See disclaimer in chapter in chapter 1

Chapter 1

Growing up in the House of Gaunt was as you could expect, Harry thought as he walked through the halls of his Father's huge manor. It was lonely, cold and a bit distant. He had grown up to learn the man he considered a father had killed his real parents, but found it didn't matter that much. For his Father had also explained what he was trying to do, why he was fighting. And after all, he hadn't known his parents, so he couldn't miss them. As for blaming his Father for taking away his home… Well he had everything he would've had in a "real" home. The House of Gaunt had become his home, and the Dark Lord had become his parent.

Harry walked through the third floor hallway toward the grand staircase. Tonight was the night. The first branding of the next generation and the bigger circle of the Death Eaters would find out about him. Up until now he had been a secret kept from them all, with the exception of a trusted few. But when he had come of age two weeks ago his Father decided Harry was to be present, standing by his side tonight and watch the ceremony. The idea was for Harry to just be there and make the Death Eaters wonder about him. Harry was rather excited. He was expecting a lot of doubt from the Death Eaters and was almost hoping to get a chance to duel at least one go them. In his Father's line of business, someone wasn't trusted before he or she could prove their worth. And tonight was his first chance.

He had arrived outside the ball room, the only room suitable for this amount of people. He could feel the cold, dark power always surrounding his Father even out here, and shivered in pleasure. He opened the door and stepped inside. Every eye in the room turned in his direction. He simply stared back as he moved to stand beside his Father at the front of the room. He could hear a low intake of breath going around the room, "Who is this kid who dares stand at the right hand of the Dark Lord?" Oh how Harry was enjoying this moment. He could sense his Father's satisfaction at seeing the shocked faces of his Eaters. Harry had to stop his lips from tugging up into a smirk.

Then his Father raised his hands and everyone fell silent.

"Welcome my dear friends." His voice was cold and didn't go at all well with his words. "As you know we have gathered here today to witness the branding of the first one from the next generation. He has been most eager to join and now the time has finally come." the Dark Lord said, purposely avoiding talking about Harry.

At these words the doors opened and in stepped Draco Malfoy. Harry had never met the only son of Lucius Malfoy, but his Father had mentioned him. Draco slowly walked through the room as he seemed to be assessing the situation. Very cautious, Harry thought. Good, he'll last longer that way. Others, who had had a bit too much blind faith in the Eaters around them, had fallen quickly. Draco had the same light blond hair as his father, and the same angular face. But Harry had to admit that Malfoy Jr. was far more beautiful- eeh, handsome, than his father.

When Draco reached the centre of the room he turned to where the Dark Lord was standing. Harry noticed the moment Draco realised Harry was standing next to the Dark Lord. His eyes widened slightly and his body stiffened. Then he remembered himself and kneeled in front of his soon to be Lord.

The Dark Lord's lips twitched ever so slightly before slowly taking a few steps forward, Harry remaining behind, and stood before Draco. Then Draco did something which shocked Harry; instead of looking down on the floor, as most would, he looked right up at the Dark Lord, without any visible fear. At this the Dark Lord simply smirked.

"Rise." The Dark Lord's voice was cold, sending a chill down Draco's spine. Draco rose elegantly from the floor.

The Dark Lord gestured to Draco's arm and the young man swiftly undid his cuff to reveal flawless skin.

"Are you ready to take my Mark, and serve me with your life, Draco?"

"I am, my Lord. It will be the greatest honour ever given", Draco answered, his voice never wavering.

The Dark Lord lowered his wand and placed the tip on the inside of Draco's arm.

"Do you, Draco Abraxas Malfoy, first and only son of Lucius Armand Malfoy, swear your loyalty and life to this cause, and to never betray me or my secrets?"

"I do."

At those words the Dark Lord uttered "Morsmordre" and the wand lit up with a searing green light. Draco screamed, his knees buckling, but the spell not letting him fall, as the Dark Mark was seared onto his forearm. Then the green light vanished, and Draco sunk to the floor. Where the wand had been moments earlier there could now be seen a newly shaped mark, standing up slightly from the rest of the skin, the snake in the skull looking almost alive. Harry found his eyes being fixed on the mark. Then a hand reached out to pull the sleeve of the shirt down. Draco seemed to have recovered from the pain. Harry could understand him. The agony when having that kind of mark placed was excruciating.

Draco rose from the floor, absently rubbing his arm where his new mark was placed. Then he bowed his head to his new master.

The Dark Lord gave him a slight nod in return before turning around and walking back to where he had stood before the branding. Your moment has come, my son, Harry heard in his mind. Many of them are wondering, and some even wish to challenge you. Change their minds, won't you? The first time this had happened Harry had been thoroughly freaked out. He had been eleven years old and had gotten lost in the Manor's dungeon. But he had soon found out that his Father didn't resort to this method often.

At his Father's words Harry stepped forward a bit. Then the Dark Lord clapped his hands together to get everyone's attention, as if they weren't already staring.

"My dear friends. By now I would think you are all quite curious as to why I have someone with me today. As you may recall an incident occurred fifteen years ago, one I didn't walk away unscathed from. This caused me to go into hiding for all of two years. And I regret to say many of you, my loyal friends, along with the Light side, thought I had perished."

"My Lord we never-" "We never meant to-" "There wasn't the merest whisper-" All the Death Eaters, with the exception of the Inner Circle, started to fall to their knees, grovel and apologise.

"Silence", the Dark Lord hissed. Everyone immediately obeyed.

"You might remember that I set out to kill someone that fateful night. And I trust you all remember his name." At this everyone in the room nodded. Of course, they would never forget. Harry Potter.

"That night fifteen years ago something happened. Something I was not ready for, or even knew could happen. The boy survived, even after his parents had fallen." At this came murmurs and whispers. Then a voice spoke up: "What happened to the boy? It was told he was never found."

Harry could sense his Father's satisfaction at this question. They were playing right into his hands.

"Well what do you think happened, Rowle?" the Dark Lord answered. The man who had asked the question, Rowle, frowned and Harry recognised his cue. He stepped forward, in front of his Father. Several people gasped. Harry could hear Bellatrix Lestrange snickering in the background. She was one of the few who had known about him.

"I would've expected more of you to understand by now. I took him in. I raised him as my ally instead of letting him be raised to destroy me."

At his Father's words Harry grinned. Several of the Death Eaters froze on the spot, others took a step back. He knew what they were seeing wasn't the childish grin of a young boy, but a bone freezing grimace that would make anyone shy away. But not everyone.

"Really? You expect us to believe he is not an enemy? That he would actually kill someone to save himself? He who was supposed to be the Saviour of the Light?" The one who had spoken was a low-ranked Death Eater. He gave a short laugh, stepped forward and drew his wand. As soon as his hand had twitched to retrieve it Harry's was in his hand and held at the man's throat. He had moved quicker than anyone had seen.

"You really shouldn't have done that", Harry said in a low, dark voice, that only the ones closest could hear. The man gripped Harry's arm and threw him off. Harry laughed darkly as he and the Death Eater began circling each other. The Death Eater snapped his wand and sent the first hex flying. Harry dodged and sent his own hex toward his opponent. The Death Eater was clearly not skilled in duelling, as the hex hit him square in the stomach and he sank to the floor with a scream. In a flash Harry was standing above him, wand pointed at the Death Eater's face.

"I am no child", he said in a tone that carried across the room. "You would all do well to remember that." He then slashed his wand and the throat of the man below him was ripped to shreds. Harry stepped back as the gurgling sounds of the dying man quieted. He returned to his Father's side.

"You are dismissed", the Dark Lord said to the room. "Lucius, I wish to see you in my study." It was not a request.