Chapter 1139: A Murderous Plot
Chapter 1139: A Murderous Plot
In a dim room within the Malfoy Manor, Draco Malfoy sat on a chair with his arms wrapped around his knees, staring blankly at the shattered mirror before him.
A few days ago, a cataclysmic event had shaken the Malfoy family.
Lucius Malfoy, Draco's father, had led a group to interrupt the Mudblood wedding, only to fail miserably and walk right into a trap set by the Ministry of Magic. This resulted in the capture and demise of many Death Eaters who had followed him.
Overnight, the Malfoy family's reputation was ruined. Lucius, who had always been Draco's role model, was now branded a failure by countless Death Eaters, and he and his wife had become objects of hatred and scorn. Lucius's foolish actions had led to significant losses for the Death Eaters who believed in him.
Misfortune seemed to have befallen the Malfoy family. Not long after their devastating defeat at the hands of the Ministry, two Aurors paid a visit to Malfoy Manor, bearing a family letter and a demand for a hefty fine of fifty thousand Galleons.
This was, without a doubt, the craziest thing Draco had ever experienced in his life.
That damned Scrimgeour actually threatened them, saying that if the Malfoy family refused to pay the exorbitant fine, Lucius would not even get a chance to stand trial.
Pay up or perish.
Draco would recognize his father's handwriting anywhere, even in death. In the letter, Lucius discreetly mentioned that two other wizards were subjected to similar treatment, while the rest of the captured Death Eaters had been "killed during arrest."
Whether it was actually during the arrest or not, the result was the same—they were dead.
Fifty thousand Galleons was indeed a substantial sum, even for the wealthy Malfoy family, but it was not an amount they couldn't muster. However, the worst part was yet to come as the family members of the other two Death Eaters who had received similar letters showed up at their doorstep.
Together, the three families had to pay a fine totaling one hundred thousand Galleons.
It was nothing short of highway robbery.
Even the affluent Malfoy family might struggle to gather such a large sum in a short period.
Ironically, the only reason they were being offered the option to pay the fine instead of facing immediate death was due to their pure-blood status. Other unfortunate Death Eaters weren't so lucky; they met their end as soon as they were captured.
The situation was even grimmer for the captured Dark Wizards. Not only were they subjected to public trials under the influence of Veritaserum, but those found guilty of heinous crimes were executed on the same day.
It was said that the new Minister, Scrimgeour, led by example and personally executed the first batch of prisoners. Ever since he rose to power, he had been either participating in trials or carrying out executions, going so far as to proclaim that only those they killed could forgive them, and that their duty was to send them on a path of repentance.
This earned Scrimgeour the title of "The Executioner Minister."
However, those who deemed Scrimgeour's methods cruel and sought to tarnish his reputation found themselves invited to participate in truth-telling interviews arranged by none other than the minister himself.
Most of his opponents ended up discredited and shunned by the wizarding world.
The Death Eaters had tried to make him pay a price, but his family was already gone. The Dark Wizards who attempted to burn down their house were captured by Aurors lying in wait and publicly executed due to overwhelming evidence and the severity of their crimes.
Scrimgeour even publicly declared that he would fight against the forces of darkness until the day he was killed in office, earning him the reputation as the most iron-blooded minister in the history of the wizarding world.
And yet, Lucius being imprisoned in Azkaban was still considered fortunate, for he was alive, while others had perished.
However, this turn of events only served to fuel the hatred of other Dark Wizards and Death Eaters toward the Malfoy family, who they blamed for orchestrating the failed operation. Some even suspected that Lucius had betrayed the Dark Lord.
Ever since his father's capture and imprisonment in Azkaban, Draco's once happy life had fallen apart.
Following Voldemort's resurrection, the Malfoy family failed to reclaim their former glory and received no respect from the new regime. Draco himself, as the son of Voldemort's right-hand man, did not enjoy the adulation he might have expected.
It had all been but a fleeting dream.
The Malfoy family was on the brink of collapse due to Lucius's successive failures. His mother was distraught and at a loss, leaving Draco with no choice but to step up and shoulder the responsibilities of a man, determined to restore his family's honor.
However, before Draco could devise a plan to revive the Malfoy family, another piece of bad news arrived: the Dark Lord wished to see him.
All of this filled Draco with immense fear. Although he had fantasized about Voldemort's victory, he had never imagined that he would come face-to-face with the Dark Lord himself.
There was a knock on the wooden door, and when it opened, Draco saw his mother, Narcissa, and his aunt, Bellatrix, standing there.
"Draco, are you ready?" Narcissa asked, her voice trembling.
"Cheer up, Narcissa," Bellatrix said excitedly. "I believe this is Draco's first time meeting the Dark Lord. You should be proud."
Narcissa's lips quivered as she looked at her sister, unable to utter a word. She did not share her sister's enthusiasm and believed that the Dark Lord's summons at this time could only spell trouble.
Draco donned respectable attire and, with Bellatrix's help, prepared to meet the legendary Dark Lord.
Draco felt no reverence, only fear, as he stood before Voldemort.
"Lucius failed and brought about the capture of many of our followers," Voldemort's cold, angry voice made Draco tremble as he lowered his head, not daring to meet the Dark Lord's eyes.
"The Malfoy family is ancient, and it is up to you to restore your own honor," Voldemort said, staring at Lucius Malfoy's son. "I will give you another chance."
"What...what kind of chance?" Malfoy stuttered, his lips quivering.
"A confidential plan that I entrust to you," Voldemort replied coldly. "I want you to murder Albus Dumbledore."
"Murder...murder Albus Dumbledore?" Draco repeated, shaking.
"Yes. If you succeed, the Malfoy family will regain its glory, and I will personally ensure Lucius is released from Azkaban," Voldemort said, his red eyes fixed on Draco Malfoy. "And you will receive greater honor than any of my other followers."
"I...I will," Draco said, steeling himself.
"Excellent. Extend your left arm. I will grant you the mark of a Death Eater, and I expect you not to fail me again," Voldemort warned, looking at the trembling young Malfoy. "If you fail, flee, or surrender, the Malfoy family will be stripped of all honor, and you and your family will pay with your lives."
"I will succeed," Draco vowed.
Draco accepted the mark of a full Death Eater, determined to bring his father back into Voldemort's favor and restore the Malfoy family's honor.
Draco soon convinced himself that murdering Dumbledore would not be a difficult task.
After all, Dumbledore's supporters were mostly centered around Hogwarts, and without the Headmaster, the Dark Lord would once again rule the wizarding world, which Draco believed would make it a better place.
Voldemort was clearly pleased, raising his wand to brand the Dark Mark on Draco's arm.
"Master, what should I do?" Draco asked, looking up at Voldemort with a bewildered expression, as the Dark Lord had given him no instructions on how to carry out the assassination.
"Do as you see fit. Use any means necessary to kill Dumbledore," Voldemort said, satisfied by the desire for revenge that burned within Draco.
He did not particularly care if Draco succeeded or failed, as this plan was not originally intended for him. However, if he did succeed, it would be a welcome outcome, solving one of Voldemort's problems.
And if he failed, Lucius Malfoy would experience the pain of losing his son, which Voldemort believed would be the greatest punishment for Lucius.
Looking at the Dark Mark on his arm, Draco respectfully took his leave, knowing that he now had a chance to restore the Malfoy family's honor.
After meeting with his mother and aunt Bellatrix, Draco shared the Dark Lord's task with them.
"Draco, I am proud of you," Bellatrix exclaimed excitedly. "Narcissa, you should be happy. The Dark Lord has bestowed a great honor upon Draco."
Narcissa, trembling, hugged her son tightly, tears silently streaming down her face.
"Mother, I will succeed, but...I need help," Draco said. "The Dark Lord hasn't instructed me on how to carry out the plan, nor can I share it with anyone else... I need a foolproof plan and more accomplices. I can't possibly kill Dumbledore alone."
"I'm glad you're not shirking your responsibilities," Bellatrix said, gently patting Draco's shoulder. "I will teach you what to do, and as for accomplices, that won't be a problem."
"I'll go and figure out a plan," Draco said, his anger and desire for revenge clouding his judgment. All he could think about was completing the task and restoring the Malfoy family's honor.
As Draco walked away, Narcissa collapsed onto the floor, sobbing. She knew that the Dark Lord was seeking revenge for Lucius' failure and that he never intended for Draco to succeed. He was sending her son to his death! "Draco has grown up, and you should be happy for him," Bellatrix said coldly. "He's also eager to prove himself."
"Draco is just a child. He's only sixteen," Narcissa pleaded, looking at her sister.
"Don't worry, Narcissa. I will help Draco," Bellatrix assured her, excited. "You should believe that he can kill Dumbledore."
"How could Draco possibly succeed?! Even the Dark Lord himself has failed to kill Dumbledore!" Narcissa cried.
"How dare you..." Bellatrix trailed off, taking a sharp breath.
"He's my only son..." Narcissa wailed, tugging at her golden hair.
(End of Chapter)
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