Chapter two: The decision.
"Are you sure he's still out?" Harry heard a voice whisper.
"Master said he'd be out for a while this time." Another voice awnsered. "After all he did take quite the beating before the master had let up on him."
"What if he remembers?" The first voice had asked. "What if he doesn't join?"
"Then he dies, simple as that." The second voice said cruelly.
Harry stayed still, eyes closed until he heard the foot steps walk away from him. Then he tried to move and a searing pain shot through his body making him bite back a scream. He tried frantically to figure out where he was and as he searched his mind he saw the rubble that should have been the Dursley's home. Then he saw the bodies of everyone he had loved strewn around the Burrow's grounds and Hermione fall as the killing curse hit her. They were all gone, he had nothing left. Harry felt a hot tear burn down his cheek and bit his lip from the pain. He would never allow them to see how hurt he was or how wounded his heart had become. The foot steps were coming back.
"So why are we cleaning his wounds again?" Harry heard a very familiar voice drawl. "If the master believes that he'll not joins us then what's the point?"
"Because Draco, the master is hoping that Mr. Potter here will join us." An older man stated. "Even if the master assumes that he won't we must still make him pressentable for the master. After all, we can't present a hopeful as a bloody and mangled mess now can we?"
"But why can't the house elves do it then?" Draco whined. "Why must we?"
"There are none available at this moment and stop your whining!" The man spat. "Honestly if this is going to be how you act you might as well not have joined. At least Potter didn't whine, not even as he was being tortured. The man just bit his lip but never cried out and here you are whining about cleaning his wounds? You should be dying for the privilidge Draco!"
"Not bloody likely father!" Even in the response Harry could hear Draco's pout.
:So they plan to present me to Voldemort as a hopeful.: Harry thought as he winced from the pain. :Wonder why.:
"Father, He's awake!" Draco started as he saw Harry's face contort.
"Well, Well Mr. Potter." Lucius came around to face Harry. "Welcome back. This will all be over shortly so I would advise you not to fight us."
Harry just simply glared at Lucius.
"Very well." Lucius grinned evilly. "Draco!" He spat at his son. " Clean his front while I tend to his greater wounds in the back!"
With a groan Draco started to wipe the blood off Harry's face and arms.
It was a moment before Draco spoke again. "So why would the master want Potter to join him? After all it's not like he's ever been a supporter."
"He wants him because of Mr. Potter's power Draco. Harry is a very powerful wizard by all rights and if Harry had not been taken by surprise then I am quite sure he could have defeated the master." Lucius explained. "Now stop asking questions and get on with the cleaning!"
"I'm done!" Draco replied hotly. "There's no blood left on him."
"I'm nearly done here as well, go fetch the clothes." He told Draco.
Draco stormed out of the cell and returned shortly after that with a neat set of wizard robes. "Here!" He spat as he slammed them down on the bed. Then turned to go.
"Don't you dare leave Draco!" Lucius said to his son's retreating back.
Draco stopped in his tracks and whirled around. "And why not? I didn't sign on to be Potter's bloody nurse!"
"Draco you signed on to do whatever the master orders and this is his orders." Lucius growled back. "Now get back here and help me dress him."
Harry thought it best to interject into this family fued, before it got really ugly. "I can dress myself thank you." He said through gritted teeth.
"Very well." Lucius said with a slight twitch of his lips. "We'll be back for you in five minutes and I'll be expected to see you dressed!"
Lucius left followed by Draco who gave Harry a cold look before he closed the cell door.
Harry dressed himself and waited patiently for their return. In the mean time he thought about what he had heard. Voldemort was going to ask Harry to join him or die. What was he to do when presented with this? Harry's first thought was to spit in Voldemorts face and try to get away, but he knew that wouldn't work. If he was ever to get away he would have to join, but then how would that be getting away? It wouldn't, Harry would be bound to this man and his murderous world forever. But he had to hold onto hope that if he could get away that he could one day defeat Voldemort and his minions so Harry knew the only logical choice. He would have to join Voldemort.
Just as Harry had made up his mind the door opened and Lucius entered. "Well Mr. Potter, shall we?" He motioned to the door and Harry noticed that Lucius had his wand in hand.
Harry nodded curtly as he stood, carefully and wincing with pain. He followed Lucius up a flight of stairs and into a large corridor. They had followed the corridor for a brief moment before entering a large chamber that reminded Harry of the Hogwarts great hall. Infact if Harry hadn't thought better of it then he would have sworn that this was Hogwarts. Sitting where the head table should have been was a gold chair and in this chair was Voldemort.
"So Mr. Potter, you have a great decision that is to be laid before you." Voldemort grinned cruelly as Harry was placed before him.
"Oh? Do I really?" Harry said inquiringly. "And what decision is that?"
"You'll find that out soon enough Mr. Potter but first a little test. You see this is how I will know that what ever decision you make, that your not just trying to trick me." Voldemort looked at him calculatingly. "Bring him in!"
The double doors opened swiftly and between two death eaters, half unconcious was Dumbledore. Voldemort stood up as the doors were closing and walked to Harry. "Here is your decision Harry, you must kill Dumbledore here and join me or..." Voldemort paused for effect. "You must die along with him."
Harry's eye's grew wide. Kill Dumbledore? The only man that had been like a father to him? Harry could taste the bile forming in his throat.
Voldemort handed Harry the wand. "Now don't get any ideas here Harry. My death eaters have all got their wands on you and will strike if you so much show any sign of wanting to attack me." Voldemort whispered in his ear. "Now make your decision Harry."
Harry seemed to be battling himself. He knew that to stop Voldemort he had to be free. But kill Dumbledore? He couldn't but didn't want to give himself away as well. Harry began to feel his knees give as Dumbledore met his eyes.
"I forgive you Harry." He said simply as if reading Harry's mind. "Do what you must." And then fell silent.
Harry raised the wand and pointed it at Dumbledore. He felt his tears slide down his face as he said "Avada Kedavra."
The spell hit Dumbledore and Harry saw the twinkling light fade from his eyes.
Harry shuddered as Voldemort clapped. "Brilliant! I must say that I didn't think you'd have it in you Harry my boy!"
Voldemort clapped his hand to Harry's shoulder. "Now, I'll just be taking that wand back." He said as he seized the wand back from Harry's numb hand.
"Now Harry, you have just proven to me where your loyalties lie so I am prepared to give you the chance to join me once and for all. Will you?"
Harry turned to meet the cruel mans eyes and glared. "You ask me this after what you have just seen? You gave me a test master, have I not passed it?"
"Yes Harry you have." Voldemort Said gleefully. "You most certainly have. Now are you prepared to take the dark mark?"
In response Harry simply dropped to his knees and presented his arm.
Voldemort took his arm and placed his hand over his wrist. He then muttered a spell and when Voldemort removed hhis hand Harry saw the Dark Mark in it's place briefly before it dissapeared.
Harry was then presented with his wand and all the Death Eaters put theirs away, some grumpily as they had hoped they would get to kill him.
"Welcome to our little family Harry Potter." Voldemort said just before he aparated.