Disclaimer: you know the deal.

AN: end of the sixth year, not following the events in the book.

"My Lord, I am honored that you wish me to be in your service," a familiar blonde boy spoke in tones of reverence—and fear.

There was a long pause before the Dark Lord spoke. "Are you truly honored, Malfoy, or do you just wish to avoid death? I need to know that you are completely loyal and that you will follow my orders to the letter without question."

"I won't hide that I am fearful. You obviously could kill me for any mistake I make," Draco began. "But I do wish to serve you, Master. I promise to obey your word in any circumstance. My fears will not prevent me from carrying out your orders."

Voldemort stared into Malfoy's eyes, necessary for Leglilmency. "You will obey me in anything I tell you?" he questioned.

"Yes my Lord."

"What if I asked you to kill? Say, Harry Potter for instance."

"I would do it gladly sir."

"What if I told you to kill yourself?"

Draco replied unflinchingly, "That, too."

"What about your mother? Could you kill Narcissa?"

Draco's eyes widened in fear. The Dark Lord knew he was having trouble deciding. "I—I could do it, sir."

The Dark Lord's eyes gleamed red with a perverse pleasure. "Very well, then. Kill her."

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"Harry! Ron! Have you any idea what time it is?" Hermione shouted incredulously as she entered the Gryffindor common room. The two best friendslooked up guiltily at Hermione. After all, they had been playing wizard's chess for over three hours. "I'm guessing you two haven't even touched your trunks, much less packed anything."

Hermione had hit the bulls-eye. Harry threw an uncomfortable glance at Ron. The red-headed Gryffindor gave Hermione a sheepish smile. "We've seriously started thinking about it," Ron informed her.

"It's nine-thirty and we leave for the train station early tomorrow morning. If you can't manage your time and it's still the school year, I dread to imagine the deterioration that will occur over the summer."

"Come on, 'Mione," Harry said. "You'll be with us at the Burrow the whole summer. There's no way we'll be allowed to regress to bad habits like having fun," Harry teased.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "I'm not helping you pack, and I'm not going to wait for you tomorrow when you're late because you forgot to pack that picture of Lavender Brown you snog every night."

With that, Hermione left the room, heading to her dormitory to get some sleep.

"Oh all right," Ron said to Harry, who was red in the face at the last comment Hermione had made. "She's got a point. Let's go pack before we get too tired."

Harry muttered an incantation, and with a wave of his wand, the chess set put itself away.

"I've been wondering, Harry," Ron started as they climbed up the dormitory stairs. "Why aren't you going back to the Dursleys this summer? I mean, I'm all for you coming to visit us, but don't you need the protection?"

"I turn seventeen this summer, Ron. When that happens, I'm a legal adult, and the protection I get from going back to the Dursleys runs out. I don't see a point in being miserable for a few weeks just to get protection that will run out anyway."

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In the Slytherin dormitories, Blaise was banging on the door of Draco's room.

"Draco, let me in! Bang You're not Bang the only one Bang who sleeps in there! Bang OPEN Bang THE Bang BLOODY Bang DOOR!"

The banging on the door fell on deaf ears. Draco had magically sealed the door so that nothing could pass through—not even sound. He lay on his bed, the green covers in disarray. His red, puffy eyes gave evidence to the tears that had been shed only moments ago. The door was sealed because he couldn't let anyone see him crying, especially since everything was his fault. He hadn't really meant for everything to go this far…

Flashback—a few days ago

Draco cracked open the door to his mother's room to check if she had been sleeping. She hadn't been.

"Draco, dear, what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be at school?" she had said, very much surprised.

"I'd just been called by the Dark Lord; he needed me to do something for him. I had to sneak out...I just wanted to drop by before I went back to Hogwarts." He hadn't really been lying…

"How sweet of my ickle Draco to visit me," she said, gathering her son into her arms. "How long do you have before you have to leave?" she asked.

"I've got plenty of time… Why?"

"I don't feel safe tonight. I feel odd for some reason."

Draco responded calmly, "Of course, mum."

He watched as she climbed between the sheets and closed her eyes.

"Goodnight, Draco," she murmured sleepily.

"Good bye, Mother," he whispered when he saw her chest rise and fall slowly and regularly, knowing sleep had overcome her. "I love you."

Draco took a moment to compose himself for what he was going to do. The Avada Kadavra didn't work unless your heart was in it. He thought of his allegiance to Voldemort, his desire to stay alive, to gather power, to wipe out all the mudbloods and muggles…The Dark Lord must have had an important reason for his mother to be killed…She must die now.

"AVADA KEDAVRA!" Draco screamed, as if possessed by the Dark Lord himself. The glowing green light flashed across her body, killing her instantly.

After he had murdered his mother, Voldemort had apparated to his side.

"You have proven your loyalty." He said in a pleased tone. "Imperio. Now extend your arm."

Malfoy obeyed mindlessly, and the Dark Mark was burned into his skin.

The curse had long worn off, and the image of his mother bathed in that sickening green light was burned into his memory just as the skull with a serpent tongue was burned onto his flesh. The image of his mother would not leave him, even as the lights went out in his dormitory. Draco would not fall asleep that night, for the second time in a row.