𝐒𝐀𝐍𝐊𝐓𝐀 𝐋𝐔𝐂𝐈𝐀

Chapter 24

Stjärnorna leda oss, vägen att finna,

bli dina klara bloss, fagra prästinna.

Drömmar med vingsus under oss sia,

tänd dina vita ljus, Sankta Lucia.

. . .

The stars will guide us, the road to find,

become your clear torches, fair priestess.

Dreams with wings murmur, under us predict

Ignite your white candles, Santa Lucia.

"Sankta Lucia", Sigrid Elmblad

Draco's heart was hammering in his ribcage, and he could hardly focus on what Professor Flitwick was saying. He caught words such as "very good", "don't worry", "be fine" and so on.

They were all standing in the procession line in a corridor close to the Great Hall and everybody had one of Draco's candles in their hand, with a ring of thick parchment around it so when the candle burned, the candle wax wouldn't run down and burn one's hands. Everybody except Draco himself. He had something that looked like a crown on his head, made of candles and a wreath. He felt quite stupid wearing it, but he knew that it was crucial that he did, it was all a part of the ceremony.

Suddenly he noticed that Flitwick's lecture had stopped, and he heard footsteps heading towards them. Draco looked up over Flitwick's head, just like everyone else, and saw Professor McGonagall walking up to them.

"Now," she said, looking at each and everyone of them, "the rest of the school have gathered in the Great Hall and are waiting for you. As you may understand, they don't know what they are doing there. You can now light your candles now, but you can only begin to walk to the Great Hall when Lucia feels is the right time. And don't question Mr Malfoy if he makes you stand here for half a hour or so. Good luck." The corner of her mouth went up in a little smile and she flicked her wand at Draco's crown and lit up the candles.

"Thank you," he said quietly and he saw how the corridor became brighter as his classmates lit up their candles behind him. It was still dark outside, and Draco could only imagine how the students in the Great Hall must be feeling right now. He himself would be furious that someone had dragged him out of bed when it was still dark outside for an unknown reason and he just had to sit and wait for something. He would have refused.

"Just follow Mr Malfoy's lead," McGonagall said and then she and Flitwick turned around and started walked into the Great Hall.

Draco could feel all eyes upon him in the quiet corridor, the only sounds was people breathing and the professor's fading steps. He looked down at his gown and stared at the red ribbon around his waist for a few seconds. It was part of the apparel, and all the girls wore a ribbon too. The girls also had a wreath in their hair, but without the candles like Draco, and all the blokes had a white cone on their head. They looked rather silly and when Theo had put it on Draco hadn't been able to suppress his laughter.

He turned his head and looked outside a window at the end of the stars were shining bright in the sky, comforting and acting as a map to guide Draco to where he was going. He could feel the dark that was all around them, hanging heavily and oppressive over their heads. It was trying to get through the light and reach him, but the stars and the candles held it back.

It was time to obliterate it.

Draco closed his eyes and inhaled, his hands clapped together and a smile on his lips, and he began to sing.