Malfoy Manor was a cold house. Perhaps once, it had been warm and joyful, filled with pictures and laughter. An age where the marble tiles and stone awnings had made the manor seem grand and beautiful.

Now, it felt like a tomb. The stone walls and floors seemed to suck in precious heat from the place, leaving behind frigid and stark places. Footsteps echoed like heartbeats and breaths condensed into clouds around the crowd of hooded figures seated at the long, black table.

"Is there any other business to attend to?"

Voldemort's voice was slow and high, piercing through the cold air. It had long since ceased sending shivers down Snape's spine. He, like the others, shook his head softly, keeping his eyes downcast and hands clasped on his lap, trying to stave away the frostbite nipping at his fingers.

"Very well. You are dismissed."

A murmur of voices followed as the Death Eaters rose carefully, making their way towards the exits. Snape bowed his head with them before rising. It had been a long meeting, hours of reports from the Ministry, plans to infiltrate it, and his own scant and carefully worded reports about the Order and Hogwarts. Soon he would need to give a similarly scant, carefully-worded report to Dumbledore's Order. Back and forth, a never ending cycle of trickled truths.

He'd barely left his seat when Voldemort's voice rose again. "Draco. A word."

Three figures standing in the doorway froze. Draco glanced at his mother. Narcissa's hand clamped down on his shoulder, gripping it like a vice before releasing him.

Snape caught sight of Draco's terrified face and leaned down to murmur in the Dark Lord's ear.

"My Lord—"

"You stay too, Severus. This task pertains to Hogwarts."

"Yes, My Lord."

Voldemort had risen from his chair and made his way to the back of the room, gazing at the portrait over an empty fireplace. Draco came to a stop a little way behind him. He briefly caught Snape's eye. Even without legilimency, Snape could see the fear in them. He returned his own, cold gaze, raising his chin and standing tall and firm. Draco understood, gritted his teeth and raised his own head determinedly.

"Well, young Draco. How are you finding our little gatherings?"

Draco swallowed. "It is an honor to have a seat at your table, my Lord."

"It is. Especially after your father's failings in the Ministry. But we are not our fathers, are we Draco?"

"No, my Lord."

Lord Voldemort turned to face him. A visible shiver ran down Draco's spine and his eyes dropped, unwilling to meet the cold, red slits of the Dark Lord.

"You are still at Hogwarts, are you not, Draco?" Voldemort asked quietly.

"I am."

Voldemort smiled, and turned to Snape, "So young, Severus, to be joining our ranks. You were of a similar age too, if I recall correctly?"

Snape tore his eyes away from Draco. "Sixteen, My Lord." Rash decisions as a rash child and look where it had gotten him; balancing on a knife's edge for the rest of his life, "I saw no point in delaying my loyalty to your cause when it seeks to redeem us"

The Dark Lord seemed pleased by Snape's answer. He walked slowly towards Draco who stood rooted to the spot.

"Severus has been my most loyal informant. He has brought me invaluable information from within the walls of Hogwarts and of Albus Dumbledore. What do you know of your Headmaster, Draco?"

Draco stiffened, Severus could see his mind racing to drag up any piece of information which the Dark Lord might find useful.

"He is a powerful wizard. But he would rather see our world perish under the rule of those unworthy than use his power to help wizard-kind. I am making it my mission to avoid him and his teachings. To be a better man than he is for the sake of our kind."

Apparently, he opted for honesty. Severus raised an eyebrow, but said nothing. It was an insightful opinion, one that Severus did not expect. The Dark Lord seemed to agree.

"Well spoken, Draco." Lord Voldemort had come to a halt in front of the young Malfoy. Draco's head was bowed now, his eyes trained on the floor as though forced down by some almighty weight. Snapes heart was hammering in his chest, but he said nothing.

"Dumbledore has been my adversary for many years. He has become an… inconvenience."

Snape stiffened. He saw Draco startle beneath Voldemort's gaze. Surely not…

"You are in a unique position, Draco. Dumbledore trusts his students. He will not be expecting an attack from within Hogwarts."

"My Lord—" Snape started, but was cut off by a stern look from his Master.

"So I give this most important task to you and you alone. You will kill Albus Dumbledore."

Silence.

Voldemort towered over Draco, staring down upon the boy with an amused indifference. "Are you not honored?"

Draco looked terrified.

"I am honored, my Lord."

"Good." Voldemort's hand shot out, grabbed Draco's wrist and pressed a sharp wand to the bare skin of Draco's forearm.

Draco shrieked and fell to his knees with a sickening crack. The smell of burned flesh filled the room. Snape could do nothing but watch as the black snake slid slowly from Voldemort's wand and into Dracos' ashen skin. It coiled around his wrist and Snape felt his own Dark Mark twitch and slither on his arm. Draco was shaking, one arm trapped within Voldemort's grasp, his skin clammy and his jaw clenched in pain.

Lord Voldemort was smiling.

He dropped Draco's arm and towered over him. Draco stayed down, his head bowed and breath coming in rough, uneven pants. The Dark Mark shone bright on his arm, the muscles twitching as the snake settled into the grinning skull.

"You will not fail me," Voldemort said coldly.

"No, Master."

"Good. I would hate to see the Malfoy Family disappoint me again."

THC

House: Ravenclaw

Class: Astronomy

Category: Drabble

Prompt(s) chosen: [Dialogue] "I'm making it my mission to avoid him/her/them/name."

Word Count: 996