The Christmas break passed faster than I ever remembered. Maybe it was because Quincy was there with me. On the last day, just before we were to travel back to Hogwarts, Father called me aside, giving me a little, furry, knapsack-like bag.


    "Everything is in here. It is enough for two rituals, so use them wisely, son!" He instructed me with a stern voice. "You will have to procure a magical beast for it… Do you have any ideas?"


    "The Forbidden Forest at school," I answered immediately.


    "Mhm. That should do… But before you go in there… I would start at the library."


    "True, we need more information about the forest." I nodded, but he just continued as if trying to speak in a riddle, making me feel… curious.


    "Check the history of Hogwarts first. I would… focus on Salazar and the years between 1940 and ''45… This is only a hunch! It came to me as I was looking for your ingredients… You have to look it up inside the school''s library; in the outside world, almost all clues were… wiped out."


    “O… Okay…” I answered weakly, trying to think about its meaning, but he continued as if nothing had happened.


    "One more thing. This ritual is still untested…."


    "I will test it on Draco," I said before he could continue. "I already have a vague idea of what I want to do with him. Don''t worry!"


    "Watch out for him!" Father warned me, and his tone was serious. "His dad has fallen out of HIS grace… their family, even if they don''t want to admit it, is tethering on the edge of being expelled from the Death Eaters!"


    "You can be expelled from them?" I asked, furrowing my brows… I never heard about something like that, but then it clicked in my mind.


    "Yes." Father nodded, looking into my enlarged eyes. “So… As I said… Be careful around him! Draco is young, but he can still be tasked with some missions that he can only achieve at school! But... I think you are better than him~!" He chuckled, making me smile, feeling proud, "But that does not mean he is stupid! I bet his lips are talkative back home, and you already asked for help from him!"


    "True… Was that a mistake?"


    "Depends on how you go forward, son! But it could turn out to be one. For now… only trust Quincy and the Headmaster."


    "Mhm." I nodded, receiving a hug from him before I was escorted out to the car to be brought to King''s Cross and board the train back to school with Quincy. She was still mesmerized by her gift for Christmas, watching the new, exquisitely carved wand-hilt I gave her, made out of enchanted material. It was deep-purple in color, filled with hundreds of small, star-like dots, blinking and glittering in the sunlight. It was cool and soft to the touch, helping to relax the witch or wizard''s mind when casting spells, enhancing their focus.


    "Thanks again…" She whispered as I climbed into the car.


    "Hey, no worries!" I grinned, "I am glad you like it!"


    "Yes… yes, I do…" She murmured, smiling at me gently as I closed the door, and we were headed back, leaving our estate behind.


    …


    ….


    ……


    We were sitting in our compartments, watching the changing scenery as we headed back to school. Only the two of us were there, sitting opposite each other, saying nothing for a very long time until Quincy opened her mouth.


    "Nervous?"


    "Hm?"


    "You have been tapping on your armrest constantly, and I can see your eyes stare into nothingness! It is like you are here physically but not mentally."


    "You learned to read me like an open book!" I grinned, especially after I made her blush a little.


    "Yeah, yeah! So? Is it the ritual?"


    "Yep."


    "And it is about getting a magical snake, hm?"


    "Yes… and no," I answered, leaning forward, crossing my fingers, and resting my chin atop the back of my hand. "If I summon a snake by magic, it should be considered… magical. I am going to test it out with one on Draco. I promised him, and it will make him believe he became special!"


    You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    "Will he not? Plus…using it up on Draco… tsk! I do not like the idea, Conrad!"


    "We need a scapegoat."


    "What for?" She flinched, turning stiff at once, looking towards the door before standing up and pulling the shade down.


    "My goal did not change much… That old hag must die…. I wasn''t just saying it for dramatic effect!" I explained, not avoiding her eyes, saying my honest thoughts. I was ready to share them with her for real, and it seemed I wasn''t wrong because she nodded without hesitation.


    "She enjoys the torture… there are some bad teachers at school, yes… but that bitch takes the crown!"


    "You are hiding a sharp tongue! Damn!" I whistled, making her blush once more, but then again, I also saw her subconsciously rub her hand where a faint scar of Professor Umbridge''s favored punishment could be seen.


    "I don''t know if we would succeed… but I like to make preparations. Magic is easily traceable, and we are still novices… we couldn''t pull anything off with ordinary magic."


    "You still did not give up on the basilisk stuff?"


    "No. And I will tell you why but before that, I need more… proof. Can you do something for me?"


    "Say it!" She said firmly, waiting for me to continue.


    "Go to the library once we are back and try to find any information about the school from… around… 50 years ago! Between 1940 and 1945! See if any deaths occurred in those years or any strange events!"


    "Why…?" She asked, but I knew it was out of curiosity and not because she needed more before agreeing.


    "I don''t know, but my Father said something happened around that period! Something that is being swept under the rug in the outside world!"


    "Something happened…" She bit her lower lip, which she usually did when thinking and being excited, giving her a charming expression… "If it is being hidden from everybody," She continued, shaking me out of my sudden lapse of focus, "It can mean only two things!"


    "Yes?"


    "It either has to do something with HIM or with Dumbledore!"


    "Or both!" I added, my eyes lighting up just like hers.


    "I''ll start immediately! What will you do?"


    "I''ll begin to set up the ritual; it needs time! And if it succeeds, then Draco will be our scapegoat!"


    "Wait…" She opened her mouth a little.


    "Yeah! Hypothetically, if we succeed and we manage to get rid of that monster, there will be an investigation, I am sure of it! We need someone to take the fall!"


    “But… wait… you will modify his memories? That can be reversed!"


    "Yes, it can be…." I smiled, "But my ritual is going to modify his bloodline… modifying a little bit of memory about it is not that hard~! And it should be a modification that is not like the usual magic! I don''t think too many could discover it... And do you think HE would come down, personally looking into it?"


    "You are… evil!" Quincy laughed, covering her grin with her hands as she looked at me, leaning back in my seat.


    "Maybe! But it is for our safety! If they don''t investigate it, he will be fine; he can even parade around with newfound power while we remain out of sight where we can move and act freely!"


    "Hah! We will see! Also… your plan still has a very, very, veeeeeery big hole in it!"


    "I know!" I moaned, rolling my eyes. "We need a damned basilisk first!"


    …


    ….


    ……


    It wasn''t hard to settle back into our daily routine of attending classes, and learning about magic and magical history, even if the snow was still falling outside and the festive feelings sometimes reared their heads when sitting in our common room, glancing at orange flames inside our fireplace. Quincy, at my request, was spending more time in the library, trying to uncover some clues that my Father hinted at, while I was looking for a place that would house our ritual.


    I considered using the abandoned divination classroom, but… I don''t think that it would suffice. It is not exactly hidden, and if the ritual has some weird after-effects or magical fluctuations, it could easily be discovered by the teachers, interrupted, or something worse. I needed a new palace, somewhere safe… somewhere I could attempt it without fearing being disturbed.


    "Wandering around again?" A sarcastic voice asked me as I was leaving our common room on a Tuesday afternoon.


    "Yep," I answered without turning towards Draco.


    "Have you fought, lovebirds?" He asked, making his cronies giggle like infants seeing something shiny spinning above their cribs.


    "Did something happen back home?" I stopped, answering with a question, furrowing my brows, looking over my shoulder, and glancing directly into his eyes. I thought we were on a more… amicable term. To provoke me just like that, after a break, means something did happen… and my Father was right about their family and their precarious circumstances.


    "Hmph! You act like you don''t know!"


    "I don''t," I answered swiftly, shrugging.


    "Yeah, sure you don''t! I bet your Father is proud for shifting the blame onto my family!"


    "Hah…" He did? Never mentioned it to me… hmm… So something was going on between Lucius Malfoy and my Father… Well, they do hate each other, I am sure, and it seems we came out on top this time. "Look…" I shrugged, speaking to him, "I am not really filled in with what goes on with my family. I am not yet at the age to start taking responsibility! I am tasked with learning; that is what I am focusing on! I have no idea what you are on about!"


    "Hmph, seems like your snake of a dad doesn''t trust anyone, eh? Not even his son!"


    It took me a great effort to keep my expression calm and uninterested after that. But… it also confirmed to me that he would be a perfect lab rat for our experiment.


    "Unlike you," He continued, "I am involved in family dealings… you better watch your back, Anguine!" He turned around and almost entered the common room when I spoke up.


    "And here I thought I owed you from before… So, you don''t want to take part in it anymore? Not even when I am so close to uncovering something exciting?"


    "...?" He stopped, flinching, looking back, and I saw his breathing speed up.


    "Oh well… More remains for us then!"


    "Don''t you dare renege on our deal!" He flared up immediately.


    "Deal? We had… a deal? Oh, really? Do you have any receipts?" I grinned before turning around, waving my hand, "Don''t worry, I have a backbone, unlike some other families! I won''t forget those who help me! See ya later, Draco!"


    He said something, but I had already ignored it. I was not in the mood for a petty squabble… I had three hours before curfew to explore the castle. I had to find a place where we could perform the ritual. The rest can come after that…