As he glanced at himself in the floor-length mirror, Draco couldn't stop his grey eyes lurking on the faded tattoo. He remembered the day that he'd taken the Dark Mark as if it were only yesterday. The young man had hoped that he would be able to instill respect in the Malfoy name once more, especially after his father had tarnished it. But it had been a mistake; all it had led to was an uncertain time of fear and anguish that his life was hanging in the balance.
To think that Voldemort would be tolerant on a sixteen-year-old boy had been foolish. Rage had made the Dark Lord force Draco into taking over the mission that had once been Lucius'. The younger Malfoy had only ever wanted to make his parents proud and thought this was the best way to do it. To kill the Headmaster of Hogwarts was a big ask and Draco was surprised he hadn't cracked sooner.
Although years had passed since that evening, he still suffered from the odd nightmare. Draco could still hear Dumbledore trying to talk him around, and sometimes he was convinced that it had been working. Then his aunt had appeared, and he was suddenly forced, once again, to confront the truth. Even then, the Headmaster knew that the sixth year wasn't capable of such things. Draco had even been about to lower his wand.
The sound of Dumbledore's voice as the old man begged Snape still ran through his mind. It was like a constant drumbeat some days, just waiting for Malfoy's mind to lull before it hit him out of nowhere. At the time, he thought his former professor was being asked to spare the bearded wizard's life, but, since then, he had discovered that Snape had been in on it all along. To this day, he was still infuriated by it; he had never been allowed to make his own decisions.
"Draco, dear. We're going to be late," his mother's voice rang up the stairs, still as sweet as ever despite all the worry and pain her husband and son had caused her.
"Coming, Mother." Picking up his black jacket from the bed, he put it on and walked downstairs, ready for the formal they were about to attend.