"I demand you to open!"
The statue in front of the door was refusing the budge. Of course, Lucius Malfoy was a genius when it came to hiding his most secret stash of dark magic. It was even doubtful that Narcissa had the slightest idea where it was. And with all the secret passageways and doors, it was worse than Hogwarts.
"Draco, how do you even know if this is the place?"
Frustration took a hold of him as he snapped at his cousin. "Oh gee Anne, a scary statue in the most secluded part of the manor. The statue that won't budge at all but just smirks and mocks me as I try to get in. I wonder if there is anything there that my father didn't want anyone to find."
Anne shot him a glare. "You know, I AM trying to help, so I'm sorry if I'm just bothering you with the sound of the my voice. Maybe I should just stop my obnoxious breathing too right?"
Draco sighed as he tried to clear his mind. "Look, I'm really sorry alright. It's just; I'm really worried that we won't be able to get back in time to save her. And if we don't make it in time then… I don't want to imagine what might happen if we don't. All I know is that I need to save her."
"You really care about her don't you? It's like blasphemy to ever love a muggleborn in this family, I know. But you still love her don't you?"
Draco sighed with frustration as he leaned against the cool marble of the statue. "I can't help it. I can't help that I'm in love with her, it's like I'm under some sick spell. Merlin sakes, I'm in love with a Mudblood."
The statue opened up, making both Anne and Draco jump back. "Wait, what was the password?"
They entered an extraordinary room filled with cabinets upon cabinets of potions and riches. The room was beautiful beyond words, and the pictures of the woman that hung in the room were as beautiful. "What is this place?"
Draco shook his head, having nothing to say. He understood why Lucius ran away here all the time. It was so peaceful and tranquil, especially with the small waterfall at the east side of the room. The mermaid in there was singing silently to herself and almost jumped out of the pool when she saw Draco. "Already you have come? I thought it would be a good five more years before your father would tell you. Come, come, and hear a tale…"
"I'm looking for a potion…"
"Yes, yes, I will tell you the secrets of that but you must come and listen."
Anne pushed him forward.
"The potion bottles are all unmarked and if we want to find it, it would take forever. Just listen to her and ask after you're done."
The mermaid clapped her hands and waved Anne over also. "She is not the one, I see, but she is of this blood. Yes, even the female line may hear of this spectacular tale." The mermaid waved them both over to a luxurious sofa and gestured for both of them to sit. And she brushed her long black hair, her green eyes flashed of a magnificent emerald color.
"Now you may hear my tale of true love, beauty, and downfall."
Draco and Anne both patiently waited as the mermaid brushed her hair and hummed a melodic song.
"Years ago, before the Malfoy name was tainted with the power of the dark, Sir Jonathan Malfoy worked for the side of good, alongside his teacher, the ever famous Merlin. Sir Jonathan Malfoy was also betrothed to a beautiful Maid Samantha Royce."
The atmosphere around the waterfall then became a bit stormy as the water stirred.
"But one terrible day, the dark side called to him, and it became completely irresistible to him. But to fully give himself up to it, he had to make a sacrifice, and a great sacrifice it was. For blood was what it yearned for, the blood of an innocent female."
The water stopped stirring and the place became completely still.
"Right after his marriage did he bring forth his precious Maid Royce to the dark. In cold blood did he murder her and as the warm blood of her body did Merlin walk in."
The mermaid swirled the water a bit and showed in the palm of her hand two figures dancing.
"Oh, they did love each other, they truly did. And it was because of this love that he had to kill her. For the dark had to know the devotion was true, and to do so, he would have to give up something he held close to his heart, a piece of his heart."
The figures then went flat and swirled into the water.
"Merlin wasn't happy to have found his favorite student giving into the dark. And he felt the punishment had to fit the crime. You see, even then, the dark side had a thing against muggleborns. So Merlin made it that every male with the true Malfoy name would love a muggleborn, and she would be his true love. It didn't sound like such a horrible punishment until his first son was born. When he fell in love with a muggleborn, he was too deep into to dark side with his father and didn't know what to do. He tried to hide his love but it shined through. And when the rest of his friends found out, they killed her. You see, Merlin knew of what the dark side would do to true love. That's why this room was built, in memory of ever muggleborn a Malfoy has ever loved. It is a curse all of them carry. If it were any other wizard, it wouldn't have been a curse but being that it was a Malfoy, it was. And it is because of this that the Malfoy wizard is never truly happy. Because his true love is out of his reach."
"So you're telling me that my father, Lucius Malfoy, was in love with a muggleborn?"
"Oh yes."
She pointed to the wall to a picture of a beautiful looking girl with long blonde hair and bright, sparkling blue eyes.
"I remember the day he got married. He looked for someone he could substitute for her. Scarlet Hart… yes, when Merlin cursed them, he didn't specify that it would have been a witch."
"Wait, you mean to tell me that my father, muggle hating, muggleborn burning wizard, the one who taught me to hate them in the first place, was in love with a full blown muggle?"
"Oh yes, he was completely smitten by her. He would come in here everyday, moaning and groaning about the curse. But no Malfoy has ever the strength to break the curse."
"How is it broken? And how will you know it's broken?"
"The Malfoy must first break away from the dark side, completely just break off and not turn back with any regrets. And he must do it for the love of the muggleborn in question. And the curse will be broken when the Malfoy in question doesn't care if it's broken. Why would it matter to him if it's broken if he is with his true love and his son will also have a true love?"
"Wait, but what about when Nathaniel Malfoy married Lucy DuGrey?"
"Oh, but he never had knowledge of this tale. And it is because of that he couldn't break the curse."
Anne poked Draco in the ribs, making him jump in surprise.
"You're the Malfoy in question. You are breaking this curse this very moment by loving her. You need to get to her before you lose her forever."
"Hey wait, how do you know that this mermaid isn't just some old quack made by Lucius to distract a visitor before some curse kills us."
The mermaid flipped around in the water and grumbles. "Stupid boy."
"Draco, she couldn't have known about you loving a muggleborn unless what she said is true. I mean, think about it. Has your father ever truly been happy about anything? Your grandfather? It's because they're all missing a piece of their hearts. You have a chance to change at, to be completely happy."
Anne started to cry a little as did the mermaid and only second later were they both at a full bawling state. "It's so romantic."
Draco sighed as he grabbed Anne away from the mermaid. "Well if any of that is going to happen, I have to save her." He turned to the now red-eyed mermaid. "Where is the Crucio revival potion?"
She wiped away her tears and thought. "It's been so long."
Draco grabbed her by both shoulders and shook her. "My true love as you put is dying and without that draught, there is no future for us. Now THINK!"
She smiled as she shook her head. "I thought you didn't believe me." She pointed to a potion bottle and it floated over to him. "Now go."
Draco and Anne were at a sprint. "I hope you break the curse."
When they were both out of hearing range, she turned over the picture to her right. It was of Hermione. Then, she turned over the picture to her left, and it was of herself. She sighed as she looked on in longing. "So I can finally rest in peace and return to my love."
Maid Samantha Royce swam back into the water and disappeared into the depths. She wouldn't be returning. Ever.
A/N- so very much neglected, I know. But my writer's block isn't as bad and this will be over soon, I promise!