First off, I never intended for this to actually become a thing. It was for a 1x1 roleplay on hex that I thought could really turn into something great. I'd been reading loads of Dramione and Fremione fanfics over the last few days and I decided that, since it has been quite a while since I have written anything on my own, that I'd turn this into something. Fair warning, this chapter may be a bit lengthy. It was supposed to set a basis for the story and although there is no Dramione interaction in this chapter quite yet, rest assured there will be in future chapters. On another note, feel free to drop reviews! I haven't written anything quite like this in a long time and I'm not quite sure if I want to do one point of view per chapter or two, mostly because I intend to write rather long chapters. Anywho, enjoy and feel free to throw out some suggestions! I may also be looking for someone to co-write with me but this is not mandatory either!
Disclaimer: I wish I owned Harry Potter, but I do not. Everything belongs to the Queen, J.K Rowling. This woman has managed to capture our childhood with seven mere books and other installments and I'm just here to..well, I suppose you could say 'play with'. It is rated M for language, some triggering content and other mature content.
PROLOGUE.
There had come a time when Draco would have done absolutely anything to achieve greatness. In the past, he had hexed people, belittled themand picked at their insecurities to mask his own as he had done to more than a handful of his peers at Hogwarts and yet, he still felt empty. It was as though a portion of him were missing, perhaps discarded in the rather manic life that he had grown to loathe. The constant presence of The Dark Lord and those under the influence in his home was not something that had made his life any easier. Being forced to stay silent unless spoken to, finding himself far too afraid to speak even when given the chance in fear of upsetting him, didn't help the situation. Any other day, Draco would be sat within the library or perhaps even the den, with a book in his hand, drowning his sorrows in pages he'd read a thousand times over. It was the only way to cure both his boredom and to cease the constant materialization of thoughts that he would much rather bury and never have to relive.
For instance, the night he received his mark. Despite Malfoy Manor being lit with lavish chandeliers, it seemed almost night dark with the presence of The Dark Lord and his followers. They all sat completely still at the large, mahogany dining table. Like mannequins, no one dared make a move in fear of the retributions. The silence was deafening but he knew better than to speak out without having been cued to do so by The Dark Lord, even if they were in his own home. He was like an unwanted house guest that no one had the courage to dismiss. All Draco knew was that he wanted it all to be over. The meeting seemed to be dragging out, longer and longer and he could feel his mother, who sat his left, shiver with anticipation as they sat, waiting for someone, anyone, to say something. It had felt like hours, possibly more, before The Dark Lord had finally spoken, his Snake like red eyes scanning the room which had only caused Draco to once more advert his eyes, keeping his eyes on the very same spot on the table before him.
"Our discussion for the evening hits close to home," The Dark Lord began, dragging his words out almost excruciating slow, as if to draw anticipation from his followers. When no one spoke up, he continued, sitting idle as Nagini slithered around the chair he was perched in. " - it is obvioussss that my attemptsss on the life of Harry Potter have failed due to the incompetence of othersss," he drew out. It was blantly obvious that he was speaking of the Department of Mysteries debacle. All eyes would have fallen on that of Lucius, had anyone been brave enough to break away from their silent, catatonic gazes long enough to express any sort of distaste.
"Some of the fault fallsss upon myself as well -," he continued, interrupted by Bellatrix. "- My Lord, nearly had the prophecy. Had it not been for the Order's interference -," a boney, pallid hand was raised to signal her silence. Defeated, Bellatrix sunk back into her chair next to her husband, Rodolphus.
"Silence, Bella," he hissed, eyes lingering on his prized follower before he continued, " - I know for certain that my plans to take Potter's life are without flaw, until enacted upon by imbeciles. The prophecy lost, we must move on to an ulterior plan, one that I believe is much larger than Harry, at this current time."
All eyes from around the room fell onto The Dark Lord, eyebrows furrowed in confusion. He'd heard mentions of Borgin & Burkes, the names 'Potter' and 'Dumbledore' coming up a few times before the room had fallen silent once more Draco didn't much pay a lick of attention. The harder he stared at the table before him, the easier it was for him to calm himself, though he was beginning to see white dots dancing across his vision. It wasn't until he had heard his name escape The Dark Lord's pale, thin lips, that Draco had finally removed his gaze from the table before him.
"Draco," he called down the table, burning red eyes searching to meet the cold, grey eyes of the youngest Malfoy.
" - my lord?" Draco inquired, swallowing the large lump in his throat. He was delighted, only that he had not squeaked out his name. He'd managed to subdue his fear by distracting himself from the meeting as a whole and part of him wondered if, perhaps because his attention was elsewhere, if he would be reprimanded for it. However, The Dark Lord did not speak directly to Draco after having caught his attention, to which Draco was most grateful, if that was what he could call what he was feeling.
The Dark Lord's red eyes scanned the room, his thin, pale lips curving into an almost unnerving grin as he finally had the attention of those in his inner circle. " - as Narcissa has frequently pointed out, Draco is but a boy. Entering his sixth year of Hogwarts, am I correct?" He inquired, eyes falling to that of Narcissa who met his gaze only briefly. "Yes, my lord..he turned sixteen on the fifth of June."
"Ah, yesss. Blossoming into a fine young man, much like his father used to be," he commented, a few snickers emitting from around the table. Draco could feel Lucius, who sat to his left whilst Dolohov sat to his right. The snickering went on for only a moment before The Dark Lord raised yet another hand, causing the room to yet again fall to silence side from the crackling of the flames in the fireplace.
"As you all know, there is no way to enter Hogwarts. With all of the protection spells that have been cast, even the secret passages have been blocked from us, but there is a Vanishing Cabinet within Borgin & Burkes who twin resides somewhere within the castle. Broken as it may be, it is our only chance to infiltrate the school."
Suddenly, it had all dawned on Draco what The Dark Lord was getting at. He was the only one at the table who could get in and out of Hogwarts without any trouble, save for Snape who had conveniently missed the meeting and though Draco was grateful that his godfather was not there to throw insults back and fourth with Bellatrix and Yaxley, he was quite sure that there would be some sort of punishment for it in the long run, unless he had one hell of an excuse or perhaps was doing some sort of task for The Dark Lord.
"Draco, as the only person in our ranks with the ability to get in and out of Hogwarts undetected, aside from Severus, it is your task to find the cabinet. Your task is, as you can probably guess, to find this cabinet and send word back here. The plan to infiltrate and take the castle will be a difficult task and one that will be a turning point in our plight," he paused, his eyes catching Draco's if only for a moment.
Frozen in fear, he didn't have the courage to meet his stone like gaze, nor could he find it in himself to speak. Every word that he had conjured had found itself lodged within his throat. Instead, he listened, his heart beat quickening as he listened to his plan of action. It seemed that every year, his attempts on Potter's life had failed but he seemed quite certain that the plan that he had come up with was going to do the job. The silence in the room was beginning to swallow Draco whole and he'd felt what he could only assume was the beginning of what a muggle would call a 'panic attack' before his father had nonchalantly elbowed him in the arm, causing a short, pained sensation in his arm.
"I take it, you are up for the task?" The Dark Lord inquired, his voice and facial expression making it quite evident that he did not like to be kept waiting.
It had taken a split second before Draco finally drew in a breath, adjusting himself in his seat to sit up straighter, to seem as though the task was almost too easy. "Of course, my lord." They were the only four words he could conjure, his throat still dry and his skin was beginning to feel clammy.
The Dark Lord's eyes softened, if that were even possible. Slowly, he glanced around the table, his eyes falling on the face Bellatrix was making. Whether or not she was actually proud of her nephew or accepting the task or just excited about the entire situation as a whole was unclear, but the look on Lucius' face compared to his sister-in-law's was easily described, in The Dark Lord's eyes, as fear. Uncertainty, perhaps. However, he felt that Lucius had failed him and every failure deserved to be punished, just as he had in days following the debacle in the Department of Mysteries. Draco, on the other hand, was more promising. He'd yet to disappoint him but he did wonder if perhaps he was being a little too easy on the boy. He was a just a boy, after all, but difficult times called for difficult measures and he was not quite finished with the youngest Malfoy.
"Once you have completed your first task and sent word of your success, we will take over the school. I will not be joining you on the grounds, of course, but once the school has been infiltrated those who stand in our way will back down or be brought down," The Dark Lord continued, noting the look of sinister delight gracing Bellatrix's features. " - the moment the lot of you make it within the school, the life of Albuss Dumbledore should be taken."
Dumbledore had come into conversation many times before during the meeting but somehow, Draco had found that it was different this time. His tone, the force behind each word that he had spoken. Either way, the more Draco listened, the more he dreaded the moments that followed in suit.
" - my lord! I would like to volunteer myself for the task!" Bellatrix shouted from down the table. Though he enjoyed her enthusiasm, he had already set his mind.
"As Draco would be the one to gain our access to the school, I think it only fitting that he be the one to end the old Headmaster's life," The Dark Lord responded, his eyes falling on Draco who was quite certain that everyone could tell how badly he was shaking or how exceedingly weary he had become of the entire situation. Draco had half expected some sort of response from his mother, hoped for it even, but none came, leaving Draco with only one plausible decision.
"I would..I would be honored, my lord." Draco stated. It was quite obviously a lie. Unlike the people sitting at the table with him, Draco had never once taken a life. He'd hardly truly known the severity of his family's loyalty and how far they would go to protect their legacy.
Draco would see jealousy engulfing his aunt's twisted features, but he didn't quite understand what it was about his situation that anyone could envy, other than getting on The Dark Lord's good side. He'd been given his instruction and he was quite certain that if he failed, he would be killed for his treachery. However, the silence in the room following his acceptation of the plan was beginning to make him feel uneasy.
"I had almost forgotten," The Dark Lord stated rather plainly, his eyes burning daggers into Draco's being. "Come, Draco. I have a gift for you." The blond sat still, at first. He was quite sure that whatever the gift was, it wasn't something that he would want. Though Draco willingly arose from his seat and made the short distance over to where The Dark Lord and Nagini sat, it had taken only The Dark Lord's final words for Draco to realize what exactly was going on. "Your sleeve, Draco." In that moment, he wanted to turn on his heel and run but no. He was far too proud to do so and wondered what might become of his mother if he were to do such a dastardly thing. Still, Draco stood idle for nearly a minute, unable to truly process what had been asked of him.
It had all but taken both Lucius and Dolohov to subdue the struggling Draco long enough for The Dark Lord to mark the boy. All he remembered was excruciating pain, followed by blacking out only to awaken an hour or so later in his bedroom, his blood boiling and the realization hit him soon after. Draco Malfoy had been marked in more ways than one.