Harry Potter and the Ring of Slytherin

Chapter 1

Malfoy's Quest

Draco Malfoy was pacing the library looking for a book. The book was entitled Salazar Slytherin: Myths and Facts. Draco had read of a legendary ring when he was at school, the year before. That ring had really caught his eye, and he was determined to know more about it. He was cursing under his breath, he hated when he could not get what he wanted. But finally he found what was looking for. A thick volume covered in dark green leather. Draco put it under his cloak, and headed for his own room, for the first time happy that his father was nowhere to be found.

He strode holding the book tight, and when he got to his room, he locked the door and threw the volume on his bed. He didn't want to be interrupted by silly useless house-elves, or by his equally useless mother.

He sat on the bed, and started his search.

"The legend tells that Salazar Slytherin had created a magic ring, a ring that conceals terrible and unknown powers. No one ever saw the ring, and all the wizards that tried to find it, have gone mad or died. The ring, if it exists, is protected by every sort of charms and curses, and only a true Slytherin could find it."

Draco stopped reading for a while, thinking.

"There's no proof it exists, then. It could just be a bloody tale! No, I believe it's true! And I'll find it, even if that's the last thing I do! I could do whatever I want with that ring...I could be the next Dark Lord..." His silvery eyes were alight with a malice that could have scared anybody. Somebody could have even thought him mad. Was the power of the ring already affecting him?

The young Malfoy had never felt so alive. He had a goal, and he was going to try everything to reach it. Nothing would have stopped him.

He was not scared by the curses that Slytherin had put on his ring. That ring had drove tons of other wizards mad, and Merlin knows how dangerous that quest was. But Draco was not afraid at all. For the first time in his life he was feeling brave.

*

During the last days of his holidays he still went on researching for information concerning the ring. A book reported that a reliable resource was sure the ring was hidden at Hogwarts. Draco couldn't have been happier than that. He had finally found a reason to stay in that place full of dimwits and Muggle-lover fools.

"When the ring is in my hands, Potter will see...oh, I'll make him pay very dearly! Sure he will pay, and all the others Mudbloods will die!" A genuine smile appeared on his face, while he was dressing, before leaving for the Platform 9 and ¾ at King's Cross.

He was sure to be a real Slytherin, and therefore he was sure to be able to get the ring. But the young Malfoy hadn't realized that he was going to have a very unlikely rival in his quest.