The Dark Side (A Harry Potter Fanfiction)

Chapter 14: A Mark to Remember

          "Mum, please. I don't want this," she held my hands, her eyes filled with compassion.
          "I don't either. But if you'd like to go argue with your father, he is outside," her eyes were clouded with worry. "Alexandra, I love you. I love you more than anything in the world. But I don't have a choice and neither do you. It will be fine, I promise," I looked down and gave in. "Be brave. He will respect you," I swallowed hard. There was a lump in my throat and it only got worse when I gave her a hug. I turned, took a deep breath, and walked outside.
          All of the Death Eaters were assembled. and soon, I would be one of them. My father was in the centre of the vast, misty field. I walked toward him with my head held high. I was in black robes, and they brushed against the damp grass as I walked. I stood in front of him, his snake-like eyes cold.
          "Your arm. Whichever you choose," I pulled up my left sleeve, exposing my forearm. He took his wand, which was identical to mine, and pressed it against my skin. He said something, in a very hushed tone and immediate, searing pain came from the wand, seeping in like ink. I gritted my teeth and shut my eyes. 'Be brave. He will respect you,' mother's voice rattled in my head as I bit the inside of my cheek. I opened my eyes, still gritting my teeth, and looked at him. "You did well. Much better than I had anticipated," I looked down. He removed his wand hastily. It was squirmed and writhed on my arm and I dreaded every bit of it. It was the Dark Mark. Every dark wizard and witch had one. I was now labelled as one of them. I slowly rolled my sleeve back down. I bowed my head, and walked back, another wizard taking my place. My mother was waiting for me.
           "Oh, honey, you did so well!" she hugged me. I felt empty as if my father's wand had leeched every bit of happiness in my body.

*

          I was in my bed. I had already been crying, but I had forced myself to stop, feeling it was childish. It didn't help, if anything, it made it worse. I just glared at the magic tattoo engraved into my skin. I was absorbed by my thoughts, my eyes still focused on the Dark Mark. It seemed silly now that just a few months ago I was panicking about the Yule Ball. I heard a knock on my door, bringing me back to reality. "Hello?"
           "Hey," Draco stood in the doorway, his face looking grey. "I—"
           "You don't need to talk about it, it's fine," he sat down beside me on my bed, holding my hand. I looked down at his wrist. He always had his sleeves rolled up, and the skin was bare and smooth. For a while, we said nothing.
           "Are you alright?"
          "No," I chuckled. "No, and I don't think I will be for a long time," we sat in the darkness in silence, neither of us knowing what to say.
          "You should get some sleep. Being exhausted won't do you any favours," I nodded. He stood, making his way to the door,
          "Draco, wait," I blurted. "Will you stay?" he smiled and nodded. He laid down beside me, and I found my place in the crook of his shoulder. We said nothing, all I could hear was his rhythmic breathing. Before I knew it, I fell asleep, absorbed in a nightmare.

         The cold began at the dreaded place on my wrist. It crept up everywhere, and before I knew it, I felt nothing. Nothing but freezing cold. I tried to scream and run, but I could do nothing. My eyes were the only thing that worked. I looked down to see my father's wand pressed against my skin. He let it go but I couldn't move. Then I felt something else take over me. Darkness. I lost control of myself, I could only watch as I killed innocent muggles, witches, and wizards. I simply observed as a flash of deadly green flew from my wand and hit my victim. They were dead before they hit the ground. They all had that expression of terror frozen on their faces as they fell.

           I woke up, sweating. I knew better to scream, this wasn't my first nightmare. I breathed quickly, eyes wide. Draco was already gone. I exhaled, letting my heartbeat settle. As I calmed myself, I took a look around my room to see daylight streamed through the part in my curtains. I swung my legs over the side of my bed and got ready for the day.
          I still felt cold and clammy as I made my way downstairs, and I secretly hoped I wouldn't meet anyone, but I could never be that lucky. I heard my mother speaking to someone else in the dining room, but I couldn't make out exactly what she said. I slowly entered the room, not wanting to disturb them.
          "Malfoy cannot be the one, Emily."
          "The Dark Lord insists! He is the only one who can do it, Severus, we don't have any choice," Professor's Snape's gaze wavered over me. My mother turned to me, her scowl transforming into a wide smile.
          "Good morning, dear! I didn't hear you walk in," she flitted about the dining room, cleaning and organizing as if nothing had happened. "Would you mind showing Severus to your father's study?" I clenched my fist, wanting to be as far from my father as possible.
          "Of course," Snape eyed the Dark Mark on my wrist for a moment, not making any comment. I led him downstairs, which felt musty and cold, even though it was summer. I opened the great pine doors for him, and he nodded in appreciation. I stopped in my tracks as I went to leave.
          "Wait, Alexandra. I wish to speak to you as well," a shrill voice called. I shivered, closing the door, I stood beside Professor Snape, who looked at me with curiosity. Father sauntered around the room, Nagini on his heels. "As you know, my recent attempt to capture Harry Potter failed. I do not intend to make this mistake again," he continued to walk around the room, speaking to Nagini occasionally. "I have chosen Draco Malfoy for a very important job in the coming months. Although I have faith in his loyalty, I fear he will not be able to complete this task when the time comes. That is where I will require you two. If he falters, you must take his place. I will not fail again," he stopped his steady pace before us. Nagini slithered over his shoulder, wrapping around his arm. "Can I rely on you two to take Draco's place no matter what occurs?"
          "Yes, My Lord," we spoke in unison.
          "Splendid."
          "My Lord," Snape spoke.
          "Yes, Severus?"
          "Are you certain the boy can complete this task? Perhaps, if I took his place—"
          "It must be Draco," he hissed, cutting Snape off.
          "You don't doubt my loyalty, do you, My Lord?" Snape said testily. Father's eyes were filled with rage.
          "I dearly hope you aren't speaking to me, Severus?" he seethed. I looked at the floor, not wanting to catch his gaze.
          "Draco is young and inexperienced, My Lord. I would hate to see Potter slip away due to a simple...mistake," He returned to pacing about the room. "I would gladly take his place and kill Dumbledore, My Lord," his gaze followed my father as he walked. Kill Dumbledore?
          "I admire your enthusiasm, Severus, but my decision is final. You are dismissed," we both exited the room, and I took a sharp intake of breath.
           "Why him?" I asked as soon as we made our way up the stairs.
           "He believes it will make him stronger, but we both know that is not the case."
           "Why can't I do it instead?"
           "You heard him, he has made his choice."
           "At Draco's expense!" I exclaimed, and he whirled to face me.
           "Do you think I am not aware? Why do you think I have been arguing with the Dark Lord for so long? I know what it will do to him, even if he doesn't succeed," he composed himself and continued walking.
          "But..."
          "I understand your concern, Alexandra, but we are powerless. I am tasked with looking after both of you, but that is all I can do."
          "You should stay for lunch, Severus. I'm just finishing up," mother was cleaning up the kitchen, supervising dishes being cleaned magically.
          "I'm afraid I can't Emily, I'm on a very tight schedule," Snape's drawl returned.
         "That's quite alright. Feel free to visit anytime, our doors are always open to you," he smiled curtly.
          "Much appreciated. Good afternoon," with a loud crack, he Disapparated, leaving us alone.