Draco Malfoy stayed silent as the carraige rode away. He squeezed himself into a corner looking out into the night. Occasionally, the lightning flashed light on his face, which held a look of utter graveness. He wondered what was going to happen to him now. Severus Snape, the carriage's only other passenger, watched him curiously.
"Why'd you do it?" asked Draco bitterly, "He's going to kill me. He's going to kill my whole bloody family!"
Snape paused and observed Draco, who was still staring out the window.
"You ought to ask your mother," he said, looking away.
"Don't you dare bring my mother into this."
"You failed," said Snape, pausing for effect, "and it was my duty to finish your job for you."
"You made me fail!" cried Draco furiously. "If you hadn't... intervened, I'd have done it."
Apparently, Snape didn't think this outburst deserved a reply, because he stayed tight-lipped. The carriage was driving upwards now, towards Malfoy Manor. Draco's mouth suddenly went dry. His mother wasn't standing by the entrance doors and the lights were all out.
When they were both inside, Draco confidently made his way along the numerous elegantly-furnished but equally dark rooms of the Manor's first floor. In many places there seemed to be empty slots. Some books from the bookshelves were missing and some paintings and sculptures were wanting as well.
No doubt the Ministry's work. It's that Muggle-loving lunatic, Arthur Weasley.
Draco came to an abrupt stop. Taking his time, he took out his wand and drew the letter M in the air. His wand left streaks of an emerald-green color which, in the blink of an eye, turned into a solid doorway. Draco walked straight through it and did not reappear on the other side. Snape wordlessly followed behind him.
Draco walked in what looked like an endless stone-floor without walls nor a roof. An uncharacteristically large number of Death Eaters were sitting at an antique-looking mahogany table with Lord Voldemort sitting at the head. His back was against Draco, but he knew the Dark Lord had felt his presence as soon as he entered the room. Snape appeared behind him.
"It is done, my lord," said Snape, kneeling beside Draco, but Draco stood upright. Narcissa Malfoy looked at her son helplessly. Draco noticed how she was clutching her dress like a woman drowning might clutch that last bit of land she was hanging on to. Suddenly, she stood and threw herself at Voldemort's feet.
"Please, please don't kill him," she cried between sobs. Lucius Malfoy's eyes flared and standing, he dragged his wife and threw her back down on her seat. Narcissa continued sobbing loudly, burying her face into her hands.
"Narcissa!" hissed her husband. The other Death Eaters looked away from the scene, embarrassed. Everyone was waiting for the Dark Lord's verdict.
"Indeed," Lord Voldemort began to speak as his Death Eaters hung on to every word he spoke, "your son has failed me, Narcissa. You know that he deserves to die..."
Narcissa let out such a wild wail it made Draco wince, but he continued to stare at the back of Lord Voldemort's strangely un-solidified head. It was almost translucent in a way, but Draco tried not to think about that. He could already feel Snape trying to delve into his thoughts, but he expertly shut Snape out.
"But," continued Lord Voldemort, "I see your son may prove to be a far more useful tool yet. He has no doubt learned his lesson, haven't you Draco?"
Draco stubbornly kept his silence.
"Haven't you, Draco?"
There was a sudden burst of green light in Draco's head and he suddenly felt like the Dark Mark on his arm was on fire. He bit his lip and tried not to yell out.
"Of course he has," decided Voldemort. Immediately, the pain disappeared. "Now that the Order knows Draco has failed, they will believe that I have given him his rightful punishment... whatever that may be. The story will go like this: Young Draco Malfoy can no longer stand the horrors inflicted on him by Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters. A sudden burst of conscience fills him and he turns to the good side."
There was a sudden murmur amongst the Death Eaters. Most of them seemed to think The Dark Lord was wrong to give up Lucius Malfoy's son.
"What if the Malfoy boy divulges our plans?" asked Bellatrix Lestrange bravely.
"How dare you speak of the Malfoy name in that tone... as if... as if it were an insult and not one of the most celebrated pureblood families in this world?" said Lucius gritting his teeth.
"You know that's not what I meant, Lucius," answered Bellatrix with equal venom in her voice, "I don't question your family. You know I put as much value into us ancient pureblood families as much as you do, but I want to know how long your sixteen-year-old boy is going to hold against the Cruciatus Curse in the Ministry's hands."
Lord Voldemort rose and turned towards Draco.
"The Ministry will have no need to question him if they believe that he has come voluntarily. Draco will return saying he was forced to act or his family would have been killed. The Ministry and the Order will take pity on him and the Order will agree to take him in. Thus, he will serve as our spy. Now that Severus has blown his cover, we need a replacement. If Draco fails this time, the Ministry can do as they wish with him."
Disclaimer: Draco Malfoy and any other characters, places and/or events that you recognize from the Harry Potter series belongs to J.K. Rowling, and may this disclaimer serve for all chapters.
Author's Note: I would really appreciate constructive criticism, ideas for the upcoming chapters and even just praise. Please do not hesitate to review. Insufficient reviews: No update.