Brightness of a Beloved Eye
Chapter 3: Dark Mark and Betrayal

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For the next two months, I followed Hermione Granger's every move. When she went to the library, when she went to dinner, when she went to the prefect's bathroom, even when she went to sleep. I followed her every move. I don't know what made me so interested in her, but I could help but be drawn to this girl.

I aske-forced everyone to tell me about her, but it seemed as though they didn't know anything about her, except that she reigned in Gryffindor.

I found out what they were keeping from me a week later.

She was a mudblood.

Damn the woman for making me so interested in her when she was all but of dirty blood. But what did it change, really? If I was going to play with her, then blood didn't matter, as long as I got what I wanted. I'd throw her away after I was done.

I continued my stalker-like advances on Hermione Granger. She never knew what I was doing. And so, I figured out her secret.

She always disappeared in seemingly random times of the night, coming back in the wee hours of the morn. What else could she be doing in the stead of homework? I concluded that she was part of the organization against Lord Voldemort. She had to be.

Now, should I report this to my Father? That's what I was going to blackmail her with into playing with me.

But, my idea was ill-timed and I was to receive the Dark Mark on the day my plan was to go into action.

Blast my father and his pathetic Dark Lord.

I was summoned that night on the stroke of midnight, the hour of all magical happenings. I flooed to the Malfoy Manor with 12 other classmates. The manor was prepped for the rituals and all house elves locked in the dungeons.

My father led us into one of the less used great rooms of the manor. Once inside, he replaced his mask and walked to stand to the right of Lord Voldemort. About 20 hooded men surrounded the 13 of us.

Was Snape and Karkaroff amongst them?

The tallest figure, Lord Voldemort, stepped forward and spoke to us in a hissing voice.

"You have been chosen to become part of my faithful Deatheaters. Should you betray me, the most terrible of fates shall befall you and strike you down where you stand. As my servants, you will carry out what I am unable to do due to my nature. Should you ever question me, you will die instantly unless you may redeem yourself in three seconds. Enough talk, come forward, Draconis Elias Malfoy. You will be the first to be marked."

I stepped forward confidently until I reached the Dark Lord. I could feel him probe my mind, but fortunately, Snape taught me Occlumency from the very beginning. I successfully blocked him from seeing what I deemed too private for his lecherous mind.

He finally seemed to be content with what he saw for he spoke once more.

"Hold out your right arm, Draconis Elias, and you shall receive my mark."

I held out my arm, albeit reluctantly, and he pulled back the sleeve. He pulled a twisted dagger from his cloaks and cut his wrist first. He dripped two drops of hot blood onto my forearm and plunged the dagger into the drops and into my arm.

I nearly screamed from the blinding pain, but I bit my tongue until I almost bled. My knees buckled, however, and I was left to kneel in front of the monstrosity while his dagger was still attached to my arm.

After what seemed like an eternity, but was only mere moments, the dagger was removed and the Dark Lord announced that I was one of them.

The Death Eaters murmured amongst themselves and I heard my father speak to me.

"You're damned lucky you did not cry out."

I nearly sneered at him, but refrained as the throbbing pain returned.

Voldemort called for Blaise Darius Zabini and I watched him go through the same ritual.

All 13 of us made it through the ritual without perishing. Blaise and I were the only ones who did not call out during the ritual, making us the more talked about pair. Pansy tried her best to hold back her cries, but she is of the feminine species and my heart went out to my best friend.

Voldemort released us nearly at the crack of dawn and we hurriedly flooed back to Hogwarts. We didn't go to bed in exhaustion, but talked amongst ourselves. We talked of what we expected to happen next and to admire the mark in a mixture of horror and awe. The mark disappeared in a half hour and we dragged ourselves into our dorms, neither of us remarking to each other again.

After making absolute sure everyone was in bed, I headed towards my private chambers, requested for being prefect of Slytherin house. I called Professor Snape by floo and flooed to his private chambers.

Once stepping out of the fireplace, I stated my intent.

"Professor, I wish to join the Order of the Phoenix with you."

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Authoress's Notes:
Nothing much to report here. Hope you liked the story so far. It's gonna pick up in another chapter or 2.

Until next time. Remember to REVIEW.

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Kristina Chang