The Dark
Chapter One: Traitor
Krystiana
krissy@zahadum.com

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any related characters. If you're reading this, hopefully you know who does so I won't have to list them.

You guys ought to be might grateful for what I went through trying to get this chapter up… stupid corrupted disks… having to run all the way back to my house to the computer without internet access to reformat the file into HTML, then run back to my parents to upload the file… I just want to clean my apartment!!

Oh, well. Enjoy.


- Malfoy Manor -

He couldn't stop staring at the mark on his arm. He had always thought of the Dark Mark as a tattoo; in reality, it was a burn - a very intricate burn. He could tell the mark was fresh and new. He had Snapes's and Lucius's marks, and although they were just as dark, the weren't raw wounds such as his was.

~What have I done?~ Harry wondered, tracing the mark with his thumb. ~I've joined my parents murderer. I'm a traitor.~

Harry's eyes closed, and he leaned over, putting his head in his hands. He concentrated on the soft orange glow of the fire on his eyelids, trying to keep himself calm.

~I've abandoned everything I've always held dear. No one will forgive me. Sirius and Remus will hate me. Draco…~

Harry squeezed his eyes shut even tighter, blocking out the glow. ~Draco will call me a liar and hypocrite.~

"Harry? What troubles you, my boy?"

Harry looked. He wasn't surprised to see Voldemort's face in the fire, looking at him with what appeared to be concern - it was really quite hard to tell with Voldemort's snake face.

"I'm… not sure if I should say, my lord."

Voldemort's lips twitched at the sides. "You may call me Grandfather, Harry - as long as we are not in the presence of others. At the time, we are not. You may tell me anything you wish."

Harry looked away from the fire, sighing. "I think my decision may have been rash. I don't think I considered it long enough."

"You are speaking of your decision to accept my mark?"

Harry swallowed. "Yes, Grandfather." If Harry had been any other Death Eater, he would have been killed for telling Voldemort of his second thoughts.

"Why do you feel it was a rash decision?"

"I…" Harry looked back into the fire, staring levelly at Voldemort. "I fear my friends will feel I've betrayed them."

"Draco betrayed you."

Harry sighed again, and shook his head. "No. I betrayed him. I knew he was planning to escape with me."

Voldemort raised an eyebrow - if it could be called an eyebrow, as it more resembled a ridge just above the eye, throwing sharp shadows across the rest of his face. "You knew? And yet you didn't let anyone else know of Draco's plans?"

Harry cringed. "Yes."

"Why?"

"Because I knew he'd be killed!" Harry snapped with surprising venom in his voice.

Voldemort's face relaxed a bit; he seemed to pondering something. "You want Draco to be spared even though he is a traitor?"

Harry nodded. "I love him. Even if I'm not with him, I love him."

Voldemort's face twisted into something resembling a smile. "Admirable, Harry." The smile widened. "He will be spared, if you wish it."

"Please. I want Draco to live."

"Done." Voldemort paused for a moment. "Do you still believe in the reason you joined my Death Eaters, Harry?"

A rage began burning through Harry's veins. "Yes, sir."

"You must tell us where Dumbledore is, then."

Harry's eyes narrowed. "I thought you already knew. He is at the Ministry. It's abandoned, but the protection spells were still there. Dumbledore reinforced them, and has set up headquarters there."

Voldemort nodded, mulling over Harry's information. "That's what we figured. If we attack the Ministry, would you like to join us so you can take care of the old codger yourself?"

Harry's eyes widened, his heart speeding up. ~Attack the Ministry? Ron and Hermione and Sirius…~ The fear made his rage die away. "My friends will all be killed."

Voldemort smiled. "I promise that they will all be spared. They may be hurt, but it will be nothing fatal. Your friends will survive."

A feeling of relief swept through Harry. "Thank you, sir."

"I will inform you later of the specifics of the attack." Voldemort narrowed his eyes, studying Harry once more. "Is there anything else that concerns you, my boy?"

"No, sir. "Harry's eyes closed. "I think I need to rest, is all."

"Very well. I will leave you to it, then." The snake-like face disappeared from the fire, but Harry's thoughts remained the same as before.

traitor traitor traitor traitor

* * *

-Ministry of Magic -

"Professor Dumbledore, I must disagree." Severus Snapes's voice was merely a small whisper compared to the fury in Albus Dumbledore's.

"You will not go back, Severus." The former headmaster's voice was unusually stern; the biting edge in his voice echoed through the entire hall.

"Sir, if you don't want me to go back, at least tell me why!" Severus's voice was a bit louder, more frustrated.

"You heard Mr. Malfoy when he first came to us. He had said, 'he wouldn't come with me.' More than that - he'd said that Harry Harry had wanted to stay! For the moment, just to be safe, you will not go to Voldemort when he calls."

"That does not explain why!" Severus snapped. "What does Potter's capture have to do with my responsibilities? If anything, I'm needed even more. I'm the only one who can get information on what kind of state Potter's in!"

"Mister Malfoy will tell us when he wakes up." Dumbledore said simply.

A few moments of silence.

"Sir… are you afraid Potter has betrayed us?" Snape's voice was barely audible.

Dumbledore breathed deeply before answering. "It's very possible, Severus."

"I'd never thought I'd say this, Headmaster, but I think you should have more faith in the boy," Severus said slowly. "He's the epitomy of a stubborn Gryffindor. He wants Voldemort dead, not as a partner."

"Severus, I must tell you something that no one knows about Harry. It's a deadly secret - and I fear I may have made a tragic mistake by not telling Harry when I had the chance."

"What is it, sir?"

"Not here, Severus. We must go someplace more private. Come."

* * *

"I just don't understand why he's here. And why Harry's not." Ron was fuming, pacing back and forth in an abandoned office. "He escaped, but didn't bring Harry with him?"

"Ron, you have to calm down," Hermione said, as usual trying to be the voice of reason. "At least wait until he wakes up. We can get answers then."

"Why can't we wake him up now?"

Sirius glared at the younger boy. "Ron, sit down." Ron sat. "Now be quiet for the next fifteen minutes. It's out of our hands, and your ranting isn't making things any better."

"But -"

"Quiet!" Sirius snapped. "We're all worried about Harry! McGonagall and you father are out there searching for clues as we speak! Lupin's waiting for communication back from them. We are doing all we can. We have the biggest clue here, now - the Malfoy boy. We will wait until he wakes up before trying to question him. There's point in doing it while he's asleep." Sirius took a deep breath and narrowed his eyes at Ron, leaning towards him. "I know you are always ready and raring to jump into action, but that's not your place right now. Your place is to sit tight and worry about Harry like Hermione and I here. Worry SILENTLY."

Ron still fumed with anger, but kept quiet.

Hermione sat on the edge of a dusty desk, tracing the carving around the edges. "Sirius, what do think of what Malfoy said when he came here? About Harry wanting to stay?"

"I think he was seriously confused." Sirius shot a glare at Hermione, who got the idea that she should keep her silence, as well.

* * *

Severus stared at Dumbledore, dumbfounded. "You can't be serious."

"I am. James passed on the power of Gyffindor to Harry, just as Lily passed on the Slytherin power to him, as well." Dumbledore sat behind a desk with his hands folded on top.

"That would make Potter… I don't even know how to describe it…"

"Extremely powerful, Severus." Dumbledore sighed. "And we need that power on our side of the war. If Harry sides with Voldemort, we will lose."

"So whoever has Harry is declared the winner?"

"Basically, yes. My concern and worry for the boy is deep. Once he chooses, he cannot switch. The power he has inside of him is too great, and it will consume him." Dumbledore took off his half-moon glasses, uncharacteristically rubbing the bridge of his nose. "If Voldemort manages to awaken his power, we are doomed."

A knock at the door interrupted their conversation. Dumbledore replaced his glasses before calling to the door. "Come in." A haggard looking Arthur Weasley entered with Remus Lupin, and Dumbledore looked at them expectedly. "Any word?"

Arthur shook his head. "None."

The headmaster narrowed his eyes at Arthur. "What's troubling you, Arthur?"

Arthur made a choked sound, and Remus placed his hand on Arthur's shoulder. Dumbledore stood, alarmed. "What's happened, Arthur?"

"Ginny…"

* * *

Though it was well past the fifteen minutes, Ron was still keeping his quiet. He leaned his head on one of his hands and glared at Sirius as he paced the room.

The door opened suddenly, and Remus entered. "Ron, your father would like to speak with you."

"What about?" Ron asked, standing.

Remus closed his eyes, bowing his head slightly. "He's got some bad news. Just go see him."

Ron's eyes widened and he quickly left the room.

Hermione and Sirius looked expectantly at Remus, who sighed and sat down in the seat that Ron had vacated.

"Arthur and McGonagall are back, I'm assuming?" Sirius asked, squatting in a perched position in front of Remus.

"Yes. There was a Death Eater attack in Paris. It's the worst yet - so many people have died. The Muggles sent an army -"

"Paris!!" Hermione exclaimed, jumping off of her seat on the desk. "Ginny… Ginny was there… is that why Mr. Weasley wanted to see Ron?"

Remus closed his eyes once more. "Yes. There are survivors, and Arthur has no idea where in Paris Ginny was at the time… but the chances don't look good." He opened his eyes and looked straight into Sirius's eyes, who had reached out and taken Remus's hand. "Bill and Charlie Weasley are on the teams searching the city, and the twins are trying to get in contact with Ginny's friends to figure out where she might have been."

"Then there is hope, Remus," Sirius said, squeezing Remus's hand. "Where's McGonagall?"

"She went to go check on Malfoy."

* * *

- Unknown Location, Previous Evening -

The pain was unbearable. And Harry was in the same pain as him…

"Enough." One by one, the Crucio curses were removed.

"Stand." Voldemort's one word commands were somewhat irritating, but Harry and Draco both followed in suit.

Voldemort looked down on them with burning eyes. "You've passed the first test."

~Test?~ Draco wondered. ~What was that supposed to prove?~ He immediately cleared the thought from my head.

"Draco Malfoy." Voldemort addressed the blond boy first, and he stepped forward, kneeling immediately.

"My lord."

"What do you hope to gain by joining the ranks of my Death Eaters?"

Draco spoke levelly, letting my voice betray nothing. "The extinction of Mudbloods. I wish for the wizarding world to be pure again."

Voldemort nodded. "And I promise that you will have your wish. First, you must promise me your undying loyalty."

"I pledge my life to you, my lord. If the wizarding world is pure again, I will gladly give my life." Draco's speech to the Dark Lord is rehearsed, but he is a good actor.

"Stand." Draco stood, taking his place back by Harry. He tensed up as Voldemort turned from himself to Harry.

"Harry Potter." Draco watched as Harry repeated his own actions, stepping forward and kneeling, the scarred boy's face still as blank as when they first walked into the darkened room.

"What do you hope to gain by joining the ranks of my Death Eaters?"

Harry looked Voldemort straight in the eye, and said only one word. "Dumbledore."

The hair on the back of Draco's neck prickled as he watched Voldemort grin a most horrible grin.

"I promise this to you. Do you pledge your life to me, Boy Who Lived?"

Harry did not react to the use of his nickname. "Yes, my lord. My life is yours."

"Stand." As Harry stood up and backed up the step next to Draco, an uneasy feeling began settling in the blond boy's stomach.

"My Death Eaters," Voldemort began to address the crowd around us. "These two will now join our ranks. Draco Malfoy, step forward."

~Now?! The portkey won't activate for another few minutes!~ Draco's thoughts began racing, but he obediently stepping forward. He felt the weight of the small book in the pocket of his robes, as if it was burning him.

"Kneel, and hold our your left arm." Draco did as he was told, his thoughts still focused on trying to think of a plan to get himself and Harry out of there on time. For once in his life, Draco could think of nothing.

Voldemort reached out grabbed Draco's wrist, turning it over so his palm was facing up. Draco's skin crawled at the feeling of Voldemort's clammy hand on his own, and once more at the feeling of the tip of Dark Lord's wand on the underside of his wrist.

"Mordesmorde!"

"NO!"

That's what Draco would have shouted, had he not screamed out in pain. His entire arm was on fire - literally! Draco did not stop screaming, watching as the fire around his arm lessened, circling smaller to the point where Voldemort's wand touched his skin. The fire flared once more, and died out. Voldemort released Draco, who nearly collapsed in pain and exhaustion. He raised his head and stared at the mark, which shimmered orange for a moment before flaking pieces of skins fell to reveal the entire picture of the snake and skull.

"Stand, Draco Malfoy. You are now truly one of us." Draco stood, conscious of where his left hand touched.

~Too late… but not for Harry…~ Draco thought as he struggled back to his place at Harry's side.

Voldemort's eyes slid to Harry. The two simply stared at each other for a moment before the Dark Lord spoke again. "Death Eaters, I never thought this day would come. Today, one of my own family joins us."

A murmur of surprise echoed through the room.

"Young Harry Potter is my grandson. He has my power and Slytherin's power in him. He will make a great addition to our group."

The murmur of surprise grew louder, and Voldemort finally took his eyes off Harry and towards the gathering of his followers.

Draco used this slight distraction to whisper to Harry. "Hold my hand, Harry. The portkey is about to activate. We will escape."

Harry looked at his lover, his dark eyes finally giving off an emotion - sadness. "I can't, Draco," he whispered back. "I want to stay."

The Death Eaters were quieting down, Voldemort's fierce glare sweeping across the room. He turned his attention back to the two boys. "Harry Potter, step forward."

Draco stared at Harry, his expression finally collapsing into panic. He watched as Voldemort grasped Harry's wrist and tilted his wand towards the underside.

"HARRY!" Draco leapt forward, only to feel the familiar tug of a portkey being activated.

The last thing he saw was Harry looking at him. The dark boy mouthed something to him - 'I love you,' and then a fire ignited around his arm.

Darkness.

* * *

- Ministry of Magic, Current Time -

Ron huddled in the corner. Hermione sat near him, as he had asked. "You being here makes me feel better. That way I know you're alive," he had said.

Sirius stared out of a window, waiting for the next step to happen. He turned around as Minerva McGonagall stepped through the door.

"Mister Malfoy is awake," she said quietly.

Ron jumped up. "Then let's go question the little junior Death Eater." The redhead's voice was bitter.

Sirius narrowed his eyes at Ron, and then nodded, gesturing for them all to leave the room.

They approached the room where Malfoy had been taken after he arrived. Dumbledore stood in the corner of the room, looking out the window with his hands clasped behind his back. Professor Snape was in a chair at Draco's side. The blond himself was sitting up, his head cradled in his hands.

Sirius coughed, a pointed sound. "What do you have to explain yourself?"

Dumbledore turned away from the window. "Mister Malfoy has some bad news for us, I'm afraid."

Hermione's eyes widened. "Is Harry okay? What kind of state is he in?"

Draco lifted his head out of his hands. His eyes were red and puffy, and his hair was a mess. When he spoke, his voice sounded scratchy, as if his throat was bothering him. "Harry's fine, physically."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Ron snarled.

Sirius started towards the bed, his teeth bared. "Why didn't you bring him with you if you knew where he was?" Sirius's approach was stopped by Snape. The two glared at each other as Dumbledore spoke again.

"Please, let Mister Malfoy explain." Dumbledore looked back towards Draco expectantly.

Draco closed his eyes. "Harry didn't come with me. The plan was for us to escape together, but something happened. I don't know what it was, but he changed his mind." The blond put his head in hands again. "Or maybe he intended on staying in the first place." Draco took a few moments to level his breathing, and he then looked up, his face expressionless.

"The Dark Lord put the Dark Mark on me, and then there was some commotion about their relation-"

"Who's relation?" Sirius snapped, glaring at Malfoy over Snape's shoulder.

"That's not important. Draco, what of Harry? What happened?" Dumbledore interjected.

Draco narrowed his eyes at Dumbledore, considering the old wizard for a few moments before continuing. "I told Harry to hold my hand since the portkey would activate soon. He told me no. The portkey activated. The last thing I saw was Harry receiving the Dark Mark."

Hermione gasped, her hands flying up to her mouth. "No…"

Draco glared at Dumbledore. "He joined the Death Eaters because of you, Dumbledore. That was the only reason he gave the Dark Lord for joining, and You-Know-Who promised you to him." His lips peeled back from his teeth , sneering at Dumbledore. "Harry's going to kill you, and I know why. You are a manipulative bastard, 'Headmaster.'" Draco abruptly stood up from his bed, stalking out of the room. The former potions professor quickly let go of Sirius and went after him. Everyone else was too shocked to move.

Sirius was sinking to his knees. "Harry… accepted the mark?" He curled up on the floor. "I failed him… I knew I failed him from the moment he went missing…" Remus came up to Sirius, crouching beside him and putting a hand on Sirius's back.

"You didn't fail him, Sirius," Dumbledore said. "I did. This is my fault, and it is now up to me to correct it."

"Headmaster Dumbledore?" Hermione's voice was small and shaking - though it was no wonder why; her entire body was shaking. "What's going to happen next?"

"We wait. The Death Eaters will come here to attack, and Harry will be with them." Dumbledore took a deep breath, and he turned back to the window, watching the sun set outside. "When they come, we must assume the worst."

"What's that?"

"Harry Potter is now our enemy."

To be continued


So… why did Dumbledore tell Snape about Harry's heritage? And why does Harry want Dumbledore's head on a platter? It's all coming up!!

Thanks to my reviewers!! Review me some more - I'm a big fat hypocrite and I really do like reviews. I like helpful reviews… the ones that say "good story, write more" are nice, but constructive ones are nicer. ^_^