Sorry it's taken AGES for me to update. But here we are!
I'd like to announce that LADYENDYMION has agreed to be my beta, so from this chapter forth I owe all my grammar and spelling corrections to her, as well as her help and approval on all the twists and turns of the plot. She's also eliminating all those repetitive phrases and shortening the unnecessary long sentences. With my style and ways of writing this isn't an easy job, I befuddle myself so Merlin knows what she will have to endure!
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Betrayal
Blaise sighed as he strode towards the Slytherin common room deep within the dungeons. Eleanor had agreed to take a stroll with him in the grounds after dinner. As Draco had said, she was from a respectable enough family, in terms of blood-purity and Blaise knew his own family would hold nothing against her in that.
The Blackwood family had always been a good family and had never been associated with any dark activities, but Blaise knew he had to remain discreet. Despite the fact that Zabini's had always remained on the sidelines, he knew that with the clouded and foreboding future so close at hand catastrophe was guaranteed to unleash and any risks could not afford to be taken lightly.
It seemed to be a known assumption that the war would rage upon the graduation of the-boy-who-lived. No one knew exactly why except that Potter had once vanquished The Dark Lord and would - or rather, could do so again. But any fool could come to the conclusion that The Dark Lord was after Potter's blood, and his taste for Vengeance was not to be overlooked.
Eleanor… Blaise thought wishfully and sighed, she had to wait. He had pledged himself to Draco, and though little had passed between them lately Blaise knew the path his friend would have to walk - was probably already walking and for this, his love for Eleanor had to remain secret.
Being a Zabini as he was Blaise was well acquainted with the ways and workings of death eaters. They cared little for anyone save themselves; their ambitious minds were brainwashed by "honour" and backed by fear; they would stop at nothing to please their Dark Lord - knowing that failure could cost them their lives. His loyalty to Draco could not afford to be jeopardised by his love for Eleanor; he knew if there was enough doubt and reason, she would be used to break him to get to Draco… and he would break for her by betraying his friend in the process.
Reaching his room Blaise shed his cloak and outer robes before sinking down onto his bed. Draco had completely and utterly withdrawn himself; he had become so immersed in his ambition that he had little time for anything else. If anyone had ever thought he was dark and evil before, now there was not a single trace of doubt about it. People rarely saw him and if they did they soon forgot about seeing him as he seemed to melt away into the shadows - and the fact that people actually didn't want to remember seeing him. Draco could go unnoticed and ignored at will or he could choose to be the complete centre of attention with his mere presence.
His eyes were darker and colder than ever before and his lips always bore a mocking smirk as his grey eyes silently observed everything around him… all except her - his little Weaslette. Although Draco timed his breakfast, lunch and dinner precisely to avoid Ginevra, she was not always so predictable; and on some occasions she would be there at the same time as him, and only then did his eyes stop wondering and focused intently on his plate. It was after those rare occasions that Pansy was summoned to the Slytherin Prince's room.
Blaise hardly ever got to see or talk to Draco as often as before Christmas break. But as he probably knew Draco better than anyone else, Blaise acknowledged and fully comprehended his friend's dilemma. It simply could not be helped. Blaise understood this because of his own feelings for Eleanor… sacrifices had to be made to preserve - Blaise sighed, he sacrificed to preserve his love for Eleanor and to save her from any potential harm for being attached to him. Ginevra however was Draco's obsession; whether Draco loved her or not, Blaise couldn't tell. He knew that Draco hungered to kill in her name, to destroy her, ruin her, break her, as she was ruining and breaking him. But at the same time he was filled with a raging desire to have her as his own, completely and unquestionably his possession.
Blaise shook his head and sighed; it was a losing battle and he knew Draco was fully aware of it. The only problem was a Malfoy never lost and despite the fact that Draco was a extremely bad loser, Blaise knew that his friend had somewhat come to terms with it.
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"Will ye be going to Quidditch practice, Drake?" Blaise muttered from beside Draco as they walked towards McGonagall's classroom for Transfiguration.
"Yes, but expect me to be late back." Draco replied coolly, "I have things to see to after practice."
Blaise nodded as sixth year Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs came out. Draco smirked and melded into a shadowed corner as he saw Eleanor walk shyly up to Blaise to greet him. Blaise was a gentleman in every sense as Draco watched him talk and laugh quietly with her for a few brief moments. Sometimes Draco really wondered how the hell Blaise had managed to be sorted into Slytherin; his friend was more of a Ravenclaw or even a Gryffindor than anything else.
Finally the sixth year Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws moved along to their next class and the seventh year Gryffindors and Slytherins filed into Transfiguration and took their seats. McGonagall droned on about their N.E.W.T. exams that were coming up and finally the class got to work on with human transfiguration - not animagus, but transforming another person into an animal. The person who was transformed had little control over themselves in animal form. Draco grimaced as he remembered his ferret incidence with "Professor Moody".
Draco slowly put his books away as the classroom emptied at the end of the lesson. "Don't wait, Blaise." Draco muttered at Blaise who was waiting patiently for him.
Nodding Blaise left the class and Draco sighed, McGonagall was sitting at her desk marking homework as he strode slowly towards her.
"Professor…" Draco bowed slightly as McGonagall looked up at him.
"Mr. Malfoy?" McGonagall asked her eyebrow rose expectantly.
"I want to see the headmaster…" Draco said softly, his face impassive, "Preferably in secret…"
A ghost of a smile crossed over McGonagall's lips for a fraction of a second that Draco almost missed it, "Very well, Mr. Malfoy, I believe the Headmaster will be waiting in his study whenever you need him."
Draco bowed and left the classroom, picking his bag up and slinging it over his shoulder as he walked out the door, only to have someone walk straight into him.
"Watch where you're going!" Ginny said in annoyance as she knelt down to pick up her book that had fallen out of her hand before slowly looking up, "Malfoy!" she hissed, still crouched on the floor before him.
"Weaslette." He smirked as he looked down into angry fiery brown eyes, "How convenient to have you kneeling before me."
Ginny moved her eyes down his body and gasped as her face was level with his groin. She stood up abruptly, her head smashing into his chin and causing Draco to bite his tongue. He instantly tasted blood.
His eyes were smouldering in anger as he turned to face Ginny, who had one hand hiding her mouth, biting at her bottom lip to stop herself from laughing. The other was rubbing her head as well as holding her book.
"Aaw…" she trailed rubbing her head tenderly before turning her half glaring/half laughing eyes on Draco, "Oh, Merlin, I am so sorry!" she said in a strained giggle.
She looked so ridiculously cute that Draco could do nothing but smirk, "And you should watch where you put your face, little girl, else you might give the wrong impression." He sneered before adding, "Hard head you have there." With a smirk.
Ginny went the colour of beetroot and brushed past him, "Take your dirty foul mind away from me!" she muttered before disappearing into McGonagall's room, slamming the door shut behind her.
Once she was out of sight Draco touched his jaw, the little minx had just bruised his chin. Chuckling light-heartedly to himself he headed down towards the dungeons to change for his quidditch practice.
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Draco made his way through the shadows to Dumbledore's office, cursing himself as he did not have the password. However the Phoenix statue turned into a staircase the minute he stood before it. Taking a deep breath Draco stepped upon a stair and was lifted up towards his destination.
Dumbledore sat writing at his desk as Draco entered and stood by silently waiting for the headmaster to acknowledge him.
"Come in, Draco and take a seat." Dumbledore said softly not once looking up.
Draco bowed and stepped closer to his headmasters desk, "Sir."
Dumbledore put down his quill and sat back in his chair, his bright blue eyes sparkled knowingly. Although he seemed an old and frail man, those eyes were deep with intelligence and profound with wisdom. Draco knew that Dumbledore would wait for him to speak first.
"Sir… I've come to ask to join the order… if you'll have me." Draco said softly staring intently into his professors eyes.
Dumbledore smiled warmly, "You'd be placed in great danger, Draco."
"I know what is expected for me, sir." Draco replied almost defensively, "I know my loyalty is not to be taken easily, given my family connections and background, but I have my own reasons, sir." He added quietly.
Dumbledore nodded, "I don't doubt your reasons at all, and I admire you for making this choice even in the face of what I know is expected of you."
His sparkling blue eyes were penetrating and in a way challenging, Draco lowered his eyes slowly, "I have already met those expectations." He muttered and placed both his arms on the table, showing Dumbledore his seemingly unblemished wrists.
Dumbledore stared down at them gravely, his eyes seemed to pierce his flesh and see the horrendously beautiful mark carved on the skin of his right wrist, "This is not the normal mark I know Voldemort to give his followers… but it is indeed his mark." He muttered more to himself than to Draco.
Draco looked at Dumbledore curiously and sighed, pulling his arms off the table and onto the armrests of his chair, "He has designs for me, ones that I don't know of yet… Graduation is but a few weeks away, sir." He said quietly, "This is the only choice I make willingly."
Dumbledore stood and paced the floor behind his desk deep in thought, "He gave you the dark mark as well as the mark of the phantom - or at least part of the mark of the Phantom, Draco. Do you know what that entails?"
"No, sir." Draco replied coolly though his heart was pounding.
Sighing heavily Dumbledore turned to face Draco, "He foresaw something in you that I have shamefully disregarded. You will be Lord and master of his followers, should you meet his expectations satisfactorily. You will become an assassin to command and control his fleet, to set an example. You have no conscience, no heart, no faith and no fear, a weapon and great asset to Voldemort."
Draco's blood ran cold in his veins, "But sir-"
Dumbledore smiled, "You are welcome to the order, Draco and it is a perilous path to choose. I know your choice is sincere, I trust you as I trust your mentor." He said softly, "To make the right choices when the time comes."
Draco stared at his Headmaster for a few moments, completely baffled but nodded in understanding, "I don't know what my future will bring me, Sir. I am in debt to you for accepting me…" he breathed, it was difficult for him to say thank you but Draco doubted that Dumbledore would fail to see his gratitude, "I don't know how you will contact me, nor I you, but I will do all I can in my power to ensure and prove my faith and loyalty, regardless of the fact that you find me faithless."
Dumbledore's eyes twinkled, "You misunderstand me, young Draco, I have complete faith in you and I know where your faith lies. Voldemort saw in you what you allowed him to see, and very few people can deceive him successfully as he is a master legilimens just as you are a master occlumens as your mentor before you."
"He taught me on my father's request." Draco said softly, almost uncertainly as he did not want to betray Snape.
Dumbledore nodded, "And on my permission." He smiled warmly. Draco stood and bowed, "I must request that this remains strictly confidential, Draco, as you probably know the reasons already."
"Yes, sir… and… I thank you, sir." Draco bowed and retreated to the phoenix statue.
Dumbledore sat down heavily in his seat once Draco had left. The mark of the Phantom on Draco's arm was indeed a grave ordeal. It seemed that after this year's graduation the death toll of Britain's community would rise significantly. The young Slytherin had no idea of what he was capable of; nothing would stand in his way. Dumbledore sighed heavily and shook his head. Ginevra Weasley had unknowingly played a part in turning the tables of the war that was brewing.
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Harry strolled the corridors aimlessly on his patrol duty, he could've dumped it on one of the prefects but he needed the space… he also needed to talk to Dumbledore. It wasn't that Ron and Hermione got on his nerves - well partly it was that, but the pressure that was upon him… N.E.W.T.'s were drawing closer and closer and the end of his days at Hogwarts. If Harry were really honest with himself, his distress was the fear building up inside of him. He knew what was to come and had accepted what was expected of him according to the prophecy, but accepting wasn't becoming fearless and he was indeed petrified.
As for Ron and Hermione, he knew they meant well and that they would stand by his side through thick and thin - but this also scared him. It seemed as if everyone that loved him and everyone he loved was either put in extreme danger of death if not thrown into the pathway of death itself. Pushing the thoughts of his parents and Sirius out of his mind, Harry sighed and headed up the stairs towards the hallway that would lead him to Dumbledore's office.
Suddenly Harry halted in his footsteps. Walking towards him was none other than Draco Malfoy.
"Potter." Draco said coolly and slightly nodded his head in acknowledgement.
Harry stared stonily back at Malfoy, "What are you doing here, Malfoy?" he asked just as coolly.
Draco smirked, "I don't need to explain myself to you, Potter, I'm well within my curfew." He sneered before walking past Harry and continued down the corridor towards the stairs.
Harry turned, "I know you watch her, Malfoy." He called out after Draco's back.
Draco stopped dead in his tracks and turned slowly to face Harry. His face was cold and impassive, but his eyes glinted dangerously as he strode slowly towards Harry. Standing before his foe, he grinned evilly, "And what of it, Potter?" he hissed softly.
"I want you to stay away from her, that's what, Malfoy." Harry said through clenched teeth.
Draco smirked, "You're mistaken if you think I am inclined to do anything you say, Head Boy." He sneered mockingly, his eyes challenging Harry's authority.
"And I am inclined to protect her from the twisted likes of you." Harry retorted angrily.
Draco's left eyebrow rose inquisitively, "Be my guest." he chuckled before turning on his heel and striding back down the hallway towards the stairs. He left Harry standing alone in the dim torch-lit corridor with his fists clenched and his blazing green eyes glaring after his back.
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Blaise was waiting in the common room when Draco arrived back to the dungeons. Nodding at his friend, Draco sunk heavily into the couch near the fire.
"Ask no questions, Blaise. This is to be concealed, even from you." Draco muttered. It was the first time since Christmas break that Draco had even mentioned his deep intentions and plans for the future.
Blaise nodded, "Aye, 'tis best."
"Betrayal is a hard choice…" Draco murmured as he stared into the fire.
Blaise sighed, "That it is, but you should know better than to feel for it, Drake."
"I don't feel for it like you think I do, Blaise. I feel for the consequences to follow." Draco replied softly, his eyes fixed on the flames in the fire.
"So your Weaslette is to be affected by this betrayal?" Blaise asked quietly.
"Yes… she will be affected a great deal," Draco replied, his voice almost a whisper. "For betrayal is a double bladed knife, Blaise. It cuts both ways."