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Chapter Nine: Skull vs. Snake vs. Lion

Having regained some strength he lifted his head and looked her in the eyes. As his glazed silver eyes met her brown ones a small thought rushed through his mind. 'This is right.' He brushed away all tears then with his Slytherin composure returning he clearly stated, "Tell anyone about this and I swear to god there will be punishments in your future." He stood up and walked away from her with his robes billowing out behind him.

Following suit Hermione stood up and started walking towards the school thinking one thing, 'He's back.'

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The day passed uneventfully; classes went smoothly Hermione being her know-it-all self, Draco being a brat. Little did he know how drastically things were going to change for him...

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He glanced over at the clock, 9:59 pm it read. "Way too early to go to bed," he muttered. As the clock switched over to 10 pm his door burst open revealing his father. "Well if it isn't daddy dearest," he muttered. "Come to murder me as well father?" The famous Slytherin smirk played at his lips. "Shut it Draco, actually I've come to get you, your master requested a visit." The smirk began to show through on his own lips. Some would say like father like son, others would say bastards alike, if Hermione was there she'd say 'I see no similarity.'

Lucius grabbed Draco's wrist and pulled him into the fire place. In seconds they were transported to what Draco believed to be the basement in the Malfoy Manor. As he stepped out of the fire place a grotesque sight met his eyes, Lord Voldemort. In reality all he could see were the red slits of his eyes, other wise the Lord was cloaked in a long black cloak. No, it was not his looks that made him grotesque to Draco. It was the fact that he was up and walking. In truth Draco wanted Voldemort to be gone just as much as Potter, not that he would ever admit that.

Draco bowed a low, long held bow. "You called my Lord?" "So, it would seem you at least taught your son some manners Lucius." Voldemort's voice dripped with the sound of pure malice. "Draco, you have been brought here tonight to be accepted into the bond and group of Death Eaters." Draco's face considerably paled, he didn't want this, but he didn't want to be killed either. "Yes, my Lord." He stiffly replied.

Lucius rolled up the sleeve of Draco's robe exposing his forearm. Voldemort came closer and touched his wand to the skin on the soon to be Death Eater. It was all Draco could do but to look away. A spell was murmured; not that Draco heard it, the blood was pounding so hard it was all he could hear. The next thing he knew a searing, intense pain was felt where Voldemort's wand had come into contact with his skin. It was as though millions of tiny razors were cutting into his skin forming a complicated pattern of intertwining lines and curves.

After what felt like hours to him he watched slowly as Voldemort backed away from him and nodded towards the ground. Draco gulped before he turned to look at his arm. He had to hold back a scream and only lightly gasped as he looked down at what had used to be his pure, untouched arm. The sign of Voldemort, a skull with a snake protruding from its mouth, was embedded into his skin. All of the lines were quite visible. His blood was swelling near the site and the skulls/snakes lines were shown as glittering red.

Lucius who was watching his closely for even the slightest mistake calmly replied, "Do not worry Draco the blood lines will fade. It will be invisible... except when you are being called of course," he replied smugly. With that he was excused to leave. Once back at Hogwarts he collapsed onto his bed fully clothed and fell fast asleep.

He awoke only to his horror to find he was twenty minuets late for his first class, Potions with the Gryffindors. Since he was fully clothed he used his wand to perform a simply spell making his clothes fresh, as though he had never worn them. Having no time to gel his hair back it hung limply in his face blocking his cold silver eyes from view.

"Well Mr. Malfoy it would seem you have finally decided to grace us with your presence." Snape looked down upon him with a sneer that raised his anger considerably. Snape looked so much like Lucius when he drew that look upon his face. "Mr. Malfoy partners have been assigned and yours is Ms. Granger, I suggest you get to work." He sneered once more at him before turning his attention back to grading assignments.

"So I have to work with you Granger? Joy..." He plopped down in his chair and just sat back watching Hermione do the work, like she needs my help anyway, he thought. "Draco, are you going to help or just sit there?" He stared at her before answering, "Do not address me by my first name in public Granger." He gave a quick glance meeting her eyes before his hand swiped across the table knocking off a series of potion vials. Once they came in contact with the ground a big cloud of silver gas erupted quickly filling the room. "Everyone outside now!" Snape shouted. It was as though a bomb had gone off everyone was racing for the door as Draco took his merry way.

Snape picked up Draco by his collar and shoved him out the door before closing it himself. The Slytherin's arranged themselves behind Draco while the Gryffindor's did the same behind Hermione. "Explain, both of you." Snape glared at them, a look Draco was purely used to. "Sir, Malfoy knocked over the vials purposefully." Hermione tried to explain. Snape looked at her as though she was sprouting three heads. "Mr. Malfoy what do you have to say?" He glanced at Draco giving him a death glare. "I did no such thing sir, it's Granger. She is trying to frame me." He smirked looking over at the awestruck Gryffindors. Everyone knew it was Malfoy, even a furious Snape. "Well since neither of you seems to want to tell me the truth both of you will have detention in my classroom tonight. Be there promptly at 8 o'clock both of you. Class dismissed."

The Slytherin's and Gryffindor's left leaving Hermione, Harry, and Ron facing a smirking Draco. "Malfoy what the bloody hell was that?" Hermione shouted, "You got me detention, I could be using that time studying but no, thanks to you I will have to spend it in your and Snape's presence." She was growing red in the face as she continued to shout. "God Granger shut up I'm not deaf." She sneered at Malfoy then stormed off Harry and Ron following closely behind after giving him glares that would have him dead on the ground twice over if looks could kill.

A/N: Hey y'all! I had a blast at camp. Thanks to all my reviewers. However I have something to discuss... I have plenty more ideas for this story, and I'm sure y'all will love all of them but...

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