Prelude
The sound of his voice echoed throughout the dark dungeons underneath the Malfoy Mansion. Maids cried out and the servants ran for cover. The house elves hid behind doors in the hopes of not getting caught. This was just a game after all- a game of survival. The question this time was who will win and even worse- who would be the unlucky one at the end of the night?
Demons are everywhere. At least that's what the poor Malfoy child screamed as he ran through the house attacking everything that was in his way. Nothing and no one was safe now. His father was away on business and there was little that his mother could do to stop him at this stage. His screams of paranoia went unheard by the neighbors, but the dogs at the end of the block barked and whined at the screeching noise.
What was the boy so scared of that would cause this much havoc? Nobody knew. Doctors had been called in from all over the world- muggles and wizards alike. Not one of them could diagnose him with anything. The muggle doctors had agreed that he was paranoid and psychotic, but his mother would not take this as an answer. After all, to say that her only son was mentally ill was to put her family into exile.
Doors slammed open, vases crashed to the floor, and finally the child fell to the floor crying. His tears cascaded down his cheeks as he rocked himself back and forth in his small hiding place behind the couch in the living room. His mother stood at the door, watching quietly as her son deteriorated before her eyes. There was nothing to say that would comfort him. Talking about it would be too difficult for her, so she stood quietly against the door's frame, silently watching him. The child rocked himself back and forth as though it would stop the evils from returning. His cheeks were tearstained as he stood up and looked toward the door. His gray eyes connected with his mother's. A moment later, his mother nodded and clapped twice. With a pop, a house elf appeared before her.
"Bring my son some water," she told the elf in a voice as soft as silk.
"As you wish," the elf responded before disappearing to the kitchen. The son stood up. She was not sure whether he would have another attack or not, so she took a small step backwards, ready to leave in a moment's notice.
"Mother?" The child whispered. His mother stayed silent so he continued. "They're coming mother. You know they are." She stared at him blankly, almost as though she did not understand him. But she did deep inside her heart. She had been having dreams of their return for a few years now. The power they possessed would make living in this world unbearable. The house elf returned with a glass of water for the Malfoy child. He thanked her quite genuinely before he took a sip. His mother finally managed to bring up enough courage to tell the house elf that dinner would need to be served soon. Then she turned on her heel and disappeared. A moment later, so did the elf leaving the child completely alone in the living room. Calmly, the child whispered, "may the gods be with us and give me the strength to protect the world from this great evil."