Labyrinth of Life

Chapter 4: Separation

By coeurnoir

Disclaimer: Labyrinth of Life is a work of fanfiction but the characters belong to J.K.Rowling.

A/N: Sorry it took so long guys, there was a problem with the site or my comp and I couldn't update. Sorry for misleading u guys in the last chapter, I didn't do it on purpose (I Swear…!). Have fun, I really do hope you like it. happy reading and happy REVIEWING!!!

Draco was stressed out about the situation he was in. He had been found by his father for which he was still mentally kicking himself for staying in the most obvious place. And he had … Befriended? His worst enemy's best friend, a girl he'd spent six years trying to make life hell for just because of who her friends were. What was going on with his life? Why was he finding it so hard to find his way?

Draco had been moulded and groomed since the day he was born to succeed his father in the family's infamous career as death eaters. He had known since the age of fifteen that it wasn't the career path he wanted. But, scared of his father like any sane person in the wizarding world, he kept his mouth shut.

It was an extremely well kept secret between Draco and his best mate Blaise Zabini that the both of them had lost interest in their support of the dark lord. This was for numerous reasons. Blaise wanted to live in a happy world, and had realised that if the Dark Lord was in charge, then not only would a lot of innocent people die but also it would result in chaos if he didn't keep control of his death eaters or anarchy if he did.

Draco was for similar reasons; he simply didn't want to live in a world where a Dark lunatic was in charge. If a single other person in their house found out about their views, he didn't doubt that they would be annihilated within an hour. Now he had let Granger in on his half of the secret. If she told anyone…

Draco had owled Blaise the other day using a code that they had created and memorised to let him know what had happened. He was lucky, Blaise's father didn't want him to join till he had finished school and gotten a job. Draco had however left out the meeting and hanging around Hermione. He still wasn't sure that he knew what he was doing on that front, maybe it was just from the two of them being under so much stress and needing a way to vent it. Yeah, that was it.

So it was now that Draco found himself in Diagon Alley itself. They had vacated their rooms not long ago. But Hermione had insisted that before they go, she must have a copy of the potions textbook. Draco had attempted to dissuade her, but she was being a bloody prig and wouldn't budge. So Hermione had been rudely ordered to sit at the bar till he got back, and if he wasn't back in an hour, go without him.

Now he found himself at the counter of Flourish and Blots with the text under his arm, he was looking over his shoulder every few seconds, paranoid that he was being followed. Diagon Alley was almost deserted that day, during the summer it didn't get busy till the last week, and seeing as it was a Sunday, A muggle holiday they'd picked up on around here, it wasn't likely a crowd was going to show up.

Draco was in a mental turmoil. He wanted to run away and hide till school started. He felt obliged to go with Granger as he'd gotten her into danger; besides, he got on well with her. The other choice was to let her go on her way and he could find some other place to hide out till he got to school. Then, when he arrived at school, who's to say that all the Slytherins didn't know about what happened this summer?

Draco started to head back to the Leaky Cauldron, bloody bookworms he thought as he strode down the cobbled street. He heard footsteps behind him, when he turned he couldn't recognise the person, their hood was up and shadowing their face. He got paranoid and started to walk faster. The person behind him sped up as well, this confirmed his fears and he broke out into a run. He hadn't gone far, but he looked back anyway to see if the person tailing him had broken into a run as well. They had.

Then all he saw when he faced back to see where he was going was a huge meaty forearm smack into his upper body, coat hangering him and making him slam onto his back with a decent amount of force.

He was winded and was seeing stars, he tried to get up though, these were his father's favourite muscle men. He'd recognised the one behind him as he'd started running because his hood had fallen off, he knew who the other would be as the two went hand in pocket.

Next thing Draco knew was that he was being picked up by the collar at the back of the neck and then the familiar sensation of side-by-side apparition as the henchmen took him away.

They arrived in the entrance hall of the Malfoy manor. By then Draco had woken up and started to fight them, he was a strong young man and more than a match for one of them, but two? No. The last thing he remembered was a dinner plate sized fist smashing into his jaw and his eyesight exploding into a kaleidoscope of colours as he blacked out.

Hermione had been sitting at the bar for over an hour, waiting for Draco to come back. She had insisted on the book, so that they didn't have to come back here before going to school. He hadn't listened to her reasoning though and had stormed off, ordering her to stay. He had been over the time limit he set. He had told her to go to the hiding place and wait for him there. If he wasn't coming now though, he wasn't coming later.

Hermione scraped the bar stool back as she got up, she'd made a decision. She pulled out her wand as she meandered along Diagon alley. After looking in Flourish and Blots and asking the owner whether he'd been in, she decided something had gone wrong. Turning a corner she saw a scuffle going on down the way a little. She recognised the blond hair as it fell to the ground and two men catching him.

Hermione started forward, about to yell and try to help him, but they apparated away. Taking Malfoy with them. She knew it was no use trying to help him now; she had no idea where they'd gone. Hermione walked up to where they had apparated. There was an object lying on the ground, dropped by Malfoy. Picking it up she brushed the dust off, it was her potions book, and he had gotten it for her! She shrunk it and pocketed it, making a decision.

Hermione apparated, but not to her uncles house, she arrived instead behind a bush on a quiet street outside a large old-fashioned house. Checking to make sure the street was empty she walked up to the door and stated her name. It unlocked magically and she was able to walk inside. The large house was empty, it was the holidays, none of her friends would be here, and they'd all be at the burrow. Stepping into her room she looked up at the Black family crest that sat above the fireplace. She loved this house, the memories her and her friends had created inside it. Most important of all, she felt safe inside of it and that no one could find her now unless she wanted.

Draco was dragged unceremoniously into his father's study; he was dumped in front of the large desk. Draco thought of the last time he was in this room and inwardly shuddered. He quickly shuttered his face and his mind as he stared his father in the face.

"So nice for you to return, I was wondering whether you would show up to your initiation so I decided the boys could give you a hand. Just to keep your schedule you know. Seeing as you have missed your apparition appointment I have decided that it can be postponed and that we will just fix you up and take you to the initiation."

Lucius stood and started pacing the room. "There are first one or two things that we need to get straight. Firstly I will overlook this recent behaviour of yours as typically teenager and warn you that if you ever do it again I will see to it that after every strip of skin has been peeled off your back by Macnair then you'll be placed under the Imperious curse and forced to live your life as the Dark Lord's personal servant.

Secondly, I noticed that you befriended a little mudblood while you ran away. That is to stop right now and if you speak to her again outside of school business then she will be taken care of." Draco sneered at his father, giving his high and mighty lecture. As if he was going to do everything that he asked. He'd find a way to get out of it, he always had before.

Lucius saw the look on his son's face and strode over and backhanded him. "Don't think I wont do it. Besides, I know how your darling mother helped you in this little escapade, and lets just say that she will not be coming to your initiation into the clan as she is feeling a little indisposed…"

At that Draco's heart cinched. He couldn't stand anything to happen to his mother. His eyes cast themselves downward and he stopped his wriggling against the holds of the guards.

He was sent to his room, or I should say, he was led to his room with ten minutes to change and cleanup before they left. He changed into a black silk shirt and pants and a heavy black cloak with a deep hood. He gelled his hair back, the way his father had liked it before it grew long and walked out of the room. He didn't know how he was going to get out of what was to come, but he knew that it was going to hurt.

He was apparated to a dark graveyard. The tombstones were all old and mouldy, crumbling away at the edges. He was still flanked by the two muscle men of his father's; they led him to a circle of death eaters, all wearing their masks. They looked at him sightlessly, he couldn't recognise any of them through their masks. But they could recognise him. On the opposite side of the circle stood a tall thin man in robes so dark a scarlet that it looked like blood at midnight. This man however didn't wear a mask. So deep in his hood you could see his snakelike red eyes. Draco felt a shiver go down his back as the Dark Lord's eyes pierced into him like needles.

Draco was led to stand in front of the Dark Lord, he was careful to keep his mind blank, as he knew that he was an expert at occlumency. His father hissed at him to bow and show the proper respect.

"Draco Malfoy, you stand before our clan with a wish to become one of us. Your father has proved your bloodline worthy and has vouched for your willingness to serve. Tonight is the night that you become one of us. You will receive your brand, despite your failure to complete your task set by your father last year, we will set you a new task that hopefully won't be as … difficult for you" There was a collective chuckle around the circle. The Dark Lord strolled forward, his eyes never leaving Draco's, a sheen of sweat formed on his brow, he was scared out of his wits.

The Dark Lord was now centimetres away from him. His red eyes still staring, his snakelike face was contorted into a look of arrogance, as he smelt Draco's fear.

"You are scared, boy. I like that. You will learn to fear me, just like all other members in our clan. Now, give me your arm…"

A/N: Review… when I clap my hands and you wake up, you will review…