a/n: Hello! I've done a few one-shots that have been relatively well received so I am going to give a multi-chapter fic. It is clearly Dramione and totally AU. So make sure you stop and hit the button on your way out to let me know if you liked it and want more.

The Summoning

Prologue:
Life and Death

"Draco, darling, I know it's a lot to take in."

That was putting it mildly. His head was still spinning from the onslaught of information that had been thrown at him not even ten minutes ago. He had been lied to. His entire life. All those accidents that no one could explain, all those times he had no friends because "weird things" happened when he was around, all of those small explosions... They hadn't been accidents at all. They were a part of his heritage. It was his magic trying to show him that he was destined for something more.

He took a deep breathe and gave his mother a pointed look. She cocked her head at him, blinking rapidly. He didn't even know what to say to her. Somehow he didn't think he'd be able to manage anything close to appropriate. But then again, what was even an appropriate response to such a declaration? He didn't know.

"Well?"

Draco turned his head to meet his father, Lucius's, cool stare. The man before him was not the father he remembered from his childhood. That man had been warm, caring... Almost loving. That man had disappeared as the years had passed until, eventually, he became the man he was today. His temper was shorter. His behavior was erratic. He talked to himself almost constantly. And when he did speak to others, his exclamations almost never made sense.

"Well, what?" Draco asked sharply; a little more so than he had intended.

His father raised an elegant eyebrow and huffed. "Are you going to carry on our legacy and do us proud?"

"I haven't decided yet. I don't even know what it entails." Draco arched his own brow at his father.

There had been plenty of talk about honor and heritage today. None of it was explained with detail, but from what he could understand, he was expected to take over his father's role in a... a cult? A congregation? Lucius had been hazy with the specifics. Anyway. They were called Death Eaters and they did something called summoning ceremonies when the moon was new. That was the only pertinent information he had been given.

"What is there to deliberate? Are you devoted to this family or not?"

Draco started and he heard his mother 'tut' behind him.

"Of course I'm devoted to the family. It isn't about that-"

"If you claim to be devoted than you will take on the tattoo of the Brotherhood and join the ranks."

"I don't even know what the "Brotherhood" does! I don't know how you expect me to make a decision when I've only just been informed of my heritage-"

Lucius lost what little patience he had. "There is nothing to think about! You've come of age and have been welcomed into our world. It is the Malfoy family honor to be invited into the ranks! You will learn everything you need from them."

Draco bowed his head, realizing that, short of driving his father to violence (something he knew his father to be capable when pushed), the decision had been made for him. Probably before he'd even been born. The way Lucius was still ranting about the "countless forefathers" only made him more certain. His hands were tied.

Hermione Granger was at the end of her rope. She'd had the worst week ever. Not only had she been killed, she was now being relegated to Hell until all further paperwork was looked over and verified. Someone, apparently, hadn't filed her where she belonged and all unconfirmed walkers (which, she just learned, was a name they used for all the newly dead) were all sent to Hell. They told her it was a precaution; they didn't need to send any serial killers on to Heaven if they didn't belong there.

So it was guilty until proven innocent in the afterlife. Who knew? She huffed as the small cherub sat before her and laid all the paperwork they had found on the table. It didn't look like much.

"Look, Miss Granger, they don't have a whole lot for you. Pretty much your entire file is missing. And that's going to take time to locate. In the mean time, you will be sent to Hell and classified as a low class demon."

"What! Are you kidding me? I've never done anything to get sent to Hell!"

"I don't make the rules, Miss Granger. I'm just a peon. I have to follow protocol."

She rolled her eyes. "Why aren't you on an electronic system, at least? Seriously, isn't paper a little behind the times, especially for higher powers?"

He glared at her. "No need to get snippy. We've already tried to get an electronic service, but it wasn't in the budget. Maybe next year, they said. In other words, go take a flying leap because it ain't never gonna happen."

She blinked. Heaven had budgets? That brought on a whole plethora of extra questions she was dying to ask, but she was abruptly dismissed. She cherub floated up, flapping his small wings, and pushed her towards a woman with ethereal blonde hair.

"Hello," she said with a soft smile.

"This is Luna. She'll be escorting you down. She's the only one that that snake can't break. So be nice to her and maybe she'll give you some tips. Happy travels, Miss Granger." With that bit of information, he left, leaving a trail of fluffy clouds in his wake.

Hermione sighed and turned to look at her guide. Luna, huh? Oh well. She stood up, walked over to her, and offered her her hand.

"I'm Hermione. Nice to meet you... Luna, was it?"

"Oh, yes. Shall we be going, Miss Granger?"

With one last look at the famous pearly gates, she sighed again, and said, "I suppose."

TBC...

a/n: Well? I know it was short, but I have most of the second part written already. Just looking to get some feedback. Let me know!