The Unknown

Chapter 47: Unexpected Meeting

As Dahlia left the potion masters office, she closed the door as quietly as possible, so the noise of the door didn't echo across the dreary dungeons. With the door closed, she leaned against it and sighed as she closed her eyes, thankful that one thing was off her list. She turned her head to the side and opened her eyes to see Akio looking forward. As if he sensed her stare, he looked to her and gave a single nod, which she returned, before he gestured down the corridor to the stairs. Pushing herself off the door, she gave him a small smile before she walked to the stairs with him following behind.

Walking up the stairs from the dungeons, they only made it half way up before Dahlia stopped as she saw someone coming down the other side. The boy's platinum blonde hair standing out, even in the dungeons torch lights. He seemed to spot her at the same time as he stopped for a moment before walking slowly down the stairs. He almost reached her when he said, "Potter, what're you doing down here?"

"It's Lokidottir, Malfoy, and it doesn't matter. Don't you have charms?"

Draco scoffed and rolled his eyes, "forgot my book". He then glanced quickly to Akio.

Dahlia noticed and turned to the soldier and said, "kná yðr gefa sty einn bil?" (can you give us a moment?)

Akio looked between Draco and Dahlia for a moment before he said, "hann ir harfullr hōs myrkr". (He is surrounded by darkness).

"Thær ir eigi hann, thær ir hans faðir. iak munu ná reisiligr". (That's not him, that's his father. I will be fine).

Glancing between them one last time, he gave a single nod and walked past the princess and the Slytherin. Dahlia watched him leave but knew he would only go to the top of the stairs, so he couldn't understand what was being said but could still watch the scene. As he walked away, Dahlia turned to Draco who took a step down and looked between the two, confused.

"We were talking in Norse," she answered, knowing just what he was thinking. He then settled on looking at her as she said, "you haven't made any comments about my heritage or what my father has done. I thought you'd be first in line".

He gave a small smirk and said, "I'm a Slytherin, self-preservation is one of our traits".

She gave a slight tilt of the head as she said, "true but I know Slytherin is ashamed of what his house has become. Yes, Slytherin is on Niflheim, the realm my sister is Queen of". Draco looked at her in disbelief before he turned to walk down the stairs. He only managed a few steps before Dahlia stopped him, "Draco".

He turned instantly, never having heard her say his name before as it was always Malfoy.

"Don't do it. I know your dad's a Death Eater, he was there at the resurrection of Voldemort, and I know your dad is still working for him. It wouldn't surprise me since the break out of your aunt, that they're both at your house".

"YOU KNOW NOTHING!" Draco snapped loudly.

Shaking her head, she said, "no one understands until it is too late. Until they're dead. Niflheim is not like Thor taught it, there're two parts. Lykke, the part of Niflheim that is good, and everyone is happy, and they live their afterlife how they want. The other part, Mareritt...it is darkness and pain and torture. The literal translation means nightmare".

Draco's mouth was slightly open, and he looked to the ground for a moment before looking back up. He was clearly nervous, and a hint of fear was in his eyes, but he tried to mask that up with his pureblood Slytherin façade.

"Draco," she said and took a couple of steps down, so they weren't that far from one another. She continued, "you're a child, one from a Death Eater family but a child nonetheless. Any Death Eater, anyone loyal to Voldemort, will go to Mareritt. They will die and be tortured for eternity. You may think a body can only take so much but your soul, that can take so much more...Draco, your dad has already secured his place in Mareritt, maybe he can change his punishment so one day he can be released but he has condemned himself. Don't let him or anyone else drag you down with them".