The devil stands ready to fall upon them, and seize them as his own…they belong to him; he has their souls in his possession, and under his dominion.

The wind was chilling that night. It could even be felt from inside this darkened hallway, where everything was surrounded by rock. The roar of the sea fading behind them could be heard as they stood inside the Dark Lord's lair, nervously awaiting their punishment.

Lucius Malfoy was currently standing beside Bellatrix Lestrange, both luckily were able to get away from the Department of Mysteries after being ambushed by members of the Order. The Dark Lord had sent them there to collect the prophecy, which Lucius had gotten a hold of for only a brief moment before being struck by Sirius Black.

After being knocked off balance, he dropped the prophecy and it shattered right before his eyes. That was right before the battle had begun.

Waiting anxiously for minutes, Lucius shut his eyes when he finally heard the sound of the Dark Lord's breathing from behind him. He was in trouble, and he knew it. And if there was one thing he learned from the years he had served under the Dark Lord, he knew there was only thing he could do now...beg.

"Please, my lord." Lucius finally began. "Forgive me, I have failed you." He hung his head even lower, his voice filled with sincere shame and regret. "I had gotten the prophecy from Potter, but-"

"Silence!"

Upon hearing the Dark Lord's demonic hiss, Lucius immediately stopped speaking and his eyes went back to the floor.

"I have no use for your excuses."

Voldemort then slowly removed his wand from his robes and pointed it at his most trusted Death Eater's back.

"Crucio!"

Lucius fell to the floor, writing in pain. Bellatrix stepped back, not daring to look down at him. He twisted and turned, feeling like his organs were being torn to bits by a white hot poker, but Lucius bit down on his tongue, doing his best not to scream out in pain.

After a few more anguishing seconds, the Dark Lord finally took the curse off him and spoke.

"Lucius…you have cost me greatly by not retrieving that prophecy, and you must be punished."

"Please my lord…" Lucius gasped from the hard, cold floor. "I will do anything…anything of me that you ask."

The Dark Lord looked down at him for a moment, before nodding.

"Get up."

Lucius sat up, pain going through his entire body. His legs were shaking a little as he was able to get back to his feet, straightening up his robe.

"Lucius, I have long wished to ask you to prove your loyalty to me."

"Anything, my lord."

"You've asked me what I wanted, in order to make up for this…"

"Yes."

Turning around, the Dark Lord walked a few steps while looking up at the ceiling for a moment. Lucius could only wonder what it could be his master required of him in order to regain his trust. After what seemed like an eternity to him, his master spoke.

"I want someone to raise and to teach." Voldemort began. "Someone to whom I can pass on all that I've learned and all that I know. Someone who will carry on my work when I can no longer do it myself…I want a son."

The Dark Lord then looked the other man right in the eye.

"And I want your son, Lucius."

A long, painful silence ensured. Bellatrix watched her brother-in-law nervously, afraid of what the Dark Lord would do when Lucius refused. She couldn't bare to see him tortured again. Bellatrix even wondered if his refusal would be useless…

"He is yours, my lord." Lucius finally muttered. "You may have him."

What?

A smile came over the Dark Lord's lipless mouth.

"I knew you would say that, Lucius. I am pleased. And don't worry, he will be well treated."

The Dark Lord then turned to walk away as Lucius lowered his head in shame. He didn't even see it coming as Voldemort spun back around, his wand pointed straight at him. The last thing Lucius Malfoy ever saw was a bright green light.

"Avada Kedavra!"

Bellatrix looked on in helpless shock as Lucius was blasted by the killing curse and was sent flying backwards until crashing against the wall with a sickening thud. His body then collapsed on the floor, lifeless. Blood slowly formed around the area of his head. When she looked over the Dark Lord's cold eyes met the ones of Bellatrix.

"Let this be a reminder to you never to fail me again."

The Dark Lord then placed the hood of his black robe over his head.

"Walk with me." He ordered.

Bellatrix swallowed nervously before stepping over her brother-in-law's dead body, walking with her master down the walkway.

"Would you like me to bring Draco here tonight, my lord?" Bellatrix asked.

Voldemort smiled.

"No, it's far too soon to bring him here. I will let you know when the time is right."

XXXXXXX

One Year Later...

Gasping for air when he finally stopped running, Draco Malfoy dropped down to one knee trying to get oxygen back into his lungs. His legs were dead, and there was a sharp pain in his right side.

His head was pounding, beating against the inside of his skull, beneath his shut, stinging eyes. Draco clamped a hand on his forehead, hoping that would take the pressure off the throb of his temple.

Draco then opened one eye when he heard the sound of footsteps behind him, looking up to see his savior, Severus Snape who was just as out of breath as he was.

Snape had risked his life, and blown his cover as a spy in order to rescue Draco from the Dark Lord's lair. Draco had been taken from his manor shortly after sixth year had ended and had spent all summer there, at first thinking that he was being forced to become a Death Eater. Forced to follow in his fathers footsteps.

But he soon learned that he was brought there to be taught to become something much more that that.

"Are you injured?" Snape finally asked while helping him to his feet and looking him over. "Are you hurt?"

"I'm fine." Draco responded while pulling away from him.

"Alright, come along."

Draco continued walking with the potions master until they entered this run down neighborhood. In an instant, he got looks from people on the street as his robes were covered with mud. In the distance, Draco could hear children laughing, lovers talking, all the normal noises he never got a chance to experience.

'So this is how the other half lives.' Draco thought to himself before bumping into Snape when the other man stopped walking.

Draco looked up at the address, and as he did the house slowly materialized and an old, brown, worn out door formed in front of them, surrounded by tattered looking walls. Snape raised his hand and knocked twice on the door to 12 Gimmauld Place, headquarters to the Order of the Phoenix.

Inside the house, Albus Dumbledore sat in a chair inside the kitchen, a goblet of wine in front of him. He was waiting for any word back from Severus after instructed him to bring Draco here upon learning what Voldemort wanted him for.

Just as he thought that, the door swung open and Snape entered the room while gently pulling Draco in by the wrist. The feeling of relief went through him when he saw the two of them.

"Here he is Albus."

"Mister Malfoy." Dumbledore smiled as he went over to him and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Are you alright?"

Draco stepped away from the old man's touch. He was far from okay, but he was alive. Looking down at the floor, he quietly muttered;

"I'll be alright."