The Dark Lord lifts his arm with a flourish. "Welcome, Draco."
This is followed by murmurs of more "Welcome, Draco"s from around the room.
I look down at my left forearm, where I now bear the coveted Dark Mark. So this is it, then. I inhale deeply and look up at the Dark Lord. He gestures to me to return to my seat. As I sit down, I feel a gush of pride. I am now a Death Eater, I think. Death Eater Draco Malfoy. That line runs through my mind several times, as I mentally revel in the heightened importance my new prefix has given me.
I am brought to the present once again by the Dark Lord's voice. "We have all just witnessed an addition to our ranks. As part of the induction for our newest member, I have a very extraordinary task for young Malfoy here."
He now paces the room, breaking eye contact with the rest of us. "Dumbledore is a key obstacle in my mission to reign over the magical world. He has appeared imperturbable in face of all the chaos I have brought about. What I need to do is to, as they say, 'flap the unflappable'. I have extracted very insightful information from a particular individual who knew Dumbledore rather well when he was a youth."
He pauses and returns to the head of the table at which all of us are seated and looks at my father. "Lucius," he shifts his gaze to my mother, "Narcissa." He now directs his gaze straight at me. I try my hardest not to flinch. "Draco. Your family must be honoured by the task which I am about to bestow upon you."
I feel my mother's hand on my hand under the table. To my left, my father gives the slightest of nods. I get the cue. "Yes, m'lord, it is an honour," I say.
"Draco Malfoy, you are chosen to gain Dumbledore's confidence."
There is a lengthy pause. I can hear my heartbeat accelerating.
"And to do that, you will seduce him."
My mother's hand tightens around mine. Around me, the Death Eaters laugh.