What started off as a good day was soon changed to the worst day of my life. I knew it was coming but I thought I had more time. I didn't think it would happen so soon and the day before school too.
Draco and I got the Prefect roles at Hogwarts for Slytherin and Draco wondered out loud if Potter had gotten the Gryffindor Prefect role too. Narcissa was overjoyed that Draco had gotten it, she even told me she happy that I had got it. I was so sure Pansy was a shoo-in for it though, it came as a surprise when I saw the green and silver badge with my letter.
Narcissa, Draco and I had gone into Diagon Alley to get this years books for school, we had both grown over the summer so our Slytherin robes had to be replaced. I was still shorter than Draco, he had reached a healthy 5ft 9 and I went to 5ft 3 a small fact that Draco took great pleasure of commenting on every chance he got.
"Of course, Potter would get off on a warning for using underage magic in front of a Muggle" Draco muttered to me as we walked through the front door of the Manor.
"It was a life and death situation," I said while rolling my eyes, "It's bollocks is what it is, that boy could murder someone and get off scot-free. Oh wait, he did in our second year, never mind"
Draco snorted lightly as he placed his new school supplies on a table, I followed suit "Wonder what this year will bring" Draco said to me softly and I rolled my eyes.
"More Potter drama no doubt," I said in reply and Lucius strolled into the room and I noticed he looked rather stressed.
"Adria, he's requested your presence again" Lucius deadpanned and I instantly gripped Draco's arm, "Alone"
"Crap" I muttered and my fingers tightened around Draco's arm before I forced myself to let go, "This can't be good"
"I'm sure it'll be fine, Dia, I'm right here," Draco said softly to me and I nodded my head stiffly.
"Where is he?" I asked Lucius.
"In my study" Lucius replied and I nodded again, I took my time walking through the house and up the stairs. I walked down the hall with a heavy heart and I hesitated once I reached the door at the end of the hall. I knocked once before walking into the room
"Quick response" The Dark Lord commented, "I appreciate that"
"My Lord" I inclined my head and kept my eyes cast downward, I wondered if he could hear how hard my heart was pounding. I knew I could.
"I've been thinking since our last meeting and I have spoken with Severus, as I understand you have your Father's strength and loyalty" The Dark Lord spoke in a monotone voice and I could feel dread filling me up. "I respect loyalty like that, your father was a trusted man"
"I wouldn't know, My Lord," I replied quietly.
"I was orphaned at a young age myself, Adria" I shivered slightly at the sound of my name coming from his mouth, "I understand the loss, though I may not feel the pain of it"
"I never knew my father, My Lord, and my mother died before I had the chance to ask"
"It was James Potter who killed your father, wasn't it?" The Dark Lord asked and I shifted my weight from my left foot to my right, I was starting to feel the intensity of his stare.
"Yes, My Lord," I said and cleared my throat, suddenly feeling very dry. Just get this over with, Adria, you'll be fine.
"Do you take comfort in the fact that I killed James Potter shortly after?"
I looked up in surprise at his question and I thought for a minute, "It does. But it doesn't make me hate Harry Potter any less" The Dark Lord tilted his head slightly at my answer.
"I want you to join me" He deadpanned and my heart stuttered before picking up speed, "I believe you will be a valuable asset to my ranks"
"You want me to do what?" I blurted and my mind instantly went to Draco. What about Draco? I couldn't do that to him. What would he think of me once I took the Mark? "I-I don't think-"
"Let me put it another way" The Dark Lord interrupted, his anger rising slightly at my stuttering statement. "You turn this down then I will be forced to punish your disobedience. Perhaps Draco's life would be fitting."
My heart stopped and my blood ran cold. I could feel my hands start to shake at the fact that The Dark Lord could and would kill Draco. If I didn't agree to take The Dark Mark then Draco would die. But if I took The Mark then would Draco shun me?
"No!" I said quickly and The Dark Lord smiled, showing his sharp teeth.
"Love is weakness, Adria, but it can be used," The Dark Lord said in a low voice and I chewed my bottom lip. I would much rather have Draco hate me for the rest of my life over him being dead. I could live with him hating me but I couldn't live with him being dead.
"I'll do it," I said in a dry voice and raised my head up slightly to look at The Dark Lord. "Just don't hurt him. Please."
The Dark Lord rose from his seat in one fluid motion and crossed the small room to stand in front of me, he held out his long white hand, "Wise decision, Adria. Your left arm, if you please"
I couldn't stop my hand from shaking as I rolled up the sleeve on my left arm and held it out towards him. I kept my eyes on the bare skin of my forearm and I resisted the urge to pull back when his hand wrapped around my wrist tightly and he placed the tip of his wand to my skin.
I squeezed my eyes shut and grit my teeth as I felt a white-hot pain shoot through my arm and it took everything in me not to scream at the agony, my legs shook threatening to buckle as The Dark Lord's hand tightened around my wrist. I forced my eyes open and saw The Mark slowly etch onto my arm. A black skull appeared and a snake slithered out its mouth and weaved around itself and down to my wrist.
Tears stung my eyes but I refused to let them fall. I will not cry in front of The Dark Lord, I stumbled back when he let go of my arm, my eyes stuck on the black mark that now adorned my skin.
"You're dismissed," The Dark Lord said and I quickly pulled my sleeve back down to cover the mark. "You'll be summoned when I need you"
I turned on my heel and left the room quickly, the tears slipped down my face silently and my head was spinning, the burning sensation still running through my arm. I headed straight down the hall and to my room.
"Dia?" I heard Draco call from behind me, but I didn't stop. I forced my legs to move quicker but Draco quickly caught up to me as I reached my bedroom door and he grabbed my left arm quickly. I grit my teeth together when the fabric of my shirt rubbed against the fresh mark. "Dia, what's happened?"
I turned my head away quickly so he couldn't see the tears, "Nothing, you don't need to worry"
"You're crying, Dia, of course, I'm going to worry," Draco said quickly and I ducked my head down.
How could I even look him in the eye? How could I even begin to tell him?
"It's nothing," I said quietly and Draco's hand slid down my arm and took my hand in his. "Really, Draco. It's okay"
"What happened in my father's study, Dia?" Draco pushed and I shook my head.
"I just got a little upset about something he said about my mother" I lied quickly, Draco sighed and wrapped his arms around me, he let me cry into his chest as ran his fingers through my hair.
I lied to him. That thought alone made me cry more, I couldn't tell him what I've done. My reason for the Mark was to save his life, I couldn't tell him that. It would only drag him down, knowing that I had taken The Dark Mark for him. I couldn't do that to him, it was better for him if he remained clueless to what happened behind the closed door of his father's study.
"Is everything alright?" I heard Lucius ask, I stepped back from Draco and wiped my eyes before turning to face Lucius. His eyes scanned my face quickly before his gaze fell to my trembling hands, "Adria, could I borrow you for a moment?"
"Of course" I replied, my voice from the tears and I looked at Draco for a moment before following Lucius back down the hall, but he didn't take me to his study, instead he took me into a room that was next to it. I kept my head down as I walked into the room and Lucius cast a silencing charm.
"Show me!" He demanded quickly and I pulled up the sleeve again, exposing the fresh Dark Mark on my arm and he sucked in a breath, "He told me he wouldn't"
"He lied" I muttered and raised my eyes to meet his, "I couldn't refuse"
"Why not?"
"Because he threatened to kill Draco if I did" I admitted and Lucius slowly sat down in a chair, I covered my arm again and sat down opposite him, "I'm not going to tell him"
"Good" Lucius sighed, he looked tired all of a sudden, "I'm sorry you've had to do this, Adria"
"I did it to save your son's life," I said quietly, "He can't know. It'll tear him apart if he knew. If this keeps him out of it then I'm happy to do what needs to be done"
"That very admirable," Lucius said, "Your loyalty is to The Dark Lord now"
"No," I said and Lucius looked at me quickly, I rose from my seat and sighed, "My loyalty is to your son and only to him. I couldn't live with myself if he was killed because of me, I may be Marked but I am not one of his followers. I did this for Draco. Not him"
I turned on my heel and left the room quickly, Draco was nowhere to be seen and I was relieved. It allowed me to slip into my room uninterrupted and once again I picked up my notebook I started to write in and grabbed a quill. I took a seat at the small desk and flipped over to a fresh page. A recent habit I had picked up as a result of Astoria's memory charm. Write it all down so I could never forget. Memories are too important and I've learnt not to take them for granted. The good and the bad.
August 31st '95
The battle line between good and evil runs through the heart of everyone. It doesn't matter how good you are, you will always be evil in someone else's eyes. But now, I'm evil in everyone's eyes. Maybe even his. The choice I made wasn't between good and evil, it was a choice about whether to let him die or not.
I know he would have killed him if I had refused. I had no choice, I couldn't let him die because I refused. It is after all my birthright but I never wanted it. Now the Mark has been branded into my skin and was seeping into every nerve of my body, entwining inside me and latching on. I always knew there was darkness inside me.
I'm capable of pure hatred, I'm capable of violence and I'm capable of shutting myself down. But I am capable of love, I'm capable of kindness and I'm capable of being a friend.
I'm walking in the darkness just so he could continue to see the light. I have to lie. To save him. He can never know the pain of The Mark, I have to be the one to carry the burden. I was born into it, he still has a chance. I had no choice but maybe there is still a chance that he will. I have to hold onto that hope. Otherwise, it'll consume me completely and I'm left walking around blind in the darkness.
It's for him. For Draco and it's always going to be for him.