─⋅⋆ PROLOGUE ⋆⋅─
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The sweet gentle sound of a harp echoes throughout the dimly lit room of the Malfoy Manor, with every string being strung, a soft mellow note resonates in Draco Malfoy's room. He was sitting on the ledge of an arched window, his fingers delicately flipping another page of the book he was reading, 'Advanced Potions & Healing'. His platinum blonde locks were falling in his silver eyes as they fluttered, scanning through the paragraphs, taking in as much knowledge as he could. A smile naturally crept onto his face, recalling a girl who loves potions and that she would rather read books about potions than books about fiction and fantasies.
A girl who was so different from all of the others Draco has ever met, a unique, beautiful, kind-hearted soul who was both fierce and gentle. It reminded Draco of the Sun, blazing with all its fiery might but yet offering a soothing warmness. A girl who would do anything to save someone whether they were good or bad. As long as they were hurt, physically, emotionally or mentally, she would always rush and try to heal them. A girl who had inspired him to be a better version of himself, to chase his dreams of becoming a Healer just like the girl's father.
Aine Estoileon was the girl that he had fallen in love with. They started out as a girl who was his rival's friend before becoming close acquaintances, then back to being foes and strangers due to a misunderstanding that caused a rift in their friendship. However, being drifted apart wasn't something either of them wanted, they felt empty without each other, it was then they realized the feelings they had for one another were much more than they had expected. More than a close confidant, more than a friend who was always there for one another. She had Draco's heart in her clutches and she too was lost in his, both finding comfort and love in one another.
Though she was a Gryffindor and was also deemed by his father as someone who is a blood traitor, Draco's perspective of the girl did not change, nor was he swayed. It didn't matter to him because she was just someone he needed and very much wanted in his life, by his side. He loved her so much that he felt grateful that she shared the same feelings. His innocent love for Aine was both unconditional and passionate, he was willing to do anything for her even if it meant turning away from the teachings his parents had taught him. Draco was even willing to stand on the side of goodness, humiliating himself as a boy who was foolishly in love and branding himself as a traitor and fighting against the Dark Lord if he had to. The dark wizard that everyone had feared, the monstrous man that he found out his family, specifically his father whom he held high respect was working under him.
Draco ponders, recollecting what happened a week ago when he and his long-time nemesis Harry Potter and his friends fought in the Ministry of Magic. It was the first time in so long that he witnessed the Death of someone in front of his eyes, it was impossible to forget. When he closes his eyes, he could still remember it vividly as if it had happened only yesterday. The war between good and evil was raging on, coming to a boil now that Lord Voldemort has returned. There will no doubt be deaths. This time, it wasn't just old souls who will be caught in the war but them as well— the young blood who not only have one but two souls who were connected to the Dark Lord.
To watch someone die right before Draco's eyes, the colours of their faces draining away as they slowly succumb to eternal sleep. Never to be awakened to live, laugh and love again was... Terrifying. Especially if it was an unexpected death, so sudden that one moment they could be smiling and the next having someone cry for them. Just like Sirius Black, he thought to himself. Draco's smile falters when he recalls Harry's godfather when he was murdered by his own aunt, Bellatrix Lestrange.
The battle they were walking into will bring losses even though there are triumphs. Lost in the thoughts of tragedy and war, Draco wondered whether he would live to see another day of Sun at the end of it. He wasn't sure what the future holds for him or his fate but if there was one thing he knew; it would be that he was ready. Ready to protect and fight for those he holds dearly and loved.
He flips another page, eyes trailing onto every word as it passes, engraving the information into his brain. However, his concentration was soon broken by the sudden lightning that flashed before his window followed by the deep boom of thunders. He glanced out of the window, the skies were glowing in a lovely shade of rosy peach, the Sun was setting and her rays rained down like a glimmer of hope. His lips curled again at the sight though when he spotted the thick blossoming grey clouds covering the Sun, he frowns. It was going to rain soon.
Then, suddenly, out of nowhere, a loud burst of sound erupted and Draco clutched onto his wand that was laying on the pile of books out of pure instinct.
One would mistake it to be another crack of thunder, howbeit, Draco did not. He turned to his door, narrowing his eyes to focus on the tiniest sounds he could hear. Someone was definitely home, whether it was his father who had come back or his mother who had made a mistake in the kitchen again or an intruder has entered his house. Either way, he was about to find out.
The boy clicks his tongue and shuts his book, putting it aside. Then, he plodded out of his room, the harp had long stopped playing and there was only silence and the faint rumblings of thunders. His Hawthorne wand was still in his hand and he grasped it tightly.
Draco passed by the dark corridors and travelled down the grand staircase, passing by pictures that moved. Framed portraits of his ancestors, pictures of people who were already dead.
"Someone is coming! Someone is here in the manor!" a man shrieked, fussing about as he relayed the message to the young master. The other pictures started to clamour along, agitated and panicking.
Another man added with a whisper, "Death— Death, has befallen this home!" he warns Draco who shook his head, ridding their nosy comments and dismissing the commotion. He found himself walking faster with urgent steps. His mother was just downstairs and if there were indeed unwelcomed guests— He hastily rushes towards the direction Narcissa Malfoy was, knowing that his mother was more than capable of fending for herself. Though if they had touched her, he was sure there would be consequences.
"Mother, is everything alright? What's wrong—" His words failed him when he saw the guests that entered through the front door. He stops abruptly, pupils widening and his heart drops at the sight.
"Ai... Aine...?"
Of the two figures that he spotted, one was the girl he was madly in love with who was supported by another, also someone he knew too well. Aion Estoileon, Aine's older brother was here too. Their faces were completely worn out, crushed and utterly overwhelmed. The devastation was hidden behind their faces and red was slowly staining their attires, he could see lacerations, bruises and wounds all over their bodies. They looked so fragile, so broken, that Draco wanted to ask what happened.
Before Draco could say another word, a soft exhale left the Estoileon siblings. Aion was the first to crumble and then Aine. Her body fell forward as all strength left her body and for a moment, he thought that the girl could have shattered.
And perhaps, Aine would have wanted to— To shatter completely to ease of this excruciating pain.
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Welcome back, loves! A little short prologue to start our journey once again! This will be the fifth instalment of the UNRAVEL book series that will cover the events of Half-Blood Prince. If you have yet to read the previous four books, do give them a read for better clarity of the plotline so far, though if you would like to start reading from this one, I supposed it's fine as well.
A little side note is that this book will definitely be much 'darker' in terms of the storyline so far, as you all know, Lord Voldemort has returned (I know, he has returned for the past year or so already but now that the Ministry has officially witnessed his return), I suppose the real war is about to begin! There will be many heart-wrenching scenes with our MC, Aine but there is a lot of potential with some light, fluffy, heart-warming scenes too with her friends and of course, her lover, Draco! So do keep on reading!
Before we go on with the story, here are some refreshers on our OC and the other main/sub characters that will be returning! ^^
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☀️
Aine Lianna Estoileon (Aine Estoileon)
Aye-Ney, Lee-Ann-Na, As-Toil-Lee-On.
AKA: Aine (by family & friends), Estoileon (by peers), Ai (by Weasley Twins, Ginny), Sweetheart / Sunshine (by her father), Lianna (by her brother), Love / M'lady (by Draco), Doll (by Sirius), Darling (by Cal).
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Female
Age: 15/16 (In Half-Blod Prince), she's the same age as Ginny Weasley and Luna Lovegood
Birthday: 22 June 1981
Blood status: Pure Blood / ???
Status: Alive
Family: Elliot Estoileon (Adoptive Father), Aris Luceras (Mother), Aion Estoileon (Adoptive Older Brother), ??? (Birth-Father), Draco Malfoy (Lover / Boyfriend)
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⚜️
Aion Rayne Estoileon (Aion Estoileon, formerly Aion Luceras)
Aye-eon, Rah-ayne, Lu-seh-ras.
AKA: Aion (by Aine & friends), Luceras / Estoileon (by peers), Mon Chaton (by Cal)
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Male
Age: 19/20 (In Half-Blood Prince), he's the same age as Fleur Delacour, 4 years older than Aine Estoileon
Birthday: 30 October 1977
Blood status: Pure
Status: Alive
Family: Elliot Estoileon (Father), Aris Luceras (Mother), Aine Estoileon (Adoptive Younger Sister), Celeste Delacour (Lover / Girlfriend)
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🌿
Elliot Caius Estoileon (Elliot Estoileon)
Elle-Lee-Ot, Ka-ee-yus, As-Toil-Lee-On.
AKA: Dad (by Aine), Elliot (by friends), Father (by Aion), Mr Estoileon / Estoileon (by acquaintances)
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Male
Age: 35 (In Half-Blood Prince), the same age as the Marauders
Birthday: 31 October 1960
Blood status: Pure
Status: Dead (A/N: This hurts so much ;-;)
Family: Aris Luceras (Wife), Aion Estoileon (Son), Aine Estoileon (Adoptive Daughter)
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🃏
Cal Moran (Cal)
Cal, Moh-rahn.
AKA: Cal (by most), Moran (by acquaintances), Bastard / Psycho / Son of a b-tch (by Aine, Aion, Draco)
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Male
Age: 22 (In Half-Blood Prince)
Birthday: Unknown date and month, 1974
Blood status: Presumably Pure or Half-Blood / Unknown
Status: Very much Alive
Family: Scabior Moran (Father), ??? (Mother)
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Also returning are...
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🐍
Draco Lucius Malfoy (Draco Malfoy)
Dray-Ko, Lu-Si-Us, Mal-Foy.
AKA: Draco (by family & friends), Malfoy (by peers), M'lord, My love, Dragon boy, Ferret boy (by Aine), Beau-frère (by Aion), Serpentine boy (by Cal).
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Male
Age: 16/17 (In Half-Blod Prince), the same age as Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, and Blaise Zalbini.
Birthday: 5 June 1980
Blood status: Pure Blood
Status: Alive
Family: Lucius Malfoy (Father), Narcissa Malfoy (Mother), Bellatrix Lestrange (Aunt), Aine Estoileon (Lover / Girlfriend)
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And other characters as depicted in the films will also be coming back too!
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I honestly cannot express how hyped I am to be finally writing this book! I have so much planned for it and I hope that you are just as excited as I am to read it! Thank you so much for the love you have given me in the previous books and I hope you will love this one just as much as the first four books!
- Zeneria