Finally, Voldemort ordered Nagini to glide back and allow the Malfoy family to rise.
"Thank you, my Lord," spoke Lucius. He was aware that he got lucky. Deep inside, he knew that after Voldemort died, he did nothing to try to find Voldemort.
Lucius, Draco, and Narcissa got up.
Even though Voldemort did not punish them, they knew that this was just the beginning. Now with the return of the dark Lord, they could no longer behave freely without any consequence.
Instead of focusing on the two Death Eaters, Voldemort turned his red eyes towards Draco and then addressed him. "My boy, Draco Malfoy, you have shown great potential in the way you conduct yourself at Hogwarts. Always preaching about the pureblood, making sure to be superior to Harry. Your loyalty to our cause has not gone unnoticed. I have high expectations for you, my young servant. There is much you can achieve in the service of the Dark Lord."
Draco, still grappling with the revelation of Voldemort's existence, nodded with a mixture of fear and pride. "Thank you, my Lord."
Voldemort addressed the young wizard again. "I see great potential in you, Draco. You are one of the most talented pureblood wizards in the new generation. You will be named the prefect for Slytherin House next school term. I can see your name spoken of later as one of the great Slytherins."
The Dark Lord did not hesitate to add a future sight that he got from the new memories; that was Draco becoming the Perfect for Slytherin for the school year 1995 to 1996.
"I wish to have someone like you among us. The time has come for you to make a choice. Do you pledge yourself to the service of the Dark Lord? Will you become a Death Eater?"
Draco's heart raced as he absorbed the weight of Voldemort's words. His ego was boosted to the highest by the praise of Voldemort. The prospect of joining the ranks of the Death Eaters, a group synonymous with fear and power, made him feel proud. As a final approval, he glanced at his parents to see their reactions.
His father, Lucius, immediately nodded, but when he looked at his mother, he saw her keeping a blank face. Narcissa wanted his son to be free from these hurdles, but with the dark Lord's presence there, she could not express her thoughts to her son.
Voldemort saw that the boy needed more convincing. "Look at the world, Draco. It is plagued with muggles and mudbloods. Only the strong have the will to cleanse it. You have a destiny, Draco Malfoy. The choice is yours, but remember, the Dark Lord offers you a chance to leave a lasting mark on history."
Since his childhood, Draco remembered being raised for pureblood supremacy. And now that the chance has come knocking on his door, to form part of the Dark Lord's army, Draco spoke. "Yes, my Lord. I am ready to become a Death Eater."
A sly smile crept across Voldemort's pale features as he observed Draco's acceptance. The dark eyes flickered toward Narcissa, who stood with a composed demeanour, her eyes betraying a mix of concern and maternal pride.
"Congratulations, Draco Malfoy," Voldemort declared. "You have chosen wisely. Embrace the mark, and with it, the power that comes with serving the Dark Lord."
With a wave of his wand, Voldemort conjured the iconic symbol of the Death Eaters.
The Dark Mark.
The serpent intertwined with a skull rose from the wand's tip, and Draco extended his arm. Voldemort pressed the searing image onto Draco's forearm, marking him as a pledged servant of the dark forces.
Draco winced at the pain, both physical and symbolic, but the sense of accomplishment and the weight of newfound responsibility overwhelmed him. The Dark Mark burned vividly on his arm, a permanent reminder of the path he had chosen.
"Rise, Draco Malfoy, as a Death Eater in service to the Dark Lord," Voldemort commanded. Draco, now marked and acknowledged, knew his life was going to take a drastic turn from now on.
Voldemort then turned his attention back to Narcissa, his red eyes studying her with a calculating gaze. "Narcissa Black, your son has made a significant choice. The Malfoy legacy aligns itself with the ambitions of the Dark Lord. I trust you comprehend the gravity of this moment."
Narcissa felt bizarre that the Lord was addressing her instead of her husband. Still, she had to say something that would please Voldemort. "Yes, my Lord. The Malfoy family stands united in its allegiance."
"Good," Voldemort said. "Now, Lucius, I planned to stay here in your mansion. I trust you won't mind accommodating me."
"No, my Lord, our home is at your disposal," said Lucius as he inclined his head. Even if Lucius did not want such a thing, he had no way to refuse the dark Lord.
"I require the use of your cellar. There are matters that require my attention below. Come with me, Lucius."
As the dark Lord turned and left, Narcissa let out a sigh of relief. Whenever the dark Lord's gaze fell on her, Narcissa felt an uneasiness in her body. She had been in the presence of the dark Lord many times in the past, but this time, Voldemort's gaze was different, like a perverse intensity that made her skin crawl. Narcissa instinctively adjusted the folds of her elegant robe, a subconscious attempt to shield herself from the invisible eyes that seemed to linger.
On the other side of the room, as Lord Voldemort was walking to the cellar, his mind was filled with dark thoughts.
"You dared to lie to me. Me, your master." With the new memories, Voldemort saw how Narcissa went to confirm the death of Harry Potter when Voldemort first killed him. When Narcissa approached the lying body of Harry Potter, she saw how the body moved for a moment. But instead of informing the dark Lord, she said that the boy was dead.
Moreover, she made Snape swear the unbreakable vow to protect Draco behind the Dark Lord's back.
"I will take pleasure in punishing you, Narcissa," thought Voldemort as he took the stairs to the cellar.