Disclaimer- throws rock at readers who inquires about this

Ok, ok I know it's been months since I last updated this but c'mon, I've been busy. But now since it's summer vacation so I'll hopefully write more and get each chapter out soon. Also I only got two reviews for the last chapter. Thanks for both of them because I really appreciate them but I'm pretty sad no one else reviewed. I mean I am on some people's Author Alert and that makes me very happy and flattered but... ok I'll stop rambling now and let you read this.

Oh yeah, I tried to get this out as soon as possible since Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban premiered on June 4, 2004 (only a week ago!) so don't say I don't try!

Abstulo Chapter 4

By Tol Morwen

Broken glass and blood was scattered across the floor as the Aurors searched in vain for clues as to what had happened. Just five minutes before, the two bodies of a wizard and a witch were taken away; their bodies scarred and mutilated beyond recognition. It was nighttime in Edinburgh, Scotland, yet no one could sleep without feeling a sense of dread and fear. For almost one month, every week, a body or two would be found bloody and mutilated. It was suspected that wanted Deatheaters were behind all the murders yet no one could prove anything until now.

A light burst threw the air and the camera captured the words written in blood in a nearby wall. He Shall Rise Once Again and All Mudbloods and Muggles Shall Tremble Before Him.

As his son led Harry away, Draco went to his room and locked the door. He took a deep breath and made his way to his closet. Pushing away clothes and old shoes, he came across a plain oak box the size of a shoebox. The wood was polished and attached was a plain iron lock. However, under the artificial light, the box gleamed like a wanted secret, and indeed it held a very dear one.

Draco sat down on the floor and gently put the box down, afraid that at any moment, it would spill open and everything held inside would come out. He sat there for moments, doing nothing but staring at the object in front of him. It had been years since he had looked at the contents inside but Draco felt that it was mere moments. Finally, he let out a groan and cursed himself for being so afraid of what was inside. 'What's the matter with me?' he thought. Out loud he said, "I was raised better than this."

With anger, he pulled out the chain and key he had hidden under his shirt. Almost everyday, since he had received the box, he had worn the key, no longer than his own pinky, around his neck for fear that it would be lost. One day when Aurelius was two, he had somehow misplaced it and started a frantic search for it. He remembered the young boy crying when his father ignored him and his angry yelling telling him to shut up. He had found it under the coffee table and soon regretted what had happened only minutes before. Afterwards, he promised never to take it off unless he wanted a repeat of the past.

Gently, he unlocked the box and opened it. Inside held the few precious mementos from his past. Within it was the letter of acceptance from Hogwarts, a few wizard photos of him and his parents when he was younger, some articles from The Daily Prophet, a journal he had kept before he was turned into a Squib, and the diamond Set had given to him at that fateful day.

Draco pulled out the photos first and looked at them wistfully. He could see a younger him and his parents smile at him and wave gently. Draco remembered the day that it was taken. One summer, he and his family had vacationed in Italy. On the last day, before flooing back, his father had an "associate" of his take the photo. Next, he pulled out the numerous articles and reread some of them. Others were just looked over casually since he had practically memorized them.

After taking almost everything out of the chest, one thing remained; the diamond Set had given him. The gem lay unassuming in far corner. Covered in a dark green cloth, Draco gently unwrapped it and held it in the palm of his hand.

No one but Draco and Set knew about the diamond and it was safer that way. Rogue Deatheaters still existed in the world, and many would jump at the chance to try and bring back Voldemort. He had no doubt in his mind that they would take an innocent child and warp him until all that was left would be a bitter, twisted individual. A brief knocking came and he almost dropped the gem. "Malfoy?" he heard Harry whisper followed by the doorknob trying to open.

"It's locked!" he yelled out as he began to frantically put everything back into the chest. "Give me a moment!" He stuffed everything in with the utmost care while trying to be quick. Afterwards, he locked the chest and buried it under the clothes in the closet. Draco looked around the room trying to find out where he left the key. Not again! his heart and soul cried out but immediately became quiet when he found it. He put it on and hid it under his shirt. Taking a glance of himself in the mirror, he opened the door to find an agitated Harry staring at him.

"What were you doing?" Harry demanded with his arms crossed over his chest.

Draco rolled his eyes and sneered out, "Nothing. Why?"

Harry's eyes lightened and asked with hidden glee, "Does it have something to do with that box of yours?"

Draco's heart sank and he became worried. 'How did he find out about it? Did he... somehow acquire a side-affect from being in a coma,' he thought. But it couldn't be! It wasn't impossible, but it was highly unlikely. The last person to acquire a power after being in a coma was Astrid Hemlock and she lived over 300 years ago! "How did you...?"

"Aurelius told me when I tucked him in," Harry answered nonchalantly. "He blabs out random things when he's nervous but I guess you know that already. In fact, he told me a very interesting story about it." Draco face contorted in confusion. He honestly had no idea what this idiot was talking about. "Don't remember? Well he told me that one day, he went inside your room and found you hunched over a box. When he made a sound, you just freaked out and told him to get out. I just told him that you had some... adult things in there."

Draco's eyes widened in shock when he caught the innuendo coming from Potter. He remembered that day. He was about to reply an angry retort when he remembered that that incident had taken place almost four years ago. There was no way his son could remember something that far ago. Looking over to Potter chuckling his head off, he made a mental note to ask Hermione about that before taking his and smashing it against the side of Golden Boy's head.

Aurelius wasn't as naïve or as young as he let everyone else think. He listened when he thought no one was paying attention and he always knew when something was wrong. Take today for example. When he saw and felt his father's worry when he saw Harry, he immediately labeled him as public enemy #1 until he got a good look at him. And when he did, he was shocked at how similar he looked to him. He had the same dark hair and emerald green eyes. In fact, for one brief moment he thought that maybe Harry was his father. But just as soon as it came, it was gone.

Instead it was replaced with a feeling of remorse and sadness. Something about Harry made him want to say "I'm sorry" a million times. So while he tried to explain these feelings, he might as well make friends with the man. It was only logical. Green eyes stared up at the ceiling. Again he was having trouble sleeping at night because of the nightmares. Every night, for the past year, they would always come but it was always different.

But some things always remained the same. Always he would hear a deep, horrible laughter and the pitiful screaming coming from a victim. Always he would see a group of people covered in cloaks and masks, torturing someone just because the person was something called a "muggle." And always he would see an evil being come to finally kill the person or to "give the poor fool some mercy" as he always liked to say. Aurelius couldn't see every detail about the bad man, but he would always see a pair of red eyes and notice a tattoo on his arm just before waking up in a cold sweat in his bed.

His dad didn't notice him having the nightmares. Whenever he woke up, he never screamed or cried out for him. He only let out little whimpers and buried himself beneath the blankets. He couldn't tell his dad either. He was too busy with work and recently began to date again at Aunt Hermione and Aunt Pansy's insistence.

No. He won't tell anyone yet. Maybe later when it isn't as busy as it is now. Aurelius burrowed himself into the blankets and closed his eyes. A few minutes later, his breathing deepened and relaxed- a sign that he was in a deep sleep. But later his breaths soon became shallow and harsh and sweat began to drip down from his face.

TBC

Oh and before I forget, I just found out (a few months ago) that 'Abstulo' doesn't mean 'to take away' but really 'I took away'. 'Aufero' means to 'take away'. But I'll still use 'Abstulo' for the title since I'm so fond of it. Also pretty lazy. So thanks to asahii at livejournal for correcting me!