A/N: I started this story many months ago and uploaded the beginnings of it here but I wasn't fully happy with the direction it was going in. Saying this though, the plot has not changed and neither has the way I write the characters. I'm aiming to upload a chapter a week (possibly more because I get impatient), however, the first 5 chapters are up to begin with. I hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: I own nothing! I just play with JKR's world and characters.

Chapter 1 - The Failed Initiation

His heart was beating rapidly, there was a small layer of sweat on his forehead and there was a slight shake to his hands. He clenched his fists and hid them in his lap underneath the long mahogany table he was sitting at. His Mother and Father were on either side of him; his Mother had a pained expression on her face and his Father looked calm and collected, as if he was at ease over the fact that he was handing his Son over to the Dark Lord on a silver platter. There were twenty more people situated around the table who could all be seen looking in to their laps whilst shooting furtive glances to the entrance hall waiting for their Lord to arrive.

Today was the day that he would be recognised as a part of Lord Voldemort's inner circle. He was going to be branded with the Dark Mark. He'd thought of this moment obsessively for years, his Father had always told him he would be a Death Eater, he'd felt beyond important that he'd been chosen since he was a child to be a part of Voldemort's new era. However, recently the thought of his initiation was causing him a lot of stress, he'd stopped eating, he wasn't sleeping enough and he was physically sick on more than one occasion. He didn't want any part of this. He wanted to be neutral like the Zabini family. He did not want to be a Death Eater. In the past few months, he'd seen first hand what being a Death Eater actually entails. He couldn't be a part of that. But he had to otherwise it would mean his death… it wouldn't be quick either, no, it would be torturous.

At once everybody's heads turned towards the entrance hall as Lord Voldemort approached. Everyone stood to show their respect and subservience for the snake-like man. "Sit," his quiet voice commanded, "I have brought you all at Malfoy Manor today to welcome young Draco to our cause." There was a polite applause as everyone zeroed in on Draco. He tried his best to give a convincing smile, however it probably looked more convincing as a grimace. "Come Draco, time to receive your Dark Mark," Voldemort held out his hand expecting Draco to come over. Draco raised himself out of his seat with weak knees. Here it was, the moment he had been waiting for.

Before Draco could make a move or before anyone could comprehend what was happening, there was a loud crack, a pair of tan arms wrapped around Draco's shoulders and another loud crack signalled their disappearance. Everyone stood stock still with masks of shock on each face. A hooded figure had taken Draco Malfoy away.

XXX

Draco felt the sensation of being pushed in to a very small tube - apparation. When his feet hit firm ground, he snatched his wand from his slacks pocket and swung around to the hooded figure on high alert. "Who the bloody hell are you?" The figure remained silent but reached their arms up to pull down the hood. Stood before him was a tanned girl, with deep chocolate eyes and raven coloured curls. She looked young, she couldn't be much older than him. He didn't recognise her but there was an air of familiarity about her. "That doesn't answer my question," he spat out angrily.

"All will be explained, please follow me," she replied curtly. He held his wand in a defensive stance but chose to follow the young girl. He wanted to know more. Why was he here and who was she? There was also a familiarity about the girl, he felt that he knew that voice. Was this a trick by Voldemort? No, the shock in his eyes when Draco was taken was evident and real. Was this girl a part of the Order, could he be here to be questioned? Was he in trouble here? He didn't think so. The girl was leading him through a long fire-lit corridor. He recognised this place. He'd seen these ancient wizard paintings before, he'd seen the statues and the rich carpet. He couldn't put his finger on why but he knew he'd been here before.

The girl stopped in front of a bronze door with a silver snake on the door knob. She knocked on the door and whispered to Draco, "I shall let my brother do the explaining," before she walked back down the corridor the way they had come. Her brother? Draco screwed up his forehead in confusion. What was going on here? The door opened slowly, Draco had his wand trained on it as a smiling face appeared to him. Draco dropped his wand arm feeling even more confused. "Blaise?" He questioned.

"Come in mate," Blaise said whilst guiding Draco in to his room, "let me explain." Draco let Blaise guide him over to his fireplace where there were two green sofas with silver detailed cushions.

Draco sat down opposite Blaise and exhaled, "what in the name of Merlin is going on Blaise?"

Blaise clasped his hands in his lap and sighed "I don't know where to begin so just let me speak and then you can ask questions after, yeah?" Draco nodded his consent. "You've been mentioning in your letters about how you can't be a Death Eater, how you wouldn't be able to do what He asks of you but you fear for the safety of your family and yourself; I was frustrated seeing you in a position that you felt you couldn't get out of, I spoke to Mother about my worries," Blaise paused, thinking, "She's worried for you too Draco, we want you to be neutral just like us. This war isn't ours to fight. She organised afternoon tea with your Mother. I'm not sure exactly what they discussed as I wasn't present but they approached myself and my sister to help."

Draco interrupted, "who is your sister? I've never even met her before?"

Blaise sighed loudly, "Let me finish this first. Our Mothers approached myself and my sister to help with their plan. The plan was that your Mother would let down the Manor's apparation wards so that my sister could get in and get you, they chose my sister to do that as nobody knows who she is, nobody has ever seen her. Your Father has no idea about this plan as your Mother wanted him in the dark, she said that he is unpredictable and she is unsure where his loyalties lie." Draco scoffed, knowing full well his Father's loyalties did not align with his Son. Blaise carried on, "You are to stay here with us until we go back to Hogwarts. You're not going to be a Death Eater, Dray."

Draco let out a breath he didn't know he was holding in, "he's going to come after me Blaise, I have to go back to the Manor."

"No, He doesn't know where you are at the moment Draco and in a month we'll be going back to Hogwarts which is protected. When he takes it over, which I'm sure he will, then we will go to one of our holiday homes and wait for this all to blow over." Blaise gave a slight smile, "You're going to be fine mate."

Draco shook his head, "What about my parents?"

"Everything has been thought of, your Mother is going to act like she has no idea what's going on and your Father really has no idea what's going on. Your Mother will act the part of an extremely worried parent and Merlin knows that your Father will be convincing enough as he's in the dark. They'll continue under You-Know-Who's orders."

Draco was quiet for a few moments, thinking it all over. The plan was good, he'd be out of the way until they went back to Hogwarts and then once there Voldemort may find out he's there by Death Eater's children but he will be protected. His Mother who is excellent at Occlumency will act like none of this was her doing. He was safe. He didn't have to be a Death Eater. He owed the Zabini's a million times.

"How come I've never known you had a sister?" Draco asked.

"Ah, a long story. I only found out at the end of Fifth year just before this Summer. We're twins, separated at birth due to a Prophecy. You do know her. We've known her ever since First year." Blaise sighed. He was not looking forward to this part.

"Who is she?" Draco asked with upturned eyebrows, "I don't recognise her."

"You wouldn't recognise her mate, she's had a glamour charm on her ever since we were separated, since she came home Mother took the charm off. It will have to go back on when we go back to Hogwarts." Blaise tried avoiding telling him the truth for a little bit longer.

"Who is she?" Draco asked with a bad feeling.

Blaise sighed, "Hermione Granger."