AN: miep

Harry Potter and the Snake's Veil

Chapter 05 Initiation

The next week went by in a blur for Harry. Still feeling the after effects of the invasion of his mind, Harry spent the days rambling to his godfather and to himself. He couldn't concentrate clearly. Random memories would flash up from his childhood to times at Hogwarts. How long ago they felt. For only an hour, or so would, his head clear up enough to allow Harry some real thought.

Halfway through the week, Wormtail came in and took Harry's measurements for clothing. He never said a word and avoided Sirius who growled until the slimy rat left. Every day, Wormtail also would bring in two small plates of food and a cup of water. Harry rarely ate and nibbled on the bread. He did find the cool water refreshing.

By the end of the week, the meager supplies and rest allowed Harry's mind to stitch back together what Voldemort had ripped apart. Harry felt mentally stable and remembered what was looming ahead. He was moved into the room he had previously stayed in the day before. There, he was cleaned and a long, black robe was put on. The Death Eater's robe.

Sitting on the large bed, Harry knew he had to do something. He had to at least try to escape, make some futile attempt. But his right arm was useless and Merlin knew where his wand had gone off to. The chamber door opened and Wormtail walked in.

"Time for the feast Potter."

Harry sat on the bed and waited for Wormtail to come to him. With the gullible rat approached Harry acted fast. Harry punched out with his left arm hoping to at least get Wormtail to drop his wand. His arm was seized before it even touched skin by a silver hand. Harry gasped as Wormtail squeezed the powerful magical hand.

"Tsk, tsk, Potter. Our Master won't be very happy. Now come along." Still holding Harry's arm, Wormtail steered Harry out of the room and through the corridors. They walked down a large set of stone stairs and took a left. They entered a large dinning room.

The walls were adorned with green velvet drapes that fell to the ground like a waterfall cascading into a pond below. A large chandelier came down from the high vaulted ceiling with a snake curling around the support. Green emerald eyes flickered in the candlelight. A long table of mahogany was centered in the room. Around this table sat fifty Death Eaters all looking around interestedly. Voldemort, at the head of the table, turned around as Harry and Wormtail entered. He smiled.

"My loyal Death Eaters, you came here tonight expecting the initiation of some new comrades. But, as you can see, our guest of honor has arrived."

"You mean, my Lord that you are going to kill Potter as a sacrifice for the new ones?"

"No you fool!" Voldemort spat. The Death Eater flinched. Voldemort composed himself before continuing, "Harry Potter is going to become a Death Eater. He has given me valuable information about the whereabouts of Dumbledore's Order of the Phoenix. He has earned his position as my right hand, my next in command. But, Harry Potter is a secret. Let no one hear he is a Death Eater or I will know." He paused. The Death Eater looked at one another briefly before returning their attention back on their leader. "So let us all join tonight in a feast of celebration." The Death Eaters cheered and Harry was led to the seat to the right of Voldemort.

As Harry sat down, he felt eye boring through him. He glanced up and was met with cold beetle-like eyes. Snape. Harry tried to open his mind and tell Snape to get him out of here when Voldemort started to speak.

"Let's all have a casual dinner tonight my loyal family. Masks off. Enjoy." He clapped his hand and twenty-five house elves entered carrying an assortment of rich food. There were turkeys and hams, roasted potatoes and parsnips, brussel sprouts and turnips, dinner rolls and Yorkshire puddings. Then another ten walked in, each with two bottles of different wines.

Harry just stared at the food, too sick to eat. He tried to catch Snape's eye once again but Snape was either ignoring him or too busy to notice.

"If I were you Harry, I'd eat. You don't know when you'll be getting another meal after tonight," Voldemort whispered in Harry ear.

Harry winced as his scar twinged. Then he reluctantly scooped a few roasted potatoes on his plate and grabbed a Yorkshire pudding. With his left hand, he awkwardly tried to cut his potato in half. His right still lay dead at his side, throbbing slightly. He abandoned the potato and took a bite of the Yorkshire pudding.

Voldemort took the glass in front of Harry and poured wine into it. "Congratulations my son. If I may say so, this is the best thing you will ever do."

The Yorkshire pudding turned into stone and fell to the bottom of his stomach. If he got the Dark Mark, he would betray all that his parent fought for. There was nothing he could do to stop the events.

"I'd like to make a toast to Young Master Potter, in hope he becomes a great ally and one day a great leader!" Lucius Malfoy said standing up.

"Here, here!"

Voldemort shoved the glass in Harry's hand and Harry forced himself to down the wine. HE coughed as his went down his throat. It did nothing to calm his uneasiness.

Finally the plates were cleared and Voldemort stood up, "Let us go to the Semper Fidelis Chamber to continue tonight festivities. I know that is what you are all anxious for." Voldemort seized Harry's left arm and, followed by all the Death Eater, marched him to a room which was concealed by a painting of a snake devouring a corpse.

This room appeared ancient. The stone walls were lit by torches, the only source of light. A platform stood at one end of the room. A large stone slab sitting vertically was the most prominent item in the room. Splashes of rust color were the only hue notable in the room.

Voldemort took Harry to this platform and pushed him against the slab. A large manacle wrapped around Harry's waist and ankles. Voldemort grabbed Harry's left arm and pulled it straight out against the rock. Another manacle wrapped around his wrist and upper arm. Voldemort went to his right arm, sheared the sleeve off, exposing the broken arm, and straightened the arm out. Harry bit his tongue so he wouldn't cry out.

"Oh yes, I forgot. Your arm is broken. It will be too hard to place a tattoo on your arm if the bone is jutting out," Voldemort laughed. The other Death Eaters joined in at this little joke. He tapped his wand to it and the arm healed. Then a chain wrapped around his wrist, leaving Harry's upper arm visible.

Voldemort turned back to the crowd of eager Death Eaters. "My loyal followers, tonight you bear witness to Harry Potter's entrance to our brotherhood. He has turned his back on his so called friends who betrayed him and in turn came to me, came to us, seeking a part in our family. So I ask all of you, do you accept Harry Potter as a fellow Death Eater?"

"Yes we do, our Lord," came a chorus of responses.

Harry laid on the stone paralyzed. There was no way to get out. There was no one coming to save him. No parents, no Fawkes, no Dumbledore, no Order. He was going to become a Death Eater.

Voldemort turned to Harry. His red eyes sparkled maliciously, "Do you Harry Potter pledge to stay Semper Fidelis or be punished by death?"

"No," he wanted to scream but he paused, his throat constricted. He was still caught up in what the repercussions would be after he became a Death Eater. What would Ron or Hermione think, the Weasleys? Dumbledore would be so disappointed in him. Would he even see them all ever again?

Voldemort took this pause as an insult and walked over to Harry's side. In a low whisper, he threatened, "If you don't say yes, I'll kill your godfather."

Harry paled. That shook him out of his thoughts. Then in a shaken voice, he announced, "Yes, my Master."

Voldemort's cruel smile widened. Turning back to his Death Eaters, Voldemort said, "Now as Harry Potter has pledged his faithfulness, it's time for the next part of his initiation. Wormtail, would you heat it up now?" He paused as Wormtail fumbled around and finally thrust something into the flames. Harry couldn't see what it was since Voldemort and the slab blocked his line of vision. Then he continued, "I announced earlier that Harry Potter was to become next in command, my right hand, if you will. That's why I have decided to place the Dark Mark on his right arm. Wormtail, the Fang, please."

Harry turned his head to where Wormtail was. He finally came into Harry's vision. The Fang, it turned out to be, was a branding tool. At the end was a skull with a snake slithering out. The Dark Mark. It was fiery red. Harry closed his eyes in concentration; he'd done wandless magic before…

Meanwhile, Wormtail had handed Voldemort the Fang. With his wand, Voldemort tapped it muttering an incantation under his breath. The brand glowed silver before turning back to the red-orange glow. Voldemort stepped toward the chained youth. All the Death Eaters waited with baited breath. The high squeal of Bellatrix Lestrange rang through the room before falling in quiet anticipation.

Then, a sizzling noise interrupted the sacred silence. Smoke rose from the now cool brand. The red glow faded to a solid black. Gasps were heard from a few of the Death Eaters.

Harry opened his eyes. He was breathing hard and small droplets of sweat formed on the sides of his eyes. The Dementors had sucked more power than he had thought.

"Wormtail! You useless filth. Crucio!" Wormtail's cries of torment shattered the air. The Death Eaters seemed appeased at this for a little while before turning their attention back to Harry.

'He thinks Wormtail didn't heat it long enough. He doesn't suspect me…' Voldemort turned to Harry and anger flashed in his eyes. 'Bloody hell.'

"Ardeo!" Voldemort growled. The brand was immediately red hot. The brand reglowed silver again but Voldemort has quickly stepped forward so quickly, it was barely noticble. He thrust it onto Harry's bare arm.

For five seconds, Harry felt nothing, and then searing pain erupted. Harry bit his tongue, not willing to show his vulnerability by screaming in front of the Death Eaters. The putrid smell of burning flesh, his burning flesh, assaulted Harry's senses. He smelt it, tasted it in his mouth, and heard the sizzling noise it was making. Harry fought hard against his gag reflex. His tongue was bleeding now…

Voldemort pulled away the brand. The brilliant black Dark Mark stared back at him and the crowd. "My Death Eaters, may I present Harry Potter, your newest family member."

-Anaticulapraecantrix