Chapter 1
Dark Lord Ascending
The boy nibbled on his bottom lip nervously, not taking his eyes off the slowly revolving body on the ceiling. He was in his own house but it did not feel like his, not since the Death Eaters came.
You are a Death Eater, he reminded himself. Draco Malfoy was a Death Eater, but not by choice. It sort of comes with the family, he decided. He was not a bad boy, a cruel boy. It was true that he had been a bully, looking down on those of lesser bloods but that was what he had been taught to do. Once again, it came with the family.
Under the table, he reached for his mother's cold hand. She clasped his tightly, not changing her gaze from a distant spot on the wall.
Two men entered the room, their black cloaks trailing behind.
"You are very nearly late," commented the high, cold voice that tormented Draco's dreams. "Severus, sit here. Yaxley, there."
Draco stole a glance at his former teacher as Snape took his seat. The Dark Lord's favorite looked pale, as always, his black eyes unreadable. He returned Draco's gaze calmly, and the boy quickly went back to staring at the body which hung suspended from nothing. There was something familiar about it, something achingly familiar.
The voice went on. "…I shall need to borrow a wand…"
Draco's head shot up. A wand? That was like asking to take someone's arm! Who would it be?
"Lucius, I see no reason for you to have a wand anymore."
He was addressing Draco's father. His father looked terrified. "My Lord?" Draco saw his mother reach for her husband.
"Your wand, Lucius. I will require your wand."
He gave his master his wand, his life.
"What is it?"
"Elm, my Lord," Lucius whispered.
"And the core?"
"Dragon—dragon heartstring."
"Good."
Draco saw his father jerk a little, as though almost expecting to get a wand in exchange. Voldemort noticed too.
"My wand, Lucius? Give you my wand?" His red eyes glinted.
Some people sniggered a little. Draco did not look anywhere but at the hanging figure. He was ashamed for his father's sake but knew better than to show it. Memories of last year still haunted his dreams.
"I have given you such liberties, Lucius, is that not enough for you?" Draco was no longer ignoring the conversation. He prayed that his father would lie well enough.What is it about my presence in your home that displeases you, Lucius?"
"Nothing—nothing, my lord!"
"Suchlies, Lucius…"
Draco froze. He heard hissing, a rustle…the snake was under the table. Nagini. He closed his eyes in terror.
Nagini emerged from under the table and slithered up Voldemort's chair. It was huge. Its master was still staring at Draco's father.
"Why do the Malfoys look so unhappy with their lot? Is my return, my rise to power, not the very thing they professed to desire for so many years?"
"Of course, my Lord." Draco heard his father's voice tremble. "We did desire it—we do." His mother nodded, not looking at the Dark Lord or the snake. Draco glanced quickly at Voldemort but looked away immediately.
"My Lord," began Draco's aunt, Bellatrix, "it is an honor to have you here, in our family's house. There can be no higher pleasure."
Yeah, right, thought Draco. This isn't really your house anyway. Bellatrix had spent the last twelve years in Azkaban for torturing two Aurors until they went crazy. Draco knew their son, Neville. He was stupid and clumsy, but Draco sometimes felt a little guilty that the other boy had had to live without his parents because of his aunt.
"No higher pleasure," Voldemort repeated. "That means a great deal, Bellatrix, coming from you."
She blushed and her eyes filled with joyful tears. "My Lord knows I speak nothing but the truth!"
"No higher pleasure," he said again. "Even compared to the happy event, I hear, has taken place in your family this week?"
Draco was confused. So was his aunt.
"I don't know what you mean, my Lord."
"I'm talking about your niece, Bellatrix. And yours, Lucius and Narcissa. She has just married the werewolf, Remus Lupin. You must be so proud."
Everyone laughed. Draco tried to block out the sound. He knew they were laughing at him.
He knew the werewolf. Remus Lupin had been his teacher in third year. And despite the comments he had made all year about the raggedness of his robes, Lupin had been the best Defense teacher they had ever had. That is, with the possible exception of Snape.
Third year…Draco glanced back up at the revolving body on the ceiling. He knew who she was…
"…Muggles have a device called a telephone, which enables them to talk over long distance…"
"You did WHAT? You took Muggle Studies, Draco? I'm very disappointed in you. My pureblood son, taking a course about lesser people…I don't understand it. I am ashamed of you, Draco, ashamed!"
"…Nothing to do with us, or the beast she marries!" Bellatrix was nearly hysterical.
Everyone was laughing, laughing at them.
"What say you, Draco?"
The boy froze.
The Dark Lord continued. "Will you baby-sit the cubs?"
He glanced, terrified, at his father as everyone made fun of the Malfoys. Lucius Malfoy was just staring at his wandless hands. Narcissa, however, caught her son's eye and shook her head. She continued staring at the wall.
"Enough," said Voldemort. The room was instantly quiet. He continued, comparing the family trees to real trees, advising Bellatrix to prune hers. Finally, he pointed his wand—no, he pointed Lucius Malfoy's wand—at the figure Draco had been staring at. She came to life and began to struggle.
"Do you recognize our guest, Severus?"
The potions teacher looked up. He looked at the woman.
"Severus! Help me!"
"Ah, yes…" Snape knew.
"And you, Draco?"
Draco shook his head jerkily. He did not look at the woman, now that she had woken.
"But you would not have taken her classes," said Voldemort.
Except that I did.
"For those of you who do not know, we are joined here tonight by Charity Burbage, who, until recently, taught at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."
People understood now. Someone laughed.
Voldemort continued explaining the crimes of the woman, who was now sobbing.
"Severus…please…"
She caught sight of Draco and her eyes widened. She now understood what he had told her those years ago…but it was too late.
"Aveda Kedavra."
Green light flashed. Draco almost screamed, but found he couldn't. His teacher fell onto the table. People jumped.
Draco fell off his chair.
"Dinner, Nagini."
