A Weak Emotion

Disclaimer #2: This plot is loosely based off a plot theme found in Stephenie Meyer's novel, New Moon. I do not own this plot, nor am I in any way associated with J.K. Rowling.

A/N: A huge thank you goes out to my beta, Long_Live_Luna_Bellatrix!!!

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Set in 1974. Lord Voldemort is recruiting followers and is becoming a much bigger threat to the Wizarding World. Many purebloods are beginning to think he has the right idea.

Lucius Malfoy entered the small jewelry store in Diagon Alley. He had visited five other stores so far, looking for the perfect engagement ring to give his girlfriend, Narcissa Black. He planned to find the ring first, and then approach Cygnus Black to ask for his youngest daughter's hand in marriage.

This store was not like all the others; it was smaller and a bit dirty, but just as he turned to leave, a ring caught his eye. It was a gold band with a large diamond, surrounded by four smaller emeralds, a tribute to their house at Hogwarts. He picked it and up and looked at it from all angles, trying to picture it on Narcissa's dainty hand. He decided that it would look perfect sitting upon her small hand.

He carried it to the counter where an elderly witch took it from him to ring it up. She smiled sadly and said, "A pretty ring for a pretty lady; although I am sad to forsee her death."

Lucius looked up at the witch sharply. "What was that?" he asked.

"Ah, yes, I am a Seer. Your pretty bride will be dead within the week," the elderly witch said with a sympathetic frown.

Lucius narrowed his eyes at the witch. He did not believe in Seers, prophecies or Divination. He threw the Galleons on the counter, grabbed the ring and stormed out.

Within minutes of leaving the store, Lucius put the entire exchange out of his mind. He thought about his plan for proposing to Narcissa. He was planning to wait two weeks until their fifth anniversary.

Now that he had the ring, it was time to speak with Cygnus Black to ask for his daughter's hand in marriage. He had arranged to meet with Mr. Black in two days time. Unfortunately, Lucius had had to go out of town prior to this meeting and he had not seen nor spoken to Narcissa since before picking out the ring.

Lucius returned home the morning of his meeting with Mr. Black. He cleaned himself, making sure to shave and pulled his hair back into a neat ponytail. At the appointed time, he stepped into the fireplace, threw down his Floo Powder and said clearly, "Black Manor."

He arrived in the greeting room of Black Manor, and pulled out his wand to remove any dust from his clothes. As he waited, he watched Mrs. Black being escorted by a house-elf down the hall. When he looked closer, he noticed that she was crying. Lucius was concerned, but he did not want to pry. Pure-blood ladies did not cry in front of other, and Lucius knew that it would embarrass Mrs. Black if she knew that he had seen her.

Finally, a house-elf came to greet him. "Din is sorry, Mr. Malfoy. How can Din help you?" he asked.

"I have a meeting with your master," Lucius said sharply to the creature.

"Master Black is not here," the creature responded, his ears drooping.

"Well, where is he?" Lucius asked, trying to keep his voice calm.

"He is planning the funeral," the house-elf said, before hitting his head against the wall in punishment.

"What funeral? Who has died?" Lucius demanded, suddenly remembering the exchange with the old saleslady in the jewelry store.

"Din must not say. Mr. Malfoy must leave at once," the house-elf replied, pushing Lucius towards the fireplace.

Lucius flooed back home, and immediately rushed to his room to begin packing. It was believed that Lord Voldemort was currently hiding out in Albania, while recruiting more followers, and that is where Lucius needed to go. He would ask the Dark Lord to kill him. If he refused, then Lucius would force his hand by defying him.

As he added the last of his items to him bag, his sister Lucretia knocked and entered the room.

"Lucius, you just got back, where are you going now?" she asked, crossing her arms across her chest, a frown on her face.

"I must leave at once, Lucretia. There is nothing left for me here," he responded, his voice shaking slightly.

Lucretia frowned, and then responded, "Did Cygnus deny you Cissa's hand in marriage?"

"No, Narcissa is dead," he whispered, trying to keep back the tears that threatened to fall as he shrunk his bag and placed it in his pocket. "Now, I must go to Albania, Lucretia," he said, knowing that his sister would understand the meaning of his words. He walked quickly out of his room, leaving the house by the front entrance. When he was a safe enough distance away, he Apparated to Albania.

He quickly found an Inn where he spent the night, as it was already near dark when he arrived in Albania. The next morning after breakfast, he spoke with the innkeeper, trying to determine the Dark Lord's whereabouts. He was told by the innkeeper that there was an area in the Dark Forest that men would disappear from, and it was believed to be haunted. Lucius thanked the man for his help and was off.

Lucius arrived at the location provided to him. The forest was dark and dense in this area, but he spotted a house not too far away. He had barely taken three steps when he was tackled to the ground. His wand was wrested from him and he was levitated in the air to face his captors.

"Mr. Malfoy, quite a surprise to see you here," drawled the older man, Antonin Dolohov.

"I've come to speak with your Master. I mean no harm," Lucius said, keeping his eyes cast downward.

"Are you here to join the cause?" the younger wizard, whom Lucius recognized as Will Avery, said with a smirk.

"Possibly," Lucius answered, knowing he would never get to see the Dark Lord if this was not the case.

"Well then, I will be keeping your wand," Avery said, placing him back on the ground and leading the way into the old shack.

"Dolohov, Avery, you better have a good reason for disturbing me," a cold, high voice called from the other side of the room. The man looked up and Lucius caught his first glimpse of Lord Voldemort. He did not look much like a man anymore; his skin was had the appearance of wax, and his eyes had a bloodshot appearance to them. Lucius visibly cringed at seeing the Dark Lord's visage.

"Ah, Lucius Malfoy, I once had the pleasure of meeting your father," Lord Voldemort said with disdain. "Have you come to join me?"

Lucius shook his head. "No, my Lord, although I completely agree with your ideas and support your work. Instead, I have come today to ask a favor of you."

A smirk appeared on the Dark Lord's face, and behind him Lucius heard Avery and Dolohov snicker.

"A favor from me? Well, they often come with a heavy price," he replied. "What is it you seek?"

"I wish for you to kill me," Lucius stated plainly, bowing to Lord Voldemort. The Dark Lord withdrew his wand and Lucius looked defiantly towards the wand, willing for death to come quickly.

Instead, Voldemort said, "Legilimens," and Lucius felt another presence within his mind. All of his most recent memories flood to the surface, and even some older memories showing Lucius' power and loyalty to the pure-blood cause.

Finally, Voldemort withdrew from Lucius' mind, causing Lucius to fall onto his knees.

"You have a very interesting mind," the Dark Lord said, staring at the floor where Lucius was panting. "I am going to say no to your request, Lucius. I will not kill you today. This girl is worthless. Love is a weak emotion and is a waste of your time," he declared, as Lucius got to his feet.

Lucius hung his head, quickly trying to determine the best way to defy Voldemort.

"Now, now, I will make a deal with you, Lucius, if you are willing," the Dark Lord said, pressing his fingers together in front of his chest.

Lucius tilted his head to indicate that he should continue.

"Join me, and serve me for one year. If at the end of that one year, you still wish for me to kill you, then I shall. You will be such a valuable servant to me until then. Consider it, Mr. Malfoy."

Lucius considered this option for a moment before nodding his head and saying, "Yes, my Lord, I will serve you. Anything you ask will be done."

The Dark Lord smiled, although it looked more like a twisted smirk. "Very well, Lucius, you will need to receive my mark. Whenever I call for you, you must come, do you understand?"

"Yes, my Lord," Lucius replied as he stepped forward. The Dark Lord indicated for him to hold out his left hand, and Lucius obeyed.

The Dark Lord grabbed Lucius' hand, pressing the tip of his wand to the inside of the his wrist. Lucius felt a burning sensation, and let a low hiss escape from his lips. The burning lasted for two minutes before the Dark Lord straightened and took a step back.

"Very good, Lucius," the Dark Lord said, taking a seat. "Your assignment is to continue your work at the Ministry and spy for me. I want you to report back to me every Sunday evening, is that understood?"

"Yes, my Lord," Lucius repeated again.

"Good, now be gone," the Dark Lord said, standing and leaving the room, his robes whipping behind him.

Avery and Dolohov stepped up to Lucius, and Avery returned his wand with a smirk. Lucius nodded to each of them and swept out of the shack. He walked a few paces, and then turned on the spot Apparating home.

He entered Malfoy Manor, where Lucretia was waiting for him.

"Oh, thank Merlin, Lucius. You're alive; what happened?" she cried, throwing her arms around her older brother.

"He said no, but we made a deal. I will serve him for one year, and at the end of that one year, if I still wish, he will kill me," Lucius replied, trying to extricate himself from Lucretia's grip.

"Oh, Lucius! I can't believe you joined him," Lucretia said, taking a deep breath before continuing, "Narcissa is still alive!"

Lucius stopped moving, and looked his sister dead in the eye. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, she is waiting for you in the guest room. She's been here since just after you left'" Lucretia said.

Lucius rushed out of the entranceway and straight to the guest room, and right into the arms of his beloved. "Oh, Cissa, I thought you were dead," he said, his voice cracking. "I've done such a horrible thing," he said, pulling away from her.

"Ah, Lucius, whatever it is, we can work it out. We are both alive and well, and that is all that matters," she said, with a kiss.

In the back of Lucius' mind, he heard the Dark Lord say that love is a weak emotion, and he stiffened under Narcissa's grasp. He was right; love was a weak emotion. It was love that led him to Albania, and it was love that now meant he was in the debt of the Dark Lord. He would marry Narcissa anyway, but he would never be a victim of love again.