Serpens Solus

I

: Recruitment and Failure

"For those who have successfully Apparated here, it is obvious that you are ready for the next test."

As Voldemort gazed around the forest clearing, looking at the wizards recruited for the Death Eaters, he paused to look at a group of Death Eaters who were fixing a group of splinched recruits. Then, he continued, "Those who have splinched will not be able to remain here any longer since they have failed the first test."

Sixteen-year-old Draco Malfoy silently sighed in relief. He was lucky that his father had taught him how to Apparate during Christmas vacation. It was summer now and Voldemort began to recruit wizards to join his side as Death Eaters. Draco thought back to the day that Voldemort appeared at his house to talk to Lucius. He smiled inwardly at the statement Voldemort made about not wanting to disturb the education of his future Death Eaters.

Draco was certain that he would be able to be accepted into the Death Eaters. After all, his father was a rather notorious Death Eater. He looked up to see Peter Pettigrew, Voldemort´s second-in-command, opening a scroll, which, he assumed, listed the names of all the recruits. It must be time for the individual test, Draco thought.

The individual test was similar to being Sorted at Hogwarts, except Voldemort personally tested you.

"What a long list this is. I did not think that there would be this many supporters of the Dark Side. But then of course, there are several Malfoys on the list as well, must be because of the Code, am I right, Lucius?" Voldemort turned to face Lucius Malfoy, who was standing behind him, along with the other Death Eaters.

"Yes, Master. The Malfoy Code commands that within each generation, every single Malfoy family must have-" He was cut off by Voldemort.

"Lucius, I am not interested in hearing the history of your family. Yes or no would have done."

"Yes, Master." Lucius bowed to Voldemort just as he turned back to the recruits and continued, "However, being a Malfoy with a strict Code doesn´t mean I favor you over the others. You´ll just have to prove yourself."

Draco was certain that Voldemort was watching him just as he said that. What if I´m not going to get chosen? Draco thought, but dismissed the idea, knowing that he was capable of joining the ranks of the Death Eaters.

"Now," Voldemort continued, "I´d like to continue on. Pettigrew, if you will begin calling out the names."

Peter Pettigrew, or more commonly known as Wormtail, nodded hastily and called out the first name. The boy ran up to Voldemort and followed him to a small hideaway. Soon thereafter, the boy ran back to the clearing and Disapparated. So, the boy wasn´t recruited, Draco thought remembering his father´s words, it was hard to find decent wizards who could truly support the Dark Side. I pray that you will be not fail. Draco shuddered at the thought, remembering his father´s face when he said that. Draco knew he had to fulfill the Malfoy Code. After all, he thought, no Malfoy ever failed to follow the Code.

As the individual test continued along, Draco tried hard to remember everything his father told him, and felt he could hear the echo of his father´s words. Look the Dark Lord straight in the eye, remember, never, ever, falter in your speech. You are a Malfoy, and Malfoys are always eloquent in speech. Remember this, as well as the other rules, and you will surely be a Death Eater, shrewd and cunning.

* * * * *

After what seemed to Draco to be an hour, Wormtail finally called out the first Malfoy, Alexanderè Malfoy. Alexanderè? Draco thought. He knew every Malfoy relative of his, but he didn´t remember an Alexanderè. Was it possible that this Alexanderè was really Lexandra, my cousin? Draco thought, but he dismissed the idea, knowing that Lexandra already had a brother, Duncan, who could be a Death Eater.

Although Draco didn´t care about Alexanderè Malfoy, he found himself waiting for him. Or her, he thought bemused. Whoever this Alexanderè was, Voldemort seemed to like him, since it took almost ten minutes before Alexanderè left the hideaway to stand among the Death Eaters.

Draco smiled; it was fairly obvious that the Malfoys would be Death Eaters. They had been supporters of the Dark Side for several generations. A few more Malfoys went into see Voldemort and each of them stood among the Death Eaters. After each Malfoy stood among the Death Eaters, Draco felt more and more confident that he would become a Death Eater himself. Soon thereafter, Wormtail called out "Draco Malfoy". Draco looked up and walked into the hideaway where Voldemort was waiting, standing with his back to the young Malfoy.

"Draco Malfoy, is it?" Voldemort said, though Draco was well aware that he already knew his name.

"Yes, sir."

Without turning around, Voldemort continued, "I know you more than I know any other Malfoy here today, except, for your father, and his elder brother, Francis," He paused, as if waiting for Draco to say something, but he didn´t.

"I am a forgiving person, after all, your father was one of the greatest Death Eaters before my downfall. However, there is something about you that I can not fathom. You´re an arrogant, selfish boy. From my own relations with the Malfoys, I´ve come to learn that arrogance is something that is not prided upon, but rather the cunning, and shrewdness of a Malfoy. I´ve been watching you since my rebirth, and I have to say, I am not pleased with you. You taunt Potter, yet he still stands firm. Your behaviour is something that is not acceptable of a Malfoy. At first, when I began to watch you, I assumed you picked it up from Severus Snape, the head of Slytherin. Later, I realized that my theory was wrong. Severus is not the type to be arrogant. If you didn´t pick up this habit from Hogwarts, then perhaps, could you care to enlighten me as to where, and how, you began to differ from the Malfoys I know so well?"

Draco stared. Arrogant? Me? I never realized I was arrogant. Draco thought, and than said to Voldemort, "Sir, I honestly don´t know why I´m different from the other Malfoys," He paused, thinking, and then continued. "I always assumed that the way I grew up was a result of my father, and how he brought me up. I," Draco paused again, thinking, "I suppose that my father´s behaviour caught up with me as well."

Voldemort turned his head partially around. "I can assure you that your father had nothing to do with this. From what I know, Lucius is not arrogant, but proud of his heritage. Let me tell you something, based on my own experience. Your father doesn´t teach you the ways of acting, instead, you teach yourself how to act." Voldemort turned his head back to its former position, facing the forest instead of turning all the way around to see Draco, and said, "I do not regret saying this, but farewell, young Malfoy. You have failed as a Death Eater."

Draco was stunned.

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