Authoress Babble: Alrighty, my darlings – here is chapter three! Yay! I know it's been ages since chapter 2 – but…oh well. Anyway, it's here so enjoy!

Disclaimer: Harry Potter is owned by J.K. Rowling and Warner Bros. I don't own anything except the plot. So don't sue.

NOTE: If you don't like the Harry/Draco pairing don't read this story.

NOTE: I don't have my Harry Potter books with me at the moment, so I don't know the exact names of the Death Eaters captured at the Ministry. If there is a contradiction to the book, I'm sorry. But please move on as the names are not that significant. Thank you.


3. Cruel Lips and Black Cloaks

Expensive Italian shoes paced across the large bedroom, only slightly muffled by the carpet. The torches burned low, giving the dark room a tenebrous feel to it. The sun had set long ago, pale stars dusted across Bast's wide expanse of inky-black sky. Dark green velvety curtains were drawn around a large window set into the side of a wall.

Forward ten steps. Pause. Turn. Forward ten steps. Pause. Turn. Repeat.

A lone figure paced the room, his silver-blonde hair coruscating the flickering torch-light. He paced some more then stopped. Unsure of what to do with himself, he walked over to his bookcase and ran a finger along the old titles.

A bookcase ran the length of a wall, dark gleaming ebony wood displaying stacks upon stacks of books. Directly across from it was a large four-poster bed. It had, like the bookcase, ebony posts, with ivory snakes curling elegantly around the top. Shining jade eyes were cut and placed, giving the snakes an animated look.

The young Malfoy stopped then sighed heavily, falling into an overstuffed chair. He chewed his lip and glanced at his hands worriedly. Minutes passed as he jiggled his leg restlessly.

Thirteen days ago Death Eaters had appeared in Malfoy Manor, offering Draco initiation into the ranks of Death Eaters. It was a threat – not a choice. The blonde-haired teen shivered at the very memory. The cold circle of black descending upon him…wands out...dangerous silky words pouring from cruel lips.

Shaking his head slightly to bring himself out of his chilly memories, Draco swept his eyes over his dark room. The books on the bookshelves, a lamp on the dresser, a pitcher of water on the night-stand; they all trembled occasionally. There were still some magical currents rippling through Malfoy Manor. The Apparation of so many Death Eaters at once had pushed the protection wards on the Manor, forcing some to bend and send magical currents bouncing through the house.

Draco knew he could have re-inforced protection shields himself, or brought in a special wizard for that. But…it was almost a trap. A test if you will. The loyal followers of the Dark Lord knew that a Malfoy could put up extremely strong protection shields – even if the Malfoy was Draco. But if Draco had cast another set of protection shield, the Death Eaters would have immediately been suspicious of him. It was their very own test – if you put up shields, it signified that you didn't trust them.

Draco gave a short, harsh laugh. Trust? There was no trust. Even between Voldemort and his cronies, trust didn't exist. Perhaps some respect – maybe some fear, yes. But trust? No. Slytherins didn't trust each other. It was a dog eat dog world out there. You can't trust or depend on anyone but yourself. A pureblooded child was taught to fear his elders. That was just the way it was.

Draco glanced at the softly ticking clock on the table next to him. Tick…tick… 9:47 P.M. tick…tick… He sighed. It's no bloody use, he thought. I can't even stay still. Might as well go wait for my inevitable death. He rose and walked with surprising elegance, considering the situation, out the door. Down the dark hallway…down a flight of stairs…down another hallway…through a door…past the painting of a gruesome war…left…right…down…up…right…up a set of spiral staircases…

When he finally made his way down to the parlor, it was 9:54. Easing himself nervously down onto the black couch, he waited. The room had an eerie quality to it – no movement, no fair-haired lady sipping her wine, no…Draco sighed glancing at the dying fireplace. Narcissa Black-Malfoy had gone out to Knockturn/Diagon Alley, to check up on business. Draco didn't expect her back until morning.

9:55……9:57……9:59……

Pop! Pop! PoppoppoppopPOP!

Draco jumped up, startled as the familiar black ring of bodies closed around him once more. Every single person had his or her wands out, all of the tips pointing ominously at him.

The dying fire turned blue and roared to life at the intensity of magic running through the air.

The same Death Eater came forward, a smirk playing on his cold lips, twirling his wand in one hand.

Ah, Draco thought somewhat amusedly. So – not exactly scared of being found out, are you Nott? His hand instinctively went for his wand in his pocket. The familiar wood brought him a pinprick of comfort, but that disappeared quickly.

"Ahhh…young Draco. How good it is to see you again. Well…how have you been? Well, I hope?" Nott spoke smoothly and trained his dark eyes on the Malfoy.

"Nott," Draco replied coolly. "This is hardly the time or place for an exchange of useless words. We all know why you're here – so why don't you just skip the formalities."

The hooded Death Eater narrowed his eyes at the boy in front of him. Hmm…bold. Just like his father. Hmm…boldness – a good trait in a Death Eater. He smirked. "Of course, young dragon."

A Death Eater, whether man or woman Draco couldn't tell, made a soft growling noise and stepped forward slightly. A pale smooth hand and an incoherent mutter stopped the figure. The first Death Eater turned sharply towards the figure beside them. Then they retreated slowly, glaring at Draco all the while.

Draco started slightly at the sight of the pale hand but pushed the thought away for now. However he shot a puzzled glance at the hooded figure that had stopped the Death Eater beside them.

Nott turned around to face the circle. "Wands down," he said silkily with a dangerous hint in his voice. Most of the wands were lowered, although some were kept up.

His voice took a harsher, colder tone now. His face became rigid and cold. "Parkinson – Avery – Flint – wands down." The wands were lowered at the order, but not without icy glares.

"Now, now," the Death Eater chided softly. "We're all…friends here." Turning back to Draco he suddenly became more formal and business like.

"Draco Lucius Malfoy," he began, "Thirteen days ago you had received the noble offer of initiation into our ranks. Initiation shows your respect and loyalty to the Dark Lord, to your fellow Death Eaters, and to yourself. If you accept, initiation will begin immediately tonight." Nott didn't even bother to mention what would happen to Draco if he refused.

Draco swallowed, choosing his words carefully. Everything had been planned out – and it had to run exactly as planned. If anything went wrong…well, he didn't even want to think about the consequences.

"I, Draco Lucius Malfoy, acknowledge your offer of initiation. However, for the present time – I cannot be initiated and I cannot accept the Dark Mark."

Angry mutters rippled through the circle as the tension in the room mounted. Wands were immediately whipped out from behind backs or inside robes. Every single wand was trained on him, and eyes bored into him from all angles.

Nott advanced until the tip of his wand was merely inches from Draco's nose. The young Malfoy didn't flinch or appear startled.

"And why," Nott said dangerously. "May I ask, are you refusing our offer?" Brown eyes darkened to black and glittered dangerously.

"The Death Eaters need a spy," Draco stated simply. When the Death Eaters didn't move or respond he took that as a sign to continue. "The Dark Lord needs to…he needs Harry Potter. For the past sixteen years you have been seeking out this boy, and time and time again you have failed."

Angry screeches sounded from some of the cloaked figures as wands were jabbed threateningly. Nott whipped around and hissed at them to be silent.

Draco stood stock-still waiting to continue. Nott looked down on the cold boy in front of him, torn between hearing him out and hurting him for marring the Death Eater name.

"Continue," he hissed warily, black eyes blazing.

Draco obeyed. "I currently attend Hogwarts, as you know. I have the greatest chance of bringing you Harry Potter. It's not like any one of you can walk into Hogwarts and simply snatch the boy away. The teachers, students…that old fool – they'd be on you in seconds. However, I can be a spy. Listen in and try to bring you the boy. However if I am a spy, I cannot take the Dark Mark. Dumbledore would keep me under his watchful gaze, and the teachers or other students would see."

The Death Eaters remained silent weighing to young Malfoy's words. Nott faced him lips set in a deadly smile that remained on his lips.

"Hmm…an ereptor eruditis…" he stated softly. "A spy…yes…hmm…"

Draco inhaled quietly, hope swelling inside of him. Maybe…just…just possibly the plan would work…a small feeling of relief warmed his body…

Nott set his gaze on Draco. "The Death Eaters need a spy…do you accept, knowing that whereas no mark is burned upon you, you are still in the service of the Dark Lord?"

Draco swallowed and parted his lips to speak:

"I accept, and acknowledge that I am still in the service of the Dark Lord. I will be all faithful and loyal to him."

He bit his tongue anxiously praying with every fiber in his body that this would turn out as hoped. He never noticed the blazing glacier eyes behind him, or the pale, shaking hands that raised a wand dangerously.

"HE LIES!" a voice shrieked shrilly. Every head whipped around to face sharp as steel eyes.

Draco gasped.

"M-m-mother?" he whispered in shock. "Y-y--"

"HE LIES!" Narcissa screamed. "H-he will NOT be faithful to our Lord! He-he-LIAR!" she shouted and pointed her wand at him.

Draco felt coldness seep into him, freezing the very blood in his veins. Blood drained from his face, and he swayed unsteadily. A chill wrapped around him like a heavy fog, surrounding him in it's iciness.

Narcissa, once a regal powerful woman, was now a shrieking crazed person. She plunged a hand into her pocket and Draco feared that a dagger would emerge. Instead, a small, clear vial was produced. Clear liquid sloshed around in the vial innocently.

Draco paled even more. He instantly recognized the clear fluid from many days in his Potion's Master's classroom. Shit, he thought desperately. Veritaserum.


A/N: Mwhahaha! A cliffe! Don't you just hate me now/evil grin/ Well darlings, I'm expecting at least more 5 reviews! No reviews, no story. Remember that. Although if there are more than 5 reviews, please FEEL FREE /cough/hack/cough/ to drop another review! And just to agonize you further, the fourth chapter is just sitting on my computer, mocking you. So…why are you still reading this? GET REVIEWING PEOPLES!

/evil grin/

Linari Tanis Thank you for reviewing!