Life of a Killer

Chapter Two - Joining the Dark Lord

The fact that we were silent said it all really. It wasn't a trait we were known for, being quiet. We stood in a cold, dark room; Rodolphus was leaning his back against one of the bare walls, trying his best to look calm and collected, though I knew he was anything but. I walked around the small room, desperate to take my mind away from what was about to happen. The room, however, provided no distraction, as it was completely empty apart from us.

I was feeling a mixture of excitement and anticipation with a good helping of nerves thrown in as well. My stomach was churning and I felt physically sick. This was the moment we had been anticipating for the past four years. At last, we were going to meet him.

The crash of a door opening brought me back down to earth. I can vividly remember the image of a figure standing in the doorway, disguised by a black cloak and hood. An image I would soon become used to. This time, however, was the first I had seen a Death Eater dressed like this, and although I had known about the masks they wore, I hadn't been prepared for it. I later found out that new recruits never were told the identities of the other Death Eaters until they had proved themselves trustworthy. Some never found out the identities of all the others at all; it all depends how far up the hierarchy you go.

I could hear Rod breathing heavily beside me, obviously feeling as apprehensive as I was. We even laughed about it afterwards. The hooded figure motioned for us to follow and, with a slightly anxious glance at each other, we both walked slowly across the room. Knowing that room now, it must have taken all but a few seconds to reach the doorway, but at the time it felt as if hours passed in those few steps. The Death Eater led us through a maze of corridors all as cold and dark as the room we had just left. I couldn't have even remembered the exact route we took even if I tried, but now I know this was the desired effect. The room we had left was, in fact, on the same corridor as the one we arrived at some ten minutes later. The tour through the manor was just to disorientate any potential spies.

The Death Eater showed us into the room, which was much the same as the other one, only larger.

"Wait here," he said gruffly.

To this day, I never found out for sure who this Death Eater was. No one ever does. There is no particular reason behind this; it's just some kind of in-joke. I believe it was Augustus Rookwood we met that day, but I can't be certain. It was weeks after that I met Gus for the first time officially, so it was hard to tell, but thinking back to that voice, it certainly sounded like him. Gus was a good man, very clever. For years he worked in the Department of Mysteries at the Ministry, spying for our side. It was only because of a certain person thinking that saving his own skin was more important than anything else that Gus got caught and sent to Azkaban. Gus's presence in the Ministry certainly helped us on many occasions. He was able to find out information we would have never been able to get hold of otherwise.

The Death Eater left us again in the new room.

"So now what?" Rodolphus had said to me in a hushed voice, as if someone might be listening. I shrugged nonchalantly, but before I had time to answer, the door opened again. Two more hooded Death Eaters -- again, never identified -- entered and stood either side of the door. They were followed by a tall dark-haired man who had a certain presence about him.

Lord Voldemort.

He stopped directly in front of us and looked us up and down, as if inspecting us. I remember Rod looking distinctly like a fish, his mouth wide open. I looked back at the Dark Lord in awe, feeling decidedly shabby when I saw his stunning black robes with silver trim. If I had admired him before, it was nothing to how I felt now. It went beyond respect and admiration. I wanted to be exactly like him, starting with some flashy robes. I swore to myself right there and then that I would be one of Lord Voldemort's top men. I would walk by his side, be involved in the decision-making and planning. He would know exactly who I was and call me by my first name. Without him even speaking, I was ready to dedicate my life to Lord Voldemort and his cause. I was prepared to die for it if necessary.

And this was exactly what the Dark Lord wanted us to do; he wanted us to be willing to do anything, including dying. Every Death Eater had to swear to this, as Rodolphus and I did that day. Although now I realize how few of us would have actually stuck to this if it was necessary. Maybe only a dozen or so of us. Not that I think the others didn't mean it at the time, but now I doubt they would have gone through with it. Most couldn't even face Azkaban, and talked their way out of it by saying they were being forced under the Imperious curse. Others, like Karkaroff, preferred grassing up the rest of us rather than face Azkaban. All of the Dark Lord's most devoted servants either went to Azkaban or died for the cause.

Lord Voldemort spoke to us briefly, asking who we were and what we thought of the cause. I was relieved he never asked about my parents, as I had no idea what I would have said if he had. Either he already knew or he didn't care; I never really found out.

Someway or other, we must have impressed him because after only a short time, he told us we would still have to prove ourselves despite the fact we were already friends with Malfoy, Stan and a few others. This wasn't news to us; we had certainly expected it, so we both nodded dumbly. With a satisfied looking smile, the Dark Lord turned and left the room without so much as another word. The two Death Eaters who had remained silent throughout followed, closing the door behind them.

We looked at each other, confused. Was that it? Did we stay here, or were we supposed to go now? After realizing that we didn't know our way out of the manor, we decided we had better stay put. We spoke only briefly to each other while we were in that room, partly because we were aware that we might be being listened to and partly due to the fact we both had so much going on in our heads.

The door opened again and in strolled Stan, looking as casual as anything.

"Alright then?" he asked, sounding more like he had bumped into us in the Three Broomsticks than at Lord Voldemort's Head Quarters. He laughed at our puzzled expressions before telling us we had to report for 'duty' the next day. We had been accepted. My heart and mind were racing as Stan told us we were the youngest Voldemort had ever taken on. He didn't usually even consider people who hadn't left school. But, due to our high recommendations from Stan and Lucius, who were fast making names for themselves among the Death Eaters, he had agreed to see us. We were later to find out that our being still at school had a lot to do with it. Lord Voldemort had a special job lined up for us: he wanted a spy at Hogwarts, and that was to be us. Albus Dumbledore had become headmaster there five years previously. He, along with the various charms and such on the castle, made Hogwarts highly impenetrable by the Dark Lord and his followers. The only way for them to know what was happening there was by having spies among the students. Rod and I were the first to do this job, but it was later passed on to Bella, Snape, Regulus and Barty Crouch in turn, after we left Hogwarts.

Stan showed us the way out of the manor, leaving us in the entrance hall. No one ever knew how Lord Voldemort acquired this large estate, and nobody ever asked. Stepping out of the darkness of the house, I squinted at the bright sunlight. I gazed around the grounds, trying to get my bearings, and then I turned to Rod, who was grinning. At the time I had no idea why, I suppose it was a release of emotions, but we both started laughing like crazy.

We spent the next few weeks, before returning to Hogwarts, at the Head Quarters. We were far too unimportant for Lord Voldemort to explain things to us; in fact we didn't even see him during that time, so Jugson was given the task. Every Death Eater hated initiating new recruits; it involved lots of explaining and often the most mundane missions. Needless to say, Jugson was less than impressed about being stuck with two sixteen year old boys. He changed his mind, though, when he saw how enthusiastic we were and how much we already knew about the Darks Arts.

So after over two weeks of 'recon' missions, we stood face to face with the Dark Lord again. It was the day before we were to return to Hogwarts and we were in the same room we had met him in before. I remember the words he spoke as if it were only yesterday.

"I am impressed boys, very impressed."

Stepping closer, he took hold of my left arm as he continued to speak.

"I know you won't be able to Apparate to my side yet, but I think you are deserving."

Pushing back the sleeve of my robes, Lord Voldemort pressed his fingers against my skin. I can still remember the burning; it seemed much worse that first time, but I suppose I got used to it over time. The burning was so intense I wanted to pull my arm away, but I forced myself to remain still. Lord Voldemort removed his hand, revealing the Dark Mark. I stood still, staring at it as the Dark Lord turned to Rod and gave him his mark.

"Do you know what these are, boys?"

We both nodded; we had admired Lucius and Stan's when they had received theirs. The Dark Mark continued to darken in colour as he spoke. It also continued to burn, but less intense than before.

"It is a sign of your loyalty to me. It will be with you, just as I will, for the rest of your lives. Remember that."

And I did remember it. Any time in Azkaban, when doubt about the Dark Lord's return entered my mind, the Dark Mark reminded me of his words that day. Just looking at the Mark on my skin told me that he would return to us, that he would free us.

By the time we had got back to the Lestrange Manor, the Dark Marks had started to fade. Rodolphus had proudly shown his arm to his parents, something I knew I would never do. Apart from our obvious difference in opinions about wizard purity and Muggles, I got on well with my parents. I never wanted to hurt or disappoint them so I had decided, even before I had met Lord Voldemort, that I would never tell them about becoming a Death Eater. Back at home that night I had kept my arm well hidden.

I had arrived early at Kings Cross the next day. I hadn't been able to stand being at home any longer, concerned that my parents would see my arm. I had told them I would make my own way to the station and had set off early in the morning.

I sat on my trunk on the deserted platform, relieved to be out of the Muggle world. The Hogwarts Express wasn't even in the station at this time. Eventually, students had started to fill the platform. Bella and Reggie had arrived around the same time as the train. We had found a carriage and Reggie kept watch out of the window for the others. One by one they arrived, Evan and Cade shortly after us and then Snape. We had watched in amusement as Barty tried to avoid his mother's hugs. His father, as ever, wasn't there. Rod had arrived just minutes before the train was due to leave. He had come running down the platform, Stan just behind him with his trunk. His parents appeared through the barrier at the last moment, just as the train set off.

The instant we were out of the station, Rod still trying to catch his breath, Bella started pestering for information about Lord Voldemort. We told them as much as we could about the past few weeks, which wasn't much as most of it was secret. I could tell Bella had been torn between her desire for information and jealousy that she hadn't been a part of it.

"So are you actual Death Eaters, then?" she had asked, the tone of her voice showing that part of her hoped we weren't.

I had looked over at Rod and slowly we had turned back our sleeves to proudly reveal the Dark Mark. Bella had gasped; Reggie nearly fell from his seat in his eagerness to see. Everyone was silent as they looked in awe. I think from that moment on we were held in much higher regard by our friends than ever before.