon as she left Albus got out a quill and piece of parchment and began scribbling something down.


“Check.” Draco announced casually as he looked over the chessboard in front of him. His bishop was closing in on Hermione’s king, making ready to attack.

“Yes, I can see that.” Hermione huffed with frustration. Her eyes darted around the board for an opening, any place at all she could move her king. The two had been sitting in the Great Hall playing wizard chess for most of the stormy afternoon. Draco had been consistently beating her the entire time. It had been almost a week since the dance and unbeknownst to Draco, Hermione’s thoughts had been drifting back to that kiss he had given her on the dance floor ever since. Of course Draco had been thinking about it too, though he exterior was coo and calm as always.

“This is ridiculous Granger; I’m just going to let you win now. Come back when you are a challenge to play.” Draco teased. Hermione frowned at him and kicked him from underneath the table.

“Funny, Malfoy. There are plenty of things I am better at than you.” Hermione said confidently as Draco frowned and rubbed his shin.

“Like what?” Draco questioned, eyebrow raised in that seductive Malfoy manner. That look of his threw Hermione off for a split second but she recovered quickly. She grinned and leaned forward over the table.

“Oh where do I begin? I’m sure there are dozens of things I could beat the pants off you in.” Hermione said haughtily. Before she realized exactly what she had said to Draco, he had jumped across the table and settled on the bench next to her.

“Oooh, is that a promise?” Draco asked smoothly, grinning suggestively as he slid closer to her. Hermione’s cheeks blushed as she rolled her eyes. Then in a sudden burst of confidence Hermione moved closer to Draco and matched his suggestive smile.

“Maybe, if you are lucky.” Hermione countered with equal smoothness. Draco laughed softly though on the inside he wanted pick her up and carry her off to his room right there and then. He might have too if an all-too familiar voice interrupted them.

“Mr. Malfoy, may I have a word with you?” Severus Snape’s voice loomed above the pair. Draco didn’t want to turn around. He knew what he would see if he turned around and he had no desire to see Snape standing over his shoulder.

‘Oh, that son of a bitch. I’m just sitting here with Hermione, minding my own damn business. I am trying to do my thing but no…he’s gotta come and ruin it.’ Draco thought as he groaned and turned to give Snape a sullen look and reply.

“What can I do for you?” He asked the older man in a very unconvienced tone. By now Hermione had slid away casually, putting some space between herself and Malfoy. Severus stood next to them, hands behind his back and with his usual scowl.

“As a matter of fact, yes there is something you can do Mr. Malfoy. You can accompany me to the Headmaster’s office immediately. Now on your feet, Draco.” Snape answered as he stepped back, awaiting Draco to stand and follow him.

“As I recall I have done nothing to warrant a trip to see Dumbledore.” Draco countered, still sitting on the bench next to Hermione. Snape narrowed his eyes and frowned at the young man.

“No one said you did, now get up and move.” Snape said very unpleasantly. Draco heaved a large sigh and hung his head as he got up and trudged along behind Professor Snape out of the Great Hall. All the way to Dumbledore’s study he questioned Snape what Albus wanted with him and why it was so important that he interrupt his and Hermione’s chess game. Severus would not budge, except to say that Dumbledore would explain things when they reached his office, which left Draco very frustrated indeed. When they finally entered the old man’s office, they found Albus seated at his desk, waiting for them.

“Come in my lad, sit down please.” Albus said smiling, gesturing to the chair in front of his desk. Draco padded over to his usual spot and flopped down in the chair and waited for Dumbledore to begin whatever he was there to hear.

“Well here I am Albus, what was so very important that you had to send Severus down to drag me up here this very moment?” Draco asked, settling his chin in the palm of his hand, waiting for an answer.

“Well my boy, there is something I would like to discuss with you and I am afraid it really couldn’t wait.” Albus said eased back into his chair, twiddling his thumbs.

“Is anything wrong? Because whatever happened, I didn’t do it.” Draco said matter-of-factly. He just wanted to make that clearly known before people started accusing him of things. After all, he hadn’t done anything, nothing to his recollection anyway.

“Actually you did do something Draco. You aren’t in trouble over it but it does need to be addressed.” Dumbledore explained gently, looking up from his desk at the young man and then to Severus who was presently standing behind Draco’s chair.

“And what exactly have I supposedly done?” Draco huffed. He was ready, whatever Dumbledore was about to say he was fully prepared to deny it up and down.

“You blew a classroom door off its hinges.” Albus stated flatly. It caught Draco off guard. He had figured that no one had seen that. No one besides he and Ron Weasley and Draco knew he wasn’t going to be saying anything. Malfoy’s attention snapped back to the old man when he one again continued to talk.

“Most importantly you did this without a wand. That is what we need to talk about.” Dumbledore said. Draco looked at Albus and then at Snape. They both drilled into him with very serious expressions. His first instinct was to deny it. Say he did have a wand, or that Weasley did it. Though after looking at the two older men Draco pretty much resigned himself to the fact that whatever excuse he could come up with, they would not buy it.

“Well…I…well what about it?” Draco said finally. He didn’t know how he did it either; he really had not given it any thought. He had gotten out of the classroom, that’s all he cared about. He was waiting for Albus to declare that he had broken some law and would be swept away to places to terrible to think about just then.

“Do you know what a Corporaan is?” Severus said from behind him. Draco turned and looked up at the professor with a quizzical expression. He had never heard the term before in his life.

“Cor…Corporaan? No I have no clue what that is? What does that have to do with me?” Draco answered uneasily. He truly had never heard of a Corporaan, he could only imagine what it meant or why they had chosen to ask him about it at that very moment. Albus sighed and began his little speech that he had prepared to explain to the young man what was going on.

“A Corporaan is a very rare thing Draco. A Corporaan is a person who does not require a wand to do magic. They do not require any sort of aids, no talismans or potions. It is all within them. Now as I said they are extremely rare, in fact right now there is no known Corporaan in the wizarding world. There has not been in many, many years. At least until now.” Dumbledore explained slowly. When he came to his last sentence Draco’s eyes widened dramatically and his mouth gaped open.

“You have got to be kidding me.” Draco choked out. There was no way in hell he could have prepared himself for this.

‘Me? No, no, they must be joking or something, or extremely misinformed. There is no way I can be this Cor…Corp thing. Surely I would have known it before they would have. No, this is all rubbish.’ Draco thought to himself frantically.

“I know you are thinking that you aren’t one, but we have talked it over and are pretty confident that you are indeed a Corporaan.” Dumbledore said, getting up from his chair and walking around his desk.

“No no no, you’re crazy old man. I can’t do magic without a wand. It was only that one time with the door.” Draco stated firmly, shaking his head the whole time.

‘And that time with Pansy on the stairs. And somehow I knew where to find Hermione at the train station. And I knew about Lavender’s mother….oh shit!’ Draco thought to himself. All these instances came flooding back to his memory. At the time he had not given any of them a second thought.

“Oh fuck, I am one.” Draco said weakly as all but collapsed further into his chair. He ran his hand through his hair nervously and wiped the sweat that was starting to form at his brow. Albus walked over and put his hand on Draco’s shoulder.

“Now Draco, it is nothing to worry about it. It isn’t a bad thing though it is a very serious one. Now that we know you have this…condition we must take the proper measures. You must learn about it, learn about your skills and what potential you have. Now no one here at Hogwarts is qualified to help you with this. As I said, we’ve not seen a Corporaan in many, many years. But I will not leave you to bear this burden by yourself my boy. I have taken steps to bring someone here to Hogwarts that will be able to help you. An instructor if you will to help you with this new discovery.” Albus said reassuringly. He turned around and headed back to his seat behind his desk. Draco wiped his brow again and leaned forward.

“Who is this person?” Draco asked quietly. Severus was also interested to know since Dumbledore had not told him that he was bringing someone to the school.

“Oh well you will meet him soon. He is not technically a Corporaan but he is the only person I know that can help you with this. I sent summons out for him before you came in. I am sure one of them will find him.” Albus said, with his eyes twinkling

“You mean you do not know where this person is?” Severus asked.

“I haven’t the faintest idea.” Albus said with a laugh.




**yay!! im\' back. it was a long time i know. everything life can throw at you came hurling in my direction there for a while so i had to put the writing on hold but now im back. you know the drill my friends, read and review. there is a mysterious and magical connection between lots of reviews and the updates coming quicker. :P weird huh?**