"Bellatrix," the boy muttered mysteriously.

"What are you waiting for, Snape? We have to go to physical training," said the girl, pulling a sharp knife from her robe.

Little Black opened her eyes with great fear as she paled and her breath cut, she felt as if her heart stopped for a moment and looked at Severus pleadingly as she began to struggle to let go.

Severus was speechless for a moment while his skin turned whitish, but he tried not to let go of the girl.

"No," the boy replied firmly.

"What did you say?" Bellatrix asked annoyed.

"The Dark Lord has not given that order," Severus challenged her seriously.

"An order is not necessary. All initiations are the same, do you no longer remember yours? From what I remember it was barely finished a few months ago," the girl said, waving the sharp knife in her hands.

"The Dark Lord has commissioned us that she has to be alive, my curse Cruciatus has left her too weak," the boy explained slowly.

"Are you sure? Apparently, she has a lot of energy," the girl pointed out when she saw that the young Death Eater kept fighting.

"Sure," the boy replied, nudging his friend, hitting her directly on the fresh mark she had just gotten. The girl fell to the ground because of the sudden blow but especially because the burning that had stopped a while ago went back to her forearm and it was when she began to doubt about Severus and remembered Frank's words about not giving confidence to Severus and he doubted whomever he claimed to be his friend, although it could also be to try to save her from Bellatrix's sharp daggers.

The little Death Eater's sister put away the melancholic knife and retired annoyed.

Severus and Calynn walked to a corner of the room where the boy decided to let go of his friend but pointed her at the wand immediately.

"One wrong step and you wish you weren't born," the boy ordered with his wand raised.

Was he really pretending? Why did Severus behave that way so real? Was it really necessary? What if everything is a trap? All those questions invaded little Black when she saw her friend behaving in that way as if he really was him, as if that really was her true identity, but something made her trust him, something inexplicable.

A few minutes passed where they were both in the dark hall of the huge mansion with the other young people who looked at them strangely. When each of the little Death Eaters stopped watching them, Severus gave his friend a sad and pleading look that only answered her with a slight smile. After a moment of waiting, the adults left the immense dining room where they had attended, most of the Death Eaters left with their children who, although they were wizards of the dark side they received them with sweet hugs, especially to the smallest, because in spite of everything they were their children. The little girl was surprised that her parents did not leave that dining room, but it did not bother her to wait any longer to know what was in store for her, separating from them did not bother her at all.

A few moments later the doors opened again and Druella and Cygnus came out accompanied by their leader. Calynn turned instinctively and watched them as she had never done, weak and sad without being able to avoid the look of fury that they both brought towards her, indicating what awaited her for the rest of the day.

"Death Eaters," the pale man called to all his followers with a smile on his face. "Tomorrow we will have some special guests to attend to, so at the moment practice your spells," the man mentioned. "And Severus, come here," the bald man said, addressing the boy who stopped pointing at his friend and headed to the huge dining room.

As soon as the doors were closed someone took little Black by the wrist and quickly pulled her out of the room, making the least possible noise.

They reached the hall where the elegant carpet lay when the little chestnut began to speak.

"Silence," the girl ordered. "My name is Andromeda Black. I know why you are here," said the girl. She looked about three years older than Calynn, her hair was light brown and she had melancholy eyes of the same tone.

Calynn was silent, she was too nervous to be able to speak, she was too fearful to be able to trust someone other than Severus because for her all the Death Eaters present had a cruel, ruthless and cold soul that they would show who they met regardless of who out. "Don't be afraid, you can trust me, I'm your sister," confessed the brunette trying to reassure the girl who was shaking her lip. Calynn continued to be surprised more and more, every moment she discovered a new sister. "I also went through the same thing as you a few years ago, even before Bellatrix and Cissy." Calynn looked at her, bewildered.

"Were you also forced to be a Death Eater?" Asked the little girl. "And who is Cissy?"

"Yes, a few years ago I also visited this mansion in the same situation as you, but I didn't cause so many problems since I pretended," Andromeda declared, gaining a disapproving look from her sister. "Pretending is not weak, sometimes we just need help to get ahead," she said, but Calynn's expression did not change. "Cissy is our sister, her name is Narcissa," she concluded, unable to avoid a snort of distaste. "But I have not come to tell you that, I have come to give you a few tips if I may." the girl proposed seeking acceptance from her relative to continue.

Little Black, who was more relaxed, pondered the words for a moment before answering. Should she trust that girl? What kind of advice would they be? Why did she do it?

"Why do you do it? What brings you the benefit of telling me these tips?" Asked the little girl.

"I want to do it so as not to see in my own eyes what I suffered for more than six months, I want to do it because despite wearing this mark," she said, lifting her jet-tunic sleeve, revealing a strongly marked snake and skull, "I can help to those who also carry it by force. And if it's benefits, being able to avoid unnecessary suffering" the chestnut expanded by adjusting a few hair curlers that were covering her temple.

Calynn thought about it a bit and without giving her confidence she accepted the proposal.

"What will they do to me?" The little girl took the opportunity to clarify some doubts and thus make sure who she was dealing with.

Andromeda took a breath before beginning to speak.

"As soon as Voldemort let your parents interact with you, you may begin your true initiation where you will have to be strong and at the same time pretend to be weak, give them the pleasure of seeing you suffer, but not fully indulge them, you will have to form your own limits on some things when you see that you cannot afford to do such a thing, but above all never lose the person you really are," the young woman advised her trying to sound strong. "Don't let your ideals, your opinions, or your future be changed," the girl said, almost crying as she took her sister's palms gently. "That's all I can tell you until I know more about your initiation."

"And where we will live?" Asked little Black.

"Most likely, we spend most of our time here in the Malfoy Manor. Our uncle," commented the brunette, causing a gesture of confusion to her sister, "I'm sorry, I thought they told you something about uncle Orion Black, he lives with his wife Walburga Black at number twelve of Grimmauld Place, maybe you recognize them more for being the parents of Regulus and Sirius Black, your partner of Gryffindor" The girl counted.

"Are their parents Death Eaters?" Asked Calynn directly.

"Not exactly, they don't have the mark, but they agree with the opinions of the Dark Lord," Andromeda replied. "In fact..."

Little Black analyzed for a moment what her sister had just told her. Did Sirius know all this time? Why did he never tell her something? Maybe the boy didn't want to get involved in those issues. "If we have a little time left, we may spend the last nights before returning to Hogwarts at our uncles' house," the girl said with a shrug. "Although Voldemort won't let us go until we finish with the people who come tomorrow and other days," said the chestnut as if what she had just said was very normal.

"Finish?" The young Death Eater repeated rather than confused.

"During each meeting of Death Eaters, some magicians from different parts are usually brought in, they are usually tortured for information, but you don't have to worry about it, that's what only the most daring adults and young people take care of," Andromeda said without giving it any importance.

"Then only if you give the information, he asks for... Voldemort," she said with difficulty, "will he let you go safe and sound?"

The brunette looked at her sister and smiled a shame because despite everything she had lived she still did not fully understand what situation she was in.

"You do not get it? Just look for a benefit of his own, if you speak or it won't kill you anyway. The only thing you can choose is if you want it to be slow or fast," she said. "Most choose the second option. Calynn was shocked to hear those words, now more than fearful she was shocked to find so many revelations. Well, I think it's time for you to return to the room, I don't want to be blamed for your absence. Remember what I told you and don't be intimidated by Bellatrix. I hope to see you later." The brunette said goodbye and then left through the great door, leaving her alone in the large lonely hall.

The little girl was confused after so many revelations about Lucius, Sirius and what they would do to her. She also doubted whether it was safe to trust everything her sister had said and tried to think about how they could hide three sisters for more than eleven years.

She returned to the living room and tried to hide among the crowd of Death Eaters, but unable to avoid it, the Dark Lord had called her.

Meryl spent a lot of time in McGonagall's office and it was hardly the first day of vacation. The moonlight barely covered Lily's eyes in the cozy common room where she was only accompanied by two first-year classmates who played a game of magic chess. Lily felt depressed and guilty because while she was warming by the great fireplace of the intense winter cold her friend was suffering who knows what. She was tempted to write a letter, telling her how much she missed her and to tell her what was going on and how she was, telling her about Meryl and some other classmates, but she didn't want to raise suspicion of the other Death Eaters about what Little Black mentioned at school.

"Are you crazy?" Asked a blonde behind her. "We haven't even left the school for twenty-four hours and you're going to work on Galatea's homework," Meryl said, deducing that her friend had taken out her pen and parchment to do homework and not to send a letter.

"No, I had only planned to write a letter, but I think it better not because..." Lily stammered for an explanation.

"Do you miss her, right? Calynn," the girl questioned seriously, changing that countenance so characteristic of her, that fun smile had changed to one of sadness so deep that at first glance it seemed that both girls missed her and cared alike.

Lily nodded in total silence, but with a rather sad expression.

But both could not worry equally, everyone did it for their own feelings, only Severus and Lily knew about the reality of their parents, or so Lily thought.

"Me too," Meryl replied, surprising Lily. "I miss her too."