Chapter 28

"Draco?" Charlotte asked, weakly. Mrs. LaRocque stood to come to his aid, but Charlotte shook her head, stopping her, as there was nothing any of them could do. "Is it… You-Know-Who?" she spoke softly, afraid.

He nodded slowly, and Charlotte apologized, excusing both her and Draco to the privacy of her bedroom. The others simply nodded, confused and worried as to what was going on.

Once Charlotte shut the door, Draco sat down on her bed, trying to get a grip, and to speak without his voice breaking. "He's summoning me now!" He panted against the pain in his wrist.

"Then… you have to go, don't you?" her tone was remorseful, and filled with unease.

He nodded unhappily, "The Dark Lord is not merciful to those who ignore his call."

"And you don't want to push him, do you?" Charlotte put a consoling hand on his shoulder, looking worriedly at his Dark Mark.

"Oh, Charlotte! What if he aims to kill me? I mean, I failed at an important task and practically deserted him!" Draco spoke in a distressed voice.

"Professor Snape told you he'd calm the situation down, and give You-Know-Who time to come to his 'senses' before he called you back. In order for him to assure you of such a thing, Snape must be held in high regard by He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, and have the power to do such things. Just have faith, and you'll be fine!" Her own voice was wavering despite her efforts to steady it. She feared for him, too, wishing in her heart that everything would be okay.

Draco nodded, and tried to reassure Charlotte—as well as himself—that he'd see her again. "I promise you, I'll come back for you when I can. Just stay low and out of trouble, and enjoy your summer holiday," he wrapped his arms around Charlotte, and held her tightly, as if to brand into his memory how her embrace felt. She held him, too, wishing she would never have to let go. Their eyes met, and Draco leaned forward to fervently kiss Charlotte. She returned the kiss, aware of the gentle urgency behind it, savoring every moment.

"I love you," she whispered once the kiss broke. "So much. Don't forget that." She wiped her eyes, clearing the tears before they fell, trying to appear strong for him.

"I love you, too." He replied softly, feeling terrible that she was so worried for him, but still tried to stay supportive. "And I could never forget that, my dear." He placed his hand gently on one side of her face, stroking her cheekbone and admiring her every feature.

"Now remember what I've said: do your best to stay true to yourself while you are out in the world, serving that terrifying wizard you're bound to…" she trailed off. "Come on, you had best get on your way," she managed a smile, and he took her hand, fondly.

Draco led her back out to the front door, and on his way, stopped and bid Charlotte's family goodbye, and thanked them for all of their generosity and hospitality. When Adrian asked why he had to go, he didn't know what to say.

Charlotte answered for him, "Something's come up, and Draco doesn't need to stay in hiding anymore. He's going back to his home, to see his parents for the first time in a long while." Draco squeezed her hand in thanks.

"Well, young man, best wishes, and remember that you're always welcome in our home," Charlotte's father assured him, with an implying nod towards Charlotte, who had gone to grab his things. Draco nodded in return, thanked them all again, and the two left.

At the end of Charlotte's front walk, she looked around to make sure nobody was outside or near where they were. She turned to Draco, "Ready to go?" He nodded, and with one final goodbye kiss, Draco Disapparated. As he faded from view, Charlotte fought back tears at the fear of never seeing him again.

~

Once Draco rematerialized, he was at his home, Malfoy Manor, where the Dark Lord told him to appear. The front door opened on its own, a mental incantation on Draco's part. A man who sat halfway across the entry hall greeted him curtly. It was a Death Eater that Draco didn't recognize, but he didn't stop to find out as he walked past him into the dining room, where he heard familiar voices.

"Ah, the prodigal son finally returns!" a chilling voice spoke as he entered, the long room dark, lit only by a few torches. Draco had to fight his every urge to cringe and shy away.

Draco nodded respectfully to the Dark Lord, "I apologize for my absence."

The detached voice added, "Yes, where did you go off to? I realize your task was more difficult than I imagined. Snape enlightened me of the circumstances, and how you were prevented many times from completing it." His voice became more angry, but calmed back down, "But, you did get some of your fellow Death Eaters into the castle, and they made some much needed damage to the school and its false confidence about its impenetrability! And for that, I commend you, despite your failure." A low voice interrupted him, as another new Death Eater spoke quietly to the Dark Lord. A sinister smile crossed his face, "Speaking of failures, I have a surprise for you this evening, Draco. Send him in."

The far door to the dining room opened, and a disheveled mess of a man stumbled in, his long, straight white hair falling about his face. He looked up, and another pair of silver eyes mirrored Draco's gaze.

"Father?" Draco asked, softly.

The man nodded, "Draco, my boy, is that you?"

Draco went to him, and embraced him lightly.

"Now that the reunion is over, it's time we resumed our meeting. Since our numbers are growing, and the Azkaban jailbreak was a success, we must continue with our campaign. Rest for the night, and come tomorrow, we will press on!" With a beckoning hiss to his reptilian companion, a snake named Nagini, he left the dining room. "It's going to take a lot to earn back my trust, boy," Voldemort muttered audibly, brushing past him with a breeze that caused Draco to shudder.

Draco's mother came up to her husband and son, embracing them both.

"How you've grown, son!" Lucius Malfoy exclaimed quietly once they were in a separate room, putting his hands on Draco's shoulders.

His mother added, "Yes, we're so glad you've returned. Where have you been, anyway? We were worried sick about you." Narcissa's tone was actually concerned, a first, to Draco's knowledge. Since when was she concerned about him, her only, haughty, and lazy son?

"I've been here and there, waiting patiently for the Dark Lord to call me back. I felt terrible for letting him down, Dumbledore got the jump on me, suspected me the whole time, and sabotaged me, so I had to run before anything happened to me." He mocked anger, effectively, as his parents appeared to buy it.

"It's fine, my boy, Dumbledore was a formidable wizard, the only one the Dark Lord feared," Lucius reassured him. "But now that he aims to find the Elder Wand, we will soon be able to follow the Dark Lord to total domination of the Wizarding world!"

Draco nodded, resolute, but on the inside, he feared what such an outcome would bring.

~

Weeks passed, and Voldemort continued his campaign for more followers, gaining many, and killing those who refused. The Malfoys weren't allowed to attend these escapades, as they had to protect the Death Eater base that was their home. Draco didn't mind, but it was annoying having to constantly play host to at least five Death Eaters, and many more when the Dark Lord returned with new followers to educate. One dark and dreary night, he did not return with a few new Death Eaters, instead he had a bigger prize in his grasp. He gathered his most devoted Death Eaters for a meeting, as he had an impressive demonstration for them all.

Draco reluctantly followed his parents into the guest dining room, and what he saw made him feel sick to his stomach. His father leaned heavily on his snake-headed cane, and sat down slowly. He sat next to his father, and on his other side sat a big Death Eater, whose name he had heard but did not care to remember.

Draco's focus was not on the matter at hand, which concerned something to do with the ministry, but on a figure that was bound and suspended in the air some distance from the table. Draco wondered fearfully what the Dark Lord had in mind, and moments later his dread was fulfilled. Voldemort flicked his wand, and the figure floated slowly to halt directly above the middle of the table. It was a woman, and someone he recognized, but couldn't place where he'd seen her…

Voldemort then spoke, conceitedly. "I'm sure you know who this is, Snape, but for those who are not aware, this is Charity Burbage, a professor at Hogwarts school that some of my followers caught speaking with Muggles and thus kidnapped her, punishing her for her crime." He paused, smiling to himself, "What she teaches at that school is a most unforgivable subject: Muggle Studies. She thinks we should interact with and accept these creatures, even mate with them." He spat out the words.

Bellatrix made a sound of disgust, sticking her tongue out and wriggling like she'd tasted something foul. Draco looked very nervous, unsure what to think. Professor Burbage was floating over the table, gasping slightly, her throat making an awful sound. It was obvious she was under the Cruciatus Curse as well as some other tortuous spell, and couldn't move besides a little twitch now and then. He didn't like to see even a teacher that he hated in such pain, and an unsettled look crossed his face.

She suddenly moaned slightly, and Voldemort yelled behind him, "Wormtail! I told you to keep our guest silent!"

"Yes, my Lord," a mouse-like man muttered pathetically, reapplying the Cruciatus Curse, and to a higher degree.

Draco jumped at the commotion slightly, but regained his composure before anyone noticed, trying to remain aloof.

"Severus…" the suspended woman spoke softly, "Severus, please help, you're my friend…"

Draco glanced at Snape, to see how he'd react, but Snape's expression didn't change. He ignored her plea for help. Voldemort smirked, amused, and raised his wand as he spoke coldly, "Avada Kedavra!" And the witch fell to the ground with a hollow, haunting thud. Draco could barely keep a hold of his consciousness, and when the Dark Lord added gently, "Nagini, dinner!" his giant snake slithered onto the table, and lunged for the corpse. Draco fainted, nauseated by the atrocity he'd just witnessed.

When he awoke, he was lying on a couch, alone. His mother entered the room, carrying a bowl of water and a washcloth. She went to his side, "Are you feeling all right, Draco? You had quite a spill earlier."

"What happened?"

"When you passed out, the Dark Lord had you removed from the dining room and brought here. What was wrong, dear?" she asked, dabbing his forehead with the damp cloth.

"I must have fainted from hunger. I haven't had much of an appetite lately, and I didn't get to eat much today," he shrugged, being honest.

"That would make sense, but the Dark Lord didn't see it that way…"

"What do you mean?"

"He took it as a sign of weakness. So, he proclaimed that he means to make more use of you. Make you do more of his dirty work, since you failed at your main task and he thinks you fainted at the sight of a witch being killed and eaten by his pet." Narcissa shuddered as she finished the sentence. "He believes you need to prove that you're worthy to be a Death Eater."

"But I am worthy, Mother!" he whined. "Can I help it if I've been feeling sick lately?"

"No, I suppose not. But, I want you to be aware that he may have something in mind for you, and I want you to be ready. How is your Dark Magic?"

"I might be little out of practice," he shrugged, a little indignant.

Narcissa whispered as another Death Eater entered the room, "Then I suggest you get working on that, so you're ready. I don't want you to disgrace us, son."

Draco nodded, and the man who had just entered asked brusquely, with a thin voice, "Is he doing all right now?"

Narcissa nodded, "Yes, he's fine. He's been a little under the weather lately, and the stress and excitement of this evening's events pushed him over the edge."

"Good," the Death Eater left to report back to the Dark Lord.

With a curt, indicating nod, Narcissa left him alone to rest some more.

Draco stood, and looked out a window into the darkness outside. He needed to practice his Dark Magic, to remember how to do all those terrible spells. He hated them, but it was necessary for him to remain alive. Without another thought, he went to the basement, where he practiced Dark spells and charms, reminding himself of all the terrible, powerful, and strangely wondrous, things he could do with the darkness in his soul.

~

The ensuing summer weeks proved to be very profitable for Lord Voldemort and his disciples, as they gained momentum and new recruits from all over the country. One bright mid-August morning, Voldemort called his most trusted Death Eaters together in a courtyard at Malfoy Manor.

"A momentous day!" he exclaimed when everyone had congregated, smiling viciously, "Today, we must take the Ministry of Magic! Thanks to the successful infiltration of our spy Pius Thicknesse into the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, we have a secure foothold in the door to the Ministry, all we need to do is wrench it open to the power of Dark Magic! I cannot be seen in public, my presence is far too dangerous of yet, so you must go in my stead. Now, dear subjects, we are off!"

And one by one, all of the Death Eaters Disapparated, plumes of black smoke shooting off in all directions. Draco and his parents tagged along as well. When they got to the Ministry, they sealed off all the exits. After a moment of listening to the sounds of daily work, someone gave the signal for them to act. Suddenly, all Hell broke loose. The Main Hall filled with a commotion of screaming, casting of spells, and laughter of a few Death Eaters who took pleasure in torturing and killing members of the Ministry that got in the way. Within minutes, the Minister of Magic, Rufus Scrimgeour, was dead, and the Ministry came under complete control of the Death Eaters, under the direction of the newly appointed Minister of Magic, Pius Thicknesse, a loyal and politically savvy follower of the Dark Lord.

The commotion of it all exhilarated Draco, as much as he hated to admit it, but it came at a cost. After it was all over, it was harder to Disapparate than he anticipated, and when he returned and was able to relax, he found he was covered in bruises and cuts he hadn't noticed before. Must've been from the battle, he thought to himself, gasping when he touched an open wound. He went to a mirror, and found his face to be untouched, thankfully, but shrapnel from the breaking glass and other wreckage from the raid on the Ministry had cut up his arms. Dead tired, Draco went right to bed after a feast celebrating the Ministry victory, without pausing to bid anyone goodnight or even to change clothes.

In the middle of that night, Draco was awoken by an angry yell he knew all to well: the Dark Lord wasn't pleased, yelling at someone, and he was thankful that he was not the one in trouble, as when the Dark Lord disciplined those who crossed them, few came out of it without passing out or being severely injured. He began to drift back to sleep when…

"Bring me the boy! DRACO MALFOY!" a voice bellowed, and he sat up straight in bed, startled and suddenly very awake. Draco went immediately to the source of the voice, and found two Death Eaters: Antonin Dolohov and Thorfinn Rowle, dressed as city workers and groveling at Voldemort's feet.

"We're sorry, my Lord, I don't know what came over us, we must have—" Rowle muttered, almost incoherent with fear.

"I don't want to hear your excuses!" Voldemort snapped, "You summoned me to a Muggle place of business in the middle of the night, and for no reason at all!"

"There was a reason, I assure you, my Lord," Dolohov growled unsteadily.

The Dark Lord looked at him, mocking curiosity, "Oh? Then do tell, you worms!" He waited for an answer, and then added over their incoherent babbling, "You forgot, didn't you? Well, you'll pay for summoning me falsely. Not that I minded killing that Muggle girl, but all that attention before I'm completely invincible is unforgivable unless you have good reason!" He then pointed to Draco, who stood a few feet inside the room, frozen with a mixture of fear and confusion as to the situation. He didn't show his fear, and pushed it deep within him, in case the Dark Lord decided to use Legilimency on him. "Draco, how nice of you to join us. These two disgraces summoned me to a Muggle city only moments ago, only to find that they had no idea why they called me! One unnecessary, yet enjoyable, Muggle death and much groveling later, here we are. What happens to Death Eaters who summon me without good cause?"

"Uh, I… I'm not sure, my Lord, I can't imagine the disgrace it must be. The punishment must be very great," Draco spoke quietly, trying to say the right thing.

"Exactly right, my boy. Now," Voldemort approached Draco, "I want to prove to them that they cannot abuse their abilities and must learn from their mistake. I want you, a powerful young wizard, to show them the error of their ways." When Draco shot him a confused look, he only added, "Go on, punish them. Prove to me your loyalty is much greater than theirs, that such abuses must be punished!"

"But… what do you want me to do?"

"Use your Dark Magic, Malfoy, torture them!" He whispered fiercely.

Draco hesitated, and slowly drew his wand. He didn't want to torture these Death Eaters, they had simply made a mistake, and he thought this a little severe. But, he didn't want to cross the Dark Lord. As he was deciding on a spell, Charlotte's often-reiterated words replayed in his mind: 'do your best to stay true to yourself… don't lose yourself in the darkness that is You-Know-Who…'

When he finally settled on a curse, he put on a façade of disgust at the two men, no matter how forced it may have appeared. On the inside he regretted this with all of his being, holding tightly onto Charlotte's presence in his heart to prevent himself from falling into total darkness. He spoke the incantation, and Rowle and Dolohov began to cringe and cry out as unintelligible pain swept through both of them. Draco couldn't stop his face from betraying his pain at doing this, and the Dark Lord simply laughed as the two squirmed and writhed. As soon as his services were no longer required, and he was dismissed, Draco went into his room, locked the door, sat on his bed and broke down completely.

~