My name's Carter, Carter Reynolds, and I'm a witch. I was sixteen years old when my life began to take a turn for both the best and the worst. I lived in a huge house with too much space for three people. My family's appearance was perfect. My mom was a trophy wife, and I was a trophy daughter. I'm tall, tan, and slender, with long, wavy, dirty blonde hair. My eyes are an olive green. My parents were Death Eaters, and when I turned seventeen, I was forced to follow them in serving the infamous Lord Voldemort.

I went to Hogwarts School of Witch Craft and Wizardry; Slytherin House. I wasn't bad, though. On the contrary, I was a particularly good person. I'd been trying to get away from my own destiny since I had started school. However, trying to get away from one of the most powerful sorcerers in the world when his servants are your parents was difficult. I had to be in Slytherin. My family's been in it for centuries.

Today, my family was meeting the Malfoys at their mansion. Draco and I were expected to be presentable at a meeting with the Dark Lord. I was beyond afraid. Sitting in the limousine, driving through towns full of muggles was unbelievably difficult. My hair was up in a fancy do, and my mother had done my make up this morning. My dress was the darkest of greens, and my nails were the same shade. My father held a drink in his hand, and my mother sat next to me, her hand on my neck, stroking it softly. It did nothing to make me feel better.

My family had been very close to the Malfoys for as long as I can remember. All of the children of Death Eaters had some sort of alliance at Hogwarts, even if we didn't show it. I always seemed to be the odd one out. I never liked the other girls or guys in my house. I went all through school being with those in Gryffindor and Ravenclaw. There were a few times that I even spent time with Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Through the years, it'd been a really hard time trying to decide which side of the battle I belonged on.

ll First Year: The Sorting ll

Draco and I had just met. Our parents had introduced us before we got on the train. It was really awkward, having to sit next to him the whole train ride with him talking about Harry Potter to Crabbe and Goyle. The majority of the time, my face was against my hand while I looked out the window. I slightly remember falling asleep before we got to the castle that was Hogwarts. No one had even noticed until we were exiting the train, and I hadn't even moved yet. That was when Draco finally woke me up from my slumber. I'd brushed my hair out of my face and silently followed him to the boats that all first years had to use to get to the school.

When we waited in the entrance hall, Draco had decided to confront Harry. "So it's true then, what they're saying on the train. Harry Potter has come to Hogwarts," he said, leaning against Crabbe. I stood behind him, glancing at the famous boy that everyone had been chatting about on the train. Draco made me follow as he went up to Harry to introduce himself. Things went wrong when Ronald Weasley began to laugh at Draco's name. That was the first time Draco would be mean to Harry and his friends. "You don't want to go making friends with the wrong sort," he'd said. "I can help you there." Offering his hand to Harry's, Draco smirked. I looked between the two, hoping nothing would start up.

"I think I can tell the wrong sort for myself," said Harry. "Thanks."

My eyes widened, and I smiled, suppressing a giggle. Draco glared at me, and my expression immediately changed.

"Who are you?" Harry asked, suddenly looking at me.

I swallowed hard, not daring to look at Draco. "My name's Carter," I said shyly. "Carter Reynolds." I smiled a little, and both Harry and Ron smiled back. By then, Professor McGonagall had returned, and Draco dragged me back to where we were.

We were all lead into the Great Hall, and everyone waited for their name to be called. I stood there, biting my lip in anxiety.

"Carter Reynolds!" called Professor McGonagall. I took a deep breath and walked up to the stool that stood in front of the entire Great Hall. A kind of whining noise made its way out of my mouth as I looked at everyone that stared back at me.

McGonagall placed the sorting hat on my head, and its voice immediately came alive in my mind. "Hmm, very difficult. A very indecisive mind, you have. I see bravery and plenty of ability to succeed. Plenty of determination to help others, and a very kind heart. Very suited for Gryffindor or Ravenclaw."

"No!" I shouted under my breath. "Slytherin, I have to be in Slytherin."

"Slytherin? A very noble choice, but not for someone with such a kind heart and keen mind. Are you sure?" The hat replied in my mind.

I nodded. "Yes," I said quietly.

"SLYTHERIN!"

ll Second Year: Flourish and Blotts ll

"Bet you loved that, didn't you Potter?" Draco sneered. I had followed him down to the first floor of Flourish and Blotts Bookshop. My mother had dropped me off to meet Draco and Mr. Malfoy to get our new school books. I'd waved to Harry, Hermione and the Weasleys before Draco had shot off his big mouth. "Famous Harry Potter, can't even go into a bookshop without making the front page!"

"Now, now, Draco, play nicely." Lucius Malfoy pushed Draco and I out of his way as he began to speak to everyone in front of him.

"Can't you be nice? What did they ever do to you?" I said, shoving Draco's shoulder, suddenly really pissed at him.

"They're an embarrassment to the wizarding world!" he snapped at me.

"How so?" I asked, glaring at him.

"Look at them! They just are!"

"You need to grow up."

ll Third Year: Buckbeak ll

I sat on a rock that Neville Longbottom was hiding behind when we were all asked who would like to volunteer to say hello to the hippogriff called Buckbeak. Hermione, Ron and I had forgotten to drag Harry back when everyone backed away from Hagrid. He was picked, and I sat, chewing on my nail as Harry stood in front of the creature and bowed. When Buckbeak didn't bow back, I tensed, but then his neck bent forward as he bowed to Harry.

I smiled as I saw Hermione's hand snatch for Ron's when she thought Harry was in trouble. After Harry was able to touch Buckbeak's snout, Hagrid thought he was ready to ride him. Harry tried to protest, but he was up in the air before anything sensible came out of his mouth. I paid no attention to Draco's annoyance as I watched Harry fly.

I remained sitting on the large boulder even after Harry's feet were planted back on the ground. Draco snuck up behind me, and I had barely noticed his hand rest by my waist on the rock. "Oh, please," he said, annoyed.

"What?" I asked, but I never got a response. Draco, like an idiot, went straight up to Buckbeak, which insulted him greatly. Everyone was desperate to get out of the way, but I got up and ran to Draco's side as he was forced to the ground. His arm was bleeding uncontrollably. "Draco! Draco, calm down!" I cried as Hagrid picked him up and carried him to the hospital wing. I glanced back at Harry, Ron, and Hermione with a worried expression. They waved to me, and I waved back as I ran after Hagrid.

After he was put in the cast, I was assigned to help him with his homework. Draco was right-handed, and he always whined about it being too painful to write. Therefore, all of his written homework was turned in with a girl's handwriting. Plus, the deal was that he would tell me what to write, or I wouldn't write it at all. A lot of other girls, like Pansy Parkinson, for example, would offer to do his homework for him. However, Draco never actually said yes to it. That was the first time that I could tell that we were getting closer. Instead of awkward strangers, we were at least acquaintances now. I had to admit, though, there were sometimes when I couldn't stand him. We would fight, and it would end with me slamming the girls' dormitory door of the Slytherin Common Room. I'd ignore him the next day until he, reluctantly, apologized. Then the pattern would start all over again.

ll Fourth Year: The Yule Ball ll

All the heads of houses had to explain to all of their students fourth year and above what the Yule Ball actually way. Professor Snape was in charge of teaching us how to dance. One could only imagine how that went over. All of the girls were anxious to get started, but none of the boys stood up until Snape threatened to remove five house points per boy.

Blaise Zabini, a friend of Draco's, was the one to ask me to practice dancing with him. I glanced at Draco, who currently had his arm around the waist of Pansy Parkinson. We made eye contact, but I quickly looked away, smiling at Blaise flirtatiously. "I'd love to," I said, taking his hand.

It turned out that Blaise was a lovely dancer. He led me around the hall without any awkward pauses, and he never stood on my foot. There were no mistakes in his footwork, unlike most of the boys in Slytherin House.

Getting ready for the ball was easier and faster than I'd thought it would be. Draco had ended up asking Pansy, and Blaise had asked me a few weeks after we'd first danced together. "I think I deserve a chance to dance with you when we're dressed in something better than school robes," he'd said. I'd laughed and said yes, of course. There was a slight spark of jealousy that would rise in me whenever I saw them together, like in the Slytherin common room. However, I'd taught myself to ignore it.

My dress was made of a rather weak fabric that moved with me. It fit my slender body quite nicely. It was a blue halter-top dress that flowed out just a little as it got to my feet. The blue was a light powdery shade, and the dress was covered in sparkles.

Blaise met me in the Great Hall. As soon as the four champions, Viktor, Fleur, Harry, and Cedric, had danced with their partners on the dance floor, he escorted me out there with himself. I could see Draco looking at us out of the corner of my eye. He wore the glare of a dragon on his face. Pansy had to do her best to distract him by pouting and whining. It made me slightly grateful that I hadn't gone near either of them tonight. It was my night. Nothing was going to ruin it.

"What are you doing with him?" Draco asked me, sternly, at the table we all sat at. Blaise had gone to get drinks, and I'd ended up sitting next to him, against my will.

"What are you doing with her?" I asked him in the same tone, mocking him.

Draco glared at me. "He's using you," he said.

"At least he treats me right," I said, defensively. I hid the fact that I was hurt, very well. "Something you can never manage to do, not only to me, but to anyone else."

Draco sneered at me, and I looked away in disgust, quickly fixing my expression as Blaise came back. I swallowed the pain with my drink and accepted another one from Blaise about five minutes later. After a while of us talking, Draco followed Blaise when he went back to the drink table. I didn't bother asking what he'd said when they came back, for I had a great idea when Blaise suggested that we both turn in for the night at around 10:30.

I'd glared at Draco, quickly thinking of the best way to get back at him. "I suppose you're right," I said, smiling playfully at Blaise. My hand found its way onto his knee, and I slid it up toward his thigh under the table. "Walk me upstairs?" I asked.

Draco looked so furious he could've smashed the glass he held in his hand. Both Blaise and I ignored him. He held out his arm for me, and I took it as we walked out of the Great Hall together.

"Whatever Draco told you, he's just being ridiculous," I said with an apologetic look on my face.

"It doesn't matter," Blaise said. "I think you'd be good for him."

"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked, smiling questioningly.

"You'll see, when the time comes."

ll Fifth Year: Professor Umbridge ll

"Bombarda Maxima," Umbridge stated simply. The brick wall of the Room of Requirement blew in as if a cannon ball had been smashed into it at three hundred miles per hour. All the members of Dumbledore's Army scattered as her little "club" began to round us all up. Draco held Cho Chang at his side, and I glared at him as he grabbed my arm. We were all escorted to Umbridge's office for immediate detention.

"Would you stop it?" I cried, trying to get my arm out of Draco's grasp. He was holding my wrist tighter than need be.

"What would your parents say if they saw you associating with them?" he asked me, darkly.

"You've been telling me that for five years," I snapped. "I don't care what anyone thinks. They're my friends!"

"You can explain that to your family, then," he said, throwing me into the Great Hall. More than a dozen desks were lined up for us all to do lines. I turned around to face Draco before he left.

"I hate you."