34 The Secret Chamber

Because Abraxas was already in Britain anyway, he decided to stay there for about a week since being by himself in France was a bit lonely. One day, when Draco was free of his usual duties, the grandfather and grandchild pair lounged in the drawing room while leisurely playing chess.

Draco was casually laying sideways on a soft couch while commanding chess pieces to move. He felt that this type of playing was clearly superior, compared with having to move the figures by himself.

"Knight to C3," leisurely commanded Abraxas in between taking sips of his tea.

• If you move your bishop to G6, you will have a chance to strike! •

Despite the phoenix not playing the game, he was actually the one, who was most invested in it and kept giving Draco unnecessary advice. Zosar learned how to play Chess only a few days ago, so he still found the game novel and interesting. However, although he was smart, the phoenix was still a novice, so his advice only helped to confuse and distract Draco, rather than provide constructive help.

"Rook to B8."

• Ooooh! Yes, moving the Rook is actually better… I didn't notice this at all! Hmm... Let's see what the grandfather will do next. •

Draco felt both exasperated and amused, but he didn't interrupt his familiar's fun. This game was just a casual thing to pass the time, after all.

"So, soon it will be your tenth birthday. One more year and you are off to school. Excited?" asked Abraxas as he contemplated his next move.

"Not really… It's still too far away," sighed Draco. When his routine slowed down and he didn't have much to do, the blond boy often thought about his future school life. In particular, he thought about what to do with the whole Voldemort business. Sometimes, he felt ready, but other times he was afraid that his choices might completely change the plot, which would mean that he wouldn't have his advantage of knowing the future.

As for learning more magic… Either way, he would be studying it in the future, so why think about it too much right now?

• You don't have to worry! With me there, we will deal with this Voldemort guy with no problems! He actually dares to try and enslave you and your family? Hmph, we will see about that! •

Zosar really hated the thought of slavery and torture, since he had experienced humans trying to enslave and make him submit before.

When Draco bonded with the phoenix, both of them became somewhat aware of each other's circumstances. Although Zosar didn't know about Draco's reincarnation and the fact that this world was from the book series, he was still aware of the fact that the blond boy knew about the future. Or rather, one of the ways in which the future could develop if nothing was changed. Draco's mental barriers prevented the phoenix from finding out more, though the boy didn't particularly mind even if his familiar knew his secret.

The blond's thoughts were interrupted by his grandfather's voice:

"Which school will you be going to? If you want, I have some connections in France and can arrange for you to study at Beauxbatons! Knight to be B3."

Draco took a minute to observe the board.

"Pawn to D5. I will go to Hogwarts. That's also something that my mother wants. She is afraid that if I get into too much trouble, she and father won't be able to help me out in some foreign country…" The boy shrugged his shoulders helplessly.

Personally, he felt that he would never get into a mess, from which he wouldn't be able to get out of safely. He was actually a model child: studious, intelligent, friendly, polite, etc. His parents should be happy that he wasn't a spoilt brat like the original! Sometimes, Draco thought that he should be more offended about his parents' low opinion of himself.

• I also want to meet Fawkes! I will spy on that old wizard for you and if he's evil, we will know for sure. Then we will take him down! Although I doubt that another phoenix would bond with an evil guy. Anyway, I will make sure! •

Draco shot an exasperated look at the proud phoenix, who wanted to help to take down all evil people in the world. How did this unusually ethical bird become his familiar?

Zosar interpreted Draco's expression as an approving one and lifted his head higher, feeling even more proud of himself. He completely ignored the boy's surface thoughts, which indicated that Draco's meaning was completely different. The boy's and the bird's minds were connected but operated on completely different wavelengths.

"Hogwarts, huh? Well, I also studied there, but the school's standards dropped since that time. Are you sure? I know that your father is friends with the current Headmaster of Durmstrang. It's also not a bad option and Karkaroff would, surely, look after you too. Bishop to G5."

• I don't understand why grandfather moved his piece over there. What does he want to do? •

The phoenix got distracted from the conversation and seriously pondered over the board. Draco ignored him.

"Hogwarts is quite a good place to learn and practice Light magic. As my core will be growing until I am fourteen, learning more Light magic will be beneficial. As long as I spend some time studying on my own, I will be ready to take international qualifications' exams too," Draco replied. He wasn't overly concerned about his studies' quality.

Anyway, if he wants to make sure that Voldemort dies and his family is not involved in that mess later, he has to go to Hogwarts. As this issue could affect his standing in the Magical World later, he has to take care of it properly. Otherwise, wouldn't it be too miserable to be accused of being Voldemort's slave and rot in Azkaban later on? Or better yet, let the man take over Magical Britain and become the despotic ruler?

• Don't worry about it right now, Draco. I think that you should be more concerned about this game. I am sure that grandfather is up to something! •

Zosar looked intently at the pieces scattered on the board. The human's thoughts were distracting him from coming up with a strategy and he couldn't concentrate at all. The phoenix shot a look full of grievance at Draco when the boy still kept on ignoring him.

Draco stretched his hand and stroked his familiar's feathers a few times. He felt Zosar's worry – the phoenix understood the danger which would come in the future, so he hoped to distract the blond while they could still live peacefully a little longer.

Abraxas quietly observed his grandchild's bonding time with the phoenix. He let out a smile, seeing that both of them were getting along so well. However, after a few minutes passed, the old man felt a bit bored and decided that it was time to interrupt them:

"Are you moving or not? If you don't know where to direct your pieces, better give up. The score is 3-5 right now and we all know, who is better at this game," he said with arrogance, though the man's blue eyes twinkled with laughter, indicating that he wasn't serious.

• Hmph, just you wait, grandfather! We will destroy you! •

Zosar was fired up. Draco thought that if Abraxas could understand the phoenix, the two of them would get along very well.

"Pawn to H6," the blond boy quickly scanned the board with his eyes and replied with his own move.

• Take that! now we will take your Bishop! •

"Well, Hogwarts' classes are usually scheduled for mornings and early afternoons, so you will have plenty of time to study on your own," acknowledged Abraxas, finishing the previous topic. "Bishop to E3."

• No! We almost took it down, why do you have to move it again? •

"Pawn to A5."

"Bishop to C5."

"Rook to E8, Castling move."

"Queen to D2."

"Bishop to E6."

"Rook to D1."

For a while, only the sounds of commands and chess pieces moving could be heard in the, otherwise silent, room. Draco was contemplating his next move when his thoughts were interrupted by his grandfather's rising from his chair.

"Don't mind me, I just want to pour myself a drink. It helps me think better," Abraxas waived his hand dismissively and went over to the table, where crystal decanters were placed.

Draco lowered his head for a second, not thinking much about his grandfather's actions. He was aware that the older man liked to enjoy a drink or two when he was relaxing. However, sudden unexpected sounds made the boy quickly lift his head once again.

Abraxas was standing in front of the table with alcoholic drinks. He casually observed as the table magically moved away to the side and the rug, which had been beneath it, rolled itself and also floated away. Finally, the floorboards started moving, creating a hole in the middle of the drawing room, as they placed themselves in the air - creating a makeshift staircase which led downwards.

Draco gaped for a moment. This was…?

The older man turned his head to his grandchild and apologetically smiled.

"Sorry, didn't want to disturb your thinking with the noise. I just know that Lucius hides his best liquor in the secret room. That child won't bring it out even when his father visits him for the first time in ten years!"

Zosar flew over to take a look at the hole. Draco also stood up and followed the phoenix. He had been searching for the secret room for the past few years, and now it had been found so coincidentally!

"Is this the place, where father stores the forbidden artifacts?" he asked with a strange expression on his face.

"Hmm?" Abraxas raised an eyebrow at Draco. "Isn't it just old storage? We used to store old bottles of wine and other good stuff here. If important guests are welcomed, it is easier to come here and take out some red wine from Napa Valley or white wine from Seneca Lake. Muggle versions are also okay, but when grown with the magic they taste just heavenly!" The older man closed his eyes, as though savoring their taste. After a moment of uninterrupted silence, he continued:

"Before, we had a cellar near the kitchen, but house elves would sometimes 'borrow' the wine. They would never admit to it, even when punished. So we moved all the good stuff here and they don't dare to drink it anymore. As for other liquor... Unimportant visitors can just be treated to some firewhiskey from Leaky Cauldron. Anyway, they wouldn't know the difference," Abraxas snorted with disdain.

Commoners wouldn't be able to differentiate between the good from bad, so why waste expensive stuff on them?

Zosar couldn't help but comment with admiration:

• Grandfather is so sly. We should learn from him! •

Draco was left speechless.

Seeing that his grandson had nothing to add, Abraxas went down the stairs, with the younger wizard and his familiar following him closely behind.

There weren't many steps and the secret room wasn't too big so it didn't take long to reach the bottom. However, it wasn't filled with expensive liquor as Abraxas previously assured. In fact, there were some wine racks and tables, however, they were loaded with different items. Even Draco, who wasn't experienced in sensing magic, could feel that most of these things emitted Dark magic and were quite powerful. Some even felt very dangerous and warned people off from touching them carelessly.

• Wow, so many good things! •

Zosar obviously wasn't too bothered. Phoenixes were powerful magical creatures, they even defined nature with their natural rebirth abilities and high resistance to magic. A few impressive items here and there wouldn't faze the proud birds, but when stored in the same place, those things would certainly seem more notable.

• However, you shouldn't touch anything, Draco. I am afraid that some of these things could kill you. For example, this amulet will make you feel a lot of pain, though it will also make your spells more powerful… or this coronet, which helps you grow your magic but, as a side effect, makes your blood boil… oooh, this book can eat your mind if you are not careful! •

Despite the scary words, the phoenix flew over to each item and stroked them with his wings, as though an appraiser looking over antiques. He commented on what each thing could do and how they could kill the blond boy with excitement.

Draco didn't dare to move from his spot near the stairs, though his eyes roamed around, looking for a particular inconspicuous item. He ignored his grandfather, who kept muttering that he 'couldn't believe that Lucius would be so stupid as to store so many dangerous items under the barely protected floor in his own house'.

Finally, Draco's eyes landed on a dark corner, where a lone small table stood, with a single item placed on it. It was a bit different from the rest of the place, since other tables or racks were full of many different items, while this table only held one, as though it was more important than others. The boy carefully walked to it, paying attention not to touch anything else.

Zosar noticed Draco's movements and flew over, only to land on the blond's shoulder. He curiously stretched his neck when Draco stopped before the table, which had an unassuming thin black book placed on it.

• Hmm, it feels a bit strange. I sense that this book is very powerful, yet it gives off a lonely feeling. What is this? Feels a bit familiar… •

The phoenix pondered as he looked at the item.

Abraxas also noticed Draco's movements and came over to make sure that the child wouldn't touch anything overly dangerous.

"What is this?" he asked after taking a look at the black book. It didn't seem like anything special.

Draco was conflicted for a moment. He had a Horcrux laying right there, but he felt afraid of touching it, in case Voldemort's young soul somehow managed to possess him with just a small contact. Even if that didn't happen, what if he felt a sudden urge to write in it later and wasn't able to control his curiosity?

However, his grandfather didn't have so many considerations. Feeling that the item wasn't dangerous, Abraxas directly plucked it from the table and flipped it open. Seeing that there was nothing written on it, he almost closed the book, however, the older man's eyes suddenly stopped when he turned to the last page.

Draco knew what was written there without needing to take a look.

T.M. Riddle