Chapter I: The Task

The small, lit candles atop a giant chandelier suddenly became brighter as Lucius Malfoy waved his wand. Beneath the light, four wealthy, pure-blood families sat eating dinner together at a long dining table: the Malfoys, the Higgs', the Ackermans and the Carters.

Chloe Ackerman, sitting on the right side of the table between her mother and father, pushed the food around on her plate. She hadn't much of an appetite; after all, such an occasion was rare and always business-related. The problem was that she knew these people had gathered together today because she and her best friend, Alexandra Carter, were becoming of age in a few months, and that special date was marked in their families by some sort of commencement ceremony. She looked up from her plate and glanced nervously across the table at Alexandra.

Alexandra Carter was sitting across from her best friend, Chloe Ackerman, and was sitting next to her older brother by a year, Lucas Carter. Though she had a vague idea that this dinner was because of the fact that she and Chloe would be turning sixteen in February, she wasn't entirely sure why it was necessary to do so this early. Her father, Evan Carter, was seated at the head of the table, as the three other families came to visit her mansion. She tried to avoid looking at her father as much as possible, and shrugged nonchalantly when Chloe glanced over at her. She wanted nothing more than this dinner to be over.

After a few more painfully silent minutes, everyone seemed to have finished eating. Three very timid-looking house-elves came scurrying into the dining room, clearing everyone of their plates and silverware.

"I trust you all enjoyed our meal," said Mr. Carter firmly after clearing his throat, glancing around the dinner table.

"It is always a pleasure to partake in the company of a family as fine as yours," answered Lucius Malfoy, whom sat at the other end of the long table, his wife and son on either side of him. "My only regret," he continued, as the house-elves came running back into the room and placing cups of coffee and small slices of cake in front of them, "is that dear Michelle is no longer with us."

Alex tensed slightly at the mention of her mother, and wished her food was still around so that she could flick it somewhere in the general direction of Lucius Malfoy. She smirked at the thought.

Edward Ackerman, who was sitting on the left hand side of his daughter, nodded in agreement. "Yes," he agreed, glancing around the table. "Her passing is a definite disadvantage on our side. However, now is not the time to mourn - now is the time to deal with the matter on our hands. Evan?" He glanced over at Mr. Carter.

"Yes, I thank you for your thoughts," Mr. Carter replied, nodding in the direction of Lucius, then Edward. Chloe couldn't help but notice the look on his face had changed rather significantly, becoming darker and even more serious than when he had begun to address them all. "As some of you know, I have asked you all here tonight because the people in this room are some of the only people I can trust. I would like to discuss our daughters' futures with all of you.

"In early February of this coming year, both Alexandra Michelle and Chloe Eleanor will turn sixteen, becoming of age. When I became of age, I went through a process similar to that which you girls will go through, just as Lucius, Edward and Gregory did," he continued, glancing at Mr. Malfoy, Mr. Carter and Mr. Higgs as he mentioned their names.

"As Evan pointed out, this process which we have all been through, everyone sitting at this table has gone through, except for Draco, Terrence, Alexandra and Chloe. We would like you, Alexandra and Chloe, to take this seriously - this is probably one of the most important processes of your lives. We like to consider it a challenge," explained Edward.

"You two are both intelligent young women, fully capable of making decisions. As such, you are gaining responsibility with age. I haven't the need to explain where our loyalties lie, nor define our position against the Order of the Phoenix. I believe we've all made this abundantly clear."

Chloe shifted uneasily in her seat. She wasn't sure what their fathers were leading up to, but it didn't sound like anything easy. She glanced at Alexandra again, trying to communicate with her through her eyes before noticing Alexandra's brother, Lucas. Still sitting beside his sister, Lucas looked unusually grave, which only unsettled Chloe further.

"This task we are about to assign you is, as Edward has mentioned, one of the most important events of your lives," said Mr. Carter. "Its purpose is to ensure that your loyalty lies with our families and our side of the war."

Lucuis was getting frustrated. "Enough with the cryptics, Evan," he said angrily. He sighed. "The reason we have gathered you all here, this evening before school, is because we have given you the deadly test that we have all had to face. We are telling you this now, as you are young women, and will have a harder time accepting what I am about to say."

Alexandra glanced over at her brother, Lucas, who's facial expression only seemed to have tightened in the candle light.

"Your task is to kill the Muggle-born we have assigned to you. If you accept this task and complete it, you will be welcomed into our society. If you fail, however..." He glanced over at Evan and Edward.

"If you fail, then there will be very grave consequences. Beyond anything you can imagine," Edward finished.

Chloe's heart fell. It took her a few seconds before she could fully understand that she and Alex would have to kill someone. Fighting back tears, she glanced back and forth from her father to Lucas for further explanation.

"Now that this has been settled, shall we retire to the living room for some coffee?"

Alex just sat in her seat, although there was movement from all around her. It seemed as though she and Chloe were the only ones remaining seated -- she wasn't sure if she could handle this news that Lucius Malfoy had delievered. Maybe it's a joke. Maybe it's just a sick joke or something...

"I understand it may be a bit much to think about all at once, but we all went through it, Alexandra," stated Evan. "We understand that it may be a bit more emotionally tolling on you two," he added, peering at Chloe," because of the current state of the war and, more importantly, because you are young women, not men. But this is why we've arranged for the task to be completed by the both of you together. We understand that both of you trust each other immensely."

"I think I'll be perfectly capable of handling it," she replied easily, glancing up at her father. "I'll just have to imagine that the muggle-born is you." She stood up, glad that most of the guests had retired to the living room and couldn't hear her.

Evan slapped Alexandra clean across the face. Instead of waiting for a reaction, he quickly grabbed his daughter's arm, a look a fury burning in his eyes. "You're lucky we have company, you silly girl," he seethed, gripping her arm more tightly.

Chloe had risen to her feet as well, slowly making her way over to the pair of them. "Let's go to the living room," she whispered, directing the suggestion towards both father and daughter.

She winced slightly, but aside from that, showed no other signs of pain - regardless of the fact that her cheek was stinging, and he was bruising her upper-arm. She glared up at her father. "If I were really lucky we had company, you wouldn't be touching me," she growled, yanking her arm out of his grasp and walking towards the living room.

Chloe glimpsed apologetically at Mr. Carter before following Alex closely, physically placing herself between them to avoid any further physical confrontation. Once they had reached the living room, they sat on a long couch next to Draco Malfoy and Terrence Higgs. Once everyone had settled, the room became rather silent, so Chloe took the opportunity to speak.

"Who exactly have we been assigned, Father?" she asked, anxiously studying her father's face.

"Names are unnecessary, daughter. We do not want you growing attachments - although I feel as though that is completely impossible," answered Edward Ackerman, before settling in an arm chair.