Prologue

Rosier trembled in fear as he approached the Dark Lord, who stood with a small crowd of Death Eaters in the drawing room of Malfoy Manor. As he drew closer, the Dark Lord turned to face him and silence fell throughout the vast room as everyone turned with him.

Rosier stopped and drew himself up to his full height, allowing his hood to fall back. He ran a hand through his long black fringe, hoping the sweat wouldn't grease his hair. He mentally shook himself, and turned to the task at hand. Somebody had to do it.

"My Lord, we found the Loyals, hiding in the Muggle town of Cork, Ireland. I realise that our orders were to capture Liam Loyal, the great Legilmens and Occulmens. However, we were not informed by the contact about he and his wife's prestige as master duellers, and it was impossible to take them alive. We were forced to kill them both."

The Dark Lord showed no reaction whatsoever to this news, although it was obvious to all that he would order Rosier's death. Rosier, too, sensed this, but until the others who had been on the mission returned, he had no defense, no proof. He broke into a cold sweat and tried to conceal the shaking in his limbs.

Just as the Dark Lord looked as though he would kill Rosier through eye-contact alone, there came a distinct 'pop' from the courtyard outside, along with the sounds of several yelps of pain and spells being cast. Four men dragged a tiny girl, kicking and screaming, into the drawing room. Rosier sighed almost audibly with intense relief. Finally his proof had arrived.

The men dragged the struggling little girl to Rosier, who raised a wand to her and muttered, "Immobulus." The little girl froze immediately, held up only by the four Death Eaters. Rosier turned again to the Dark Lord, who was now looking vaguely interested.

"The child you see here, my Lord, is Nova Loyal, daughter of Liam and Mara Loyal. She is a highly gifted Pureblood and had inherited her parents' gifts, along with several other, extras." As the Death Eaters watched, Rosier froze and unfroze the girl so rapidly she hardly had time to blink, but the entire room saw her hair change from jet black to bubblegum pink.

"The child is a Legilmens, Occulmens, Parseltongue, Animagus, and, as you have seen, a highly gifted Metamorphugus. It seems that she has a completely photographic memory as well. Also, she is young and impressionable, and would be a most profitable replacement for Liam in your ranks. The time will also come when she will go to Hogwarts, where she can be your eyes and ears."

The Dark Lord considered Rosier's proposition for a very long moment, seeming to enjoy he and the four Death Eaters' discomfort as they awaited their fate. Finally, he gave a single nod. "Free the girl, Rosier", he commanded. Rosier, trembling, obeyed, and the girl sprang up from the floor, looking furious. When she saw the Dark Lord's terrifying figure, she looked straight into his eyes in a display of pure defiance. However, the Dark Lord could sense the fear buried deep in the young girl's eyes. Maintaining eye contact, he spoke.

"So, Nova Loyal, what age are you?" Nova Loyal drew herself up to her full height and spoke in her high, little-girl voice. "I'm five and three quarters" The Dark Lord's lip curled. "I think you will make an excellent addition to my Death Eaters, child. I could most definitely use your skills to my advantage." Lord Voldemort's expression turned to one of deep thought.

"What to do with you until then, though? If your parents are dead… You shall have to be raised amongst my loyal Death Eaters and their families. We are few, but I'm sure that Rosier will be most delighted to make the arrangements. In time we will be many, and you can enjoy the company of many more than the few families who follow me now."

Rosier nodded enthusiastically, long black hair flapping, sweat beading on his forehead and rolling down his face. "I even have a son Nova's age, my Lord. Evan. And then there are young Avery and Mulciber and Lucius Malfoy and and…" "Silence, Rosier!" "Yes, my Lord!"

The Dark Lord turned to the five year-old girl, who had wiped her pale face of all emotion. Already learning. "I think that you will be very useful to me, Nova Loyal. Now, I am aware that you are not yet six, but you seem to have an understanding great enough to make a rather simple, yet crucial, decision.

"Join me, and live; or reject me and die like your father did, with a little extra assistance from a very useful curse. Life or death, Nova Loyal. Not a very difficult choice to make. So what's it to be?"

Little Nova barely hesitated. "Life. My Lord" A small smirk played over her lips as her bright pink hair turned an acidic shade of Slytherin green. And so the daughter of Liam and Mara Loyal joined the Death Eaters at the rather tender of age of five. The Dark Lord offered his hand to the child, who grasped it firmly, showing no fear.

"Rosier. Take Nova Loyal with you when you leave, if you please, She shall be staying with your family for the present." Then the Dark Lord turned and swept out of the room, followed by all of the Death Eaters but Rosier, who offered the child a tentative smile and asked her to follow him. Little Nova clenched her fists until the knuckles turned white, breathing deeply. Then she turned and followed Rosier.