My stepbrother was one of them. Those freaks. I found out when his letter came. He was so happy and jumped around the house. My stepfather wasn't excited or angry. He just shrugged it off and thought it was some sort of fancy boarding school. His dead wife, my mother, was magical. He knew it, but never really paid attention to it.

I wasn't born with any hint of magic inside of me. Some part of me tells me that I was, but it must've died along with Mum. She was ill and died about five years ago. I was I was fifteen years old. My stepbrother, Michael, was sent off to this "Hogwarts", and I was left alone with my stepfather, Liam.

Liam was a red-haired forty five year old man. Very clean and very strict. He was good to my mother, but when she got ill, he turned his back on her. He always said that he was afraid he'd make her worse. Rubbish. I ended caring for her until her final breath. After that, I was in charge of cleaning, cooking, and watching over Michael. It was a nightmare.

Liam was not entirely cruel, however. He wouldn't beat me. He just treated me like a servant. Never appreciated anything I did. He would refer to me as "you" or "girl". He never called me "Rachel". My name. Bloody idiot.

Mum died a few months before Michael was accepted into Hogwarts. He's in his fifth year now. Sixteen year old brat. I decided it was time for me to move out of the house and live my own life. I packed my things and Liam didn't even stop me. With a luggage and a chin held high, I went on my own path. I arrived at King's Cross station to move into the country and get a job. I knew I would have to get a job as a maid, which didn't bother me. It was what I was best at.

As I entered with my luggage, I saw a group of young children with trolleys and owls in cages. I grimaced and wondered what that was all about. With a shrug, I minded my own business. The urge to glance back at the children wouldn't go away. I sneaked a peak at them, pretending to tuck a stray hair behind my ear. They stood before the wall of Platform 9 3/4.

They looked around and continued talking to each other. Something didn't feel right. I looked away to glance at the map in my hands. When I looked back, the children were gone. I looked around and they were gone. Completely vanished. I walked over to the platform but didn't see a sign of them. A supervisor of the station stood right where the children were standing. He wore a blue uniform with a hat.

"Excuse me, sir?"

He raised his eyebrows. "Yes, ma'am?"

"Did you happen to see a few children around here? With owls in cages?"

The man looked at me like I had just told him the world was square. "Owls. In cages? You bonkers, or what?"

He walked away from me, shaking his head. I stood in shock. I turned to face the wall of the platform. Sticking out my hand, I placed it through the wall. Wait. Through? My hand disappeared through the wall. I drew it back with a large gasp. No one heard me. Gulping, I reached out to touch the wall again. Suddenly, I felt something grab my hand on the other side. I was dragged through with a scream.

I stumbled upon and a young boy with large front teeth. "Oh, sorry! I-I thought you were having trouble getting through."

I shook my head. "How...how did you..?"

"Aren't you like a...a sixth year?"

Shocked and confused, I didn't reply. The boy rubbed the back of his neck. "I-I'm Neville. Are you new to Hogwarts?"

I blinked. "Hogwarts...? Oh! Hogwarts! Y-Yeah. I was wondering if you-"

"You don't have any luggage on you?"

I shook my head. "Uh, n-no."

"Well, you'll also want an owl and your textbooks. You get those at Diagon Alley. You know how to get there?"

I shook my head again. Neville nodded as if he figured as much. He led me to a telephone booth and showed me in. "Here, you can use my last Muggle dollar. Just push '777' and you'll get to Diagon Alley."

I took the dollar and thanked him. "Thank you so much."

He smiled. "No worries."

Neville walked away and I dialed the number, like he said. Suddenly, I was engulfed in green flames. I screamed, but felt nothing. When I opened my eyes, I was in Diagon Alley. I knew it because I saw a sign with the market's name written on it. There were men and women dressed like real witches and wizards. I figured that was normal, although most of the children wore regular clothes.

I glanced at a building and noticed several people going inside. I hurried over and tapped a man on the shoulder. He had red hair and a friendly looking smile on his face.

"Excuse me? I was wondering...what's everyone crowding about?"

"It's for jobs, love. Loads of jobs are available. Are you looking for one?"

I nodded. "Yeah, as a maid. Or any form of cleaning job."

He stared at me for a moment and shrugged with a smile. "Well, let's hope you-"

"Afternoon, Arthur."

That was the first time I heard his voice. His sinister voice and how he practically spat the gentleman's name. I turned to look the stranger in the face and was greeted with blue eyes and white hair. I felt the man behind me put a hand on my shoulder as if he was trying to protect me.

"Lucius. If you'll excuse us, we were just leaving," the redhead said, gently pushing me with him.

This Lucius, stared me from head to toe and frowned. A real gentleman, he was. In his hand was a black cane with the head of a snake head for a handle. It was silver.

"Pity. I was hoping to hire this one," he said, quietly.

I froze. "What?"

Arthur grimaced. "What?"

"She said she wants a cleaning job. I have one for her."

Arthur shook his head in disagreement. "No, she's not interested. I was about to hire her myself."

Lucius smirked. "For a pound an hour?"

Ouch. Arthur took that hard and was silent for a moment. Lucius approached me and raised the stakes a bit. "I can pay you over twenty pounds an hour. My wife would be at home most of the time, and my son, Draco, is currently in school."

I swallowed. "Twenty?"

I could tell Arthur wanted to argue, but it seemed like eh couldn't beat such an offer. He sighed through his nose and spoke to me quietly. He turned his back to Lucius, who kept staring at me. Daring me to refuse his offer.

"You really ought not to accept this. You must trust me."

I smiled. "I appreciate your help. But, I couldn't deny such an offer."

"You do not know this man-"

"My offer is about to expire, miss. You'd best take it while you still can."

"I accept it."

Arthur closed his eyes and watched me walk over to Lucius. He glanced at Arthur with a sneer. "Best of luck to you, Arthur."

Suddenly, Lucius grabbed my hand and I felt air thrust into my nostrils. Suddenly, we appeared in a dark mansion. My jaw dropped as I gazed in awe. Lucius released my hand and turned to me.

"You shall begin immediately. There is a room down that hall that we do not use. That will be where you stay."

I just nodded.

"Why are you not in school?"

I hoped this question wouldn't come up. "I'm nineteen, sir."

He scanned me again. "I see. Thankfully, you're cheaper than purchasing a house elf."

I grimaced at that. A house elf? Cheap?

"Did you just call me-"

"I call you what I wish," he snapped.

My eyes widened from the coldness of his voice. He sneered at me and seemed to growl in annoyance. "I never got to ask. What is your blood-"

"Lucius? Is that you?"

A woman.

She also had white hair, but it was mixed with her dark hair. She was pale and wore a black gown. Lucius seemed to cool down when she entered. "Oh, is this the maid, then? I thought you were purchasing another elf."

"I was, darling, but she offered to work for a small amount and house elves are very expensive. And, besides, they're very obnoxious and less intelligent than this girl."

I had to take that as a compliment.

"Ah, I see. Well, it's good to meet you," his wife smiled.

"Thank you."

She and Lucius kissed each other quickly as she hurried off to another room. Lucius looked back at me.

"Where were we?"

"I was...going to start working. You were just about to give me an assignment."

He thought for a moment and made a face as if he remembered. "Ah, yes. Scrub the floor and dust all the furniture."

In my old house, I wouldn't mind such tasks. However, my old house wasn't a mansion with loads of expensive and fragile furniture. I gulped and gave a small bow with my head. As I walked past him, he asked me one more question.

"I never got to ask. What is your...blood status?"

I swallowed. "Sir?"

"Are you a pure-blood or a...half-blood?"

Judging how he said the latter, I knew exactly how to answer. "Oh, I'm a pure-blood, sir. Naturally."

He stared at me doubtfully, but turned away. I watched him leave the room. I felt a huge weight get off my shoulders.