The air was cold and everyone's mood had changed he was there, sitting at the head of the table, food on his plate. His snake like nostrils flared ever so slightly when Dawn entered the room and shivers went down her back as he spoke to her.

"There you are, Dawn. I was beginning to wonder if you were going to ever join us. Sit." He demanded lightly and motioned to the seat to his left.

"Yes my Lord." Dawn bowed her head and quickly made her way into the seat, sitting across from Severus Snape.

Everyone ate in complete silence, terrified to say anything in front of him. Dinner dragged by slowly and it was finally time for Dawn to receive her assignment from the Dark Lord. He could have her do anything in the world and it completely terrified her. Biting her lip, she slowly made her way to the ballroom. Draco quickly came up behind her and squeezed her hand, reassuring her everything would be okay.

Her parents stood waiting for her at the doors of the ballroom and Draco released her hand. Pulling away lightly, she stepped into the ballroom with her parents. It was silent. So silent she could hear her heart thumping in her chest. Around her were thirty death eaters, including the parents of her friends standing right outside. Her parents joined the rest of them as Dawn stood in front of Lord Voldemort.

"Are you nervous Dawn?" He asked with a snake like smile on his face. Dawn swallowed her fear and looked to him.

"Not at all my Lord." She mustered out with all of the courage she could.

"Good. You have no reason to me. You should be proud serving me. And your friends should be jealous of your status thus far."

Dawn nodded and her eyes drifted to her parents for a moment and quickly returned to him. "Yes, my Lord."

"Excellent. Now, we've all gathered here in attempts to plot the downfall of one Harry Potter and of course, Albus Dumbledore." Dawn nodded once more as the dark wizard spoke. "And as you are aware, Dawn, we have no room for weaklings among our ranks, don't you agree?"

"Yes, my Lord." Dawn responded once more. Her eyes fixed on the snake, slithering in front of her.

"You're very familiar with Mr. Malfoy, are you not?" Voldemort said, eyes locked on Dawn's.

"Yes, my Lord." She said with some questioning in her voice.

"How familiar?" Voldemort was smirking now.

"We're friends, my Lord." Dawn said, confidence draining from her voice little by little.

"More than friends, I hear." The death eaters behind began to giggle lightly.

"No my Lord, just friends." She mustered out, confused as to where he was going with this conversation. Her eyes drifted to Narcissa and Lucious who looked more confused than her. They didn't know either.

"Draco Malfoy's mission is to kill Albus Dumbledore by the end of the year. I need him dead. I require his wand." Voldemort started. "If Draco does not succeed in his task by end of your term, you must kill him." Dawn's eyes widened in horror. Kill Draco? His mother and father stood in shock, mouth gaping wide.

"My Lord?" Dawn muttered, near tears. Voldemort's eyes dug into hers. "I can't. I can't do it." She muttered. Her attention turned to her father who began stepping toward her, wand raised.

"You insolent little girl!" She heard the voice of Bellatrix Lestrange snap while she charged toward Dawn, wand at the ready. "You would do well to do what the Dark Lord says." She hissed.

"Nathaniel, Bellatrix, lower your wands." Voldemort demanded and they obliged, shooting daggers through Dawn. "You can't, Dawn, or you won't?"

"I won't do it." Dawn said, holding her ground. Her mother looked terrified, her father looked furious, and the rest of the death eaters looked like they have been petrified. Voldemort looked amused.

"I see. Wormtail!" Voldemort snapped, turning to the puny wizard with the silver hand. He took Voldemort's side.

"Y-yes, my Lord?" Wormtail said, looking to Voldemort's feet.

"Go and fetch the Malfoy, boy." Wormtail obliged and half a minute later, Draco was cautiously walking alongside him.

"My Lord." Draco said bowing his head.

"I gave Miss Caden here a direct order and she denied my request." Voldemort said turning back to Dawn. Draco looked to her as well, eyes widened. "And I'm giving you a direct order to punish her." Voldemort smirked.

Draco looked absolutely terrified, pain rang through his eyes. He stared at Dawn a moment longer then turned back toward Voldemort.

"Yes my Lord." He said without any hesitation. Pulling his wand out of his pocket, he turned his back to Voldemort and the death eaters and looked to Dawn. "I'm sorry." He muttered, averting her gaze.

"Draco?" Dawn began to cry and Draco stood there, wand pointing at her.

"Cruicio."