Chapter 6
The heavy oak door of the Minister's private office loomed like an executioner's block as Draco and I stood outside it. Just as the sound of the knock had begun to fade, the door creaked open, exposing Kingsley standing by his desk, his face betraying him.
The room was lit only by a flickering fire, which cast long shadows over the shelves adorned with ancient artifacts and tomes. A bottle of firewhiskey, two empty glasses, and a jumble of papers covered the desk. I felt an invisible force squeezing my ribs as a result of the heavy air tension.
With a motion, Kingsley invited us inside.
Behind us, the door clicked gently but firmly shut.
With his hands stuffed into his robe pockets and his jaw locked as if suppressing a thousand different comments, Draco stood rigidly next to me. Feeling helpless was something he had never mastered. It was understandable.
With his dark eyes examining us with a weight that made me want to squirm, Kingsley crossed his arms.
"Sit," he commanded.
We stood still.
His bald head was caressed as he let out a heavy sigh. What transpired today has altered the course of events, but rest assured, this is not an interrogation. Please tell me what we're dealing with; I need to know.
Words were carefully selected as I swallowed. So far, we have no idea. No one has ever told us what took place during the ceremony, and we have never seen or read anything about it.
Kingsley's eyes widened in surprise. "Yet you sensed it. "Did you not?"
With a rising and falling motion of his shoulders, Draco exhaled. "Yes."
Even though that was his only statement, the significance of that single word outweighed any attempt at clarification.
With a nasal exhalation, Kingsley stepped back from his desk. He gathered up a document from among the many that were spread out on it and flipped it so we could see it. I was the first to advance, my gaze darting across the parchment.
Literature from long ago. Visual representations. Something penned in a Latin variant from long ago.
It was not a document from the Ministry. There was an older item.
To which the question, "What is this?" was my response.
Kingsley put his hands on the desk and leaned forward. What followed the ceremony was something we retrieved from the Department of Mysteries. The text is fragmentary and describes the manifestations of Eidolon in bonded magic users. He lightly tapped a piece of parchment. It reveals resonance on a level we have never witnessed before. "A bond so profound that it changes destiny itself, not merely merges magic."
My heart raced, pounding against my chest. "Alters fate?"
Then Kingsley gave a subtle nod. This text implies that when two opposing forces, such as light and shadow, fire and void, are brought together in perfect harmony, it creates something new, although resonance between eidelons has always been an unusual occurrence. Something with greater strength. This has occurred exactly twice in the annals of recorded history.
Anxiety gripped Draco's voice. "And what happened to them?"
For an extremely brief moment, Kingsley paused. However, it sufficed.
"They either became the strongest force of magic their world had ever seen…" He became quiet. "Or they destroyed each other."
I was shivering at the sound of those words.
Draco chuckled bitterly. "Well, that’s comforting."
Forcing my thoughts to process the data and make sense of it, I balled my hands into fists. Political manoeuvring was no longer the only consideration. It was a more antiquated item. More profoundly. Doomed by design.
Belief in destiny was a concept I had never embraced. However, destiny had never doubted my abilities.
Sharply, I took a breath. "So, what do we do?"
Kingsley looked at me for a while before turning to Draco. The lesson is in your brain. You are the one who exercises. Learn the significance of this bond before it makes a decision for you.
As his silver eyes gleamed, Draco scowled. "And if we don’t?"
Unfazed, Kingsley continued. "Then the Revenants won’t be your biggest problem."
The statement's gravity descended upon us like a curse.
Draco shook his head after running his palm over his face. "Bloody fantastic.
Kingsley paid him no mind and returned his attention to me. Hermione, I'm counting on you to collaborate with the Unspeakables. Their knowledge of long-lost magical ties is unparalleled. When it came to you, Malfoy—" He paused. "You can find ancient magical texts in your family's vaults. Do what you can and come back with your findings.
Draco's face contorted in a mix of frustration and defiance. Well, well. Sure thing. If my ancestors buried any ancient horrors, I will simply return to their graveyard and unearth them.
Kingsley was unfazed. "If it means controlling whatever this is, yes."
Under his breath, Draco uttered a phrase that sounded suspiciously like "I hate this bloody world."
For the time being, I paid him no mind. "We’ll figure it out."
There was a long pause as Kingsley studied us. Hopefully, you will. For the simple reason that the magical community was rocked by whatever transpired during that ceremony. For some, this will represent a coming together of forces. His eyes grew gloomy. "And there are those who will see it as a threat."
Beneath that assertion, I perceived the unspoken words.
Individuals with ancient souls and deep-rooted beliefs.
In their eyes, this is a position of authority. Something to exert control over, or even eradicate.
Kingsley stood up straight. You two need to leave. In the morning, we will reorganize.
I turned to face the door and gave a nod, but Draco paused.
"I warned you this was a bad idea," he whispered as he tapped his fingers against the edge of the desk and let out a sharp breath. "If this all goes horribly wrong, just know."
He got a cold stare from me. "Duly noted, Malfoy."
After that, we departed.
The light from the torches glinting against the old stone walls of the corridor outside the minister's office cast a shadow, as if the conversation we had just ended were also burdening the walls. With my thoughts racing and the significance of the ceremony driving home like a sharp brand, I drew a deep breath and released it.
Silent and burdened by unspoken ideas, Draco walked confidently by my side. His usual defense mechanism when things got out of hand was lashing out, but I could see he was fighting that impulse.
"Brilliant," he finally whispered, his voice betraying his sarcasm. I get to go through my family's archives and find books that haven't been opened in generations. What the heck? Perhaps I will conjure an entity with more fangs than brains and meet my demise before this ordeal is through.
I glanced at him. "Well, if that were the case, you wouldn't be stuck with it anymore."
A brief giggle escaped his lips. It's beginning to occur to me that that could be the superior choice.
I paid no attention to his antics and concentrated on the puzzle at hand. "When I wake up in the morning, I will go straight to the Ministry archives to see if there is any documented magical history that even somewhat corresponds to this."
Scowling, he dismissed it. "Would you?"
My forehead furrowed. "Pardon me?"
The smirk he usually wears—"Books and dusty scrolls"—was noticeably absent this time. I can see why you would rather spend all your time reading. Conversely, I'd prefer to grapple with something that's a little more... physical.
I simply scowled. "Um, yeah. It's obvious that cursing at priceless family heirlooms is the way to go."
"Don't underestimate the power of a strategically placed insult," he whispered, his grin gradually fading. "Listen, we could work together if you're going to spend so much time searching the Ministry archives for answers. I will peruse the family library while you attend to your responsibilities. If I come across anything worthwhile in my collection—" he paused, as if hesitant to say it, then eventually continued, "you are welcome to my collection. As an item for your private library.
Frowning, I was momentarily taken aback. The enormous, cursed, and undeniably priceless Malfoy family library is available to you, Draco Malfoy?
I loosened my jaw and parted my lips.
One eyebrow furrowed as he looked over at me. “What? Is there no clever response?
"No, just... surprised," I confessed. "Wow, that's really kind."
Once again, a gentler side was showing through in his grin. "Grant, you must not grow accustomed to it. Rare books aren't something I usually give out to random people.
I couldn't help but grin slightly as I shook my head in disagreement. "I understand."
Entering the chilly night air, the tension between us eased ever-so-slightly. The expanse outside the Ministry's doors seemed to go on forever, into the unknown. It was going to be more than politics, more than either of us, whatever came next.
We weren't alone in this battle, though, at least for the time being.