A stream of water trickled down the musty stone wall. It seeped in between the cracks and ridges, flowing over the rigid bumps, and collecting into a murky puddle on the granite floor. The sound of the drip was now burned into my mind and it became cohesive with my thoughts. I had been watching this trail for hour's on end.

This was my life; watching the trivial parts of the world that others would be quick to disregard. I have witnessed every minor detail and every miniscule action ever performed. I do not venture outside; I have never even been allowed to gaze at it for more than a few seconds. It was all barricaded from me and I have been sheltered from the day I was born.

It is not a life I chose or one that I have any say in. Decisions are made for me and any act of rebellion is rapidly suppressed in the most violent manner. I am given things to do, told when to do them, and told when to stop. The time in between is wasted away, staring at the tactless walls that surround me.

I have never had a friend or at least a real one anyway. I have but one family member, one of which I have grown to detest and loathe as each day passes. Love is filled with vengeance; happiness filled with malice. Even now, as I sit on this rickety bed in this damp, barren room, the thought of Him has caused me to dig my fingernails into the mattress. My eyes burn and a nauseating feeling churns my stomach relentlessly.

My head is bent downward as I stare at the ripples in the pool of pullulated water. My body is numb and pale from the lack of sunlight. My raven hair, not having been cut in months, sweeps down my back; my bangs shield my eyes as they have surpassed them. Physically, I look dead and time has only made me feel similar inside. I was not even sure why I had been kept alive; it seemed as if I was more of a burden and nuisance.

The heavy oak door was shoved open, but it did not stir me.

"Miss," Wormtail seethed, "My Lord is expecting you."

I did not respond but simply raised myself from the bed. My legs and arms ached from my movement as they were so accustomed to the sedentary lifestyle. I reached over, grasped the flowing cloak hanging loosely on a hook on the wall, and put it on. I raised the hood and the cloth rubbed against my cheeks.

I followed Wormtail, a pathetic excuse for a man, down the deserted hallway and ignored the gaze of the mysterious portraits clinging to the wall. My feet scuffled against the carpet and I squinted from the light hanging from the ceiling.

We reached the last door at the end of the large hallway and after a moment's hesitation, Wormtail turned the brass knob and pushed the wooden door forward. He held it open as I stepped inside and closed it shut when fully in.

The large rectangle table in the center of the room was accompanied by plush leather seats, all of which were taken except for one to the left of Him. No one turned at my presence and I shuffled over to the empty seat. I sat down obediently and waited to be spoken to, my hands wringing together and my eyes vacant.

"Now that we are all present," He said, his voice deceivingly smooth, "I will discuss my plans." Every head near the table leaned in to capture every single word that escaped his white lips.

"But first, what is the news of Hogwarts Severus?" He asked.

The man to his left, whose black, silky hair clung to his neck and a timid expression on his face, said, "Dumbledore has placed several Aurors around the school. He himself has even placed security spells all around the castle to ensure maximum safety."

Lord Voldemort tapped his hands together nonchalantly as his eyes blinked in thought. "As expected," he said, more to himself than the others seated around him

"However," Yaxily, a man seated further down the table, said, "We do have Draco and Severus inside the school."

"I know that," Lord Voldemort spitted out angrily but quickly regained his composure. "Yaxily, do you think I have not realized this?"

Yaxily's forehead began to form sweat beads from his unintentional mistake. "N-No my Lord!" he cried. "Forgive my foolishness."

Voldemort ignored his plea and continued, "I believe one more at Hogwarts will certainly be beneficial. Draco will be busy performing his duty, leaving a vacancy. But alas, having one of us at Hogwarts seems almost impossible." His head tilted down towards me, his mouth curving into a sinister smile. "Almost."

As every person followed the red eyes of their master, his plan slowly became evident to all. They began chatting wildly to one another and a loud upheaval ensued.

"My Lord!" Yaxily shouted over the commotion. "But Dumbledore will surely deny her entrance, especially in these times. A wicked man he is, but not a fool."

"It's a grand idea," Bellatrix Lestrange countered, coming to the aid of the Dark Lord.

"Silence," Voldemort commanded and the talking stopped. "Dumbledore may not be a fool but he is surely not a man to turn away a student." The uneasy eyes of his followers shifted from side to side. "I have made my decision." He lightly turned his hand to his right. "Severus will watch over Rylee while she is there. Draco shall help her if there is ever a need to."

The boy around my age whom I believed to be Draco was almost shivering. His hands were clammy, his blonde hair not combed, his eyes sunken. His gaze wafted over to me.

"What will she do at Hogwarts my Lord?" Severus asked.

Voldemort merely began to smile wickedly again. "That is for time to tell."