-ONE-

DESTINATION UNKNOWN

The floorboards let out a grown as they flexed under the weight of the man of which paced across them. The dark mahogany planks strained as they were used for the first time in many, many years. And with the weight of one, soon came another. The floorboards would marvel that they were being used for the first time in so long, and for something of which appeared to be of great importance. As the first cloaked figure came to a rest as the second joined them inside of the room. The room itself was brightly lit, with grand candle holders lighting each wall. The iron holdings emitting a glow which was both eery as it was welcoming. 

The first figure would stop and wait for the second to say something to them. Awaiting orders from their superior as they prepared for the chiding. Events of which they had lead had not gone well. The plan had been unsuccessful to say the least of things. And it had been a big responsibility for the first figure to have been allowed the honour to lead the events of the night, only for them to have stumbled and failed. The first time they had been allowed to lead something, only to have failed in such a catastrophic way. And if the events not being completed had been enough of a failure, people had also been caught. Been noticed and there would be arrests. Important members to the cause would be taken away, and there would be nobody to replace them. 

"Cantankerus." The very familiar voice drawled as it drew in the attention of the previously pacing figure. Cantankerus turned to face the second figure lowing the hood hidden head to the floor as to not make eye contact with the person he had disappointed so greatly. 

"My Lord." Cantankerus responded.

"You have failed us tonight." His Lord replied and Cantankerus could not let out the little 'eep' sound he made in response to those words. He knew that he had failed, but hearing it from the leader was another strike. He knew that it would take much more than just apologising to pass this off. 

"You were drafted by a bunch of teenagers. A bunch of children!" His lord bellowed, emphasising the word 'children' as he spoke. And Cantankerus knew that grovelling would not be enough.  He was unsure what he could offer as an apology for his actions. Knowing he had been one of the few clearly spotted by the Auror's and knowing it would not be long before they came for his arrest. 

"My Lord." He paused unsure how to respond. "I know not how to apologise correctly to you for this." He settled upon and watched as his lord took a moment to ponder what he could offer. 

"I will need more members. We shall be loosing some as a consequence of your actions and it should be just that you provide their replacements." His Lord offered and Cantankerus felt himself relaxing slightly, that could be something he could do overnight. He knew plenty of people he could easily coax into joining their numbers. People he had been working on convincing for a little while up until this point and it would not take much longer to sort their joining out. 

"Of course my Lord." He agreed.

"Great I have the ideal candidates in mind." His Lord paused and Cantankerus took a moment to look up, making the mistake of looking his leader in the eye. For the menacing look he received it was clear who the candidates were. And Cantankerus might not have been up for any father of the year awards, but this was a life he had not wanted to sign his children up for. It had been his late wife's request only days before her passing. But he would have to break that promise now. And he could only hope that his children held little resentment for his neck actions. 

"Your children. Very bright. Very skilled. They would make the perfect recruits. Could you promise them to me? Be exonerated of your failings tonight?" Cantankerus found himself agreeing quickly to the questions he had been asked. 

"You words mean little to me. It must be something more."

"An unbreakable vow my lord?" 

"More."

"You desire to create a blood pact?"

"A pact that as long as your children join the cause that you will live. If they break the pact you will die like you were supposed to under my hand tonight." 

Cantankerus knew he could not deny his Lord's request. He knew that by this point he was too far gone, too involved with the cause. That if he were to deny it that not only his life but the lives of his children would be at stake. And despite not loving his children as much as a parent probably should do, Cantankerus was not entirely heartless. He knew that he would be signing away the lives of his heirs, the people to carry on the Nott legacy and that would have his own father rolling in his grave. It was enough to agree to the blood pact. 

Because joining the cause, signing up to be a death eater against their wills was better than the other outcome that was being presented in the mean term. His children were not great fans of him anyways, there was no need to deny them another reason to resent him. He knew their relationships were past fixing, it had been for many years now. And he was not someone who would deny that the two children he created were not determined to go far. Both Nott heirs were incredibly bright, and this would either help them by giving them a boost in the new world or give them the personality needed to work their way through everything. 

And as blood was spilt and a pact created, two young lives were signed up. And three vials containing the pact were drafted. Reminders of what had been formed in that very room.