Chapter 3

A/N: The chapter title is owned by JKR but it fits so well here. This chapter is all about Draco! This chapter starts out nicely and kind of falls apart at the end. Advice is welcome (but flames aren't)! Happy reading:)

As the last defense test approached, Draco was excited. He had a new master now. He no longer had to pretend to be a charge of that Muggle-loving bastard Dumbledore. He had finally been given authority to mess with those little blood-traitor's heads. He was told exactly what to do. He would kidnap the blood-traitor Ron Weasley and make him pay for his crimes against true wizard-kind. Why Ron Weasley? It would bring his best friend and so-called savior out of the confines and protection of the castle to come looking for him. Then, Voldemort would strike.

At the end of fifth year, the Dark Trio (consisting of Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle) silently pledged their allegiance to Voldemort and his pure-blood aims. They would pay Potter back for sending the faithful to prison. Sixth year consisted of studying what they could find on Dark Arts and practicing them. If they had been at all observant, then they would have noticed that some of the selection was continually checked out by one Harry Potter.

At the end of sixth year, the Dark Trio of Hogwarts had been invited to come before their new master. They had received correspondence from someone called Wormtail in each of their manors. It was rather a pleasant shock to see a rat delivering letters instead of the usual owl. The letter was sealed with a Dark Mark and read similar to a Hogwarts Letter.

To Mister D. Malfoy,

If you so wish to fully pledge your allegiance to me and become my new apprentice, then you will come before me at the appointed time and place. My assistant Wormtail will wait no longer than one hour for your reply.

Draco read the letter twice over. Then he went over to his father's writing desk and drafted his reply. He was thankful that his father had at least taught him to draft a reply to such an invitation. Draco's anger swelled every now and then because of his father. For the first fifteen years of his life, Lucius Malfoy had been all about appearances. He taught his family manners, or rather mannerisms, to display to the world. When his father gets enough gall to display his true colors, he doesn't stick around long enough to teach his only son. I'll show you, father, he said to himself.

He folded the letter and sealed it with the Malfoy seal and handed it to the rat that was waiting by his chair.

The night approached. He would fly there. He couldn't risk the Floo Network. He would fly under cover of night and wait for the next night to approach. This was not Draco's preferred method of transportation but none else was provided. He figured he could score points with his new master if he could get to the meeting place without being seen and without alerting the Ministry.

Oddly enough, Draco had no trouble admitting he was scared. Courage and Bravery are Gryffindor faults. One day, the world will be run by fear and only fear. Bravery will have no place in the world I hope to rule with my new master.

He knocked on the door of an old house in a town called Reeves. A Death Eater opened the door and grabbed Draco's robes and hauled him into the foyer. In there, he saw his two comrades, Crabbe and Goyle. "Sit down and shut up," the Death Eater hissed. "I don't want to hear a word from any of you until you are called."

Draco's head snapped up at the voice. He recognized it very clearly from the many times it called him "insolent" or "thorn in his side".

"Father?" Draco questioned. All of a sudden Draco was on the floor with stars in front of his eyes. This death eater, father or not, had backhanded him.

"I said not another word. Do I make myself clear?" He said, trying his hardest to mute his anger. The three boys nodded and the death eater left.

Thirty minutes later, with Draco still nursing the red mark on his cheek, the Death Eater came back and motioned for Draco to go with him. Instantly, Draco stiffened up and took his hand away from his cheek. Damn it! I can't show weakness. I have already failed twice!

Draco followed; who he believed was his father, down a hallway. The Death Eater stopped at the very end and turned around. His hand whipped around to indicate a door on Draco's left. Draco stood in front of the door and braced himself and walked in.

Draco had, of course, heard the stories of just what Voldemort's face looked like. However, to see it in person was quite a nasty shock. In this room, there was a fireplace on the right lit with a magical fire, some heavily curtained windows in front, and in the middle was a chair. There was a robed figure sitting in this chair. All the rumors were true. Voldemort had snakelike features and pale skin and one could almost swear there were maggots or some sort of insect roiling around under his skin and robe.

Draco instinctively moved to the front of this chair and knelt down, with both knees touching the floor. "Uh… My master. I formally pledge my allegiance to you and you only. I am ready and willing to do your bidding," Draco sputtered out.

"Crucio!" A raspy, high-pitched voice cried. Draco screamed and curled up in a fetal position. "You are not worthy to receive my mark. You're just a boy and no doubt will serve me as such. Do you know a Ronald Weasley?"

Draco was confused. What did he have to do with any of this? He didn't have long to think about it before another Cruciatus curse hit him.

"You will do as I say, boy! Do you miss your father? Well, you needn't worry because I am your father now. As your father, I require absolute obedience or there will be a most gruesome punishment. Now, do you know a blood-traitor named Ronald Weasley?" Voldemort began to raise his wand.

"Please sir!" Draco practically screamed. "Ronald Weasley is the worst of the blood-traitors. He spends every minute fawning over that loathsome Potter. It's disgusting!"

"Good. You're already learning some respect. Lucius didn't have much faith in you, said we should kill you before you cause too much trouble…" At this the Dark Lord started cackling. Voldemort continued, "You will watch Mr. Weasley and maybe cause a few problems for him. You will send me correspondence on his dealings once a month. I believe your eagle owl of yours knows where to go. Also, be watchful of that mindless bastard Dumbledore. Once he suspects you, he will never back away. Now go! One of mine will escort you out."

"Thank you, my master," Draco said as he bowed his head.

The Death Eater that reminded Draco of his father escorted him back down the hall. Draco didn't dare say a word for fear of that hand coming across his cheek again. Without a glance toward Crabbe or Goyle, Draco walked out the door. Draco thought he heard the Death Eater mutter "fool" before the door was slammed behind him. With adrenaline pumping, Draco sprinted to his broom's hiding place and sped home.

Over the coming months, Draco did spread nasty rumors concerning Ron and Hermione's wedding. Draco did everything to trip Ron up. There were many curiously aimed hexes that flew between Draco and Ron. Even Hermione joined in on the fun at times.

In the beginning of spring semester of that year, the defense system was announced to the whole school. Draco, for a few happy moments, was dancing on air. He could tell his new master about the plan and… Well, when Draco went to put it all down on paper, he couldn't remember a thing. Dumbledore had locked the information in his very soul.

It was mid-March and Draco was growing anxious. He followed Ron everywhere. It seemed all Ron talked about was Quidditch and Hermione. Draco followed Ron to the Quidditch pitch to a little corner of the lake to an abandoned classroom on the second floor. He knew Ron's schedule, social group, and likely hangouts. He had sent all this on his master. However, he needed a way to get past the Fidelius Charm. Draco knew his master could sense the omission in his letters.

One day in May, Draco got a letter from his master.

To my apprentice,

It is time to lure Mr. Potter out of the castle. Unfortunately, this requires luring Weasley out of the castle. You will kidnap Weasley and bring him to me.

Draco, with his knowledge of the defense system, knew just what he would do.