Draco's confidence and focus were starting to return now that he wasn't worried about his throat getting ripped out or his wand turned against him. Black's feral episode seemed to have passed, and besides if this all went wrong again, he could just take off the ring again banishing Black to whatever realm he existed in. But it seemed like Black might actually listen to him. Time to determine if this ring was of any use.
"Tell you everything?" Draco scoffed, "You're the one stuck in a ring, you should be telling me 'everything'! How did you die?"
"I don't know." Black spat through clenched teeth.
"What are you then?"
"I don't know."
"How are you appearing before me then?"
"I don't know!" Black's wild look was creeping back into his eyes.
"What do you know? You're probably just an after image. Nothing more than a portrait." Draco moved to remove the ring off his finger.
"Wait! Please, I'm not really dead. You can't just get rid of me! I remember who I am, more than any portrait could." Draco paused his movements. He did seem a little too conscious. His initial burst of emotion and his forced neutral expression would be an unusual range for portrait or ghost.
"But apparently you don't remember your death. That seems pretty key to me."
Black scowled. "My body is dead. Or it probably is. My soul must have split into this ring before my body died."
Draco felt a little sick to his stomach. "You think your soul is in this ring?" It made his fingers itch.
"Yes. I don't know how I have this physical, well less physical and more visual form, but I know my soul is alive. You can't destroy it." Black was certain in his response, but Draco was going to call him on this bullshit.
"You can't possibly know that! And what am I supposed to do with the ring then?" Draco flashed the ring in front of Black. "I don't fancy being haunted the rest of my life."
"Help bring me back then." Draco opened his mouth and closed it again. Black continued to stare at Draco. He was serious.
"You're mad! Bring someone back from the dead? Your body was never found. How do you suppose I go around doing that?"
Black frowned at that. "How do you know my body wasn't found? You clearly know who I am but we've never met, I am sure of it. What year is it?"
Draco hesitated. This was going to be a bit jarring for the man, "1995." Black involuntarily flinched. "It's July 1995."
Draco started to wonder if a soul without a body could be sick. Black's face was tight and it took him much longer to respond.
"I- What happened to the Dark Lord."
"He's returned." Draco felt smug being privy to that piece of information.
"Returned?" Black asked, confused.
Black had probably died well before the Dark Lord vanished. Time for Draco to enjoy the feeling of knowing more . "He disappeared 14 years ago. Trying to kill Potter, but-"
"Potter? What's Potter got to do with it?" Black spoke quickly.
"He killed the Dark Lord, or weakened him. Potter was kidnapped last year and he was revived somehow."
"Is Potter okay?" He was just like the others, so concerned about precious Potter.
"Of course. He always seems to weasel out of anything." Draco let the bitterness drip from his tone. Potter was so damned arrogant.
"He always has." Black responded, but that didn't seem right. Was Potter even born while Black was alive?
"Did you even know Potter?"
"Of course. I went to school with him."
"Harry Potter?"
"Harry?" A beat of silence as the truth dawned on him. "What happened to James?"
"Dead. The dark Lord killed him and the Mudblood before trying to kill Harry." Black took a step back and fists clenching. Draco was shocked by the new emotion on Black's face. He looked regretful, and Draco didn't know what to say.
"You shouldn't call Lily that," was all Black said quietly, breaking the silence.
"But that's what she was. A mudblood. What are you? A blood traitor?"
"No. Quite the opposite."
Draco snorted. "Oh so you just liked to muddy your own blood? What did you have something for her?"
Draco had said it as a dig, but Black's quirked upwards. "Again. The opposite."
"Well, honestly I am growing bored of this conversation. I have nothing else to get out of this. So what if you're a soul in a ring? You can't hurt me. You have no leverage."
"Lacking the ability to cause physical pain doesn't mean I have no leverage. Let's make a deal."
"What kind of deal?"
"Knowledge. I not only have years of schooling over you, but I served the Dark Lord. I know things you can only dream of."
"What good will it do if you are dead?"
"As I believe I've already mentioned, I am not really dead. You should really pay better attention. I'll start simple. A question for a question."
Draco held his tongue, this deal would certainly favour him. "How do I know you'll be truthful?"
"The same way I'll know you aren't lying. There is no reason not to. I want to gain your trust and it's not like I can use any of the information you give me."
"Any question goes?"
"Sure. You may start."
"How does the ring work?" Draco immediately shot off his question.
"It's a series of runes cast with the intent of saving someone. It absorbs any threat to the wearer. Apparently, if the wearer is in mortal peril the ring will absorb the soul rather than letting it die."
"Apparently? You didn't know that would happen?"
Black refused to answer and Draco scoffed, realising what a stickler Black was going to be for the rules of a question. "My turn. You said the Dark Lord returned. How?"
"I don't really know."
"Then tell me what you do know."
"There was a triwizard tournament last year, Potter snuck his way into it. In the last trial, he returned from the trial bloody, clutching a dead body and claiming he was back." Draco could still picture the sight, it made his stomach clench uncomfortably. Draco asked his next question.
"How can I make a ring like this?"
"You can't. What's happened in the last 15 years? Stick to major political and cultural events."
"That's a bit unfair. 15 years of information when all I got was a 'you can't'?"
"You agreed to the rules." Draco ground his teeth.
"Fine. Potter vanquished the Dark Lord like I said. No one knows how, but it must've been some fluke; the boy is remarkably unoriginal. The death eaters were disbanded, all the foolish ones landed themselves in Azkaban. I can give you names if you want. Canada won the world cup. Fudge became minister. I don't know what else you want to know. Potter killed a professor? The chamber of secrets was reopened?"
Draco had said those last two to get rise out of Black, but his face betrayed nothing. Damn, he was good at keeping his cards close. "That's fine for now."
"Why can't I make a ring like this?"
"It needs to be made by someone who loves you."
"Oh." That was unexpected. Who had made it for Black?
"Who is the current Heir Black?"
"Probably Sirius though I doubt anyone would really consider an escaped convict an Heir."
"Escaped convict? What did he do?" Black's tone was urgent again.
Draco just sneered in response. "If I wear this ring will it protect me?"
"Probably not. It was made for me and me only. What did Sirius do and where is he now?"
"He betrayed the Potters and killed 13 muggles and a wizard. He escaped Azkaban two years ago. No one knows where he is, obviously, or else he would've been carted back off to Azkaban."
Black was good at schooling his emotions, but there was something pinched in his expression.
"What was it like being a death eater?"
"I'm done with questions."
Draco groaned. "You came up with this deal. I barely learned anything!"
"Then you should ask better questions. I want a new deal."
"What?"
"I want you to wear this ring. Not always, but when you are awake."
"It's going to be a real pain to have you around, so why should I?" Although Draco knew he didn't quite mean that.
"What do you want then? I can help you. I'll teach you spells. I'll tell you family secrets."
Draco could only think of one thing he wanted right now. "You served the Dark Lord right?"
"Yes."
"Then I want to know how to impress him."
"Is that really what you want?" Black sounded a tad doubtful.
"Of course! He's returned, and I need to prove myself. My father has been training me for this for years."
"You have a deal then. I'll teach you how to serve the Dark Lord, you wear this ring. Everyday."
"For how long?"
"Most of the day. I'll make it worth your while."
"Alright deal." Draco held out his hand. Then pulled it back immediately when he realised he was being foolish. Black couldn't exactly shake in this condition.
"No, wait," Black stepped forward and extended his hand. "We should test the limits. We should figure out what I can do in this form."
Grimacing Draco reached out, and as anticipated the hands went right through each other. "Did you feel anything?"
"No."
"Me neither." He turned and walked to the other side of the room, at roughly 5 metres out he stopped suddenly. He took a step to the left, and then the right, clearly not able to move forward. He kept trying despite it and was leaning forward at an impossible angle, until his left leg slipped out from under him, he collapsed onto the floor. Not a sound was made when he hit the ground. Draco let out a laugh.
Black shot him a glare. "I guess this is the radius. I can't make myself go further."
"By all means keep trying though. It's quite amusing."
He shot Draco a look while walking to the wall beside him. "Why can't I walk through this wall," He pushed both palms flat against the wall, "but I can walk through you?"
"How am I supposed to know? It's your ring." Black didn't seem to actually expect an answer as he tried his luck with everything else in the room. He couldn't grab anything with his hands. He couldn't walk though any big furniture. Surprisingly, he could sit in chairs and on tables.
Lounging in the armchair by Draco's bed he said, "Take off the ring, and put it back on after 30 seconds."
Draco did, also curious as to what would happen. Black had disappeared from the chair but reappeared 3 metres away standing again, facing Draco.
"What did it feel like?" Draco asked genuinely curious.
"It's hard to explain. It's kinda like passing out. It feels like I wasn't here, but it also feels like no time passed. It's a little disorientating."
Draco grinned unable to help himself and slid the ring off and immediately back on again. Black flashed in and out of existence. He looked much less pleased.
"Don't do that again today and I'll tell you a curse that sews a person's mouth shut." That was exactly what Draco wanted to hear. Having Black around was looking to be the best gift he'd ever had and all he had to do was keep annoying him into giving up his secrets.
"Deal."
"It's called Semosa Clausum. If you keep the ring on till you go to bed, I'll teach you the movement. Now, we need to find out if others can see me like this."
He really shouldn't have worn the ring to dinner. Black was staring open mouthed at his parents. He claimed he already knew Lucius was his father and Narcissa was his mother ('Who else could give birth to your blonde hair'), but apparently the knowledge didn't do much to temper the shock of seeing people he thought he knew age 15 years overnight.
Thankfully, his parents couldn't see Black. They kept his eyes on Draco alone and when Black literally called out "Can you hear me?" they gave no indication that they could. Draco was grateful he wouldn't have to gibe up this knowledge yet.
As Draco sat, determined to ignore Black's presence, his father spoke. "A letter came for you today." His eyes jerked to his father, who met his gaze.
"I assume my Hogwarts letter?"
"Indeed." He summoned the letter and passed it to Draco. It was thicker than usual. "Open it."
Draco peeled open the wax seal. Unfolding the parchment, a familiar badge dropped into his lap. Behind him Black snorted.
"I have been made a Prefect."
"I knew you would." His mother sounded proud.
His father nodded. "Things will be different this year at Hogwarts." Draco met his eye again. "My colleague will be your defence professor. The ministry will not stand for Dumbledore's nonsense anymore."
"So the Dark Lord finally got his hold into the ministry." Black sounded bitter and Draco glanced back at him.
"What are you looking at? Stand straight. What have I taught you about your nervous ticks?"
"They are unfitting for a Malfoy, sir."
"Correct. You've been glancing around all night. Come here." Draco stood and stood next to his father. "Turn."
"Lucius, we are at dinner!" His mother exclaimed, but as expected his father ignored her. Draco turned his back on his father.
The first stinging hex made him jolt. "Stay still."
Black walked behind him. "He always has been an unpleasant git hasn't he. Getting off on others' pain."
Draco pulled off the ring. He couldn't have distractions. His father fired another curse. Draco didn't move.
"Good. Again." Draco had tears filling his eyes by the time it was over, but he refused to let them slide down his face.
"Being a Prefect will take time. And I expect you to get involved with Dolores Umbridge. She will be your ally. You will not let your OWLs suffer in light of these responsibilities. Do you understand your expectations?"
"Yes father."
"Dismissed."
"I think we should make a deal." Black was clearly taken aback by the sudden shift in environment. This was the first time Draco had worn the ring since last night. Black has last seen Draco getting taught a lesson at dinner, now it was midday in his bedroom. To his credit, he seemed to take it in stride.
"What kind of deal?"
"How many OWLs did you get?"
"9. Transfiguration, Charms, Herbology, Potions, Defense, History of Magic, Astronomy, Care of Magical Creatures, Ancient Runes."
"Help me get O's on those nine, and I'll help you get your body back."
"You want me to help you cheat?" Draco's defensiveness flared.
"It's not cheating. I'm still the one taking the test."
"Yeah, just with me whispering to you all the answers."
"Are you refusing?"
"No. I accept. I'd be a fool not to. I thought it would be much harder to get you to agree to getting my body back." Draco grinned. "I assume this has something to do with your father?"
"No. Why?" He inwardly grimaced at how defensive he sounded.
"It's just a little suspicious timing is all. The last thing I saw was him cursing you because you flinched. I've seen a lot of punishments in my days and even I gotta say that's a little extreme."
"It's not fitting for someone of my standing." Draco spat through clenched teeth.
"Okay sure. Listen, I get it. Everyone has their "thing". My mother's thing was smiling. So what if Lucius's is flinching."
"Smiling?"
"She liked us stoic." Black said bitterly. "How bad did it get?"
"How bad did it get?"
"Do I really have to spell it out? Did Lucius go beyond stinging?"
"No."
"Good, then he is better than my mother, if quite a bit dramatic still."
"He doesn't hurt me."
Black laughed humorously. "A hot bath will help if it's still bothering you."
"I'm fine."
It took 10 days before Kreacher appeared. Black and he had settled into a nice routine, both would get bits of information here and there and Draco would take the ring off before dinner each night. Draco was starting to get a little worried something had happened to the elf, ten days was the longest he'd ever gone. Black was reading the prophet over his shoulder, when the telltale crack filled the air.
"Master Malfoy." Kreacher rasped in greeting.
Black rushed forward. "Kreacher!" The elf clearly couldn't see or hear him.
"Master Malfoy, I have news."
"Tell him I'm here!" Black shouted. "He cared for me the last few years, he would know what happened to me!"
Draco grimaced. He didn't really fancy telling the elf that his long beloved master was not as dead as he thought. Could the elf cry?
"Master Malfoy?"
"Please Draco." Black sounded a little desperate.
Swayed by the rare showing of emotion from Black he asked the elf, "Kreacher. What do you know about this ring?"
Kreacher's eyes widened. "You dare to wear Master Regulus's ring?!" He was angry.
"Wait! I just wanted to try it on -"
"That ring is for Master Regulus only!" The elf started forward, "It was made for him!"
"I - calm down I am trying to explain."
"Take it off!" Kreacher was going to lunge at him.
"Kreacher, calm down!" Black shouted at the elf, he was still unable to hear. Kreacher lunged then and grabbed Draco's hand attempting to forcibly remove the ring.
"Draco!" Black was panicked. "Tell him that you know I killed my father."
Without giving too much thought behind the words, Draco yelled, "He killed his father!" The elf stopped his attempt to remove Draco's finger. "Regulus killed his father!"
Kreacher dropped off him and took a step back. "How do you know Black secrets! Kreacher is the only one who knows and did not tell you."
Draco, still catching his breath, responded, "That's what I've been trying to tell you, you worthless thing. Regulus's soul is in this ring. I can talk to him."
Kreacher shook his head slightly, "Kreacher has worn that ring many times trying to remember young Regulus. Kreacher saw nothing."
"Oh Kreacher…" Black knelt next to the elf. It was pathetic how much he seemed to care for the thing.
"Well, he's here now." Kreacher looked around the room.
"Ask him what happened to me," Draco turned to Black. "Tell him I remember when I lent him to the Dark Lord. He returned broken. We… discovered things. And I don't remember past that."
Draco relayed what Black had said.
Kreacher's eyes were wet. "Master Regulus went to where the Dark Lord hides things. He drank a very evil potion. He tried to drink the water. But there were creatures. And Master started to drown and Kreacher was ordered away." Kreacher was openly sobbing now. Draco was mildly surprised that the ill-tempered thing could show any emotion other than disgust.
"Comfort him Draco!" Black said, pitying gaze on the elf. "He gave us important clues."
"I'm not doing that." Draco retorted
"Do you understand how powerful elves are? Probably not. Be his friend and he will do just about anything for you." Draco glared.
"Erh, Kreacher, Black says to calm down. It'll be alright, I am helping him get his body back."
"You is bringing Regulus back?!"
"I'm trying to."
Before Kreacher could respond, his father barged into his room.
"I thought I heard this creature. Why didn't you alert me immediately? Have you forgotten your task?"
Draco lowered his head, he really should've anticipated this. "Sorry, father."
"You will not forget again. Rectararius." The spell yanked Draco's head, spine and shoulders into perfect alignment.
"With me Kreacher," His father demanded. Kreacher looked at Draco, who nodded but was screaming with his eyes 'He doesn't know don't tell him'. Miraculously Draco got the sense that the elf understood.
After the pair left, Black quietly said, "I can hardly believe that the elf is still alive."
With the silence broken, Draco responded with, "You killed your father?" Black pulled his lips into a line. He wasn't going to deny it. "Why?"
"For that, you'd need another deal and I don't think you have anything to bargain for that would be worth it."
Later that night, with the ring on his bed stand and his fathers curse sending aching stabs into his shoulders, Draco wondered how bad it would have to get before Draco would even consider turning against his father.