It was always important to Draco Malfoy that he agreed to become a Death Eater, mainly so the Dark Lord didn't kill his father, but he would have done it anyway. Or at least, he told himself that he would. But when the phrase 'training camp' was mentioned, he realised how serious everything really was. It hadn't occurred to him that they wouldn't just say 'go' and he'd do just that. The scale of it all hit him hard, if there was a training camp, it meant there must be a lot more people ready to do the job than he'd thought. This was huge, and the best or worst part of it was; the Order of the Phoenix had no idea about it.

As he followed a tall Death Eater in a long black cloak down a dirt track, he finally caught a glimpse of the camp. It was huge. Tents all over the place, small camp fires set out between every few of them. The girl beside him gasped when she saw it. He stole a glance at her. She had long blonde hair tied in a pony tail, he vaguely recognised her, she probably went to Hogwarts at some point. Of course, she wouldn't get to go back, and neither would he. She saw him looking and forced a nervous smile.

Everyone at that moment wondered about the people that surrounded them. They'd all have a story as to why they were there, not one would be the same. Yet, no one dared to ask each other that question, in case the answer was too much to bear. Which for some of them, it would be.

They were shown to the far side of the camp site, where they would be sharing tents with others like themselves, who had come in the last 'batch' of new comers. Draco shuddered at the phrase, it sounded as if they were dinner, rather than real people.

He walked slowly into the tent he'd been assigned. Of course, the tent was much bigger on the inside, as all magical tents were. A fire glowed in one side of the room, next to the kitchen area, and on the other side of the room there were a few fabric doors. There was just one girl who was there before him; Ashleigh King.

It didn't take long for Ashleigh to make herself known. She poked her head around one of the fabric curtains and smiled at him.

'You must be Draco!' She scampered out from the curtain and shook his hand. 'I'm Ashleigh.' She continued. Ashleigh had shoulder length black hair and a thick full fringe above her dark eyes. It was her abnormally pale skin that made her seem more intriguing.

She smiled at him and tilted her head. 'You're quiet.'

'Uh… just nervous, that's all.' He replied. She nodded understandingly.

'Yeah, I was when I first started, but it's not as scary as it looks.'

'Really?' He asked disbelievingly.

'Of course not,' She giggled. 'It's kinda like school, only better,' She gestured for him to sit down in the kitchen. He took a seat around the small wooden table.

'Tea?' She offered, hovering by the kettle before sitting down.

'Yeah, please.'

She flicked her wand at the kettle and it began to boil, she then sat down opposite Draco. Ashleigh seemed friendly enough, he'd half expected everyone to be deadly serious and scary.

'So,' She continued with her previous conversation. 'You'll be surprised how much it is like being back at Hogwarts. What, with lessons and homework and everything that comes with it. When you find your way around the site it just seems like another school.' She explained, the same cheeky smile on her face.

'You'll enjoy it.' She told him, attempting to make him feel better.

'Really? I didn't enjoy Hogwarts that much.'

She tilted her head again. 'Oh. Well, it's a bit better, because it cuts all the crap stuff, like herbology… you only have that once a week because it's complete bullshit.' She grinned. He smiled back at her, starting to feel more comfortable. Ashleigh's light-hearted way of seeing things made him feel more at home, she had a really friendly and relaxed style.

'You said you went to Hogwarts,' Draco decided it was his turn to ask a question. 'I don't think I ever saw you around…'

She smirked. 'You probably didn't. I know who you are though! That Seeker who always beat up Harry Potter,' She laughed. 'Quidditch was watchable when you were playing, it was more like a comedy than sport.'

'Um… thanks?'

'Yeah, it was a compliment.' She smiled back, knowing there was just one more question on the way.

'So… what house were you in?' There it was.

'Slytherin, honestly, you're not the brightest spark, are you?' She laughed. He glanced back at her, confused.

'Oh yeah, because everyone knows that Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs are wannabe Death Eaters.' She giggled. He couldn't get his head around how lightly she was taking it all, she'd just said she was going to be a Death Eater, and not even a flicker of fear or terror.

'So, Draco,' She leaned forward on the table. 'You looking forward to training?'

'I… yeah, I suppose.'

She smiled. 'Yeah? You ain't seen nothing yet. I'll show you around the complex tomorrow, it's brilliant,' She smiled. 'First, I think I'll show you where you're sleeping.'

Ashleigh got up and Draco followed her. She opened one of the fabric curtains, the furthest at the back of the tent, and stood to the side.

'This is your room,' She told him. 'You won't have to get up early tomorrow, but a decent time would be good if I'm going to show you the complex.'

She let the curtain drop and smiled back at him. 'Well… goodnight.' She turned on her heels and walked off through another curtain.