Prologue
Draco Malfoy moved swiftly through the dimly lit corridors of the Ministry, the chill of the stone walls wrapping around him like a shroud. It was December, but the festive cheer of the season seemed to slip past him unnoticed. He could feel it—the prickling sensation at the back of his neck, the unmistakable awareness that someone was watching. He had learned to trust his instincts, and right now, they were screaming at him to be cautious.
He quickened his pace, weaving through the crowd of witches and wizards, each absorbed in their own affairs. But not him. Not anymore. He had finished his research on something powerful a year ago and kept it secret, fully aware of the dangers it could entail. Yet now, on the fourteenth of December, the unease that had been gnawing at him for months had sharpened into certainty—someone definitely knew he had succeeded.
His mind raced as he considered the implications. What if whoever was following him caught up? He couldn’t let that happen. He had to be smart. Obliviation could be his salvation. If he erased his own memories of this powerful knowledge, he could safeguard himself against anyone who sought to exploit it. He trusted no one in the Ministry.
But even as he prepared for this drastic step, he wasn’t completely unarmed. Draco had made a copy of his findings and hidden it somewhere safe, believing it wise to stay a step ahead. Just in case he ever needed to destroy the original, at least one piece of it would remain—away from prying hands.
As he turned a corner, the feeling intensified. The shadows seemed to lengthen, and a sense of dread settled over him. Someone was definitely on his trail. His heart raced as he glanced over his shoulder, but all he saw were familiar faces, oblivious to the turmoil brewing just beneath the surface.
No, he couldn’t let them take this from him. With a sharp intake of breath, Draco ducked into a secluded alcove, his fingers trembling as he drew his wand. The incantation lingered on the tip of his tongue, urgency flooding through him.
“Obliviate!” he whispered, the spell rushing from his wand. He felt the familiar tug of magic as his memories began to blur, a wave of relief washing over him. He could hide from them, forget this ever happened.
But as the spell took hold, darkness suddenly enveloped him, the world fading into nothingness.