"Narcissa," Regulus hissed, "hurry up!"

"Oh for the love of... We aren't late!"

"Yeah... Well..."

Narcissa rolled her eyes and wrapped her Slytherin cloak tighter around her thin frame, attempting to keep the wind out. She was annoyed with the fact that they were going to see this new Dark Lord on a Saturday when she could have been relaxing, and it was bloody freezing outside. The snow had finally hit the entire area hard, as well as the frost and hail, which made it almost impossible to hold a Quidditch match since both the players and the audience were freezing to death in the arena.

She glanced over to Bellatrix, and felt her eyes narrow in envy as she watched her sister snuggle up to Rodolphus, clearly quite a bit warmer then she was currently. She glanced over to Lucius, who was grunting over a glove that wouldn't fit on his hand.

"You think it's too small?" she joked, nudging his arm.

He glared at her and stuffed it back in his pocket, "Ruddy thing is from fifth year... And I forgot to buy a new pair..."

She smirked, but it slowly faded when he wrapped his arm around her shoulders, pulling her into him.

"Lucius," she whispered. "What-"

"You're cold, Black," he stated, "and I'm helping a friend in need."

"Thanks then, Malfoy," she mumbled back, curling her arms into her chest and linking one hand with the one gripped around her shoulder.

Bellatrix looked back and she raised an eyebrow at her sister, but Narcissa simply raised on back and snuggled closer to Lucius, almost daring her sister to make a comment. Bellatrix smirked and turned away, whispering something to Rodolphus. He tried to be as subtle as he could while looking back at Narcissa, and when they made eye contact he quickly looked away.

"We're being gossiped about," Narcissa chuckled, nodding over to the other couple.

Lucius's eyes wandered over lazily and he grinned, "Apparently."

"And that doesn't bother you?" she inquired, sighing happily when they finally reached the small village. It was normally a quick walk on a warm day to Hogsmeade, but today it was bitterly cold, and it seemed that they were some of the only ones brave enough to face the storm.

"Well, if the gossip is about you and I…" he chuckled. "I really don't have a problem with that."

"Do you think I'll lose the bet for this?" she asked, grimacing at the idea of doing whatever Bellatrix needed.

She remembered vaguely about being Bellatrix's slave for a week during fourth year, and it required Narcissa to do her sister's homework, plus her own. It was Hell, and she shivered at the thought of doing it again, since the work load had almost tripled since then.

"I think your sister has given up the bet, to be honest," he stated. "Since we haven't heard about it since... October?"

"Perhaps," she muttered, swallowing heavily when they stopped at an old, dingy looking building. Lucius too shared her look of discontent as Severus knocked at the door gingerly. Regulus peered in to a dark window, when a chilling voice beckoned them inside.

"Are you girls coming in?" Rodolphus asked, looking at the two sisters, "Or do you want to wait out here?"

"Probably warmer in there," Narcissa admitted, looking to Bellatrix, who met her gaze and nodded.

There was an odd look in her sister's eye. It was almost a gleam of excitement.

Bellatrix grabbed her boyfriend's hand, "I'd never wait out here..."

Rodolphus smirked and pushed the door open, entering quickly, Bellatrix at his side.

Regulus went in next, followed closely by Crabbe and Goyle. Severus waited a moment, before Lucius finally prodded him in the back, "Go Sev."

He walked through the door, finally leaving Narcissa and Lucius alone in the cold.

"You don't have to go in," Lucius stated. "He'll never even know you came."

"I need to look after Bella," Narcissa sighed, taking a step forward, until finally it was Lucius who led her in, gripping her covered hand in his bare one.

The room was dimply lit by a few candles in each corner, and Narcissa noted her friends had taken a seat at a rather large table. There were four cloaked figures standing by the opposite wall, each with high, pointed hoods, and masks resembling white skulls. Narcissa shivered and held Lucius' hand tighter.

He pulled her chair out and she sat close to Bellatrix, who did not seem as unnerved as she.

"You scared, Cissy?" she whispered in her ear, finally sounding genuine, "You shouldn't be... We'll be fine."

"I'm all right," she assured her sister, happy that Lucius had decided to sit beside her and Severus behind her. She felt safer that way.

A robed figure swept into the room, causing the others to straighten up. She knew it was him, since he did not dawn a mask.

He looked aged, and his skin was pale, though his brown eyes stood out, and almost seemed out of place. She travelled his body and noticed his long, slender fingers gripping a wand, and Narcissa gulped, wondering why he needed it.

"Your family names," he hissed, his voice sticking to the 'S' almost in a snakelike way.

Severus, surprisingly, spoke up first, "Snape."

Soon the rest followed.

"Malfoy."

"Lestrange."

"Crabbe."

"Goyle."

"Black."

"Black."

Narcissa swallowed, and held back a smile when her voice came forth strong, "Black."

He hissed softly and his eyes moved over to Bellatrix and herself, a smirk on his lips, "Ah... The Black Sisters... I was wondering when I would see you coming to me. I remember your parents were so worried I'd come find you... It seems to be the other way around, does it not?"

"It seems," Bellatrix answered, "but we are here on an invite, I take it?"

Narcissa shot her sister a side-glance in astonishment. Bellatrix was being so brave... So... forward. It was almost hard to believe.

"You 'take it' correctly," he chuckled. "You've all answered Lord Voldemort's call... And the first ones from this Hogwarts generation... That is high in my eyes."

The young men of the room shot each other smug smirks as Voldemort paused, waiting for the effect to sink in.

"Do you understand why I have called you?" he asked softly, pacing slowly in front of the group, "Do you know why you are here?"

"We're here to show our allegiance," Lucius answered as others nodded in agreement.

"Perhaps..." he mused, "but some of you worry about this meeting... I can see it in your eyes. Maybe you worry I'll kill you if you don't join? Maybe. But I take it you are all Purebloods?"

"Of course," Regulus spoke up, his voice deep, "The Blacks would not associate with anything butPurebloods."

"So I have seen through your father," Voldemort stated. "He has not joined my inner rank, but I know his hate for Muggles and Mudbloods have passed on to you... Am I correct?"

"Yes," Rodolphus replied, "we believe they are impure... They plague our country."

"They plague the world," Voldemort muttered, pocketing his wand and clasping his hands behind his back.

Narcissa shifted in her seat and he noticed, his eyes lingering on her face for a moment.

"You seem nervous, Miss Black," he commented. "Are you?"

She cleared her throat and looked into his eyes, "No."

He grinned, "I enjoy your ability to lie so wonderfully."

She said nothing, but felt Lucius slide his hand over her knee, silently telling her not to respond.

She wouldn't have anyway.

"Are you willing to kill?" Voldemort asked, looking the group over, "Are you ready to use the three curses that will send you to Azkaban... To rid this world of those dirty to wizarding blood?"

The room was silent, but he went on, "I want to bring down the Muggle-loving Ministry... Their rule has been on for too long! You loathe Mudbloods... Lucius Malfoy, I've heard stories of you attacking them in the halls... It brightens my heart. And you, Regulus Black... I've been told of your summer in Scotland... Those Muggles truly deserved what you gave them."

Narcissa looked at them both, slightly wide eyed. She'd never been told about either incident. Of course, she'd watched Lucius taught anyone of non-pure wizarding blood, but she had never seen him physically attack someone before.

"You're too young to receive my Dark Mark of pledge," Voldemort continued, standing still finally, "but pledge yourselves to me now... privately. When you graduate, I will have you sent for, and the Mark will be yours. If you are not serious about this... Leave when I return to my room. If you are, follow, one at a time, and make your pledge."

He turned on his heel and swept out, leaving the entire room in silence.


The four cloaked figures moved to each person, taking away their wand and cloaks, then returned to the back of the room, standing motionless once again.

"So... Who's going first?" Bellatrix inquired, a giddy strain in her voice. Severus rose and walked in the direction after Voldemort. Narcissa heard a door open and shut, but she still watched where she had last seen him, wondering what would happen.

"Are you guys going in?" Regulus asked softly. Narcissa glanced over to Lucius and noticed he was picking at his nails, which meant he was either bored or nervous.

Rodolphus was quietly whispering to Bellatrix, who had an odd smile on her face. Crabbe and Goyle were muttering to themselves, then finally Goyle spoke up, "I'm going in."

"Me too," Crabbe agreed, "I'll kill anything he asks of me."

Narcissa's insides twisted and she looked back to Lucius, who was still picking his nails.

"Lucius?" she pressed, "What are you going to do?"

"Purebloods should not have to live among Mudblood filth," he whispered. "I'm going in."

"Shouldn't you think it over?" she whispered, moving her chair closer to his, "I mean... Lucius you could be killed!"

"If any of us leave we'll be killed," he replied. "That much is obvious, Narcissa."

Severus suddenly returned, his face looking paler then before, and he took his seat back behind Narcissa, his lips tight.

"What happened in there?" Bellatrix inquired, leaning forward greedily, "What did he say?"

"I'm forbidden to tell you anything," Severus explained, "but he's waiting for the next person."

Rodolphus rose and helped Bellatrix to his seat, then they both started to walk where Severus had come out of.

"Bella?" Narcissa hissed, her eyes widening slowly, "Aren't you going to give it any extra thought?"

"I know what I want," she replied simply, shrugging, "I don't see myself changing my mind..."

"But-"

"Cissy, I want to do this," she snapped. "Don't argue."

They disappeared and Narcissa felt almost embarrassed to have been told off by her sister.

"She wants to do it because Rodolphus wants to," Severus stated, rolling her eyes. "Relationships are so influential."

"I'm worried about her," Narcissa confessed, wringing her hands together, "I mean... She's good with her wand and all, but I'm worried when she is out there on her own... What if something... goes wrong?"

"She's tougher then you'll give her credit for," Regulus laughed. "You don't know how many times I've been beaten by her."

"I second that," Goyle grumbled, wincing at painful memories.

"But she's my sister..." Narcissa mumbled, shuffling her feet around on the floor, "I want to make sure nothing happens."

Narcissa had always been protective of her sisters, even the oddball Andromeda. She wanted to mother both of them, since their mother was doing a pretty poor job at raising them. Not that her father was really any better, but Narcissa liked him more since he had tried to buy her love with expensive gifts for years now. He wasn't making much progress, but she didn't mind the gifts.

Bellatrix and Rodolphus returned suddenly, still hand in hand, but Rodolphus looked much whiter than before, while Bellatrix was grinning like a Cheshire cat.

"I like him," she stated, resuming her seat. "Oh Narcissa, you should feelthe power when you step into that room... It's so consuming..."

"Consuming?" Narcissa repeated skeptically, raising an eyebrow, "Trying new words, Bella?"

"Don't be a priss, Cissy darling," her sister said in an utterly sweet voice, batting her eyelashes. "He wants to see you next, if you hadn't left yet."


Narcissa stood in front of a moldy door, debating whether or not to enter. He knew if she didn't come to see him, she'd have left. Would he really hurt her if she left?

Inhaling deeply, she finally pushed the door open and stepped in, softly shutting it behind her. He stood facing a small fireplace, his pale hands clasped behind his back. She wasn't sure whether he had heard or not, so she waited patiently.

If there was one thing Narcissa had learned, it was to never interrupt a man when he was in deep thought. She remembered clearing her throat in impatience when her father wouldn't listen to her tales from school, and she also remembered a very painful curse hitting her afterward.

Ever since she had learned to wait until she was spoken to.

"Your sister seemed quite interested in the Dark Arts," he said finally, slowly turning towards her, his nostrils flaring. "Has she always?"

"She has a healthy interest in all her subjects, as far as I'm concerned," Narcissa replied, silently hoping her hands would stop shaking.

"She has a dark little mind," he mused, "I looked into it... I don't think you know your sister as well as you believe you do."

"I don't need to be in her life all the time," Narcissa fired back. "So if she has interests in other things, it's up to her."

"Don't lie to me," he hissed. "You're good, but not that good."

She swallowed as he beckoned her forward, making her stop in the center of the room, then began to circle her. She finally noticed how much taller he was, and almost felt like cowering under his piercing eyes.

"You're very protective of those close to you... Aren't you?" he whispered, "Would that loyalty change if they joined me?"

"My loyalty is to you, my Lord," she said firmly, "and I do not see it faltering, whether those I love agree with me or not."

"You are uncertain," he chuckled, "which is understandable. It's difficult to decide your entire life upon one meeting."

"My life has already been planned for me," she muttered dully. "My parents will make my choices once I finish school... Who I will marry, what I will do..."

"You'll marry a pure blooded man," he stated.

Narcissa nodded, "Of course."

"Well," he laughed, "the list seems to be shortening, doesn't it? Do you plan on marrying inside your little group out there?"

Narcissa frowned and looked at him. Why he was curious about her plans for marriage was beyond her, and in her opinion really didn't concern him at all.

"I... I don't know."

"You are a powerful young witch," he praised, picking up a folder. "Your marks are high and your studies seem focused around my choice subjects."

"School is important to me," she said simply, shrugging her shoulders. He nodded and walked back towards the fireplace, gazing into it once more.

"I asked the others to tell me someone they would kill," he said softly, his eyes catching the brightness of the flames, "and I told them to write it down... Once they have the Dark Mark, they will find their person and kill them, to show me loyalty."

Narcissa's eyes widened and she shifted her weight around nervously, glancing around the room, running through a list of names that she could possibly give.

There was no one she wanted to kill.

Though on some days...

"I do not want you to be a Death Eater, Narcissa Black," he said firmly, rotating back around to look at her. "So you can stop thinking of a name to give me."

"You... You don't?" she sputtered, her hands dropping to her sides and relief washing over her body.

Voldemort shook his head and raised an eyebrow, "No. I don't. I will, however, mark you myself when you've graduated, and expect a son from you and your husband to be."
"That's all?" she asked, a small smile playing on her lips.

Voldemort frowned, "Don't misunderstand me, Miss Black. Any daughters you have, I will personally oversee their killing. That will be your kill, rather than giving me a name now. You're free to go... Send in the next person."