Disclaimer- I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters used. I only
use them for my sick amusement and they belong to the sweet, wonderful,
creative, and gorgeous goddess/queen JK Rowling.
Note- the title is Latin for 'to take away, withdraw'. Even though this has an Egyptian touch the title is in Latin because I say so. Also this prologue is set after seventh year.
Abstulo-
By whispers of an angel
'It's impossible!' Draco Malfoy shouted in his mind as he ran blindly towards the infirmary in Hogwarts. His clothes were torn and months of wear and dirt coated his robes. His face shown worry, shock, and the one thing he thought he would never feel-fear. One week ago, he had just received a message from Severus stating how he felt the war would be like.
~*~
'The place is filthy but it would do,' Draco thought in his mind as he surveyed the lobby of the filthy motel. Besides, the old bat gave him orders to stay there until further notice. He walked towards the pudgy, dingy man who sat behind the desk and asked for a room. The clerk was slightly balding and wore a dull gray shirt that showed part of his stomach. Here Draco shivered at the sight. He approached him and roughly said, "I need a room for the night."
The man was taken aback by Draco's fatigued facial expression and robes but he didn't seem to show it. He looked at Draco critically before coming to a conclusion. "You don't have money, do you?" The clerk checked out Draco one more time. "But I'm willing to give you one if you do me a favor."
The wizard felt his anger rising. One year ago he would have hexed the man's balls off, consequences be damned, but now he felt too exhausted to. "Listen, there's a room reserved for me here, though, for the love of God I don't know why." Draco slammed his palm on the grubby, oak table, before he continued. "It's under D. Now if you don't give me the fucking key right now, I'll massacre you. Trust me, I'll do it."
~*~
He rounded up the stairs and tried to look for his room. "Number 13. Great, give me a room with an unlucky number," Draco muttered when he looked at the number etched on the key. Unconsciously, he began to rub his palm against his robes. "Number 9, number 10, number 11," Draco counted down until he reached number 13. "Finally! How many rooms are in the infected place?
The key was shoved into the hole forcefully, and the doorknob was turned slowly. Inside was not much better than the lobby. The lights were dimmed, and the paint were pealing from the wall. Out of the corner of his eye, Draco could swear he saw a lone rat scurrying off. Now his unconscious rubbing became a full blown one.
He walked inside and closed the door gently behind him. He locked the door securely though and checked it three times before going to the washroom. Before he made it in however, he saw a letter on the dresser. The envelope was addressed to him, and no doubt was from Albus, Minerva, or his godfather. He picked it up and checked for hidden hexes. Finding none, he pulled the letter out.
Draco
I must keep this message short and to the point. I feel that Voldemort is going to win. Two days ago Potter and his team followed a tip that stated where Voldemort could be found. Against the advice of Dumbledore and McGonagall, they left to try and ambush them. Instead they were ambushed themselves. Many died, including Terry Boot, Justin Finch-Fletchley, and Hannah Abbott. Only Tonks made it out, but with severe injuries. We didn't know where Potter was until we found him this morning. Draco... he's in a coma. The bloody idiot's in a coma!
Dumbledore figured that Voldemort kept him alive to taunt us, to make us worry. It's working. Minerva is scared for once and I don't blame her. Damn! We were so close to winning! Now that's gone and we don't know what to do. But Draco, please be careful. We can't lose our second most powerful wizard, now that he's gone.
Severus
~*~
Draco turned sharply when he reached a corner, and opened the door as quickly as he could. Hermione was crying softly in her chair that was besides Harry's bed with Severus standing besides her, muttering soothing words, and rubbing her back gently. Ron stood pale and quiet, even as his tears flowed down his face. Now Draco could feel and understand the full effects of war. So many people died, including Draco's parents. His only fortune was that he himself had not taken the dark mark when everyone else did. Pansy didn't though. She always followed him, and for once he was glad. He would never return her feelings, but he would protect her as best as he could.
"Mr. Malfoy."
Draco turned his head to see his former transfiguration teacher's haggard face. "Hello Minerva," he replied softly. Silence ensued, that was occasionally broken by Hermione's sobs, and Draco found it uncomfortable. He stood there, hand still on the doorknob, with the other grasping harshly his worn robe, and looked at his ex-rival. Potter looked peaceful yet troubled at the same time. He had cuts and bruises that ordained his face. His hair was still unruly as ever, and his breathing was slightly erratic. "It would have been better if he had just died," Draco found himself saying, and before he could take it back, he was pushed to the wall, by an irate Ron.
"Take it back, you git," Ron gritted out. When Draco said nothing, he shoved him again. "Take it back!" he sobbed. Soon he released his held on the other boy, and crumpled to the floor, his hands covering his face. His mutterings of, "It's my fault!" and "Why?" drowned off Hermione's sobbing. Draco could only look on with questions in his mind.
Soon he felt a hand tugging his sleeve and saw Albus beside him. 'When had he come?' Draco thought in his mind. His only answer was that the war was taking its toll on him. Albus let go, and for once Draco had an idea of how old and tired he had become. No longer was the ever-knowing headmaster of Hogwarts. This tired, old man had replaced him.
"The day Harry and his team left, Mr. Weasley here requested to stay behind for the day. He said he was going to look for someone he was missing terribly and Harry let him go. And now... now we are here." Dumbledore looked at the scene one more time before he led Draco away.
~*~
Albus led him to the library. In its prime, the library was grand and spacious, but now it stood bare and dirty. It was too dark for Draco's liking but he didn't say anything. He saw a single, lone table that held a thick book though. Draco began to walk towards it and saw that it was very old indeed. In fact, when he opened it, it held hieroglyphics in it. "An Egyptian spell book," Draco said.
"No," Dumbledore muttered, "An Egyptian summoning book." He paused to look at Draco before he continued. "Before Harry left, I told him about my visit with the god Set. Set had decided to help our cause, but only if we would sacrifice the magical power of our strongest wizard. I would have done it myself, but I'm too old, and he wouldn't accept me. Harry was going to do it, but now he can't."
Draco now understood what he wanted now. "You want me to do it instead." His fears were confirmed when Dumbledore nodded. "That's great! That is just great!" Draco began to laugh and the old headmaster waited till he was done. "That... that is horrible," Draco breathed out when he finished. "I... I can't do that!" he shouted.
"Please. We need you," he pleaded. "We're all depending on you."
Draco began to get angry. He had turned his back on his upbringing, his family, and everything else he valued all for the cause. Now this old coot wanted something Draco would never give up. "No."
"But-"
"No!" Draco screamed before he dropped the book and ran out.
~*~
Throughout the day, Draco avoided everyone but when it was sundown he had met Ron in the Astronomy Tower. To say Draco was surprised was like saying the sun is hot. "How-" But Ron cut him off, with a wave of his hand.
He pulled out a map from his pocket and said, "Marauder's map," like it explained all the world's problems. Draco could only sit dumbstruck. Quickly, he shook out of it and patted the space next to him. His invitation was taken and he soon found a sad red headed Weasley boy sitting by his side.
Once again the silence Draco hated came and he felt that he needed to break the ice. "So you're seeing someone?" Draco winced inwardly although he didn't show. That was more of a question than a statement, and it had been full of uncertainty. Ron got a glazed look over his eyes and it suddenly hit Draco full on the face. The weasel was in love!
Soon Draco had a grin on his face as he prodded gently into the other boy's private life. "Soooooo," Draco started out conversationally, "Who is it?" The last part was full of playful force that snapped Ron out of his daydreaming, sputtering and blushing.
"Don't know what you're talking about," Ron lied badly, but it didn't stop the other boy from guessing.
"Is it Susan Bones? No. Luna Lovegood? Nah. Hermione?" When Draco saw Ron's horrified look, he quickly muttered out, "That's a definite no."
"Duh," was what Ron had to offer and soon both were laughing like a war had not been announced or a friend was in a coma. When they both calmed down, Ron could only say that Hermione was just a friend and nothing more. However after much, "Tell or I'll kill you and dump the body," from the blonde, Ron whispered out, "Pansy."
Draco was quiet as he contemplated everything going on in his head. One of his few friends, Pansy, could be in love, and for once he was happy. "Don't hurt her," Draco said.
Ron had a look of absolute horror on his face and quickly mumbled out, "I would never." Soon he had a dreamy look on his face as he began to talk about how they fell in love and their hopes for the future. "I want children y'know. Lots of them. I think maybe 7 is fine, how about you?" Here Draco snorted and laughed at the same time. "But we only want them after the war. So that they'll safe."
"Bet it devastated you both when Potter got injured and the coot's plans were destroyed," Draco let out bitterly. Draco expected many things to come out after he said that. He expected Ron defending Dumbledore, a fistfight, a verbal sparring, heck maybe a body falling out off the tower. What he didn't expect was Ron's clueless look. "You don't know?" Draco asked astonished.
"Know what?"
~*~
Later that night, Draco couldn't stop thinking about Ron and Pansy's relationship.
"But we only want them after the war. So that they'll safe."
Draco couldn't stop thinking about that. If the war didn't end, they wouldn't have those 7 kids the git wanted, or have the happy life they deserved. They'd get misery, loneliness, and pain. One of them could even die. No. He couldn't let that happen. If Golden Boy couldn't do it, then he would. He made his decision and hoped it was the right one.
~*~
Out in the Forbidden Forest was where he met Set. He had square ears, a curved snout, and a forked tail. He wore gold ornaments and his clothes were elaborate. He was cold to us, but Draco knew he was very strong indeed. "This is he," Set whispered out. Draco stood there proud, with his head held up high. One of the only things he would willingly accept from his father was that a Malfoy would always have dignity and honor. "I accept the boy," here he looked at him closely, "But does he?"
Dumbledore looked at Draco and for a moment and a flash of fear came and went. It didn't matter though. Draco had given his word, as a Malfoy and as a wizard, to do it. "Yes." The god looked pleased and he held out a medium sized diamond in the palm of his hand.
"The diamond is the strongest gem of them all. Touch it boy, and your part is done. I shall do the rest." Suddenly, Draco couldn't move. His magic was going to be lost forever, and he would be a squib. The Malfoy name was going to lose everything it had achieved. It would be his fault. He looked up and saw Set's face, sympathetic yet impatient. Draco jutted my hand forward and touched the gem which immediately began to glow as it filled with Draco's magic.
When the diamond began to dim, Malfoy had passed out cold on the forest floor. Dumbledore rushed to his side to check on him and when he found the young man breathing, he relaxed. "Voldemort will lose soon, I promise you," Set told the guilty wizard. The god turned his back on them both and muttered out before he disappeared, "He would have been a good wizard though."
Dumbledore set guilty eyes on Draco before saying, "Yes he would have been," and started to think about what would happen now to the other life he had ruined.
Note- the title is Latin for 'to take away, withdraw'. Even though this has an Egyptian touch the title is in Latin because I say so. Also this prologue is set after seventh year.
Abstulo-
By whispers of an angel
'It's impossible!' Draco Malfoy shouted in his mind as he ran blindly towards the infirmary in Hogwarts. His clothes were torn and months of wear and dirt coated his robes. His face shown worry, shock, and the one thing he thought he would never feel-fear. One week ago, he had just received a message from Severus stating how he felt the war would be like.
~*~
'The place is filthy but it would do,' Draco thought in his mind as he surveyed the lobby of the filthy motel. Besides, the old bat gave him orders to stay there until further notice. He walked towards the pudgy, dingy man who sat behind the desk and asked for a room. The clerk was slightly balding and wore a dull gray shirt that showed part of his stomach. Here Draco shivered at the sight. He approached him and roughly said, "I need a room for the night."
The man was taken aback by Draco's fatigued facial expression and robes but he didn't seem to show it. He looked at Draco critically before coming to a conclusion. "You don't have money, do you?" The clerk checked out Draco one more time. "But I'm willing to give you one if you do me a favor."
The wizard felt his anger rising. One year ago he would have hexed the man's balls off, consequences be damned, but now he felt too exhausted to. "Listen, there's a room reserved for me here, though, for the love of God I don't know why." Draco slammed his palm on the grubby, oak table, before he continued. "It's under D. Now if you don't give me the fucking key right now, I'll massacre you. Trust me, I'll do it."
~*~
He rounded up the stairs and tried to look for his room. "Number 13. Great, give me a room with an unlucky number," Draco muttered when he looked at the number etched on the key. Unconsciously, he began to rub his palm against his robes. "Number 9, number 10, number 11," Draco counted down until he reached number 13. "Finally! How many rooms are in the infected place?
The key was shoved into the hole forcefully, and the doorknob was turned slowly. Inside was not much better than the lobby. The lights were dimmed, and the paint were pealing from the wall. Out of the corner of his eye, Draco could swear he saw a lone rat scurrying off. Now his unconscious rubbing became a full blown one.
He walked inside and closed the door gently behind him. He locked the door securely though and checked it three times before going to the washroom. Before he made it in however, he saw a letter on the dresser. The envelope was addressed to him, and no doubt was from Albus, Minerva, or his godfather. He picked it up and checked for hidden hexes. Finding none, he pulled the letter out.
Draco
I must keep this message short and to the point. I feel that Voldemort is going to win. Two days ago Potter and his team followed a tip that stated where Voldemort could be found. Against the advice of Dumbledore and McGonagall, they left to try and ambush them. Instead they were ambushed themselves. Many died, including Terry Boot, Justin Finch-Fletchley, and Hannah Abbott. Only Tonks made it out, but with severe injuries. We didn't know where Potter was until we found him this morning. Draco... he's in a coma. The bloody idiot's in a coma!
Dumbledore figured that Voldemort kept him alive to taunt us, to make us worry. It's working. Minerva is scared for once and I don't blame her. Damn! We were so close to winning! Now that's gone and we don't know what to do. But Draco, please be careful. We can't lose our second most powerful wizard, now that he's gone.
Severus
~*~
Draco turned sharply when he reached a corner, and opened the door as quickly as he could. Hermione was crying softly in her chair that was besides Harry's bed with Severus standing besides her, muttering soothing words, and rubbing her back gently. Ron stood pale and quiet, even as his tears flowed down his face. Now Draco could feel and understand the full effects of war. So many people died, including Draco's parents. His only fortune was that he himself had not taken the dark mark when everyone else did. Pansy didn't though. She always followed him, and for once he was glad. He would never return her feelings, but he would protect her as best as he could.
"Mr. Malfoy."
Draco turned his head to see his former transfiguration teacher's haggard face. "Hello Minerva," he replied softly. Silence ensued, that was occasionally broken by Hermione's sobs, and Draco found it uncomfortable. He stood there, hand still on the doorknob, with the other grasping harshly his worn robe, and looked at his ex-rival. Potter looked peaceful yet troubled at the same time. He had cuts and bruises that ordained his face. His hair was still unruly as ever, and his breathing was slightly erratic. "It would have been better if he had just died," Draco found himself saying, and before he could take it back, he was pushed to the wall, by an irate Ron.
"Take it back, you git," Ron gritted out. When Draco said nothing, he shoved him again. "Take it back!" he sobbed. Soon he released his held on the other boy, and crumpled to the floor, his hands covering his face. His mutterings of, "It's my fault!" and "Why?" drowned off Hermione's sobbing. Draco could only look on with questions in his mind.
Soon he felt a hand tugging his sleeve and saw Albus beside him. 'When had he come?' Draco thought in his mind. His only answer was that the war was taking its toll on him. Albus let go, and for once Draco had an idea of how old and tired he had become. No longer was the ever-knowing headmaster of Hogwarts. This tired, old man had replaced him.
"The day Harry and his team left, Mr. Weasley here requested to stay behind for the day. He said he was going to look for someone he was missing terribly and Harry let him go. And now... now we are here." Dumbledore looked at the scene one more time before he led Draco away.
~*~
Albus led him to the library. In its prime, the library was grand and spacious, but now it stood bare and dirty. It was too dark for Draco's liking but he didn't say anything. He saw a single, lone table that held a thick book though. Draco began to walk towards it and saw that it was very old indeed. In fact, when he opened it, it held hieroglyphics in it. "An Egyptian spell book," Draco said.
"No," Dumbledore muttered, "An Egyptian summoning book." He paused to look at Draco before he continued. "Before Harry left, I told him about my visit with the god Set. Set had decided to help our cause, but only if we would sacrifice the magical power of our strongest wizard. I would have done it myself, but I'm too old, and he wouldn't accept me. Harry was going to do it, but now he can't."
Draco now understood what he wanted now. "You want me to do it instead." His fears were confirmed when Dumbledore nodded. "That's great! That is just great!" Draco began to laugh and the old headmaster waited till he was done. "That... that is horrible," Draco breathed out when he finished. "I... I can't do that!" he shouted.
"Please. We need you," he pleaded. "We're all depending on you."
Draco began to get angry. He had turned his back on his upbringing, his family, and everything else he valued all for the cause. Now this old coot wanted something Draco would never give up. "No."
"But-"
"No!" Draco screamed before he dropped the book and ran out.
~*~
Throughout the day, Draco avoided everyone but when it was sundown he had met Ron in the Astronomy Tower. To say Draco was surprised was like saying the sun is hot. "How-" But Ron cut him off, with a wave of his hand.
He pulled out a map from his pocket and said, "Marauder's map," like it explained all the world's problems. Draco could only sit dumbstruck. Quickly, he shook out of it and patted the space next to him. His invitation was taken and he soon found a sad red headed Weasley boy sitting by his side.
Once again the silence Draco hated came and he felt that he needed to break the ice. "So you're seeing someone?" Draco winced inwardly although he didn't show. That was more of a question than a statement, and it had been full of uncertainty. Ron got a glazed look over his eyes and it suddenly hit Draco full on the face. The weasel was in love!
Soon Draco had a grin on his face as he prodded gently into the other boy's private life. "Soooooo," Draco started out conversationally, "Who is it?" The last part was full of playful force that snapped Ron out of his daydreaming, sputtering and blushing.
"Don't know what you're talking about," Ron lied badly, but it didn't stop the other boy from guessing.
"Is it Susan Bones? No. Luna Lovegood? Nah. Hermione?" When Draco saw Ron's horrified look, he quickly muttered out, "That's a definite no."
"Duh," was what Ron had to offer and soon both were laughing like a war had not been announced or a friend was in a coma. When they both calmed down, Ron could only say that Hermione was just a friend and nothing more. However after much, "Tell or I'll kill you and dump the body," from the blonde, Ron whispered out, "Pansy."
Draco was quiet as he contemplated everything going on in his head. One of his few friends, Pansy, could be in love, and for once he was happy. "Don't hurt her," Draco said.
Ron had a look of absolute horror on his face and quickly mumbled out, "I would never." Soon he had a dreamy look on his face as he began to talk about how they fell in love and their hopes for the future. "I want children y'know. Lots of them. I think maybe 7 is fine, how about you?" Here Draco snorted and laughed at the same time. "But we only want them after the war. So that they'll safe."
"Bet it devastated you both when Potter got injured and the coot's plans were destroyed," Draco let out bitterly. Draco expected many things to come out after he said that. He expected Ron defending Dumbledore, a fistfight, a verbal sparring, heck maybe a body falling out off the tower. What he didn't expect was Ron's clueless look. "You don't know?" Draco asked astonished.
"Know what?"
~*~
Later that night, Draco couldn't stop thinking about Ron and Pansy's relationship.
"But we only want them after the war. So that they'll safe."
Draco couldn't stop thinking about that. If the war didn't end, they wouldn't have those 7 kids the git wanted, or have the happy life they deserved. They'd get misery, loneliness, and pain. One of them could even die. No. He couldn't let that happen. If Golden Boy couldn't do it, then he would. He made his decision and hoped it was the right one.
~*~
Out in the Forbidden Forest was where he met Set. He had square ears, a curved snout, and a forked tail. He wore gold ornaments and his clothes were elaborate. He was cold to us, but Draco knew he was very strong indeed. "This is he," Set whispered out. Draco stood there proud, with his head held up high. One of the only things he would willingly accept from his father was that a Malfoy would always have dignity and honor. "I accept the boy," here he looked at him closely, "But does he?"
Dumbledore looked at Draco and for a moment and a flash of fear came and went. It didn't matter though. Draco had given his word, as a Malfoy and as a wizard, to do it. "Yes." The god looked pleased and he held out a medium sized diamond in the palm of his hand.
"The diamond is the strongest gem of them all. Touch it boy, and your part is done. I shall do the rest." Suddenly, Draco couldn't move. His magic was going to be lost forever, and he would be a squib. The Malfoy name was going to lose everything it had achieved. It would be his fault. He looked up and saw Set's face, sympathetic yet impatient. Draco jutted my hand forward and touched the gem which immediately began to glow as it filled with Draco's magic.
When the diamond began to dim, Malfoy had passed out cold on the forest floor. Dumbledore rushed to his side to check on him and when he found the young man breathing, he relaxed. "Voldemort will lose soon, I promise you," Set told the guilty wizard. The god turned his back on them both and muttered out before he disappeared, "He would have been a good wizard though."
Dumbledore set guilty eyes on Draco before saying, "Yes he would have been," and started to think about what would happen now to the other life he had ruined.