Draco didn't know how to break the news to Lodina about his father's and the Dark Lord's plan for him. He couldn't bare to break her heart again. He quickly surveyed the letter once more. Oh how he hated his father for calling his one true love a whore. He would pay for this dearly, Draco was sure of it. But how could he have known about Lodina in the first place? Unless..."Pansy..." Draco thought out loud. "Pansy? She sent you that letter Draco? What is it?" Lodina pressed on, the need to know the truth was killing her inside. Draco looked at Lodina's face. She was beautiful especially when she gave that confused look as she was doing now. He smiled at her. However, his smile was short lived. Should he tell her the entire plan? As much as he trusted her with his life, Draco had second thoughts on telling her about his inevitable yet cruel fate. But he figured that if she wasn't going to find out the truth from him, she'd be even more hurt in the end. "Sit down, love. What I'm about to tell you may cause you great discomfort I'm afraid. But know this, I love you Lodina. And I'd never do anything to hurt you ever." Draco said as he sat down beside Lodina on his own bed. Lodina studied his face. His silvery blonde hair was covering his eyes and his expression was hard to read. She was sitting next to the one boy she loved soo dearly with all her heart and she half expected what she would hear from Draco. Still, she loved him dearly and had faith that he would never disappoint her. Lodina kissed his cheek gently and brushed his silvery hair off his face. Her eyes locked onto his greyish green ones as she spoke softly. "Draco, my love...I've come with shocking news as it is. Whatever it is you have to tell me, just know that I will stand by you always." Lodina said as she held Draco's hand...
~-~
The time to launch the plan into action was drawing near. He had to act fast. He only had the weekend to prepare himself for the third task. "Hmm. I need that book. I guess I'd have to floo myself to the Manor and sneak it out of the Malfoy Library" Draco thought as he put on his black Armani shirt and took a fist full of Floo Powder. He paused to look at himself at the mirror. "You are to die for, my Ice Prince." the mirror said with a wink, as Draco smirked at his own reflection. "Tell me something I don't know." Draco muttered as he floo-ed himself to Malfoy Manor.
Draco coughed as he stepped out of the fireplace in the Malfoy Library. "The house elves sure are doing their job around here." Draco scowled as he dusted off the dirt on his expensive shirt. "Draco? What are you doing here my son?" Narcissa Malfoy, Draco's mother, was now rushing forward to see her only son. It has been ages since she had seen or heard from him and she had grown very worried. She knew about the dangers that lay ahead of him but was determined not to fuss over her son. He was afterall a Malfoy and he could take care of himself. "Hi mother. My dearest father isn't here in the Manor right now, is he?" Draco sneered when he mentioned his father. "No he isn't my dear. He's been away for quite some time now in fact." Narcissa said as she dusted off the remaining soot on Draco's collar. "I figured as much." Draco said as he looked up at his mother. He could see the pain in her eyes as well. Neither of them spoke for a moment but everything was conveyed through their silence for they secretly knew what Lucius Malfoy was up to. "Do you want a drink Draco? Or perhaps some food as well? I'll ask the house elves to bring some of your favourite Gin with Dragon's Blood." Narcissa smiled at Draco. "Yes please. Thanks Mother. Just the Gin will do. And don't forget the green umbrella. I do love those umbrellas." Draco smirked as he watched his mother leave the library. Now where was that book? After what felt like half an hour, one of the house elves returned with his glass of Gin. Taking a sip from it slowly, Draco tried to think of where his father might have hidden that book of ancient magic. Just then, the portrait of his mother caught his eye. Memories started flooding back into his mind and Draco shut his eyes momentarily. He remembered the time where his father had told him that love was the deepest of all ancient magic and that no one in the Malfoy family could harness that magic except for his mother, Narcissa. Lucius used to laugh in a condescending manner whenever he said this. Draco knew his mother was different from his father. But he never knew why his father always thought lowly of her. Of course, he now knew the reason and he hated his father for it. Jolting back to reality and snapping his eyes open again, Draco finally knew where his father had hid the book of Ancient Spells. He motioned to his mother's portrait and undid the charms and hexes which bound it to the wall. Behind the portrait was a small hole. Draco reached inside the hole and found the book he needed. "Thanks Mother." he whispered as he placed the glass of Gin on the ledge of the fireplace, adjusted the portrait back to normal and floo-ed himself back into his dorm room.
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"All right, the four of you gather around here please." Professor McGonagall said in a regal fashion as she rounded up the four Tri-wizard contestants. "The four of you will be entering a maze for your third task. Since Mr Malfoy and Mr Potter are tied at first place, they would have a head start of five minutes. Mr Krum will follow suit followed by Miss Delacour. You will have to get through a series of challenges in the maze. However, be weary, for if you come across a danger which you cannot defeat send red sparks into the air and the other teachers and I will come to your aid and get you out. Is that clear?" Professor McGonagall's voice resonated within Harry's head. He had successfully completed the previous tasks mostly on nerve and he wasn't quite sure that it might help this time. He looked at Malfoy. 'He seemed rather calm and collected.' Harry thought as he snapped back to reality when he heard McGonagall call out his name. "Potter, Malfoy... are you both ready? Good. Now the first person to reach the centre of the maze and find the Tri-wizard cup will be the winner of the tournament. With that, I wish all of you the best of luck." Professor McGonagall finished as she smiled back at them. McGonagall hardly had a warm smile on her face but it made Harry feel less nervous about the task that lay ahead. Fleur Delacour and Victor Krum strode out of the 'waiting-tent' first, followed by Draco and Harry. "All the best out there Potter. I daresay you'll need it more than I do." Draco hissed at Harry as he strode out of the tent. 'Malfoy seems peculiarly calm. I'll get to the bottom of this.' Harry thought as he clenched his fists and followed Malfoy into the Great Maze once Professor Dumbledore initiated the start of the third task.
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The maze was dark and Harry felt like he could go on walking in it for hours! He had been walking for fifteen minutes now and still no sign of any magical creature or potential 'challenges' he had to face and overcome. "Looks like it's gonna be a boring walk to the finish" Harry thought out loud. But he spoke too soon. No sooner than he had said that, a large Gryffin blocked in his path. All the teachers had each constructed their very own challenge for the third task and somehow, Harry knew that the Gryffin was definitely Hagrid's challenge. Harry made a mental note to remind Hagrid of how his Gryffin had nearly killed him; that is, if he got past the creature in the first place. Before Harry could calculate his move, the Gryffin attacked using it's talon to slash him. Harry fell backwards and writhed in pain. The Gryffin had slashed Harry right across his chest. Thankfully, the gash wasn't deep but as Harry tried to steady himself he heard someone cry 'Stupefy!' at the back of him. The Gryffin backed away but before it could make it's next move, Harry pointed his wand at the creature and stunned the Gryffin once more. This time, the spell was strong enough to completely stun the Gryffin. As the Gryffin came crashing down on Harry, he felt someone's arm around his own and he was pulled to safety. Harry turned back to thank the person who helped him, but alas, words failed him when he saw who it was standing right behind him...
**This chapter is dedicated to McSandhyagal for her undying support and unwavering loyalty. Your support has indefintely inspired me. :)
[Tonks was grooving to Coolio's Gangster's Paradise | ~accomplished]
~accomplished]