It was dark, extremely dark. Professor Snape led the way though I could barely make out his figure. We went through a gate, the professor grasping my hand and making some sort of solute as the ward s allowed us through and passed many trees and went towards an extremely large manor. The professor stopped momentarily muttering something like "stupid peacocks."

"What?"

"Nothing."

"Sure." I said really not caring, I already had enough to deal with.

"It's just of all the things he could do with his money," he started walking again "and he spends it on peacocks, white ones at that."

We reached the front entrance and he knocked rather lightly. The door was answered immediately by a rather stressed looking man. He was short and pudgy with gray hair and seemed very…rat-like, to be frank. "Severus" the man bowed his head while stepping aside to allow us entrance.

"Wormtail" he replied with a superior tone stepping inside the manor. I followed suit of course. "I request an audience with the Dark Lord."

"Of course" the pudgy man said bowing and left the room, leaving us to wait in the atrium.

We stood there in awkward silence for a good five minutes before I heard a voice. "Ah, Severus I see you brought us a guest" a man who I assumed to be the Dark Lord greeted smiling. He was tall and his skin was so pale you could almost see through it. He had slits for nostrils, red eyes and absolutely no hair. This had to be, no doubt the result of using some kind of extremely dark magic. His eyes seemed to linger on me for a minute, looking me up and down. If hadn't known any better I'd say he was 'checking me out', as my friends would've said. I mentally shivered.

"My Lord" Professor Snape addressed him bowing his head and took the silence as his cue to speak "this is Black Cleary."

"Black?" he asked to be sure he heard correctly, his face falling hard and emotionless. He seemed to despise the very title.

"Yes, my Lord." I answered, bowing my head slightly.

He glared daggers into me and my heart rate noticeably increased. "Did I ask you to speak?" he snarled.

I did not reply so he turned back to professor Snape. "Why did you bring a Black here?" He asked angrily.

"My Lord, I have spoken with her and she supports your views reguardless of what she has been taught by her peers. I thought that she would be a good recruit and she was willing. I have taught her when she attended school at Hogwarts. She has always had a tendency to lean towards the dark arts but I'd never really thought anything of it until recently when she approached me," he replied matter-of-factly. Of course, most of that was a lie. The Dark Lord seemed to be searching for something in his eyes and I figured he was using Legimency. He then turned to me and did the same and lucky for me, I had always been good at Occlumency so I didn't have all that much trouble filtering my thoughts, trying to back up the professor's words.

"Leave us" the Dark Lord looked to professor Snape. He seemed to flinch slightly and a scared look flashed on his face but he bowed his head and left out of the front door without another word.

"Cleary" he smiled venomously "follow me." He turned and walked toward the grand staircase and began on his way quickening his stride as he went and I followed as I was told to. He led me to a large empty room with a large long table surrounded by uniform ornate chairs that sat directly in the middle of the room. He sat down at the head of the table and gestured for me to sit to his right so I graciously did. After a moment he spoke, his voice thick with distain "Cleary, what makes you think that you could possibly serve me better than I could serve myself?" This was beginning to feel far too much like a job interview. Though I suppose, in a sense it was; so I decided to go that way and recite a resume of sorts.

"Well, I come from highly credited lineage of purebloods, my ancestors date back to the time of Merlin and though it is not well known they are believed to have had a contract with Merlin himself. I've also graduated top of my class and I am anticipated to be one of the best Black Cloaks of our age, much like my father is, even though I want nothing to do with them. Besides how could anyone refuse the chance to serve the Dark Lord?" I said as if I believed it would be the greatest honor in the world. "My Lord, if I may be so bold, I would like to offer you my service as a Black Cloak. I require nothing of you but your approval."

I thought I saw a flash of anger on his face and his posture tense but it had been quickly replaced by a quizzical look. "What makes you think that I would ever believe that a Black Cloak would even think about joining me when, not only is the Academy so selective that they would not even consider anyone who would possibly have a thought to try the dark arts but you are in fact trained to fight against the darkest of magic. Trained fight against me."

"My Lord, I am a very good actor. The only reason I wanted into the Academy was to learn of the dark magick without any suspicion. After all, who would suspect a Black Cloak?" In truth, I am a good actor; a skill developed only after joining the Academy though and apparently one that reached Dumbledore's ears. "Truthfully I think the Black Cloaks, while well trained, are thick headed mud-blood" I almost flinched using the word in such a hateful tone; one of my closest friends is a Muggle-born "lovers. It's so wrong it makes me sick to even think about it. You however have much more realistic ideals. This world needs to be rid of the filth that stains it." I finished hoping I sound at least slightly passonate.

He seemed to contemplate if this made sense for a moment. "Then what of your family? You have a name to uphold. As you mentioned, your lineage is thought highly upon. "

"What family?" I snorted. "My stupid father with his idea of morals and equality. No. They are merely blood." It hurt to say, but I had to do it. There had to be no doubt left in the Dark Lord's mind that I was on his side. "It makes me sick. I'd rather die than live up to that."

He seemed slightly shocked for a moment but quickly regained his composure and smiled mischievously. "Well then Black Melissa Cleary I hereby do accept your offer of service. I will have a contract made up as soon as possible and a room will be made ready for you to move into this manor by the time the week is out. Extend your left arm."

I did as he asked. He drew out his wand placed it on my inner forearm and marked me as his. I wanted to vomit at the look of pleasure on his face as my arm seared with pain that made me want to scream but instead I smiled back at him hoping to seem as much devoted to him as I was disgusted by him. I met his eyes as the pain spread through my body, as if it were circulating in my veins like blood, searing every inch of me.

The Dark Lord closed his eyes for a moment then opened them and waited expectantly for a couple of minutes. "Come in." he said out of nowhere and I'm sure that confusion was clear on my face because the Dark Lord smiled knowingly. Then Professor Snape entered explaining the behavior, he must've be summoning him.

"My Lord." He bowed respectfully.

"Severus, escort Black Cleary out and explain to her how the mark works."

"Of course my Lord, is there any other way I may be of service?"

"Not tonight. You have done well, and shall be rewarded accordingly." He glared at professor Snape meeting his eyes.

The professor apparently saw something that I didn't because he couldn't seem to hide his fear. It was weird seeing him in fear. I'd never seen him in any other light than the always agitated potions professor. Regardless he nodded and without another word we left the room and I could not help but notice the way the Dark Lords eyes hungrily followed after me, as if I were his prey.

AN: Please, Please, Please Review! Was it O for Outstanding or D for Dreadful? Too long or short? Thoughts, opinions, ideas? Anything that seemed confusing? Anything at all (except just plain flaming.) I love constructive criticism!

Thanks to Bramblerose4 for favoriting and putting this story on your alerts and sharing your thoughts and opinions with me. They were and still are helpful. Thanks to nightworldangel as well for putting this story on your alerts. Thanks again to Snapegirlkmf for letting me use the wonderful idea of Black Cloaks, I hope I'm not messing up the vision of them to badly.

I apologize if Voldemort seems a little ooc but I have reasons and a plan for this so bear with me, please.