Chapter Five
Twisted Fate
Disclaimer: What can I say, I'm not J.K Rowling. Every night I rub a random lamp in the house, hoping that it is magic, and every night I die a little when a genie doesn't pop out. Wish one would to be J.K. Rowling, not her exactly, but to be the one who came up with her idea. Wish two would be for world peace (okay it probably wouldn't be my second wish, but it would make my top fifty.) and wish three would be for an unlimited amount of wishes.
A/N: I got tired of writing Author's Note, so now I'm just abbreviating. Am I lazy, no. Do I like to use my time wisely, yes. Though you could make the argument that this is wasting time, but people who make that argument should be shot twice in the foot, yes it's dramatic, but now none of you will make that argument. HaHA! For those of you that DID review last chapter you will be able to make a wish through me that I will relay to my genie. Those of you who didn't, well my genie knows where you live. MAHAHAHaa… Sigh, I have no life. Oh well here's chapter 6, ENJOY AND REVIEW!
Note: I changed the password that Hermione uses to get in to Snape's chambers, I don't know what I was thinking the first time, sigh. The new password in mon enfer, which is French and loosely means "my hell".
A special thanks to pointblank1 who not only edited this chapter in record time, but also on vacation. So everyone should thank her. And tell her that she's super SUPER awesome!
Snape's eyes widened as he looked over her. Her jaw looked swollen shut, eyes black and blue stood out on her normally pale face, which was now covered in blood. As Snape knelt down by his student he noticed a wet sensation seeping in through his robes, and looking down noticed the puddle of blood, glistening sickly in the moonlight.
"Fuck," whispered Snape, as he stared down horrified. "What the hell did that bastard do to you, Hermione?"
Dear Hermione,
Ron and I are just having trouble adjusting, I hope you understand that. We're not necessarily mad at you (well, I'm not). I'm just surprised at the information, that's all. Ron, well he just feels like he is always the last one to know everything. Once he decides to be angry, it's hard to stop him- you know what Ron can be like. Remember when I became the fourth Triwizard champion? Ron wouldn't talk to me until the end of the first task. I think that's what this situation is like. He'll get over it, eventually.
Hermione, I just want to let you know that what ever you say I'll trust you. If you just found out about your heritage and the Malfoys, then I believe that you didn't know before. If you want to embrace them as family, I won't hold it against you, but you know perfectly well I couldn't remain friends with you. But if, like I think, you don't want anything to do with them, then I will be here to help you deal with the situation at hand.
And Hermione, I hope to see you in Diagon Alley later this summer so that we can talk further.
Sincerely Yours,
Harry
P.S. All the rest of the Weasleys believe you. Mrs. Weasley asked me to invite you to stay here at the Burrow. You're more than welcome to come here, and it may help Ron realize that you're still the same person.
In a daze, Snape pulled out his wand and kneeled next to the girl. In the dark it was hard to see the extent of her injuries, even with an illuminated wand, but the fact that she was unconscious was enough to confirm that she had a severe loss of blood. Unfortunately there wasn't much he could do without sufficient light, and besides, they were completely out in the open. The amount of magic required to heal even some of her injuries could attract unwanted attention -- magical or even nonmagical.
With a flick of his wand, Snape conjured up a stretcher and carefully levitated the girl onto it.
Snape guided the stretcher over the castle grounds and then up the castle steps. As soon as he stepped into the light of the castle, he swore again. The girl's bruises gave her a somewhat leopard-like appearance. The intensity of the bruising suggested a few broken bones and possibly deep tissue damage.
By the time Snape reached his quarters the sun was already starting to break the horizon. Of course, neither Snape nor Hermione saw any of this. But as the sun rose above the grounds, it illuminated a thin line of glistening red blood droplets that led from the gate to the castle. The blood mixed in with the morning dew and was lost in the grass.
Snape levitated the girl into his quarters and up the stairs. Because of Hermione's critical condition, Snape decided to take her to his room and lay her on his bed so that he would not only be able to monitor her more easily, but he would also be closer to his supply of potions. He would transfigure a chair in the neighboring room in which to sleep.
Once he had settled the girl onto his bed he started to evaluate the extent of her injuries. The most obvious was the broken hand, with blood still seeping from it. From what little of the hand that Snape could see, the hand looked black from bruising.
Snape drew out his wand and was just about to start cleaning blood of off the girl's hand when someone cleared their throat behind him.
Snape swiveled on the spot and who was standing in the doorway but Albus Meddlesome Dumbledore.
"What do you want, Headmaster?" snapped Snape. "I am quite busy right now and don't have time for a chat and a lemon drop." Snape turned back to the girl and started to silently remove the dried and drying blood.
"Severus, I'm not here to offer you a lemon drop -- though you are, no doubt, in need of one," sighed Dumbledore. "I merely saw you coming up the grounds with Miss Malfoy on a stretcher and wondered if there was anything I could do to help."
"Unless you can go kill the Dark Lord, no, I can't use your help," said Snape, his voice bitter and sarcastic. "That snake is torturing her as if she'd snatched the Elixir of Life from him."
"Believe me, Severus, I'm trying as hard as I can to bring Tom to justice. But, like you said, he is much like a snake, able to squeeze and manipulate his way out of tight spaces. Along with checking on Miss Malfoy, I also wanted to tell you that I've discovered a lead of some great importance. I will be away from the castle for a few days, hopefully no more than a week."
Snape just nodded quietly as he cleared away the final specks of blood on the girl's hand, and with a flick of his wand he sealed the gashes. The bleeding, however, wouldn't stop. The gashes reopened and fresh blood poured once more from her hand. Snape cursed violently and Dumbledore moved from the doorway to Snape's side. The Headmaster peered through his half moon spectacles down at the girl's hand.
"This was not done by Tom," whispered Dumbledore. "He prefers the Cruciatus Curse over other methods of torture."
Through clenched teeth Snape said, "This was done by Malfoy, I've seen him use it before. He only varies from the Cruciatus Curse when it's something personal. He used the Effrego Manus Curse on her. Not only does it break every bone in her hand and wrist, that's only half of the problem. The curse cannot be healed by anyone other than the victim. She must heal it herself."
Dumbledore's eye's moved from the girl's hand to the other injuries, "As bad as her hand is, let us mend her broken ribs and handle what looks like a concussion. Then we can return to her hand. I'll put a time charm around it in order to slow the bleeding for now."
Snape moved and positioned himself at the girl's head while Dumbledore moved over her chest.
Using his right hand, Snape, felt carefully around the girl's head in order to check for any visible signs of swelling. With his left hand he cast a revealing spell that worked like a medical scanning device, showing him any damage that might have occurred to the brain. Her frontal lobe showed signs of a slight concussion, but nothing that would cause more than a bad headache.
"I'm finished here, Headmaster, if you wish I can take over mending her ribs."
"That won't be necessary, Severus, I'm already done. Thankfully, both ribs were a nice clean break and there were very few splinters to worry about. She should feel as good as new as far as her ribs are concerned."
Snape grimaced as he turned his attention to the girl's hand. Even with the charm, the hand still bled slowly from various cuts and gashes.
"She needs to rest in order for her brain to recover from the shock of the concussion," whispered Snape. "I've taken the pressure off by reducing the swelling, but the body is its own best cure. I can only give her so many potions to assist her."
Dumbledore stood up and headed for the door. "Severus, I need to be off, the castle is in your hands while I'm away."
"May I ask where you are going, Headmaster? Or is this another one of your secret missions that I, your spy, who not only lies for you, but informs you of the Dark Lord's plans, at great personal risk, am not privileged enough to be informed of?" Snape hissed.
"Severus," sighed Dumbledore, "I've been through this with you before, I will only tell you what you need to know in order to help the Order. If the Dark Lord were to even get a glimpse of what I am doing then all hope would be lost. In time I may tell you, but even now, it's only guesswork."
Snape stood up and strode over to his potions cabinet. He retrieved two bottles with out so much as glancing at them. His eyes then briefly lingered on the smallest vial in the cabinet, Veritaserum, and a small dark part of his mind shouted in agreement. He had a right to know, didn't he? To answer his own question, Snape slammed the cabinet door and turned stiffly back to the girl laying on his bed, ignoring the Headmaster completely.
Kneeling down by the girl's bed, Snape uncorked the first bottle and, with his free hand, he gently opened her mouth. Even though he was never one to break awkward silences, Snape started speaking to no one in particular. "I'm going to first give her a vial of dreamless sleep in order to take any unwanted pressure off her mind. It should help her body heal itself if her rest is not troubled by nightmares."
He carefully poured the entire potion into the girl's mouth and made her swallow with his wand.
"Severus, you need to be careful with that. Voldemort may realize you've intervened if Miss Malfoy has no nightmares. She is already going to show signs of rapid healing," said Dumbledore in a suddenly strict voice.
"Would you have me leave her in a hell of nightmares, Headmaster?" asked Snape coolly. "She has suffered quite enough for tonight, and I'm sure she will relive it all over again in her dreams. I wouldn't wish that on many people, Headmaster, certainly not her."
"As touching as that is, Severus, I would like you to be able to keep your position at Tom's side as long as possible."
"Maybe," said Snape in a deadly quiet voice, "I'm done being our lap dog and running your errands. Maybe I would rather report to the Dark Lord and the Dark Lord alone." Even as he said it, Snape knew his threat sounded pathetically empty.
"And destroy all Lily did to try and finish him?" replied Dumbeldore, sounding just as calm as before. "Would you kill Harry yourself or just bring him to Tom's knees?"
"Enough," snapped Snape as he slammed down the bottle of blood replenishing solution on the bedside table. "I tire of this, Headmaster. Please leave my quarters before I am forced to throw you out. Go on your little quest, but do not expect me to eagerly await your return."
"Severus, I just want you to be aware of the danger, nothing more or less. If she suffers from horrible nightmares in order to help our cause, Lily's cause, then it will not be much of a loss. When I return, I'll help you restore your faith in me. Just be aware, Severus, that Tom never rests."
"I know that as well as anyone, Headmaster," Snape whispered, his glare deadly. "But you have tested my patience long enough tonight. Please leave. Now."
Snape turned away from the Headmaster and kneeled down once more at the girl's side. He retrieved the replenishing potion from its spot on the table. Uncorking the bottle, he poured the second potion down her throat and repeated the wand movements to get her to swallow, before setting the bottle back down on the table.
He stared at the last bottle of blood replenishing potion in his stores and tried to decide what would be better, to steal some from the hospital wing or to brew another batch. With the girl needing the potion in regular intervals until her hand healed, his only option would be to steal a few bottles and then brew up the rest.
After checking to make sure the girl was relatively stable, Snape left his quarters, but only after placing a charm on the girl that would alert him to any drastic changes in her condition.
The castle was dead silent, as he made his way up to the hospital wing, but Snape expected no different; few teachers stuck around long once term had ended. He didn't really blame them, he himself would eventually have to return to his own house on Spinner's End. He didn't really like the prospect, but he had no choice. Staying in the castle all summer would look suspicious, even to Death Eaters who weren't already suspicious of him.
Snape realized as he neared the hospital wing door that he would have to return home fairly soon. His list of excuses was running thin. The girl would have to come too, there would be no way around that. He had to keep an eye on her.
The door to the hospital wing was not locked, but that didn't surprise Snape. What did, however, was the light that came from the door as he opened it. Was Poppy back already from her break, or was someone else here that needing potions or medical care? Snape cautiously drew out his wand and casually held it out in front of him. With his free hand, he opened the door further and stepped in.
From what he could see there was no one in the room. All the beds were empty and there was no sign that anyone had been there. Snape silently cast a revealing charm and waited to see if it would reveal anyone. When a glowing red orb appeared at the tip of his wand, he drew it higher and griped the wand tighter. Someone was definitely in the area. Whether the mystery person was hiding in this room or in the office, Snape wasn't quite sure.
Snape moved farther into the room and walked slowly towards the office at the back. As he neared each set of beds, he silently cast revealing charms to make sure no one was waiting to ambush him. Although he had an inkling that whoever was in here was in the office, Snape would have been a fool if he didn't check each set of beds to make sure.
As Snape closed in on the office door, he noticed that it had been left ajar and that there were lights on inside. With the tip of his wand he carefully edged the door open. To his annoyance, Snape found Lucius Malfoy leaning lightly on his cane and standing in the center of the room with a slightly disgusted look on his face.
"For a man who is not only in bad favor with the Dark Lord, but thought to be locked away in Azkaban, I would have thought that coming to Hogwarts would be the last stop on your To Do list," sneered Snape.
"Oh, I would hate to be caught by that Muggle-loving fool and sent to Azkaban," drawled Lucius. "But since he appears to be away at the moment, I don't think I have anyone to fear."
"So you still have that poor assistant to Madame Hobkins under the Imperius Curse and taking my polyjuice potion?"
"You get the Daily Prophet, Severus, and they haven't yet reported anything about an escaped Death Eater, so you should be quite assured that the curse and the potion are still holding. My only concern now is what the Dark Lord is planning to do with Draco."
"The Dark Lord has told you of a plan?" asked Snape.
Lucius walked over to the door and closed it with the head of his cane. He then pulled out his black wand and put a silencing spell on the doors and windows.
Not looking at Snape, but rather out the window, Lucius put his wand back in his cane and whispered, "I know that the Dark Lord still hasn't forgotten about the Ministry fiasco. He plans to make me pay for that unfortunate day. I'm sure he plans to involve Draco in a plan of some sort, but I don't know exactly what."
"And you were hoping I would know," added Snape in an undertone. "You would have me betray the Dark Lord's trust by telling you, when he hasn't yet told you himself. I'm sorry that you think so little of me."
"Then you do know?" whispered Lucius hopefully. "He does have something in store for Draco!"
Snape raised an eyebrow, "You jump to conclusions too quickly, Lucius. No, the Dark Lord has not yet told me about any plans involving Draco."
There was silence, and Snape tried to calculate how long he had been away from the girl on his bed. He needed to get back to her. She would be needing more of the blood replenishing potion shortly.
In a cool voice Snape asked, "Is that all, Lucius? I am a very busy man, and unlike some, I have things to do, things that can't wait. If I hear anything about Draco that the Dark Lord wants me to share with you, then I will share it."
"I was," said Lucius, "supposed to check on my dear daughter. The Dark Lord had a slight change of heart," Lucius smirked, "and he wanted to make sure that she, at least, made it to the castle alive."
"Miss Malfoy," Snape said in an uncaring voice that he didn't feel, "Barely made it to the gates before collapsing, she is in my quarters recovering. I thought it wise not to scare the nurse if she came back early, and this way I won't have to trek all the way up here every time she needs a potion. Not that she deserves that."
"No," drawled Lucius absent mindedly, "no she doesn't, that little witch has brought more disgrace to me in one day than our entire family combined."
"Pity," sighed Snape as he tried to keep his emotions at bay.
"What?" snapped Lucius.
"It's a pity," said Snape slowly, "That she brought so much disgrace to your family. I would guess it would come from not being raised in a proper family. Now, Lucius, like I said before, I need to be going."
"Yes, fine. Goodbye, Severus. Make sure that my daughter doesn't bring more disgrace to my family," said Lucius as he walked past Snape and opened the door where he paused, "or she might not be lucky enough to survive the next time she passes through those gates."
Lucius left in a swirl of black traveling cloak and white, silvery hair. The hospital wing doors slammed loudly as they were blasted open and forced shut after bouncing off of the walls.
Snape turned on his heel without a second glance and walked over to the medical cabinet where, thanks to him, all the potions were arranged alphabetically. Snape quickly found the potion he needed, grabbed the remaining bottles and quickly and silently noted potions that were either running low or gone.
Snape left the hospital wing at a swift walk that to many appeared to be his usually floating gait, but unlike walking in a hall full of students, Snape was walking fast to get to a student, not away.
As Snape drew nearer and nearer to his quarters, his pace quickened. His heart beat louder and louder and his anxiety grew. In the pit of his stomach he felt that he needed to hurry and get to his room, to the girl.
He was just passing the Great Hall and headed for the dungeons when there was a lightning sharp pain originating from his left arm. Snape almost dropped the bottles of blood replenishing potion that he was carrying. His arm throbbed a second time, almost warning-like. He froze, suddenly unsure of what he should do; go to the girl or his dark master.
If the girl hadn't been in such critical condition then it wouldn't have been a problem, but he still had no choice, he set the potion bottles down, summoned his mask and cloak, and turned on his heel once more. The sooner he was done, the faster he could get back.
As he ran he shouted, "Winky!"
There was a crack and a squeak as the house elf appeared before being trampled by Snape. The house elf quickly recovered and scurried alongside Snape as his fast stride took him across the grounds. "Master called?" squeaked Winky.
"Yes Winky, I need you to take some vials that I left by the doorway to the dungeons. Miss Hermione Malfoy is lying on my bed in my quarters. Give her one of the vials every hour until I return. If there is any change in her condition please alert me at once. You remember how I had you do it the last time?"
"Yes, Master, Winky remembers how Master wishes to be alerted." The house elf trotted behind Snape as the gates started to come into view.
"Very good, Winky," said Snape more kindly, "Now go. Watch over her for me, I'll try not to be long."
There was a crack and Snape knew he was alone once more. He used his time to strengthen the wards that protected the castle and the grounds, he made it so only he and Dumbledore could enter the grounds and castle. Everyone else would meet resistance and pain.
Only when he had reached the apparation point did Snape stop running. He quickly calmed his mind and his breathing. He wouldn't be late because he had run the whole way. It would have at least made up for his hesitation. Finally, when his breathing had finally slowed, he apparated into the darkening night.
With a swish of his Death Eater's cloak, he appeared, this time in the Malfoy Manor. He was glad he hadn't donned his mask, it would have been foolish to arrive that way for a social call.
As a house elf took his cloak, he smoothly removed his wand from the cloak that he was handing off and, just as smoothly, slipped it up the left sleeve of his robes.
He set off in the direction of the Lucius's study, it was the most protected room in his house, due mainly to the fact that it hid the doorway that led to his cabin-sized safe.
As he approached, the polished oak doors slid open, apparently of their own accord. Snape entered, head held in a slight bow, as he headed for the grandest of the chairs that sat by the car-sized fireplace.
"My Lord, you called?" asked Snape slowly as he approached.
"Yes, Severus I did. I have matters of great importance that I wish to discuss with you," replied the cold voice in a hiss. "Sit, Severus, we are alone for now, though I'm sure, if you wanted something to drink, I could get Lucius to bring us something."
"No, My Lord, I'm fine. I was just sitting down to enjoy some firewhiskey when you called," The lie came naturally to Snape as he moved to sit across from his master. The red eyes danced with the light from the fireplace as they penetrated his mind, pulling apart events and conversations.
"Very well, Severus," and with a wave of Voldemort's hand the doors to the study slid silently shut. "As you are well aware, Draco turns seventeen next year, which means he is ready to receive his task. I'm sure you remember the task that you were set when Lucius brought you before me. Draco's will be similar in the fact that he must take out his target; only then will I truly know whether or not he is worthy of becoming a Death Eater."
"My I ask who his target is, my Lord?" If Snape would have allowed it, his heartbeat would have accelerated, but any change might appear suspicious, so Snape calmed himself before another thought of a certain girl sprang to his mind. Time was running out. He had no choice, however; he had to stay where he was.
"You may, Severus. It's the main reason that I have called you here, for it somewhat concerns you and your position," the red eyes glinted maliciously.
"How so, my Lord?" Severus couldn't help it when his heart skipped a beat. He was becoming nervous and the stress he was already under, was causing him to lose control of his emotions, not good. Snape focused on calming himself as the Dark Lord answered.
The Dark Lord smiled, which, unlike Dumbledore's smile, did not have any warmth or reassurance in it. "Severus, you are my most loyal Death Eater. This shouldn't be anything that you can't handle. Draco's task is to kill Albus Dumbledore."
The name floated around the room as the Dark Lord hissed each syllable.
Thinking fast, Snape spoke, "Master, wouldn't I be better placed to do that? I could do it whenever you wished. You wouldn't have to depend on an underage wizard to do it for you."
"No. Draco must prove himself worthy of his Dark Mark. I want him responsible for killing Dumbledore. You, of course, will take over as Headmaster once the idiot is finally dead."
Snape offered a smirk, "My Lord, that would be a great honor indeed." Snape wasn't sure if he could deal with any more stress. Draco having to kill Dumbledore was the least of his worries as time seemed to continue to fly by.
Severus stared into the fire and in an uncaring voice asked, "Have you informed Draco yet? Or will you wait for the school year to draw nearer?"
"No, I will tell Draco soon. He will need to plan before the year starts." The Dark Lord paused before staring intensely at Snape, making the hair on his neck stand on end. "He is to have no help, Severus, if he wants to save his family, he will do this alone."
"Yes, my lord, I understand." Severus stared into the depths of the fireplace. The dark lord did not forgive easily, his grudges lasted long and he never forgot.
"Unless you have anything to discuss, you may go."
"There is one thing my Lord, I plan on moving to my house in Spinner's End soon. And I was wondering what you wanted me to do with the girl?" Snape asked carefully.
"You would take the girl with you or are you tired of her already?" The red eyes blazed. "I could arrange for Bella and Rudolphus to take her."
"So far, the girl is tolerable," Snape smirked. "She is trying to be the Malfoy that she knows she is. And she does have her uses." All of a sudden Snape felt a hot burning coming on his side. Snape skipped his hand into his pocket and felt the stone in his pocket burning. The girl was in trouble. Snape pushed her out of his mind. It couldn't be much longer now.
Voldemort's eyes flashed, and for a moment Snape feared for his life. Then the Dark Lord spoke. "Yes, good. I thought that you may be hard on her, but that doesn't seem to be the case," whispered the cold voice.
A chill went up Snape's spine at the words. "My lord, I don't understand what you mean."
"Severus, don't lie to me." The Dark Lord slammed his hand into a wooden table, startling Snape slightly. "Something has happened. Maybe her lesson was difficult, but she needed to be taught her place. Do not assist her again."
"Yes, my Lord, as you wish."
"Leave now."
"Yes, my Lord, thank you."
Snape bent forward and kissed the hem of the Dark Lord's sleeve before he headed for the door, the stone still burning in his pocket. The door opened and, as he walked out, he quickened his pace. The mansion seemed too big, the hallways too long and the door wasn't near enough.
He was just heading towards the front door, only feet away from it, when a soft voice from behind him broke him out of his pace.
"Leaving without even a glass with the host. Where are your manners, Severus?"
"Good evening, Lucius," Snape paused and turned around to see the tall silhouette of the man standing in the doorway to his parlor. "Normally I would have loved to stay, but I have important matters to attend to."
"It can wait Severus, come join me for a glass of wine, or firewhisky if you would prefer."
"No, Lucius, I have a potion simmering, and it can't wait much longer. And I would really hate for it to ruin, it's taken me months to get it to its current stage."
"Very well," said Lucius with a sigh. "Maybe next time."
"Yes," replied Snape. "Tell Narcissa that the garden looks wonderful."
Lucius looked slightly abated as he said, "I'll be sure to tell her, she will be thrilled that you noticed. That garden is her pride and joy."
Snape nodded, turned and left, only stopping by the door to pick up his cloak.
As Snape left the mansion behind, he couldn't hurry fast enough to get off the property so that he could apparate back to Hogwarts. When he had cleared the gates Snape appareated without a second glance at the mansion behind him.
Tensions were running high at the Malfoy Manor. This had been the first time that the Dark Lord had visited the mansion in a very long time, and all the residents of the mansion knew why he was there. Though Lucius Malfoy had escaped Azkaban, he might as well have stayed, considering the imprisonment that he had to deal with in his own house.
Lucius Malfoy had suffered from his failure at the Ministry; he hadn't felt such pain and witnessed such fury since his early days as a Death Eater. And Lucius was well aware that the Dark Lord was not through yet. Lucius was sure he had something up his sleeve, and even though Narcissa disagreed, Lucius was sure that what ever the plan was, it concerned his son.
Lucius paced in front of the fireplace in the parlor, a glass of firewhiskey in one hand and his cane in the other.
"Lucius, calm down," whispered Narcissa. "Come have dinner with everyone in the foyer. Bella made sure that the cook made the roast the way you like it."
"As tempting as that sounds," snapped Lucius, "I must wait for the Dark Lord."
The door to the foyer opened and out came Narcissa's sister, Bellatrix.
"Lucius, the Dark Lord will tell you when he wishes to speak to you. Until then come and sit down, I would hate to see the roast wasted because it was left to cool."
Lucius looked from one sister to the other, turned, and sat in a chair by the fireplace. "I would prefer to wait, thank you, Bellatrix."
Bellatrix let out an exasperated sigh and turned away, muttering, "And I tortured that man to get the roast right all day when I could have just let him ruin it like he was going to."
Narcissa looked from the door, to the foyer, to her husband, "Lucius, come eat something, the food will not taste as good reheated and I know you wouldn't want to eat it then."
Lucius was fed up, "Enough about the blasted roast! Where's Draco? I haven't seen him since breakfast this morning."
Taken aback, Narcissa answered, "He wouldn't come down to dinner either. He's in his room studying, I believe."
Lucius nodded and stood up. He left the room to find some peace away from the Malfoy women.
Just as he had walked into the foyer, a cold voice spoke, "Draco, I wish to speak to you."
Lucius paused for a second before sighing and moving to the dining table. Nacissa hadn't moved; she stood still next to her chair looking blankly at it like it didn't belong there. She had chosen to believe that her husband had been wrong, but he had been right, the Dark Lord had something planned for her son.
The Dark Lord waited by the fire as the wooden door creaked open and in came the youngest Malfoy. Draco would choose who had to die; there were three choices: the boy, his family or Albus Dumbledore. "Draco," the Dark Lord hissed, "come."
The boy slowly crossed the room, stopped briefly, and moved to sit in the chair. The boy perched on the edge of his chair, eagerness and worry all etched in his face. The boy had a right to be worried about what Voldemort, the most dangerous wizard in the world, was about to ask him.
"Draco, you will soon become of age. It's time that you received your mark and completed your first task. You do not seem to be as eager to take the mark as your sister was, however. Do I sense reluctance from you?"
"No, my Lord, I'm sorry if I seem anxious. I'm ready, I've been ready for years. All I need are instructions," The boy moved further to the front of his seat. He couldn't go any further without falling off the chair.
"You remind me of your father many years ago, Draco. He took his task in stride, willing to do whatever I asked. Are you going to be the same way, or are you going to be like those other, lesser death eaters that cannot handle responsibility, like your father has become?"
"I- my father is- I know I can do it if you trust me," the boy kneeled in front of him, head bowed. The boy then turned his face towards the Dark Lord. "What is my task?"
The Dark Lord looked down at the boy as the fire light danced across his face. "Give me your arm."
Draco stretched out his left arm. The Dark Lord slowly grabbed hold of the boy's wrist. With his free hand he grabbed his wand from the table and pushed the boy's sleeve back. The boy's skin was pearly white and shone in the dim light. "Draco, do you swear to obey me before anyone else?"
"Yes," the boy's voice was horse. "I swear."
"Will you forever be loyal to me, respond when summoned, and do the work of a true Death Eater?"
"Yes."
"Then Draco, I give you your mark," the Dark Lord tightened his grip on the boy's wrist and jabbed his wand into the boy's forearm. "Morsmordra!"
The Dark Lord had to tighten his grip as the shock of the pain hit the boy, as he twisted and screamed. He smirked; the boy was exactly like his father. The black lines were burning their way across Draco's arm, permanently scarring the perfectly pale skin. The door to the room was pushed roughly open and without even looking, the Dark Lord knew who had entered and he screamed, "Be gone, he must do this alone!"
The Dark Lord grinned as the boy started to black out. The boy had never felt real pain, doing this was overwhelming for him. When the spell finished its work the boy lay panting on the floor. "Get up," whispered the Dark Lord.
Draco struggled to his knees, trying to fight back the tears welling in his eyes.
"Now, Draco, like your sister, you will have to wait to get your mask and cloak. Only when you have successfully completed your task will you be allowed them. Now, to your task."
The boy looked up, eyes bright, mouth set.
"Your task is to kill Albus Dumbledore," said the voice maliciously.
A flicker of fear and doubt flashed across the boy's face and for a moment he seemed very young, but it vanished quickly, "Yes, my Lord, it will be done." His voice was barely a whisper.
"Good, Draco, good," whispered the menacing voice. "Now, you are to tell no one outside of your family of your task. It would be a pity for you to make the same mistake that your sister made. Though you may tell your family, you are to accept help from no one, the consequences of this would be," the Dark Lord paused and smiled, "unfortunate. If you wish to see your parents this summer I would work hard on succeeding. Failure would mean certain death for them."
"Yes, my Lord," murmured the boy. The boy's face was hidden in shadow, but the Dark Lord heard the sharp intake of breath.
"Go now, tell your parents of what we have talked about, all except their involvement. They will not know about that, it will be our secret. Don't keep them waiting, they are dying to hear what it is that I wanted with you."
Draco bent and kissed the hem of the Dark Lord's robe before standing and walking swiftly to the door. Once outside, he was tempted to break into a run, not to go and tell his parents, but to get away from it all. Was the Mark worth it? The Dark Lord expected him to kill Albus Dumbledore, one of the greatest wizards of all time, when he had yet to do it himself? Draco had a feeling it was more a death sentence than a task. He had a feeling that he wasn't meant to succeed.
Draco rolled up his sleeve as he walked down the torch lit hall; the Mark glowed on his red skin. He had wanted this for as long as he could remember; he had been told that it was the greatest honor to get it, but he had never, entirely, connected the mark with what would be expected of him. If he succeeded in his task, unlikely though it was, he would be the greatest Death Eater ever, better than his father or even Professor Snape. The thought made him smile as he rolled his sleeve back down.
He walked silently to the foyer. Outside the door, he could hear the buzz of chatter going on and the clinking of expensive knives and forks. Draco slowly pushed the door open, and there was complete silence.
He walked around the head of the table with a slight nod to his father before sitting down across from his mother. Draco waited for the house elves to fill his plate with food and leave before talking. As the house elves left, Draco turned to his father and spoke, "Father, he gave me the Mark." Draco rolled up his sleeve and presented his father with his arm.
Lucius smirked, somewhat relieved and that his son hadn't received anything else. "Draco, this is good news. You do this family great honor."
"Unlike that half-blood sister of yours," spat Bellatrix to Draco's left. Narcissa sniffed loudly, not at all comfortable with the mention of that girl.
"Indeed," drawled Lucius before taking a sip from his wine glass. "She still needs to be taught her place. She will learn it soon."
Bellatrix smiled a very predatory smile, "If you would allow me, Lucius, I could teach her."
"She would never walk away from tha, Bella," said Lucius calmly.
Bellatrix laughed, "You know me too well, Lucius. I wouldn't be THAT hard on her, she does have the Mark and is part Malfoy. The Dark Lord wouldn't be pleased if I killed her," she sighed. "Unfortunately, he has big plans for her -- or so he has told me."
Narcissa, not enjoying talk about that girl at all, looked from her sister to her son, who was only eating very small bites of food and not engaged in the conversation. "Draco," she spoke softly. All other conversation dropped. "You seemed occupied."
Draco looked up into his mother's face. His heart beat faster. His poor mother had been through so much already. The news of his task might be too much.
Bellatrix broke the moment, "You've been assigned a task. What is it? What is the Dark Lord having you do, Draco?"
All eyes were once again on him. Draco only met his mother's eyes, which were filled with worry. In a soft voice he said, "The Dark Lord wishes me to kill Albus Dumbledore."
Draco did not see, but his father frowned slightly at the news while his aunt smiled, eyes bright, proud of her nephew. The only person that Draco noticed was his mother.
Narcissa let out a gasp, her eyes widening with horror and disbelief. Her son, her precious son, would have to commit murder.
Okay hope you liked it. Have a Happy Fourth of July and make my Fourth of July and REVIEW.
FYI: Effrego Manus means breaking hand in Latin.
Thank you again, all of you who reviewed my last chapter and THANK YOU pointblank1 for editing my chapter. You asked for more commas and I gave them to you, so be careful what you wish for.
