"We all have such fateful objects - it may be a recurrent landscape in one case, a number in another - carefully chosen by the gods to attract events of specific significance for us."
― Vladimir Nabokov, Lolita
Draco sat in his leather armchair, squinting his eyes shut as he pinched the bridge of his nose.
It was obvious. Somewhat.
He exhaled slowly, opened his eyes, and rested his face in his palm as he looked at the books surrounding him. He invaded his father's private Library, grabbing anything that so much as alluded to prophecy's.
For the most part, he only discovered information he already knew. However, he did manage to acquire some new information regarding them.
Such as there are different types.
The first, he learned, was called The Animus. Usually it involved one person, and it didn't bind them to anything or anyone.
The second, which is what he concluded he had experienced, was The Animi. Always involving two or more people, The Animi prophecy binded the two souls together until the prophecy has been fulfilled. He couldn't avoid it by any means. He would be drawn to her very essence.
Draco groaned.
His shoulders shrank slightly, eyeing a bottle of scotch.
He had concluded three things.
One, the Animi undoubtedly, referred to him as the Snake. It was the only logical conclusion considering he had been able to not only hear the prophecy, but had felt the searing pain of the binding magic.
Two, He was going to have an Heir that would bring Voldemort to his knees.
Three, the mother of his heir was, undeniably, on the side of light.
Draco stood, grabbed the bottle of scotch and went to stand by the bay window, reliving his conversation with The Dark Lord mere hours ago.
xx
"My faithful…endearing….servant…you just unknowingly handed me the key to winning this war." Voldemort murmured, his eyes surveying the young man.
"A child…your heir of all people!" Voldemort laughed "Will be the Light's deliverance?" he shook his head, lips curling in disgust. "Surely we cannot allow this to happen."
Draco was down on one knee before Voldemort, his head hanging. All he could focus on was not losing the contents of his stomach. "Of course not, my Lord. Any child of the Light is no child of mine."
"Then you realize what I'm asking you to do?"
"Yes, I live to serve you and only you."
xx
Draco lifted the bottle and took a long swig of its contents.
Tonight would not be a night of moderation as he contemplated the two options laid before him.
Voldemort commanded him to slaughter his Heir; like a Holy sacrificial lamb, to ensure his throne.
A cold, and bitter laugh escaped his lips. Why was he even acting as if he had a choice? He never did. He gave up that right years ago. The answer was sitting in front of him; mocking him. He would die going down this path. He accepted his fate, and the only thing left to do was put one foot in front of the other with his head held high.
"This means nothing," he whispered hoarsely, turning away from the window and grabbing his travelling cloak. This was nothing but self preservation. Malfoys protected their young, by any means necessary. His mother was an excellent example of this.
Floo powder began seeping through his clenched fist, Slowly raising his head, fire reflected in his defiant eyes.
"Zabini manor." he grounded out.
In that moment, Draco surrendered his soul to the Light to save his son.
xx
"Draco, what a pleasant surprise," Blaise drawled, a smirk gracing his lips. "Come come, do have a seat."
Draco gave a curt nod of acknowledgement before sitting in one of the overly plush, wing backed chairs.
"Should I be safe in assuming this is not a friendly visit?" Blaise questioned, positioning himself in the opposite chair.
"Naturally you'd be correct, old friend." Draco grinned, accepting the glass of liquor from Blaise's house elf.
"Go on, then." Blaise drawled.
Draco's jaw tightened briefly. If Blaise had any suspicions, he would be dead by morning. "I am working on a mission for The Dark Lord. I am in need of your...services." he began, his words slow and careful. "We need a false raid leaked to the Order. Specifically, I need Kingsley."
Blaise nodded. "So you need a false lead planted, basically?"
"Yes, precisely."
"When do you need this by?"
"Friday. I will be acting alone."
"I cannot make any promises, but I'll do my best. And this has been approved by The Dark Lord?"
Draco glanced down, adjusting his cuff links. "Of course. Give me a bit more credit, yeah? No one is really daft enough to make plans behind his back. That's begging for death."
Blaise eyed him for a moment, swirling the contents of his glass. "Ah, yes, but the desire of power often skews ones rational judgement, no?" he inquired, his brow raising slightly.
Draco stood, his nostrils flared and his chin raised. "If one didn't know better, Blaise, it would sound as if you're accusing me of defying The Dark Lord."
Blaise licked his lips, smirking and stood, clapping Draco in the back. "No, no. Of course not. Simply thinking out loud. Bit uptight though. When's the last time you had a decent rut?"
He smirked, inwardly sighing in relief. "Not in a long while, to say the least."
Blaise furrowed his eyebrows, "There's a revel coming up, considering your new position I can't see why The Dark Lord wouldn't give you first pickings."
Draco's face contorted into one of disgust, dismissing the idea with a shake of his head and a wave of his hand. "You know I like my women willing, Zabini. And those at the revel are hardly considered willing."
"They're there on their own accord," Blaise retorted, crossing his arms.
Draco snorted as he placed his glass down on one of the cherry wood tables. "You and I both know half are filled to the brim with lust potions, and the others are nearly as crazed as my dear Aunt Bella. They simply want to snag a Dark Wizard to ensure their safety and survival. I hardly call that willing."
"No matter. You need a rut soon is all I'm saying." Blaise stated in a matter-of-fact tone. "Now, tell me, am I going to get anymore information out of you regarding this mission?"
Draco felt like informing him to mind his own business-instead, he smiled. "Always the curious one, Blaise. That much hasn't changed about you."
"And I'm delighted to tell you it never will, " he smirked, raising his glass before swinging the burning contents into his mouth.
There was a fat chance in hell he was going to leave Blaise's home without giving him a decent scrap of information, and Draco felt like a fool for even considering he would've been so lucky. "If you want all my secrets Blaise, you'll have to liquor me up." his voice was flat while his hands motioned expectedly towards his empty glass. He watched as Blaise laughed and went to grab one of the glimmering, crystal cases which he suspected was filled to the brim with malt.
"Come then, spill me your darkest tale." Blaise mused, his voice carrying a hint of sarcasm.
If he failed to convince Blaise that he was working under Voldemort's orders-his entire plan would crumble into ash. Voldemort would keep him alive long enough to carry out the prophecy, only to murder the child and stroke his ego. He wouldn't kill him outright. No, no. Draco would be made an example of what happens to traitors. He would be begging for the sweet release of Death.
And Voldemort, being a merciful Lord, would give him just that.
Eventually.
Draco smirked, raising the glass to his lips.
"It's quite simple, really. " He began slowly, eyes intent on Blaise. "Kingsley is the head of the Order. Our Dark Lord wants to ensure a cure for Potter isn't found. I am to bring Shaklebolt here and...gain...this information by any means necessary." He sipped the drink slowly, his eyes sliding shut as he savored the faint sweetness of the beer.
"Ah. And I presume you realize he will not go alone? It would be wise if you didn't attempt this on your own."
Draco's eyes shot open, a look of annoyance etched within the lines on his face. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but you asked me about the mission, no? If you insist on badgering me with useless questions I hardly see the point in me continuing..."
Blaise's eyes narrowed as he tilted his chin up in acceptance.
"Right, then. I will be bringing a few men, naturally. Only as a precaution if I am unable to single out Shacklebolt. The Dark Lord isn't interested in any others except Shacklebolt, so whoever he brings can be taken out-" Draco snapped his fingers, a small scrap of paper and quill appeared before him. He snagged the materials and scribbled down a pair of digits.
55°57′11″N 3°11′20″W
"-and this is where the 'raid' will be taking place. If you as so much mess up one coordinate The Dark Lord will have your head served on a silver platter, do you understand? Finding Saint Potter and ridding of him once and for all is essential in ensuring our Lord's reign." Draco said slowly, surveying the man before him as he handed him the coordinates, and stood.
"Friday."
Draco nodded. "Friday."
Blaise cleared his throat and nodded. "I'll see to it that the false lead is planted."
"Good. I will be in contact soon." Draco drawled, before going to the fireplace and flooing to Malfoy Manor.
xx
Draco exhaled slowly, eyes scanning his bedroom as his facade fell. "Dreamless sleep..." he murmured, heading to his bedside and wrenching open the side-draw, revealing endless, empty bottles of the potion. "Must brew some more.." he groaned, flinging his hand into the back until he gripped a nearly empty bottle. 'This will have to do for tonight.' he thought, his stomach clenching. He ripped the cork free, swung the contents back, and laid on his side, still clothed in his travelling attire.
'I only can pray to the Gods my death will be swift' was the last thought to stumble across his mind before falling into a lull of velvet darkness.
xx
A hooded figure stumbled through the flames, sputtering and knocking over a pile of pots and pans-resulting in nearly every Order member ramming into the cookery, wands drawn. "HALT! Reveal yourself!" Moody roared, his magical eye flicking notoriously as he focused on the crumpled figure.
Slowly, the man stood, his hands in front of him. "I have news." he stated, bringing his hood down.
"They're planning a fake raid to capture Kingsley." Blaise stated, his eyes hard.
To Be Continued...
a/N:
Sorry for the delay. My husband and I had a very brief moment of celebration-We found out I was pregnant. Shortly after finding out, I, sadly, had a chemical pregnancy and we lost the baby. Following DH advice, I'm immersing myself in books and writing.
I also apologize for how flat the first chapter was. This story is going to have a slow build up. Action will start in the next chapter.
Thank you for all the reviews, they mean the world to me :)