Mudbloods Beware: Chapter 4
Revenge of the Basilisk
"No, father! No, I di... I did my best!"
"Draco, Draco! Wake up boy!" The tall form of Severus Snape loomed, framed by the green, velvet curtains of Draco's four-poster bed.
"Professor?"
"You were screaming. Here, take this."
"What is it?" said Draco, as he took the steaming vial. It lit the room in its red glow.
"Just remember, no sin goes unpunished."
Draco pulled the vial from his lips, but not before he felt a warm drop of potion trickle down his throat. He felt like he was choking. A hot, searing pain crouched behind his eyeballs. He began to cough and sputter. He felt himself lose control of his body. Spasms started to rack him, and he gasped, but no air came into his lungs. Panic gripped him, as he felt himself black out, still choking.
Draco bolted up from his bed. He took a deep, gasped, breath of air. He was breathing rapidly, but he saw light gleaming through the closed curtains around his bed. His breath started to even out, and he wiped the sweat from his forehead. As he was un-sticking his pajamas, he heard the lock of his door click.
"Draco?" The curtains around his bed swished open, and Draco saw his mother, already dressed. "You were screaming. Did you have the dream again? Was he in it?"
"Oh, er, yeah."
Narcissa took Draco into her arms, and started to rub his back, but he wriggled free.
"Why are you dressed up? What time is it?"
"It's ten, and I am going to tea with the Crowlers, but maybe I should stay."
"NO! I mean, er...it's fine. You should go."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah."
"Okay. Breakfast is on the table, and I left some floo powder by the fireplace for if you need it."
"Alright, have fun."
Narcissa left and closed the door with a sigh.
Draco took a deep breath and dropped into the leather slippers next to his bed. This was his big chance. His mother was finally leaving the house. His father was at the Ministry, and he wasn't expected back till late. Christmas Holiday was almost over, and Draco had started to worry this day wouldn't come. He'd already exhausted the Manor's library and the papers Snape had given him. He needed to get into the room under the Drawing Room, but his father would be very angry if he knew that Draco was going to break into it. He wasn't allowed in there, but that's where the darkest books were kept. He'd had to plan for months how to get in. He walked down the hallway, down the winding staircase to the ground floor of the mansion. He almost went past the door that went into the Dining Room, but changed his mind when his stomach chose that moment to moan loudly. "Can't work on an empty stomach," mumbled Draco. He walked into the spacious room, taken over by the large square table that resides in the center. He noticed that at his usual place, there was a plate with smoked salmon and scrambled eggs. A bowl to the side held a fruit salad, and there was a cup of Grapefruit juice, and a mug of tea stationed at 2:00. Also, a house-elf had placed a candle near his plate. Draco ate mechanically, preoccupied with what he had to do, and when he was finished, he left, and walked down the hall to the room at the end, his father's study. A very large and imposing mahogany door spanned the wall from floor to ceiling. The silver doorknob with a serpent etched on it gleamed in the light of the two lamps at either side of the door. Draco turned away from the door and looked down the hallway.
"Griphell!"
A tiny creature with a stubby nose and long pointy ears arrived with a loud crack, right at Draco's feet. He bowed and asked in a raspy squeak, "Master Draco? What may I do for you sir?"
"I need you and the rest of the House-elves to stay away from this floor today."
"Yes sir! Of course sir! I shall inform the others immediately!"
Draco smirked in satisfaction and looked to his right. There was a tiny crack in the wall. "Illepeto!" he muttered. Thank Merlin I can use magic! he thought. The crack widened only marginally, but enough to reveal a tiny silver key. Draco couldn't count the number of times he'd spied his father doing what he was doing now. That mirror really is the most useful present I've ever gotten! Severus knows what he's doing!
Draco went to the lamp on the left side of the door, and he stuck the key into the bottom. The key turned smoothly, and the lamp slid to the side. There was a nook, housing a small portrait of a snake charmer.
"Eh! Password?" grunted the portrait.
"Darkness Rising."
The portrait swung open to reveal a large silver key, which Draco took and jammed into the doorknob, eyes glistening. The knob glowed green, and he opened the door. He'd only been in his father's study a few times, but never alone. Ministry work wasn't all Lucius did in his sanctuary. Draco stared at the built-in desk on the wall opposite the door. He remembered sitting on it, feet dangling a foot off the floor. Even now, the desk seemed enormous.
"If I were my father, where would I hide the key to the Drawing Room Cellar?"
Draco started rummaging around...carefully. He didn't know what other protections were in this room. His father had a shield put on the room when he started using it, and among the shield's powers was apparently the ability to cloud Draco's mirror. Draco began poking around his father's desk. He discovered a few secret compartments, but none held the key. He moved to the wall on his right. The entire wall was shelves, each heavy with all the books it could hold. Draco eyed a few of the titles, but he knew there would be nothing in these books. They were all history and law, Ministry texts and a few photo albums. Draco groaned as he remembered the many outfits he'd been forced into over the years. One in particular when he was eight would have put Weasley's Yule Ball robes to shame. Draco began thumbing a few volumes. He didn't have much time.
"Think Draco! Think!"
He noticed a black book with a ruby set in its spine. The blood red lettering read, "Obscurum Ortus," Darkness Rising. It appeared those lessons in Latin he'd been forced to take were of some use after all! Draco smirked as he pulled the book off its shelf and opened the cover. Sure enough, lying in a hole was a large brass key, but a glittery gold force field shimmered over the top. Draco groaned.
"Alohomora would have been simpler." That had been his first plan, but of course his father was too clever for that! Draco thought for a moment.
"Isildiseth?" he murmured tentatively.
"Er, Obscurum Ortus?" still nothing.
"Damn it! Could nothing be simple!" Draco thought for several more moments before his brain hit an idea.
"Abeo Specialis." The force field glowed red, and he whispered, "Mudbloods Beware." The force field evaporated. He grabbed the key, and muttered the reverse of his password-changing spell. Draco left the room at speeds only previously possible on broom. He ran quickly to the Drawing Room, and pulled up the rug. He smashed the key into the lock, fumbling in excitement, but finally turning it. He pulled up the trap door.
"Lumos!"
A long flight of steps glowed in the wand light. Draco rushed down into the dark, damp hole of a space. The walls were littered with books, all covered with cobwebs. Skulls and other dark objects sat on tables and the floor. Draco noticed there were at least 400 potion vials strewn around. He felt as if he'd just uncovered a great prize, and in effect, he had. He started to walk along the walls slowly, picking out books that seemed of interest. Once he picked out a dozen books, he set them at a table to skim them. He wanted to be sure they were what he wanted before carrying them upstairs. He'd just opened the third when he heard a loud noise above him.
"Bugger!"
He took his arm across the table sweeping the books into a bag he'd brought and minimized it before dropping it into his pocket. He flew up the stairs and locked the trap door. Hoping he didn't look too frenzied or out of breath, he calmly headed towards the entrance hall. He'd have to worry about how he was going to return the key later.
"Blast! Mum and Dad were supposed to be gone till ten!" He entered the hall, but there wasn't anyone there. He looked about.
"Bugger! Griphell!"
CRACK!
"Yes Master Draco?"
"What was that noise?"
"Oh, Master Draco, I am incredibly sorry sir! That was Yanew, the new elf. Something spooked him and he dropped a dish, but no worries, I repaired it."
"Bring this new elf to me!"
"Yes Master," Griphell bowed low before disapparating. He appeared again seconds later with a timid elf with ears that hung to the side of his face and a long nose that corkscrewed at the end.
"Leave us Griphell!" Draco commanded before beginning his tirade. "What the hell is the matter with you! You stupid elf!" Draco punctuated his remarks with a swift kick. "I was very busy! I had things to accomplish today!" A yelp sounded as Draco kicked the elf again. "I'm going to report you to father for this! Now go punish yourself! I would suggest eating the chimney soot!" The elf nodded silently and disapparated, beating Draco's next kick by a fraction of a second. Draco landed squarely on his bum and cursed.
Draco groaned. His father was going to hear about this! That elf was no good! Draco got up and walked off. After returning the cellar key, he went up to his room, and dumped his bag onto his bed. He noticed several vials drop out with the books. He must have accidentally swept them into the bag as well. He picked one up that was filled with a brown, glutinous substance and had a slimy green scale floating on top. He wondered vaguely if potions expire. He tossed it back into the bag and picked up another. It looked like it was filled with blood. He tossed it in as well. The third vial he noticed was labeled-Basilisk Venom. He nearly tossed it into his bag too, before his brain caught up with what he'd read.