Chapter 14

Voldemort

Luna's fingers curled around Draco's wrist, her eyes widening to their utmost as she stared at him with fright etched across her delicate features. "Are you sure?"

"I'm sure," Draco replied, his voice low, he was afraid if he raised his voice even a little bit he would spook her. Luna looked ready to collapse into hysterics at any moment. The knowledge did not sit right with Draco, he'd never known Luna to crumble before, she had fought back against Umbridge and she had stood against his father and other Death Eaters. Of course, the Dark Lord was different.

"When?" Luna whispered. "When is he coming, Draco?"

"Any time now," Draco said, trying to uncurl her fingers from around his wrist. She had tightened her grip on him and was now pinching his skin.

"Why?"

"I don't know," he muttered, tugging at her small hand. "You're going to have to let me go, you're going to cut off my circulation," he complained.

Luna released his arm quickly. "Sorry, Draco. Will you have to go and see him?"

"Yes," he sighed heavily, rubbing at his forehead, he didn't want to go, he wanted to stay right there in bed where it was safe.

Luna's arms encircled his neck and she hugged him close to her. "Can't you stay here? Do you really have to leave?"

"Yes, if I don't go my father will come up here and drag me down to see him," Draco untangled himself from her embrace and went to the wardrobe to collect his Death Eater robes. He buttoned his trousers with shaking hands and pulled on his black silk shirt, it was cool against his already clammy skin and Draco felt uncomfortable as he shoved his feet into his shining black shoes.

"Always black," Luna said quietly as she entered the wardrobe behind him.

Draco merely nodded, his eyes widened slightly when Luna appeared in the mirror right behind him, setting his black robes over his shoulders and smoothing them down his back. Wordlessly, she handed him his wand, her fingers closing briefly over his before he broke the contact and placed the wand in the inside pocket of his robes.

They both jumped at the sudden loud banging on the bedroom door.

"Draco! Are you ready yet? Come along!" Lucius called out.

Swallowing nervously, Draco checked his reflection one last time, brushing his hair back from his forehead he gave himself a small nod of approval. "Don't go poking around anywhere Luna, just stay right here until I get back,"

"I will," Luna promised, swinging herself up on tiptoes to hug him close to her.

His arms encircled her slim shivering frame, pressing her close to his body. Draco didn't want to leave, he wanted to stay with Luna, he didn't want to leave her worrying on her own. Pressing a light kiss to her forehead, catching the faint scent of coconuts coming from her skin, Draco steered her away from him and left the wardrobe, crossing the plush carpet to the door he barely opened it and slid through.

Lucius was waiting for him in the dimly lit corridor, he gave his son the once over, pleased with his appearance and inclined his head down the hallway.

Father and son walked side- by -side pass the portraits of the Malfoy's and Black's ancestors, making their way down to the drawing room. Draco didn't speak, he didn't think he possessed a voice any more, the brave face he had to put on for Luna had deserted him the moment he stepped out of the bedroom. Draco was terrified, and like any terrified child, he was comforted by the presence of his father. His father was strong, in control, a formidable man; he always made Draco feel better, as though nothing bad could really happen to him so long as his father was there.

He was seventeen now though, a man, a married man no less and he was supposed to be able to deal with complicated and frightening situations himself. There must have been a time when Lucius himself had been scared, but Draco couldn't really image it. Nothing seemed to faze his father and Draco longed for that same ability.

Their heels sounded loud in the dark foyer when they crossed to the hallway beyond and finally reached the door behind which, was the Dark Lord himself.

Taking a steadying breath, Draco was surprised to feel his father clasp his shoulder briefly before opening the door and entering the room. The gesture was enough to bolster Draco's flagging spirit a little, and held head high, he followed his father into the room. He was a Malfoy, son and heir of Lucius Malfoy, he would do what was expected of him and act not like a man, but like a Malfoy.

The room was dimly lit by the floating candelabra, the curtains drawn against the still stormy night sky, the low murmuring of voices stopped when the two Malfoy's arrived and took their seats halfway down the table. Draco's darting grey eyes picked out all the familiar faces: Yaxley, Wormtail, Dolhov, Rookwood, both the Carrow's, his aunt Bellatrix, his mother and of course, right at the top of the table on Voldemort's right sat Severus Snape.

Voldemort looked up from a whispered conversation he had been having with Snape and allowed his red eyes to scan the room as though ensuring all who should be there were present. "I hear congratulations are in order, Draco,"

Draco froze, his eyes shooting up from the table top in shock. He didn't like the idea of Voldemort singling him out and talking directly to him. He preferred to sit quietly unnoticed at these meetings, in spite of all his grand dreams before he realized what he had gotten himself into.

"Um…. Yes, thank you," he managed to force the words past an incredibly tight throat, his palms sweating uncontrollably.

A couple of Death Eaters sniggered at the child like response, only to relapse into frightened silence the moment Voldemort spoke again. "Good manners and respect for those above you cost nothing. It is to your credit Narcissa, that you have raised a proper pureblood son,"

Narcissa gave a faltering smile and inclined her head in thanks. She also wished to be as inconspicuous as possible during Death Eater meetings.

"My Lord," Bellatrix spoke up immediately, although enjoying the praise of her family, she disliked not being spoken to directly by her Lord and Master. "Were you aware of the lineage of Draco's new wife? She is Esperanza's daughter,"

Voldemort seemed to still in his chair, his red eyes glowing eerily as he observed Bellatrix and then Draco. "Is this true, Draco?"

"Yes," he replied quietly, trying desperately to wipe his sticky palms over his trousers without anyone noticing the movement.

"Really…." Voledmort mused quietly, twirling his wand idly through long, bony fingers. "…Esperanza's daughter is she? I struggle to accept this turn of events as mere coincidence, Lucius,"

"No my Lord," Lucius replied, his voice strong and controlled. "An agreement was signed after Esperanza gave birth to a daughter sixteen years ago that she should marry Draco upon reaching her sixteenth birthday,"

"Her father has been declared insane my Lord," Bellatrix piped up. "We now have full control over The Quibbler, I'm sure that can be of some help,"

"You do not have any control over The Quibbler, Bella. As the husband, it is Draco who holds the control there," Voldemort corrected.

Bellatrix flushed slightly, "Yes, that's what I meant, our family has the control,"

"I'm sure Draco will use his control wisely," Voldemort tilted his head to stare unblinkingly at Draco.

"Yes," Draco agreed with a croak. A cold sweat had broken out over his back and panic was swirling through his veins at an alarming speed, his gut instinct was telling him to watch out, to be on his guard, something was going to happen to which he did not wish to take part in.

"Severus has been updating me as to the situation at Hogwarts, the Carrows will join him there as teachers and ensure that Muggle studies and the Dark Arts are taught properly,"

"It's our pleasure, my Lord," Alectro simpered, her thin lips flittering into an uncertain smile.

Voldemort nodded slightly. "Yaxley, tell me, how are things progressing at the Ministry?"

"Very well my Lord," Yaxley answered, sitting up a little straighter in his chair now that his turn to speak had come. "A law preventing all mud bloods and half breeds attending Hogwarts is currently being passed and will shortly be followed by a law allowing us to round up all the mud-bloods, half breeds and those suspected of obtaining magic illegally to run some tests and do a little digging into the family tree. All those suspected of being mud-bloods, or muggles having obtained magic by default will be given the Dementor's kiss. We feel that should ensure that all those who have no business in our world will stay out of it,"

"Very good, very good," Voldemort drummed his fingers on the glassy surface of the table. "Who will be carrying out this lengthy process?"

"We had to give that a great deal of thought," Yaxley admitted. "We didn't want it to be just anyone, someone who could turn on us at the wrong moment or complain about the process too much. So, all things considered, we believed that Dolores Umbridge was the best person for the job, my Lord,"

"Severus, was she not a head teacher at Hogwarts a year or so ago?" Voldemort asked.

"She was my Lord," Snape agreed, a flicker of annoyance crossing over his face. "It was not the best idea the Ministry ever carried out,"

Suddenly, Voldemort's slit red eyes rested upon Lucius. "As I recall, Lucius, she was a friend of yours in the old days,"

"Indeed she still is, my Lord," Lucius confirmed. "Dolores has helped me out on many occasions. I confess that it was my idea to place her at the head of the Mud-blood investigation, I feel she would take a certain delight in such a role, my Lord,"

"I completely agree with Lucius, my Lord," Yaxley added eagerly.

"I'm sure you can handle things at the Ministry, Lucius? Yaxley?" Voldemort paused only long enough to allow them to make their hurried agreements before continuing. "Draco, what do you intend to do with The Quibbler?"

Draco stared blankly at the Dark Lord for a few minutes, still ensuring to avoid any eye contact with him whatsoever. He tried to calm himself down, mentally telling himself to relax, to especially relax his throat as it seemed to have closed up completely. "Um…" he cleared his throat quietly. "I… um….well, your wish is my will, my Lord," he finished lamely, feeling sure that was the best answer he could give.

"As I recall, Esperanza wrote some very insightful articles," Voldemort commented, more to himself that anyone else. "Does your wife write for The Quibbler, Draco?"

"No, I believe she intends to once she has finished at Hogwarts," Draco replied, knowing full well that he would not allow Luna to indulge in such a ridiculous escapade. Although, now he could understand a little better why Luna would wish to write for The Quibbler if her mother used to do it.

"Perhaps she would… what is your wife's name, Draco?"

"Luna," Draco flushed and lowered his eyes, mortified at the way he spoke her name like a verbal caress.

"Then perhaps Luna would enjoy breaking into journalism before she expected to. I'm sure that Lucius has some back dated copies of The Quibbler for Luna to read her mothers old articles and to get the feel of what I want. You do, don't you, Lucius?" Voldemort asked, with an almost jovial note to his voice.

Draco glanced over his shoulder at his mothers sharp intake of breath, but he couldn't see her face from the angle he was sitting and quickly turned to look at his father, confusion flooding him as to why Lucius Malfoy of all people would have copies of The Quibbler.

"Yes, my Lord, I do," Lucius replied.

Draco's eyebrows drew together in a frown, his father sounded nostalgic, almost wistful.

"Oh my Lord," Narcissa's soft tones broke into Draco's thoughts. "I wonder then, if the time would be right for Luna to receive her Dark Mark?"

Draco stiffened, what the hell was his mother playing at? She had been there when he had specifically stated he didn't wish Luna to be marked. Why was his mother interfering in his business for Merlin's sake? Anger washed over him like a tidal wave and Draco could feel his face becoming warmer, quickly he lowered his head, not wishing for the Dark Lord to see the anger in his eyes.

"Good idea, Narcissa, and to think I almost overlooked that," Voldemort stood, stretching out his back. "We shall take care of that when I return, there is no time for that tonight. Narcissa, you may receive your Mark at the same time,"

"Yes of course, my Lord," Narcissa agreed stiffly.

"Draco, I will meet your wife during my next visit. I do so hope she will be as much of an asset to me and as good a Death Eater as her mother was before her," Voldemort swept from the room in a flurry of black silk, closing the door behind him softly.