Draco stayed behind after Potions, deliberately packing the bottles of frogspawn with extreme care. He waited until Snape had finished marking some work before he went up and spoke to him.
"Uh- Professor Snape? I was wondering if you could sign a note for me, for the Restricted Section of the library. You see, I need a particular book for some-uh-work, but I need a note to get it," he said in one breath, hoping he didn't sound too suspicious. Snape looked at him blankly and then sat down at his desk, pulling out some parchment and a quill.
"I wouldn't normally do this, it's just that you're one of my best students…I just hope that this doesn't mean you're turning into a Hermione Granger. Now, what was the book called?" he said, scribbling onto the parchment.
"Um- Krilic, Past & Present," Draco responded, hoping he sounded cool and calm. Snape nodded his head and scrawled out the name. He handed the parchment over to Draco and smiled as he stood up and left.
If only he always smiled, Draco thought. He looked much better when he did.
אּ
Draco sighed with relief as he moved over to the Restricted Section of the library, after the librarian had scrutinized the note (I, Professor Severus Snape, Potions master, give seventh year, Draco Malfoy, of Slytherin, permission to borrow the following book from the Restricted Section of Hogwarts library: 'Krilic- Past & Present'. {Signed} Severus Snape). She led him to a shelf and pulled out a book. It was dirty and grey, with the words Krilic- Past & Present, printed in dark gold across the front. A picture of a snake winding itself around a lion, with the lion about to bite its head off emblazoned the front cover. The librarian moved over and got out a quill for Draco to sign his name with. Draco stared at the names written on the book:
L. Bultok-SLYTHERIN- 9/2/14
X. Aspolde-SLYTHERIN-8/3/16
H.M. Gogg-SLYTHERIN-10/1/24
M. Claudre-SLYTHERIN-5/10/73
J.Potter-GRYFFINDOR-8/11/81
It seemed as though it wasn't a popular book, yet he didn't care. He was too busy worrying about the last name that had been filled in. J.Potter-GRYFFINDOR-8/11/81. It didn't feel right, using it after Harry Potter's father had. All the same, he signed his own name in and walked out.
As he ambled down the corridor, he bumped into a young girl who was crying. It was Ginny.
"Really, Ginny, you're crying again? Honestly, you should really-OOF!" he broke off as Ginny, obviously mad, punched him in the stomach. "What did y-you do that f-for," he gasped, the wind knocked out of him.
"You're such an idiot, Draco. You just wait; one day, all you've ever said and done will come back and hit you in the face, real hard, I hope!" Ginny screamed into his ear. She gathered up her books and stormed off. Draco leant against the wall, trying to breathe normally. When he regained control of his breathing he stood up, bending down to pick up his book. Fear began to gnaw at his heart as he looked around the empty floor at his feet. His book was gone! He panicked and jumped up and down not knowing what to do. He leaned back against the wall, breathing deeply, his eyes closed.
אּ
Draco…the girl. The girl has got the book. Follow her…
אּ
Draco's eyes flew open and he spun around. It had happened again! His father had talked to him, again! It was the second time since he'd come here to Hogwarts-
Wait a minute, he thought. What the hell am I doing? I've got to find Ginny.
He turned and started to run in the direction Ginny had stormed off to. Minutes later he caught up with her, standing in front of a portrait of an extremely fat lady.
"Ginny, wait!" he called out. Ginny turned around and stared at him. Even though her face obviously showed she wanted to do otherwise, she waited for him to catch up to her.
"You've got my book," Draco said, grabbing hold of the books in her arms, flinging them onto the floor as he sorted through them, searching for the familiar grey cover. Finally he found it, and he breathed a sigh of relief.
"Here you go," he said nonchalantly, dropping the rest onto the floor.
"Honestly, all you guys at Hogwarts are chauvinists," she muttered as she bent over to pick up her scattered books. Although Draco would have preferred admiring her slim butt instead of replying, he restrained himself and responded.
"Big words for such a little girl, Ginny. What's your game?" he said, starting to walk away.
"Don't think I don't know anything," she said. Draco spun around, heart pounding. Surely she couldn't have figured out what he needed the book for. She wasn't that smart. Was she?
"And what exactly do you mean by that," he said, raising an eyebrow to her slim figure as he sauntered over to join her. She pushed him away, and continued to pick up her books.
"I know what all guys think about, I live with six of them. Though I'm beginning to think that you're not even human. You're so heartless. There Harry was, trying to be nice to you, and all you did was mock him," she accused, staring him straight in the eye. Draco narrowed his eyes and he moved in closer.
"Ginny, I don't have to listen to some lovesick fool defend her lover, who, might I add, does not even know you exist. You will never know what it is like to lose a parent at my age. Potter can't even remember his, yet I can remember my dad, alright. So you just shut the hell up and mind your own business," Draco replied. He gazed into Ginny's eyes and immediately regretted all that he'd said as they filled with tears at his words. He couldn't resist it. He tried to stop himself, but his body wouldn't obey his mind. Before Ginny could reply, Draco grabbed her by the arms and pulled her forward, her mouth on his. Though he'd never kissed a girl before, he followed his instincts, his hands in her hair, bringing her closer. His head exploded and he felt his whole body fill up with love for her, the need to protect her from any danger. He carried on before loss of oxygen forced him to pull away. He stared at Ginny's stunned face and narrowed his eyes, hoping to hide the passion he felt burning in them.
"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me," he taunted, even though, from that moment, he knew that anything Ginny said about him would crush him. He turned away and was halfway down the corridor before Ginny had moved.
אּ
Draco lay in bed that night, trying to bring peace between his warring emotions. He knew, when he kissed her, that Draco had fallen in love with Ginny. The memory of her sweet lips on his sent tingles down his spine, and he loved her for giving him that feeling.
Yet he couldn't be in love with a Weasley. It was- well, he didn't know what it was, but it just wasn't supposed to be. He remembered years ago, in his second year, when Arthur Weasley and his father had had a fight at the bookstore.
Then there was the problem with his father; he had the book, yet he still needed something that he'd worn. He sighed, knowing there was no way he would fall asleep in this state. He glanced over to the huge lumps on the other two beds that Crabbe and Goyle made. Hearing their snores, he climbed out of bed and pulled out the book hidden in his trunk. He took out his wand as well and climbed back onto the bed, pulling the curtains down as he did so.
"Lumos," he whispered. His wand lit up, letting a pale yellow glow emit from the tip of it. With trembling fingers, he opened the book and began to read.
Krilic- Past & Present.
'…Krilic is an ancient language, started by Gryffindor the first and Slytherin the third. It is derived from phases of the moon, each cusp representing a letter. All in all, there are 34 letters in the recorded Krilic alphabet.
Krilic was a well-known language, particularly around the year 654. It eventually died out in the 700's when 'Holish' was invented. Krilic was known as the 'secret language' because spies for enemies mainly used it in later years.
Krilic is notoriously known for its involvement in the Dark Arts. Many fatal curses have been recorded in Krilic, and some can only be recited in it. The Ministry of Magic has, over the centuries, assured any concerned of the Magical community that all curses written in Krilic have been banned.
{CONTENTS}
The Krilic Alphabet…………………………………………page 1
Pronunciation of the Krilic…………………………………page 2
Krilic in the Goblin Revolution…………………………….page 4
Krilic and the Chosen Ones………………………………..page 10
The Krilic Renown…………………………………………page 18
Dangers of the Krilicer…………………………………….page 25
Biography of the Author…………………………………..page 30.'
Draco ran his finger down the contents. What on earth was he supposed to look under, for the curse? He opened the book to 'Dangers of the Krilicer' and began to read.
אּ
Draco sat at the Slytherin table, trying not to let his head drop onto his marmalade toast. He'd stayed up for most of the night, poring over the book. He'd gotten so excited, he couldn't stop going over it. He felt his cloak pocket, where the scrap parchment with the translated poem was sitting. He didn't want to dare leave it somewhere where it could get lost. He pulled it out and looked at his messy writing.
I am not a follower; I do not follow your commands.
I am a leader, I command you to follow me, the chosen one.
In my footsteps, upon the sand, I will take revenge.
To escape my wrath, you must repent what you've done.
Fight like a true man, take you have earned.
And leave the rest behind.
If you believe in me, you will succeed.
If not, just w-
If only he knew the last line! He was so close, yet that little line meant the whole thing was useless. He cursed and put the parchment pack into his pocket.
"Is something the matter, Draco?" Pansy fluttered her eyes and smiled sweetly over the table to Draco. Draco ignored her and put down his knife. He stood up and turned around, squeezing his way from between Crabbe and Goyle's bulky figures. He'd not gone three feet before Ginny came up to him and stood in front of him, blocking his way.
"What?" Draco snapped, trying to push her out of the way.
"What do you mean what? What do you think? You owe me an explanation Draco Malfoy and-" she began, balling her fists in anger.
"I don't owe you anything, Weasley. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to get to class. Besides, can't you see lover boy waiting for you," he remarked, nodding his head in the direction of Harry, who was talking with Ron and Hermione.
"Hardly likely- he's too caught up with Cho Chang," she spat the last two words out bitterly and stormed off.
"Why wouldn't he be? You have to admit, she's better looking than you," he regretted the words the minute they were out of his mouth. Ginny stopped and stood silently for a moment, her cheeks burning red with anger. She slowly turned around, and beneath the anger in her eyes, Draco could see the hurt and humiliation mounting up.
It seemed as though Ginny couldn't say anything. She walked up to him, against the steady flow of students going off to class. She stood right up to him, nose against chest (Draco was very tall). She looked up and grabbed his face, pulling him down to kiss him. How Ginny learnt to kiss so well, Draco did not want to know. He only wanted to bask in the glory of it, the sweetness that surged through his veins as she pulled him to her. He tried not to let his emotions show, and pulled away, even though he didn't want to. She looked up at him and whispered, before storming away.
"Two can play the game, Draco Malfoy."
אּ
"Malfoy," Snape snapped. Draco snapped his head up and looked at Snape, who was looming over him.
"Yes, Sir," he replied.
"I told you that you needed to add the gulplop before the fangrid," Snape yelled as Draco's cauldron bubbled over with acid green froth. Draco blushed; he'd been too busy thinking about Ginny to take notice of Snape rambling on as usual.
"Sorry Sir," he mumbled. He heard Harry and Ron snickering behind their cauldrons.
"Detention Malfoy, and ten points from Gryffindor for your behaviour, Potter and Weasley," Snape turned away and walked up to his desk at the head of the room. Harry and Ron stopped laughing quickly and went back to their cauldrons.
Draco cleaned up his mess and waited for the bell to ring. When it did, he walked over to Snape who was very irritable.
"Straight to Filch, no lunch for you," he said as he stormed out of the room.
אּ
Draco surveyed the messy room that Argus Filch had taken him to. On the orders that he had to stack the boxes properly, Draco began to pick them up, grunting as he pushed them onto each other.
After half an hour he decided to take a break, resting against the box. Bored, he played with a tag on one of the larger boxes. He moved his head, so he could read it.
MINISTRY OF MAGIC
UNDER THE CARE OF HOGWARTS
KRILIC CURSES.
Draco jumped up, astonished. The curses that had been collected were here, in this very room. He ripped open the huge box and began sorting through the sheets of parchment. As he moved the yellowed parchment, familiar words caught his eye. He pulled out the sheet and read on. It was the curse! He almost jumped with glee as he read it through. It was complete. The last line, the one that had almost ruined everything for him, was there in neat handwriting: If not, just wait and see.
He closed his eyes and breathed a huge sigh of relief.
אּ
Well done Draco…my time will come soon…keep going.
אּ
Draco smiled. Now that he was used to his father's messages, it humoured him to think that his father was just as persistent when he was dead, just like when he was alive. He quickly stacked the rest of the boxes, finishing just when Filch walked in, followed closely by Mrs. Norris.
"Good, you finished. Go on, go away now," Filch muttered. Draco got the feeling that Filch was disappointed that he'd finished, that he didn't have anything else to punish Draco with. Draco ran out, all the way to his dorm. He could hear all the students going off to class, but…well, it was only Herbology with Gryffindor, no body would miss him, he decided. He walked up to his room and sat on the bed, pulling out the parchment. He quickly scrawled the last line onto it and sat back, relieved. Clue one had been taken care of. He looked at the parchment he'd stolen, to see if there were any other clues on it. In tiny, microscopic writing at the bottom, he could just make out some points.
o Perform curse on full moon.
o Three candles of life must be lit- red, white and black. Placed in triangle, curser in the middle. Red north, White bottom left, black bottom right.
o Object over black candle. Gold ribbon on red candle, blue ribbon on white candle.
o Concentrate, stay focused. Recite three times and all should be well.
Draco couldn't believe it. He was almost ready to do it. He could have done it right then, if only he had the object and it was full moon. What could he use for the object, though. Thee must have something of thy fathers, anything that he once wore to perform thy task, that's what the Bloody Baron said.
Just then, Draco knew what it had to be. He crawled over to his trunk and sorted through the cloaks in there. At the very bottom, he found it. Pulling it out, he looked at, awed. It was a large gold circle, with a silver star in the centre of it, reaching out to the rings of the circle. In the centre of the star there was an ice blue diamond. It hung on a long gold chain. His mother had given it to him, the day he left for Hogwarts.
"Your father owned this. I know he would want you to have it," she had whispered into his ear as she hugged him goodbye.
Draco was so excited he thought he would faint. He looked at the chart hanging over his bed. Today was the third quarter, which meant that full moon would be…tomorrow.
אּ
He was ready; he knew it. He stuffed the three thin candles, stolen from the Divination room, into his pocket, after checking to make sure that they had the right ribbons on them. He had the parchment in his hand, ready to be used. It was eleven o'clock and he'd just heard Crabbe begin to snore. Taking care not to make any noise, he sneaked down the stairs, missing the third stone step, which rattled when you stepped on it. He carefully made his way out the common room. He already knew where he would do the task. He'd decided on a dungeon at the very end of the floor, one that Draco had never seen used. He walked in quickly, trying to hurry; it was freezing.
He walked to the centre of the room. He sat down comfortably and placed the red candle in front of him, the gold ribbon on it glittering softly in the light of his wand. Then he placed the white candle just behind him, at his left, securing the blue ribbon. Then he placed the black candle directly opposite it and pulled the necklace off from around his head. He placed this over the black candle.
He cleared his throat and pulled the parchment towards him.
"Cindero," he flicked his wand over to the candles concurrently as he began to speak.
"I am not a follower; I do not follow your commands.
I am a leader, I command you to follow me, the chosen one.
In my footsteps, upon the sand, I will take revenge.
To escape my wrath, you must repent what you've done.
Fight like a true man, take you have earned.
And leave the rest behind.
If you believe in me, you will succeed.
If not, just wait and see," he said quietly. He felt the room chill, an icy wind blowing his hair around. Thunder clapped outside and rain began to pelt down. He repeated the curse, louder, as the rain pounded against the windows and the glass rattled. The wind increased as he repeated it for the last time. The minute the last line left his mouth, a lightning bolt jagged across the dark purple sky, lighting up the castle.
With one last clap of thunder, the room lit up and a bright light, in a straight line, appeared through a tiny crack in the wall. It gradually expanded until it lay at his feet, two metres long. His heartbeat quickened and he held his breath as a transparent figure floated down steadily, lying at his feet. After a moment, the light faded away and Draco stared at the unconscious figure that lay before him.
As he recognised the skinny man lying there, he recoiled in horror and his heart stopped. He tried to yell out the words that were forcing their way out, but they came out in an astonished whisper.
"Oh, shit!"