CHAPTER TWELVE
A Father's Fate
Draco sat quietly in the stone room he had been put into. He had no idea how long he had occupied the dark recess, but could tell it numbered at least a few days. The stuffy, rodent scented air did not help Draco pass the time easily.
Wormtail checked him a few times, mostly to make sure he was still alive, and if he needed food. Draco tried to reason with the rat of a man when he came, trying to understand what was going on, and honestly trying to get himself out of his situation. Wormtail however, was not budging.
'Wormtail, you have to help me escape' he repeated as Pettigrew made his daily check on the ex-Hogwarts student. Wormtail, his stature looking notably hunched, and his eyes dull in their tiredness, looked away into a corner of the room, assumingly looking for anything out of place.
'You failed Draco, and that's all that matters to the Dark Lord' he answered, bustling along through the doorway, and locking the door behind him hurriedly.
Draco hated the situation. He was in a constant panic, worried that the next time Wormtail would come in, he would take him back to Voldemort. He would be tortured again, or worst. Then there was his father. Draco couldn't bare the idea of seeing his father tortured. Worst however, was his mother. She was alone now, not knowing the fate of either of them. Would Voldemort go after her next? The anxiety continued to fester in Draco's mind, making him even more desperate to escape and try to get help from the one man who saw him.
Meanwhile, in the main chamber, a tall, black robed man entered through the door, and approached the platform on which a dark figure sat on a high backed chair. In the dim torchlight, the silver eyes of the man glimmered slightly. He kneeled before the dark figure, and bowed, his black robes billowing around him on the stone floor.
'I have completed your task my Lord. Azkaban has been emptied, and your mark placed above as a symbol of your power. I have brought your prisoners here, as requested' he attested quietly, his head still bowed to the floor. The dark figure rose from his chair, and took a step forward, his red coloured eyes looking at the man before him, and his long fingered hands grasping the sides of his silk-like midnight robe.
'Very good Lesath, your skills have come to good use. Turmoil has gripped the wizard world because of your actions. Rise' the Dark Lord responded unhurriedly. Lesath stood slowly, his silver eyes glancing at the face of the Dark Lord. The torchlight in the high ceiling stone room flickered against the snake-like man's face, painting it every shade of amber and crimson, the shadows making him look all the more powerful, and menacing.
'You may retire for now, but first, bring me Snape, Wormtail, and Bellatrix' Voldemort ordered quietly. Lesath bowed once more, and exited the chamber. Moments later, Bellatrix and Wormtail entered, soon followed by Snape. Bellatrix gave Snape a look of disgust, and all three kneeled before the Dark Lord.
'Severus, go and get young Draco. Lucius and his companions have returned, and it is time to show what happens when someone fails Lord Voldemort' the Dark Lord hissed. Snape stood quickly, bowed, and exited the room, his robe billowing behind him as he went.
'Wormtail, Bellatrix my dear, bring in Lucius and the others' he stated easily. The two rose quickly, bowed low, and went to get the prisoners. Voldemort smiled visously as he gazed at the large black snake slithering into view.
'Now we shall set the trap' the Dark Lord hissed in parseltongue.
*
Draco paced his stone cell as he heard sounds echoing from the door. There was movement occurring somewhere above him, but he couldn't tell by what. He stood next to the dirty wooden door, and put his head on the side. Footsteps could be heard, moving quickly, and becoming louder. Draco had become accustom to hearing Wormtail's steps, and he moved to the other corner, away from the small amount of light that was cast by a lantern hanging from the wall next to the door. The lock slid open noisily, and the door opened.
'Professor!' Draco expressed wildly. If anyone here could help him, Snape was that person. Snape closed the door behind him, and turned back to face Draco. His face was grim, paler than usual. He placed a long boney finger over his mouth to show Draco to be quiet.
'The Dark Lord has asked me to come and get you. You father and the others from Azkaban are here, and will be punished, along with you' he started, his black eyes boring into Draco. Draco rose, and came close to Snape.
'My father, he's here! Professor, you have to help us!' Draco pleaded. Snape once again put his finger to his pursed lips.
'Be quiet boy. There's nothing to be done about you or your father. He will be killed, and the fool deserves it. You, on the other hand, should have completed your task' he stated. Draco couldn't believe he was doing this, especially now.
'My father is not a fool you slime! And how could I have done it! I never wanted to in the first place, I was forced!' Draco retorted ferociously.
'Shut up boy! A coward as always, like every other Malfoy. You are coming with me.' Snape moved forward, and made a grab for Draco's arm. Draco thrashed his arm away, and moved to the other side of the cell. Snape was getting agitated.
'You have a choice Draco. Either I bring you to the Dark Lord, and you come peacefully, or I will curse you, and you will be levitated to your death' he sneered. Draco was in a situation that seemed hopeless to escape. He was being brought to his death. He could feel it, the cold prickling sensation in his toes and fingertips, knowing what lied outside the door to this cell. The panic was overwhelming in his head.
'Please Severus, I beg you, help me!' he cried, clawing at Snape's robes. Seeing Snape enter his cell had brought a glimmer of hope to Draco, in this otherwise gloomy and squalled place. None of the other Death Eaters would help him, however Snape knew him, and understood his situation. Snape was loyal to Voldemort though. Draco saw proof of that when he killed Dumbledore, and no doubt brought him back to Voldemort so he could be punished. He still had to try with Snape, he was desperate.
Snape ripped his robes out of Draco's hands, and Draco fell to his knees shedding tears. There was no escape, he was going to die. Snape looked at the crumbling young man. He grabbed Draco's left arm, pulled him to standing, and started towards the door.
'Please, no! Severus!' Draco shouted, trying to hold onto the wall of the room, or anything for that matter. He couldn't die, not now, not like this. While he inhabited it, he couldn't stand the stench, or the enclosure. Now he wanted nothing more than to stay in it.
Snape gave him a tug, and Draco was pulled from the cell, and the door closed as they reached the platform at the bottom of the stone stairs. Draco was weeping profusely.
Snape continued to remain silent, and moved Draco up the stairwell. Only the sounds of their footsteps, and Draco's sobs echoed in the darkness that surrounded the two, until they reached the antechamber. The door through which they had entered before into the large chamber where Voldemort resided was open, the flickering of the torches inside projecting the light outwards. Draco looked at the doorway, and began moving away from it, against Snape's tugs, trying desperately to move away from it. Draco knew what awaited him inside the horrible room. Snape gave a hard pull, and Draco was thrust into the room.
'Ah, young Draco' the Dark Lord whispered, as Draco stumbled in. Draco looked around and found numerous Death Eaters in black cloaks, barely visible in the dim light. They were lined about the sides of the chamber, the skull like masks floating ominously in the shadows, their forms visible with the odd flicker from the torches bracketed on the walls. They surrounded a group of men and women in the center of the room, all dressed in black and white prisoner's outfits, although in the torchlight, the white looked tawny. All of them looked drained, and filthy, their uniforms hanging off them as if they all had lost substantial weight since being issued them. Draco looked at the group, and felt a pang in his chest. He found his father. He was the only one with blond hair, and was kneeling directly in front of the Dark Lord.
'Bring him to me' Voldemort ordered airily. Draco looked to the voice, and saw the Dark Lord, the light flickering on his bald head as he stood at the edge of a black stage. Draco felt two hands grasp his arms, and he was carried in front of the Dark Lord, and thrown to the hard stone floor. Draco looked up and found his eyes, those menacing, terrifying, bloodstained eyes. The Dark Lord grinned evilly, his slit-like nostrils flaring, and Draco was thrown into utter terror.
Draco was shaking all over, and could not move, even if he wanted or had too. The chamber was completely silent, as the Dark Lord moved around behind Draco.
'You have failed once too many times Lucius. Now, watch as you weak, disgusting, pureblood of a son pays for your incompetence' he hissed, turning abruptly, and pointing his wand at Draco's back.
'Crucio!'
Draco immediately fell onto his stomach, and began to roll on the cold stone floor, screaming in agony. He was writhing in pain, the anguish spreading the entire length of his body, his bones feeling as if they were being both electrified and crushed at the same time. His back arched as the pain centered on his spine, and his eyes closed shut, trying to endure the torment. The curse finally lifted after what felt like an eternity, and Draco fell silent, whimpering on the cold floor, the sweat that covered his body making him shiver, his eyes shedding tears of both pain and fear. He could hear the Dark Lord laughing evilly at the scene.
'You knew what waited for you Lucius. Did you think Azkaban was your savior? No other Death Eater has failed me so utterly, so completely, so stupidly. Did you think after that disaster in the Department of Mysteries that I would welcome you back you recreant? Think again' he hissed angrily. Draco opened his eyes to see Voldemort aim his wand at his father, the arm of his cloak hanging loosely. Draco could do nothing as the Dark Lord came before his father, his slitted eyes open wide, full of malevolence.
'Crucio!'
Draco could not stand to hear it. His father screamed as he flailed on the hard floor, thrashing from side to side. The other prisoners did nothing but continue to look downwards and remain silent, knowing what was in store for themselves. Death Eaters in the shadows were doing the same. Only the Dark Lord moved or spoke, and he seemed to be enjoying his redemption for the failed tasks. Draco closed his eyes as he cried even more, hearing his father. As the cries became rasp and unbearable, Voldemort pulled his wand away, and glanced at the remains of the Death Eater in front of him. Lucius was left barely moving, clawing the stone slowly, his eyes full of fear and pain.
Draco could not stand to see his father in such a way. His father had always been prideful in his composure, never looking down at anyone, especially that filthy house elf that Harry Potter let free. Always in the best clothes, and the best possessions, that's what Draco came to expect. It was part of being a Malfoy. Now, his father, the man he had always aspired to be, was lying semi-unconscious on this stone floor, in the filth of his prisoner's uniform, waiting only for the relief of death to take him.
'Now Lucius, what should become of your son?' Voldemort asked painfully slow. Draco looked to his father, and found only a terrified man, knowing the end was near.
'My Lord, please, spare my son' he said quietly, not daring to look up, breathing heavily. Voldemort turned towards Draco, and pointed his wand again. Draco looked away, expecting another torture curse. Voldemort moved his wand, and Draco was raised against the wall, and turned towards his father. He was pinned, not able to move or talk. His feet dangled slightly, as he was raised a few inches above the floor. Lucius looked to his son in horror, his mouth agape and his face drained of any colour.
Voldemort grinned wickedly, and turned towards Lucius. Lucius quickly glanced back down at the stone, but there was no point really. Voldemort inclined his wand downward, and raised it slowly, Lucius rising with it until he was standing, barely. He swayed heavily, his torn and dirty prisoner's uniform. Draco could have never pictured his father looking how he did now. This was torture enough for him.
The Dark Lord moved back in front of Draco, still facing Lucius. 'Now, you will pay for your incompetence' he hissed, turning and facing Draco.
'My Lord, please' Lucius begged. Voldemort inclined his wand at Draco, grinning evilly as he did. While the wand stayed pointed at his chest, Draco's head was racing with the reality that his death was imminent. The Dark Lord then grinned evilly again, and slowly turned towards Lucius. Draco realized he would not be dying first. His father would be killed.
Draco could do nothing. Voldemort kept his wand pointed at his father forever, delaying, dragging the torment longer and longer. Lucius stared at the wand, then glanced at Draco, and opened his mouth to speak once last sentance to his son.
'Avada Kedavra!'
Draco's father was enveloped in a green flash of light. Draco tried to scream, but nothing would come out. All he could do was scream violently in his head, as the light died out, and his father's crumpled figure fell lifeless to the stone floor with a disgusting thud. Voldemort looked at the remains of Lucius with repugnance, and flicked his wand at Draco, making him fall to the floor, finally being able to scream and cry.
Draco wanted nothing more than to kill Voldemort right then and there. He made him watch his father plead for his life, beg, and die. Voldemort motioned two Death Eaters from the shadows towards him.
'Burn this filth' he ordered. The two lifted Lucius' body, and dragged it unceremoniously out the door. Draco was filled with hate. He didn't need a wand, he could just strangle him here and now. Voldemort turned away from Draco, and he took advantage. Draco, not thinking of anything else, tried quickly to get up and lunge at the Dark Lord. Voldemort, however turned around quickly, just as Draco started his jump.
'Crucio!'
Draco was thrown back down to the stone floor, and pain again engulfed his senses. Draco barely had the energy, and thrashed slowly on the cold floor as the torture curse moved through his body, Voldemort crackling all the while. It was lifted finally, and Draco was barely awake due to the pain. He felt someone grab his upper arm, and he blacked out.
*
'Take him back to his cell' Voldemort ordered. Snape came forward, and grabbed Draco's arm, and dragged him beyond the door. Once they had exited the chamber, Snape levitated him, and moved him slowly back to his cell. Meanwhile, Voldemort was organizing his prisoners.
'Take the rest, and put them in separate cells' he ordered. Death Eaters came in from all sides, and paired up on each of the prisoners. Once the prisoners were quietly shuffled out of the room, Bellatrix came quickly towards the stage, Wormtail ambled behind her slowly.
'My Lord, why did you spare the boy?' she asked hesitantly. Voldemort took his seat on the stage, and looked at the two in front of him.
'I am not finished with young Draco yet. He still has his uses, and I plan on following them to the end' he explained to the hollow faced woman, who while Lucius and Draco were being tortured, smiled viciously, and looked as if Christmas had came early. 'What have you found about Potter?'
'My Lord, he has returned to Hogwarts, along with the mudblood and the blood-traitor' Bellatrix stated speedily. Voldemort looked to the floor for a moment, thinking.
'Is that all?' he asked, sounding disappointed. Bellatrix tried to reassure the Dark Lord.
'My Lord, we are continuing with our search' she declared. Voldemort put his hand up, and she went silent, looking back at the stone floor.
'You will continue, yes. Young Draco will help you' he revealed.
'How my Lord?' Wormtail sniffled. At that moment, Snape returned from bringing Draco to his cell. Both Wormtail and Bellatrix turned to see him enter the chamber, and kneel next to them, facing the Dark Lord.
'Severus, you will now watch over young Draco. I have other tasks set for Wormtail. Check on him, and make sure he stays alive. I have more plans for him yet. Leave us' Voldemort told Snape. Snape rose, bowed low, and exited the chamber, closing the door behind him.
'My Lord, why did you leave him to guard Malfoy?' Bellatrix asked, not being able to hide her anger at how passive the Dark Lord was being with Snape.
'My reasons are not your concern' voiced Voldemort.
'But my Lord, he will allow him to escape!' Bellatrix continued. Voldemort rose from his chair, and Bellatrix instantly lowered herself into a bow. She knew she had gone too far.
'That is why your task, aside from learning about Potter, is to follow Snape and Draco. When they flee, they will lead you strait to the tattered remains of the Order of the Pheonix, and Harry Potter.'
A/N - Alright folks, this chapter went back to the dark side of the story. So, what did you think of this "dark" chapter? Did you like some of the plotting and scheming here? Plus the death, what of that?
Please review!