Chapter 10
A/N: Hello, I know it's been eternity since I updated, so i rushed this chapter specially to make it up to you guys. For those who prefer a more light-hearted tone, I'm sorry to say, this fanfiction will slowly turn darker and darker further down the road. I will try to inject some dry humour and sarcasm now and then, but the main mood of this fanfiction was and is intended to be a dark one. I had a really hard time going on from the previous chapter, so I'm sorry if this chapter does not feel like it really links. Without further ado, here we go.
Draco Lucius Malfoy walked down the hallway of his mansion, deep in thought. Word of the Weasel's appearance at Hogwarts spread in the Death Eater's circle like wildfire, and Draco was puzzled over Weasley's actions.
Would Weasley really betray Potter and the Mudblood he loves? And what about his whole family of blood traitors?
He was asking more questions and gaining zero answers, just when he decided to go to the library for some light reading, the house elf appeared.
"Young Master Draco, Mistress Malfoy wishes to see you in her room!"
Draco nodded to the elf and walked briskly towards his mother's bedroom, it does no good to be late in the Malfoy family.
"Mother? You wished to see me?"
Narcissa Black Malfoy sat on the edge of her bed with her black curls let down, donned with a simple but sophisticated deep green dress. She looked up, and her eyes, normally sharp but with a twist of warmth, showed swirls of anxiety and worry.
"Draco, darling, come in, and close the door."
Draco did as she asked, and sat down beside her. "Mother, what is wrong?"
Narcissa placed a finger on her lips, motioning for him to be quiet, and locked the door with a charm. She then casted a few charms, and Draco noticed them all to be protective and silencing wards, but missed out a few.
"Mother-" Draco tried to ask what she was doing.
"Draco, my boy, we only have ten minutes in this room, unpalatable and untraceable, no one can find or locate us, not even the Dark Lord. Pay attention to what I am about to say, do you understand?"
Draco was shocked speechless for a moment, but nodded his head.
"Firstly, I know you have no allegiance towards the Dark Lord."
Draco's eyes went wide and desperately tried to shush his mother, scared of someone eavesdropping.
"Mother, please-"
"Draco, please, answer me truly. Do you have any true allegiance towards the Dark Lord?"
"No." This came out as a whisper, with Draco truly terrified of the truth.
"Good. Do you swear to keep this information to no one but only to yourself, no matter in the way of hinting, writing, pointing, Legilimency, or any other form?"
Draco raised his wand to make a wizard's oath, but his hand was pushed down by his mother.
"I only need your word."
"No, mother, I will not divulge this to anyone or anything."
"Severus Snape is a spy that was working for Dumbledore, with only Dumbledore knowing, until you were ordered to kill Dumbledore. Severus made an Unbreakable Vow with me, and he was forced to save you from your fate if you failed and Dumbledore lives. Severus killed Dumbledore in your place, with Dumbledore's knowledge. Severus Snape still works for Dumbledore's portrait, and I am the only one who knows this, except for two other persons, and lastly you. This information has to be kept in the smallest circle as possible, do you understand?"
Draco nodded again, thoughts spinning in his head, and Narcissi continued, "I am working together with Severus, whom has a link in the Order of the Phoenix. We have another link in the Dark Lord's circle. Do you agree to be a spy, Draco Lucius Malfoy?"
Draco was still speechless, and after a hard one minute of thinking, he was sure about what he felt. "Yes. I agree, Mother."
Narcissa's worried face gave way to a warm and proud smile, a small one, but a smile nonetheless. She leaned forward and kissed his forehead, something that has not been done since he was thirteen.
"I will tell you more when the time comes. Just keep your mind shields as strong and high as possible, and do not attract attention to yourself, especially the Dark Lord's. Not only four lives depend on you, but also the lives of the Wizarding World, and the Muggles worldwide." Narcissa's eyes turned to steel, and Draco nodded firmly back. Legilimency was not a hard task for him, he had been trained in it since he was a child.
Draco got up and flattened his clothes when Narcissa was preparing to unweave the charms, and asked, "Mother? Do you stand in the Light?"
Narcissa Malfoy looked up and stared in his eyes. "I fight to defeat the Dark Lord."
Draco nodded with the answer, and unlocked the door. Just when he was a step out of the room, he felt the a comforting presence at the back of his mind, and felt the faint voice of his mother.
I am proud of you, Draco.
"Our newest yet long awaited recruit. Welcome!"
The chilling voice of the Dark Lord entered his ears, and he shivered against his will.
"My Lord."
"Do you promise allegiance towards me?"
"Yes, my Lord."
"Do you wish to eradicate all Mudbloods, blood traitors, and Muggles alike?"
"I do, my Lord."
"Good. Now here comes the test, my boy, you'll do fine, won't you, just like your father?" The Dark Lord's tone was seemingly praising him, but threatening tone underneath was crystal clear.
"As best as I can, my Lord." He controlled his emotions, and continued to hold his mind up. He could feel the familiar presence of his father at the back of his mind, and he quickly showed him memories of Mudbloods and blood traitors, and forked up disgust for them. A second later, the presence disappeared like it was satisfied with what it saw, but a creepily cold sensation clawed at his barriers.
The Dark Lord.
He quickly strengthened his barriers and made himself go numb, refusing to react in any way, staring at the ground, until the paralysing sensation retreated and disappeared completely.
"Bring them in." The soft yet menacing tone of the Dark Lord echoed in the room, and he looked up to see Bellatrix Black Lestrange smiling maniacally and answering, "Of course, my Lord."
He bowed down his head once more, and stared at the ground and the robes of the one all fears.
Three women were brought in and all were hysterical.
"What are you doing to us?"
"Let us go!"
"Oh my god, help, help!"
One glance, they were identified as witches of the wizarding world, no doubt blood traitors.
"You know what to do, don't you?" The Dark Lord smiled.
"Yes, my Lord," he answered, and stood up. Raising his wand, all three witches' eyes grew wide, and all tried to free themselves.
Hand wavering, he could not do it. He had never killed anyone, or intentionally harmed someone he had nothing to do with.
"What's the matter? Go, on, do not disappoint me." The Dark Lord's gaze turned sharp, and his voice was icy.
He stared into their eyes once more, and pushed the thought into their minds.
I'm sorry. Close your eyes.
All three amazingly did so, and three shots of green light hit them right on their chest, immediately slumping down on the ground, lifeless like dolls.
He lowered his wand, and returned to the kneeling position. "it is done, my Lord."
Without a second pause, a Cruciatus Curse struck him and immense pain filled his veins, coursing through him like a pulse, and he wished for death right there. A high-pitched scream broke through his throat, and just when he was about to pass out and be free of the agony, the curse was stopped.
"I am sorry, my Lord," he quickly kneeled back on his shaky knees and rasped out.
"You will never, ever hesitate ever again."
"Yes, my Lord."
The Dark Lord signalled to have him raise his left arm up, and the bony fingers traced his skins, sending shivers down his spine.
"Morsemorde," the spell was whispered out, and he felt like his arm was dipped into lava. A small hiss escaped his teeth, and sweat dripped down his face.
Finally, the physical pain was gone, but the mental one remained.
Accepting the mask with his head bowed, he quickly backed away and into the crowd of Death Eaters.
"Welcome, Draco Lucius Malfoy."
"We will attack the Lovegood's house, tonight. But, before that, we have a new recruit."
The Dark Lord sat on his throne at the long table, with his voice heard at every corner of the ballroom, and with Death Eaters sitting on the seats.
"Welcome."
Ronald Weasley, sitting beside Severus Snape, turned his head and was paralysed on his seat.
"Thank you, my Lord."
The new recruit's cold and unfeeling eyes swept over those of Ron's and shockingly, Ron felt nothing at all.
He was too numb to feel.
A/N: I know, a short chapter, and an explanation is needed. I know some people may think that Draco has a long road to redemption, but in this case, it was never said that Draco had his allegiance towards the Dark Lord, was it? Sure, Draco by no means isn't a kind and caring guy, he'll still be the same character we all dislike, but his allegiance will be differently clear. I do not intend for Ron and Draco to get along nicely, no, definitely not, but at some point down the road, they will get along quite well. So if you are not okay with this, the "back" button is there for you!
Not much Ron in this chapter, I know, but I have to built up on other characters, for example Narcissa Black Malfoy's.
Who's the new member? Hope someone gets it!
And, this chapter was not beta-ed so I'm sorry for grammar mistakes! (or spelling for that matter)
Please review!
/threeninefour