Chapter 4
"Nora Ignus Immendo Hasta Imber Restagno!!!"
"Draco?"
"Nora Ignus Immendo Hasta Imber Restagno!"
"Draco!"
"WHAT?" the boy shouted back, "Can't you see I'm busy?"
"What the Hell are you trying to do? That isn't even a real spell. It won't work."
Draco looked at him angrily. "It has to work. If I can't do this then my Father will be killed! It must work. Help me, please!"
"Draco. Your father is too important to the Dark Lord to kill for your failures in blowing something up. Your father must protect himself. You have to look out for yourself right now."
"I don't want him to die! I don't want him to!" the boy started thumping the bed and threw himself down onto it.
"Draco. Are you trying to follow him?"
"Father?"
"Yes"
Draco's eyes narrowed. "I'm not a Death Eater".
"But are you going to be?"
"I don't know. I don't want to be a Death Eater but I don't think I have a choice. I have to save him!"
"Draco. Let me show you something".
Draco raised himself up to face Koli and drew back at the boy's expression. His eyes had turned black and seemed to stare right through him.
"Stop it! Stop it! Dragomir! Stop it!"
"Shush. Close your eyes".
Draco did, glad for a reason not to see those eyes. He saw a stream of images, that weren't his own memories, flicker past his gaze and he couldn't control them.
'Dragomir?'
'Yes. Look at this'.
A man appeared in front of Draco as though he were stood there. Draco stared.
"Orfeo. What do you know about the Malfoys?"
"Very little, My Lord".
"Let me fill you in. There is Lucius. He has been my servant many years. He has his uses in the Ministry and in funding." The red eyed man smirked. "It always makes things easier, don't you agree?" He spoke as though indulging a child. He thought he was.
"It does, My Lord"
"Yes, Lucius has a son. His name is Draco and I want him. He is more wilful than Lucius ever was and I fear he shall get away. I want you to meet him in the next few weeks. I want you to befriend him, show him how much he wants to be here."
"Of course My Lord, but if I may ask, why do you want him?"
"Control, Orfeo. If I have him bonded to my mark I have even more power over his father. Think what a father would do to protect his only son, or indeed what a son would do to protect his father. It is magic at its best, is it not Orfeo? So simple but, oh, it shall be effective."
Koli withdrew from the other boys mind and watched as he slowly opened his eyes.
"I don't know how you did that but … that must mean you are Orfeo. You can't be him; Dumbledore would have a fit".
"I am Orfeo. Dumbledore cannot prevent a little boy from entering school can he? He has no proof of who I am or was. Similarly he has no evidence of what I have done, just rumours. I am not a Death Eater either, Draco."
Koli sat down next to the blonde and held him as sobs escaped him.
"We are all being used", he broke out, "What is he doing to Father?"
"I don't know, but I don't think you should go around getting branded or blowing whole cities up just yet, eh?"
Once Draco had settled Koli went to the owlery and began a short letter.
'Father,
I trust you are in the same situation as when I left. Beware the snake's grip on the dragon for it is tight and I am trying to unravel the leash from its collar.
I am sure you already know that I am a serpent. I was pretty much given free reign and I guess the snakes suit me.
Pass word to the Prince that perhaps the son of a Prince would make a good ally in these dark times when the light continues to blind us, for he is confused.
I hope you are well and that we shall see each other soon.
I plan to escape to the merry old town next weekend and I hope perhaps to find you skulking there. You never could resist a drink of firewhisky even as early as noon.
Son by honour
Orfeo Knight'
The letter was sent immediately and Koli decided to go to the Library. He did not make it though as along the way he found a message written on the wall.
"The Chamber of Secrets has been opened. Enemies of the Heir Beware"
A few Hufflepuffs had followed him down the corridor and they stopped dead in their tracks.
"It's written in … blood!"
"What do you expect? Whipped cream?" Koli snapped. He ignored them and walked up the petrified cat that was hanging by its rigid tail and touched it to see if he could give it life.
"YOU! You've killed my cat!"
Koli didn't acknowledge the man instead feeling for the blood flow in the cat but was shocked to find none at all but it was definitely alive.
"Your cat is not dead Mr Filch and I am not responsible."
"I'll kill you!"
"Argos", came the soft voice of the Headmaster.
'Oh joy, the cavalry's arrived.' More teachers and students were rapidly materializing.
"Mrs Norris is not dead, but petrified, Argos. No student here could have done this." This statement did not stop Dumbledore eyeing the boy distrustfully.
"Ah, I thought so" announced Lockhart who had just skipped into view. "Such a shame, I could have saved her. If only I had been there". He looked at Filch with sympathy. "I must get back to my mail. I don't want to get behind" and off he went. Incredulous looks followed him.
"If I might speak, Headmaster', said Snape who stepped out from the shadows.
"Dragomir may have simply been in the wrong place at the wrong time".
"I don't recall him being at the Feast, Severus".
"Headmaster, I have spent the evening with my fellow Slytherins in our common room. I have never been much for gorging myself and it was only now that I decided I needed to get some air. I was heading to the Library."
"Still, the circumstances are suspicious".
"Innocent until proven guilty, Headmaster".
"My cat has been petrified and I want to see some punishment!!!" Filch howled sounded very much like his beloved cat.
"And you shall Argos, but it might be more effective if it were administered to the correct person."
The caretaker gently took down his cat cradling the stiff form in his hands and trudged away to the infirmary, muttering all the while.
The headmaster stayed behind looking at the words and glancing at the Slytherin second year.
"It is not like you to interfere, Severus".
"My Slytherins get blamed for all manner of things. If they are the cause then it serves them right for getting caught, but if innocent then I will do what I can for them. You know that Headmaster."
"Of course, Severus. What do you know of this Chamber, boy?"
"It's a chamber rumoured to contain a monster. It is thought to have been built by Salazar Slytherin and as such only his true heir can open it."
"You know an awful lot about this, boy". The Headmaster's eyes glinted.
"It is all within the pages of 'Hogwarts, a History'. I read it thoroughly because I was coming later than others. I know that it is always described as being a legend but I know that you had problems with this sort of thing about fifty years ago. I imagine it had something to do with Voldemort back then. Who knows who he's got working for him here? It could be anyone."
"I think we both know who opened this chamber, who wrote these words, boy. I will have no more trouble from you. I know who you are! You work for Voldemort and you shall rot with him in the end. He will not win, and neither shall you!"
"Headmaster, you are mistaken. I do not work for Voldemort. I have no intention of rotting anywhere least of all amidst Death Eaters, no offence Sir", he hastily added to Snape, "and you know nothing about me."
"And how would you know of Professor Snape's mistakes?"
"Because I saw his mark when I went to attend the meeting; he didn't realise I had arrived. I know he works for you so what does it matter? You should not judge me so harshly."
Dumbledore looked a little confused but carried on with his accusations.
"You are Orfeo!"
"And who is that?"
"You work for Voldemort!"
"From what I hear Orfeo is missing in action. Voldemort seems to be under the impression that you have stolen him. I suggest you judge me on what you know and not on your strange speculations".
Koli decided to head back to the dorm. The library could wait; Draco would be interested in these happenings.
A/N: My Latin is horrendous so that was supposed to say something along the lines of 'immense fire shower to overflow town' but it probably didn't. Apologies.