CHAPTER 1

Once outside of the Hogwart's grounds, Severus Snape snatched Draco Malfoy roughly by the neckline of his torn robes.

"You silly boy", he hissed, "you could have gotten yourself killed!"

Wincing as his robes tightened around his throat, Draco wrenched himself free of Snape's pale fingers. As he glanced sideways and caught what he thought was a look of worry etched into the harsh lines of his face; so many questions were running though his mind. Why had Snape spared Potter's life? Why had he offered what seemed like last minute advice to him? What was going to happen to he and his family now that he had failed to fulfill the Dark Lord's orders?

Sure Dumbledore was dead, but Snape had done it. Dumbledore was right, he could do a lot of terrible things, but murder is not one of them. Something Dumbledore had said to leapt into his memory, he said he could make it seem as if they were already dead. That was complete codswallop, no one could fool the Dark Lord, the most powerful wizard of all time. Still…

Breaking him out of his thoughts, Snape gripped him tightly once more and hurried into the trees just outside of Hogsmeade. After searching for several seconds, he picked up an invisibility cloak.

"Now boy, can you apparate? No matter", Snape decided, "just hold on tightly."

And with that Draco felt all his muscles were being compressed to fit through an inner tube, and as quickly as the discomfort had come, it was gone. As he surveyed the area around him, his escort draped the cloak lightly around him. They were in a strange place, overgrown vines and uprooted trees were situated all around them. The smell of decaying wood invaded his nostrils.

"This is the House of Gaunt, compose yourself, we are going to see the Dark Lord", hissed Snape's voice from beside him.

In a clearing not far from where they were standing, a very abandoned looking old house with tattered shutters appeared before him. It did not look like a place where the Dark Lord should invite himself. Nonetheless, Draco shuddered slightly when he saw the dead and decayed snake remains nailed to the crumbling door, rustling in the still breeze. As the pair quickly made their way up the winding pathway to the house, Draco flinched as his newly applied dark mark burned hotter that ever. Once inside, he was surprised to find the inside much different looking from the outside. The house was spotlessly clean and looked newly in habited. However lighting was very dim and despite the fire roaring merrily in the corner, the room had a constant chilly draft. Following Snape to the back of the room, the professor suddenly dropped to both knees and Draco quickly copied. Out of the shadows the slim hooded figure emerged. His snake like appearance uncanny, his nostrils were barely openings for him to breathe. His eyes were red slits that glowed evilly from beneath his hood.

Snape spoke first, "My lord, it is done. Albus Dumbledore is now dead."

"Yes, the fool that dared to rise up against me, has suffered the most terrible fate. Ah, but which of your hands' is stained with his blood?" Pacing a full circle before he spoke again, he continued; "I certainly remember ordering that the boy should be the one to do it, prove himself to me. However, I see that he has disregarded my orders and acted on his own accord…And for that," he said turning to Draco, "you shall be punished…"

Shuddering at the thought of his punishment, nothing could have prepared Draco for what he saw next. As Voldemort stepped aside, light from the fireplace cast an eerie shadow across the face of Narcissa Malfoy. Slumped in the corner of this dark house was his mother. She looked peaceful. A few wisps of her long blonde hair had fallen on her cheek.

She's dead, were the first thoughts to rush into Draco's mind. And as if reading his very thoughts, Voldemort laughed wickedly to himself. "She is alive, but only by my rare grace. Your father however, is dead..."

Like a blow in the stomach the news of his father caused him to double over gasping for breath…however he was just as elated to learn that his mother was fine.

"I had no use for him", Voldemort continued, " and you disobeyed me. Your mother will live unless you carry out my orders…I have devised a plan that will surely bring Harry Potter to me. You see; Harry Potter is a simple fool that made the mistake of feeling love and compassion…emotion. He will follow wherever his emotions lead him…and that is how I will end this senseless battle."

Having stopped his pacing, the glowing red slits that were his eyes washed over Draco.

"I have secured my immortality, Dumbledore is dead…nothing shall stand in my way!"