𝐒𝐔𝐌𝐌𝐄𝐑 𝐎𝐅 𝐖𝐈𝐒𝐃𝐎𝐌

Chapter 5

The Slytherin dungeons were dark, damp and creepy. However, all of these things were beautiful if you were a Slytherin, and in particular one Draco Malfoy. A sweeping look at the common room would reveal the largest and most ornamental stone fireplace in the castle whose fire was never extinguished even during the summer. The crackling fire and dancing flames were reflected off the glass doors of many cabinets that were placed strategically about the Slytherin lair. Massive green velvet drapes with the house crest lined the back wall in mock of a window that could never exist in these dungeons. Many highly decorative wrought iron chandeliers with hundreds of candles hung about the room, which was plenty of light, even in such a dank atmosphere. Yes, it was perfect. Draco lay on the oversized green leather sofa, which was the commanding piece of furniture in the room. Not a soul here to talk to. Yes, it was hell.

There's only so many times you can bear to think of certain things before you become numb. Draco's imminent fate was one of those things. He had dwelled on the knowledge of his connection with Harry Potter for over a year. 'Nothing but a vessel of hatred to him,' Draco thought. 'Why. Why me. What did I ever do to deserve this fate...never good enough....'

When Draco had seen Harry in the Great Hall before lunch, all he could think of was to somehow get away from Hogwarts. Away. Away from Harry. Now after the apparation lesson, and after Draco had finally told Harry about Voldemort's plan to purposely murder him and absorb his magic.... He knew now. He couldn't leave Harry to deal with that alone.

Draco had found out about Voldemort's plan somewhat by accident. After a meeting of Death Eaters at the Malfoy Mansion last year, Draco had wandered into the Library for the remainder of the exquisite Brandy that was passed around and heartily consumed. It was some of the finest Bulgarian Brandy in the world, and Draco had developed quite a taste for it. With the half-empty bottle now in hand, Draco made his way to leave the library when something caught his eye. Up on the topmost shelf of the library a lone book was not flush with the others. Curious to see why this particular book that Draco had never even noticed before stood out; Draco climbed the spiral stairs to the landing so that he could reach it. He put down the Brandy bottle on the landing, and began to flip through the old leather-bound volume. Clearly, the text was in a crude Latin, but Draco could make out the words on the first few pages quite easily.

Flipping through the rough pages Draco saw intricate drawings of an altar with a victim lying lifelessly. The symbols on the side of the altar were harder to recognize. The victim's slashed arm was draped over the side of the altar and a tiny stream of blood ran down the arm and dripped off a finger into a golden cup. Above the victim’s head was some sort of mist, maybe a spirit or a soul drawn. The spirit was trying to escape a large crackled black hand belonging to the one behind the altar. He was shadowed in all black and was draped in a hooded cloak but his eyes gleamed from under the dark hood. In his other hand was a dagger.

With his interested piqued, Draco decided to take the book back to his room for further study. Not to raise any suspicion, he found another similar sized book from a bottom shelf and made the switch so no one would know he had the book until he decided to switch it back.

Draco studied the pages for over a week and was quite pleased with his Latin translations. However, the pleasure of that feat was overshadowed by fear and dread at the realization of what mysteries the book held. The Ritual of the Bonding. Further study revealed to be the chosen vessel of the Child of Light, a fact that, to put it lightly, angered him to no end. Of course, his father would have to have known of Draco's ill fate, having placed Draco there himself. When Harry Potter was born the signal of the arrival of the Child of Light was seen in the hall of demon god Arrydon. An everlasting candle was to burn with a red flame in the holiest chamber of the temple. The Deidras, or the priests, there who tended the flame day and night saw and recorded the day and time the flame changed into a glowing green. The Child of Light was born.