Disclaimer: If I had a million dollars
I'd buy the Harry Potter books
I don't have a million dollars
If I did it would be Canadian...
So it wouldn't be worth much (damn economy)
That's why I don't own the Harry Potter books
Oh well... On with the fic!
The Beginning
Romulus sat at his desk before the head of the class, drumming his fingers
absentmindedly upon the rich mahogany surface. It was nearly forty minutes before the
end of lunch, at which time, Ravenclaw and Slytherin Sixth-years would enter to attend
his first lesson. It was perhaps a good thing that Lupin had those forty minutes to himself,
for he was currently dead to the world. His golden-hazel eyes were glazed in thought, and
as one hand drummed away at the desk, the other rubbed at his slightly burning Dark
Mark.
It was a loosely known fact that the Lupin family has always had a disposition for
being completely abnormal, and quite often dangerous. The twins were no exception.
Remus of course being a werewolf, and as for Romulus, he had a gift for curses that very
few people were aware of. (Romulus quite wanted to keep that, for the time being.)
After his encounter with Severus, as well as someone who had been cursed by the
Dark Lord unwillingly, Romulus couldn't help but let his thoughts tumble back to the
time when he had made several agreements. (Certain agreements were those that he had
not actually held.) Sitting alone in his classroom, he began recollect on that day of many
agreements. It was the day that he and some close allies would always refer to as "the
beginning".
\*/
Romulus sat back in his chair, and couldn't help but be cheerful. This was his
second last day at Hogwarts. Tomorrow, they would take a graduate picture of all the
Seventh-years and there would be huge celebration in the Slytherin common room. As
dinner ended and all the students began filter out of the Great Hall. Romulus got up with
Severus and Lucius, the three making their way to their dormitory, where they had some
important things to discuss.
As they mixed in with the crowd of students, Romulus heard a disdainful call
directed towards his group of friends.
"Oi! Snivelus! How are you, you greasy git?" Romulus turned in the direction of
the shouts. Sirius Black, referred to by many Slytherins as "Potter's Muscle-head friend",
was giving Severus a challenging stare. Romulus could see Potter standing next to him,
as the crowd formed a clearing, watching eagerly for another famous row. The little
lapdog, Pettigrew, was coiled behind his stronger friends, ready to laugh when it was
required. Lastly, Romulus squeezed his fists tightly, his brother Remus stood a little bit
away from Black, reading a book, trying to keep as out of it as he could while his face
slowly got redder.
"Did you hear me slime ball?" Black taunted, obviously begging for one last
fight. Romulus knew that Severus was also frustrated; they had urgent matters to attend
to. They were too young as joiners to keep anyone waiting too long... Severus stood
straight.
"Out of the way, Black, we haven't got time for this." Severus took a step towards
the dungeon stairs, almost indicating that he would shove the Gryffindor out of his way if
he had to. Black sniggered, causing Pettigrew to echo him. Romulus stared firmly at his
twin's down-turned eyes, willing him to intervene. This is too good of a chance for us!
Romulus nearly shouted the thought into Remus' head, but the werewolf remained silent.
"Is that all you have to say, Slytherin scum?" Potter had finally taken some
initiative as well, they were really looking for a fight. As Romulus heard Lucius let out a
frustrated breath, he knew that his friend was fed up as well.
"What he wants to say, but isn't, is that you shame your pureblood family and that
if you were loyal at all, you and your clueless friends wouldn't be weak little Gryffindors,
and you would know what awaits the future of the world." However cryptic the last part
may have been, the first comments were enough to completely enflame Black. He hadn't
been searching to hurt Lucius, but to curse all three of the Slytherins seemed a fair prize
anyway.
"You'll pay for that one, Malfoy!" (A/N: Yes I know...)
The curse that Black shouted was one that Romulus knew himself. It would be very
painful if it struck Severus or Lucius. It was a very harsh curse, and Romulus had always
thought of it as bordering on unforgivable, if it were any stronger.
Giving one last agitated glance in Remus' direction, Romulus, stepped forward,
dead on into the on coming curse. The potent power of Black's curse swirled and fizzed
around him. A small amount of dust obscured him from the crowd's eager eyes as he felt
the curse settle in his skin, and then dissipate within him.
To feign the appearance of being slightly rattled, Romulus managed to "stumble"
to the floor. Not even Black seemed to notice that the curse had not obtained its intended
results.
"Thanks for all the help, brother." Romulus said dryly as his friends helped him to
his feet. He dusted off his robes, and then squared his shoulders in the direction of Potter
and Black. "Now I've had enough. If you don't step out of the way, I can assure you that
you'll sorely regret it." The onlookers of the feud stepped away from Potter and his
friends uncertainly. Even those who worshipped Potter were fearful of being caught on
the end of a Slytherin's curse.
"Ooh, did you hear that, Sirius? Maybe I should be scared now?" Potter laughed
at Romulus, not knowing strength he had. Sirius nodded.
"You might want to run for cover James." He agreed jokingly. Both Severus and
Lucius looked livid, but Romulus motioned for them to stand down.
"I know what to do." He muttered over his shoulder. Raising his wand, causing
several people to leave the circle of onlookers for fear of safety, Romulus traced a
reversed pentacle in the air. On the last point, he swished his wand towards Potter, Black
and Pettigrew. If Remus was going to stand behind James, that was his problem.
Romulus opened his mouth to shout out the curse.
"Avada-"
"Romulus! Stop this instant!" Romulus immediately recognized the voice of
Albus Dumbledore, but that didn't mean he would let the headmaster stop him. He was
always defending Potter, he never respected the Slytherins. Who could respect such a
biased man?
"Immagevra!" Romulus finished the curse triumphantly. Though Dumbledore
was now lowering the wand he had been pointing at Romulus' throat, the Seventh-year
student himself couldn't tear his eyes away from his own handiwork. A flash a dazzling
green light raced towards Potter and his friends, bringing the whispered shriek of death
on its wings. When the light finally broke over the four Gryffindor students, it became a
bone freezing wind, which blew past them, while leaving its cruel mark in their hearts.
Despite the fact that the curse had hit his brother, Romulus could not prevent the smile
that curved his lips.
Sirius Black's eyes had become wide and haunted. Pettigrew was wiping cold sweat from
his forehead. James Potter's normally healthy complexion had been reduced to something
even sicklier than Severus' sallow pallor. Perhaps Remus has learned something, thought
Romulus as Remus shut his book, gripping it with violently trembling hands.
Dumbledore was regarding Romulus with peculiar expression, though not of the typical
Albus variety. It was a look that reminded Romulus of how the headmaster looked at a
Dementor, with distaste, and a certain amount of fear.
"You boys have had your fun." Dumbledore said as the crowd finally dispersed.
"Now got to your common rooms, all of you." Only to eager to go where they had
initially been trying to get to; Romulus, Severus and Lucius rushed down into the hollow
corridors of the dungeons. The four Gryffindors were still very shocked and they made
their way slowly up the stairs.
As soon as they rounded a few corners in the first, echoing grey hall of the
dungeons, Severus and Lucius began to pelt Romulus with questions.
"Where did you learn that curse? How do you do it?" Lucius asked eagerly.
Romulus smirked. Lucius was more his ally than his friend, and enjoyed having a power
that he could hang over his head.
"The curse is one of my own design, it's a modification of a certain, ahem, other
curse."
"What did it do to them?" Severus asked, his eyes glittering darkly. Something
about his expression suggested he already knew.
"It shows them what the Avada Kedavra curse feels like. It shows them what it
would be like." Romulus paused to smile proudly at his next thought. "It also shows that I
have the power and the ability to cast the real curse." Severus nodded, impressed.
"You certainly do have a gift for curses, Romulus." He remarked. Romulus
laughed mirthlessly at that, and the three quickened their pace, rushing down to the empty
Slytherin common room and kneeling before the fire.
"We're in this together, right?" Lucius watched Severus and Romulus
expectantly. The other two didn't even need to speak to each other. Severus and Romulus
certainly were in this together, they knew what a pact with the Dark Lord meant, and they
would need someone to watch their backs. Lucius, on the other hand was not to be
trusted. He came from one of the worst wizarding families known. Malfoys are famous
for turning out evil, and by definition, stab other wizards in the back to save themselves.
To make an agreement with Lucius could be signing their death warrant.
Which, of course, they may soon be signing anyway...
"We're together, absolutely." Romulus replied. Lucius foolishly accepted this as a
plausible answer.
The three Slytherins returned their attention to the fire as a shape began to appear there.
Flickering into reality, a roll of parchment slowly became visible. Knowing without
question what they had to do, the three teens reached into the fire to grip the parchment.
Romulus felt anxiety grip him as they were torn from the common room; this was a very
dangerous game to be playing.
As the portkey slammed him into his knew surroundings, Romulus felt the
anxiety stripped away in the excitement of the moment. He, Severus and Lucius stood in
the dark corridor of a gloom saturated mansion. The carpet that covered the entrance was
old and red, with several sinister brown stains splotching the fancy weave. Two men,
hooded and masked, beckoned them out of the hall. Romulus would always remember
entering the dingy dark study; he would forever adore the cruel silence that filled the
room. More hooded men stood around the sides of the study. At the hard oak desk, a man
of purely inspired hate and malice regarded them somewhat jovially with snake-like red
eyes.
"You know who I am," Lord Voldemort said, "Just as you know what joining me
will mean. My power will rise and you are part of the next generation of my followers.
You have been selected by my ancestor, Salazar, to enter into his order. The wizarding
community must be cleansed of the weak. You will do this for me." Having been
explained by Lucius's father of the event of initiation worked, Romulus, Severus and Lucius remained silent. Romulus noticed that Lucius winced as the Dark Lord withdrew
his wand. This was the first reminder of their service. He pointed his wand to the young
Malfoy.
"Crucio." Malfoy writhed and screamed, the pain overwhelming him. Severus'
eye was not on him, but on the masked figures. Some of them looked like fellow
Slytherins already entered into the Dark Lords service...
As Voldemort lifted his wand and pointed his wand to Severus in turn, Romulus
winced as his friend under went the same horrible treatment. He couldn't help him now,
too many people were watching. Finally, Voldemort lifted his wand, granting Severus
relief from the pain. Turning finally to Romulus, he smiled in his pale face. The Dark
Lord enjoyed so dearly causing pain.
"Last but not least." He said, emitting a small dark chuckle. "Crucio." Romulus
blinked. This curse was strange to him, he'd never felt it first-hand. It was like a writhing
snake, snapping at him endlessly, trying desperately to break him. Remaining stubborn,
Romulus waited for the twisting snake to tire slightly. As it did, the curse slowly settled
into him, dissolving away in his heart.
All that the watching Death Eaters had seen from outside the experience, was the young
newbie close his eyes for a moment in concentration, and then open them, showing no
pain to the effect of the curse that should've provided the ultimate torture.
As Voldemort lifted his wand, he granted Romulus a twisted smile.
"You will be very useful." He muttered mysteriously. In truth, Tom Marvolo
Riddle was trying to hide sheer shock and amazement.
The Dark Lord masks his feelings very well.
Putting his wand down on the desk, Voldemort turned his attention to the three pieces of
parchment sitting on the desk. They were the contracts that would bind the new Death
Eaters to their Lord. Romulus just stopped himself from grinning, they were curses.
Laying a black quill on the desk, close to Romulus and his friends, Voldemort explained.
"In signing these contracts, you are bound to my service. You may never turn
against me; you will be marked and easy to track down. You are conjoined to my causes
and will follow my orders without question. You will be my servants." Nodding
somberly, Lucius stepped forward. He picked up the quill and signed the contract. As
magic blazed in Romulus' sight, the contracted was incinerated in black flames, marking
it as complete.
As Severus stepped up to sign his own contact, he gave Romulus a meaningful glance. As
Severus signed the paper, Romulus muttered under his breath:
"We were three and then were two but I was half and so were you." The curse
secretly floated across the room, wrapping around the contract as it burst into flame as
well. Romulus muttered the curse, barely audible as he signed the paper himself.
Voldemort did not here Romulus either time, and grinned with satisfaction. These young
students would become strong Death Eaters and perfect hands to form his plans.
Coming around the desk, Voldemort approached his new servants. Romulus rolled his
eyes, seeing a cold sweat on Lucius' brow as the Dark Lord once more took out his wand.
Even Romulus couldn't deny that his inside had turned to ice after the preceding events.
No feeling could ever compare to that of those thin, pale fingers pressing down on a
freshly formed Dark Mark, or the feel of doom that circled you as the mark turned from
livid red to shadow black.
The Slytherins had gathered together, it was time for their graduate picture, the wizard in
charge was still tinkering with the camera, and everyone was talking.
"The curse worked?" Severus whispered to Romulus. Romulus nodded.
"We are connected to the Dark Lord, and the Death Eaters, but on our own
terms." Severus' lip curled in satisfaction.
"And it all happened right under the headmaster's nose." Sneered Snape.
Romulus laughed with joyfull cruelty. It would be the same laugh that the photographer
captured, a reminder to anyone who saw the photo, that the Lupins had a history of being
dangerous, and that now, it was Voldemort's danger to wield.
\*/
Returning to himself as the classroom filled with students, Romulus sighed heavily. He
almost begrudged the burdens of teaching here. Being under Dumbledore's eye
constantly irked him. He didn't owe his old Headmaster anything, though everyone else
seemed to think that way. Remus was constantly being grateful for Dumbledore's aid in
his life. Romulus on the other hand, was frustrated at once more being under the
sickening, pure Gryffindor ideals. Did the school ever change Headmasters? Thinking
back to package which sat in his office, Romulus thought: well maybe they do.
His golden brown eyes finally cleared as he truly saw the students which sat before him.
Romulus paled. Sitting straight in his seat in the front row, one particular student watches
Romulus eagerly. The stiff air of curse floated around him. He was here? Romulus' mind
buzzed. He was certain that this boy's life was in danger, and it mattered dearly to
Romulus and his allies to keep him alive. Reading his name during attendance, the Sixth-
year's eyes merely flashed in recognition. If any boy was to know he was a marked
target, this one handed it very well.
"Draco Malfoy?"
A/N: Well, I dunno if this one was any good... The next chapter will be juicier, I promise. Please review this chapter, it keeps the voices away! Ps: Thanks to all my beautiful reviewers thus far, who have some lovely fics themselves.
Next chap: Laying in the Corridor
I'd buy the Harry Potter books
I don't have a million dollars
If I did it would be Canadian...
So it wouldn't be worth much (damn economy)
That's why I don't own the Harry Potter books
Oh well... On with the fic!
The Beginning
Romulus sat at his desk before the head of the class, drumming his fingers
absentmindedly upon the rich mahogany surface. It was nearly forty minutes before the
end of lunch, at which time, Ravenclaw and Slytherin Sixth-years would enter to attend
his first lesson. It was perhaps a good thing that Lupin had those forty minutes to himself,
for he was currently dead to the world. His golden-hazel eyes were glazed in thought, and
as one hand drummed away at the desk, the other rubbed at his slightly burning Dark
Mark.
It was a loosely known fact that the Lupin family has always had a disposition for
being completely abnormal, and quite often dangerous. The twins were no exception.
Remus of course being a werewolf, and as for Romulus, he had a gift for curses that very
few people were aware of. (Romulus quite wanted to keep that, for the time being.)
After his encounter with Severus, as well as someone who had been cursed by the
Dark Lord unwillingly, Romulus couldn't help but let his thoughts tumble back to the
time when he had made several agreements. (Certain agreements were those that he had
not actually held.) Sitting alone in his classroom, he began recollect on that day of many
agreements. It was the day that he and some close allies would always refer to as "the
beginning".
\*/
Romulus sat back in his chair, and couldn't help but be cheerful. This was his
second last day at Hogwarts. Tomorrow, they would take a graduate picture of all the
Seventh-years and there would be huge celebration in the Slytherin common room. As
dinner ended and all the students began filter out of the Great Hall. Romulus got up with
Severus and Lucius, the three making their way to their dormitory, where they had some
important things to discuss.
As they mixed in with the crowd of students, Romulus heard a disdainful call
directed towards his group of friends.
"Oi! Snivelus! How are you, you greasy git?" Romulus turned in the direction of
the shouts. Sirius Black, referred to by many Slytherins as "Potter's Muscle-head friend",
was giving Severus a challenging stare. Romulus could see Potter standing next to him,
as the crowd formed a clearing, watching eagerly for another famous row. The little
lapdog, Pettigrew, was coiled behind his stronger friends, ready to laugh when it was
required. Lastly, Romulus squeezed his fists tightly, his brother Remus stood a little bit
away from Black, reading a book, trying to keep as out of it as he could while his face
slowly got redder.
"Did you hear me slime ball?" Black taunted, obviously begging for one last
fight. Romulus knew that Severus was also frustrated; they had urgent matters to attend
to. They were too young as joiners to keep anyone waiting too long... Severus stood
straight.
"Out of the way, Black, we haven't got time for this." Severus took a step towards
the dungeon stairs, almost indicating that he would shove the Gryffindor out of his way if
he had to. Black sniggered, causing Pettigrew to echo him. Romulus stared firmly at his
twin's down-turned eyes, willing him to intervene. This is too good of a chance for us!
Romulus nearly shouted the thought into Remus' head, but the werewolf remained silent.
"Is that all you have to say, Slytherin scum?" Potter had finally taken some
initiative as well, they were really looking for a fight. As Romulus heard Lucius let out a
frustrated breath, he knew that his friend was fed up as well.
"What he wants to say, but isn't, is that you shame your pureblood family and that
if you were loyal at all, you and your clueless friends wouldn't be weak little Gryffindors,
and you would know what awaits the future of the world." However cryptic the last part
may have been, the first comments were enough to completely enflame Black. He hadn't
been searching to hurt Lucius, but to curse all three of the Slytherins seemed a fair prize
anyway.
"You'll pay for that one, Malfoy!" (A/N: Yes I know...)
The curse that Black shouted was one that Romulus knew himself. It would be very
painful if it struck Severus or Lucius. It was a very harsh curse, and Romulus had always
thought of it as bordering on unforgivable, if it were any stronger.
Giving one last agitated glance in Remus' direction, Romulus, stepped forward,
dead on into the on coming curse. The potent power of Black's curse swirled and fizzed
around him. A small amount of dust obscured him from the crowd's eager eyes as he felt
the curse settle in his skin, and then dissipate within him.
To feign the appearance of being slightly rattled, Romulus managed to "stumble"
to the floor. Not even Black seemed to notice that the curse had not obtained its intended
results.
"Thanks for all the help, brother." Romulus said dryly as his friends helped him to
his feet. He dusted off his robes, and then squared his shoulders in the direction of Potter
and Black. "Now I've had enough. If you don't step out of the way, I can assure you that
you'll sorely regret it." The onlookers of the feud stepped away from Potter and his
friends uncertainly. Even those who worshipped Potter were fearful of being caught on
the end of a Slytherin's curse.
"Ooh, did you hear that, Sirius? Maybe I should be scared now?" Potter laughed
at Romulus, not knowing strength he had. Sirius nodded.
"You might want to run for cover James." He agreed jokingly. Both Severus and
Lucius looked livid, but Romulus motioned for them to stand down.
"I know what to do." He muttered over his shoulder. Raising his wand, causing
several people to leave the circle of onlookers for fear of safety, Romulus traced a
reversed pentacle in the air. On the last point, he swished his wand towards Potter, Black
and Pettigrew. If Remus was going to stand behind James, that was his problem.
Romulus opened his mouth to shout out the curse.
"Avada-"
"Romulus! Stop this instant!" Romulus immediately recognized the voice of
Albus Dumbledore, but that didn't mean he would let the headmaster stop him. He was
always defending Potter, he never respected the Slytherins. Who could respect such a
biased man?
"Immagevra!" Romulus finished the curse triumphantly. Though Dumbledore
was now lowering the wand he had been pointing at Romulus' throat, the Seventh-year
student himself couldn't tear his eyes away from his own handiwork. A flash a dazzling
green light raced towards Potter and his friends, bringing the whispered shriek of death
on its wings. When the light finally broke over the four Gryffindor students, it became a
bone freezing wind, which blew past them, while leaving its cruel mark in their hearts.
Despite the fact that the curse had hit his brother, Romulus could not prevent the smile
that curved his lips.
Sirius Black's eyes had become wide and haunted. Pettigrew was wiping cold sweat from
his forehead. James Potter's normally healthy complexion had been reduced to something
even sicklier than Severus' sallow pallor. Perhaps Remus has learned something, thought
Romulus as Remus shut his book, gripping it with violently trembling hands.
Dumbledore was regarding Romulus with peculiar expression, though not of the typical
Albus variety. It was a look that reminded Romulus of how the headmaster looked at a
Dementor, with distaste, and a certain amount of fear.
"You boys have had your fun." Dumbledore said as the crowd finally dispersed.
"Now got to your common rooms, all of you." Only to eager to go where they had
initially been trying to get to; Romulus, Severus and Lucius rushed down into the hollow
corridors of the dungeons. The four Gryffindors were still very shocked and they made
their way slowly up the stairs.
As soon as they rounded a few corners in the first, echoing grey hall of the
dungeons, Severus and Lucius began to pelt Romulus with questions.
"Where did you learn that curse? How do you do it?" Lucius asked eagerly.
Romulus smirked. Lucius was more his ally than his friend, and enjoyed having a power
that he could hang over his head.
"The curse is one of my own design, it's a modification of a certain, ahem, other
curse."
"What did it do to them?" Severus asked, his eyes glittering darkly. Something
about his expression suggested he already knew.
"It shows them what the Avada Kedavra curse feels like. It shows them what it
would be like." Romulus paused to smile proudly at his next thought. "It also shows that I
have the power and the ability to cast the real curse." Severus nodded, impressed.
"You certainly do have a gift for curses, Romulus." He remarked. Romulus
laughed mirthlessly at that, and the three quickened their pace, rushing down to the empty
Slytherin common room and kneeling before the fire.
"We're in this together, right?" Lucius watched Severus and Romulus
expectantly. The other two didn't even need to speak to each other. Severus and Romulus
certainly were in this together, they knew what a pact with the Dark Lord meant, and they
would need someone to watch their backs. Lucius, on the other hand was not to be
trusted. He came from one of the worst wizarding families known. Malfoys are famous
for turning out evil, and by definition, stab other wizards in the back to save themselves.
To make an agreement with Lucius could be signing their death warrant.
Which, of course, they may soon be signing anyway...
"We're together, absolutely." Romulus replied. Lucius foolishly accepted this as a
plausible answer.
The three Slytherins returned their attention to the fire as a shape began to appear there.
Flickering into reality, a roll of parchment slowly became visible. Knowing without
question what they had to do, the three teens reached into the fire to grip the parchment.
Romulus felt anxiety grip him as they were torn from the common room; this was a very
dangerous game to be playing.
As the portkey slammed him into his knew surroundings, Romulus felt the
anxiety stripped away in the excitement of the moment. He, Severus and Lucius stood in
the dark corridor of a gloom saturated mansion. The carpet that covered the entrance was
old and red, with several sinister brown stains splotching the fancy weave. Two men,
hooded and masked, beckoned them out of the hall. Romulus would always remember
entering the dingy dark study; he would forever adore the cruel silence that filled the
room. More hooded men stood around the sides of the study. At the hard oak desk, a man
of purely inspired hate and malice regarded them somewhat jovially with snake-like red
eyes.
"You know who I am," Lord Voldemort said, "Just as you know what joining me
will mean. My power will rise and you are part of the next generation of my followers.
You have been selected by my ancestor, Salazar, to enter into his order. The wizarding
community must be cleansed of the weak. You will do this for me." Having been
explained by Lucius's father of the event of initiation worked, Romulus, Severus and Lucius remained silent. Romulus noticed that Lucius winced as the Dark Lord withdrew
his wand. This was the first reminder of their service. He pointed his wand to the young
Malfoy.
"Crucio." Malfoy writhed and screamed, the pain overwhelming him. Severus'
eye was not on him, but on the masked figures. Some of them looked like fellow
Slytherins already entered into the Dark Lords service...
As Voldemort lifted his wand and pointed his wand to Severus in turn, Romulus
winced as his friend under went the same horrible treatment. He couldn't help him now,
too many people were watching. Finally, Voldemort lifted his wand, granting Severus
relief from the pain. Turning finally to Romulus, he smiled in his pale face. The Dark
Lord enjoyed so dearly causing pain.
"Last but not least." He said, emitting a small dark chuckle. "Crucio." Romulus
blinked. This curse was strange to him, he'd never felt it first-hand. It was like a writhing
snake, snapping at him endlessly, trying desperately to break him. Remaining stubborn,
Romulus waited for the twisting snake to tire slightly. As it did, the curse slowly settled
into him, dissolving away in his heart.
All that the watching Death Eaters had seen from outside the experience, was the young
newbie close his eyes for a moment in concentration, and then open them, showing no
pain to the effect of the curse that should've provided the ultimate torture.
As Voldemort lifted his wand, he granted Romulus a twisted smile.
"You will be very useful." He muttered mysteriously. In truth, Tom Marvolo
Riddle was trying to hide sheer shock and amazement.
The Dark Lord masks his feelings very well.
Putting his wand down on the desk, Voldemort turned his attention to the three pieces of
parchment sitting on the desk. They were the contracts that would bind the new Death
Eaters to their Lord. Romulus just stopped himself from grinning, they were curses.
Laying a black quill on the desk, close to Romulus and his friends, Voldemort explained.
"In signing these contracts, you are bound to my service. You may never turn
against me; you will be marked and easy to track down. You are conjoined to my causes
and will follow my orders without question. You will be my servants." Nodding
somberly, Lucius stepped forward. He picked up the quill and signed the contract. As
magic blazed in Romulus' sight, the contracted was incinerated in black flames, marking
it as complete.
As Severus stepped up to sign his own contact, he gave Romulus a meaningful glance. As
Severus signed the paper, Romulus muttered under his breath:
"We were three and then were two but I was half and so were you." The curse
secretly floated across the room, wrapping around the contract as it burst into flame as
well. Romulus muttered the curse, barely audible as he signed the paper himself.
Voldemort did not here Romulus either time, and grinned with satisfaction. These young
students would become strong Death Eaters and perfect hands to form his plans.
Coming around the desk, Voldemort approached his new servants. Romulus rolled his
eyes, seeing a cold sweat on Lucius' brow as the Dark Lord once more took out his wand.
Even Romulus couldn't deny that his inside had turned to ice after the preceding events.
No feeling could ever compare to that of those thin, pale fingers pressing down on a
freshly formed Dark Mark, or the feel of doom that circled you as the mark turned from
livid red to shadow black.
The Slytherins had gathered together, it was time for their graduate picture, the wizard in
charge was still tinkering with the camera, and everyone was talking.
"The curse worked?" Severus whispered to Romulus. Romulus nodded.
"We are connected to the Dark Lord, and the Death Eaters, but on our own
terms." Severus' lip curled in satisfaction.
"And it all happened right under the headmaster's nose." Sneered Snape.
Romulus laughed with joyfull cruelty. It would be the same laugh that the photographer
captured, a reminder to anyone who saw the photo, that the Lupins had a history of being
dangerous, and that now, it was Voldemort's danger to wield.
\*/
Returning to himself as the classroom filled with students, Romulus sighed heavily. He
almost begrudged the burdens of teaching here. Being under Dumbledore's eye
constantly irked him. He didn't owe his old Headmaster anything, though everyone else
seemed to think that way. Remus was constantly being grateful for Dumbledore's aid in
his life. Romulus on the other hand, was frustrated at once more being under the
sickening, pure Gryffindor ideals. Did the school ever change Headmasters? Thinking
back to package which sat in his office, Romulus thought: well maybe they do.
His golden brown eyes finally cleared as he truly saw the students which sat before him.
Romulus paled. Sitting straight in his seat in the front row, one particular student watches
Romulus eagerly. The stiff air of curse floated around him. He was here? Romulus' mind
buzzed. He was certain that this boy's life was in danger, and it mattered dearly to
Romulus and his allies to keep him alive. Reading his name during attendance, the Sixth-
year's eyes merely flashed in recognition. If any boy was to know he was a marked
target, this one handed it very well.
"Draco Malfoy?"
A/N: Well, I dunno if this one was any good... The next chapter will be juicier, I promise. Please review this chapter, it keeps the voices away! Ps: Thanks to all my beautiful reviewers thus far, who have some lovely fics themselves.
Next chap: Laying in the Corridor