Chapter three:

The S.D.D.

The sun shone through the windows, leaving a trail of light across his floor and highlighting the dust that was slowly drifting here and there. He awoke when the beams of light hit his face and stared out at the morning sky. The storms that had raged last night had passed leaving behind a flawless blue sky. He got out of bed and pulled the curtains so tightly so that not even an inch of light could be seen, and darkness now flooded every corner of his bedroom.

He hated days like these, when the sun shined brightly in the sky giving the impression that today was to be a good day, when for him, everyday was just as lonely and black as the next. He walked across the dark room and sat on his bed. At least the darkness did not lie, it never gave promises of false happiness or hope, it was always certain.

He lit the candle on his bedside table and picked up the day's edition of The Daily Prophet. He scanned the headlines as he did everyday, for mention of his family name. Relieved to see the wizarding world had found better topics to discuss besides his family, he began to read the headlines.

Minister of Magic, Matilda Bones puts new law in

effect.

By Gilbert Flinchen

A new law has been passed within the Ministry, stating that all spells to be performed henceforth will now be monitored by a spell detection device created by the Department of Mysteries earlier this summer. This new device, otherwise know as S.D.D. (Spell Detector Device) monitors spells being cast by Wizards/Witches to detect illegal spell use, Unforgivable curses, and other suspicious forms of spells.

When a spell is cast it will be detected by the S.D.D., the S.D.D. will then log information on the type of spell, the spell sender, and location. If the S.D.D. detects an Unforgivable curse, or if the person sending the spell is wanted by the Magical Law Enforcement Patrol, the S.D.D. has the power to stop the spell being sent and alert Aurors to the location of the spell sender.

Are their any spells the S.D.D. cannot detect?

The following is a list of spells undetectable by the S.D.D.

Ennervate

Ferula

Fidelius charm

Please note that Aurors (who commonly have to use unforgivable curses against suspected Death Eaters) are exempt from the S.D.D as well as a select few who must use such curses for undisclosed reasons.

If you have any questions/suggestions please contact the Ministry of Magic who will be happy to assist you.

Draco tossed the paper aside and lay down on his bed. He gazed up at his ceiling, which always reflected a night sky and thought about what he had just read.

In a way, the new S.D.D. came as good news to him. After his Father was sent to Azkaban Draco, had at times worried that the Dark Lord would attack he and his Mother for the trouble his Father had caused him. At least that was now something he would not have to think about for a while.

Though he knew it would be very short lived, the Dark

Lord would undoubtedly find a way to destroy it.

Right now what he needed to be worried about was getting more ingredients to make another Draft of Peace potion, the one on his bedside table would soon be empty. He had started taking the potion just after his Father was sentenced to life in Azkaban because he kept having the same horrible dream every night. The dream consisted of his Father begging him to come and free him, and giving him instructions on how to do it. Draco had a strange feeling that this wasn't a dream, but in fact a reality.

His Father, while he had been weak at times, was not completely powerless, and was capable of creating things beyond imagination. Draco was almost certain his Father had found a way to send him these dreams every night. But instead of following his Father's orders, he tried to make them disappear.

Part of him wanted to free his Father, to earn back some of the dignity they had once had. Yet another part, one that was becoming much greater everyday, wanted his Father to remain in prison, to pay for the trouble he had gotten himself into, to be miserable and suffer just as Draco was.

These two conflicting sides were becoming unbearable, and Draco could think of no other option but to force his Father out of his mind, and try to forget him. It wasn't easy though, and on occasion the part of him that wanted to free his Father would swell up and make him feel guilty for what he was doing, but the other side always told him that his Father had never shown signs of guilt for what he had done to his family, why should he show mercy he had never been given?

It was for these reasons he needed that potion, he could not carry on having these conflicts with himself, he would surely go mad if he did. He began racking his brain, searching for ideas on how to get the ingredients. He could probably get a house elf to go to Knockturn Alley for him, but could he trust a house elf with such an important task? No, he would need to do this on his own.

"But how?" He thought. He had several ideas but none of them seemed possible, or intelligent for that matter. He didn't really desire to go out and get them himself, for the risk of the off chance of running into a Death Eater.

He sighed in frustration, and rolled over in his bed catching sight of the abandoned Daily Prophet and almost smacked himself for not realizing it before.

No one would be able to harm him; they would all be too scared of the S.D.D. He could walk right into Knockturn Alley and not have to worry about being killed or even cursed.

He jumped up in a rush of excitement. He was actually going to go out in public again, he was going to get out of the oppressive mansion, and while going out into the wizarding world would not be completely pleasant, anything would be better than the miserable feelings that suffocated him in this place.

He quickly got himself ready and grabbed his broom. He usually preferred to travel by floo powder rather than flying, it was much faster, and less of a hassle, but today he would take to the skies.

It had been months since he had felt this happy, perched atop his broom, the warm summer air flowing swiftly through his hair, his broom soaring smoothly through the clouds. He was free. He looked down at the world below him; it was a mass of green and brown dotted with the occasional house, but was more open and free than anything he had ever seen. Before, the beauty of what lay below him was not remarkable, he had seen this site millions of times, everything had always looked the same from up here.

Though now, after being face with the possibility of never seeing another house, another scene, or another human for that matter, everything he caught sight of captured his eye, and he finally saw things the way they should be seen; it amazed him.

The fly to Knockturn Alley hadn't lasted long enough, and he was now dismounting his broom, preparing himself for the jeers and hateful looks that he would undoubtedly receive. His walk was graceful, head held high in the usual Malfoy fashion, (though this was more due to the fact that he couldn't see the distasteful looks being cast his way when he held his head at this angle) his chilled stone like features held a very vacant expression. His silver eyes cast looks of loathing down his nose at any passerby who dare utter a word in his direction.

He pretended to act as if their decision to cast him out of the wizarding world meant nothing to him. He wanted them to feel as if though he had never enjoyed being part of their world at all, and that his decision to come to Knockturn Alley was dreaded and forced, like a burden he was forced to bear due to some important task. It had of course, been the opposite way around, but for the sake of pride he carried on his act.

By the time he reached Borgin and Burkes those who had followed him around with taunts and vindictive threats had finally left him alone, realizing that there words seemed to have no effect on him at all. He smirked proudly to himself as he entered the store he had once considered his favorite. It was full of intriguing oddities and had captured his interest for the hours he had sometimes spent in this place with his Father.

Today however, the dark and dangerous objects the store possessed were about as interesting to him as flubberworms. He was here simply for the purpose of recovering ingredients that were harder to come by in

Diagon Alley, especially for a person with his reputation. He walked purposely towards the barrels of hellebore, ignoring the curiosity of the proprietor, Mr. Borgin. His focused remained on the task at hand, he only needed to buy the ingredients and get back to the Alley without being asked questions, a task that was becoming increasingly hard to accomplish without distractions.

"Well, Well," said Borgin. The man was never able to keep his curiosity to himself," What business do you have here?"

"None that concerns you." replied Draco, in his cold drawling voice

"Ah, you see that's where you are wrong Mr. Malfoy," said Mr. Borgin, in an oily, sinister voice, "You see it is my right as owner of this establishment to refuse the sell of such a dangerous ingredient to anyone who may want it for suspicious purposes. As seeing as your background is certainly suspicious, I think it would be fair to say I cannot sell you this product. You might endanger someone, and I simply cannot have that, can I Mr. Malfoy?" finished Borgin in an air of fake politeness.

Draco stared at the man, fingers gripped tightly around his wand, ready to curse him into oblivion. He could see the humor in the man's eyes, as if he thought his antics were funny, and this made him grip his wand all the more tightly.

They stood in a long silence, then Borgin light heartedly dipped his hand into the barrel of hellebore, and scooped up the pieces as if he had not a care in the world. Draco stood poised, trying to keep his usual uncaring disposition. If his Father had ever taught him anything, it was to never back down from a fight, but always take insults with grace, after all, there was never a tactic more useful than the element of surprise.

Draco smiled his most flashy smile, and looked at the man as he were an old friend.

"Who said anything about buying? "Draco said, scooping a handful of the hellebore into the pocket of his robes. "Cheers" He said giving the man a friendly wave goodbye, and bolting quickly towards his broom. Once in the safety of the air he soared full speed towards the mansion, realizing almost at once that he did not want to return there. It wasn't for fear that Mr. Borgin had alerted the Magical Law Enforcement Patrol to Draco's theft, the man had too many illegal items hiding in his store to draw attention to himself, it was more for fear that he would never have another day like this. He then decided to fly a little off course and take in the freedom he had not had for what seemed like an eternity.

It was well after dark when he finally returned to the mansion. He had flown miles and miles and still felt that he had not fully enjoyed it for what it was worth, but the summer was beginning to give way to autumn, and the night air was more than a bit chilly.

He quietly made it to the privacy of his room so as not to disturb his Mother. He didn't need any more prying questions, not that she cared to talk to him much these days, but it was better for her to not know where he had been, and even better for him.

Draco walked into his adjoining bathroom, reaching into his large shower to turn it on. He got undressed and stepped into the warm water cascading out of the mouth of a stone dragon that stood almost realistically in the middle of the black marble floor. He felt his skin thaw and relaxed as the water splashed over him, turning his pale complexion into a patchy red.

Once he finished his shower, he grabbed the stolen ingredients from the pocket of his robes and began work on the Draft of peace potion.

The hellebore was as Mr. Borgin had said, dangerous. It held a poison, that if added in the wrong measurements, could be fatal. Everything must be precise, no detail overlooked. It was dangerous, yet thrilling at the same time. He stirred the simmering contents of his cauldron seven times counterclockwise, and sat down on his bed to await the moment it reached the perfect coloration.

The potion, had at last, became the perfect consistency, and funneling it into an empty jar, he couldn't help but feel a sense of pride. It was very rare his potions were ever made perfect, great maybe, but not perfect. He drink a decent amount of the smooth substance, and fell back onto his bed.

A week passed and life was back to its normal miserable state for Draco. He glared out at the stormy sky wishing he could be riding on his broomstick, experiencing the freedom that he had a week ago, but the storms never ceased it seemed and he was always stuck indoors, anticipating the day the storms would finally clear off and allow him to enjoy himself again. It was almost as if he was being mocked, he had enjoyed his taste of freedom, but it had only been a taste and he wanted more, he craved it. He had spent most of his days as of late poking around the house in search of some form of entertainment, but had turned up nothing.

His Mother seemed to grow more distant from him everyday, and remained confided to her room. She hadn't even come down to breakfast that morning, but instead had a house elf bring it up to her. He knew the absence of his Father was taking its toll on her.

At first his Mother had seemed hopeful that Lucius would be pardoned, that her donations would make the wizarding world believe they had changed, but her hope had seemed to fade at last, and she took to becoming distant from Draco, as if it were some how his fault.

He sat at his piano and pushed the keys, but he had lost his passion for it, like he had most everything else and spent most of the morning gazing wishfully at

the sky, it wasn't until after he had eaten his dinner

that things finally began to look up.

He had been sitting in his room reading Defensive Magical Theory when he noticed an owl perched on one of the Gargoyles that was mounted beside his bedroom window. The Gargoyle did not seem at all happy about the intruder on his head and began to flail his arms angrily to try and scare it off. The owl however, was quite unaffected by the Gargoyles disapproval of its perching spot, and remained calm, the letter it was carrying tucked tightly in its beak.

Draco unlatched the window and the bird flew in dropping the letter on bed and swooshing proudly back out into the stormy sky. Draco looked at the letter curiously for a moment before noticing something that made his heart skip a beat. The letter was stamped with the Hogwarts seal, Surely this couldn't be his School letter, though they were due to be arriving anytime. Perhaps it was just a letter telling him to sod off, and not worry about coming back to Hogwarts this year.

His heart sunk into his stomach, and a nervous feeling rushed over his stomach to turn itself in knots. He slowly tore open the envelope and emptied its contents into his hand. It was a heavy letter, and he could feel something hard and cold through the parchment curious, he opened the folded parchment to find a silver badge glittering in the candle light, and to his surprise, the badge read "Prefect" He read the letter to be sure it wasn't a sick joke, and when he could not find anything that would suggest it was, he read it again.

Dear Mr. Malfoy,

Enclosed you will find a list of books needed for your sixth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, as well your new prefect badge. It is recommended to wear this new badge as opposed to the older one, as it is in compliance with a new program we have set up at Hogwarts this year. Please also be aware that due to the current events taking place in our world, the current Minister of Magic has implemented a required Veritaserum potion to be given to all students upon their arrival. It is your duty as a prefect to make sure this potion is administered to all students. All prefects must take this potion on Hogwarts Express. Any one found to be in contact with He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named will face immediate expulsion, and possible arrest.

Enjoy the remainder of your holiday,

The Hogwarts staff