Black and White

14

We are near the middle of summer and, still, I am not used to Death Eaters and Voldemort himself showing up at Malfoy Manor for meetings. I haven't seen Voldemort yet, as Draco and I tend to hide out in his room whenever the Dark Lord makes an appearance, but the air itself seems to get darker when he's around. Today, however, Bellatrix says that Draco and I will be attending the meeting.

I sit on Draco's bed, waiting for him to finish fixing his hair. We were told to make ourselves presentable.

"Why now?" I ask Draco. "Why not before? Why at all?"

"I don't know, now keep your voice down," Draco shushes me. "Just, whatever he asks, do it. That's what Mum told me. Even if he asks you to join him, Lucida, promise me you'll say yes. You know what Aunt Bellatrix would do to you. He's said to be so much worse than her."

"So you're just going to say yes, then?" I question, crossing my arms.

"We won't have a choice, Luce," Draco snaps. "No one ever does. Besides, I don't care if he hurts me. I don't want him to hurt Mum. Now, promise me. Promise you'll do what he says. I don't want you hurt, either. Not again."

I sigh. He has a point. And there's always Dumbledore, once we go back to school.

"Children," Narcissa calls from the door. Her face is tight with worry. "It's time. Come Draco, Lucida."

I follow Draco as he follows his mum down to the room where the meetings are held. My stomach churns, and I feel small and helpless. I'm only a few days from thirteen, after all. Draco himself has only just turned fifteen. I reach in front of me and take Draco's hand. He pulls me up beside him as we enter the room.

Immediately, I see him, seated at the end of a long table. It must be him. His skin is pale and stretched over his bones. He has snake eyes and slits for a nose. Around his shoulders is his pet, Nagini, a large boa constrictor. All around sit various Death Eaters. I try not to shake, but it doesn't help that I can feel Draco's hand trembling in my smaller one.

"Ah, at last, I meet the heirs of our glory," Voldemort says. "Draco and Lucida. I hear great things about you both. I am eager to hear from your own mouths, your willingness to join our ranks."

Well, he gets right down to the point. I realize that must be the only 'great' thing he's heard about me. About Draco, however, who knows?

"Draco, you may go first," Voldemort urges, standing and coming to rest directly in front of us. "Are you ready?"

"Yes, my lord, I am ready to serve you," Draco says, and he sounds sincere.

My cousin raises his left arm and pulls up his sleeve. Voldemort smiles and places the tip of his wand on Draco's arm. His mark sears itself into Draco's skin, and my cousin winces and grits his teeth. When it is done, Voldemort turns to me, looking expectant.

"I am ready to serve you," I say. Draco glances at me and I take a shaky breath. "I am ready to serve you, my lord." I raise my arm and the mark is seared into my skin, as well. I taste blood, from biting my cheek, and a tear slips out, from both the pain in my arm and the turmoil in my head.

"There, there," Voldemort chides, wiping away my tears. It takes everything I have not to flinch or push him away. "You, dear, both of you, have just joined a new family. A family that will fight for you, that will never let you down."

Voldemort returns to his seat at the other end of the long table and gestures for Draco and I to take the two empty seats. We do, myself between Draco and Professor Snape, and the meeting proceeds.

"My lord," Professor Snape speaks up.  "As I was saying, tomorrow, while the Malfoy's are away, the Order would like me to retrieve Miss Black, here, and take her to their site, under the wishes of Dumbledore himself."