Disclaimer: Much as I'd like to, I don't own Draco Malfoy, or any part of the magical world that J.K. Rowling has all the copyrights to ... please don't sue me. There are some parts of this story that are quotes from the book - it can't be helped - events are the same as in the book, but Draco's opinion of these events may vary from Harry's.
Author's Notes: I needed to do some re-writing, after reading OotP. I have made some minor changes to this chapter, mostly spelling and grammar. A few tiny details of the Ministry interior design needed changing here, too.
Buffy-fans will recognise who the Auror in this chapter is based on, right down to the first name although I made up the last name. And the guy who appears to tell the Auror about the emergency is right out of Now and Again. But Jeremy was my own invention ... and similar to Peter, in my mind's eye.
Chapter 1 - Meet the Dementors
It was fairly early in the holidays - I had carefully avoided Father since the first day, when I had been severely punished for letting Hermione (Mudblood) Granger get better grades than me - we may not have taken any exams at the end of the year, but we were graded on coursework, which usually makes thirty percent of the total grade. I had done a lot better than the previous year, especially in Transfiguration, but it hadn't been good enough because it was still only second-best.
Breakfast passed in the now-familiar tense silence that it had become when Father was present for it. However, as I started to leave, he stopped me, "Draco."
"Yes, Father?" I asked, pausing and turning to face him.
"You remember I told you that when you were old enough I would take you to the Ministry, with me." he said, in a dispassionate voice that belied the last couple of weeks of tension and aggression between us.
I nodded, trying not to show too much of my enthusiasm - I had been waiting for this for several years. "Yes, Father."
Father simply smiled and gestured towards the door, indicating that that would be where we were going today. I also smiled, and followed him to the fireplace, where we took the Floo network to the main Ministry building.
On arriving there, I dusted my robes - trying to look dignified and use Floo Powder at the same time is NOT easy. Father glared at me, but said nothing. How he managed to look spotless and unruffled after passing through a dozen Floo grates is anyone's guess.
We were almost immediately greeted by a lower-level Ministry worker who had a rodent-y look about him - I would say weasel-ish look, but that sounds too much like the Weasleys, and that is so not what I mean. "Welcome, Mr Malfoy ... and this must be your son, Draco?"
I gave him my best condescending smirk, by way of both greeting and confirmation of his statement.
"Yes, Jeremy." Father sneered, "I sincerely hope you will show my son the same respect you show me."
"Of course, Mr Malfoy." Jeremy replied, "What department of the Ministry would young Draco be interested in?" he asked, obviously directing the question to my father.
"I love the way you talk about me like I'm not here." I noted sarcastically.
Father gave me a sharp look that said I was being rude, but didn't comment on said rudeness. "Yes, Jeremy - do direct your question to Draco, himself." he said, smirking at the man's discomfort.
"Yes, Mr Malfoy." Jeremy said, in a grovelling tone. Then, turning to face me directly, he asked, "What department of the Ministry do you see yourself possibly working in, after you graduate?"
I really wanted to be an Unspeakable, but knew there was no point in trying to get to see how the Department of Mysteries operated, so I went for the next-best thing, "Magical Law Enforcement - I would kind of like to be an Auror." I said, smirking at both Jeremy's surprise and Father's almost-imperceptible shock.
Jeremy stammered for a while, before nodding and saying, "Yes, well. I will see if I can arrange that, then." and he departed to find someone to look after me for the day. I assumed Father had arranged this in advance - sort of like a work-experience thing, where I get to see how the Ministry works and probably get landed with a load of donkeywork, while I'm here.
Father gave me a searching look, "Why Aurors?" he asked, quietly - his voice betraying the shock his face refused to show.
"Wouldn't it be a good thing to have someone on the inside, there?" I asked.
I knew I'd said the right thing, as I saw relief, and very briefly pride, flash across his face. "Excellent reasoning, Draco."
After a few minutes, Jeremy returned, with a woman following him. She had tan-coloured skin, brown eyes and a long dark hair tied back in a ponytail. She was the sort who inspired respect by simply being in the room - her whole attitude gave off an air of power and authority and the clicking noise her heels made as she walked sounded almost ominous.
She waved her hand dismissively, at Jeremy, who immediately scurried off to be elsewhere. "Good morning, Lucius." she said, with a distinctive accent - I couldn't place it.
Father nodded, smiling slightly, "Good morning, Kendra." he said, in a much warmer tone than he usually used.
"Jeremy says that Draco wants to be an Auror when he grows up?" she asked.
Father smiled and nodded, "That appears to be the case."
"Is it all right with you if I take him for the day, then?" Kendra asked.
"Certainly. I trust you won't let him get involved with anything dangerous." Father said.
"We never let anyone out in the field on their first day, Lucius - I'm sure you know that." Kendra said, smiling. She then turned to speak to me directly, "Draco - would you like to come with me?" she asked, the words seemed condescending, to my mind, like she was speaking to a small child, but the tone somehow made it obvious that that was not her opinion of me. I nodded, and she immediately turned and started to walk away, calling over her shoulder, "See you later, Lucius." I followed, having to walk faster than usual to keep up with her.
* * *
The whole morning was spent in a stuffy office, on paperwork. I was bored out of my mind, and all Kendra had let me do was fetch and carry books and files for her.
"Have I said how interesting this isn't?" I asked her, as I dropped another case-file on her desk.
"Once or twice ... a minute." she answered, as she took the file and started leafing through it.
"I mean, if you were trying to work out some sort of case, or something, it'd be interesting, but this is just plain dull." I said, leaning on the desk and staring blankly at the file she was working on.
"I know what you mean, Draco." she said, smiling slightly, "Look at the bright side - it'll be lunch-break soon."
"Can't be soon enough." I muttered.
Just at that moment the door opened, "Kendra." a man said urgently. I turned to see who it was - he was fairly young-looking, with dark-brown hair, dark blue eyes, and the build of someone who works out, but still a light-weight, "We've got a problem."
"What is it, Newman?" Kendra snapped.
"Azkaban. Crouch wants you to go to talk to them about some supposed break-out." Newman answered, looking very disturbed by the message he was passing on. So he damned well should be, too - Azkaban is supposed to be impenetrable. I was shocked.
"That's ridiculous." Kendra said acidly, "No one can escape from Azkaban."
"Someone seems to have." Newman replied.
Kendra rolled her eyes, "I'll check it out ... but what about the kid?" she asked.
"I want to go with you." I replied, knowing I was the 'kid' she was referring to.
She glared at me, "I don't think that's a good idea."
"I'm here to find out what an Auror's job entails ... what better way than NOT-paperwork?" I asked, returning her glare.
"I don't want to be responsible for traumatising Lucius Malfoy's son." Kendra replied icily.
"I don't traumatise easily."
She raised one eyebrow, and smirked, "If Lucius tries to kill me for this, I'm taking you with me then, too."
I shrugged, smirking, and followed her out to the Apparation point. "Why are we here?" I asked, a little confused.
"There are two ways to get to the island - by boat, which is not very reliable and takes too long - or by Apparation to a set point on the island, outside the security boundaries. I am going to Apparate." Kendra explained.
"But I can't -" I started.
"I am fully qualified to Apparate with a passenger ... all top-level Aurors are." she said, interrupting me, "One of the perks you can look forward to, if you decide you want to be an Auror."
I stared at her for a moment, apprehensively - Apparating with someone else was very dangerous - there was a high risk of cross-splinching (body-parts ending up on the wrong person) ... you had to be very well trained and pass loads of extra tests to be licensed to take someone with you when Apparating - it was such a big deal, and so difficult, that very few ever bothered with it. Nervously, I took her offered hand. I felt a wave of nausea hit me, but it disappeared almost immediately. When I looked around me, my surroundings had changed. I hadn't realised Apparating was that simple, but I guessed that it must take a lot of concentration and magical energy from whoever is actually doing the Apparating.
I almost instinctively gripped her hand tighter, as I saw where I was. We had appeared on a small plateau on a desolate island. The sky was overcast, with thick clouds that blocked out any sunlight there might have been. Icy waves from a steel-grey sea crashed incessantly on jagged rocks. And a damp stone pathway led down some steps, towards a vast, imposing fortress. Azkaban. I had only ever heard of it before, but I knew what the place was and what dark creatures guarded it.
Kendra seemed almost frightened, herself, but hid it well. She also tightened her grip on my hand and led me along the decrepit path towards the prison building. I had thought it would be interesting to see the place - I had thought I was being brave by saying I wanted to see it - I had been bloody stupid. Too late to turn back, now.
We climbed another set of steps, up to the barred entrance of the fortress, where I saw - for the first time in my life - a Dementor. It was towering over us, taller than any human, and completely concealed by a dark cloak - there were dozens of reasons why I didn't want to see what was under that cloak (two of them involve the possibility of losing various things - lunch included - through my mouth). It blocked our way, but didn't say anything - in a way, this silence was more frightening than if it had spoken - I wasn't even sure if they could speak.
Kendra spoke, instead, "I am Kendra Kulami, top-ranking Auror at the Department for Magical Law Enforcement - I have been asked to come here, to speak with the Warden of the prison." she said, clearly and succinctly, as if she was deliberately articulating her speech.
The Dementor then turned to look at me, and I backed away a step, still holding tightly to Kendra's hand. I was terrified of this thing, even though I was certain it would not hurt me as long as Kendra protected me. By just directing its attention towards me, it gave me the dark feeling I had only ever felt before after Father had used the Cruciatus curse on me - a feeling of total failure and resentment. I just stopped myself from trembling.
"The boy is Draco Malfoy, son of the highly respected Ministry official, Lucius Malfoy. He is here with me, and will be leaving with me, as well." Kendra noted, in the same clear tone. I winced slightly at how easily she had said that - practiced, as if she dealt with this place often - with the same sort of practice with which I accept and might speak of the Cruciatus curse, she accepts and speaks of the nature of this prison. I bit my lip and forced myself to maintain an outward appearance of indifference that I had been painfully trained to show - meanwhile, I was going through some very dark thoughts, mostly about the mistakes I had made in my life, and a wondering of why I had so often been punished for doing the right thing - it made me feel totally awful.
The Dementor accepted her explanation, although it continued to regard me with a little too much interest for my liking. It stepped back, to allow us to pass. I stayed close to Kendra and didn't let go of her hand as she led me inside the building. The darkest, dankest dungeons in either Malfoy Manor or Hogwarts castle would look like a seven star holiday resort, compared to this place. More Dementors glided silently past us, not giving us a second glance. As we went deeper into the building, corridors led off to both sides and the sounds of agonised screaming could be heard from these corridors. My grip on her hand tightened, again, and she looked down at me.
"The cries of the prisoners." she said softly - the atmosphere here seemed to make speaking above a whisper just not an option. "That is the effect of the Dementors, to stay too long in their presence. Those criminals are trapped in their own personal hell, created inside their own minds, by their own guilt." I shivered nervously, "Enough to put you off the idea of breaking the law, isn't it?" she asked, in what was supposed to be a joking tone ... the humour was lost on this place. I smiled weakly and nodded - I was beginning to understand, now - I could feel the worst memories of my life forcing themselves to the front of my mind already - I could see how prolonged exposure to this could easily drive me insane. As long as I knew I would leave here soon, and it would go away when I left this literally damned place, I could handle it. This quite literally was hell, and I was eternally grateful that I was just visiting.
Finally, when we must have reached the far side of the building, we came to a door directly in front of us. Kendra knocked sharply on this door, and a cold voice that sounded like death-cooled-down - almost as chilling as the Dark Lord's voice - answered, "Enter."
Kendra opened the door and led me into a relatively well-furnished office. It was still dank and morbid - Snape would have been creeped out by this office - but it was much better, by far, than the rest of what I had seen here. "Hello, again, Phoebus." Kendra said cordially, to the figure standing before us. His back was turned to us, but I saw long, lank, black hair, over an almost-black hooded cloak, which currently had the hood, lowered. He turned round, and it was all I could do not to scream. His face was deathly pale - unnaturally so - and his skin seemed thin, almost translucent. His eyes were black - completely black. He scared me. The thought briefly flashed across my mind that he was actually a Dementor, but I dismissed that concept immediately - Dementors only showed their faces to perform the Kiss.
"Ah, Kendra. Glad you could make it." Phoebus said, in that same tone that reminded me of rot and death.
"I was told there was a breakout." Kendra said, getting straight to the point - it seemed she was not keen on staying any longer than necessary, either.
"Indeed there was." Phoebus said calmly, "From the top-security wing. Sirius Black. When his guard brought him food -"
"You call that stuff food?" Kendra muttered quietly, but Phoebus either didn't hear her or ignored her comment.
"- an insubstantial presence passed through the doorway - too weak to detect accurately - and the cell appeared empty. Other guards report a similar presence passing through the corridors, but it escaped through the bars."
"Define 'insubstantial presence'." Kendra said, also sounding very calm.
"Less than human." Phoebus answered.
"As in his mind had degraded that far, and he still managed to escape?" Kendra asked.
"It would be the most likely conclusion." Phoebus said. Kendra nodded, and was just about to turn to leave, when Phoebus spoke again, "And who is the boy?"
Kendra sighed, showing she had hoped not to draw this meeting out any more. Meanwhile, I answered the 'man's' question myself, "My name is Draco Malfoy."
"That is your name ... but who are you?" he repeated.
I gave him a confused look, while Kendra asked, "Do you have to do this now, Phoebus?"
"Yes." Phoebus answered, without hesitation, "Let me look at you, boy." he added, beckoning for me to step forward. I glanced nervously at Kendra, who nodded and let go of my hand. That only made me more nervous, but still, I stepped forward, careful to hold my posture in a way that implies I'm not scared, even though I really was. Phoebus placed one finger under my chin and tilted my head up so that he could look me in the eyes. Those black eyes really gave me the creeps. "The eyes are the windows to the soul, you know, boy?" he said, staring at me, "Mine are black, showing what I am, but you need to look past simple colour to tell who you are looking at." I tried to see what he meant, but too-late I realised he was referring to the fact that he was looking at me, not the other way around, "You have great potential, Draco." he said, letting me go, and smiling - it looked eerie, but it was a genuine smile.
I stepped back, and Kendra immediately took my hand again. "I don't need my hand held." I whispered to her.
"I do." she replied quietly. That surprised me, but I didn't bother myself with it. To be honest, I felt safer with her hand in mine. Then, in her normal tone, she spoke, "Is that all, Phoebus?"
"I believe so. Although, some of the guards wish to assist in the search, if that is permissible?" Phoebus replied.
Kendra frowned, obviously not liking the idea. I didn't much like the concept of Dementors running around the countryside, either, to tell the truth. "We'll see. I will ask the Minister, and Head of Department for Magical Law Enforcement." she said, in a compromising tone. Phoebus seemed to accept this, even though it was the sort of 'we'll see' that usually means 'no'. "We'll be going now, then?" she asked, as in to imply that if he had anything else to say he'd better hurry up with it.
Phoebus sighed, "It is such a shame. It does get lonely, with only the Dementors and the Demented for company, Kendra. I always look forward to visits from the Ministry."
"I am sorry to say the feeling is anything but mutual. This place scares the hell out of any human who comes near it." Kendra said bluntly.
Phoebus smiled, "Well, don't waste any time in regaining your sense of security." he said snidely.
"It's not you I'm afraid of. It's them." she said, letting go of my hand only long enough to step forward and kiss him on the cheek.
He obviously flinched at the kind action, and glared at her, "You can go now, Kendra." he growled.
She smiled acidly at him, took my hand and led me out of the office.
* * *
Only when we had left the building itself, did I speak, "He's not all human is he?"
"A half-breed." Kendra replied, obviously not intending to tell me any more on that subject.
I trailed behind her a short distance, as we walked towards the plateaux. I was thinking - wondering what the hell Phoebus had meant by 'great potential'. I hate when people think they know something about me that I don't - it's very annoying. Suddenly, I thought I saw something move, out of the corner of my eye. I turned to face that direction, trying to identify the movement I had thought I'd seen. The barren landscape was totally motionless - there wasn't even the creepy, eerie breeze you'd expect on an island like this - the air was totally still. I frowned - I was sure something had moved. I shook my head, and ran to catch up with Kendra.
"What took you so long?" she asked, as I reached the plateaux at the same moment she did.
"I thought I saw something move, over there." I pointed in the relevant direction.
She looked, too. "Nothing there." she said, after a minute.
"Probably just my paranoid imagination." I muttered, taking her hand, and she Apparated us back to the Ministry building.
As I looked around the familiar and noticeably warmer atrium of the Ministry building, I suddenly felt a lot safer. I watched as Kendra reached into a pocket of her robes and produced a chocolate bar, handing it to me. I gave her a quizzical look, but she simply ignored it, "I will have to palm you off on your father, now, Draco." she said, as she led me into the nearest lift, and pressed the button for the first floor, where I knew Father worked.
"Why?" I asked, staring at a paper-airoplane-memo hovering above me as if I could read it (which I couldn't, by the way).
"Because I, and all the rest of my department, have to go out to search for and hopefully apprehend the escapee. It will be dangerous." Kendra said calmly.
"You notice, I'm not traumatised." I noted, subconsciously starting to unwrap the chocolate she had given me - sugar seemed like a good idea right about now, for some reason - I don't usually eat sweets before meals, and it was rapidly approaching lunch-time.
"Yes - I am aware of that - very impressive, Draco." she said, smirking.
"So who is this Sirius Black guy, anyway?" I asked, through a mouthful of the chocolate.
"He murdered thirteen people with a single curse." she said, with a vicious tone that told me she'd just love the man to resist arrest so she could have an excuse to kill him.
"Nice." I mumbled, still managing a sarcastic tone.
She stopped at one of the many doors in the corridor, and rapped on it. "Come." Father's voice said sternly.
Kendra opened the door and smiled at my father, who glared at her.
"I'm afraid I have to return your son to you, Lucius." she said.
"What has he done?" Father asked, now turning his glare on me. I quickly hid the chocolate wrapper behind my back.
"Nothing wrong - he has been most helpful, actually." Kendra said, "I have simply had a dangerous assignment thrown at me, out of the blue, and I need to leave Draco in a safe place. Your office works." I couldn't help noticing a slight hint of a vindictive smirk on her face - she must have realised that Father really would not want me hanging around him at work.
Father sighed, "Fine, fine." Kendra smiled and nodded in a way that was supposed to pretend to be a bow, before leaving. "Draco, make yourself useful, and take these -" he pointed to a small pile of files, "- to Arthur Weasley's office - I have no intention of going anywhere near the smug git at the moment." he added under his breath, "Self-satisfied bastard feels he has to rub my nose in his solitary lucky break."
I spent the rest of the day helping my father with paperwork even more boring than that which Kendra had had me helping with.
* * *
End of chapter 1
Author's Notes: I needed to do some re-writing, after reading OotP. I have made some minor changes to this chapter, mostly spelling and grammar. A few tiny details of the Ministry interior design needed changing here, too.
Buffy-fans will recognise who the Auror in this chapter is based on, right down to the first name although I made up the last name. And the guy who appears to tell the Auror about the emergency is right out of Now and Again. But Jeremy was my own invention ... and similar to Peter, in my mind's eye.
Chapter 1 - Meet the Dementors
It was fairly early in the holidays - I had carefully avoided Father since the first day, when I had been severely punished for letting Hermione (Mudblood) Granger get better grades than me - we may not have taken any exams at the end of the year, but we were graded on coursework, which usually makes thirty percent of the total grade. I had done a lot better than the previous year, especially in Transfiguration, but it hadn't been good enough because it was still only second-best.
Breakfast passed in the now-familiar tense silence that it had become when Father was present for it. However, as I started to leave, he stopped me, "Draco."
"Yes, Father?" I asked, pausing and turning to face him.
"You remember I told you that when you were old enough I would take you to the Ministry, with me." he said, in a dispassionate voice that belied the last couple of weeks of tension and aggression between us.
I nodded, trying not to show too much of my enthusiasm - I had been waiting for this for several years. "Yes, Father."
Father simply smiled and gestured towards the door, indicating that that would be where we were going today. I also smiled, and followed him to the fireplace, where we took the Floo network to the main Ministry building.
On arriving there, I dusted my robes - trying to look dignified and use Floo Powder at the same time is NOT easy. Father glared at me, but said nothing. How he managed to look spotless and unruffled after passing through a dozen Floo grates is anyone's guess.
We were almost immediately greeted by a lower-level Ministry worker who had a rodent-y look about him - I would say weasel-ish look, but that sounds too much like the Weasleys, and that is so not what I mean. "Welcome, Mr Malfoy ... and this must be your son, Draco?"
I gave him my best condescending smirk, by way of both greeting and confirmation of his statement.
"Yes, Jeremy." Father sneered, "I sincerely hope you will show my son the same respect you show me."
"Of course, Mr Malfoy." Jeremy replied, "What department of the Ministry would young Draco be interested in?" he asked, obviously directing the question to my father.
"I love the way you talk about me like I'm not here." I noted sarcastically.
Father gave me a sharp look that said I was being rude, but didn't comment on said rudeness. "Yes, Jeremy - do direct your question to Draco, himself." he said, smirking at the man's discomfort.
"Yes, Mr Malfoy." Jeremy said, in a grovelling tone. Then, turning to face me directly, he asked, "What department of the Ministry do you see yourself possibly working in, after you graduate?"
I really wanted to be an Unspeakable, but knew there was no point in trying to get to see how the Department of Mysteries operated, so I went for the next-best thing, "Magical Law Enforcement - I would kind of like to be an Auror." I said, smirking at both Jeremy's surprise and Father's almost-imperceptible shock.
Jeremy stammered for a while, before nodding and saying, "Yes, well. I will see if I can arrange that, then." and he departed to find someone to look after me for the day. I assumed Father had arranged this in advance - sort of like a work-experience thing, where I get to see how the Ministry works and probably get landed with a load of donkeywork, while I'm here.
Father gave me a searching look, "Why Aurors?" he asked, quietly - his voice betraying the shock his face refused to show.
"Wouldn't it be a good thing to have someone on the inside, there?" I asked.
I knew I'd said the right thing, as I saw relief, and very briefly pride, flash across his face. "Excellent reasoning, Draco."
After a few minutes, Jeremy returned, with a woman following him. She had tan-coloured skin, brown eyes and a long dark hair tied back in a ponytail. She was the sort who inspired respect by simply being in the room - her whole attitude gave off an air of power and authority and the clicking noise her heels made as she walked sounded almost ominous.
She waved her hand dismissively, at Jeremy, who immediately scurried off to be elsewhere. "Good morning, Lucius." she said, with a distinctive accent - I couldn't place it.
Father nodded, smiling slightly, "Good morning, Kendra." he said, in a much warmer tone than he usually used.
"Jeremy says that Draco wants to be an Auror when he grows up?" she asked.
Father smiled and nodded, "That appears to be the case."
"Is it all right with you if I take him for the day, then?" Kendra asked.
"Certainly. I trust you won't let him get involved with anything dangerous." Father said.
"We never let anyone out in the field on their first day, Lucius - I'm sure you know that." Kendra said, smiling. She then turned to speak to me directly, "Draco - would you like to come with me?" she asked, the words seemed condescending, to my mind, like she was speaking to a small child, but the tone somehow made it obvious that that was not her opinion of me. I nodded, and she immediately turned and started to walk away, calling over her shoulder, "See you later, Lucius." I followed, having to walk faster than usual to keep up with her.
* * *
The whole morning was spent in a stuffy office, on paperwork. I was bored out of my mind, and all Kendra had let me do was fetch and carry books and files for her.
"Have I said how interesting this isn't?" I asked her, as I dropped another case-file on her desk.
"Once or twice ... a minute." she answered, as she took the file and started leafing through it.
"I mean, if you were trying to work out some sort of case, or something, it'd be interesting, but this is just plain dull." I said, leaning on the desk and staring blankly at the file she was working on.
"I know what you mean, Draco." she said, smiling slightly, "Look at the bright side - it'll be lunch-break soon."
"Can't be soon enough." I muttered.
Just at that moment the door opened, "Kendra." a man said urgently. I turned to see who it was - he was fairly young-looking, with dark-brown hair, dark blue eyes, and the build of someone who works out, but still a light-weight, "We've got a problem."
"What is it, Newman?" Kendra snapped.
"Azkaban. Crouch wants you to go to talk to them about some supposed break-out." Newman answered, looking very disturbed by the message he was passing on. So he damned well should be, too - Azkaban is supposed to be impenetrable. I was shocked.
"That's ridiculous." Kendra said acidly, "No one can escape from Azkaban."
"Someone seems to have." Newman replied.
Kendra rolled her eyes, "I'll check it out ... but what about the kid?" she asked.
"I want to go with you." I replied, knowing I was the 'kid' she was referring to.
She glared at me, "I don't think that's a good idea."
"I'm here to find out what an Auror's job entails ... what better way than NOT-paperwork?" I asked, returning her glare.
"I don't want to be responsible for traumatising Lucius Malfoy's son." Kendra replied icily.
"I don't traumatise easily."
She raised one eyebrow, and smirked, "If Lucius tries to kill me for this, I'm taking you with me then, too."
I shrugged, smirking, and followed her out to the Apparation point. "Why are we here?" I asked, a little confused.
"There are two ways to get to the island - by boat, which is not very reliable and takes too long - or by Apparation to a set point on the island, outside the security boundaries. I am going to Apparate." Kendra explained.
"But I can't -" I started.
"I am fully qualified to Apparate with a passenger ... all top-level Aurors are." she said, interrupting me, "One of the perks you can look forward to, if you decide you want to be an Auror."
I stared at her for a moment, apprehensively - Apparating with someone else was very dangerous - there was a high risk of cross-splinching (body-parts ending up on the wrong person) ... you had to be very well trained and pass loads of extra tests to be licensed to take someone with you when Apparating - it was such a big deal, and so difficult, that very few ever bothered with it. Nervously, I took her offered hand. I felt a wave of nausea hit me, but it disappeared almost immediately. When I looked around me, my surroundings had changed. I hadn't realised Apparating was that simple, but I guessed that it must take a lot of concentration and magical energy from whoever is actually doing the Apparating.
I almost instinctively gripped her hand tighter, as I saw where I was. We had appeared on a small plateau on a desolate island. The sky was overcast, with thick clouds that blocked out any sunlight there might have been. Icy waves from a steel-grey sea crashed incessantly on jagged rocks. And a damp stone pathway led down some steps, towards a vast, imposing fortress. Azkaban. I had only ever heard of it before, but I knew what the place was and what dark creatures guarded it.
Kendra seemed almost frightened, herself, but hid it well. She also tightened her grip on my hand and led me along the decrepit path towards the prison building. I had thought it would be interesting to see the place - I had thought I was being brave by saying I wanted to see it - I had been bloody stupid. Too late to turn back, now.
We climbed another set of steps, up to the barred entrance of the fortress, where I saw - for the first time in my life - a Dementor. It was towering over us, taller than any human, and completely concealed by a dark cloak - there were dozens of reasons why I didn't want to see what was under that cloak (two of them involve the possibility of losing various things - lunch included - through my mouth). It blocked our way, but didn't say anything - in a way, this silence was more frightening than if it had spoken - I wasn't even sure if they could speak.
Kendra spoke, instead, "I am Kendra Kulami, top-ranking Auror at the Department for Magical Law Enforcement - I have been asked to come here, to speak with the Warden of the prison." she said, clearly and succinctly, as if she was deliberately articulating her speech.
The Dementor then turned to look at me, and I backed away a step, still holding tightly to Kendra's hand. I was terrified of this thing, even though I was certain it would not hurt me as long as Kendra protected me. By just directing its attention towards me, it gave me the dark feeling I had only ever felt before after Father had used the Cruciatus curse on me - a feeling of total failure and resentment. I just stopped myself from trembling.
"The boy is Draco Malfoy, son of the highly respected Ministry official, Lucius Malfoy. He is here with me, and will be leaving with me, as well." Kendra noted, in the same clear tone. I winced slightly at how easily she had said that - practiced, as if she dealt with this place often - with the same sort of practice with which I accept and might speak of the Cruciatus curse, she accepts and speaks of the nature of this prison. I bit my lip and forced myself to maintain an outward appearance of indifference that I had been painfully trained to show - meanwhile, I was going through some very dark thoughts, mostly about the mistakes I had made in my life, and a wondering of why I had so often been punished for doing the right thing - it made me feel totally awful.
The Dementor accepted her explanation, although it continued to regard me with a little too much interest for my liking. It stepped back, to allow us to pass. I stayed close to Kendra and didn't let go of her hand as she led me inside the building. The darkest, dankest dungeons in either Malfoy Manor or Hogwarts castle would look like a seven star holiday resort, compared to this place. More Dementors glided silently past us, not giving us a second glance. As we went deeper into the building, corridors led off to both sides and the sounds of agonised screaming could be heard from these corridors. My grip on her hand tightened, again, and she looked down at me.
"The cries of the prisoners." she said softly - the atmosphere here seemed to make speaking above a whisper just not an option. "That is the effect of the Dementors, to stay too long in their presence. Those criminals are trapped in their own personal hell, created inside their own minds, by their own guilt." I shivered nervously, "Enough to put you off the idea of breaking the law, isn't it?" she asked, in what was supposed to be a joking tone ... the humour was lost on this place. I smiled weakly and nodded - I was beginning to understand, now - I could feel the worst memories of my life forcing themselves to the front of my mind already - I could see how prolonged exposure to this could easily drive me insane. As long as I knew I would leave here soon, and it would go away when I left this literally damned place, I could handle it. This quite literally was hell, and I was eternally grateful that I was just visiting.
Finally, when we must have reached the far side of the building, we came to a door directly in front of us. Kendra knocked sharply on this door, and a cold voice that sounded like death-cooled-down - almost as chilling as the Dark Lord's voice - answered, "Enter."
Kendra opened the door and led me into a relatively well-furnished office. It was still dank and morbid - Snape would have been creeped out by this office - but it was much better, by far, than the rest of what I had seen here. "Hello, again, Phoebus." Kendra said cordially, to the figure standing before us. His back was turned to us, but I saw long, lank, black hair, over an almost-black hooded cloak, which currently had the hood, lowered. He turned round, and it was all I could do not to scream. His face was deathly pale - unnaturally so - and his skin seemed thin, almost translucent. His eyes were black - completely black. He scared me. The thought briefly flashed across my mind that he was actually a Dementor, but I dismissed that concept immediately - Dementors only showed their faces to perform the Kiss.
"Ah, Kendra. Glad you could make it." Phoebus said, in that same tone that reminded me of rot and death.
"I was told there was a breakout." Kendra said, getting straight to the point - it seemed she was not keen on staying any longer than necessary, either.
"Indeed there was." Phoebus said calmly, "From the top-security wing. Sirius Black. When his guard brought him food -"
"You call that stuff food?" Kendra muttered quietly, but Phoebus either didn't hear her or ignored her comment.
"- an insubstantial presence passed through the doorway - too weak to detect accurately - and the cell appeared empty. Other guards report a similar presence passing through the corridors, but it escaped through the bars."
"Define 'insubstantial presence'." Kendra said, also sounding very calm.
"Less than human." Phoebus answered.
"As in his mind had degraded that far, and he still managed to escape?" Kendra asked.
"It would be the most likely conclusion." Phoebus said. Kendra nodded, and was just about to turn to leave, when Phoebus spoke again, "And who is the boy?"
Kendra sighed, showing she had hoped not to draw this meeting out any more. Meanwhile, I answered the 'man's' question myself, "My name is Draco Malfoy."
"That is your name ... but who are you?" he repeated.
I gave him a confused look, while Kendra asked, "Do you have to do this now, Phoebus?"
"Yes." Phoebus answered, without hesitation, "Let me look at you, boy." he added, beckoning for me to step forward. I glanced nervously at Kendra, who nodded and let go of my hand. That only made me more nervous, but still, I stepped forward, careful to hold my posture in a way that implies I'm not scared, even though I really was. Phoebus placed one finger under my chin and tilted my head up so that he could look me in the eyes. Those black eyes really gave me the creeps. "The eyes are the windows to the soul, you know, boy?" he said, staring at me, "Mine are black, showing what I am, but you need to look past simple colour to tell who you are looking at." I tried to see what he meant, but too-late I realised he was referring to the fact that he was looking at me, not the other way around, "You have great potential, Draco." he said, letting me go, and smiling - it looked eerie, but it was a genuine smile.
I stepped back, and Kendra immediately took my hand again. "I don't need my hand held." I whispered to her.
"I do." she replied quietly. That surprised me, but I didn't bother myself with it. To be honest, I felt safer with her hand in mine. Then, in her normal tone, she spoke, "Is that all, Phoebus?"
"I believe so. Although, some of the guards wish to assist in the search, if that is permissible?" Phoebus replied.
Kendra frowned, obviously not liking the idea. I didn't much like the concept of Dementors running around the countryside, either, to tell the truth. "We'll see. I will ask the Minister, and Head of Department for Magical Law Enforcement." she said, in a compromising tone. Phoebus seemed to accept this, even though it was the sort of 'we'll see' that usually means 'no'. "We'll be going now, then?" she asked, as in to imply that if he had anything else to say he'd better hurry up with it.
Phoebus sighed, "It is such a shame. It does get lonely, with only the Dementors and the Demented for company, Kendra. I always look forward to visits from the Ministry."
"I am sorry to say the feeling is anything but mutual. This place scares the hell out of any human who comes near it." Kendra said bluntly.
Phoebus smiled, "Well, don't waste any time in regaining your sense of security." he said snidely.
"It's not you I'm afraid of. It's them." she said, letting go of my hand only long enough to step forward and kiss him on the cheek.
He obviously flinched at the kind action, and glared at her, "You can go now, Kendra." he growled.
She smiled acidly at him, took my hand and led me out of the office.
* * *
Only when we had left the building itself, did I speak, "He's not all human is he?"
"A half-breed." Kendra replied, obviously not intending to tell me any more on that subject.
I trailed behind her a short distance, as we walked towards the plateaux. I was thinking - wondering what the hell Phoebus had meant by 'great potential'. I hate when people think they know something about me that I don't - it's very annoying. Suddenly, I thought I saw something move, out of the corner of my eye. I turned to face that direction, trying to identify the movement I had thought I'd seen. The barren landscape was totally motionless - there wasn't even the creepy, eerie breeze you'd expect on an island like this - the air was totally still. I frowned - I was sure something had moved. I shook my head, and ran to catch up with Kendra.
"What took you so long?" she asked, as I reached the plateaux at the same moment she did.
"I thought I saw something move, over there." I pointed in the relevant direction.
She looked, too. "Nothing there." she said, after a minute.
"Probably just my paranoid imagination." I muttered, taking her hand, and she Apparated us back to the Ministry building.
As I looked around the familiar and noticeably warmer atrium of the Ministry building, I suddenly felt a lot safer. I watched as Kendra reached into a pocket of her robes and produced a chocolate bar, handing it to me. I gave her a quizzical look, but she simply ignored it, "I will have to palm you off on your father, now, Draco." she said, as she led me into the nearest lift, and pressed the button for the first floor, where I knew Father worked.
"Why?" I asked, staring at a paper-airoplane-memo hovering above me as if I could read it (which I couldn't, by the way).
"Because I, and all the rest of my department, have to go out to search for and hopefully apprehend the escapee. It will be dangerous." Kendra said calmly.
"You notice, I'm not traumatised." I noted, subconsciously starting to unwrap the chocolate she had given me - sugar seemed like a good idea right about now, for some reason - I don't usually eat sweets before meals, and it was rapidly approaching lunch-time.
"Yes - I am aware of that - very impressive, Draco." she said, smirking.
"So who is this Sirius Black guy, anyway?" I asked, through a mouthful of the chocolate.
"He murdered thirteen people with a single curse." she said, with a vicious tone that told me she'd just love the man to resist arrest so she could have an excuse to kill him.
"Nice." I mumbled, still managing a sarcastic tone.
She stopped at one of the many doors in the corridor, and rapped on it. "Come." Father's voice said sternly.
Kendra opened the door and smiled at my father, who glared at her.
"I'm afraid I have to return your son to you, Lucius." she said.
"What has he done?" Father asked, now turning his glare on me. I quickly hid the chocolate wrapper behind my back.
"Nothing wrong - he has been most helpful, actually." Kendra said, "I have simply had a dangerous assignment thrown at me, out of the blue, and I need to leave Draco in a safe place. Your office works." I couldn't help noticing a slight hint of a vindictive smirk on her face - she must have realised that Father really would not want me hanging around him at work.
Father sighed, "Fine, fine." Kendra smiled and nodded in a way that was supposed to pretend to be a bow, before leaving. "Draco, make yourself useful, and take these -" he pointed to a small pile of files, "- to Arthur Weasley's office - I have no intention of going anywhere near the smug git at the moment." he added under his breath, "Self-satisfied bastard feels he has to rub my nose in his solitary lucky break."
I spent the rest of the day helping my father with paperwork even more boring than that which Kendra had had me helping with.
* * *
End of chapter 1