A/N this fic is focused on Death Eaters and followers during the First Wizarding War, starting with a full meeting in front of The Dark Lord and exploring their individual stories. This chapter details the events of the meeting and all subsequent chapters will be told from a different point of view.

Advanced notice: There are no overarching pairings in this fic, though some romance etc. will pop up throughout. This is a darker fic than I have written before, these characters are not on a redemption arch there may be some scenes that readers will not enjoy.

Warnings: this story will have some potential triggers for readers, there are scenes of violence, abuse and torture as we move through the chapters.

My chapter list currently has sixteen Death Eaters in it, there are more in draft but that is the current list. I currently have no update schedule for this story and as such updates will be sporadic.

Huge, huge thanks to the wonderful kreeblimsabs who is Alpha reading this fic!

Prologue: The Meeting

Excerpt from Horcrux Hunting and The Fall of The Dark Lord Professor H. J. Granger [2003].

Tom Riddle a popular, singular, charismatic, strange, powerful, intimidating, smart, cute, mean, benevolent boy depending on who you asked had left Hogwarts in the early 1940s to begin his quest to confirm his immortality. This being the first step on the planned road to bring war within magical Britain and possibly beyond, had he been victorious at what is now referred to as The Battle of Hogwarts [1998].

After a short trip to Albania, where he is believed to have collected a priceless item, and third Horcrux, he returned to Britain. Once established in London the young wizard turned down several roles in the Ministry of Magic to work at Borgin and Burkes, a small proprietor of dark magical oddities in Knockturn Alley [closing operations in 2000]. While a surprise to many it is now believed that he accepted the lowly position of store assistant as it not only gave the young Riddle the perfect opportunity to not only practise his already substantial skill with the Imperious Curse but it also acted as a covert meeting spot for the furthering of his cultivation of influential followers.

He had already begun his expert manipulation of his fellow young minds while at school and was using the unassuming shop assistant role to broaden his reach.

While employed there he came across Hephzibah Smith, both wealthy and elderly she was prime for Tom's manoeuvring and was said to have fallen for his beautiful smile and smooth charm. Riddle's initial intent was probably money; though it would appear at some point during their acquaintance she had the misfortune to show the burgeoning Dark Lord two of her most valued possessions; The Locket of Salazar Slytherin and Helga Hufflepuff's Cup.

Mrs Smith, it was believed at the time, was poisoned by her House Elf Hokey; though it was uncovered that memory had been implanted in the elf's mind on the creature's Death Bed.

Following the death of Hephzibah, Tom Riddle resigned from his shop role and disappeared, presumably with the two artefacts that were never recovered, taking his Horcrux count to five. Little concrete detail is known about the victims he used for his Horcrux creation, apart from his family all of those he killed for his purpose seem to hold little significance, or at least none that can be found at this time. It has been postulated that at this time it was already evident that human life meant very little to him.

It is an interesting facet of his psychopathy that already his relatively young age he placed more import on the objects he acquired to create his Horcruxes than the people he executed to complete his quest.

Riddle disappeared for a total ten years, not much reliable information is available from this time apart from the odd snippet of meetings with people of ill repute hinting at his investigations into the very darkest magic.

He then reappeared somewhat unexpectedly at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry to request the role of Defence and Against the Dark Arts Professor (DADA), a request that was refused by then Headmaster Albus Dumbledore. Dumbledore was said to believe at the time that Tom had no intention of taking a teaching post; it is now strongly assumed that this is when he deposited the Diadem of Ravenclaw back on Hogwarts grounds. Subsequent to his visit at the school the DADA position was seen as cursed, with incumbents only everlasting a year, that is until two full years after the war when the contract was given to William Weasley, a world renowned curse breaker for Gringotts who was able to dismantle the hex placed on the role, the position has been filled by Draco Malfoy for the last five years, following the completion of his parolee as ordered by The Wizengamot as part of the Death Eater Trials [1998].

Turned away from the school Riddle spent the next fourteen years actively recruiting followers, more specifically targeting the individuals he wanted for what became known as his 'inner circle' a group of witches and wizards that he gave the grandiose title 'Death Eaters'.

Overtime the inner circle that was created comprised of a mix of individuals, some Riddle had known from his own school days and the sons and daughters of the sacred twenty eight.

Their motivations for joining the group are not totally clear, while some have spoken of their life at this time since imprisonment at the end of the Second Wizarding War most either declined to divulge information or were not deemed mentally competent enough to provide worthwhile insight.

Some were believed of be supportive to the cause as the believed in its merits. Tom Riddle used the rallying call of blood status and preached domination of Muggles and Muggle-borns due to their inferior blood. He had largely kept his own half-blood status a secret. Indeed even amongst those he had gone to school with this was not a well-known fact, whether he employed the use of memory charms in this regard is unknown.

Others simply wanted power, the increasingly democratic running of the Ministry and the reduction of power of the Wizengamot resulted in some of the 'old families' feeling shut out of the political process. Voldemort was seen to advocate himself to many as the solution to this problem.

It cannot be forgotten that some joined Riddle's cause through fear; he was already a mass murder at this time and was known to use the Unforgivables indiscriminately. There are many proven cases of pressure and threats being applies to certain people he wanted Riddle was a 'collector' of people. Some like Sirius Black, heir to the Ancient and Noble House of Black, were pursued endlessly to join this cause; others have claimed they were Imperioused into complying with his demands.

Many were first attracted to Riddle through his notable charm, he was found to have a way of getting people to do what he wanted, often being able to ascertain what a particular individually sought and promising it to them, whether that be wealth or fame, power or even in some cases just inclusion.

It is not known exactly when but at some juncture in the run up to of the First Wizarding War Tom Riddle fully transitioned into Lord Voldemort, shifting from charismatic leader to vicious ruler. A firm hierarchy was established and followers moved from disciples to soldiers, some harmed viciously for failures.

Voldemort is known to have greatly enhanced his abilities with Legilimency after leaving Hogwarts and according to accounts gathered from the early 1970s he used this to actively invade the minds of his Death Eaters, one would assume to check the validity of statements and loyalties. Though also, as can be observed through a more thorough examination of the memories of Severus Snape, a Death Eater from 1978 till his death in 1998 (more detail in Chapter Eleven, Severus Snape: A Man of Two Masters), it was sometimes used to inflict acute pain as punishment, or even in some cases to assassinate.

In 1970 the First Wizarding War began and Voldemort began his campaign of recruitment with creatures that up to that point had been largely overlooked, mainly giants and werewolves. The second achieved by striking a deal with dominant Alpha, Fenrir Greyback.

In response to open war Bartemius Crouch Senior, head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement (DMLE) at the time, passed an edict allowing Aurors to use the Unforgivables on suspected Death Eaters without warning, those that were captured were often taken to Azkaban without trial or even questioning.

The cult of fear around Voldemort reached its peak in the late 70s when his name was no longer spoken in public, people referred to him as 'You-Know-Who' or 'He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named'. Though a taboo was not placed on the use of the title until the outbreak of the Second Wizarding War, were utterances would be used to capture rebels and those with questionable blood status. The memories of these events have resulted in the name still not being widely spoken today; it is assumed that it may take the passing of another generation for that to be achieved.

As the war escalated the self-styled Dark Lord dropped his recruitment standards to allow younger and younger followers to be marked. These marking ceremonies were mostly competed in private though there is evidence to suggest that some were conducted in front of the full inner circle. People have suggested various reasons as to why this may have been the case.

Little concrete detail is known about these meetings, the Death Eaters operated largely as a secret society and largely outside of the law.

What is known of the Death Eaters themselves amasses even less. Many have now been reduced to nothing more than frightening stories people tell their children. Of their own thoughts and feelings during this time we will never be certain….

20:00 15th December 1977

Unknown Castle

Summoned to appear at the exact time of eight o'clock twenty or so wizards and witches entered through the gates of a dark castle. The entire area was nondescript and the stronghold itself was almost entirely invisible from a mile away, given the thick coverage of trees in the surrounding woodland.

Upon entering the seemingly semi derelict site the small crowd made their way into a sparsely furnished room, the entire vista was grey from the exposed pale limestone walls to the matt grey worn flagstone floors. The room was cold though candles glowed from brackets on the walls and from atop the minimal surfaces dotted around.

The room was the only one not totally abandoned on the floor, so the group assumed this was the place. Further inspection once their eyes adjusted revealed a large space that had the appearance of a disused ballroom, one that was crushed under the weight of ghosts from the past.

The visitors huddled together for warmth in the back of the room, unsure of where they should go and determined not to make a mistake.

After standing for an indeterminable amount of time the anxiety level in the room was almost palpable, so much so that it was no surprise when more than one person visibly flinched at the delicate clacking of shoes that could suddenly be heard in the distance, the massed cast strained their eyes to see in the relative darkness until a figure appeared.

Lord Voldemort or The Dark Lord, as he wishes to be addressed now, moved into the centre of the room, his beautiful face regarding them with a snake like smile, his eyes shone with what seemed to be amusement, his posture was faultless he was elegant and sharp, his finely tailored robes giving him an almost regal air. He did not address the visitors but ran his eyes over each and every one, mentally cataloguing their faces.

Without warning he muttered an incantation and a tiny green skull appeared in front of him, illuminating the sharp angles of his face in a spectral green light the unnatural shape shot up into the crumbling rafters.

Seconds later a pop was heard, followed by a light thump as a Death Eater appeared in the room hitting the floor. The newly appeared man, at least they appeared to be male from their height, bowed lowly to The Lord and moved to a position on the outskirts of the room with a confidence that made it clear they were in no doubt of where to stand, the figure was wearing an ornate silver mask and dark hood that sat low completely obscuring their identity.

Over the next few minutes the room became alive with Death Eaters arriving, paying their respects and arranging themselves into a semi-circle around where The Dark Lord was standing.

Apart from the noises of apparition and feet hitting the flagstone floor no other sound was made. Once the circles gaps were filled The Dark Lord stepped forward. If it were possible the room got even quieter as if there was a collective holding of breath.

"Greetings the faithful… and not to forget those that aspire to be that way" he began in a tone that was warm and buttery but could no doubt cut glass, somehow it was part caress part slap, it was instantly enthralling and terrifying. His voice that let you know how much danger you were in but prevented you from looking away, he waved a dexterous hand leisurely indicating those at the back of the room.

"We have a treat in store for you tonight, our brother Avery has a great honour to be bestowed upon him, his oldest son... a credit to the nobility of his ancient house, is following in his father's footsteps to join our ranks" He turned to face one of the figures in the semi-circle "Avery"

The Death Eater he indicated stepped forward nodding once at The Lord before moving to the back of the room, placing his hand on the shoulder of a young boy around eighteen years of age. He steered him into the circle through the lines of intimidatingly robbed figures and stopped in front of Voldemort before lowering his hood and removing his mask.

The man appeared to be in his early fifties, his face showed less emotion than could have been read from the reflective silver that had adorned it before. His son appeared to be doing a poorer job of concealing his feelings, he was pale and twitchy. Avery Snr stepped forward to kiss his Lord's ring before stepping backwards into his place in the circle and reaffixing his mask and hood.

Avery Jr dropped to his knees before The Lord and bowed his head. The Dark Lord eyed him almost hungrily his tongue sweeping from his mouth. As he moistened his lips he stepped around the boy, circling him once before drawing his wand. One short series of complicated movements and a sleeve of Avery Jnr's robe disappeared. Voldemort advanced forward, placing the very tip of his wand firmly into Avery Jnr's forearm and began a muttered incantation that seemed to be comprised of a sequence of hisses.

All was quiet the proverbial pin could have dropped in the room and the noise of its impact would have been as loud as a siren.

Then the screaming began.

There was no build up; there was no string of gentle gasps, clutched breath and broken resolve before he gave in to pain. It was an instantaneous blood curdling wail.

The sound continued for around thirty minutes, not a sole in the room so much as flinched at either the sound or the increasingly erratic flailing limbs of the young pureblood scion.

Eventually it was over. The Lord slowly raised his wand from Avery's forearm and stepped back. His face was impassive as he regarded the pale sweaty mess on the floor "Rise Avery"

Ungainly and clearly in an incredible amount of pain the boy got up "Thank you my Lord" he mumbled wiping the blood from his lips with the grace he had been born too before he leant forward to kiss the ring that had been proffered to him.

"Your dedication will be rewarded… join your brothers"

Avery huffed in a breath and dragged himself into position next to his father.

The rest of the meeting passed in a daze, nothing to compare to the dramatics of the first half. Various people around the room gave reports; some found favour some did not. Finally a mission for the evening was dispatched to Dolohov and Yaxley and then the assembled were given the command to leave.

As they began to file out to the castle doors The Lord's voice was heard once more "Rowle?" A large, heavy set blond turned from amongst the crowd at the back immediately and bowed "be sure to see me in the next two weeks for your own mark"

"Yes my Lord" the boy spoke bowing again before continuing out of the door his face waxy.

With the final request made the cloaked figures and their faithful counterparts disappeared into the night.