The sun had just past its zenith, its rays traveling down to the children in the park warming their bodies. In the sandbox sat a two year old girl named Kieran and unlike the other youngsters playing in the sand, she was a witch.

As Kieran filled up her blue bucket with sand, her mother Eleanor looked on. Eleanor smiled at her daughter and secretly hoped that this playtime with muggles would make Kieran more accepting of them. She didn't want Kieran to have the same attitude towards muggles as her grandmother.

An older child came up to Kieran and snatched her bucket of sand. Furious Kieran stood up quickly and with one hand on her hip pointed her shovel at the boy.

"Cru-chee-o," she yelled at him. Dismayed that nothing had happened she said it again, "Cru-chee-o!"

The boy just laughed at her and threw her bucket at her feet. Eleanor raced to Kieran's side, horrified at what the child had just said.

"Kieran, honey, where'd you learn that," she asked.

"Learn what," Kieran said, preoccupied with filling her bucket again.

"Where did you hear that word you just said?"

Kieran seemed to draw into herself for a moment before speaking.

"I hear it nowhere."

"Honey, that's not a common word. Who said that word around you?"

"I no tell."

"You won't get in trouble if you tell me."

"I know. I no tell though. It a secret. You not know."

Frustrated Eleanor gave up. Who could have taught Kieran such a horrible word?

SIX MONTHS LATER

Kieran stared at her birthday cake; a large red three graced the creamy white icing. At the age of three she was highly intelligent and understood more of the world than she let on to her parents. She blew out her three birthday candles and clapped her hands with the rest of the family.

After cake, she opened her presents, delighting in her new toys including a mini broom that hovered. As she played with her roaring stuffed tiger and the adults chatted, an elderly woman sat down next to Kieran.

"Gamma Lydia," Kieran cried and held up her hands. Lydia lifted Kieran and set the child on her lap. "I thought you not going to come."

"No, my dear. I wouldn't miss your birthday for the world. In fact I have a special present for you. But I can't give it to you here. It's at my house, hidden away from Grandpa Henry."

"Ok Gamma. When do I get my special present?"

"How about tomorrow?"

The next day Kieran sat in her grandmother's pale green armchair, her feet barely reaching the edge of the cushion. She waited patiently, with her hands folded in her lap, for Lydia to come out with the special present. Lydia came in with a crudely bound book in her hands as if the book was handmade and sold in the underground.

"What's that Gamma?"

"This child is a book that you should enjoy. I got it from a friend of mine. Shall we read it?"

"Yes! Yes! Read to me Gamma!"

Lydia sat down in the armchair and Kieran crawled into her lap, the girl's head resting on her shoulder. Lydia opened the book and the cover page appeared: 'The Life Story of Lord Voldemort and Why You Too Should Be Hateful of Muggles'.

"And that child is the end of the first couple of chapters," Lydia said, closing the book and placing it on the armrest.

"Muggles are meanies Gamma. A muggle boy took my bucket from me so I said 'Cru-chee-o' at him like you do but nothing happened," Kieran said downheartedly.

"Oh bless me child. You tried to put a spell on him? You really are your father's daughter. You and your father will be quite the match once he comes to his senses. And you Kieran, you'll be a Death Eater just like your Gamma and we'll show those muggles who's boss right?"

"Right! We'll blast those muggles away! And Mr. Lord Voldemort, he'll be happy with us right Gamma?"

"Indeed he will child."

"LYDIA," Henry shouted, "I can't believe you! Teaching her how to hate muggles! And you're a Death Eater? You never told me!"

"Why would I tell you that? So you could turn me into the Ministry?"

"God Lydia, how many muggles have you killed? How many of our kind?"

"Mudbloods aren't our kind Henry. They deserve to die."

"What's a mudblood Gamma," Kieran asked, interrupting the argument.

"Mudblood is a very mean word Kieran, you shouldn't say it. It's a word people like you Grandmother use to describe wizards and witches who are only half bloods, meaning either their mum or dad is a muggle."

"I hate muggles," Kieran replied, folding her arms, "Gamma's right. Die them all."

"See what you've done," Henry cried out, "you've destroyed a young mind!"

"I hardly think I've destroyed her mind. I think I've enlightened her mind."

"Once I tell the Ministry about this..."

"That won't happen," Lydia said, whipping out her wand.

"Lydia, you wouldn't. You love me," Henry pleaded with her, "you can't kill me."

"Yes, Henry I can. Kieran, close your eyes."

Kieran squeezed her eyes shut then covered them with her hands for good measure.

"Avada Kedavra," she heard her grandmother say. She heard her grandfather give a small gasp before collapsing on the floor. Kieran opened her eyes and stared at her grandfather's body.

"Gamma," she said, her eyes wide, "you died Gampa."