Chapter VII

The moment Draco declared a partnership, there came a sinister laugh. It echoed the area, and the ground began to quake behind their feet. And a loud, thunderous rumble came from what seemed everywhere around them. The earth within the sink hole suddenly spat out and rain upon them, hitting them like clumps from a volcano. But their magic protected them.

And then, the specter rose out from the ground, like an angry god. It's eyes, and indeed, its entire body was electrified. It was no longer Draco Malfoy's doppelganger, but something else entirely, as if the world had created a being of such violence and hate.

"Malfoy!" its voice boomed. "I will not be defeated so easily. You will prostrate yourself before me!" And just then, within its grasp, the group saw the unthinkable—it had the book. "The twelfth book is now mine! And I will use it to open up a gateway for my Master to rise again!"

Fear encapsulated Draco. The specter had gotten the book. But it wasn't over, despite how things looked. He brushed sweat from his face with a sleeve from his shirt. Then, raised his wand. "Together!" he told the others.

And everyone raised their wands. This was it. The plan was simple. There was, indeed, strength in numbers. The only thing was needed was an opportunity.

With a cast of a spell, all four of them summoned their magic, the teacher and the students, and engulfed the being within a magical net. The specter howled, then screamed in pain, as the magical net began to attack the specter from within, sucking away its power. It dropped the book. It scratched at the invisible cage with sharp talons in a futile escape, and bolts of lightning seized down upon them, within a powerful maelstrom of wind and violent energy. Snape, in his expertise, erected a shield to protect from the specter's attacks, attacking and defending.

It was then Draco's moment. He had summoned the specter may years ago, and now it was time to send it back from whatever dimension it originated from.

Draco spoke its real name, and its eyes seemed to widen in disbelief. Draco had known its real name all along, but didn't want to speak it, saving it for a moment like this. "Begone! Return to whence you came, never to return! Your power is severely diminished!"

"No!" The specter shouted. "I won't be denied! We have waited much too long!"

But it was not to be, and a portal opened up near to it, and tentacles of an unusual light wrapped around it, like a cocoon, pulling it into the dimension rift, as it struggled against the might of the four wizards, its own weakness, erstwhile cursing them all! The rift swallowed the specter, and then shut. But Draco believed he could hear the last visage of its influence inside his mind.

You'll never be rid of me, Malfoy, because your malice is like a beacon for me…

But then, it was gone. But was it truly gone?

Draco dropped to his butt and let out a heavy sigh. Potter and Weasley let one out, too.

Snape walked over to the book and retrieved it from the ground. He brushed it off. "Quite an ordeal," he said, as if it were nothing important. "This will be put in a safe place, where nothing like that will ever have an opportunity to use it again."

"Why not just destroy it, sir?" Ron said.

"One does not just destroy history," Snape said snidely. "One learns from it, so future mistakes" —he eyed Malfoy— "and not repeated by immune upstarts."

Draco looked at Snape and then looked away abashed. "I'm sorry, sir," he said.

Harry Potter extended a hand to Draco again. He smiled, winked, and said, "Not upstarts, sir," he said, "but to those who wish to be great."

Draco produced a genuine smile, and then took Potter's hand. But, all of a sudden, Draco began to sink into the ground, and he did so quickly, chest high, pulling Potter down.

Harry unwittingly let go, and collapsed to his knees.

"What the hell's happening?" Draco shouted.

Snape produced a small smirk, as he cupped the book under an arm. "The ground beneath you, Mr. Malfoy, once housed this book," he said. "Have you no concept of Displacement?"

Harry looked at Draco. "He means, the space where the book resided," he said. "The earth had to fill the gap, despite being small. But since the earth is also soft, and the hole was quite large, with all the added moisture from the area, you sank in your own trap."

Ron burst out laughing.

Draco scowled at him. "Shut it, you—" And he called him a disparaging remark.

Ron frowned. "Not cool, Malfoy, and after everything we did to help you."

Draco looked away. Harry Potter smiled despite the situation. "Well, Potter," Draco said, his voice cool. "Are you going to help dig me out?"

Harry stood up, and with a hand to his chin, mused, and smiled. "It's your hole, Malfoy, maybe you should dig yourself out of it."

Draco grit his teeth. "What do you mean? Help me, you idiot!"

Snape stepped forward. "Mr. Potter is correct, Mr. Malfoy," he spoke with a serious tone. "Even though the specter is gone, you caused a lot of trouble—a hole of your own design, both literally and metaphorically. And you kept this from everyone for many years."

"Please don't tell my father, he'll kill me! Are you going to banish me?"

Snape looked down at Draco, and Draco gulped. "No, Mr. Malfoy…Why would I do such a terrible thing to a talented student. Like I said, you are powerful wizard, and a gifted one. But you're not going to get off scot-free. We'll discuss your punishment later. However," he said with a thin smile, "best start digging. It'll start getting dark soon. And many, nocturnal, and unusual animals do come out to feed. Potter, Weasley, do not help him."

Snape picked up Draco's wand. "You'll get this back later, Mr. Malfoy. See me when you're through," and then he walked away.

Harry and Ron chuckled.

Draco sneered. "I don't care! I still hate you, Potter," he spat. "You, too, Weasley! Specter or not, I'll show you all that I'm the better wizard!"

"And I'll be waiting for that day," Harry said with a thin smile, as he and Ron walked away.

Draco looked around, his eyes darted everywhere, and he started to push back sand, digging out, as the sun quickly began to set. He used his malice and anger to dig fast. It fuelled him.

And he swore vengeance towards anyone who got in his way to be the best wizard!

END