DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter, or any of the characters within it.

This is my first ever attempt at anything to do with Fanfiction, and I don't think it's that good. However, I was persuaded to post this by a friend. If you like it please review, if you don't like it please give CONSTRUCTIVE criticism, either will be appreciated :) Thank you! xx

Chapter One: The Task

I looked at him in disgust. He couldn't be serious? Could he? He didn't really expect me to befriend Potter... not even befriend, but pretend to fall in love with (I hope you were listening, I'm not saying that again) Potter. God help me! I can't exactly refuse, can I?
"I can't..." Before I knew what was happening, I'd been silenced and locked in a room waiting for my Father to return. I was in too much shock to think clearly, but I knew in the back of my mind that my prospects weren't looking good...

When the Dark Lord said he wanted to see me I felt proud. He had a mission, just for me. I'd be the youngest person he'd ever asked to see personally, to give a personal task to... and, at first, I couldn't wait. But now I'd found out what he wanted me to do, and all of a sudden I wasn't so happy about it. I had to pretend to be in love with Potter. I not only had to gain his full trust, but convince him to come with me to the Ministry of Magic Ball at the end of the year. Only, I wouldn't take him to the ball, I'd deliver him to the Dark Lord who, after torturing the "Boy Wonder", would kill him. Now that part, I was looking forward to, it was the getting there that I was having trouble dealing with.

I'd been warned by my Father before I had gone in to see him that I had better behave. The Malfoy family's honour was resting on my completion of this task. I wasn't to disagree with anything the Dark Lord said, I was to speak only if asked to, I shouldn't slouch and I should address him at all times as "My Lord". I know I should have listened to what my Father told me, but I couldn't help myself. Not after I'd heard what he expected me to do. I just couldn't keep my mouth shut, and now who knows what's going to happen when my Father gets home. Maybe I should fill you in on the whole conversation...

"Why, Draco, I've been waiting for you. You received the message from your Father?"

"Yes, My Lord"

"Between me and you I think your Father was rather jealous when I told him I wanted to speak to you personally. He's always wanted to be closer to me, I think, your Father, but I never really held him in high esteem. Nothing ever seems to go right when I leave your Father in charge of something, which is why I have decided to see if you can fair any better. I hope you are ready for the challenge I am about to set."

"Yes, My Lord. I feel very privileged..."

"And so you should, it's not very often I hand out tasks to single members of my team of Death Eaters. I am not expecting to be let down..."

"I'll try not to let you down, My Lord."

"Try should not come into my dear Draco. You will succeed at this task, or on you and your family's head be it. I know you don't think very highly of your Father, that much is clear, but your Mother..."

"Understood, My Lord"

"Very well. As you know, I have for some time now, 15 years, 3 weeks and 2 days to be exact, been determined to kill Harry Potter. The "Boy-Who-Lived". Ever since he escaped my clutches and forced me into a life of dependency. So far I have failed, and I do not want to add another failure to my list. Am I making myself clear so far?"

"Yes, My Lord"

"Well, this is where you come in, I want you to be the one to bring Potter to me"

"Me, My Lord?"

"Yes, you; you see it's ingenious. You will have to gain Potter's trust, befriend the boy, make him fall in love with you. Have a relationship with him, make sure he lets his guard down and trusts you implicitly. This needs to be done before the Ministry of Magic Ball. You will invite him to the Ball with you, explaining that as your Father is of high importance there you are allowed to take a guest. A single guest and you have chosen him. However, you will not attend the Ball at all; you will deliver him to me. Once he is within my grasp, oh, I will torture him. I will make up for the many years that he slipped past my traps, and then, once he has started begging me for mercy, that's when I will kill him."

"I can't."

"What did you say?"

"I'm sorry, My Lord, but I can't. I can't befriend Potter. I despise him, he isn't fit to worship the ground I..."
(That's when I realised who I was talking to, but by then it was too late...)

"SILENCIO! You did not just speak back to me, you insolent boy, and you do seem to have a rather high opinion of yourself. Do you have no respect for your master? Lord Voldemort, the one and only. Who do you think you are? You will remain locked in this room until your Father returns, and you will complete this task, whether you like it or not. Unless you want your Mother to face the consequences."

So now I'm stuck in this room, and I can't even attempt to ask the Dark Lord for forgiveness due to the silence charm that has been placed upon me. He has made sure I can't answer him back again, until my Father returns at least. Then, he'll get told the whole story. He won't spare me any pity. He'll hate me for ruining the Malfoy family's chances of getting back into the Dark Lord's good books. Not that that will bother me, I hate him anyway. The way he treats my Mother like dirt, like she's nothing... like we're both nothing. But if I have to complete this task, just to save my Mother, then so be it. I'll have to put my old differences aside, start anew with Potter. Before the night of the Ball, Potter will love me and I will take great delight in delivering him to Lord Voldemort himself.