Author's Note: Just a warning that this is a dark fic and there will be some difficult themes throughout the story. I like my Death Eater's and Voldemort to be terrifying ) This is also very much an AU so their sixth and seventh years only have a few elements that are canon. In this story Draco turns 17 before the start of their sixth year and Hermione turns 17 once school starts. This is the back story of my one shot "Fifteen" and will conclude with that as the ending. I hope you like it, I'd love to know what you think.

Disclaimer: The plot is my own but JK owns Harry Potter... always. This is completely non profit.

The truth runs wild

Like kids on concrete

Trying to sedate, my mind in it's cage

And numb what I see

Awake, wide eyed I'm screaming at me

Troye Sivan 'Heaven'

Every step felt heavy like the ground itself was desperately trying to slow his fate. His hands kept twitching and he resolutely flexed them to still their traitorous movements. The reality that his body was showing signs of betraying him at a time like this made his teeth grind together in frustration. The rhythmic echo of his footsteps on the vast Manor walls rattled his resolve further and set his senses on over-drive.

Severus paused in his striding ahead of him, his cloak rippling like ink on water. He whipped his head around and his features twisted into a deep scowl. "Lock it down Draco," he spat in a harsh whisper. "This is not the time, nor the place, lock your mind now. Your walls aren't good enough! Be better! Once we are through those doors- "

"Don't! I fucking get it. I don't need this bullshi- "

"You know nothing! Nothing! Don't be a fool, if he even sniffs a modicum of doubt…" Snape strode forward and grabbed Draco by the collar. The boy was going to get them both killed. He was always proud of his godson's composure and innate ability to remain stoic when the situation demanded it. Right now he could tell his focus on the present wasn't absolute. If the boy hadn't grasped how serious this was then he may as well Avada him now.

Draco snatched Snape's wrist and wrenched his collar out of his grasp with a swift movement. "I'm fine." He took a deep calming breath and locked eyes with the man before him. He knew Snape was stressed and his concern and fear was manifesting in his condescending tone toward him.

"Let's keep moving. It would not do to be late, Severus."

Snape appraised his face as he said this in a detached monotonous drawl that he had perfected years ago. He was tempted to raise a brow but thought it was overkill. Confidence was not what he had right now and they both knew it.

Snape sighed and ran a hand over his face. "Just focus, forget everything around you, you need to be singular in every movement. It's going to take precision of a high calibre, Draco. You know even the slightest flicker of detail in your thoughts could mean exposure... You'll need to hold it through the first phase of transition." He turned and resumed his striding without glancing back as he spoke again. "I have prepared you as much as possible. Do not disappoint me."

"If I'm alive in three days I'll thank you then." He haughtily shot back.

Draco could see Snape's jaw tense as he matched his stride. The two men now stood shoulder to shoulder as they neared the large ornate doors leading into the favoured drawing room for meetings with the Dark Lord. The double doors silently opened as they approached and Draco stepped ahead of his godfather to take his place kneeling in subjugation without raising his eyes to the snake like being in front of him. The room was dark and fittingly ominous, the only light coming from the intricately carved wooden fireplace on the far wall. The studded black leather armchairs reflected the flickering amber shadows from the firelight creating little cracks and creases winding like snakes over the surface of the furniture. The Dark Lord stood in the centre of the room his eyes narrowed as he watched the boy in front of him just itching for him to make a false move so he could rip him to pieces.

The Malfoy's needed to be brought back into line and he had formed a solution to his current predicament by using the son to achieve his desired ends. Lucius was his prized general in the most literal sense. The man was a walking, talking Gringott's vault to Voldemort, his funding absolutely crucial to his regime. Wars didn't pay for themselves. The whole pureblood alliance he had formed was started for this very reason. The self-serving upper echelon of wizarding society were limited in their views and ideals having inbred the prejudice along with the too close familial marriages over the centuries. It was almost too easy. He relished that he could control these gold soaked patrician men. Lucius was as aristocratic as they came and Slytherin to his core. His failing in the Department of Mysteries had meant altering his plans, which he did not take to lightly. Repercussions for his folly lead to the current situation with his blonde progeny kneeling before him waiting to inherit the sins of his father. The Dark Lord now surveyed the boy with a sneer, he would be screaming in agony soon enough. A Malfoy in pain was blissful to behold. Blood, evidently, couldn't always be protected by coin.

"Young Master Malfoy," he hissed in a whisper, casually walking to circle the boy in subtle intimidation. "You come here to uphold your family's duty in your father's stead. Are you willing to be held accountable for your father's failings? Are you a loyal servant to your Lord?"

Draco didn't move, didn't flinch, and kept his breathing steady and even. "I am faithful My Lord. I will atone on behalf of my father."

"Very well. Tonight you will take the mark and become part of the brotherhood. Your status as a Death Eater will be conditional until you complete the task I beset you. Failure to complete this task will mean the eradication of the Malfoy name. Completion of this task will have your father reinstated in his place as my Lieutenant. Your position as a loyal Death Eater will be trusted and after more training your status would have potential to rise within the ranks. Failure means death for you and yours, young Malfoy, do not make the mistakes of your father. I will not be so lenient again. I am a merciful Lord, am I not?"

"Yes My Lord, I will not fail you."

Voldemort stopped his circling pacing and now stood directly in front of Draco, close enough to read every reaction across his pale featured face. He held out his skeletal like hand and looked down at the platinum blonde head still bowed before him.

"Your wand, Malfoy."

Draco's heart rate sped up and a thick cord of muscle tensed in his neck. His grey eyes remained focussed intently on the floor counting the flecks in the wood to focus his thoughts as he took a steadying breath and withdrew his Hawthorn wand to hand over to the Dark Lord. Voldemort twirled it between his fingers his eyes briefly flickering over to Severus who remained in the shadows at the far end of the room. "Are you aware of what the Dark Mark ceremony involves Master Malfoy? Has your godfather prepared you for the days to come?"

"Yes my Lord."

"Are you aware that some have not survived in the past?"

"Yes, my Lord."

"Look at me Malfoy," he commanded, hate radiating from his every pore. It was acrid and so tangible Draco could almost taste it as he slowly raised his eyes to the Dark Lord's face.

Voldemort's deep red eyes narrowed as he stared into Draco's blank grey gaze meeting his own. "Have you known fear before Draco? True fear? That all-encompassing force that permeates into your very soul? That terror that meanders through your blood until your very being is screaming for it to end?"

Draco kept his eyes locked onto the Dark Lord's as sweat started to trickle down the back of his neck.

"No, My Lord."

A slow smile spread across his face, twisting his features as his barely present nostrils flared and white, pointed teeth gleamed. Draco held his breath and forced himself not to shake in terror at the macabre vision in front of him. The build-up was intense and his nerves were set on edge waiting for Voldemort to make his move.

"Good. You will now, young master Malfoy. Facing one's own mortality makes or destroys a man. I will enjoy seeing what becomes of you." He raised Draco's own wand and tore the fabric of the sleeve on his left arm with a sickening rip. The wand painfully pressed into his forearm and black web like tendrils started to weave across his skin as the Dark Lord hissed "Morsmordre". The dark magic ghosted across his skin, and felt cold and splinter like as it wound its way beneath the surface and into his veins. It was a few moments before he felt the cold spread to his chest as his heart started to spread the curse throughout his body. He focussed all his energy blocking the essential parts of his brain knowing it was only seconds before the dark mark would start to induce the hallucinations as it tore through his thoughts and feelings searching for any weakness to expose and eradicate it from him.

Severus looked over at Draco now sprawled unconscious at the Dark Lord's feet and waited to be given orders. The boy's eyes were open and glassy as black smoke began to cover his retinas, the dark magic slowly filtering to consume him. Voldemort waited until both eyes were fully covered in black before tossing the Hawthorn wand to Severus who caught it with ease. He bowed and started to step forward when the Dark Lord raised his hand halting his movements.

"Severus, the boy is proficient in Occlumency is he not?" He questioned, deftly reaching for his wand and flicking his wrist making Draco flip onto his back.

Snape nodded and held his hands behind his back having a bad feeling where this line of questioning was leading. "My Lord, the Black's historically are naturally gifted Occlumens and Legilimens, he has indeed inherited this trait. Narcissa is easily on par with Bella in both areas although her use for such talents is not as varied as her sisters."

Voldemort appraised Snape for a few moments before turning his attention back to the boy on the floor who was now fully under the dark mark and more corpse like in appearance with his already pale complexion now alabaster white. "I do wonder Severus, would the boy be capable of hiding some matters from my attention if his abilities are, as you say, as proficient as his elders?" He looked over at Snape and considered using legilimency on the man but held back, preferring to hear his answer before drawing his own conclusions.

Snape had thought this might occur and had spent days with Draco honing his skills so that even when unconscious he could protect his memories. He knew the Dark Lord would take this chance to ravage through Draco's mind searching for evidence of any ulterior motives Lucius or his son may have had especially after the display at the Department of Mysteries. Aside from that, he trusted very few and it was always highly conditional. The Dark Lord was mad with paranoia that was somewhat unfounded the majority of the time, but in this case it had a sound basis which was why they had gone to the trouble of training so ardently in the first place. Draco had secrets and his life would be forfeit if they ever came to light; it was crucial that he held up now under the final test.

Snape walked forward to stand by the fireplace and looked into the flames soaking up the heat as the chill in the room was exacerbated by the dark magic becoming stronger as the minutes passed. "My Lord, I do believe the boy would be capable, however I highly doubt he would have anything valuable to divulge that he has not done so already. He is genuine in his eagerness for the cause and vehemently supports pureblood superiority and has done so since he grew to understand the connotations of the word as a small child. It has been ingrained since birth after all. "

"Indeed." The Dark Lord responded seeming displeased with Severus' response. Snape decided to placate him further and get the interrogation over before too much time had passed with Draco still being in the first phase of transition.

"If I may suggest a prudent course of action, my Lord?" Not waiting for a response he continued. "I believe at this point in proceedings, legilimency will be the most effective. If we combine both of our energies, I have complete faith that anything would be easily accessible if you so wish for my assistance."

Voldemort tilted his head as he stared down at the young Malfoy and raised his wand "Your assistance is unnecessary Severus. Although the Black skillset runs in his veins, he is no match for my superior abilities. I will ask that you wait until I have completed my search before you move the boy to his rooms. Depending on what I find I will accelerate the initial phase of the process." He placed his wand at Draco's temple and wordlessly cast legilimens as he pilfered through every thought and feeling Draco had possessed in his mind. Snape turned to watch and very slowly drew in breaths to keep calm hoping that everything would go to plan.

Hours passed and the three men remained motionless in the room; Severus the only one fully present and waiting for any indication that both him and his godson were about to die. The pressure was like a knife cracking into his skull, and a severe migraine had taken hold of him as the minutes passed and nothing happened. The sunrise was nearing and a purple orange glow was just starting to fade into existence when Voldemort suddenly stood, an almost bored expression plastered onto his face.

"Severus, I have ended the first phase, the second will be starting momentarily. Let's see how the little Malfoy responds to pain." He hissed with barely supressed glee. "The boy will survive the process; it appears I have slightly underestimated his abilities. From what I saw he would indeed be a valuable soldier to the cause. A worthy replacement of his father if he can carry out his task in the next year."

Snape almost stumbled in his relief that Draco had been able to supress information from the Dark Lord but remained stoic as he nodded to his master. He was concerned with this task, which had been yet to be discussed, but knew better than to ask. He would undoubtedly be told when Draco was to meet with the Dark Lord again once his mark had fully formed.

Voldemort strode towards the double doors, which opened as he approached, he turned and stopped just before he reached the threshold and looked back at the blonde laying prone in the middle of the room.

A fleeting moment later the room was filled with the torturous screams of Draco Malfoy. The next 24 hours to be filled in agony as his body jerked and twisted trying to find release from the continuous pain. There was a reason most of the Death Eaters had questionable sanity and it was going to take more than conviction to survive the ordeal with madness kept at bay. Severus bowed as the Dark Lord left the drawing room and went over to Draco to move him to his quarters in the East Wing of the manor. He briefly wondered if it would have been more merciful for him not to survive this curse as he clasped the boy's cold limp wrist and apparated him away. Unconscious or not there was no safe place in his world anymore. There was nothing that could save him from his fate.