Narcissa sat in the Malfoy Manor's garden, her mind reeling from Dante's words. Horcruxes. The Dark Lord's desperate grasp at immortality was not only his strength but also his downfall. Five of them were already destroyed. He was weakening, his soul fracturing beyond repair. The implications were staggering.
Later that night, she recounted everything to Lucius, her voice steady but laced with disbelief. Lucius listened intently, his sharp mind piecing together the consequences. Then, for the first time in years, his eyes gleamed with ambition.
"This changes everything," he murmured.
The Malfoys had been trapped in a precarious position since Voldemort's return. With Dante's presence they didn't fear his retaliation, but it still affected their business and standing in society, their once allies, now kept their distance, fearing the Dark Lord's wrath. But if the Dark Lord's fall was inevitable, then there was an opportunity—an opportunity to shift their allegiances before the tide turned.
Lucius wasted no time. He wrote to his friends, other noble families, and even neutral factions. He detailed the Dark Lord's descent, the destruction of five Horcruxes, and the certainty of his eventual demise. He was careful, however, to ensure his name was kept out of it. This was not a reckless act of defiance but a calculated move to secure his family's future.
To reinforce his position, he also sent letters to Amelia Bones and Albus Dumbledore.
___________
At Hogwarts, Dumbledore sat across from Amelia Bones, the new minister of magic, the letter resting between them.
"You believe this to be credible?" Amelia asked, her piercing gaze on the headmaster.
Dumbledore steepled his fingers. "Without a doubt. The source of this knowledge can only be Dante Malfoy. He is not one to make idle claims."
Amelia exhaled slowly. She had seen Dante Malfoy, experienced his might, she heard of his mastery and knowledge that seemed to transcend time. If he said this, then it is highly credible.
"I assume we do not wish to inform the public of the exact nature of these Horcruxes?" she asked.
"No. But the people deserve to know that Voldemort's immortality is unraveling."
Amelia nodded. "Then we shall proceed."
___________
The next morning, the Daily Prophet's front page bore the title: THE DARK LORD'S FOLLY
The article did not mention the word 'Horcrux,' but it told of Voldemort's use of dark magic to cheat death. It revealed how his soul had been fragmented, weakening him, and ensuring that his demise was near. It spoke of five fragments that had already been destroyed and included the heroic sacrifice of Regulus Black, a once-loyal Death Eater who had seen the truth and fought against the darkness.
The magical world was sent into chaos.
Many of Voldemort's supporters reevaluated their positions. His entire movement was built on the belief in his invincibility. If he could die and was already dying, then he was not the immortal ruler they had pledged themselves to. Some defected immediately, others hesitated, watching for more signs of weakness.
The Ministry, too, found itself flooded with anonymous tips. Death Eater hideouts, future plans, the locations of sympathizers—everything began to unravel.
Within Voldemort's inner circle, unease spread like wildfire. His closest followers knew he had entrusted objects to his most devoted servants. Now, they saw their master's increasing paranoia, his uncharacteristic unease. The rumors in the Prophet were not baseless.
Voldemort attempted to dismiss it all as propaganda, a trick by the enemy to weaken morale.
But even as he spoke, his voice lacked the absolute certainty it once held.
Bellatrix Lestrange, ever his most devoted, observed him closely. Her master, once an unwavering beacon of power, now seemed... afraid. His words rang hollow, his confidence wavered.
And for the first time in her life, Bellatrix felt a whisper of doubt.
___________
Dante sat in his room, engrossed in a book when an unnatural chill swept through the air. He instinctively turned his gaze to the side, where a shadowy figure emerged—floating ominously in the dim light. A Dementor had entered his room, silent as the grave. Dante regarded it with an expression of mild curiosity rather than fear.
"Is everything done?" he asked, his voice calm and measured.
The Dementor gave a slow, eerie nod. Satisfied, Dante shut the book in his hands, the weight of its knowledge no longer necessary for the moment. Rising to his feet, he stretched slightly before making his way to the garden where his parents were seated under a pergola, sipping tea.
"I'm leaving for a while," Dante announced, his tone casual but firm. "I'll be back in a few weeks at most."
Narcissa sighed deeply, setting down her teacup with a quiet clink. "Please don't disappear for months again," she implored, the concern in her eyes clear.
Dante gave her a rare, reassuring smile. "It won't happen again." And with that, he disapparated, vanishing into the unknown.
For weeks, no one knew where Dante had gone. Any attempts to reach him were met with silence. Then, as abruptly as he had vanished, he returned—though he refused to divulge his whereabouts. Instead, he penned a letter addressed to Albus Dumbledore, requesting an urgent meeting with both him and the Minister of Magic, Amelia Bones.
The request came as a surprise to Dumbledore, though he wasted no time in arranging the meeting. Amelia Bones, skeptical as ever, agreed but made no effort to hide her unease. When the appointed day arrived, Dante met with Dumbledore before they entered the office of the Minister together.
Amelia's expression was as serious as her reputation dictated, though there was an unmistakable flicker of unease in her eyes as she regarded Dante. The last time they had met, she had seen the extent of his power firsthand. Now, as he settled into his seat across from her, she steeled herself for whatever he had to say.
Dante wasted no time with pleasantries. "I need you two to make an announcement," he stated plainly. "All wizards, including those from other magical communities like France and Germany, must gather here for a lecture on the history of magic."
Dumbledore and Amelia exchanged incredulous looks. It was Amelia who voiced her skepticism first. "Are you being serious? A history lecture?"
Dante met her gaze without hesitation. "Yes. The magical world may be destroyed if wizards are not prepared for what is coming next."
Dumbledore leaned forward slightly, his expression growing more severe. "Does this end have something to do with you?"
Dante nodded. "Everything will become clear when the wizards gather. I am being serious. I will begin the construction of a stadium near Hogwarts."
Amelia scoffed. "A stadium? This is ridiculous."
"I plan to hold the lecture on the first day of next month, when Hogwarts resumes," Dante continued, unperturbed. "I advise you to take this seriously. It will affect all of you."
His words hung heavy in the air as he stood, giving them no opportunity to press for further details. Without another word, he turned and left, leaving a weighted silence in his wake.
Dumbledore remained seated, his fingers steepled beneath his chin as he stared at the door through which Dante had just exited. His eyes gleamed with deep contemplation and concern.
Amelia exhaled sharply. "This is preposterous," she muttered. "A history lecture? A stadium? Surely, we're not going to entertain this madness."
To her surprise, Dumbledore turned to her with an intensity she had rarely seen in him. "We must follow his instructions."
She blinked. "You can't be serious."
"Something big is coming, and we must be prepared," Dumbledore said gravely. "Mrs. Bones, this is serious."
___________
The morning edition of the Daily Prophet brought yet another shocking revelation to the wizarding world. The front page headline read:
"DANTE MALFOY TO DELIVER MONUMENTAL LECTURE ON THE HISTORY OF MAGIC!"
The article detailed an unprecedented event set to take place on September 1st, the very day Hogwarts would resume its academic year. According to the announcement, Dante Malfoy, the enigmatic son of the Malfoy family, had declared that this lecture contained knowledge of critical importance—something that would change the lives of every witch and wizard who attended.
Adding to the intrigue, the article revealed that a grand stadium was already under construction near Hogwarts to accommodate the anticipated audience. Invitations had been extended not only to the British wizarding community but to magical governments and institutions worldwide. Ministers of Magic from France, Germany, and several other European nations had received official notices, urging them to attend this supposedly historic event.
While the magical community was no stranger to outlandish claims and sensationalized headlines, this particular announcement carried an air of credibility. The name 'Dante Malfoy' alone commanded attention—his reputation for knowledge and achievement in different magic fields was unparalleled, and his recent attack on the ministry only solidified his standing.
Skepticism ran high, but curiosity burned even brighter. Wizards and witches debated over what this lecture could possibly entail. What could Dante Malfoy know that had to be revealed in such a dramatic manner? Could it be another field of magic? A revelation about ancient magic? Or perhaps a prophecy yet to be unveiled?
The magical world buzzed with anticipation, speculation running rampant across every corner. Letters flew between officials, demanding to know whether this was a mere stunt or a matter of real consequence. Yet, despite the doubts and questions, one thing was certain—on September 1st, the world would be watching and waiting for Dante Malfoy's words, ready to hear whatever truth he was about to reveal.