''Depulso!'' I was sitting on my bed, the Standard Book of Spells propped open on a pillow.

I looked hopefully around for a glimpse of something moving. But nothing moved, as usual.

I muttered the word again. My wand produced a pitiful wisp of smoke, and that was all the reaction I got. Some sort of rage came over me, and I threw my wand away. Then I sighed and buried my head in the pillows. I felt like a loser. How could I ever make my mother proud if I wasn't able to perform such a simple spell like that?

A knock on my door. I lifted my head off the pillows. ''Yes?''

The door creaked. ''My mistress – ''

I looked at the doorstep. ''What do you want this time, Kreacher?''

''My mistress wants you to come down.''

I felt shivers running down my spine. ''What for?''

Kreacher looked at me with his watery grey eyes. ''We have a visitor.''

''A visitor?'' I was shocked. ''But…? Who…who is it? And…''

''Come down and you'll see...''

''But-''

Kreacher snapped his fingers and Disapparated.

I felt my heart beating very fast. A visitor? And I was permitted to see him?

Of course, this house had had many visitors before, but… I never met a single one of them.

I jumped of my bed and walked to the door. I felt a strange, mixed feeling of excitement and hesitation. I walked back, kneeled down and picked up my wand of the floor. I put it away in my robe. Just to keep on the safe side.

I slowly moved down the stairs, concentrating on every noise I heard. I picked up my mother's tone, and…one another's. I felt my heart thumping wildly again. I approached the hallway, and heard my mother's voice; proud and cold. She was talking about… me?

''... think she is ready now. She must be! I've been waiting for so long. This will be my moment of revenge. Revenge! Oh, that blood traitor… Do you think she's ready, Severus?''

Now I felt really frightened. Why did she sound so unusually thrilled? And I was ready for what?

''I think you can ask her yourself, miss Black'', the stranger said slowly, ''since your daughter is waiting on the steps.''

I stiffened when I heard that. How did he knew?

''Oh, hurry up, you!''

I took a deep breath, and rushed down. I almost stumbled over Kreacher, who was cleaning the floor. I murmured some excuses, then walked into the hall. I noticed the stranger, standing in front of my mother's portrait, his back turned towards me. I observed him with fascination. He had shoulder-length, greasy black hair and wore a black, flowing robe. What was his name again?

''At last.'' My mother's voice brought me back to reality. ''That took you way to long. Come closer.''

I did what I was told.

''Well, Severus… what do you think? Is she ready?''

The stranger turned around. When our eyes met I felt an unpleasant feeling. His dark eyes looked sharply into mine, as if he was trying to read my soul. I shivered.

Out of the blue I saw a lot of things pass in review. They looked somehow familiar…

Suddenly the stream of memories came to an end. I breathed heavily, and felt a tear running down my cheek. I looked away from the stranger's eyes, knowing he'd seen everything.

''What do you think, Severus? Say it!''

I crossed my fingers. My mother certainly wasn't up to something good. And it was clear that the stranger knew her plans. How I wanted him to disagree with her!

''There is hope, I can't deny that,'' the stranger said.

''Finally…'', my mother whispered, ''finally I'm able to rehabilitate my honour.'' She looked at me, and gave me an odd smile. ''I'm sure you're going to make me proud.'' The sinister undertone of her words made me feel aweful.

''What do you want me to do?'' I asked.

She ignored me. ''Severus, what is wisdom? I can't just let her go. Imagine what would happen if they found her before she completed her task.''

''That would be a disappointment, miss Black, but-''

''But I won't help myself with keeping her here. You were going to say that, weren't you?''

I looked up, and saw my mother giving the stranger a long steady look.

''I see,'' she said ominous. ''I see… you pity her, don't you, Severus? You pity her because she reminds you of your own miserable life. And now you want to save her!''

''Saving her?'' the stranger said untouched. ''I'm only thinking about my own reward.''

''You better do. Don't forget that you will benefit as well if this whole plan succeeds.''

''I will keep that in mind.''

My mother turned towards me. ''You must be wondering what that was all about.''

''Yes?'' I said, but I perfectly knew she wasn't going to tell me anything about it.

''I would like to introduce this man to you. His name is Severus Snape, he is a friend of the family.''

Snape slightly bowed his head.

''Pleased to meet you,'' I whispered, but I didn't ment a word of it. There was something about him I couldn't grasp, something that made me distrust him. And on top of that he read my memories. He knew everything about me now, and he could use that against me.

''Aren't you going to tell your name?'' my mother said warning.

My cheeks turned bright red. ''I'm sorry. M-my name is Antares Black, sir.''

''Stop embarissing me,'' my mother hissed. Off with you. Go to your room. Now!''

''Yes, mother.'' I turned around and started to walk to the stairs. Then I felt a hand on my arm.

''Pleased to meet you as well,'' I heard Snape whispering in my ear.

I shook off his hand and ran away.

Back in my room I felt both confused and disappointed. Why did mother want me to meet Snape? And what was she up to? Not that it would change anything if I knew. Eitherway I would be stuck in this joyless house, locked up in my room. I plumped down on my bed, and felt my wand poking in my leg. Irritated I put my hand in my robe. I was shocked when my fingers touched something else instead of wood. Slowly I removed it from my pocket. It turned out to be a small piece of parchment. My hands were shaking when I read the message. It was written in black ink, and said:

'Be ready.'

I turned the piece round to see if it said more. It didn't. Be ready? What for? If only someone could tell me what was going on.

Bang! The door slammed open and Snape entered. He looked wildly around and rushed towards me. I put out my wand but he was faster.

'Expelliarmus!' he shouted, and my wand flew out of reach.

''You-''

''Sorry about that,'' Snape said hastily, ''I'll explain everything later, but lady, please, you have to trust me now. Pack your belongings.''

''I don't have any belongings, sir,'' I said sharply. ''The only thing I actually do posess just got blown away from me.''

''Snape, you ungrateful dog!'' I could hear my mother's screaming all the way up here.

''Trying to stop me, aren't you? Just like I thought! Kreacher, go get them!''

I heard a loud crack. Kreacher Apparated in front of me. Snape run towards me and grabbed my arm. Everything turned around faster and faster and I felt like being squeezed through a narrow space. The last thing I saw was Kreacher laying down on the floor. Then I lost conciousness.