While the peaceful night reigned outside, inside the castle slept all the lucky students. Except one. One was wide-awake on a couch in the Slytherin Common Room. Of course, nobody was cursed in the way he was, either. None of them were being kept awake by the Mark on their arms. Only him.
Pain soared through his upper arm, coming out through his Mark and whispering in his ear, "come. Come home. Your father is waiting among many others of his kind."
Draco wondered heavily why He was calling another meeting; it had been a mere week since their last. However, he knew not to question Him, for the price was one not even an ever-loyal servant (such, persay, as Wormtail) was willing to pay.
Trudging up to his dormitory, he grabbed a pack of floo powder from the lowest drawer in his wardrobe, buried underneath his socks. On his way down, however, he went quite hastily, as now the Mark was truly burning. Draco coughed silently as he threw a large handful of the silvery dust into the fire.
Stepping into the now-ice-cold flames, he whispered, "Malfoy Manor."
"Ah, the youngest of the Malfoys has arrived," a cold voice announced grandly, yet quietly, as Draco tumbled out of the fireplace, "now we may begin."
As the words tumbled out of his thin lips, all noise in the echoey cavern ceased as the Death Eaters gathered around the Dark Lord, Lucius standing next to Draco with a look of contentment upon his pale face.
"I have had a plot arising in my head for a long time now. A brilliant plot, but one that could not be completed. A week ago we had a new addition to our group. The youngest Malfoy had his rite of passage. He is essential to my plan. 'A student of Hogwarts,' I thought, 'now everything is in place.'"
"Master," Lucius Malfoy said as he stepped out of the crowd and kneeled before Him on one knee, "dare you grace us with the honor of knowing your ingenius scheme?"
"Stand up, fool!" He roared, "I was getting to it!"
"Yes, sir," Lucius whispered as he backed up obediantly.
"As I was saying before Malfoy interrupted with his unnecessary pleading, we need someone close to the enemy." He continued icily.
"Potter," Lucius whispered to his son.
"Yes, Father, I know," Draco replied almost-silenty.
"A plan much like this we tried during the Tri-Wizard Tournement." The Dark Lord continued, undeterred, "we succeeded only partially then, but now we have another chance. Young Malfoy is still at Hogwarts, completing his education alongside Potter. His formerly betrothed, the youngest Parkinson, has supposedly befriended Potter, therefore my plan is now all the more simple to complete...." He paused for a moment, then barked, "Parkinson! Where is your youngest?!"
A stockier man stepped forward, looking like an adult, male version of his daughter. "Master, she has not been initiated yet, as it shall be a few months before she Comes Of Age."
"Yes," The Dark Lord muttered to himself, "that is correct, isn't it? Then we shall wait to begin our plan... the key players in it must all pledge their undying loyalty before we entrust them with a scheme so important...."
"Then, Master, shall we begin once Young Parkinson is initiated?" Lucius asked respectfully.
"Yes, fool! Weren't you listening?! The scheme shall be set into action the night after Young Parkinson is initiated. You may all go now," He told them before turning around, and with a swish of his robes, disappearing.