Resilience and Poise

II

Friday, 3 April 1998

It was just after dinner and they had all left the great hall and made their way back to the Slytherin dormitories. They were now seated in the common area just in front of the fireplace. Pansy was sitting on Theo's lap in one of the wing-backed arm chairs, his thumb tracing soothing circles across her ribs, his arm wrapped across her back, holding onto her tightly.

Draco was seated in the arm-chair adjacent to them, his elbows on his knees and his head resting on his clasped hands. Opposite him on the black leather sofa sat Blaise with Daphne and Astoria next to him. As she took in the appearance of each one of her friends, there was no hiding the fear they all felt in this moment.

"He actually said this?" Blaise questioned in disbelief, rising from his position on the sofa and crossing the marble coffee table to come rest one hand on the mantle of the fireplace. He turned his gaze to roaring orange flames, "He said he expects all pure-blood offspring to take up the dark mark?"

Pansy shivered at hearing this news for the second time tonight. She could have anticipated this being a possibility, Voldemort wanted to ensure that his followers were loyal, and what better way than to initiate the children of his followers into the fold.

"Upon his 'imminent victory' he plans to initiate us all," Draco confirmed, moving his head into his hands and sighing, "and there's more."

"More?" Daphne let out in exasperation, "what more could he possibly want from us?! As if branding us with the dark mark as though we are nothing more than cattle isn't abhorrent enough!"

Astoria reached over and took her sister's shaking hand in hers. Theo's hand went stiff for a moment at Pansy's side, and moved to bring her that much closer to his chest, his nerves evident at the infinitesimal faltering of his embrace. Draco rose from his seat in the arm-chair, he seemed to look around and ensure they were well and truly alone in the common room before he went to stand across from Blaise on the opposite end of the fireplace.

"It's not a matter of what he plans to do to us, it's what he expects we do for him," Draco elaborated, turning from the fireplace to look once more at his frightened friends.

"Upon his victory he anticipates of course, that the members of The Order will not come freely to his side, the...mudbloods..." his voice broke on the word he had discontinued using years ago, "are of little consequence to him, they will be disposed of without a second thought, but the purebloods, the blood-traitors...he expects them to convert to his side."

He has some sort of plan in place to convert them, I don't have any details, he has only shared his methods with his most trusted death-eaters and my father is still out of his favor after I failed in my...mission. I only know what I overheard Bellatrix tell my mother. My guess is he has some sort of potion in the works that will turn even the most hateful adversary into a loyal and obedient follower, and I can only imagine what he will have them do to prove their loyalties."

Everyone seemed to hold their breath in the moment after Draco finished informing them of his latest discoveries.

"Then we will simply have to ensure that he does not win this war," Pansy stated, speaking up for the first time since they had moved their conversation to the common room, "I think it's time that we inform Potter of our alliances, I know that he will be wary at first, he has no reason to trust us and we have shown him no signs that we are not loyal followers of the Dark Lord but if we somehow get the message to him, he could have help from people on the inside and we can bring an end to this that much sooner."

There was a chuckle from her right and Pansy turned to see Blaise bringing his hand to cover his mouth and force down the laugh. She glared at him and rose from her position on Theo's lap.