Chapter 13: Marks
Harry sat in the train compartment with a book hovering in front of him.
He was still very proud of Neville for not needing him to help him deal with Dumbledore.
The man's underhanded tactic of trying to use Frank and Alice to his advantage had backfired drastically.
It still made Harry chuckle.
At the moment though Neville was writing a long letter to Ginny after finding out about her father's death from the Daily Prophet that morning.
Neither he nor Draco had told Neville and Blaise about Harry's vision.
Letting another man die wasn't something he was about to let become common knowledge and he wouldn't put the conflict of knowing upon Neville because of his relationship with Ginny.
"What do you think is going to happen when you both get home?" Blaise asked from where he was playing exploding snap with Draco.
"We'll be tested there's doubt about that, but I'm at a loss why he wanted us to learn about wards," Draco answered shaking his head.
"He's going to make us go on a raid," Harry stated coolly from behind his book.
He knew instantly that they were all looking at him.
He raised his eyebrow and returned their look.
"You can't seriously believe that he just wants to widen our knowledge without there been something in it for him. He asked us about wards for a reason. Our test will be to take down the wards surrounding a building,"
"But he's laying low!" Draco protested.
Harry merely raised his eyebrow.
"He won't raise attention to the attack, Watcher, the attack will be done under the radar," Blaise gasped in horror.
"Do you think he'll make you kill someone?" Neville murmured looking horrified.
"It's not like I haven't killed before, Hulk," Harry said coldly.
"Not intentionally you haven't!" Neville snapped. "The thought of you both murdering someone sends shivers down my spine,"
"Neville you must understand that eventually you will have to make the choice don't you?" Draco said incredulously. "If you're against Dumbledore and with us then there is going to be a point in the future where you'll be required to kill. You're too much in the spotlight for you to be able to sink back into neutral territory like Blaise can,"
The horror on Neville's face told them he hadn't thought about it at all.
"Lets not overwhelm him, that choice won't come for a while," Blaise stated calmly.
Harry had to wonder though.
He had a feeling that choice would be coming far sooner, for both boys, than they'd like to believe.
Idly he spun his wand in his fingers as he thought on about what may or may not be approaching.
"Do you think you'll be able to do it? I mean tear the wards down and kill someone if he orders you to?" Neville asked quietly.
Harry turned back to Neville and looked at him for a long moment before nodding.
"We've gotten good at wards, perhaps we're not the best at them but we're good and if it comes down to our survival or theirs then there's no question as to which I'll choose," Draco said solemnly.
Harry knew Neville would never be able to wrap his head around taking someone's life.
While the boy was a Slytherin there was no denying that he'd been brought up by a light witch. When the moment came that Neville had to choose between living and taking a life Harry couldn't confidently say that Neville would choose to save his own skin. Harry knew that if Neville did choose to take a life then each and every life that Neville took would haunt and change the boy.
The train slowed and the boys gathered their belongings.
"Don't be shy about owling but it may take a day or two for us to get back to you," Draco said as they headed towards the platform.
As they stepped into the bustling crowds Harry scanned the various adults looking for a familiar face.
Blaise and Neville waved a good bye when they spotted their guardians and as they did Harry spotted who he was looking for.
Stood to the back looking as poised and graceful as ever was Narcissa.
"Mum's on her own. I don't know whether to be thankful or fearful," Harry muttered.
"Definitely fearful," Draco grumbled, wondering what his father and Voldemort had planned.
Narcissa smiled softly at them both for a moment before her cool front dropped back into place.
"Your father is awaiting you both in his office when we return to the office. He couldn't come with me to pick you boys up because he's offering a consult on a major project," Narcissa said briskily as she produced a portkey.
She looked at them for a moment and the twins felt their breaths catch at the amount of pain and worry in her eyes before they were emotionless again.
"I love you boys so very much and I wish that things were different than what they are," she murmured as they placed their fingers on the quill.
Before either boy could say anything they were whisked away and distributed in the entrance hall of the manor.
"Go on then boys you're expected," Narcissa sighed before walking into the gardens.
"Is it just me or is there something strangely off about her?" Harry muttered staring at their mother's back.
"She's tense and stressed," Draco murmured.
"She knows something we don't then," Harry declared before turning and heading up the stairs.
He left his things where they'd landed, knowing the house elves would deal with them.
Draco gritted his teeth and followed.
Why did everyone think it was ok to plan their lives for them?
As they knocked on their father's office door the two of them shared a look.
There was a feeling in the bottom of their stomachs that whatever was about to be revealed wasn't going to be something they particularly liked.
The voice that beckoned them in wasn't their father's.
As they entered the office they realised the usually darkened room was even darker than it was usually.
Sat behind their father's desk was the snake like man, his ruby red eyes were glittering as he watched them enter.
Despite their hearts pounding in their chests neither Harry's nor Draco's face showed their edginess.
There in the corner, in cages, were two young sobbing muggle girls.
Harry looked at Voldemort sharply as realisation and horror swept through him.
"You're going to mark us," he whispered, his fists clenching.
He hadn't expected to be marked, not yet, not while still under Dumbledore's watchful eye.
Voldemort's face split into a horrid grin.
Draco looked at his father, he saw nothing but a calculating and cold front.
He felt his heart clench.
Not only had the man allowed them to be made Voldemort's puppet but he was now allowing them to be branded like cattle.
"The master's mark is one of honour and dignity," Lucius said coldly as he looked over his sons.
The look in Draco's eyes made his mind and heart scream at him to stop what was about to happen but he couldn't.
It was bigger than just them, it was bigger than just becoming a Death Eater.
His sons were needed in the greater scheme of things and they wouldn't allow him to stop this from happening.
The vows and obligations he made in youth trapped him in the predicament, dooming his children.
"Why are the muggles here?" Draco asked quietly.
"Because you will prove your effectiveness of the unforgivables on them before I give you my mark," Voldemort smirked coldly. "I will enjoy having the two of you completely under my power,"
Harry looked at the snake like man and felt revulsion stir in his stomach. There was something the man wasn't saying, something that felt worse than anything they were about to do.
"Lucius bring the filth," Voldemort ordered his eyes never leaving the twins.
Lucius unlocked the cages with a flick of his wand before dragging the whimpering girls to the front side of the desk.
"No please, please, let us go, we didn't do anything wrong, please," one of the girl's pleaded.
The other girl stared at them, her expression and huge eyes begging to be spared.
Draco didn't know which one was worse.
The loud pleading or the silent begging.
"Who will go first?" Voldemort demanded.
Draco didn't look at Hadrian before he stepped forwards and brought out his wand.
He pointed at the loud muggle, he needed her to shut up, he needed her to be silent.
Harry watched as Draco forced the girl into silence with ease before swiftly casting the cruciatus. After casting it on each other he knew there was no way that Draco couldn't cast it but some how this time was different. This time they weren't using it as an aid they were using it to purposely hurt.
Not before long Draco cast the killing curse, snuffing out the muggle's life within an instant.
Harry didn't wait for the instruction, he moved forwards, looking at the girl who was to be his victim.
The horror, fear and accusation in her eyes seared him to the bone but he ignored it.
He had no options.
None that he agreed with anyway.
The rush of power he felt as he wielded the magic both satisfied him and left him longing for more. Watching as the muggle's life was wiped by the magic left a bitter taste to the fantastic feeling he'd felt.
Voldemort smirked, wider than they'd ever seen, as they bowed before him, waiting to be marked.
AN: Bit of a dark chapter and the next one will be just as dark. Poor Twinnies can't catch a break. Let me know what you guys think :)
Dragons-Twilight1992 - Thank you! :) More still to come :D
NCIS FTW - Neville will continue to surprise :)
cocobyrd87 - I know, the inconsistencies with Dumbles in the book always got to me because he's hypocrytical. I hate hypocrytical people! I had to kinda play with the Arthur scene a bit because it couldn't be like the book, it had to be more Slytherin, but yet Hades couldn't be completely heartless either. He had to do what was best for him and still show the torment the vision put him through. I'm glad you're still enjoying it! :D