In the quiet hours of the night, the Malfoy Manor was silent, save for the faint creak of a door opening. Dante, carrying a cauldron filled with a shimmering, viscous liquid, entered the bathroom. The moonlight streaming through the window and reflecting off the water-filled tub. Without hesitation, Dante poured the contents of the cauldron into the tub. The liquid mixed with the water, transforming it into a thick, black substance streaked with silver lines that pulsed faintly, as if alive.
Dante stripped off his clothes and stood at the edge of the tub, staring at the swirling liquid for a moment before taking a deep breath. Slowly, he stepped into the tub and submerged himself completely, the black liquid engulfing his body.
The moment the liquid touched his skin, it felt as though his entire body had been set on fire. A crushing pressure bore down on him from all sides, as if the weight of the world had settled on his chest. The pain was excruciating, and Dante forced himself to stay submerged. He breathed in, and the liquid rushed into his lungs. Instead of suffocating, he felt the burning sensation intensify, spreading through every fiber of his being. Still, he endured.
Minutes turned into an hour, and the pain began to fade. The fire that had consumed him cooled, and the pressure lifted. Dante remained still, his body encased in a hardened black shell that had formed around him. Finally, he opened his eyes, and the shell began to crack. Pieces of the black substance fell away, revealing his skin, now smooth and unblemished. He blinked a few times, his vision clearing as the world came into focus. The intricate patterns of light and magic that had replaced his old sight were gone. He could see again, just as he had before the last fragment assimilation.
Dante stepped out of the tub, water and remnants of the black liquid dripping from his body. He raised his hand, clenching and releasing his fist several times, testing his strength and control. A smile spread across his face as he muttered to himself, "My magical transformation is fixed and complete at last."
__________
The next morning, the Malfoy family gathered in the dining room, unaware of the transformation that had taken place the night before. Dante entered the room, his appearance unchanged except for one striking detail: his eyes. The dull, shadowed silver hue was gone, replaced by their former brilliance, shining with faint light.
Narcissa, who had been sipping her tea, gasped when she saw him. "Your eyes!" she exclaimed, setting her cup down with a clatter. "Are you able to see again?"
Dante nodded, his expression calm. "I fixed them last night."
Lucius, who had just entered the room, paused mid-step. His eyes flicked to Dante, taking in the change. "Was it that strange potion you were brewing for the past few days?" he asked curiously.
Dante nodded again. "Yes. It was the solution for my problem."
Narcissa's relief was obvious. She had been the most worried about Dante's condition, especially after learning he had lost his sight. To see his eyes restored filled her with joy. She stood and embraced him, her voice trembling. "I'm so glad you're alright."
Dante accepted the hug, though his mind was elsewhere. To him, the loss of his sight had been a minor inconvenience, a 'bothering matter at most.' His true concern had been completing his magical transformation, ensuring his body was fully aligned with his soul and magic. Now that it was done, he felt a sense of satisfaction.
Draco, who had been quietly observing the exchange, couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy. His brother's abilities were beyond anything he could hope to achieve, and the ease with which Dante overcame challenges only highlighted the gap between them. Still, he felt happy for his brother and was proud of him.
___________
A few days later, Dante and Draco Malfoy boarded the Hogwarts Expres. The platform was bustling with students and families, but the brothers moved through the crowd quickly finding an empty compartment to settle into. Dante, as usual, carried a book with him—a recent purchase that had caught his interest. He sat by the window, opening the book and beginning to read almost immediately.
Draco, sitting across from him, raised an eyebrow. "Is there still a book you haven't read yet?" he asked, his tone half-teasing, half-exasperated.
Dante didn't look up as he replied, "There are endless books out there. It's impossible to finish them all."
Draco rolled his eyes. "Why are you reading it normally? Didn't you say you can read faster with the magic you developed?"
Dante turned a page, his expression calm. "Being more efficient is useful, but some things are more enjoyable when you do the full process."
Draco sighed, leaning back in his seat. He couldn't help but think that his brother deserved a title: 'The Lord of Bookworms, the Strongest and Greatest Bookworm to Ever Live.' The thought made him chuckle to himself. Dante, of course, ignored him, his focus entirely on the book in his hands.
Not long after, the compartment door slid open, and Crabbe and Goyle's heirs entered, their bulky frames filling the space. They greeted Draco with nods and began chatting with him about the upcoming school year. Dante, aside from a brief acknowledgment of their presence, remained engrossed in his book.
A short while later, the door opened again, and this time, Daphne and Astoria Greengrass stepped in. Daphne, elegant and composed, greeted the group with a polite smile. Astoria, her younger sister, stood beside her, her eyes darting nervously to Dante.
Draco welcomed them warmly. "Daphne, Astoria, come in. Plenty of room."
The two sisters took their seats, and the compartment fell into a comfortable rhythm of conversation. Dante, however, remained silent, his attention still on his book. Draco, noticing this, decided to prod his brother.
"You should participate in social life, you know," Draco said, his tone light but pointed. "You're a sixth year and pretty much have no friends in Hogwarts."
Dante glanced up briefly. "I'm not interested. Besides, I've spent more time outside Hogwarts than inside it anyway."
Draco smirked. "That's not normal. If I were among the staff, I'd force you to repeat years."
Dante turned another page, his expression unbothered. "With my track record, I'll never graduate."
The others chuckled at the exchange, though Daphne's laughter was more hesitant. She glanced at Dante, her fingers twisting nervously in her lap. After a moment, she gathered her courage and spoke.
"Senior Dante," she began, her voice soft but clear. Dante looked up, his silver eyes meeting hers. He said nothing, waiting for her to continue.
Daphne took a deep breath. "I heard you helped Hermione Granger and Ginny Weasley recover from conditions that everyone said were impossible—even Headmaster Dumbledore."
Dante's expression remained neutral, but he nodded slightly, acknowledging her words.
Daphne's voice trembled slightly as she continued. "My little sister, Astoria... she's suffering from a bloodborne curse. It weakens her body, causing seizures and pain. Everyone says there's no cure. Could you... could you take a look at her when you have time?"
The compartment fell silent. All eyes turned to Dante, waiting for his response. Astoria, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment, looked at him with a mixture of hope and fear.
Dante's gaze shifted to Astoria, studying her for a moment. Bloodborne curses were rare, and he had never encountered one in any of his lives. The idea of researching a solution intrigued him. After a brief pause, he nodded.
"We can do that tomorrow," he said simply.
Daphne's face lit up with relief, and Astoria's eyes widened in gratitude. "Thank you," Daphne said, her voice filled with sincerity. Astoria echoed her thanks, her voice barely above a whisper.
Dante returned to his book, the conversation around him resuming as if nothing had happened. But for Daphne and Astoria, the weight of their worry had lifted, if only slightly. They now had hope. For Dante, it was moving from one thing to the next and this is why he lives.