The Newbies' First Mission
A few days later, Lucius and Sylvain Apparated back to the Dark Lord's hideout, as their Marks burnt black. "Who knew," Lucius gasped, holding his left forearm, "this could hurt so much?"
Sylvain laughed grimly. "Don't be a pansy," he said shortly. "They'll be worse things to come." His vigilant eyes spotted the entrance of Voldemort's hideout, concealed behind two especially large and foul-smelling Dumpsters. "There it is, Malfoy. Let's get going."
This time, no one met them at the door. Pushing back the rubber curtains, Lucius and Sylvain hurried inside.
The Dark Lord was in his usual room, sitting at his chair as if it were a throne. The two boys bowed their heads, dark and blond, as they entered, and knelt at the foot of their master, kissing the hem of his robes. "We are here, my Lord," Sylvain said firstly – it was him who had told Lucius the type of greetings attributed to the Dark Lord.
Voldemort's lip curled. "I see you have learned of the greeting procedures from your father, Nott," he said in reply. "Iohann has taught you well."
"Thank you, my Lord," Sylvain said, bowing his head.
"And you, Malfoy," the Dark Lord's head swivelled to face Lucius, whose eyes lowered. "How are you?"
Lucius wasn't sure what to answer. Why was Voldemort asking, anyway? He was quite certain that his master didn't give a damn about how he was doing.
"I am doing well enough, my Lord," he said finally.
"I see." The Dark Lord got to his feet, urging his servants to do the same. "Malfoy, Nott: I trust that you have met my other Death Eaters?"
Sylvain and Lucius nodded; the latter winced internally when he thought about how Bellatrix's wand had hurt against his cheek.
"Well, it comes to my attention that the bartender of The Furled Cobra in Knockturn Alley is, putting it simply, acting out again." Voldemort stared out of the window. "I have warned him once before that his behaviour is simply unaccepted for a pureblood wizard of his sort – the Mulciber family, as you must surely know, is one of our most prominent pureblood families. We cannot have them associating with Mudbloods, can we?" When the boys shook his head, Voldemort smiled approvingly. "That is why I have sent two teams of my Death Eaters to investigate. I want to send a third, of course – and so Rodolphus will be accompanying the two of you."
The Dark Lord gestured to the shadows, where the dark, thin form of Rodolphus Lestrange emerged. "You know Malfoy and Nott, of course," Voldemort said crisply. His red eyes travelled from Rodolphus to the two boys. "They are new recruits. This is their first mission."
"Ah, newbies," Rodolphus smiled, but the smile didn't reach his eyes. "Haven't had those in a long time. Follow me, Malfoy, Nott."
Lucius ducked his head and hurried after the older wizard, the world of possibilities spinning in his mind.
Here was the glory that he had joined for.