Inferno | Draco Malfoy

101 | I | Even in the Dark, There is a Fire

We lie on the grass, in a state of complete and utter peace, as our hands intertwine, while we gaze at the magnificent stars overhead. The night sky is a vast canvas, dotted with countless twinkling lights, each one representing a distant sun and symbolising the boundless universe that envelopes us. The dark is undisturbed, with the scent of night-blooming jasmine, and the gentle rustle of leaves that create a soothing symphony.

One constellation, in particular, catches my eye; it resembles a dragon, its long, sinuous body coiling gracefully across the heavens. It radiates with an intensity that captivates my attention, its brilliance almost palpable against the deep indigo backdrop. The stillness of the night envelopes us in serenity, wrapping us in a cocoon of calm, while a gentle breeze caresses my cheek, evoking a blush that warms my skin.

"Rest here, with me, forever." Draco's voice is a soft murmur that blends seamlessly with the whispers of the night.

His smile brightens the darkness, akin to the stars themselves, radiating warmth and affection that sends a flutter through my heart. At that moment, time seems to suspend itself, and the world around us fades into a distant memory, leaving only the two of us and the infinite sky above.

As we turn our heads so that our eyes meet, I perceive the essence of beauty in life reflected in his gaze — a deep connection that surpasses both words and time. It is a bond forged in the quiet moments, in the shared laughter and the unspoken understanding that flows between us like a river of light. I can feel the pulse of the universe in our intertwined fingers, a reminder that we are part of something much greater than ourselves.

"If only forever existed in this lifetime."

I lift my gaze, intrigued by the origin of the voice that had just disrupted our intimate moment, only to be met with the unsettling sight of his unnaturally pale complexion, veins standing out like dark streams against a spectral backdrop, a skeletal face that sends a shiver coursing through me.

His nostrils, reminiscent of a serpent, expand as he draws in the cool night air, while his intense red eyes seem to consume the surrounding light, casting a shadow over us. The air grows thick with an oppressive silence, punctuated only by the sound of my heartbeat, which quickens in response to the palpable dread that envelops me.

"But, indeed, I am the only forever in this lifetime, the sole embodiment of eternity." The Dark Lord's eyes darken, a void of malice. "I am forever, I am eternal." His voice reverberates through the air, each word dripping with a chilling certainty.

He advances toward us, and I grip Draco's hand tightly, seeking comfort in his presence, only to discover that he has vanished, disappeared like a fog as though he never existed, and in the blink of an eye, he's standing beside the Dark Lord, though with his head down in surrender.

Panic surges within me, a desperate need to escape this, but my feet feel rooted to the ground as if the very earth beneath me has conspired to keep me here.

"I am forever, I am eternal." He reiterates his voice a low, sinister whisper that seems to echo in the recesses of my mind. "And this Origin Chest will be mine."

As if summoned by his words, my parents and brother emerge from the shadows, their faces twisted grotesquely, contorted by an unnatural force that renders them unrecognisable. They approach me with an unsettling grace, their movements are fluid yet disjointed, as if they are merely marionettes being pulled by invisible strings.

"Mum? Dad? Camden?" I call out, my voice trembling as I retreat, scrambling to rise to my feet. "MUM? DAD? CAMDEN? IT'S ME! ADRIA!" My pleas hang in the air, swallowed by the darkness that surrounds us, but they do not respond. Instead, their eyes glint with an otherworldly hunger, a desire that chills me to the bone.