* Draco's Angel *
* Chapter 11: From This Moment On *
* By Cyber Gal *
"Ah, look what we have here," Lucius Malfoy sneered. "The famous Harry Potter and my traitor of a son, Draco Malfoy. What a pleasant surprise." Draco gulped. His father was up to something and it didn't look good. Draco glanced over at Harry. Surprisingly, Harry's face didn't show any sign of worry; it was something more, like determination. Draco on the other hand looked near death. But perhaps it was because Harry didn't know the danger of the situation, Draco thought to himself. But Draco knew well enough what kind of situation they had gotten themselves into. He had experienced this plenty before and was well aware of his father's wrath. He could remember quite clearly the punishments he had been put through under the supervision of the Dark Lord himself. Punishments for the simplest of all things, such as opening a letter addressed to him without asking for his father's permission first.
Draco could remember as a child how his mother would beg his father to stop the punishments and the pain, but he wouldn't listen to her. He wouldn't listen to anyone, except for his master. Punishment, in his father's eyes, lead to the makings of a strong and powerful individual. Punishment was a daily word in the Malfoy household. Lucius had received it as a child and so had his father, and so on. And now it was handed down onto Draco.
"Well boys. Now I bet you have a lot of questions to why you are here," Lucius Malfoy sneered down at the two boys whose faces he knew so well. He saw the face of his son who has failed him in every way possible. He had spent so much time training his son with the ways of the Dark Lord. But as much as he tried, Draco would only resist more.
But yet again, Draco didn't matter any more, Lucius Malfoy thought as he glanced upon the face of a green-eyed boy. The boy who would be such an essential key in the rise of Lord Voldemort. Harry Potter, the next Lord Voldemort. Lucius smiled to himself. He liked the sound of that; it had a very good ring to it.
"You see boys, there was this prophecy, a very old prophecy dating back to the original founders of Hogwarts. Now this prophecy was made by Salazar Slytherin himself and it stated that when his heir, Lord Voldemort, was first rising into power, a child was to be born and trained so that when it was his time, he would rise up and take over where his heir left off. Now at about the time when Lord Voldemort was slowly gaining power, my son Draco was born into this world. Sadly enough, I was stupid to think that he had a chance to become the next Dark Lord. I was wrong, very wrong. You see Mr. Potter; it was you who Salazar was talking about. You were the one mentioned in the prophecy. He had a way of predicting the future, but he would never come right out and say them. You see, it was very easy to make the mistake. You would think it would be my son, not James Potter's son. But then again, I always knew that James had an evil side to him. There was something more to him then he let people see." Lucius Malfoy paused and bent down, looking Harry straight in the eyes. "The Sorting Hat was right. You would do great in Slytherin, with a little encouragement and some teaching."
"You know what the Sorting Hat said to me?" Harry asked shocked. He hadn't told that to anybody.
"Why Harry, you seem shocked," Lucius Malfoy grinned evilly, bearing a row of yellowish teeth. "I told you. Salazar Slytherin had a way of predicting the future. He knew his heir would be tempted to be put in both Slytherin and Gryffindor. He knew you wouldn't want to go into Slytherin. But yet again, he knew it was for the best that you were put into Gryffindor. You see, Slytherin has a way of turning you bad, straight down to the core, with no feelings or a heart. Now most people would consider the Slytherin's to be the badest of the badest, but they are all wrong. Why do you think all Gryffindor's have been better fighters and why do they always seem to win? You see the Gryffindor's all have a heart, they want to win, and the wish it with all their heart, deep down inside. They all have strong wills and courage beyond belief. They have the desire to win; they want it so much that it hurts inside. Slytherin's, on the other hand, just fight because they have to. Really they don't care. They fight to live up to their reputation. Of course they want to win, most everyone does. But it's not the same as the Gryffindor's." Harry felt strange. How could have they known that. He hadn't told anybody. It must have been a lucky guess, Harry thought to himself. Or else, Lucius Malfoy wasn't lying and everything was true. No! It couldn't be true. There was no way it could be true. Harry wasn't supposed to be the next Voldemort. It just didn't make sense.
"It's all making sense to you now, huh Harry?" came a voice from out of the shadows. Harry knew that voice. It was very familiar. It was a voice he had only heard a couple of times, but it was voice that he would never be able to forget. It sent a chill down his spine and made him feel cold all over. "Everything is making sense to you. You see Harry, I was like you when I was a child. Parentless, smart, brave and kind. I had all the makings of a great leader. But there was one thing wrong with me. I was on the wrong side. Sure, they make the Light Side out to be this terrific thing and at some time's it might be. But the Dark Side is a hell of a lot better. People on the Light side are all followers. But the people on the Dark Side, now those people are the real leaders. They take stands and fight for their rights. Now you could be one of those leaders, Harry. You could be the next Dark Lord. And with being the next Dark Lord, you get everything you could ever want. You name it; you've got it. Just think Harry. We know enough magic to bring your parents back, enough magic to get you any girl in the world. Just think, you love Hermione, but she has never loved you back. Draco took her from you Potter. He's on the Light Side. Wouldn't you just like to take revenge Potter? Pay every body back for what they have done for you?" Lord Voldemort finished sounding satisfied.
Harry was confused. Now he wasn't sure what side he was on. The Light was where he wanted to be. But that side had only brought him pain and grief. He just wanted that all to go away. He wanted to see his parents, to be by them, to really be able to know them and stand by their side, and he wanted Hermione.
"I can give you anything you could ever wish for. If you don't want to feel pain and grief, I can take that away too. Name it Potter and you've got it," Voldemort replied with a sick grin on his face. This was too much pressure. Harry knew the Light Side was the right decision, but on the Dark Side, he could get everything he ever wanted. Harry glanced over at Draco.
"Look at young Malfoy over there Potter. Look at what he's become. A poor excuse for a human being. When he was on the Dark Side, Draco was perfectly fine. He had everything he could ever want, and we treated him well. But now look at him. He looks horrible. Always running and hiding, never facing facts. Now do you want to be like that Harry? Think about it."
"Potter he's lying!" Draco screamed trying to snap Harry out of it. "They told me the exact same thing. They're just going from boy to boy until one finally accepts! Potter can't you see? This is a total setup. They can't give you everything you want, believe me. It's total bullshit! Life on their side is hell."
"Ah, it looks like little Draco over here is jealous," Voldemort replied. "Don't let him take this chance away from you Harry. He's taken away everything you've ever wanted. Don't let him ruin this for you."
"I've thought about it," Harry answered Voldemort, slowly looking up at him, face to face. "Your right. The Light Side has done nothing for me. I'm ready to join your side."
"Very well Harry. You've made a wise choice," Voldemort smiled.
"What shall we do with the boy," Lucius Malfoy asked pointing down at his son.
"Throw him in the dungeon, and I mean really throw." Harry replied grinning devilishly, green eyes sparkling.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Ron Weasley walked down the hallway awkwardly. He found in very hard to walk in the tight leather pants; they were too tight for him. He looked around the large hallway, not knowing where he was going at all. Already he had been down 15 different hallways all leading into a different section of the house. Suddenly he heard a sound coming down from the hallway.
"Bulstrode!" said the man on the right. "Where have you been?"
"We're late. Do you want our master to get angry at us?" said the other one.
"Sorry about that," Ron replied trying to make his voice sound low. The spell only changed your looks, not your voice. "Well let's carry on then." He followed the two men down the hallway and into another large room. Inside were about ten more Death Eaters all gathered around a large circular table. Ron sat down, nervously, trying to listen to their conversation in hopes it would help him and Hermione out.
"Can you believe it?" asked one of the Death Eaters. "Harry Potter, on the Dark Side. I never thought I'd see the day."
"Harry Potter? On the Dark Side?" Ron asked forgetting where he was.
"Yes Bulstrode. Harry Potter, the next Dark Lord. Where have you been?
"What about the younger Malfoy?" asked another Death Eater. "What happened to him?"
"They threw him in the dungeons. Their going to kill him later today I suppose."
Ron gulped. Things weren't looking good. An hour passed by quickly. Ron was trying to get as much information out of the Death Eaters as possible. Suddenly Ron felt a tingling sensation on his face.
"Shit," Ron mumbled remembering the spell. "If you'll excuse me, I'll be right back," Ron said making up the only excuse he could think of. He walked out of the room as fast as he could and down the hallways into an empty room, locking the door behind him. Ron sighed deeply as he sat down on one of the armchairs. Harry, the next Dark lord? It couldn't be true. There was just no way that it could be possible. A sudden knocking on the closet door awoke Ron from his thoughts. Cautiously walking over to the closet door, Ron opened it slightly with just enough room for him to see in. Ron jumped back in surprise at the sight behind the door. Standing in the closet, all tied up and gagged was Professor Snape. Snape stared back at Ron looking even more surprised to why Ron Weasley was at Malfoy Manor and why in the world was he wearing tight leather pants. Realizing he was staring at Snape with his mouth wide open and close to touching the floor, Ron quickly closed his mouth and started to untie Snape.
"What are you doing here?" Ron asked forgetting his manners.
"I'd like to ask you the same question," Snape replied. "As for me, I don't really know why I'm here to be perfectly honest. My memory on the last couple of days is blurry. All right, I gave you my explanation about why I'm here. Now let's here yours. And Mr. Weasley, this better be good."
"I'm on a rescue mission to save Harry and Malfoy," Ron explained knowing it sounded far-fetched but hoping that Snape would somehow believe him.
"Rescue mission?" Snape asked raising an eyebrow.
"Yes," Ron said explaining the past events leading up to today. "Malfoy is going to be killed if we don't get to him soon and as for Harry, I don't know what's going on with him."
"If this is all true then we've better get a move on. Did you say Miss Granger is here with you?" Snape asked taking control of the mission.
"Yes," Ron replied a little hesitantly. "But you see, I've walked down so many different hallways and rooms that I'm totally lost."
"Not good Mr. Weasley. Not good at all." When the two of them finally reached the room where Ron had originally came from, they found Hermione lying on the bed reading.
"Hermione! What are you doing? Reading at a time like this?" Ron yelled angry with her for making him do all the work.
"Ron calm down-what is he doing here?" Hermione whispered pointing towards Snape.
"I found him in a closet," Ron explained causally.
"What?" Hermione asked confused.
"I found him in a closet!" Ron started to explain but was interrupted by Professor Snape.
"What Mr. Weasley is trying to say," Snape explained giving Ron a glare. "Was that after his little mission to find out information from all of those drunken Death Eaters out there, he ran into the room where I was tied up. You see, previously I had been tied up and thrown into that closet. Don't ask me why. I don't know either. All I know is that we have to move fast. If I know Lucius Malfoy or Lord Voldemort, they act fast and don't give any mercy. If anything happens to Draco-" Snape stopped himself.
"Alright Ron." Hermione said taking control again. "What I was reading is a book on The Malfoy estates. It tells all about it and lucky for us, the book gives us a whole map of the Manor. We can use this to find Draco."
"Good," Snape said heading for the door. "Let's move fast."
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Draco woke up drowsily. His head ached, his shoulder pounded, his stomach hurt. In fact every hurt. Nothing could possibly get any worse. But then suddenly, he saw a familiar face through the bars of the window. A face that provided hope and encouragement. The only face he ever wanted to see again. The face of Hermione Granger.
"Draco!" she cried running to the edge of the dungeon bars. "Hold on, we're going to get you out."
"Hey Herm," he replied back trying to smile through his aching face. It hurt to talk; it hurt to even smile. "I'm fine, really I'm okay."
"God, he's delirious," Ron muttered under his breath.
"I heard that! Oh, and nice pants Weasley!" Draco replied sarcastically.
"If you weren't hurt Malfoy, I'd really kick your ass!"
"I'm not hurt. Really I'm fine! I'll be able to move again once I get the feeling back in my legs. And you couldn't kick my ass even if I was tied down to the floor!" Draco replied.
"Don't temp me Malfoy," Ron replied getting irritated.
"Don't make me laugh," Draco drawled on sarcastically. "Oh hello Professor Snape. What are you doing hear in my lovely room. Please take a seat. Tea will be served shortly."
"Well Hermione. He's gone crazy. We might as well leave him here. He won't be much use in fighting off Voldemort."
"Ron!" Hermione scolded him. "Draco I think the best thing for you to do right now is rest. We'll get these doors open soon and then we'll we on our way to get Harry."
"If anybody's crazy it's Harry. He's the one who threw me down here in the first place," Draco continued trying to stand up, but then feeling dizzy and sitting back down again.
"What about Harry?" Ron asked hoping his friend was all right.
"Well he finally gave into Voldemort and my father so now he's going to be the next Dark Lord," Draco said casually like nothing was wrong.
"What!" Hermione shrieked.
"There!" Professor Snape said as the lock to the dungeon door came undone. "Look now is not the time to talk; now is the time to move and fast."
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Snape, Draco, Hermione, and Ron crept quietly down the hallway, careful not to make a sound. They had to walk very slowly; the invisibility cloak barely fit over the four of them. Draco finally returned to normal, and besides the pain, he felt relatively fine.
"Whenever anything big happens at Malfoy Manor, my father always has them in his study," Draco whispered pointing to the large wooden door in front of them. "Look, I'll go in first. You guys can follow behind me in the Invisibility Cloak."
"Wait Draco. You don't have to go first. Just come in with us," Hermione pleaded. She had this bad feeling that if he went in first; he wouldn't come back out again alive.
"No Hermione. It's just something I have to do. I'll be fine," Draco explained trying to reassure her. He wasn't even sure of this himself. Draco knew this could be a suicide mission, but for some reason he wasn't scared. He knew he had to face off his father, once and for all. "Hermione. Can I talk to you? Like alone?" She nodded and the two of them stepped aside leaving Snape and Ron in a stare-off.
"Draco please don't do this. I have this bad feeling. Please don't," Hermione begged.
"Hermione, I have to. I'll be fine," Draco tried to explain to her. "Look, I love you Hermione. You're the best thing that ever happened in my life. From whatever happens next, I'll never forget you. You're the love of my life and you've changed me forever."
"I love you too Draco," Hermione replied trying to keep from crying. Knowing he couldn't say goodbye to her again, Draco gave Hermione a quick kiss and walked off to the others.
"Alright I'm going to go in there first," Draco told Snape and Ron. "Wait five minutes and then come in, with the Invisibility Cloak. Don't take any chances. If anything happens to me, get Harry fast, and get out. I'm used to my father and Voldemort. I can stall them while you get Harry.
"Draco," Snape replied sounding concerned. "Be careful." Draco nodded and then slipped inside the door. As Draco looked around his father's study he could see Voldemort sitting in one of the armchairs facing the fire with Harry sitting next to him. Lucius was across the room holding some sort of box in his hand. Surprisingly, none of them seemed to notice Draco so he kept silent in hopes to figure out what was going on.
"Lucius bring that box over to me," Voldemort ordered. "Now Harry, in all the years that the Dark Arts have been alive, we've been trying to find the one true key that will keep the Dark Arts alive. In all my years I knew there was a key, something that would give me ultimate power so that I couldn't be destroyed. I knew it was out there but we couldn't find it. We searched everywhere possible and was about to give up, until one day Lucius was up in his attic and found this ancient box with a inscription that looked almost impossible to translate."
Harry looked over the little box. It was a dark wooden color with four silver snakes running down the side of the box. Each snake had an emerald green jewel for an eye and at the bottom of each snake was a keyhole. All over the box was some sort of inscription in another language. But the language looked familiar to Harry.
"It Parseltongue, but backwards," Harry mumbled reading the inscription on the box.
"Exactly Harry," Voldemort continued. This box was made my Salazer Slytherin himself. You see he knew what this box contained and was gong to use it himself, but something stopped him from doing so. Luckily before he disappeared from this earth, he put the inscription on the box and locked it away so that other Dark Wizards would be able to find it later on."
"So what do you want me to do with it?" Harry asked curiously.
"Well Harry. You see my time as the Dark Lord is almost over and before I go, we wanted to establish the way of the Dark Arts throughout the magical community so that everyone would live under us. Just think, you could be the next ruler of the whole magical community. But before that happens we need a way to have absolute power, so that we cannot be destroyed. That's where you come in. By the inscription on this box, it says that this is some kind of portkey that when opened it will take you to another dimension where the key is found. We want you to do this Harry. You're a strong fighter and we think that you'll be able to destroy whatever is protecting the key.
Draco gulped. He wasn't sure whether to make a move or to wait and see what happens. Suddenly he felt a breeze of air pass by him. All right, Draco thought to himself. Snape, Hermione and Ron are here. It's now or never.
"Wait!" Draco yelled stopping Harry from opening the box.
"Ah, it's you Draco," Lucius sneered. "I knew you'd find your way up here sooner or later. Well we were going to do this later, but why don't I just kill you now. You could have done something Draco. You couldn't have been on our side and you would have been great. But no, you and your stupid girlfriend wouldn't just except things the way they were. Now you must pay," Lucius said raising his wand. "Avada-"
"Noooooooooo!" came the voice of a girl.
"Avada Kedavra!" Lucius screamed. But instead of Draco falling towards the ground, the body of an innocent girl fell with a thud.
The End (until the next chapter)
Wow, what a way to leave the story off, huh? Anyway I'm not going to say much because I'm afraid that it'll spoil the ending. Next week is the final chapter. I'm really surprised because I never thought I was going to reach the end. Anyway, all your questions will be summed up and everything will be explained. In the last part I'll also give you some information on the sequel. That's all for now,
. : C y b e r : . : G a l : .
~*~ Thanks Section ~*~
Sorceress Girl (I've changed your whole attitude about Draco? Is that good or
bad? I hope it's good. I think that on the inside he's really a nice kid but
because of his father, he's forced to be mean and cruel on the outside) Urfa,
Melissa Malfoy (wow you're the first review I've gotten that doesn't want Draco
in leather. Well I'm not going to put him in a thong or hot pants cause…well I
agree with you that a 17-year-old guy really wouldn't wear that but I'm probably
going to put him in leather. You go for skater guys? Oh I'm more of a surfer
girl myself. He he oh yeah. And cowboys! Ya gotta love 'em.) Macabre (fuzzy
green towel? Hmmm…that would be interesting, very interesting…)