Lumos

23| Useless Prophecies

"Once upon a time, there was a little girl named Elvira Steele. She had the darkest eyes and little curls in her hair, and there's was always a smile on her face. She was a very responsible little girl," the woman said, tugging on a lock of her daughter's hair.

"That's me!" the six year old piped up. "Are you talking about me, Mummy?"

Serena Steele's mouth fell open. "Well, how did you find that out, El?"

The girl pressed a finger to her lips. "It's a secret."

* * *

When I finally came to, the sun was shining through the curtains. Everything seemed almost normal for a moment. I stretched my arms.

I lay on a huge bed with plush pillows and the heaviest blanket I'd ever felt. I squinted around the room, trying to figure out where I was.

I spotted another person in the room. Draco Malfoy lay draped across the sofa, his arm thrown over his eyes. His blond hair was a mess. One of his legs stretched across the long sofa, the other brushing the ground just like his right arm. His fingers curled inward against the marble floor.

He was wearing a different set of clothes; a crisply ironed white button down shirt with black pants and black freshly polished shoes.

I looked down at my own clothes to find myself wearing the same outfit; Hogwarts's uniform, except it wasn't as dirty before. Mended. Wrinkly, but cleaner-looking. I slipped on my shoes, inching past him.

"And where might you be going?" he mumbled, causing my soul to leave my body for a split second.

"Where am I?" I asked.

"My room, obviously."

Books lined the walls. Shelves and shelves of old, ancient-looking books. "You read books?"

"I have eyes and am literate. So, hopefully, yes, I read books, not light fires with them. What kind of a question is that?" Draco sat up, eyes squinted from the sudden light. So he'd been asleep as well.

"You never seemed too into studies," I said with a shrug.

Malfoy seemed offended. "I frequently placed third in our classes, right behind you and that insufferable know-it-all, Granger. I just never got around to pushing myself harder since I had so much to deal with." He gestured to this room, which was a metaphor (sort of?) for all this Death Eater business. I walked over to him, taking a seat next to Malfoy.

"Why did it have to be you?" I asked. "Your father was available. Bellatrix, obviously. I thought she would've been his first choice to carry out something like this."

"Last year," Draco began to explain slowly, wording his sentences carefully, "my father failed to retrieve the prophecy he was chosen to bring back to the Dark Lord. According to my mother, as I overheard her speaking, the Dark Lord took revenge on my father by sending me to kill Dumbledore, and giving me the Mark."

"So it was because-"

"Yes. It was because you and your nitwitted buffoons for friends didn't hand over that stupid, useless prophecy that I got sucked into all this."

"Three things," I said, counting on my fingers, "one. If it were that important Voldemort wouldn't have punished your father like this. Two; my friends aren't nitwitted or buffoons. They're brilliant. Three . . . why am I waking up in your room?"

"Should I have left you on your parents' front yard, Steele?"

"No. Did I . . ."

"You passed out halfway through the apparition."

I silently cursed under my breath. "Of course."

Suddenly, my heart ached for my parents. I was in dire need of comfort, something I would never receive in this cold place.

"How long do I have to be here?" I asked him. Malloy tapped the inside of his arm again.

"Forever."

"Can't I stay somewhere else?" I asked fearfully. "This is not a place I'd like to spend my summer."

"The Leaky Couldron," Malfoy suggested. "For a few days."

That was a good idea. "And after that?"

"There's no 'after that', Steele. You'll keep coming back here as long as the Dark Lord is here. And listen to me closely," he scowled, leaning into my face. I shrunk back. Do not say his name. He's planning on putting a taboo curse on his name, which means he can track you any time and place. All enchantments will be broken. They'll know all your information. Understood?"

I nodded. "Where exactly is the Leaky Cauldron?"

Draco Malfoy rolled his eyes. "Aren't you going to feed yourself first?"

At the mention of food, my stomach rumbled. "Food. I'd forgotten that existed."

* * *

This chapter was short, but I was wondering if you all liked the book. I'm pretty excited about this story because I've got everything planned out perfectly. I don't know how long it's going to be yet, but I know what's going to happen. If you're enjoying it, leave a comment below so I know to continue.

Thanks for reading, and don't forget to vote and comment! It really encourages the writer, believe it or not. :)