A/N: Hi! So this is my very first fanfic. Hope you like it! Decided to do this to keep me sane during COVID lockdown and give me a break from my law studies. This story was inspired by my wish that Draco's transition from pure-blood supremist to the man who taught Scorpius tolerance was a similar story arc to Snape's. It was also inspired by the real life story of former KKK leader Johnny Lee Clary turning away from hate because of the kindness of an African-America pastor (youtube . com. watch?v=v7r_VBdxivA). I will try and keep updates at least weekly, if not more regularly, pending my uni studies. Enjoy!
A/N #2: A quick note about the timeline. In the books, these events (Hogwarts and the war) happen in the late 90s. However, due to a sequel that I will be writing that will draw on the events of this story (Draco's Journey: Recovery), it's necessary to shift this timeline to make these events happen in the 2000s. So for example, the war ended in the books on the 2nd May 1998, however, in this story it ends on 2nd May 2008.
Chapter 1
The Death Eaters were cowering in the drawing room of Malfoy Manor. Voldemort was in a towering rage. "YOU FAILED!" he screamed. "I SET YOU A SIMPLE TASK AND YOU FAILED!"
"My Lord –" Bellatrix began but was cut down by Voldemort's curse. "CRUCIO!" Bellatrix screamed. Bellatrix writhed in pain for a solid 15 seconds until Voldemort lifted the curse. "GET UP BELLA! UP! NOW!" Bellatrix tried to rise but struggled. "DO YOU WANT ANOTHER DOSE OF PAIN? YOU DESERVE IT, BUT THE DARK LORD IS MERCIFUL! HIS MERCY ONLY EXTENDS SO FAR!" Voldemort said warningly.
Bellatrix finally got to her feet. "EXPLAIN!" In Voldemort's fury, his high, cold voice had not wavered from its thundering volume, echoing off the walls of the Manor.
"My Lord," Bellatrix began in a tentative voice. "It did not turn out simple -".
Voldemort cut her off, "YOU WERE FACING 6 TEENAGERS, NOT EVEN PASSED THEIR OWLs WERE YOU NOT? DRACO, YOU GO TO SCHOOL WITH THESE MEDDLESOME TEENAGERS, THEY AREN'T A MATCH FOR SEMI-COMPENTENT DEATH EATERS ARE THEY?"
Draco flinched at being addressed by Voldemort when he was in such a rage. Looking at his shoelaces he mumbled "No my Lord."
Draco had been watching Voldemort's fury with his back firmly against the wall as far from Voldemort as he could be. He had not seen Voldemort in such a rage since Voldemort had made his Manor headquarters for the Death Eaters.
"DRACO, I BELIEVE THAT ONE OF THOSE TEENAGERS WAS A MUDBLOOD! CAN YOU CONFIRM?!" Voldemort shot at Draco.
Still looking at his shoelaces, he mumbled "Yes my Lord". If possible, Voldemort looked even more furious. He turned back to Bellatrix.
"CRUCIO!" Once again, Bellatrix was on the ground screaming and writhing in pain. This time, Voldemort showed no mercy. He waited a minute until lifting the curse. When Bellatrix had got up, Voldemort spat at her feet. "IF THERE'S ONE THING THAT I HATE MORE THAN HARRY POTTER, IT IS A MUDBLOOD THAT GETS THE BETTER OF MY DEATH EATERS AND BY EXTENSION ME!"
Bellatrix went on imploringly "My Lord, the teenagers were joined by the Order of the Phoenix and as you know Dumbledore. The mudblood was injured by Dolohov!"
Voldemort fixed Bellatrix with a contemptuous stare. He ignored what she had said about the Order of the Phoenix and Dumbledore. "SHE'S BREATHING BELLA! DOES DOLOHOV NOT KNOW HOW TO PERFORM AVADA KEDAVRA?! PERHAPS I NEED TO TEACH HIM WHEN HE GETS BACK FROM AZKABAN AND YOU AND LUCIUS CAN VOLUNTEER TO BE THE SUBJECTS HE CAN PRACTICE ON?!"
Draco watching Voldemort rage at Bellatrix flinched at the suggestion of Voldemort killing his father, or at least ordering his killing. Bellatrix also flinched and dropped to her knees at Voldemort's feet, positively pleading for forgiveness now. Her voice had risen to a volume appropriate for a supporter at a quidditch match.
"NO, MY LORD! I'M SORRY! I WON'T FAIL AGAIN! PLEASE MY LORD!"
Voldemort looked at her contemptuously for a moment and when he replied, his voice was no longer echoing off the walls. He said in a dangerous whisper "Of course you won't fail again. The prophecy is gone, so you don't get a second chance at retrieving it. The Dark Lord does not forgive. He does not forget." He said the last 10 words so quietly that they were barely audible, but everyone in the living room heard them.
"Up Bella!" he said sharply, his voice returning to a normal volume now. "Because of your dismal failure, there is work to be done. Bella, Narcissa and Draco to the meeting room. Everyone else dismissed."
When they had sat down at the table, Voldemort addressed Bellatrix. "Hold out your arm Bella." She held out the arm which was branded with the Dark Mark. Voldemort took his wand and pressed her Dark Mark. "Now we wait for Severus to arrive." Bellatrix made a pained face like she had just eaten something sour but thought it best not to say what was on her mind. This did not go unnoticed by Voldemort. "Smart move holding your tongue Bella. After your bungle at the Ministry, it would not be wise to question my decisions." Bellatrix blushed.
There was silence while they waited for Snape to arrive. Draco got lost in thoughts about what he had just witnessed. Bellatrix being tortured for not achieving her task, Voldemort threatening to kill his father and him being spoken to by Voldemort in such a murderous tone. But what stuck in his mind was Voldemort raging that Dolohov hadn't fatally struck Granger, that seriously injuring her in the course of trying to achieve the main mission wasn't enough.
This wasn't what I was expecting when Father spoke about his activities with the Death Eaters, he thought. Sure, he had said to Crabbe and Goyle in his second year when the Chamber of Secrets had been opened that he hoped Granger had died, but that was before she returned his insults with cheery kindness. He had also definitely never expected Voldemort to be so angry about her surviving when the more important mission had been botched.
When Father spoke about being a Death Eater, he spoke about glory and power. He never spoke about what I have just seen, he thought.
After 5 minutes, there was a knock on the door. Wormtail, who Voldemort had placed at Malfoy Manor as a servant given that the Malfoy's no longer had a house elf – Dobby being set free by Harry Potter four years ago – went to open the door. Wormtail entered the meeting room accompanied by a man with a hooked nose and oily black hair. "Ah Severus. Sit," said Voldemort. "What held you?"
"I was with Dumbledore when you summoned me my Lord –"
Bellatrix made a tutting noise. With a dangerous look from Voldemort, she sunk back into her chair. "Go on," said Voldemort.
"He thinks I'm here on his orders. My Lord, I have no wish for this meeting to get off track. Would we like to give Bellatrix the opportunity to get off her chest whatever it is she is dying to say? I'd hate for this meeting to resemble the debacle at the Department of Mysteries," said Snape, his mouth curling into the faintest of smirks. Bellatrix blushed.
"No Severus. Bellatrix will control herself or she knows what will happen. She's already experienced tonight what will happen if she doesn't control herself," said Voldemort coldly. Snape nodded.
"Wormtail, dismissed. Go somewhere you cannot hear this meeting. The matters that will be discussed do not concern you. If you listen, Bellatrix can tell you what it's like to feel my wrath."
Wormtail quivered and stammered "Y.. yes m.. my Lord." He bowed out of the room. Voldemort raised his wand, pointed it at the door and said "Colloportus." They heard the door lock. Wand still pointed at the door, Voldemort said "Muffliato. Just so we are not overheard. Credit to you for creating that spell Severus." Snape gave a curt nod. Voldemort lowered his wand.
"So, there is now no hope to achieve the prophecy." Voldemort shot a scathing look at Bellatrix once more. "That does not mean we pack our bags and wait for the Ministry to send us all to Azkaban. The ultimate goal still remains to take over the Ministry, bring wizards out of hiding and achieve pureblood rule. A part of that is killing Harry Potter. The boy has survived through circumstances lining up favourably for him and Albus Dumbledore pulling the strings, not through any exceptional skill Potter has. That was shown in that graveyard when he used the disarming charm, like that was any match for my killing curse. If Lily Potter doesn't refuse to step aside, he dies in Godric's Hollow. If our wands do not share cores, he dies in the graveyard. If Albus Dumbledore does not put the charm on his Aunt and Uncle's house, I could go in there and take him. So, what to do I ask myself. I cannot control luck and circumstance falling in his favour. However, what I can control is the ability of his protector to pull the strings. I need to kill Albus Dumbledore." Silence fell after this speech. "Now. I am giving one of you a chance to prove yourself to me."
Bellatrix sat up "Thank you my Lord".
"NOT YOU BELLA!" Voldemort snapped. Bellatrix blushed again and sank back down in her seat. "No. I am talking about Draco."
It took a few moments for Voldemort's words to sink into Draco's mind. Did Draco hear what he thought he heard? He stared at Voldemort not seeing him, his mind blank. Narcissa's voice brought him out of his numb thoughts.
"NO! My Lord, I will do it. Draco is too young." Voldemort silenced her with a sharp look.
"Draco wants to join me. He deserves the chance to prove himself. He deserves the chance to prove he is more competent than his father. Draco is to kill Albus Dumbledore." Voldemort's tone became dangerous now. "Draco look at me." Draco obeyed and looked into those cold scarlet eyes. "I want to make clear that I will not accept failure. If you fail, the mercy I showed Bellatrix will not be extended to you. A life will be ended as a result of this mission. If it is not Albus Dumbledore's, it will be yours. You have been warned."
Draco held Voldemort's gaze looking into those cold red eyes. Fear and horror flooding through him. This is beyond anything he imagined. How could he, a 16-year-old, unqualified wizard, kill a wizard who many people believe to be the greatest wizard of the age?
Narcissa's voice brought him out of his thoughts. "NO, MY LORD, PLEASE ALLOW ME! PLEASE DON'T PUT MY ONLY SON IN HARMS WAY!"
"ENOUGH!" Voldemort said louder than Narcissa and gave her a look which instantly quietened her.
"Draco will do it and you will not question it. Should you wish to question it, I'm happy to remind you what happens to Death Eaters who question my orders." Narcissa sat silently with tears running down her face.
Draco sat there with a dead weight in the pit of his stomach. He finally spoke, although it felt like his airways were restricted and it was taking all his effort to speak. "How?" he croaked.
Voldemort smiled "I will leave that up to you Draco. Now, everyone dismissed except Severus." Draco stood, his legs like lead. He looked at his mother, her face still lined with tears. They walked out of the room and Narcissa put her arm on her son's shoulder.