Chapter 1

"By the shadows of the night I go

I move away from the crowded room

That sea of shallow faces

Masked in warm regret

They don't know how to feel

They don't know what is lost

Lost in the darkness of land

Memories have been taken by the hand

But I don't have a home on what is real

What is there to give or to believe"

The soft voice drifted to an end, leaving the dungeon room empty. The singer opened her eyes and let the flood of light coming into her eyes comfort her. Her arms wrapped around her knees as she sat on the cold stone floor. Samantha's dark green robe barely covered her feet as her head lay upon her thighs.

She didn't say anything but another voice spoke, like a bullwhip, leaving a gash on her heart, "You have a horrible voice."

The voice's sharp and yet emotionless words hit her and her pale face flushed a bright pink. He doesn't really mean that. He can't… really mean that. No, Father mustn't really think that. Samantha's words of comfort did not help as she merely gave a quick nod to him.

"I didn't know you were listening," She muttered, the sweet voice gone, replaced with a deep, hoarse, croaking noise. She coughed loudly, clearing up her throat, but still a deep sound. "I am sorry, Father."

She looked up into a pair of black eyes. Keeping the gaze for a few moments, she looked away, as if in shame than she had lost in a mini game of staring down the other person. The person, a man at that, merely turned away, his attention back to a black cauldron. "Come and help me Sam. You're wasting my time."

Samantha stood up, her nimble body barely swaying from sitting on the floor. After a moment when her legs were strong, she followed him into a different room that was lit by torches hanging from the walls.

"Give me the bottle with the green liquid and the bottle with the red liquid," He said, not even bothering to use the names of the potions, as though she was too dumb to understand what it really was. Samantha turned to a cabinet, her movements slow and drawn out. She grabbed two bottles, grasping them at the top. Swirling around, she placed them down on the table. Placing both hands on the table, she looked up and smiled up at her father. He blinked, not even noticing his daughter's disappointed face.

Samantha looked down, shaking the table slightly. He reached for the green vial and poured half of it into a black boiling cauldron. The red bottle wiggled slightly, the base of it turning in a small circle. She grabbed it to stop the motion, but pulled away quickly as her father gave her a withering glare. Her index finger slid across the smooth glass, pushing it gently to the right side. It fell on the table, rocking fast. It fell over the edge.

It felt like a million years to Samantha as the bottle dropped, the room in dead silence. Her heart skipped a beat as it crashed to the floor, it's contaminants and glass flew everywhere. She could feel the little pieces hit her feet, but she ignored the sharp pain.

"Out."

Her father's words hit her ears hard. Samantha didn't move, her body shaking furiously as she spoke back, her works barely heard, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to-"

"I told you to get out."

Samantha nodded quickly as she ran out of the room, forgetting to shut the large wooden door. She ran up the stairs and into a different room. She entered a small room, barely large enough for her bed. She plopped her self down, digging under her bed for something. Pulling out a notebook, she tore a page out. Reading it silently to her-self, bitter tears raced down her face and onto the parchment.

The paper floated to the floor softly, not making a noise as she dug her face in her pillow. The ink from the words spread together, making it nearly impossible to read.

My dear Severus,

I have gone away to help Albus. He needs me to spy on You-know-who. I shall have to take the dark mark. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done it. And I'm sorry I didn't tell you before I left. I didn't want you to get hurt if you came after me.

Please take care of my dear Sammy like you did with me. She is your daughter after all. I'll write to you again as soon as possible. If I don't write back by the 8th, confront Albus. And what ever you do, don't come looking for me! I love you. Tell Sammy I love her too.

Yours truly,

Megan

Samantha's sobs slowly decreased as a light snore was heard from her bed. Her last thoughts before drifting to sleep haunted her dreams

He doesn't love me. He hates me. He doesn't love me. And he never will.

Author's Notes: Erm… do you like it? I hope so. If not, please tell me what I can do to make it better. . Anyway, please review. I eat reviews, so without reviews, there is no energy left to write more of the story.

As you well know, none of these characters or places belong to me, except Samantha, but they belong to J. K. Rowling.

Now go review!

Hugs, scratches, and meows

-Lily