Severus looked up only to see the slim figure of Lucius Malfoy standing over him. Severus was not sure if he should be scared until Lucius put out his hand. Severus was so shocked by the gesture that he couldn't even move. "I'm not going to bite you" teased Lucius. Severus took his hand and he helped him up. "Thanks" said Severus still shaken by this show of friendship.

"So you still haven't answered my question" said Lucius. "What?" asked Severus. "What were you doing hiding in the corner?" "Nothing" mumbled Severus looking at his feet. He had the strange feeling that Lucius could read his thoughts. He looked up to find Lucius looking at him with a funny look on his face. "Some friends and I are having a…gathering on Thursday night. I'd like you to come". "Well…Um…I" Severus stammered. Lucius grabbed Severus by the tie and put his face right up to Severus's "I do not extend this invitation lightly" spat Lucius "it would be unwise to refuse." With that he released Severus and said casually "we meet on the 7th floor across from the tapestry of Barnabus the Barmy. Be there at 8:00"with that Lucius turned around and walked away. Right before he rounded the corner he turned back to Severus "don't be late" he said, and with a swish of his robes he was gone.

Severus stood in the now empty corridor still stunned by the day's events. After a moment he came to his senses and straitened his robes. His stomach growled loudly which reminded him that the rest of the school was at lunch. He had no idea how much time was left for lunch but the hollow feeling in his stomach led him to descend the stairs to the great hall. Just as he found a seat at the Slytherin table the bell rang for afternoon classes. Severus grabbed a roll from the table and gave one last look at the food that was rapidly disappearing from the plates.

As he hurried down the hallway toward history of magic he shoved bits of the roll into his mouth. He swallowed the last bite as he entered the room and took his usual seat in the back. He was so preoccupied that he didn't even look up when Professor Binns entered the room through the blackboard and several people shrieked. Within moments of the lesson starting he was asleep dreaming of Lily and the mysterious gathering with Lucius. He was awakened later by the bell only to realize that he slept through the entire lesson. His roll of parchment was empty but for a few wet spots of drool. He quickly wiped his chin hoping that no one had noticed and hurried out of the room.

The rest of the week passed quickly in a haze of rain, homework and visits to the hospital wing. During his visit on Thursday morning Lily announced that she was finally being let out. She chatted happily about all the things that she would do at the coming weekends Hogsmeade visit. Severus longed to invite her to go with him, but he didn't have the guts.

The whole rest of the day whenever he passed Lucius in the hallway, Lucius gave him a peculiar smile which Severus was quite sure meant that he better be there tonight. As soon a Severus finished dinner that night he headed up to the 7th floor corridor. When he arrived at the tapestry of Barnabus the Barmy he did not see any door. At first he thought he must have heard Lucius wrong, then he thought Lucius had tricked him. He was just about to leave when a door suddenly appeared in the wall. It opened a few inches and Lucius stuck his face out.

"Good it's you." His hand came out of the partially open door and beckoned Severus over. "Put up your right hand" commanded Lucius. Lucius's hand disappeared behind the door and when it reappeared his wand was clenched in his fist. He pointed it at Severus "Repeat after me. I will not repeat anything that is said or done in this room t anyone at anytime." Severus dutifully repeated the oath and Lucius sealed it with a wave of his wand.

Lucius stepped back and threw open the door to reveal a nicely decorated parlor. There were two sofas and a warm fire crackling in the grate. There were bookshelves on three walls and they were all filled with leather bound books. Several Slytherins lounged on the couch. Among them was Narcissa, Belatrix, Regalus, Crabbe, and Goyle.

"This is an exclusive organization here at Hogwarts of what are called Death Eaters." said Lucius as he led Severus into the room. "Death Eaters?" asked Severus. It was a strange name, but it sounded good as he said it. "Death eaters" proclaimed Lucius "are a group of wizards that aspire to greater and more powerful things". Severus was intrigued by this. "So there are more of you?" he asked. "Nearly 100. Their's a group like us at Durmstrang, but the rest are adults living in the wizarding world. They are completely normal except for this." He pulled up the left sleeve of his robe to reveal a tattoo of a skull with a serpent coming out of its mouth. Suddenly Lucius released his sleeve and looked Severus in the eye. "Joining us can give you the promise of glory beyond what you ever could have imagined. Lord Voldemort will one day rise to power and when he does we will be greatly rewarded for our help." "Lord Voldemort?" asked Severus. He had heard the name before, but he couldn't place it. "You might know him better as Tom Riddle." Severus was still confused and it must have showed on his face because Lucius continued "He was a student here years ago. He began to study the dark arts and gather followers. As he became more powerful he fashioned a new name for himself. Lord Voldemort." Lucius turned to face the window He is out there now gaining power and followers and soon he will rise to power and we will go along with him. "Lucius' eyes sparkled dangerously as he finished. And Lucius was sweapt away by the prospect of such glory.

Lucius backed away from the window and moved to the couch where he took a seat. He gestured to Severus to take a seat beside him. Severus accepted the seat and perched awkwardly at the edge waiting for something to happen. Severus looked around the room and as he relaxed, snippets of conversation drifted his way; he was surprised to find that it was just ordinary Hogwarts gossip. Just as Severus felt comfortable enough to join conversation, Lucius stood up and, with an air of importance, proclaimed "It is Time". With that the whole room fell silent. Lucius walked to the fireplace. He took a pinch of floo powder from the jar on the mantle and threw it into the fire. As the fire blazed green Lucius Stepped in and with a very solemn look on his face yelled "Riddle Manor"