The Rise of the God-Emperor

CH 63: The Warden of Ravens Hold

Draco Malfoy stood at the top of the winding staircase in the heart of HMP Shepton Mallet, surveying the cold stone corridors below. The prison had once housed Muggle convicts, but now, under Draco's control, it served as a holding facility for Muggle scientists and soldiers—those who had been captured during the magical raids orchestrated by Harry Potter and his allies. Draco's job was to ensure they stayed locked away, neutralized, and completely under control.

The prison itself had not changed much structurally since it had been overtaken. The grey, weathered stone walls and iron bars still gave it the feel of an ancient, forbidding place. But Draco had made a few key adjustments. Magical wards now surrounded the entire perimeter, and enchanted barriers kept the Muggle captives from even thinking about escape. No one left this prison without Draco's permission.

His role as Warden had become more natural than he ever thought possible. The weight of responsibility, the control—it suited him in ways he hadn't anticipated.

Morning Inspections

Draco's mornings began early, long before the sun fully rose over the Somerset countryside. He dressed in his tailored black uniform, its design practical but fitted with silver accents—commanding respect without needing to demand it. Walking through the narrow corridors, he was followed by Flint, his lieutenant and former Slytherin companion.

Together, they moved methodically through the prison's multiple wings, conducting inspections of both the Muggle prisoners and the guards under Draco's command. He had put together a strong team, many of whom were former Slytherins, along with a few veterans from the Second Wizarding War who had found their place in Draco's ranks. There was no tolerance for slackness or weakness here.

Draco glanced into one of the cells where a Muggle soldier was sitting on the edge of a thin cot, staring blankly at the wall. His scraggly beard and gaunt face showed the wear of captivity. The soldier barely noticed Draco's presence, and when he did, his eyes filled with quiet fear.

"Any trouble from him?" Draco asked Flint, who was looking down at a clipboard with security notes.

"None," Flint replied with a shrug. "They've learned their place."

Draco nodded, continuing down the row of cells. Each prisoner was kept in isolation, where they could do no harm, their Muggle technology confiscated and useless within the magically warded walls.

As they passed another block, Nott, one of Draco's top lieutenants, joined them. "The scientists are restless again, Warden. The one from the lab you raided last month—he keeps demanding to speak to someone."

Draco stopped, his jaw tightening. "He'll get nothing from us. Keep him locked down. If he tries anything, report to me immediately."

Nott grinned. "Already done. No one's getting out of here on my watch."

A Day of Command

By midday, Draco had returned to his office, a spacious yet austere room in the administrative wing of the prison. The desk was cluttered with reports from the various guards stationed throughout the facility. One report in particular caught Draco's attention—intelligence from Harry's latest mission. It was related to new Muggle devices confiscated during the raids.

He hadn't seen Harry in weeks, but the Warden knew that Potter had a lot on his plate. There was a grudging respect between the two of them now, even though their past as enemies still lingered beneath the surface. Potter was the one who had put Draco in charge of this prison, and Draco intended to prove his worth.

He leaned back in his chair, contemplating the next move. The Muggle-control amulets, the Markers, had been tested successfully, and Draco was waiting for the word to implement them here. His job wasn't just about containment—it was about breaking down the Muggles' resistance and ensuring they could never pose a threat to the magical world again.

A sharp knock interrupted his thoughts, and Marcus Flint entered the room, saluting with a smirk. "Warden, there's been an incident in Block C. One of the Muggles got into a fight with another prisoner. Thought you'd want to take care of it personally."

Draco narrowed his eyes. "Let's go."

The Incident

Block C was one of the more heavily secured sections of the prison, where the most dangerous Muggle captives were kept. As Draco and Flint arrived, they found two Muggles—one a burly soldier and the other a gaunt scientist—shouting at each other from opposite sides of their cells. The magical barriers prevented them from touching one another, but the tension was palpable.

Draco's expression darkened as he approached. "What's going on here?"

The burly soldier, his face bruised from the scuffle, glared at Draco. "You can't keep us locked up like this. We're human beings, not your prisoners of war!"

Draco raised an eyebrow, his voice calm but icy. "You lost that right when you started experimenting on magical children and using collars to control witches and wizards. You're not here to negotiate. You're here to serve your sentence."

The scientist, still huddled in the corner of his cell, looked at Draco with fear but didn't say a word. He knew better.

"Keep them separated," Draco said, turning to Flint. "Increase the ward strength. If either of them causes trouble again, I want them in solitary for the week."

Flint nodded and called for the guards to reinforce the wards. Draco lingered a moment longer, his cold gaze fixed on the prisoners. "You're lucky we're giving you the courtesy of a cell. Keep testing me, and you'll regret it."

The soldier glared back but said nothing as Draco left the block.

An Evening of Planning

By evening, Draco was back in his office, reviewing the plans for additional security measures around the prison. He had sent several reports to Harry, detailing the progress they had made in securing the facility and controlling the prisoners. He also made sure to include notes on the Markers—the Muggle-control amulets that would soon be tested on the most dangerous captives.

As he leaned over the map of the prison, his quill scratching against the parchment, Draco felt a strange sense of satisfaction. He had never imagined himself in a position of authority like this, especially over a place like HMP Shepton Mallet. But the more time he spent here, the more he realized how much he thrived in this environment. He had control—over the prisoners, over the guards, and over the daily operations of the facility.

And with every day that passed, his respect for Harry's vision grew stronger.

A knock on the door pulled Draco from his thoughts. Nott entered, his expression serious.

"Everything's in order, Warden," Nott said, placing a new report on Draco's desk. "But we've received word that more prisoners will be arriving soon. Muggles from the latest raid in London."

Draco smirked. "Good. We have room."

Nott hesitated, then added, "And Potter has asked for an update on the amulets. He wants to know when you'll be ready to test them on the new arrivals."

Draco nodded, leaning back in his chair. "Tell Potter that we'll be ready by the end of the week. The Markers will be used on the new prisoners. I want to see how well they respond to control."

Nott grinned. "I'll send the message."

As the door closed behind Nott, Draco allowed himself a moment of satisfaction. HMP Shepton Mallet was under his control, and soon, with the power of the Markers, the Muggle prisoners would be completely broken.

He wasn't the same boy who had once feared the consequences of power. Here, in the heart of the prison, Draco Malfoy was in command.