'Draco! Draco, wake up. Do not keep me waiting' ordered a voice I could not ignore any longer.

'What?' A sharp slap. I sat upright in my bed.

'Interesting dreams son?'

He glanced down at what had been keeping me from wanting to wake up.

'I am aware that my pulling you away from your teenage fantasies will cause you great annoyance but should you use that tone with me again Draco Malfoy I will hex you until all desired appendices fall off on their own accord. Out of bed and come downstairs or we will be late to our meeting.'

'Oh yes Father, a Malfoy is never late,' sarcasm dripping from my voice I pulled myself out of bed and began dressing. Opting for black robes from my closet instead of the usual black shirt and jeans - there was to be no Muggle attire in the presence of the Dark Lord. The last week of my summer holidays, the last year of my time at Hogwarts somehow meant that I was required at a meeting. My father refused to explain, only haughtily reminded me to know my place and not ask questions. My mother failed to explain as the mere sight of me these days seemed to bring a tear to her eyes. I am so sick of this pestilential – 'Draco, hurry up!'

'Coming, Father.' Down the stairs, I grabbed his arm careful to not touch the place where I knew his Dark Mark resided; despite what I knew I was supposed to believe, the presence of it disgusted me.

oOo

The squelching feeling that my insides had just been forced to undergo faded away as I spun slowly, taking in my surroundings, Side-Along Apparition just did not agree with me. Wand at the ready, I was not stupid enough to put it down until I knew that I was under no immediate threat. Had I known what was to come in the next few days, I would have never have sheathed it the way I did when I came across the familiar faces of my Father's associates – the Death Eaters. Needless to say, the lot of them were jumped up, idiotic sheep who in their declaration of Pureblood Status felt they had the right to rule the world under Voldemort's proposed regime. Some of these people's blood statuses were more questionable than Granger's but none in the circle would challenge those suspected outright. No one knew who was 'in' with Voldemort and whispers had their way of reaching his ears. The Dark Lord was known for his temper and often punished the messenger as severely as the betrayer themselves. As though the Devil's name itself had been spoken, a dark mass materialized in the midst of the men (and the two women, one standing upright, the other hanging back in the shadows) in the room.

'My Lord…' Bellatrix. Ugh, her desperation never ceased to disgust everyone but Voldemort himself who seemed only apathetically amused by her.

'My dear fellow Death Eaters. I welcome you all to an event long awaited by one of the families who has never… failed to serve me.' Even I could hear the sarcasm dripping from his voice at this. Staring right into my father's eyes, Voldemort continued, 'After careful consideration, I have decided that I will acquiesce to your request Lucius. It seems that I do have need of you once more - perhaps not you, in the traditional sense of the word but your son, Draco.'

Surprised, I faced him as he turned to me, his cold, dead eyes piercing mine, searching through my brain as only my skilled Occlumency could detect. I fought to hide the fact that I was trying so hard to keep my innermost thoughts from his searing gaze. 'You are a worthy Slytherin Prince, Draco Malfoy. In your second year, it was you who was the prime candidate by others for Slytherin heir, were you not?'

'Yes, Master.' The games must be played; I must be respectful, no reverential in my address of him.

'I have never recruited so a boy so young but I find the need to make an exception for you. Perhaps you can live up to the oath better than your Father has so far.' Practically spitting out the title of the man whom I abhorred above all else, despite myself, I was beginning to listen.

'Draco, I am presenting you the honour of officially joining me in my fight against the muck of our Wizarding world. Will you join me in the ranks of the pure and mighty? Will you serve your Lord with unyielding loyalty and passion?' All eyes turned on me as I finally realized exactly what was happening. Absolute silence reigned as I hesitated, unsure of what to do or say. My Father jabbed me sharp in the ribs with his wand, 'Answer our Lord, Draco. Will you?'

'Lucius, the boy can speak for himself and I was under the impression that I was asking the questions. You have shown once again that you are incapable of holding your tongue. Crucio!'

Even more painful than what I'm sure the curse must feel like was the high pitch of Voldemort's voice as he allowed the curse to escape his lips. I remained silent, in awe of anyone who could make my Father twist and contort in pain.

A cold, high pitched laugh. 'Oh, he enjoys watching this! You might make a faithful Death Eater yet. But first, the official vow must be made. Will you, Draco Malfoy, join the ranks of Death Eater?'

'Yes, my Lord.'

'Well then, it appears we have need for your mother now. Narcissa!'

The woman who had immersed herself in the shadows of the room strode forward. She was a wonderful actress – her haughty, pompous expression fooled everyone except for me. I am sure that if it were not for her fear of what would happen if she did, I could have sworn that my mother would have broken down in tears.

'Draco, take hold of my hand. Narcissa, hold out your wand. You are to bear witness to this Unbreakable Vow.'

Touching his cold skin sent a shock through me, it was exactly the way I felt when as a child I had touched the forehead of my grandfather in his coffin at his funeral.

'Draco Malfoy. Do you swear unflinching allegiance and loyalty to your Lord and the Dark Arts?'

'I do.'

One long, thin length of flame bound our hands together.

'Do you swear to obey all commands given to you by myself and those I appoint in position of authority?'

'I do.'

A second sliver of flame joined its brother in this way.

'And do you swear, on pain of death to never betray or swear your allegiance to another?'

'I do.'

A third flame engulfed our hands entirely and disappeared as Voldemort lifted the sleeve of my robe. Wand in hand, he cried 'Morsmordre!' and that same Dark Mark slithered its way onto my forearm. The Mark I had sworn never to bear, the Mark I knew would change me and never let me forget who I bound to.

With a disgusted look at my Father and an almost proud glance at me, Voldemort announced that the meeting was over and that he wished to join us at the Malfoy Manor after our dinner.

'There is no need for you to be there Lucius; I only request the presence of Draco. Should he wish you to be present, you may do so but your importance to me at the moment is not what I would call… pressing.'

Of course, my parents agreed, no matter how affronted they might be because every single living soul who was aware of Voldemort's presence knew that when he wanted something from you, denying it would be the very last thing that you would ever do.