Part One
Draco Malfoy could feel the vibrations coming from the mysterious door, the one locked up with pounds and pounds of old, rusting chains. He could never get close enough to see what it was made of, or to peer through the centuries-old keyhole, to get a glimpse of what it was that was inside.
There was one thing that Malfoy was sure of, and it was that whatever room the door opened to contained, it would be something spectacular, something amazing, and something that would return the dark lord Voldemort to full power, conquering all adversaries. Perhaps it would help Malfoy to kill Harry Potter, a boy whom every Death-Eater despised.
Yes, he would be famous amongst the Death-Eaters. He would become Voldemort's most trusted, second-in-command, his right-hand man. All dark wizards and witches would praise him. They would tell their youngest stories of how Great Draco Malfoy conquered Harry Potter.
He could feel excitement rising in him as he got closer. This would surely be the time where he would be able to finally get a glimpse through the keyhole, and obtain the knowledge of how to help Voldemort.
He paced along the long hall, sneaking around like a cunning serpent, padding silently on the balls of his feet like a well-experienced and clever feline.
He was only a few yards away now; whatever tranquillity he contained was rushed away, leaving behind a power-hungry feeling churning in his stomach.
The Almighty Malfoy, he mused. Yes, that's what they'll call me. He smiled to himself, fantasizing about that sweet moment when he would be as famous as Harry Potter, and as feared as lord Voldemort.
Faithfulnesss isss alwaysss rewarded by Lord Voldemort, or so they sssay...
Malfoy whipped around, looking straight into the smart and greedy eyes of a large serpent. "W-what?" he managed to get out, losing all confidence in the snake's piercing gaze.
I sssaid, Lord Voldemort rewardsss thossse who are faithful to him, who are obedient.
"D-do you- have you- are you- er- well acquainted with L-Lord Voldemort? Do you serve him? As I do?"
Yessss, my child. I used to.
"Used to?"
It'sss a very long sstory, if you're willing to lisssten.
"Er-I… You see I haven't really got time for your little stories. I have to see what's behind that door there." He pointed at it, and without waiting for an answer in return, he strutted away as fast as his legs would allow without giving the appearance that he was running away from the great snake.
Wait child, I mussst warn you-
"Warn me of what?" Malfoy demanded.
You are but a pawn in Lord Voldemort'sss gamesss, boy. He isss usssing you, usssing you all. He isss forcing you to do hisss bidding, hypnotizing you. As sssoon as he returnsss to power, he will leave you. He will dessssert you.
"No! Don't speak that way of Lord Voldemort!" Malfoy shouted, forgetting to keep quiet.
Husssh. You must keep quiet. They will find you, and then you will not be ssso pleassed with yourssself then. The snake seemed to smirk.
"Who? Why must I keep quiet?" Draco demanded rather rudely.
Sssorry, No time to explain, they have heard you.
It jerked its head toward the staircase behind them, where Draco noticed a shadow of someone coming- or floating as it seemed down the stairs. He looked back at the serpent, but it was not there.
He heard whispers all around him, but when he looked, he did not see anything. He backed into the farthest corner, hoping that whatever it was would not notice him. He shut his eyes as tight as he could and took shallow quiet breath, hoping that his white-blond hair would be covered in enough filth from this corridor that it would hardly be distinguishable from the wall.
Whoever-Whatever it was came closer and closer. He could feel its heavy breath on his face. The whispers became louder and louder and a thick buzzing filled his ears, then silence. He did not dare open his eyes.
"So", It breathed. " You thought you would be able to make it past me…"
A smacking sound, and then nothing again.
" Please I-"
He opened his eyes again, and he was in his large bedroom, in his king-sized bed.
Malfoy grunted in frustration. It seemed like he would never get a chance to see what was behind that forgotten door.
He sat up in his bed just as his mother, Narcissa Malfoy, entered the room.
"Funny.." She had a dazed look in her eyes. "I just got an owl saying that you were found in a secret corridor in the ministry, early this morning, but I sent word back that it couldn't have been you… You were here, of course. Er- Correct?"
"Yes, I was here all along mother, dreaming of nice things."
"Of course you were, Draco darling. But it's a bit odd isn't it... I heard they found an extremely dangerous dead serpent behind the door of the corridor that was mentioned... I suppose it had been there for a long time. It used to possess people, I've heard legends about it. It was given the name 'The Serpent of Souls' because it stole peoples' souls, replacing them with new, insecure and doubtful ones. But don't go worrying about it, darling. You're completely safe here." She gave him a peck on the forehead and left the room.
"Completely safe here…" He whispered.