Chapter 27: Family "Rachel, what's wrong?" Harry asked again. Rachel sighed. "I might as well tell you. Where should I start," she mused, looking thoughtful. "At the beginning," Harry suggested with a grin. Rachel frowned. "This isn't funny, Harry," she stated. "It's serious stuff." "Sorry," he mumbled, staring down at the blanked. Rachel cleared her throat. "Well, to begin with - my mother died when I was born. I have lived with my aunt all my life. I have two older brothers, twins, they were seventh years when we were first years... They were both in Slytherin." "Slytherin?" Harry asked cautiously. "Yes. Like I said before, I lived with my aunt, so I don't really know them that well since they lived with my father." "Why didn't you live with your father?" Harry asked curiously. "My aunt managed to get custody of me when I was a baby. My mother was the first witch in the family and the rest of her relatives were muggles. My father was a pure-blood; the two sides never got along well. He was a fanatic about blood lines, you know the type..." Harry's blood boiled as he thought of Draco Malfoy. "Anyway, my father was always talking about how important the family name was. I only ever saw him a few times, my muggle aunt didn't want to associate with him. Thought he was evil. Probably both of my brothers are too, most likely Death Eaters," she said without anger, slightly thoughtful. Harry looked at her in shock. "You... you're related to Death Eaters?" he asked weakly. She sighed, looking down. "Harry, this is why I didn't want to tell you. You're going to think of me differently now..." "No! No, Rachel, I won't, I promise. You should see who I'm related to on my mum's side, they're a load of gits." She laughed humorlessly. "I think this is a little worse, Harry. So both my brothers got put in Slytherin. I got put in Hufflepuff; how you're raised has so much more to do with who you are than your bloodlines." Harry nodded. "When my aunt took me in, she had legally adopted me to change my last name to Wheaton. She didn't want me to carry my father's last name." "Why not?" Harry asked without thinking. "She was afraid that when I got to Hogwarts, I would be shunned. And I would have been." "What is your father's last name?" he asked, fearing the answer. "Marvolo." The single word, spoken softly, hit Harry like a brick. "Tom Marvolo Riddle..." he whispered, his eyes wide. Rachel nodded sadly. "It was You-Know-Who's mother's maiden name... I'm related to him through his mum's side." Harry couldn't even think. He said the first thing that popped into his mind. "So... why is your father trying to contact you now? After all these years?" She smiled at him sadly. "I don't know. I refuse to read the letters. Trying to get me to join the Dark side, I suppose... I would be a perfect spy, the girlfriend of Harry Potter... I'm sure he knows all about that by now. With Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle most likely collecting information for their parents, I bet the Death Eaters are well aware of what goes on at Hogwarts." ************************* "Mione, I'm bored," Ron whined as they sat in the common room that evening. Hermione peered over the top of her Transfiguration book. "Ron, aren't you worried about this project? We only have a week left!" "But Mione, it's Saturday night! It's the weekend! C'mon, let's do something fun," he persuaded. She rolled her eyes. "Fine," she said, giving in. "What did you want to do?" "How about a little late-night Hogsmeade trip?" he asked, a twinkle in his eye. "Go for a butterbeer, maybe?" "Oh, all right," she said, throwing her book to the side. Ron looked at her, shocked. "Hermione, you agreed! You just agreed to break the rules!" he said in a loud whisper that carried across the room. "Quiet, Ron, or I'll change my mind," she hissed. Nodding, he ran upstairs and grabbed his heavy cloak; it was November and it was often cold outside. He eyed Harry's trunk critically. He won't mind if I borrow it, just for a while... he thought to himself, reaching inside and drawing out the translucent invisibility cloak. He rushed back downstairs, where Hermione was waiting, wearing her own winter cloak. "Let's go," he mumbled quietly, taking her arm and walking out of the portrait hole quickly so no one would notice their absence. *************** The cold wind drew a shiver from the circle of wizards, each dressed in a black cloak with a hood pulled over their eyes. They focused their attention on the center of the circle, where a man stood in blood red robes, one hand stroking his chin thoughtfully. He smiled at the group, a wide and evil smile that stretched his thin lips and lit up his demon-like fiery eyes. "So, my friends... you may be wondering why I have called you here tonight," he began. "My followers have been growing in number since my rise to power, and that trend has not ended. Tonight, we will induct into the society two new members." He gestured towards his right. "Please step forward, Armro and Audric Marvolo." A quiet gasp ran through the circle. Two dark figures stepped into the center of the circle, simultaneously pushing the hoods away from their faces. Their dark, haunting eyes contrasted greatly with their strawberry blonde hair. They bowed deeply. "We thank you, oh great one," they mumbled as they stood straight again. Voldemort smiled again. "The tradition of a Death Eater is one that dates back many, many years. You know, of course, the superiority of pure-bloods. Do you swear to uphold the honor of being a pure-blood?" "We do," they answered. "Do you swear to uphold the code of the Death Eaters, and to serve unwaveringly to the Dark Lord?" "We do," they answered. "Do you swear to give your life for the cause of the Death Eaters, if it is needed?" "We do," they answered. "Do you swear to obey the Dark Lord at all times and follow his every command?" "We do," they answered. Lord Voldemort smiled again and withdrew a small dagger from the inner folds of his cloak. Pulling back the sleeve of his cloak, he moved the dagger quickly over his own hand, unflinchingly. A few drops of blood glistened on his fingertip. "Do you accept the mark that will be placed upon you, identifying you forever as one of the Dark Lord's followers?" "We do," they answered. The Dark Lord took a step towards the men and they knelt, holding out their forearms. He held his finger over the top of the first man's arm, allowing a drop of blood to fall onto it. It hissed and the man shuddered involuntarily; the drop soon grew larger, turning into a perfect circle. A green skull and a snake glowed bright for a moment before falling dark again. He did the same to the second man. Lord Voldemort stepped back and the men bowed their heads once again. "Thank you, master," they mumbled, backing up and rejoining the circle. He eyed them thoughtfully. "With the participation level we have now, it is hard to determine who is truly devoted. The Dark Lord has chosen a special task for you, Armro and Audric Marvolo, to prove your obedience." "Yes, master, whatever you need," Armro said swiftly. "Whatever the task, we will complete it," Audric added. "Magnificent," Voldemort said, smiling evilly. "Your task is to locate a mud-blood girl from Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. But not just any girl. A friend, dear to Harry Potter's little heart," he said, cold laughter coming from the circle surrounding him. "Bring me Hermione Granger - dead or alive." ********************** Scary stuff!! Voldie & the Death Eaters kind of freak me out, which just makes them more fun to write about... lol. If you've read this far - review, review, review!!! Please!
