PROLOGUE
❝recruitment❞

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         GLORY.

         A thing that fools seek yet never find but is given to this who steal the show or prove themselves worthy. A fascination that morphs people into monsters as they search for so long and in many places, twisting and deforming themselves until they look into the mirror and can't even see who they are. Something that turns morals around until they stand over the body, no feeling inside them because they're so numb to it all.

         Nothing mattered, all that came to mind as glory. Was being wealthy, prosperous, and having unimaginable power. A name that lives in infamy. Heard around the whole world for thousands of years after they're gone.

         The cheers to a glorious night, a glorious person, a glorious act. Wanted by everyone, thrust upon some, and taken greedily by others. Not everyone had their chance to find it, not everyone deserved it, but all would take in a heartbeat.

         It was aggravating to see those around you be handed this gift and want to reject it, to fight against it instead of reveling in it and smiling. It was aggravating to know that you were nothing, that you would never receive such a gift in your lifetime. Maybe that's why she considered the offer, maybe that's why she tossed and turned on her bed and thought about what she should say. Accept or deny; having glory or live in the shadows forever.

         To some, the choice wasn't difficult when it was simplified to just these two things. Glory or no glory. But it was a much harder decision with many more factors and if given those factors many would choose the opposite of what they had previously stated. No glory. Not anymore.

         But for Rosalie Allen, it wasn't that simple.

         It should've been. For a sane, good person it would be such a simple decision. When given the option, they would spit in Dumbledore's face for even suggesting that they would help him in this. For a good person, it was easy to say no. And Rosalie thought of herself a good person, yet she did not spit in Dumbledore's face and deny him, she thought it over and asked for a few days to consider the offer.

         Maybe that's why she was chosen and not someone else, not another brave Gryffindor; she would consider saying yes in the first place instead of turning him down immediately.

         Sitting up in her bed, looking around at the other girls she roomed with, it made her feel guilty for thinking this over. There was Hermione Granger and Jennifer Kolly – two muggleborns. Here she was considering joining the side that want to commit genocide and end people just like them and their parents.

         Because that's what she was considering. She wasn't considering being a double agent to a bad corporation, she was considering joining the Death Eaters at Dumbledore's request. For the sake of good, for the Order of the Phoenix, he told her.

         Her name would live in infamy as people remembered her – Rosalie Allen – for her valiant efforts in infiltrating the Death Eaters and gaining knowledge to tell the Order of the Phoenix. A spy for the good. But not for the right reasons. No, the textbooks would never mention that she only joined for her own personal glory which they were giving her. They wouldn't know at all.

         She closed her eyes and fell back against the headboard of her bed, wanting to scream but not letting any sound come from her lips. Dumbledore told her she would be glorious if she accepted his offer. Dumbledore told her she would be known forever by the wizarding world if she did this one terrible thing that would lead to a string of much worse actions.

         All she had to do was say yes. Say yes and she would have glory. Say yes and she would be on her way to preparing to join the Death Eaters. Have the Dark Mark on her left arm for the world to see her fake allegiance. See the murders, maybe partake in them, feel as though she hates muggles (that part she could play if she used examples of her muggle father). All she had to do was say yes.

         But she could also say no. Say no and she would live forever in the shadows, regretting the day she rejected her claim to glory. Forever thinking about what would've happened if she said yes, what would her life have become. Say no and she wouldn't see these terrible things, wouldn't be a terrible thing. She would not be twisted and disfigured into a monster. No, she would stay human and be able to see her true self in the mirror.

         All she had to do was say yes or no.

         It would decide her fate forever, she knew that. Such a large decision. It made sense she was torn, she tried to justify it that way at least. Anyone in her position would just say yes, wouldn't they? They would want glory as much as her.

         She didn't need to feel guilty for wanting glory. Her claim to glory could save a life, couldn't it? She could tell the Order of the Phoenix information that would save a life, maybe thousands. Maybe her being there, a Death Eater – a double agent, could help them win the war and her saying no would cost them that victory. Would cause the whole world to fall under Voldemort's complete and insane control.

         Little decisions always seemed to shape the future, didn't they?

         It was easy; it should be easy.

         Rationally, she knew she should say no. She didn't want to be a murderer, a killer all because the Order of the Phoenix needed to place her there for information. Rosalie knew that the Death Eaters were terrible people who needed to be stopped and joining them would make her just another monster among them. She would be no better, she might even be worse.

         She wouldn't be there because she believed Voldemort's words. She wasn't there because her mind was twisted enough to idolize him. She wouldn't be fighting for him because that's what she believed it; that's what she stood for. She would be standing there and fighting for him because of a need for glory, killing so that she could be glorious with the Order of the Phoenix. Was that worse or was it better? She didn't know anymore.

         Irrationally, with emotions and desires, she wanted to say yes. To enter the recruitment and be a Death Eater; a spy for the Order of the Phoenix. So what if some people needed to die, so what if she had to do some terrible things? That didn't matter, she would have glory. Fame. Love. Adoration. Her name would live in infamy just as she wished. Everything she wanted she would have, all for the small price of PTSD later. Who cared?

         Did she?

         Did she care?

         Rosalie didn't even know anymore. Dumbledore had come to her two days ago and she was still considering his offer. She should say no, but she couldn't. She couldn't.

         No, she couldn't say no. So she was saying yes. That was her answer. This was everything she wanted. She would get her glory one day, all she had to do now was be a spy. She could do this. She could and she would.

         Rosalie Allen was going to be a spy. Rosalie Allen was going to be a Death Eater. What she would not be is a good person. No, she would be a corrupt human being, a monster in the mirror. But that was alright; she would have her glory.

         And she would be alright.

         "Ah, Miss Allen, I'm glad that you have agreed to our deal. Once summer begins, we will debrief you on what you need to know before we will initiate the first stage of our plan. You're doing the right thing, trust me."