Chapter 1

Discovery

There was no prior indication of disturbance, no foreboding and no melodramatic shower of destiny's rains. A brief pain to the heart and a constant nagging desire to return home was my indication in retrospect, but things in retrospect rarely matter to the present for what has passed cannot be changed and in a way has become truth. It was a day like any other day, at lunch, in winter and still alone.

~~~

The hum of voices was gone with the clang of metal on plates and Blaise's voice became more distinct and more discernable along with his pause.

'Draco, are you alright, you seem distracted.'

'I'm fine.'

There was no further perusal of my welfare.

~~~

He talks of stormy clouds creating images that dance on my skin and the faint tingling of fear slowly warps my last shred of sanity. There was never protection and security but on this particular night the feeling of dread begins to overcome me, my prince is gone and I am left on the battlements facing the remains of my ruined kingdom.

May the Gods be damned for their senility and stupidity, rot in their own wisdom and die the thousand deaths that they themselves dictate. May the earth itself that they love so well rise up and swallow them it righteous convulsions. Let the very air be damned for alone I stand and alone will I rule the. . .

~~~

Owls fly in wheeling swoops that cut through the air like knives falling for the kill as Caesar lay, blood dripping from the wounds of friend and foe alike. A screech made me start but at that time it was no different from any other day, no different other than the niggling in my heart and the sweat upon my brow. Blaise shook me irritably and I'm shocked to see a large black crow bearing two boxes alight before me hissing like a serpent impatient for its meal. I reach forward toward the strange creature but in a flash it buries it's beak in my hand and gives a joyful gurgle as it rips through tissue. I give it no more than a glance as I grab its slim throat and casually snap the thin bone. No different from any other day at all, how life begins to bore me, everyday is the same but I wonder why everyone is so quiet today. I fling the bird away and turn to the boxes; more presents no doubt, the never ending stream of petty relatives that vie for the family fortune. Like any other day I flip open the box and snicker, I'm right except it's no petty relative that sent this gift. Peering into the boxes I realize its is a gift from the Dark Lord himself and he never gives boring gifts. Screams ripple along the Slytherin table, I wonder why, it's not as if they've never seen the dead before. But father and mother always did like to be the centre of attention. . .