My excitement at being allowed to attend Hogwarts faded as soon as we arrived back at the house. Apparently, I had said a little more than I was supposed to. My punishment reflected that. I was sent to the dungeons without another word spoken. A few moments later, a Death Eater I'd never seen before came into my cell. Dressed in all black, my tormentor began my punishment.

After using just about every spell that causes pain or discomfort, I was left on the ground, in a pool of my own blood, my breathing shallow and weak. I was going to die, I just knew it. I was finally going to die. The pain soon faded, as everything turned black.

~~~~~~~~~~

When I awoke, I heard low voices coming from somewhere above me. I tried to move, but found even breathing painful. Why was everything so painful? I couldn't take the pain anymore. I wanted out.

As if someone could read my thoughts, a loud noise sounded from the floors above, and muffled yelling could be heard. I tried to work out what was going on, but the pain became too much once again, and I quickly sunk back into the blackness.

~~~~~~~~~~

I woke to the sound of a voice nearby. No, multiple voices. I tried to sit up, and half succeeded, but not without letting out a grunt of pain. The voices stopped for a moment. Then, I heard echoing footsteps, getting closer and closer to my cell. My vision was blurry, but I could just about make out three figures outside my "room". I closed my eyes, trying to get rid of some of the pain that moving had caused me, and silently praying that these people weren't here to hurt me any more.

One of the people muttered something to the other two. Another said something inaudible. A small click could be heard, like the sound of the door unlocking. I contemplated trying to make an escape, but I knew it was impossible; I couldn't open my eyes again, let alone move. Someone picked me up bridal-style, and then came the horrible feeling of side-along apparation. When the feeling stopped, the person set me down on something hard. I could hear some yelling over the buzzing in my ears, which somehow made my pain get even worse. What was going on? Was I still with the Death Eaters? Where had I been taken?

"It's okay," a voice murmured in my ear, in a soothing tone. "You're safe."
And with that knowledge, I allowed myself to succumb to the darkness once more.

~~~~~~~~~~

I could feel myself drifting in and out of consciousness. Voices surrounded me like clouds. I tried to move, but every time I did, a hand went to hold me down.
People were talking all around me, asking questions like "Who is she?" and "Is she okay?"
I was pretty sure I didn't look pleasant. I could feel blood dripping from my arms; well, from pretty much everywhere, actually. You think you could assume that I'm not okay. But I was half dead, so what did I care?

Eventually, I felt something cold go up to my lips, and a warm liquid sliding into my mouth and down my throat. I instantly felt drowsy, and soon slipped into unconsciousness again.

~~~~~~~~~~

[Third person POV]

It was all over the wizarding news: a young girl, found severely injured in the basement of a house, which no one knew existed until a few days ago.

Aurors had got word of a Death Eater hideout in the mountains, and went to check it out. When they arrived, they found the place deserted, although there was evidence of people living there. It seemed that everyone had fled before they arrived.

After a thorough search of the house, they were about to leave, when they heard a noise that sounded like a grunt of pain. They followed the noise, and came across a hidden hallway with multiple cell doors. Inside one of the cells was a girl, no older than thirteen, laying in a pool of her own blood. The three Aurors who discovered her took her near-lifeless body, and immediatly apparated to St. Mungo's hospital. No one knew who she was.

No one, that is, except for a wandmaker, a headmaster, a deputy headmistress, and — far away — a certain being. A being with a plan. A plan to bring the darkness back.

And this being's name?

Lord Voldemort.

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A/n: apologies for the short chapter! I'll try to stick to my normal 1,200 words from now on, but tbh I can't make any promises since I don't want to be leaving month-long gaps between updates like I normally do 🤷🏻‍♀️

~Charlie 🖤