Prologue

Disclaimer: I don't own anything in this story that is Harry Potter related. It's all J. K. Rowling's and I am certainly not her. I don't have her money, good looks, or exceptional writing ability. I'm fairly certain that no sane person would ever confuse us. Nuff said.

The evening was near perfect. As the sun fell beyond the horizon, reds and yellows streaked the sky in colors so vivid that the best artists could never reproduce them no matter how often they tried. A gentle breeze course through budding trees giving them an almost life-like appearance as the branches swayed. Birds perched in the branches and trilled excitedly as they courted one another. The beauty ended, however, as two figures suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

"Pull it together Draco. We are here. Now is not the time to show weakness," snarled Severus Snape. His dirt smeared face screamed fury as it had the day before when he confronted Harry Potter.

Draco Malfoy, on the other hand, seemed exhausted to the point that he could barely stand. His eyes had the haunted look of a boy who had seem much more than one his age should. At the other man's words, Malfoy steeled his features and straightened his back.

Neither man noticed the beautiful sunset. They stared straight ahead and silently followed a barely perceptible path towards a dilapidated shack. Snape stopped at the door and touched it with his wand. A skull and serpent glowed green for several seconds as the door quietly opened inward. Snape entered purposefully without looking back.

As Malfoy hurried to catch up, he was not at all surprised to discover that this broken down shack was really as opulent if not more opulent than Malfoy Manor. A large entry way led to several rooms that were all decorated in the same theme. Greens, blacks, and snakes dominated the decor although crystal and gold added the opulent, if not somewhat-gaudy, final touches. As they strode towards the back rooms, Malfoy could not help but quickly appraise the items whose worth he recognized. He knew that there was substantial wealth in this household.

People scattered as the duo approached. Malfoy recognized many of the death eaters as friends of his fathers although many he had never seen before. One of the ones he didn't recognize approached them. Balding, heavy, and craven-looking, Malfoy would have normally simply overlooked someone like this as an assumed servant. The man's silver hand, however, was note-worthy.

"Is it true Severus? Is Dumbledore really dead," asked Peter Pettigrew with a look of excitement and repulsion. He shrunk back, though, at the look of contemptuous fury on Snape's face.

"Don't think for a minute that because you grovel at the feet of the Dark Lord that I've forgotten our past, Wormtail," whispered Snape and gave his wand an upward flick.

Suddenly, Pettigrew was hanging upside down as if attached to an invisible meat hook. The other Death Eaters howled, but Snape's expression never changed as he strode past the dangling Pettigrew ignoring the man's sputtering cries to be released. Malfoy moved aside so as not to allow himself to be touched by upside down fool and quickly followed Snape through the back door.

The room was dark and lacking in furniture excepting the large throne-like chair in the middle of the room. The two men approached the chair, which was currently turned so that its back faced the doorway. Following Snape's actions, Malfoy sank to one knee as he neared the chair.

"So the deed is finally done?" whispered a malicious voice from the corner of the room.

Malfoy almost turned towards the voice but stopped when he noticed that Snape had still not moved.

"Dumbledore is dead," acknowledged Snape. "His funeral was likely this afternoon."

"Rise," demanded the voice.

Malfoy steeled his features to suppress the shudder as he gazed on the face of the Dark Lord. He wasn't sure if it was the inhuman face or the penetrating gaze, but something about the Dark Lord made him feel powerless.

Voldemort stared at Malfoy with amusement. "To bad I didn't have enough time to plan a little visit to the funeral. After all, it would have been courteous to say a few words to the one man who came near to rivaling my power. So, you succeeded in your task young Malfoy?"

Malfoy's voice was steady as he answered, "I circumvented the security of Hogwarts my Lord."

"Yes, you did. Of course, you didn't kill Dumbledore like I ordered, now, did you? Good thing Severus was there to finish the job."

"I would have killed him if given the chance," Malfoy protested weakly.

Voldemort simply smiled. Malfoy tried to remember the occlumency lessons his Aunt Bellatrix had taught him, but he knew that he was no match for the Dark Lord.

"Perhaps he would have, my Lord," suggested Snape. "However, I sensed hesitation and time was short. Dumbledore was pleading for his life, and he can be quite persuasive. So, I performed the curse. I'm sorry that I did not allow Draco to fulfill your order."

"So, young Malfoy," Voldemort continued as if Snape had not spoken, "you believe yourself capable of murder? You believe you have what it takes to be a death eater? And a useful one…unlike your father?"

"Yes, my Lord."

"Then, I think it is only fair I give you another opportunity to prove your worth. Bella, bring her in."

The door opened and Bellatrix entered pulling a woman in shackles. Once beautiful, the bruises and torn clothing hid her beauty and bore proof that she had not enjoyed her captivity.

"Mother," whispered Malfoy.

"Please," begged Narcissa Malfoy as she threw herself at the feet of Voldemort, "please don't kill Draco. I beg you."

Snape's eyes grew wary as Bellatrix moved to pull Narcissa away from the Dark Lord. Voldemort waived Bellatrix away impatiently.

"Oh, young Malfoy will not be killed. His cleverness at Hogwarts has earned this. However, his failure at fulfilling my orders deserves punishment. A very painful reminder should serve. However, I'm in a giving mood today and am giving him another chance to prove himself worth of my service. Now," he smiled turning to Malfoy, "Do it."

Malfoy stared at his mother revulsion showing plainly on his face. His wand shook as he pointed it in her direction. His face paled even more as tears welled in his eyes. His mother said nothing and simply bowed her head.

"Avada Kedavra!"