Dark Legacy

Chapter 5

     Draco Jr. did not sleep well at all.

     He woke up at dawn break, and, after a moment of contemplation, decided to take a walk outside the grounds of Hogwarts while the rest of the school was still in a deep slumber.

     The morning air was very cold, but breathtakingly fresh. He walked towards the lake and stood on its shores, feeling the autumn breeze gently stroking his face.

     I'm back in England. It had been a long time since I've spent autumn in England, he thought.

     Draco realized he missed England. And his grandfather. Suddenly, he had the overwhelming desire to apparate back to Malfoy Manor.

      "You'll catch a cold if you're not careful" said a voice.

     Draco Jr. turned around and came face to face with a dark-haired man.

     Draco Jr. studied the stranger before him. He was about mid-thirty with a handsome face and hair that fell all over his forehead. He had on a frayed robe and was clutching a rather worn-out wooden bucket in one hand. Draco Jr. observed he walked with a slight limp.

      "Forgive me for intruding, I passed by and was curious to see a student up so early in the morning."

      "Who are you?" Draco asked in a reserved voice. He had been well-trained by Lucius Malfoy.

      "I'm one of the Hogwarts staff here," the older wizard smiled kindly at him. "I was tending to the owls in the Owlery when I saw you. It's not very common to see a student up so early" he repeated, his eyes looking very keenly at Draco Jr.

      "Are you the gamekeeper here?" Draco Jr. asked in a condescending tone. Privately, he was slightly irritated that his reverie was broken so abruptly by this man.

      "No, but I decided to help Hagrid out this morning. He's the gamekeeper, and also the Care of Magical Creatures Professor here at Hogwarts" the older wizard explained, still staring at him in a way that Draco Jr. felt was very similar to the way the other teachers stared at him the yesterday at the Sorting Ceremony.

      "Indeed." Draco Jr. replied in a lukewarm voice. Nevertheless, it was in Draco's nature to be careful with people around him.

      "Well, I have to go. See you around. Breakfast will start in half an hour's time. Do take care not to stay out for too long for autumn winds here can be very chilly."

      "Thank you." Draco Jr. nodded.

     The man turned away and Draco Jr. saw he was making his way back to the castle. He stared after the man. I'm one of the Hogwarts staff, the man said. Draco Jr. wondered if he could be one of the teachers, but he was sure he did not see him at the Sorting Ceremony yesterday.

     Draco Jr. was to know the answer a while later. For after breakfast, Professor Dumbledore stood up at the front of the Great Hall and boomed "Students! I would like to make an announcement. Due to the Triwizard Tournament, it became necessary to have a new member of staff at Hogwarts that will head the organizing committee that will oversee the Tournament. In fact he has been working tirelessly in the background on behalf of Hogwarts with Britain's Ministry of Magical Cooperation over the past few years to have this Tournament reinstated."

     Everyone turned to see a handsome dark-haired wizard in his mid-thirties enter the Great Hall. He looked around and saw Draco Jr. looking at his direction. His emerald eyes twinkled and he nodded at Draco Jr., before turning away and walking towards Dumbledore.

      "Everyone, please welcome Professor Harry Potter."

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