Hello, everyone. This is my newest story for the Harry Potter fandom, The Sky Is Dark Tonight. The story is set two years before Harry and everyone else are born, when Voldemort is still in power. I intend for this to be a rather long story, so I hope you'll enjoy it until the end. Harry Potter does not belong to me, nor I fear, will it ever. That being said, on with the show.
The Sky Is Dark Tonight
Prologue
Conception of a Moon
Lucius Malfoy had always prided himself on three things. Firstly, the standing of his family. The Malfoys are an old, pure-blooded wizarding family who can trace their ancestry back several hundred years. Second, his dedication to the Dark Lord. He had always been there to support the Dark Lord, even when all hope for his return seemed lost. And, thirdly, his wife, Narcissa. The most beautiful girl at Hogwarts for the seven years she was there, the perfect pure-blooded wife who came from a family nearly as prominent as the Malfoys and the perfect, dedicated woman to himself and the Dark Lord. So, when, on a dark and stormy night late in the Dark Lord's first reign, a request came from the Dark Lord himself to see Narcissa, Lucius couldn't have been more excited. For he relished the chance to boost his family's power and his own standing in the eyes of the Dark Lord. So, he sent his wife to the Death Eater headquarters with a kiss and a promise that he would see her later on. Little did he know that when his wife returned, see would never be the same again…
Storm clouds boiled overhead as Narcissa Malfoy walked up the broken path to the forlorn Death Eater headquarters. She wrapped her cloak tighter around her slim body in order to prevent the chill from the howling wind to seep into her bones. The Lestrange brothers, Rodolphus and Rasbastian, nodded to her and allowed her to enter the darkened building through the broken double ebony doors. Taking a deep breath, Narcissa continued forward, trying to quell the growing sense of dread that had begun to worm its way through her stomach.
Passing through the foyer and the sitting room, Narcissa marched dutifully up the stairs to the drawing room of the building, where the Dark Lord had established his office. She stood in front of the graying door and steeled herself to knock against the dusty wood, twice.
"Enter." Called a snake-like voice from inside.
Narcissa took another deep breath and opened the door. Sitting in a large black, leather wing-back chair was the Dark Lord himself, Voldemort. He was busily reading the latest report out of Hogsmeade that stated that the Order of the Phoenix was making preparations to protect the Bones family.
"You wished to see me, my Lord?" Narcissa spoke.
"Yes, I have a…mission of sorts for you, dear Narcissa." Voldemort hissed, looking up from his papers and smiling at the Malfoy matriarch.
Fear prickled down Narcissa's spine, but she maintained a calm face. "A mission, my Lord?"
"Indeed. You see, Narcissa, for years I have acquired many things. Vast amounts of knowledge pertaining to the Dark Arts, a massive following made of some of the most pure-blooded wizards alive, and near immortality." Lord Voldemort rose from his chair and moved to walk behind Narcissa. He gently ran his long, white fingers over Narcissa's shoulders. "But through the years, there has been one thing, I have yet to acquire. One thing necessary for my legacy to live on should by some horrible tragedy, I meet my demise. Do you know what that is, dear Narcissa?"
Narcissa struggled to keep her lunch down. She knew very well what the Dark Lord was talking about and the very thought repulsed her. Narcissa decided the easiest thing to do was to play dumb.
"No, my Lord." Narcissa replied, amazed that her voice didn't shake. "What have you yet to acquire?"
Lord Voldemort moved in front of the slim woman and looked her over from head to toe. Long, pale blonde hair, deep brown eyes, alabaster skin. 'Lucius chose well when he picked her for his bride.' Voldemort thought.
"I have yet, lovely Narcissa, to acquire an heir."
There it was. Out in the open. Her mission for the Dark Lord.
Narcissa did not reply. She felt that if she had tried, she may very well vomit on the Dark Lord's robes, which would surely cause her life to be cut short.
"I have looked all through the ranks of my Death Eaters for a suitable woman to carry my heir and while some of the older women are very…willing, they do not have the pleasant physical attributes I wish to pass onto the child." Voldemort explained. Narcissa resisted the urge to laugh aloud. Surely, any child of Voldemort's would be horrendously unfortunate looking no matter who the mother was. Voldemort continued. "And, the younger women… Well, they are sufficiently attractive, but lack the intelligence the child will need. They lack willpower and strength. That is with the exception of two. Yourself, who is by far the loveliest creature any of my Death Eaters has claimed for themselves and your sister, Bellatrix. Now, Bellatrix is pretty and has superior magical skill, but she does not have the compassion needed for childrearing. But, you. You, Narcissa, have it all. Looks, compassion, magical talent, and you are strong. This is why I have chosen you to carry my heir."
Narcissa was horrified. Her mind was whirling with the thoughts of him touching her, being inside her, carrying his child. It was almost too much to bear.
"Now, I realize I am not the man I once was. Once I was handsome and very charming. Now, I have traded my looks for power. So, in order to make it more pleasant for you, I shall use Polyjuice Potion to make myself appear as your beloved Lucius. I will give you a moment to collect yourself and undress while I take the potion. Do not try to flee; it would end badly for you."
Voldemort left Narcissa in the drawing room where the woman immediately fell to her knees in tears. Lucius couldn't have known what was in store for her here. If he did, he would never have let her go. He would have died before he allowed anyone to defile her in such a manner. Desperately trying to think of a way out, Narcissa looked around the room. There were windows, but she, being only a Death Eater's wife did not have the ability to turn to smoke and fly away. Nor did she have a broom. The Dark Lord was not lying when he said fleeing would result in something unpleasant for her, she was certain in her knowledge. Realizing there was no way out, Narcissa did what was asked of her, tears falling as she did.
