The Death Eater

The Challenges

The hall was full of death eaters, and one boy about the age of sixteen, Draco Malfoy. The door opened and in strutted a girl of the same age, her curly black hair hanging down her shoulders. Her blue-grey eyes shone with menace and a smirk played on her lips. She sat beside Bellatrix, the crazily devoted death eater who'd just escaped from Azkaban prison. Draco looked at her curiously but didn't bother to ask.

"My wonderful death eaters," A smooth but undeniably evil voice said as he walked into the room, "you are gathered here to mark the development of two children who have remained faithful to us from a young age." Voldemort looked between Draco and the girl, "Both will be gifted with the dark mark after they complete a series of tests. I present to you, Draco Malfoy" Draco stood up, his face paler than normal, "and Helena." She stood too, looking down at Bellatrix for support.

"You'll love the pain." Bellatrix whispered to her.

Voldemort walked over to Helena, "As you all know, Helena joined us at an extremely young age. After her parents were killed in a fire her magic was uncontrollable, she had salvaged her mother's wand and was killing anyone who dared to challenge her. Upon arrival, as some of you may remember, she caused havoc. But, after a few years, she became part of us. We raised her." He stroked her cheek and moved on to Draco, "Draco, on the other hand, was born into this. His father, who has disappointed me, and his mother were both death eaters. Now it's his turn."

Bellatrix smiled excitedly, "Tell them about the challenges, my lord. Tell them about the bone-chilling-"

"I was getting to that, Bellatrix!" Voldemort snapped.

Bellatrix shrunk back, "Of course, my lord."

"The first challenge will simply prove that they are able to contribute to our society. The second will prepare them for the pain of the mark being burned into their flesh. And the third will test their loyalty." Voldemort smiled, "Let the challenges begin."

Helena sat outside the room that was to be used for the challenge. Her hands twisting together with strange nerves.

"I haven't seen you before," Draco said, "yet they say that they raised you."

Helena rolled her eyes, "I'd keep my mouth shut if I were you, Draco."

"But it doesn't make sense." Draco protested.

"Aren't you nervous?" She said, "If not, you should be. I know these people like the back of my hand, they're my family."

Draco was about to answer with some sort of witty comment when the door opened.

"Come in, and be prepared. You will show off the best talents you have to offer." The death eater said, motioning for them to come in.

Helena glanced at Draco before turning on her heel and walking through the door. Draco soon followed.

Inside, the room was large and dark. Helena suddenly felt alone and knew that, somehow, her and Draco had been separated. An image appeared before her, it seemed real enough but it was obviously cast.

"You must first demonstrate your knowledge of spells." The image flickered slightly, "Choose a defensive spell."

Helena smiled, "I don't do defensive." She shot a simple spell at the figure.

It laughed, "If you insist." It shot a spell at her.

Helena quickly blocked it.

"Complete. Choose a spell to disable your victim." It said.

Helena rolled her eyes, realising that she had been tricked into the last one. She shot a spell, the action clear in her mind, as that was how she created her stronger spells. Only as slashes appeared in the image's body did the spell's name come to her mind; Sectumsempra.

"Complete." The image said with a smile, "Use one of the three unforgivable curses as if you are battling someone we need to investigate."

Helena knew what spell to use before the spell hit the image and it screamed in pain. She smiled, enjoying the sound.

"Complete." It said as the spell wore off, "Second, you must dual." And the image shot a spell at her.

Helena was quick and, if she couldn't block or counter the spell, she easily dodged it. Eventually, she shot it with a green light and the image flickered out. A slow clap caught her attention.

"Well done, sweetheart." A masked death eater said, "The next task is seeing how you deal with pain."

"Go ahead, if you've been here long enough you'll know that I can survive a knife running down my arm, a hot poker to my chest, and a -"

"Have you been through the cruciatus curse?" He said.

Helena paused, "No, I was considered too young."

"Well, you're about to be branded with the highest honour to be bestowed on a death eater. And it hurts much more than... curico!"

Helena felt pain course through her, burning in her blood, it was more painful than anything that she'd felt before. She let out a scream and collapsed to the floor. The number of times she'd cast the spell, the number of times she'd gotten joy from people go through this pain. Suddenly, the pain didn't feel so bad. She laughed and shakily got up.

"Well done, Helena." The death eater said, clearly impressed, "The last test will see if you will remain truthful to the dark lord."

Helena was ready, "Bring it on."

A woman walked in, a clipboard in her hand, she was obviously under the imperious curse, "Good day to you." She nodded the death eater out, "Hello, Helena. My name is Igma and I am here to explain something very important to you."

Helena snorted, "Just get to the point."

Igma nodded, "You lost your parents at a very young age, Helena."

"What do they have to do with this?!" Helena yelled, her eyes darting around the room.

"It was a traumatising event for someone so young, and to then have to fend for yourself... It would've put a huge emotional and mental strain on your young mind."

"This has nothing to do with my loyalty." Helena protested.

"It made you easily manipulated."

Helena froze, her eyes wide, "I. Was. Not. Manipulated."

"Think about it Helena, you were young, scared, and powerful. You could easily be captured and convinced that this was the right side, the good side."

Helena laughed to try and take away her anger, "I don't think this is the 'good' side. I want to do this, even if it's 'bad'."

Igma gulped, "But, you know these people aren't your family, the things they did to you were not okay. And you have been put through something that could cause you even more mental distress. You have been frozen in time..."

"Enough!" Helena screamed, "You have no right to say these things about my family." She pointed her wand at Igma's chest.

"I'm sorry to-" A flash of green sprouted from the wand cutting Igma off.

Helena's eyes were crazy as she put the wand away, Igma lay on the floor and would never get up. 

A small voice whispered, "Complete."