The mornings arrived wrapped in birdsong and sunlight rather than urgent discoveries or professors summoning her to discuss ancient artifacts. The gardens outside her bedroom window were overflowing with color now, roses climbing silver trellises while fae lights drifted lazily among the flowers even during daylight hours. Mira sat beneath the shade of a flowering willow near one of the manor’s ponds, her shoes discarded beside the grass and a charmed notebook resting comfortably on her lap. Nearby, Pip and Briony were investigating a suspiciously shiny garden trowel that had somehow gone missing from one of the greenhouses. The warm summer breeze stirred strands of silver-white hair across her face as she gazed across the water. For perhaps the first time all year, there was no immediate crisis waiting for her attention. No hidden library. No ancient relic. No Ministry proposal. Just peace. The feeling was strange enough that she still hadn't entirely gotten used to it.
Mira opened the notebook slowly and smiled as the enchanted pages shimmered faintly beneath her fingertips.
The charm Draco had placed upon it was elegant in its simplicity. Anything written inside would appear within its twin volume resting with him at Malfoy Manor. She found herself tracing one of the silver runes for a moment before beginning to write. Her handwriting flowed neatly across the page.
Dear Draco,
Things have been very quiet here this week. Quiet enough that I keep expecting something ancient and mysterious to emerge from a flowerpot.
A small smile tugged at her lips as she continued.
Everyone's mostly relaxing. Nyx came home from Mahoutokoro and announced that he wants to become an Auror and a Magical Intelligence Liaison. He starts training after summer ends. Honestly, I think he'll be brilliant at it. Korrin already seems convinced he'll be recruiting Nyx for missions before he's even officially trained.
Mira paused briefly, her gaze drifting toward the distant gardens where her older siblings were currently attempting to teach Caelum how not to accidentally crush delicate greenhouse furniture.
I'm really happy for him. He seems excited about the future in a way I've never quite seen before.
The words lingered there for a moment before she continued.
As for me...
She immediately felt guilty.
Not because she had done anything wrong.
Because she knew exactly what she was about to admit.
I've written several invention ideas already.
The moment she finished writing it, she could practically hear Snape's exasperated sigh from miles away.
Before you say anything, I haven't built anything. Yet.
Her smile widened slightly.
I promised Uncle Sev that I would take a break. A real break. So I've only been sketching designs and making notes.
That technicality felt acceptable.
Mostly.
Probably.
Tomorrow I'm visiting the Silverthorne Sanctuary. The children have been sending letters all summer asking when I'd come. I promised I'd visit once things settled down.
She hesitated for a brief moment.
Then continued.
I hope you'll come with me.
The final sentence looked deceptively simple sitting there on the page.
Yet Mira found herself reading it twice anyway.
Not because she regretted writing it.
Quite the opposite.
A warmth settled quietly in her chest as she imagined Draco reading the invitation.
Finally, she signed her name and closed the notebook.
The silver runes shimmered softly.
Far away, at Malfoy Manor, the message appeared.
Draco Malfoy was seated beneath a large window overlooking the Malfoy gardens when the notebook stirred.
The manor was immaculate as always.
Perfectly trimmed hedges.
Perfectly maintained grounds.
Perfectly polished marble.
Everything looked exactly as it should.
And somehow that perfection felt a little dull after Hogwarts.
Draco frowned slightly at the realization.
A year ago he never would have thought such a thing.
Now he found himself missing things like hidden chambers beneath castles, overexcited Nifflers, and a silver-haired girl who somehow attracted ancient civilizations the way normal people attracted rain.
The notebook shifted.
His attention snapped downward immediately.
Without hesitation, he opened it.
As Mira's words appeared across the pages, his expression softened.
Slowly.
Almost imperceptibly.
Yet with every line, the corners of his mouth lifted a little further.
Nyx becoming an Auror surprised him less than it probably should have.
The vampire hybrid had always possessed the sort of calm intelligence that made people naturally trust him.
Magical Intelligence Liaison sounded exactly like the kind of position Nyx would excel at.
By the time Draco reached the part about invention sketches, he actually laughed.
A short, quiet sound.
"I promised Uncle Sev that I would take a break."
Draco rubbed a hand across his face.
"That's not a break," he muttered aloud.
The statement sounded suspiciously similar to something Snape himself would have said.
Still.
The fact that Mira had not yet built anything was probably progress.
Tiny progress.
But progress.
Then he reached the final lines.
I hope you'll come with me.
Draco stared at those words longer than necessary.
Outside, summer sunlight illuminated the gardens.
Somewhere below, peacocks wandered elegantly across the grounds.
The manor remained quiet.
Yet suddenly the entire afternoon felt brighter.
Because she wanted him there.
Not out of obligation.
Not because he happened to be nearby.
Because she genuinely wanted his company.
The realization settled warmly within him.
Draco picked up his quill.
For once, the words came easily.
Dear Mira,
I'm relieved to hear you haven't accidentally uncovered another lost civilization during your first week home.
His eyes gleamed slightly as he wrote.
Though if I'm being realistic, there's still plenty of summer left.
The quill moved smoothly across the page.
Things here have been quiet as well. Father has been occupied with Wizengamot matters, and Mother has spent most of the week reorganizing portions of the manor. Apparently this is a normal summer activity.
Draco still wasn't entirely convinced.
I've mostly been reading, practicing spells, and attempting to enjoy having no homework.
That last part remained surprisingly difficult.
After a year at Hogwarts, doing nothing felt oddly unnatural.
I also discovered that peacocks are apparently much louder than I remembered.
His expression turned faintly amused.
I'm beginning to suspect they only exist to annoy people.
He continued writing.
Nyx becoming an Auror doesn't surprise me. He'll be excellent at it.
Then, after a brief pause:
As for your invention sketches... I am choosing to believe that sketching counts as resting.
The statement practically radiated skepticism.
Please don't make me agree with Professor Snape more than necessary.
Finally, he reached the part that mattered most.
And yes.
A small smile appeared.
I'd like to come to the sanctuary.
The words felt simple.
Honest.
Exactly what he meant.
Let me know when you're leaving.
After a moment's thought, he added one final line.
Try not to invent anything before tomorrow.
Then, because he knew her well enough by now:
That was not a challenge.
Draco set down the quill.
A few seconds later, the words vanished from his page and traveled across the magical connection.
Back at Silverthorne Manor, the notebook resting beside Mira shimmered softly.
And somewhere beneath a summer sky free from exams, prophecies, and hidden chambers, two first-years continued a conversation that neither of them was particularly eager to end.
ns216.73.216.64da2
and then Add to home screen.