Dragon's tears
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the recognisable characters.
~ 11th April. 11 pm ~
The group of students landed on the stone floor. All still holding another hand. Harry, by focusing on keeping his mind clear and the link blocked off from Voldemort, did not feel the pain in his scar as he normally did.
"Welcome, my students." Said a cold voice. Harry forced himself not to look up.
The group stayed kneeling on the floor. Next to him he could feel Hermione shaking in fear. He squeezed her hand, which was still in his, reassuringly. She squeezed it back, but continued to shake.
"Draco!" The voice called. Draco let go of Harry's hand and stood.
"Yes my lord." He said bowing his head in respect.
"There is one extra. A spy perhaps?" Voldemort asked him, a snarl forming on his lips.
"No my lord. A guest." Draco replied calmly.
"A guest? I did not tell you to bring a guest. They could be a spy."
"It's unlikely my lord." Draco said, still in a calm voice, he had learnt from his father and had perfected it remarkably well.
"Do you doubt me?" He hissed coldly at the blonde boy.
"No my lord. Only the guest of who you speak of I invited myself. And I do not associate with spies."
Voldemort smirked. "Yes, you are very selective. Well where is this guest of yours then?"
Next to the standing Draco, Harry stood. His hood still over his face.
"You keep your identity a secret. A wise move or it would have been if you were not facing me."
Harry smirked. "Oh you know who I am."
Voldemort blinked, "Potter?" he spat, much the same way Snape did in class.
Slowly Harry removed his hood.
"Hello Voldemort. Miss me?" He smirked.
Voldemort rounded on Draco. "You brought him as your guest?" he hissed.
"Yes my lord."
"Why?"
"Because he is loyal to me." Draco replied, still talking calmly. Harry was impressed.
"How do you know this?" Voldemort asked curious.
Draco smirked and turned towards Harry. Harry saw the glint of mischief in his lovers eyes, then opened his eyes in shock as he felt Draco's lips upon his own. Harry closed his eyes and kissed back. Behind him in the group of students he could hear whispering but he ignored it and focused on his love.
After a while Draco pulled back but he still kept one hand around his waist.
Voldemort was watching with a gleam in his eyes as well.
"Very well. Now all of you stand!" he commanded. There was a rustle as the students all stood.
Voldemort started to pace around them, forcing them to back into a circle.
"Now, I have summoned you all here because I want to test you all to see if you are worthy enough to become my new section of Death Eaters."
He continued to pace. "Now I will call you forwards one after another and I will test you. If you pass it then you will be invited back another time. If you don't" he paused. "Well lets just say you want to pass." He grinned.
"Draco!"
Draco stepped forwards and bowed his head again. Without a warning Voldemort attacked with Occlumency. Draco continued to stand, and Harry could tell that he was forcing Voldemort out with his mind.
Voldemort pulled out and drew his wand. Harry knew what was coming. "Crucio!"
Draco didn't scream, but he had bitten down on his lip to stop himself. Harry watched as Voldemort increased the curse and Draco fell to one knee. Voldemort lifted the curse. Slowly Draco stood. Voldemort looked pleased.
"Well done, just like your father. Go and stand to my right."
Draco nodded and limped over to the wall on the right hand side of Voldemort.
Harry watched in silence as Voldemort continued to 'test' the students, only a few ended up on his left hand side. None so far had lasted as long as Draco had under Crucio. A few of the 7th year Slytherin's came close.
"Virginia" Harry looked over to Ginny, she had a determined look on her face.
"Hello Tom." She said politely.
"Dear, dear Ginny." Voldemort murmured before attacking her Occlumency. Ginny who had not been trained in it had no choice but to allow Voldemort to enter her memories.
After a while Voldemort pulled back, his pale face had paled slightly more.
"Crucio!" he shouted. Ginny didn't scream immediately but after a whole minute she lost her control. As soon as she began to scream Voldemort lifted the curse.
"Stand with your dear Angel Virginia." He commanded bitterly.
Ginny staggered to her feet having fallen during the curse, biting her lip she limped over to the larger group on the right.
"Hermione."
Shaking in fear slightly Hermione moved forward. When she stood in front of Voldemort she lifted her head and stared defiantly back at the monster she was so against. Gryffindor to the end.
"Ah yes" Voldemort began. "The smart little mudblood. That is the only reason you are here little girl. You will be the first and only mudblood within my ranks. If you pass the tests that is." He smirked.
Apparently Hermione has been practicing Occlumency. Voldemort pulled out and attacked her with Crucio. Hermione screamed.
"Go stand on the right." He spat as he lifted the curse. Hermione dragged herself to her feet and staggered over Ginny and the others.
Harry was the only one left now. He smirked. He was ready.
"Harry Potter. Now we shall see if you are really ready to join me."
Harry stepped forwards, "It was only a matter of time brother. Only a matter of time."
Voldemort attacked and Harry allowed the spell to wash over him. Images of being in Snape's office flashed before his eyes. Voldemort. He said to himself. Think only of Voldemort. The image died and Voldemort could be seen standing before him again.
"Impressive." He replied drawing out of Harry's mind. "Crucio!" the pain that he had not felt for a year came back. But Harry forced himself not to scream. Draco didn't scream so nor would he. He would not allow a Slytherin to better him.
He was under the curse for at lot longer then many of the other students, and yet he still refused to scream. Yes he had fallen to the ground and was sweating. But he hadn't screamed.
Voldemort lifted the curse. "Stand up Potter." He commanded. Harry tried and fell down again. "Stand up Potter!" he shouted. Gritting his teeth and baring the pain Harry stood and faced his brother.
"You are a sight." Voldemort said beginning to circle around him like a predator stalking his prey. Harry turned so that his back was never to him.
"Stand on the right Potter." He said finally. Harry moved over to Draco and clasped his hand.
They turned and watched as Voldemort moved over to the three that were standing on the left.
One was a 2nd year Hufflepuff, and the other two were a 3rd year Ravenclaw and a 1st year Gryffindor that Harry didn't recognise.
"Oh dear. You three are in trouble." Voldemort said to them, and Harry was strangely reminded of Filch.
"Don't worry your families will see you again. In a wooden coffin that is." He laughed and pointed his wand at the children casting Avada Kedavra on each in turn. Oldest first. Next to him, Harry saw that Hermione had tears in her eyes. He took her hand and held it, she squeezed it again and he returned it.
Voldemort turned back to the others.
"Now my Death Eaters shall join us and you will be tested again. Wormtail!" He barked the last order and the frail body of Wormtail came into view. Harry's eyes flashed in anger.
"Easy." Draco whispered in his ear, "Easy, we'll kill him in time." Harry calmed down slightly but his eyes still filled in anger whenever he saw or heard Wormtail. Without being asked Wormtail extended his left arm where the Dark Mark shone.
Voldemort smirked and grasped the thin arm in his long white fingers. Then with his other hand he ran a pale finger over the mark. Wormtail bit down on his tongue to keep from screaming.
Then Voldemort removed his hand and let go of Wormtail. The room was then filled with 'pop's and as Harry looked all the other Death Eaters suddenly appeared and bowed and greeted their master.
