Inferno | Draco Malfoy

097 | I | Dangers of an Attempt

Dear Mother and Father,

I have made the difficult decision to forgo my usual plans of returning home for Christmas this year. Instead, I will be celebrating the holiday with my friends. While it saddens me to miss out on the familiar traditions and cherished memories of being home for Christmas, I am grateful for the opportunity to spend quality time with my friends. I will remind you that even though this may not be the Christmas I had envisioned, I am choosing to embrace the present moment and find joy in the simple pleasures of being surrounded by those I hold dear. We will gather around a table, and create many memories that will be treasured for many years to come. As I eagerly await the day when we can all be together again in the future, I am reminded of the importance of adaptability and independence. I am an adult, I will thrive without you. I hope when we meet again, we will be able to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas — togetherness, and gratitude. I look forward to seeing you again in the future.

Yours Truly,
Adriana Harlow

"This is bullshit!"

"It's what the Dark Lord has ordered."

It's presumably been a little over half a day since I've been here, in the cold cellar of the Malfoy Manor. And I've found out that I am not alone in this bizarre predicament.

Mr Ollivander, a wandmaker and seller, and Luna Lovegood, a younger Ravenclaw student whom I am well acquainted with, are here as well, both stating that they have been brought here for one similar purpose — that the Dark Lord wants something from them, or their family, and he will do everything he can to get as much of it.

Of course, this leads me to question what he could possibly want from me, or my family. I, personally, have nothing to offer, no valuable assets to provide, nothing.

"Well, you know what, you can shove this letter right up your arse!—"

Before I had the chance to shred the parchment into pieces, the rat man, whom I discovered to be called Wormtail, swiftly snatched the letter from my grasp through the metal bars.

Reaching my arm out from the bar, I attempt to grab him as I desperately want to get rid of the forged handwritten letter. Yet, the opportunity to get my hands on the absurd letter once more slips through my fingers like sand when Wormtail proceeds to fold it and tuck it away in his tattered pocket, instantly extinguishing any lingering hope within me.

I vigorously rattle the bars that hide me from the outside, the coldness of the metal no longer affecting me as anger rushes through my veins. "Listen here you useless fuck—"

"Your Ladyship, please." Lovegood's voice echoes in the dark cellar, her gentle tone advises me to act wisely while Wormtail hurriedly scurries up the stairs with the stupid letter.

"Run away then!" I kick the ground as I turn around, facing utter darkness once more.

Throughout these past hours, I have tried just about everything to free myself from this place; I've solely relied on my own abilities rather than a wand (as I found out it had been taken away from me by that ratty Wormtail). Despite Lovegood informing me that the cellar has been placed under enchantments and that Mr Ollivander's extensive efforts in trying to break free were all in vain, I persisted.

At first, I searched for secret trapdoors, or passages in general that might lead me to an exit. I examined every inch of the cellar and ran my hands along the stone-cold low ceiling and walls to feel for any irregularities that could be a masked mechanism. I even stomped on the floor, hoping to hear a hollow sound that would indicate a concealed opening. Yet, no matter how thoroughly I inspected the cellar, I found nothing.