Chapter 166 "Armand Malfoy"

This time, it was Draco's turn to be momentarily stunned. The crimson glow in his pupils gradually faded, replaced by a bitter expression. He pursed his lips and spoke in a hoarse voice, "So, you've noticed of my presence after all?"

"Draco..." Skyler sighed, "You can be quite childish at times, a brother who refuses to cause worry... At times, your impatience leads to irrational and foolish actions driven by anger... Sometimes, your stubbornness insists on unnecessary and false pride." Skyler calmed his tone and expression, "But the Draco I know is not someone who would forfeit his pride, sell his soul, or betray his family. He is just like me." Skyler lifted his head, proclaiming loudly with sparkling eyes, "He is a true Malfoy! No one embodies the true Malfoy pride better than Draco himself."

"Skyler..." Draco's eyes glistened with mist, "I'm sorry... Truly, I'm sorry..." His complexion then underwent a drastic change. "No! Hurry! Please run away right now, I beg you!" Draco unleashed a painful howl, tightly gripping his platinum-blonde hair with both hands as his entire body convulsed violently.

"Draco!" Skyler swiftly drew his wand, its tip emanating four different colored lights. "Are you alright?"

Time seemed to stretch, feeling like both a second and an eternity had passed.

Abruptly, Draco's trembling ceased. He lifted his head, sporting a peculiar smile. His pupils flickered like lightning in the dark night, transforming his entire black eyes into a menacing red. A dense, black energy surged from his body, the most potent Skyler had witnessed in a long while.

"I've been watching you for quite some time, Skyler..." Draco's voice underwent a dramatic shift, sounding like that of another being—low, hoarse, and unsettling. However, his aura intensified with each passing moment.

At this juncture, Skyler's countenance turned grave. Through his magical eyes, he discerned that "Draco's" magical power had surpassed the level of elite Aurors, hovering only a step away from the esteemed rank of a legendary Grand Mage.

Skyler cautiously retreated a few steps towards the door. The overwhelming aura emanating from "Draco" exerted immense pressure, making it difficult to breathe.

"What a heartwarming display of brotherhood!" Draco—no, Armand should be the name used at this point—gazed at Skyler with predatory eyes and playfully inquired, "Before we commence, I have a question: How did you deduce my existence?"

Skyler offered no verbal response but activated all the defensive spells on the Supreme Wizard's robe and Night Star cloak. From the void, a simple-looking ring materialized on the index finger of his right hand—Merlin's "Guardian Ring."

Simultaneously, an ivory-white skull ring emerged from the void onto the middle finger of his right hand—a representation of Grindelwald's elemental ring.

A Ravenclaw crown manifested above Skyler's head, accompanied by a faintly discernible black shadow behind him, adorned with a peculiar pendant.

At this moment, the Supreme Wizard's robe, Night Star Cloak, the two rings, Crown of Wisdom, and Slytherin's Locket appeared to come alive. They emitted varied magical fluctuations, transforming Draco's bedroom into a dazzling array of colorful and intricate streams of light. The entire space was bathed in an otherworldly display, surreal and enchanting.

Despite Skyler arming himself with an array of equipment and trump cards, he found himself struggling to match Armand's overwhelming momentum. It could be argued that he was slightly inferior to his adversary. However, the oppressive atmosphere that had once gripped him was no more.

Armand's eyes radiated disdain and contempt. He nonchalantly shrugged, allowing Skyler to unleash one power after another. He displayed no intention of reaching for his wand.

Skyler spoke deliberately, "The first time I sensed something amiss with Draco was during the opening ceremony. He suddenly exhibited a scheming demeanor that I had never witnessed before..." While Skyler had discerned that something was awry on the train, he had refrained from revealing the complete truth.

Armand clicked his tongue twice and remarked, "What a deceitful kid." His eyes turned sharp, accompanied by a faint tearing sound in the air.

The surrounding space suddenly illuminated, as if the vacant room had been electrified. This intense gaze caused a slight tingling sensation on Skyler's face. To alleviate the pressure exerted by Armand, Skyler took a step back.

Armand responded, "I suspect you... noticed something off with this kid on the train, didn't you? However, it's inconsequential. Continue speaking, and I might forgive your rudeness this time… keep in mind there is no next time."

A chill crept into Skyler's heart. It appeared that the other party possessed significant knowledge about his trump cards. He proceeded, "Though Draco exhibited occasional scheming behavior, he maintained his usual self-willed, arrogant, and somewhat cunning demeanor most of the time. Due to his childish nature, I didn't pay it much heed and kept it to myself..."

Skyler paused before continuing, "It wasn't until we joined forces against the old madman Moody that Draco displayed unprecedented strength. While there might have been subtle changes in his character and mindset for various reasons, his newfound strength was unusual. At that moment, I became almost certain that he had accessed some channel to initiate the practice of dark magic. My foremost suspicion was directed at my father..."

Armand dismissed Skyler's guess with a wave of his hand, saying, "While your speculation isn't entirely accurate in this aspect, you're not too far from the truth. What happened next?"

"The first Defense Against the Dark Arts class. After it concluded, Draco approached me, inquiring about the Unforgivable Curses. I tried to caution him about the perils of dark magic, but lacking a comprehensive understanding of the situation, I didn't dare delve deeper... Subsequently, Draco's actions unfolded, revealing increasingly abnormal behavior. He began to demonstrate knowledge of numerous unknown magical arts, some of which I had never mastered... It might sound a bit conceited, but I doubt there's any 14-year-old wizard in the world capable of achieving such feats."

Skyler wasn't boasting. Since the age of 4, he delved into the family's collection of books. Acquiring the time-turner at 5, he embarked on an intense learning journey, mastering four of the family's secret spells.

This was followed by tapping into Ravenclaw's trove of knowledge and exploring the vast collection of books in the Hogwarts library.

He harbored confidence that, in terms of knowledge reserves, only a handful of seasoned individuals worldwide could surpass him. Furthermore, those few were likely on par with his strength. The gap was certainly not insurmountable.

"The shift in his mindset can be attributed to shouldering family responsibilities and missions, forcing him to mature. The augmentation in strength can also be linked to his exposure to clandestine black magic. However, the surge in knowledge—this remains inexplicable. Human mental capacity is finite. Even with a time turner, acquiring such an extensive range of knowledge in a brief span seems implausible."

"At this juncture, I started entertaining the notion that Draco was not the Draco I knew. The most plausible scenario is that he's been possessed by the residual soul of a dark wizard... Yet, there's a lingering doubt that eludes my understanding, and that is—"

"To the best of my knowledge, numerous dark magics exist that can possess individuals and seize bodies. However, most can only temporarily attach to the host because the incongruence between the container and the soul easily leads to repulsion. You're familiar with Voldemort, aren't you?"

Observing Armand's silence, Skyler presumed that Draco had likely shared information about Voldemort. Undeterred, he continued, "Voldemort is the most formidable dark wizard of this century. During my first year, he possessed our Magical Defense professor. Despite his power, the poor professor couldn't conceal his location entirely. Consequently, he resorted to wearing a ludicrous headscarf and perpetually emanating the scent of garlic to mask the presence of Lord Voldemort."

"But Draco exhibits no anomalies, not even a hint of an odor. This distinctly doesn't align with the characteristics of being possessed."

"A splendid deduction," Armand remarked softly, offering applause. "You might be the most exceptional prodigy in the history of the Malfoy family. I must admit that even at your age, I wasn't as knowledgeable as you."

"What next?" Armand inquired.

"By chance, I stumbled upon knowledge of a magic that can flawlessly seize a body. This magic can seamlessly blend the host's magical power and soul, contingent on one condition: there must be a blood connection between the two—a blood fusion."

A gleam of appreciation shone in Armand's eyes as he couldn't help but commend, "Impressive! You're well-versed in this as well. If you're aware that Draco might have been taken over, why remain indifferent? It appears you're not giving much attention to your brother!"

"No," Skyler asserted decisively. "Because something doesn't add up here. The principle of blood fusion involves the possessed spirit consuming the host's soul. So, why can Draco maintain his original personality most of the time in daily life? If his soul had been devoured through blood fusion, it shouldn't exist anymore."

"It's precisely because I haven't unraveled this crucial aspect that I've chosen to observe the unfolding events with detachment. Anyway—" Skyler sneered, "Regardless of whatever mischief Draco intends to stir, I only need to decipher his motives. Predicting his next moves is not difficult—"

"Deciphering his motives isn't challenging. Fundamentally, he aims to use his methods to uphold the family's glory, ensuring the continued adherence to the ideology of pure-blood supremacy. Fame serves as an indispensable key," Skyler remarked solemnly. "The reputation I've cultivated over the past three semesters has become an obstacle he cannot surmount."

"If he aims to rely solely on exemplary performance in a few classes, he may employ sporadic remarks to tarnish my reputation. Yet, achieving success with these simplistic tactics is nothing more than wishful thinking. Therefore, he has only one chance left, an opportunity that grants him an effortless comeback—"

"The Triwizard Tournament."

"All the answers will be unveiled on the day of the Goblet of Fire ceremony..." Skyler's voice gradually lowered, "The moment I was chosen as a champion, Draco's expression of disbelief revealed everything. In that instance, I could sense that he genuinely believed, from the depths of his heart, that he was superior to me."

"This is quite intriguing..." Skyler shook his head. The hand holding the wand suddenly applied pressure. Since earlier, the wand had been absorbing the vibrant light emanating from the significant artifacts. At this moment, the lines on the wand's surface faintly glowed. "He truly believes he's better than me. There's only one explanation— he is indeed possessed."

Armand displayed an intriguing expression. "Didn't you just mention that Draco exhibits no signs of being possessed? He retains his own personality most of the time, so how does the notion of blood fusion align with the inference of possession?"

"That's because—" Skyler sported a sly smile, "I happen to be aware of a magic that can achieve this—"

"Horcrux."

"Lord Armand Malfoy," Skyler's eyes brimmed with unprecedented confidence, and even his aura began to intensify gradually.

An invisible wave emanating from Skyler spread around him. The two rings, crown, and pendant case started to vibrate silently, emitting stronger and more enchanting hues. Skyler uttered slowly, "You're not a lingering soul from an ancient era. You're a Horcrux!"

Showing a mysterious smile toward Skyler, Armand still shows a poised demeanor.

"I thought the Malfoys' true purpose is to arise in every era, to keep all the glory built by your hands no matter what methods were used. In the end, us Malfoys should be prosperous and come on top of all sides no matter what; a shame I never thought you would stoop this low because you didn't trust your descendant." Skyler snarly retorted.