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Chapter 15: Preparations, Snape Thoughts, and Draco's First Assignment

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"They're coming. Prepare for our guests, Wormtail."

"Yes, my lord," Wormtail squeaked. He left the room.

"Severus, the girl's hair was added to the potion, was it not?"

"Yes, my lord," Snape's voice drawled, "it's been readily added. I must say, that girl has a gold mine of hair... so thick and grows back quickly..."

"Never mind how quickly her hair grows," Voldemort said impatiently, "you need leave, just for the night. I can't have Potter suspecting you for conspiracy."

"He already does."

"Silence!" Voldemort said. "Severus, you're causing me to be impatient. Leave me. But before you do, I have something I'd like you to do."

"Yes?"

"Bring me Lucius' boy."

"Draco?"

"No, I meant the other one," said Voldemort sarcastically. "Of course Draco!"

"Yeah, ok," Snape drawled, almost sounding bored.

"And also, bring some more Sleeping Draught and Veritaserum for our guests."

"Yeah, fine, whatever... I am very loathe to get rid of the Veritaserum, though, it takes so long to make and then you're going to waste it on Potter and company? Ugh... what a waste..."

"Silence!" Voldemort demanded. Snape Disapparated sourly.

Voldemort was left wondering why Snape had treated him with such utter disregard...

Snape Disapparated. It would seem that he put too much Felix Felicis in his morning cup o' joe.

Oh well, Snape thought, so, I can be a bit reckless if I felt like. It's not like I'm going to be killed. I'll explain later- he knew that nothing can possibly go wrong today or else, so I took an extra precaution. I suppose I'll just do what he says, though... that's what Felix tells me to do. Hey, the little voice inside my head sounds a lot like my own drawling voice. Whoopee.

What caused that brief moment of insanity in Snape's head, not even he would know.

He arrived on Narcissa Malfoy's premises, at which he knocked the door.

"Hello?" said the voice of a male.

"Draco, is that you?" said Snape, bored.

"Yeah," said Draco, sounding confused as to the identity of the caller, for he had not yet opened the door.

"Open the door, boy."

Draco was obedient.

"Professor! Welcome..."

"I didn't come for the Draco Malfoy social hour, I came to fetch you. The Dark Lord requires you."

"He- he needs- me? The Dark Lord needs--"

"Yes," said Snape rolling his eyes, "otherwise, I wouldn't have come. Where's your mother?"

"Upstairs."

"Good, don't call her. Let's go, Draco."

"Now?" he said, bewildered at the suddenness of the matter.

"Yes, now," snapped Snape, "why else would I have called at this hour? For a spot of tea and scones? Come now, Draco, he grows impatient when progress is slowed."

Snape grabbed Draco's arm and Disapparated. Draco Malfoy was extremely caught off guard...

Draco knew his mom was definitely not going to like this. He figured that he'd just say he was outside or whatever. He'd make something up on the spur of the moment.

But now, he was wondering excitedly and confusedly. What did the Dark Lord need him for? When they stopped Apparating, He found that he was suddenly in a large chamber full of different potions, with several large windows and cabinets and tables everywhere. Snape let go of Draco's arm and began searching, muttering something inaudible under his breath. Snape grabbed two cauldrons of a thick brown potion and held a small bottle of a clear potion.

"Alright, Draco, let's go."

"What are these potions for?"

"For the Dark Lord! Who else? No questions!" Snape quickly grabbed Draco's arm, once the potions he had were secured, and Disapparated.

Draco was feeling a little disoriented from the Apparating. He had never experienced it before today.

"Here, my lord, the boy and the potions," said Snape. He placed the thick brown potions by MacNair, who in turn Disapparated with them in hand. Snape, however, kept the clear one.

"Ah, thank you, Severus. Now, you must leave. I will be expecting an explanation for your strange behavior--but first, give me the Veritaserum."

Snape handed it over reluctantly and Disapparated, leaving Draco alone with Voldemort. From the position he was standing, Draco could only see the back of Voldemort's chair and the fire in the fireplace.

"Come here, Draco," said Voldemort in a soft, chilling voice. Draco was excited and terrified at the same time. He took a few nervous steps towards him. Draco, seeing a cowering, rat-like man in the corner, did not help his nerves.

"Don't be afraid, I won't hurt you, Draco," said the chilling voice.

Draco finally came around the chair where Voldemort sat and beheld him for the first time. A man wearing a serpent-crested, hooded, dark cloak casting shadows on blood-red eyes, a slitted nose, and pale white skin imprinted themselves into Draco's brain as the Dark Lord. Voldemort sat in the chair with a powerful, dangerous, and cunning aura about him, like a unpredictable serpantly king. Draco was too terrified and stunned to speak. His knees began to give way from fear.

"Ah, I see you are different from Potter," said Voldemort slyly, "you respect your betters."

"Y-you mean, P-potter d-didn't-"

"Oh, no, he didn't." Draco saw anger flash in Voldemort's eyes. "He, in fact, made light of me. That silly little girl who I have captive is no better." A triumphant calm came over Voldemort. "Of course, it won't matter soon enough. I have a plan that Potter could not possibly ruin, and, Draco, you are part of it."

"Me?"

"Yes. You remember Granger?"

"Yes, the Mudblood."

"Yes. She's been known for her intelligence, and also for being a friend of Potter's. Well, I need you to gain her trust. Love potions are most effective. I know it may seem disgusting, I know, to have a Mudblood in love with you, but I need her to be distracted from learning, and I need that blood-traitor, Weasley, to be jealous. I need all of Harry's friends to leave him defenseless. I think that the blood-traitor and the Mudblood are in love with each other-- how disgraceful-- but I need to know for sure. I need to make sure he receives this Veritaserum when he comes here with Potter-- oh, yes, Draco, they are foolish enough to decide to come here and risk their lives for a silly little girl. They are trying to come here even as we speak.

"You will have a greater assignment, trust me, which will be revealed to you when the time comes. When you see Potter and Ginny at school, I will need you to collect hairs from them. We have a special Polyjuice Potion itching for their DNA... this will only be necessary if the other part of my plan fails."

"So..." said Draco, "you want me to make a love potion, have Granger fall in love with me, and make Ron as jealous as possible, all the while collecting hair from Potter and Ginny?"

"Yes. There is also a greater mission which I will entrust to you before you leave for school in a few days."

A pause followed.

"Ok. What should I tell my friends?"

"I shall tell them myself that it was my doing."

"Ok..."

"You refer to me as 'my lord' now, Draco. I am your lord."

"Ok... my lord."

"You'll get used to it. I'll have Crabbe take you home." Immediately Crabbe (the adult, not the child) Apparated in.

Voldemort nodded his head slightly towards Draco. Crabbe nodded, grabbed Draco's arm, and Disapparated.