Disclaimer: I don't own anything

A/N: this chapter is NOT a flashback…I think I might have said in the last chapter that this chapter was gonna be a flashback…but it turned out not to be…the next chapter, meaning the one after this one, will definitely be a flashback…I think, anyways.

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Forever Never Ends

Chapter 7

Draco strode uneasily through the halls of the Malfoy Manor, a feeling of dread running through him. He was in a rather unfamiliar part of the manor. It was not decorated in the usual warm and homely manner. Instead, it was dark, and looked quite unkept, with cobwebs here and there. It was quiet, too unusually quiet. He had rarely been in this part of the manor, and thinking back brought unpleasant memories. The place was dark and shadowy, but the candle which he held gave off enough light for him to see the door which he approached. The door, made of redwood, looked from the dimness of the light, much like it was painted of blood. Draco shivered and then put a fist up to knock.

"Enter."

Draco turned the knob and slowly opened the door. He stepped inside and closed the door behind him. The room was large and well decorated, although not rather welcoming. It gave Draco the chills. Standing before him was a cloaked figure, who, at the moment, was faced the opposite way, with his backside facing Draco.

"Father, you called."

The cloaked figure turned around and their eyes connected for a brief second before he pulled them away.

"Yes, my son."

Draco watched as his father, Lucius Malfoy slowly lowered himself into the ebony chair. His dark hair was beginning to gray with age and he looked very much like a tired old man, although the truth was far from that.

"You understand why I have called you here."

"No, Father."

Lucius Malfoy sighed a deep sigh. "You know. Do not lie to yourself."

Draco did not speak.

"He has returned."

Draco was silent again, with his head looking towards the ground.

"I have felt the mark burn. It has been getting darker and darker. Do you not feel it too?"

Draco jerked his head up upon hearing Lucius' words. "I am no Death Eater, Father."

"And what have you to say about the mark that lies on your arm?"

Draco jerked his arm away protectively, but did not answer.

Lucius chuckled lightly. "Do not deny the Dark Lord, my son. He has returned. He has regained his power. And he will take over the wizarding world. It is best to follow in his service."

"I repeat, Father, I am no Death Eater."

Lucius was enraged. "Then what have you to say about the mark that adorns your arm?" He rose quickly from the chair and grasped Draco's arm. Lucius looked old, but his strength was uncomparable. He quickly pulled up the sleeve of Draco's shirt. Draco turned his face away, not wanting to see. "Look at it, it is impossible to deny."

Draco looked on his arm and saw the mark that sat upon it, unable to be wiped off. He had tried, he remembered, when he had first received it. He had tried desperately. He had tried wash it off. But it wouldn't come off. He had tried to curse it off, but nothing worked. So finally he had taken a knife and cut it off. But when his wound had healed, the mark had returned. After that, he had just tried to pretend it wasn't there. He pretended that he had never been branded with that hideous mark. He pretended that he was just a normal wizard. He pretended that he was not a Death Eater.

"The mark can never be taken off, Draco, my son. It lives inside of you. It runs through your veins. You are a servant of the Dark Lord. Do not deny it."

Draco finally spoke up, his voice quivering. "I was not my choice."

Lucius chuckled sinisterly. "My son, the mark can only be administered to the willing."

Tears stung in Draco's eyes, but he did not let them fall. After all, he was not a person who could cry easily. When he was still a small child, his father would not allow him to cry, and when he did, he was heavily punished for it. Lucius always said that tears showed weakness, and he didn't want his son to be a weakling, or show any weakness, especially because they were Malfoys and he was to follow the Dark Lord. So, since the time he was still young, still a child, Draco had never let even one tear fall. Well, there was one time, but had been so long ago, and he tried not to think about it. He was good at containing his feelings. He had always been good at it. Just as good as he was at containing his tears.

Lucius let go of his son's arm and walked back to his ebony chair. "The Dark Lord has returned, and you and I will join him as his followers when he calls upon us."

"No, never!"

"Draco, he awards those who are loyal to him. You will be rewarded greatly."

"I am contented with my life. I don't need anything." Well, not really, he thought to himself, I hate my life.

"Do not lie to me, Draco, I can see right through you."

If this had been a conversation with another person, Draco would have showed his extensive knowledge of cuss words. But, it was not another person, it was his father. No matter how angry he had ever been at him, Lucius was still his father and he had learned at a very young age to treat his father with the utmost respect. Draco kept silent, feeling that if he spoke up, unpleasant things would jump out of his mouth.

Lucius continued on. "You, Draco, you are a Malfoy. You are my son. Everything I have done is for you."

Draco glared at his father. "Everything you have done is for me?" he chuckled bitterly, feeling very skeptical at his father's words. "You have taken away everything that has ever mattered to me!"

"I am your father, Draco, and you will listen to me. You will obey my commands." Lucius was starting to get impatient and he looked like he wanted to add something else but wasn't sure if he should. After debating with himself, he said what he had wanted to say. "Or else you will suffer dire consequences."

Draco stared at him.

"Draco, my son. Do you remember the uh…little incident twelve years ago?"

"I will never forget it. And I will never forgive you," Draco spat out hatefully. The memories still haunted him, even though so many years had passed.

Lucius smiled. "Consider that…as a preview of worse things to come if you do not obey my commands. I have the power to make your life hell."

It already is.

"Come, Draco, listen to me."

"I've already lost everything. Nothing matters anymore," Draco lied. There were still plenty of people he still cared about. For instance, his mother, his daughter, and maybe Pansy. Just a little. After all, he didn't want anyone to die. Well, maybe he wouldn't mind if Pansy did. But Draco was not worried about these people. Lucius would not harm them. After all, they were family. But then, thinking back to his childhood, he realized that maybe he was wrong about it. Lucius was cold hearted, and he lusted for power.

"Oh, well I think many things still matter. Actually, Draco, I think I might be paying a little visit to two wonderful dentists sometime soon." Lucius smiled, and waited for a reaction.

Draco did not understand and his face showed confusion.

"Oh, you know, those two poor dentists who lost their darling daughter about twelve years ago-"

Draco face clouded over as realization dawned on him. "No, father! Do not harm them."

Lucius grinned and held out his hand. "So we have a deal, my son?"

"You promise…not to harm anyone…if I join the dark side. How do I know that you won't go back on your promise?"

"Well, under the circumstances, I don't think you have any other choice."

Draco was silent for a moment. "Alright." And his hand reached out and met with his father's.

Lucius smiled. "Now that's my boy!"

"Just…one thing, please, Father."

"There's no room for compromise."

"Please, don't let Becky find out."

Lucius' expression softened as he thought about his granddaughter. "She'll never know."

TBC

A/N: ok, that was way stupid but I couldn't think of anything else. As always REVIEWS help. I love feedback. Any suggestions about what I should do?? I've been trying madly to think up some good ideas. ff.net has been down for like forever, so I've had a large amount of time to think…but it would really help if some of you readers would help me *hint hint*!!!!! Im sorry I haven't updated in like more than a month, but ff.net, as you all know, had been down…very very annoying…at least I thot so. And I've been vacationing…anyways, puh leeeez review…hehehehehe. I really enjoy reading the reviews. Yeah, I know, the characters are like way weird and like too mild and lifeless. I'm gonna try to fix that problem. This is my first story and I'm not the best writer so it would really help me if you guyz could offer some constructive criticism. A HUGE thx to ppl who have reviewed!!! I love you all!!!!!! And to ppl who haven't *megan tries to give a very mean and evil glare but bursts out laughing cuz she knowz she's an idiot* you should!!!!!!!! anyways, I have decided I won't act so stupid anymore and annoy all you readers who have probably already fallen asleep reading this author's note. Well, that is, if you haven't already fallen asleep during the story. Ok, well, ciao!