A/N: I would like to apologize for the long wait in getting this next chapter out. For those of you reading Thank You Lord Voldemort you know that I have been busy with that. Basically, I lost interest in this story for a while. It was rude of me to do that. Those of you who have been reading deserve better. I got stuck writing this, and still am having trouble so forgive me for rushing through much of Marcus' seventh year as I am anxious for him to be out of school so the plot can move forward.

A/N 2: Thank you reviewers. Momma-dar, MarsMoonStar, Hermionegreen, Jordan, Dark_Mistic_Love20000, Serpent Clara, Fire Panther, Dumbledore, Wanderingwolf, Kyra2, Iced Flame, matajade179, Starr Light1, Byproduct of Evil, lillinfields, AeTeRa, m1 connection, Andromeda's kitty, Little little Ryoko, Slimpun, Jaximillion, SerpentClara, Lady Mandara Snake, BferBear, One Demonic Angel, Ms. Issues, Jaded Angel8, lovelydarkness, Shania Maxwell, sexy-emerald-babe666, Jennie, myrtle fields, wadeki, Shattered Diamond, emerald-eyes2, Lord Master Omega, cherrity, RaeLynn, Sage and Snape, starwander, makoto-18, Luna Aelf Writer, Adenara Yatman, and last but not least KittenBabyGirl

Disclaimer - I own the plot, just the plot.

Ignorance Isn't Bliss

Chapter 18 - Moving Forward

Now that Hermione knew the truth and Dumbledore was gone, Marcus began to thrive. Life just seemed brighter. He was, as always, in constant contact with Lord Voldemort, and training with his father was going well. His sixth year ended, allowing him to move in with his father and Lord Voldemort where his training intensified.

He often dueled with both of his teachers at the same time, and as of recently neither his father nor Voldemort could beat him. One night in early August Lord Voldemort approached him more formally than usual.

"Marcus, I know this may seem sudden, but I feel that you are ready to take over leadership of the Death Eaters." Marcus almost gasped, but was able to school his features. He nodded for Voldemort to continue. "You have grown into a fine young man. You will be seventeen in four weeks, but you have power that no other wizard would achieve in their lifetime. I would like to transfer leadership to you tonight. You will still only be known by the gold mask you wear, but my throne will be yours. You will command."

Marcus at first took Lord Voldemort's hand, but then he pulled the man to him. He tightly hugged his mentor and friend. "I will not let you down."

That night Marcus was nervous. He told his father what was to happen, but he didn't even know himself how it would play out. Voldemort was to decide that. He kept his place at Lord Voldemort's right side as the full membership was called.

Once everyone had arrived Voldemort raised his hands above his head. "Tonight I bring you here to witness something that some say I have put off for too long. I must say that I was just waiting for the right person. I have found him, and I have trained him personally. Tonight, I step down as my successor takes my place. Although he must still remain anonymous for another year, you will obey him. He is the most powerful wizard I have ever met. He is easily more powerful than me even, and he is certainly more powerful than any other wizard in this world."

There was intense murmuring, but it was quieted as Lord Voldemort stepped away from his throne and stopped in front of Marcus. He dropped to his knees and bent over, kissing the hem of Marcus' robes. In a loud voice, for all to here he looked up saying, "My Lord, I give you my life to direct." Then he stood and walked away, into the crowd. The crowd easily parted. Just because he wouldn't be in charge anymore didn't give them the right to stand at his side.

His father was the next to step forward. His eyes bore into Marcus' and Marcus could see the pride shining within them. Severus followed Voldemort's lead, bringing the hem of his son's robe to his lips. "My Lord, I give you my life to direct."

One by one all of the death eaters approached, repeating those same actions. When it was done Marcus began addressing the crowd.

"Good evening, I know this is much for you to take in. While I have proven myself to Lord Voldemort and others who have helped me train, I must prove to you that I am worthy of your trust and obedience. He gathered his energy and allowed himself to change into his gnat form. It gave him the appearance of disappearing. When he looked around in this form he could see everyone's auras. Most of them were similar in color and brightness, but none were as bright as Voldemort's as he stood in the crowd. Another aura caught his attention. A nondescript death eater in the back. The man's aura was awfully light in color, but the red color showed danger. He would approach this man later.

He then focused on the dragon. Gasps were heard as a Hungarian horntail took form before them. He let a flame shoot out over their heads before changing back to his human body. "My power is superceded by only one thing, and that is my ideas. We will win, and we will unite this broken world." He quickly whispered to his father about the man in the back and told him to have the man seized. Marcus continued to talk as he watched his father and several other death eaters apprehend the man. Silence rained down as the man was brought to the front.

Marcus roughly pulled the mask from the face to reveal a member of the order he had met before. He sneered at the man, grabbing his robes and tossing him to the floor. "This man is a spy." He yelled to everyone. Now speaking in a soft but deadly voice he addressed the spy. "How dare you think that you could come here? You may have been able to before, but no more. I will leave you alive tonight so that you may give a message to the others of your precious order. We will find and crush any other spies you send here. While I don't advocate constant killing or torture, my one exception is spies." The man began shaking as Marcus raised his wand of him. He whispered a curse that caused several of his bones to break, some of the pieces breaking through the skin. "I can do much more than this." With a flick of his wand he sent the man to the order headquarters on Grimmauld place, laying him on the front steps.

He turned to the rest of the crowd and dismissed them.

As the summer progressed Marcus held more meetings. He would usually use his father's dark mark even though he didn't want to. He knew it caused the man pain. Voldemort stood as his right hand man. He knew that Draco would one day hold this spot, but the blonde was too innocent yet for that. Marcus had great plans for the wizarding world, but knew that his radical plans would not be readily accepted as he was still masked. He would have to finish this last year of schooling so he could reveal himself to the world. Things would really start changing then.

He wrote continuously to Hermione and Draco over the summer and was overjoyed to be starting school back up in the fall. Seventh year for Marcus was a blur. It was as though he hadn't a care in the world. He managed to maintain control of the Death Eaters, including having several meetings in the forbidden forest. Voldemort would handle the day to day operations though. Marcus played quidditch, played pranks, and studied hard.

All of the Slytherins who were children of death eaters pretty much knew that he was in charge now as they had shown the previous year, and in private they would consult him about different choices in their lives. Even those that didn't know that he was the person in the gold mask respected him.

While Draco could be friends with him openly, he had to meet Hermione in secret. Unfortunately both relationships were becoming strained. While they were both excellent friends, almost loyal to a fault, they both seemed to be hinting at more.

Marcus wasn't really sure what to do. He didn't want to pick between his friends. Unfortunately his dreams didn't care about hurt feelings. Recently his dreams had featured a certain blonde haired friend. Just thinking about the dreams made Marcus instantly aroused.

He loved Hermione though, really loved her. But, Draco .... He loved Draco too, and in a more intimate way. He would need to find a way for both of them to be in his life. He shoved these thoughts from his mind for now. He'd let his life play out a bit farther. He had more important things to worry about, like running the world. His romantic interests could take a back seat for now.

The next thing on his agenda was his coming out party, coming out as a Dark Lord and as Harry Potter. His father and Voldemort were planning it. It was to take place at the Hogwart's gates. They had planned to call all of the Death Eaters and have a press conference of sorts. This would be happening just as school was finishing for the year.

The day in question came all too soon. Marcus stood before a mirror, smoothing the green dress robes that he had chosen to where. They were nothing like the robes he wore in his fourth year. These robes were a deep evergreen with a gold lining. They were very fitting and made him look several inches taller than his already unusual height. His father came up behind him and grasped his shoulders.

"My Lord is a vain lord, eh?"

Marcus just glared at his reflection. "Father, are the preparations going well?"

"Yes, they are. We will be ready to walk to the gates shortly. The younger years are getting to the Hogsmeade station now, but we have delayed the train. How are you faring Marcus?"

"I'm fine father. I just want this to be perfect. Let's go."

The father and son walked briskly towards the gates.

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