Chapter 12

Hogwarts Express, 1991

Sitting right next to the window, Mameha watched as the landscape went by. He was in so deep thoughts, that he didn't see, nor did he heard when the door to his compartment opened and bushy haired young girl with a blond little stubby boy with tear lines marring his face looked in.

"Excuse me, have you seen toad?" the little girl asked with anxious voice that made Mameha turn his head quickly and land his cold, unforgiving gaze on them. Who they thought they were? He had made sure to be on the last compartment on the last car on the train. He had wanted to be alone. To be left alone, he thought, as his eyes narrowed.

"No." Mameha said with coldly. He turned to look at the landscape again, clearly dismissing them unimportant.

He heard harrumph. He didn't turn to look.

"Excuse me! This is the last place where we could look at Nevilles' toad, so you must have seen it!" the girl said superior voice that grinded his ears way too easily.

Mameha still didn't turn to look at them as he answered to the girl.

"No, I have not seen toad. The door has been closed ever sense I entered here, which was several hours ago. And I don't think that Neville was here before that." His voice was dripping with sarcasm and pureblood superiority.

There was oppressive silence in the compartment after that until faint click could be heard and Mameha knew then that he had been left alone once again. His hand made small flick towards where the door was, and a second click was heard as the door locked itself. Before Mameha could think of it, he took the letter from the inside his kimono and laid his now soft eyes on it. He must have read the letter over dozen times already and it still could make his pale complexion rose red as he blushed.

Flashback

My Heart

As I write this letter to you, I cannot but help to be reminded that I haven't seen you over a decade. I miss you, my love and I hope we see each other's soon. I still remember the unique scent of your hair. How hard it is to make you blush, but it is well worth of the trouble. As I am sure Gerald will tell you, this is my goodbye letter for you, my heart, as you know how devilish the Beings can be. As soon as I am done with this letter, I can no longer remember you. The price for my question was high. Higher than I hoped it would be. To what question, I cannot tell you. You will find out someday. Please, trust me.

I wanted to tell you how much I love you, how much I miss you and the emptiness inside me that tells me every day every minute every second, that you are not by my side. No one can hold my heart, my mind or my soul but you. I will way until the end of time for you to come back to me. I gave you my first kiss like you gave me yours. There is only equality between us as neither of us lead nor follow the other.

Soon my memories of you are gone but know, that I would never take someone else to be by my side. Only you. The Beings told me that my heart would know you and the moment you will find me, I will remember you. The softness of your skin, the playful mirth of your eyes, the smirk on your lips, when your plotting has been successfully completed. The small smile on your face in the early mornings when you press yourself even closer to me. These are just a few of my most treasured memories of you. I must end this letter now, my soul. I love you, Mameha. Now, Tomorrow, Forever.

Your Soul

Valedro

P.S I have just finished my last year at Hogwarts and like we planned, I will soon start my world tour to seek more than Hogwarts had to offer. I left my school books for you, if you want them. As you know me, there are remarks on nearly every page of those books. Helpful and sarcastic remarks. My thoughts about the subjects, how incompetent the writers were or the teachers. So you know, I will be there with you on every step you take and every class you sit, even if you can't see me.

The books are inside of your trust vault. I left them there, as I don't need them anymore and I hate the thought of giving them to secondhand shop. Use them or not, they are yours now.

End Flashback

Small sigh escapes from Mamehas lips. When he had read the letter first time, he had cried. It had hit him then and there, that his Soul-Mate was out there somewhere and didn't remember him. He could remember what they had planned for the world tour so at least he had a lead on where to start looking after his seventeenth birthday if he didn't meet Valedro sooner. He hoped it would be sooner rather than later but being realistic, he knew that Valedro had no reasons to stay England so, world tour for him it would be too. But first Hogwarts. He pulled his eyes back to landscape and gently put the letter back inside his kimono over his heart. At least the Beings had given him hope.

Hogwarts, 1991

It was nearly seven in the evening when the Hogwarts Express finally pulled to Hogsmeade Stations and the last leg of travel would begin. He was absolutely sure he hated how the first year students were introduced to Hogwarts. Boats? In the dark? That was catastrophe begging to happen. Not one, not two but three students slipped in the water and had to be rescued. It sure didn't help that the rescuer was giant tentacle belonging to giant squid.

"What happened here Hagrid?" stern oldish female voice asked as soon as the huge double doors of Hogwarts had been opened by her.

"Oh, nothing to worry about, Professor McGonagall, couple of kids fell to the lake and were rescued by the squid." the giant of a man now identified as Hagrid, said with a big smile on his face.

"Well, come here and let me dry you of." she signed to the three wet school children. With a few flicks of her wand, they were dry again. She then turned her attention to the rest of the children and beckon them to follow her inside.

"Now, you will stay here until I come back for you and we will get you all sorted. After you have all been sorted, the supper will be served and then the fifth year Perfects will escort you to your respected houses. Those are Gryffindors, Ravenclaws, Hufflepuffs and Slytherins. All houses are equally important, and bullying is not tolerated. If I find you bullying, there will be consequences, such as point removal or detention. In extreme cases, it can also end to removal of privilege, like Perfect badge or removing you from the house quidditch team. But if you work hard and are polite, this will earn you points and the opportunity to become Perfect yourself." Professor McGonagall said with assertive voice and left trough yet another pair of double doors.

Watching other children talking quietly among each other's, Mamehas' eyes kept going back to two boys. One of the boys had hair nearly as white as snow, silver eyes and aristocratic manners. He was clearly from Old money and wasn't used to the other kids not being from same social standing. Maybe his face will stick to that sneer, Mameha thought with malice. Looking up the other boy, he had his mask firmly on, looking everyone with indifferent pale lavender eyes but Mameha could see tiny sparkle of mirth in them. His skin had nice olive tone indicating Mediterranean roots. Both boys were very good-looking and would surely grow to be very handsome men. He shakes his head. He has Valedro. No need to find someone else.

As soon as those thoughts were shaken out of Mamehas head, the double doors opened, and they were led to the magnificent hall by Professor McGonagall. He could just faintly hear someone talking about the beautiful ceiling that was exact replica of the night sky at the moment. Mameha smiled internally. As he was looking the sky, he missed entirely the first part of the sorting only to be rudely pulled away from it as he heard someone calling his name.

"Evans, Victoria" Professor McGonagall's stern voice called.

With his head held high, back straight, he glided over the small stool sitting on it with dignity. And then the hat was lowered on to his head.

"My, my, what an interesting mind you have. It has been a long time when I sorted someone with so much potential. There is only one place for you, young lady, and that is" the hat said and yelled

"SLYTHERIN"

And with that, he took the hat off and gave it back to McGonagall. Standing up and walking over the table with most acceptable manners, he sat down where he thought his place would be, right in the middle of the table. As he looked around the table of green and silver, he saw hatred, indifference and pain that was directed to him. He knew, that he had just painted huge target on his back, but he could take it. His control over his Magic was total. He didn't need his wand. It was just a prop to him. Mameha knew that he would be fighting that night. Others wouldn't take it easy on him. They would kill him if he were to show any kind of weakness. So be it. He would be the leader. Or he would be killed. There was no other way.

So absorbed to the upcoming fight, he missed the uproar what came when no one step forward when Potter Harry, was called, only to be pulled out when Draco Malfoy was sorted to Slytherin. He watched as the blond walked confidentially and sit next to him.

"Draco Malfoy" the boy introduced himself.

"Victoria Evans." Mameha said.

"Mudblood." Draco sneered at him.

"No. Pureblood actually." Mameha said hauntingly.

"What? There is no way you could be Pureblood." Draco said with hostile voice.

"No?" he asked and accidentally showed Draco his bracelet.

He saw it. He paled. Inwardly sneering at the blond, Mameha pulled down his sleeve.

"As you saw, you were wrong." he said with honeyed voice.

Draco said nothing. There was nothing to say. He just hoped that the girl wouldn't kill him. His Father would be really irritated if that happened. Draco winced. If his Mother would ever find out… No, he didn't want to even think about it. He opened his mouth to speak but hand came up and stopped him.

"Save your apologies to someone that cares. I do not. As long as you will not insult me again, I will make sure it will be the last time." the girl informed him. He just nods his head and concentrated to the sorting.

Once more Mameha is lost to the thoughts in his head. And like most of the time, he is thinking about Valedro and where he is. Small, nearly invisible smile finds it way on to his lips. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad to play this cat and mouse game with Valedro. After all, they had more than enough time to be together.

Pulled out from his day dreams, Mameha claps his hands politely as the last first year, Zabini, Blaize, is sorted to Slytherin and after a few minutes' speech by Headmaster, food finally materializes in front of them. There is little bit of everything. Salad, rice, mashed potatoes, smoked salmon, fried chicken, sausages, lamb stew, boiled vegetables, at least three different kind of cheese and so on. A real feast. And just as he thought, he couldn't possible eat more, the table was filled with different kinds of desserts. Ice cream, pies, fudge… When the dinner was finally over, Mameha was sure he wouldn't need to eat again ever, he was so full. A school song later, the first years were escorted by their respected fifth year Perfects to their houses.