Draco Malfoy and the Deathly Hallows (BOOK 7 of 7)

Chapter 16-Malfoy's Wand, Or Draco's

Two weeks and complete silence. At least on Draco's end. He felt stuck, useless, clueless. Day by day Voldemort and the elite team Draco was no longer a part of embarked on successful raids, slaughtering Muggles, muggleborns, and any sympathizers.

He felt somewhat responsible. Instead of figuring out what the other Horcruxes could be, he was just sat in the library, thinking about what he could be doing. He had learned more magic using the Elder Wand, but it was seriously draining him. For once in his magical career, he had to work to master a spell or potion.

Maybe his wand was meant to break. He'd obviously taken for granted being able to do any spell on the first try. However, the Elder Wand was draining him so much that it felt like the curse was from Marvolo Gaunt's ring was back.

Something was wrong, in every aspect he could think of. Voldemort obviously didn't trust him thanks to his brash, desperate plan to gain trust. Either Draco or the Elder Wand clearly wasn't functioning as he or it was supposed to. And most ominously, he couldn't help but feel he was missing some crucial piece of information right before his eyes.

As legend put it, being in possession of all three Deathly Hallows should have made Draco feel drastically more powerful using the Elder Wand. He should have been able to do all sorts of magic, including fix Merlin's wand. Technically speaking, he was the master of Death. But what did that even mean? Perhaps there was a worth factor that played into it and the Elder Wand didn't work right because Draco wasn't meant to have it.

A couple books regarding the Deathly Hallows lay on the table beside him. Draco decided it wasn't worth his time to scour every page again, looking for answers he would not find.

He wondered what would have happened if six years ago he hadn't made the choice to take down Voldemort, to be an active participant in his removal. His parents would still be cold and ruthless, unconditionally working for the Dark Lord. In fact, Voldemort might have successfully taken over by now. Draco would probably be working for him, but he might have become accustomed to a lack of morals. He wouldn't be in danger, his family wouldn't be in danger, his friends wouldn't be in danger. Well, his non-Slytherin friends would still be in danger, but then again, they probably wouldn't even be friends.

"Let it go," he told himself. He wouldn't be okay with living that life, that lie. He would just have to stop complaining and figure out how to deal with his situation. And for some reason, he realized he might have to go to Borgin & Burkes.

Draco vaporized into the air and reappeared in the store. He hadn't been there since asking about the Vanishing Cabinet, although technically he had when Hermione had Polyjuiced into him to help him test the cabinet. At the counter, a man appeared whom Draco had never seen before.

"Erm, you must be new here," Draco told the man, slowly approaching him.

"Mister Malfoy, I remember you!" the man exclaimed, oddly cheerful. "You were here in June, testing out that big cabinet over there." He pointed to the large decorated object.

"Yes, that I was, but I did not notice you. Where's Borgin?"

The man gasped dramatically. "Why, you do not know? The poor man was attacked in his shop last winter! When I was hired by one of the Knockturn Alley financiers to take over, I learned that he was found over by that very cabinet you were testing. Naturally, I wanted to say something, but I just couldn't bring myself to interrupt. After all, I'd heard you were on a mission for" the man lowered his voice to barely a whisper "the Dark Lord."

"How did you hear that? Are you with us?"

"Well, of course, Mister Malfoy! I would be a fool otherwise."