We All Need A Little Help
Chapter One: Deadly Induction
The nights at the Malfoy mansion were endless. There was always a meeting or a gathering or a general event- either being extravagant. Sleep was nearly impossible. The Malfoy mansion was eerie and rumor spread that it was haunted. The truth was, it was haunted, but not by ghosts. Occasionally, a large dispute was taking place, or a horrifying silence filled the damp air. No one really knew what went on in the Malfoy mansion. That was before the incident.
~Five years ago~
A rather mature boy of 17 lay on his silk green bed sheets. Another sleepless night had finally gone by, but it was of no concern to him. The boy sat up quickly at the sound of a pound on his door. His quickly glanced at his alarm clock which read 8:02 A.M. He cursed as he began changing from his night clothes.
"Boy! Why aren't you up yet? I said 7:00 and I expect my demands met!" a forceful voice spoke on the other side of the closed door.
"Sorry, sir. I honestly didn't mean it! My alarm clock didn't go off!" the boy called back, pulling a t-shirt over his bare chest.
"Well, make sure it does or next time I'll be your alarm clock," the man muttered, his voice fading as he retreated to the lower level of the Malfoy mansion.
"Yes father…"
"Draco, what has taken you so utterly long?" the boy's mother asked as he entered the kitchen expecting a meal.
"My alarm-"
"Yes, I know. It didn't go off. I was asking why it took you so long to get dressed? You were up there for ten minutes-"
"Narcissa, the boy gets no meal. I told you, I have a brief meeting this morning to which he must attend," Draco's father said upon entering the kitchen wearing a long black robe. Narcissa put away the dishes that she had pulled out to prepare Draco's breakfast.
"Lucius? Are you in there? Hurry up old chap, we need you!" called an elderly Irish accented voice.
Mr. Malfoy exited, swinging his robe swiftly as he turned. "Come, boy."
Draco looked helplessly at his mother as Lucius returned to the meeting room across the hallway.
"Do as your father says," she said simply, not seeming to notice her son's pleading look. Draco merely nodded and followed his father's trail to the dark room, the meeting room where only the most important ceremonies were held.
"Son, take a seat," Lucius said, a bit too proudly. Draco obeyed, sitting down in a deep green armchair, almost sinking into it.
Lucius stood. "Everyone, today is the very day that my son, Draco, will be inducted. He will become a death eater and will have the honorary dark mark placed upon his bare flesh." Lucius pulled out a long black wand and placed it at his son's left shoulder. Draco's heart skipped a beat. From excitement or fear, he did not know. He had thought about this moment ever since he found out about his father being a death eater, and an important one at that. He was determined to make him proud. Draco straightened himself as his father burned the mark into his flesh. Suddenly, he was blinded with pain and fell to the ground, unable to bring himself free from the added weight that he was suddenly being forced to hold.
All was black. Draco wanted to open his eyes, but some unseen force was unwilling to let him do so. He could hear voices.
"Lucius," said the Irish man, "this has never happened before. Are you sure that he wasn't too young?"
"Positive," replied Lucius strongly. "Something went wrong." Draco felt his shirt arm being torn open. He was unable to struggle and reject this act. "He has the mark," Lucius spoke again, this time in a whisper.
"Did we get the wrong one?" a squeaky voice spoke. Draco remembered that voice. It was Bonkers, an old family friend who had recently been inducted as well.
"Impossible! Simply impossible! My boy was the perfect specimen!" Lucius spat defensively.
"Apparently not perfect enough…" someone whispered, not intending to be heard, but failing miserably.
"Excuse me? Perhaps you'd like to serve yourself as a target when the Dark Lord arrives," said Lucius, running his coarse thumb over the mark which was now sinking into Draco's flesh.
"No sir," the voice replied quickly.
Lucius returned to a standing position. "Narcissa!" he called. Draco's mother entered the room with a platter of cookies.
"Hot from the oven-" She suddenly stopped when she saw her son, pale and lying on the floor. She dropped the platter and rushed over to Draco. "What've you done, Lucius? I told you that he wasn't ready!"
Lucius held his hand up. "Relax, Narcissa. The boy will recover. Please escort, or carry if you will, Draco to his room."
Narcissa slowly nodded, anguish disappearing from her face. She bent over and easily picked up her unconscious son and took him from the room.
Draco felt himself smile inside at his mother's care as he felt himself being walked away. He could hear a quarrel begin, but gave no thought to it. They wer normal.