A/N: Well, here's another chapter for you… it's not a very happy one… I decided I was sick of fluff, so here's some conflict

A/N: Well, here's another chapter for you… it's not a very happy one… I decided I was sick of fluff, so here's some conflict.

Thanks to the following for reviewing: Lily_Lioness (sorry you're not into slash… maybe it'll grow on you!=)), Billy, and Golden Snidget (Thanks for the compliment on my stories. I, on the other hand, DO like slash… can't we all just get along???) Thanks all!

Oh, and I'd like to know why everyone has such a big problem with slash, cause right now I just really don't get it. I'm keeping it clean, and still I'm getting trashed for it… Why? You guys are gonna make me cry…

Well, whatever. You're all entitled to an opinion… that's what that box is for. Later. -Nymphean

Lucius Malfoy knocked quietly on one of the large oak doors, which lined the upstairs hall of the east wings of Malfoy manor.

"Come in," beckoned a disembodied voice from inside the chamber. Malfoy entered slowly.

"You wished to see me, my lord?" Lucius stared anxiously at the back of the high armchair in front of him.

"You have been a good and loyal subject, Malfoy," droned the same chilling voice. "And now you shall be rewarded for your constant loyalty to my cause." Lucius stood stalk still, his fingers resting upon the scarred symbol that marred the pale skin of his arm.

"H-how so, My Lord?"

There was a sinister chuckle. "You, my humble servant, shall aid me in my return to power… by capturing and delivering to me the cause of my initial failure." The Dark Lord paused, and then spoke again, this time in an even more sinister tone. "You shall aid me in destroying Harry Potter." Lucius' eyes went wide.

"My Lord… I am honored that you have chosen me for such an important task…"

"SILENCE, fool, I have not yet said all!" Malfoy cringed. "You shall not have the honor of actually killing the boy… that honor is rightfully mine. However, if you follow the plan and succeed in delivering the boy to me, you shall be rewarded." Malfoy bowed slightly.

"My Lord, it is, as always, an honor and duty to serve you."

Voldemort was silent for a few moments. Then; "Tonight they rejoice… it is Yule. They are at peace… poor souls." A foul, sarcastic laugh. "A God, they say, is reborn this night… what utter rubbish. These disgusting creatures… unable to see their true ruler through the haze of their idealistic Gods and Goddesses… but when I come to power once more, all of that will change. All living beings, everywhere, will know who their REAL lord is." Lucius swallowed hard, contemplating the sheer power of being in such a position. "Of course," continued the Dark Lord, "There ARE those who would stand in my way… but if I manage to crush their precious 'Boy Who Lived', then their moral will be severely decreased, and they won't stand a chance against us."

"How do you plan to destroy the boy, My Lord?"

Another cruel laugh. "I have a plan. This time, however, it will be a great deal harder for the boy to escape. Attacking him directly has never proved the correct way to defeat the boy. I thought I could strike him down with his own hate. But now I see that this was not, indeed, the way for us to triumph. Therefore I have come to one conclusion: The key to defeating the boy is not to battle his strengths, but to attack his weakness…" Voldemort paused momentarily, and then spat, "…Love!" The word was slow leaving his tongue, as if it were some disgusting sort of leach that had latched itself on and wouldn't let go.

Lucius stood in awe, barely understanding. "How do you plan to bring him down using LOVE, my Lord?"

"Harry Potter has a pure and faithful heart," Voldemort spat, disgustedly. "He is a fool, and would do anything for those he loves. It is THEM, who you will attack, and through the ones he loves, Harry Potter will be drawn to us. It is the simplest plan, and I can't believe I didn't come to it sooner."

A smile began to spread across Malfoy's face. "My lord, it is a most ingenious plan."

"I know." The Dark Lord smiled viciously. "Black, Sirius Black… that foul creature who should have remained in Azkaban for all time… and the Weasley girl… the youngest of Molly and Arthur, those sniveling little fools… Ginny, is it? They are the key to Harry Potter's undoing. It is them who you want. And yet… Yet I sense another… there is one who I feel may be some trouble… yes, it is a web of uncertainty which surrounds these young people… we must be sure, before we can act… must be absolutely certain that this time there can be no way for us to fail. We must eliminate all who would dare to stand in our way."

"How, My Lord?"

Voldemort smiled again, and Lucius felt a chill run down his spine. "From the inside," He said ominously. "We have a secret weapon. Your son, Malfoy. Young Draco. He is in the perfect position to give us all the information we need."

Lucius turned several shades whiter than his already pale complexion. "My SON? But, my lord, Draco is young, not to mention weak-minded… he does not have what it takes to…"
"QUIET, YOU IDIOT!" roared Voldemort. "Do NOT question me! Your son is ready and willing to give himself to our cause, and young minds are easily molded. He can feed us all the information we need to destroy the boy. Draco is the key, Lucius."

Malfoy nodded quietly. "Yes, My Lord," he replied. "I will ready my son for this mission."

"No," the Dark Lord said. "I think it is time the boy and I met face to face."

*****

Draco sat on his bed, staring absent-mindedly at the wall. It was so boring being home for the holidays… He wished that he could be back in Slytherin tower, plotting ways to embarrass Potter or Weasley or that disgusting Mudblood Granger. He brushed his blonde hair off of his forehead and walked over to the full-length mirror.

I AM beautiful, He thought, examining his flawless reflection. From the top of his head to the soles of his shoes, he seemed to have been sculpted from pure white marble. His skin was milky and flawless, and his body was lean and muscular, without a single ounce of fat. His blonde hair was perfectly cut and combed, and as he brushed the feathery bangs away from his forehead once more, he thought, and I don't have any ugly, deformed scars marring MY perfect face.

Draco sighed irritably. Potter. What a pain in the ass. It was always Potter this and Potter that, at school, at HOME, even. We must stop Potter, must destroy Potter, must be rid of Potter, Blah Blah BLAH! Draco slammed his fist on the dresser. He was just about sick of it. What did he care about the stupid dark lord? Rise or Fall, the Malfoys would still be one of the most powerful wizarding families around. Nothing was going to change that, not even the great Harry Potter, and he knew that. He didn't see what all the fuss was about.

There was a knock at the door, and Draco quickly flopped back onto the bed, muttering an annoyed "Come in." Lucius strode purposefully into the room.

"Get up, boy! We can't ALL spend our days lying around thoughtlessly! We're entering some very important times, and you'll be of no use to us while you're loafing around like some bum in an alley!"

Draco rolled his eyes. "Well? What do you want, then?" He said testily.

"You are to have an audience with our Lord and Master tonight."

Draco's heart stopped momentarily, but he remained outwardly cool. "What could our Lord and Master possibly want with me?"

"That is what he will explain to you when you go to see him. Now, get ready, you look like hell run over twice!" And with that, Lucius stormed out of the room. Draco sank back against the cushions. What does he want with ME? I don't want any part of their stupid plans! So much for a so-called NORMAL childhood… He sat up straight.

"Come on, Draco," He said urgently. "Pull yourself together!" He strode over to the mirror and combed his hair again. "There… perfect!" He breathed deeply and stuck out his chest. "I'm ready…"

*****

"…My Lord, I am honored to have been chosen for this task. But… May I ask why you've chosen ME?"

"You, Draco Malfoy, are in an ideal position to observe every move that is made in that school. Not to mention, you are the son of one of my most trusted followers…"

Like father like son, Draco thought, shuddering. He wanted no part of this. But he knew the penalty for refusing the dark Lord… He shuddered again.

"…And it is through your help that I shall destroy Harry Potter!" Draco's ears perked up.

"Potter, did you say?" A wicked grin began to spread across his face. Ahh… NOW it's beginning to make sense… "It will be a pleasure to serve you, My Lord."

A/n: OOOooo… Dun dun dun! What will happen next? Do you care? Tell me! I'm going away for a few days, and I need to know whether or not it's worth continuing!