Warm rays of sunlight streamed in through the window onto me, filling my aching muscles with pure content. The warm rays soaked into my skin, washing the cold away. I could still feel the cold in the deep parts of me where I knew the sun couldn't reach, and would probably never reach again. I opened my eyes and I knew it took me several minutes to remember where I was and why exactly I was there. That's when it all came rushing back, and I felt disgusting.

Looking across the room, I saw Harry still lying in his bed, sleeping as soundly as ever. He actually looked somewhat peaceful in his dreams. Slowly, I sat up, and my eyes landed on a dark mass that stood beside the door. None other than the Potions Master himself. Dark bags shadowed his eyes, as if sleep had evaded him all night. It made me wonder what he had been up to last night. Of course, he was the dungeon bat, but I knew it was his business, and I honestly didn't care enough to ask.

"Good you're up."

"Morning to you too, Professor," I smiled my brightest smile at him, and his scowl deepen. Oh, how he despised me.

"We will leave after dinner. Make sure all of your things are packed." He was very blunt and to the point, but I guess what would I expect from him.

"Are there-"

"No, there are no classes. Make sure you are in my office before eight, Miss Black. I expect for you to say your goodbyes before you leave so I won't have to deal with sobbing students in my office."

"Very well." I still smiled at him as he turned on his heel and started to walk away. "Professor?" He stopped in his tracks, but didn't turn. "Thank you for saving me last night." He took a deep breath and then started again, his cloak billowing out behind him. This was going to be a very long stay if he couldn't see that I wasn't my father.

Slowly, I climbed down from the bed and looked down at myself. Bruises covered most of my legs and my arms, large bandages also covered my left arm, right leg, and one of my ankles. Fingers seemed to still grab my skin as their imprint was left behind. I was wearing an old nightgown that covered my arms. I searched through my mind trying to remember having a nightgown like this and I couldn't. Molly must've given it to me, because from what I remember, all my clothes I wore were covered in mud and probably little bit of blood. My anger boiled as I remembered what he did to me. Every bruise on my arms

A pile of clothes sat on the coffee table, a grey t-shirt, a pair of dark blue jeans, and a black jacket. Smiling at the choice that was left out for me, I quickly dressed. I looked on the coffee table, trying to find my wand, but not seeing it anywhere. I looked at the edge of my bed and saw it laying there. Curious place for it, but I picked it up and stuck it in my sock, putting my pants over top of it

I watched as Madam Pomfrey walked over to Harry and checked his pulse and temperature, as he was still sleeping. I smiled, hoping that he was having blissfully dreamless sleep like I did. As I did, I absent-mindedly started taking the bandages off, figuring whatever damage was done underneath them was clean and scarring over.

I was too busy watching Madam Pomfrey that it wasn't until I was done unwrapping my left arm that I saw it. The snake and skull were on my left forearm. The Dark Mark was on my arm…I began to grow sick. How did he put this on me? How did he do it without my knowing? Why do I have this? I want nothing to do with this! This wasn't what I wanted. No, this wasn't going to get the best of me. I wasn't going to feel sick every time I looked at this. This wasn't going to be anything more than a reminder that I survived. This is a battle scar.

"Artemis?" I jumped as a voice came from the other side of the room. Rolling down my sleeve, I turned to see that Harry was awake. Madam Pomfrey had walked away to get some more potions for him. He fumbled around, trying to find his glasses, which ultimately failed. Quickly, I ran over and grabbed them. I handed them to him and sat down in the chair next to his bed.

"How are you feeling?" I took his hand and gently began to stroke it. The marks on his face were beginning to heal and it wasn't as swollen as it did.

"Fine. Something's been bothering me though," I moved my gaze from him, knowing that he was going to ask about last night. "Where did you go after I left you?" I couldn't tell him what actually happened because I couldn't remember most of it, and the most of I could remember I couldn't tell Harry even if I wanted to. All I could remember was waking up in that room and him having his way with me.

"I-I don't remember. I just know that I woke up in that bed over there." He gave me a look that said he didn't believe me at all, and he sat up and looked at me. "Can you promise me something?"

"Yeah, anything."

"Promise me that you'll watch out for dad and Remus while I'm away with the bat. Also keep Ron out of trouble."

"Always," he smiled. Standing up, I leaned over and kissed his forehead. I took one final look at my god brother, whispered 'be good,' and made my way out of the infirmary.

I started to think how Snape was going to teach me anything about my abilities when he didn't have them. How were Snape and I supposed to get along and not kill each other? What was Dumbledore's end game in all of this? So many different thoughts ran through my mind.

A shoulder connected with mine while I was lost within my musings. Pain came screaming back as my body was still trying to heal, but with the sudden impact, it made it all worse. Rounding on the shoulder, I found the smug, pug-like face of Pansy Parkinson.

"Oh, I'm so sorry." She said sarcastically as her hand quickly dove into her pocket to retrieve her wand.

"What's your deal, Parkinson?" My shoulder was still throbbing from the impact.

"Nothing, just wanted to warn you about a little rumor going through Slytherin house. People have been saying that you are now a part of You-Know-Who's inner circle." Drawing out my wand, I stood my ground. "It's nice to see you alive, just so that I can torture you."

"Oh sweetheart, I would love to see you try." I fought the urge to yell an unforgivable curse. She simply started laughing and continued on her way. There were some days that I envisioned her hanging from the dungeon ceiling. That would really make my day.

Slowly I made my way up to Gryffindor Tower to find it empty. Looking at the clock, it said it was five, dinner must be ready. I went into my dormitory to find Hermione sitting on my bed. She was reading a book, absolutely nothing out of the normal, except for her ragged appearance and sunken, baggy eyes. She must have not gotten any sleep at all.

"Hermione?" As soon as I said her name, she jumped from her position and wrapped me in a bone-crushing hug. "OWW! Hermione, I'm sore!" Quickly she let go and tears welled up in her eyes.

"I'm so glad your back and you're awake!" She still kept me wrapped in the tight hug, only to let me go when I started pushing her away. "What happened last night?"

"The Dark Lord is back, Cedric Diggory is dead, I hurt horribly and was put under the Cruciatis curse at least five times." I stood and began looking for one of my bags. I didn't want to meet her eyes, for fear I might end up crying, again. I trusted Hermione with my life, but right now, I didn't want her to see me so weak. I was the rock for her in our relationship, and if I was weak, she would break.

"That's horrible! So…he really is back?"

"Yes. He is back." I walked to my trunk and made sure that everything was in order. I had all my books and clothes, along with a few of Fred and George's tricks, those may come in handy soon.

"Aren't you worried?"

"Of course I'm worried!" I snapped, rounding on her. "He is back, he knows how to get to Harry and my dad, and he still has old followers. It might take him a while to build up his army, but he still knows how to get to all of us in one way or another." She looked down at the floor, not wanting to show me her true fear.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean it like that. It's just you've been acting as if nothing can bother you. What happened to you, Artemis?" Her voice was breaking and she was on the verge of tears.

Taking a deep breath, I steadied my voice. Seeing her under this much stress and worry hurt me deeply. Hermione had always been like my sister, I told her everything, but what happened last night; that was one thing she couldn't know right now.

"I can't tell you. All I can tell you is the Dark Lord is back, and he is coming for Harry. He will do anything to get to you guys, Hermione." Wrapping her in my arms, I could feel her pain as she let the tears go. "He will change everything, including us."

"I know." That was all she could say as she pulled away to dry her eyes. I grabbed my wand and cast a shrinking charm on my trunk, placing it in my bag. The orange rays of the sun started peeking through the window, telling me Snape was going to be fuming when I got to the dungeons. Looking at her, I could see that she felt relaxed by what I told her.

"I'll see you over the summer. I promise." She nodded, and I slowly made my way out the door. "Do you know where Ron is?"

"He said he couldn't wait any longer because he was too hungry." A smile crossed her tear ridden face as she looked up at me. "Promise you'll write?"

"I will." I wrapped her in one last hug before I set off to the dungeons.

Only being led by torchlight, I blindly found my way around the darkened hall. The sun was close to setting and I was glad to see the door to the potions room. I looked up at the clock and it said seven o'five. Before my hand even touched the wood, a low growl of "Enter" rang out from the darkness. Opening it, I saw him sitting at his desk, grading a mound of papers, his brow furrowed as he did so.

"You're late." His voice turned the whole room cold, made me shiver.

"You're not one for salutations, are you, Professor?" He didn't look up from his work. I sat on one of the desks near the back of the room and waited for him to finish.

Time seemed to slowly drag by as the only audible noises came from his scratching quill and the bubbling cauldron in the back of the room. I found ways to entertain myself by simply thinking of what the dungeon bat did on his summer breaks. Then my mind went completely off course and ended up in me not even wanting to look at him, for fear he would see me blush.

"Miss Black!" Cold and demanding, I looked up to see Snape standing right in front of me. Looking up into his dull onyx depths, I could tell that he had said my name a few times before, therefore leading to his presences being two feet from me. "I said, let's go." He glided towards his office, with me quickly following his inaudible footsteps. Opening the door, a large top hat sat on his desk. Another portkey, just what I needed. I let out a heavy sigh, which earned me a scowl from Snape. "Deal with it." He grabbed my arm and we were sent through the same swirling mass of color until could hard ground met my stomach. Standing up, I saw him roll his eyes at my childish act. Grabbing my arm tightly, pressure surrounded me, making it all the more harder to breath.

It stopped as quickly as it had come, which I was thankful for. I took a deep breath to finally be able to smell the sweat salt of a sea. We stood in a place that reminded me of the poor places back when Remus brought me to the States. Shabby houses lined the streets, factory smoke plumed from a far off corner, and the water line gave everything a dreary feeling. Stepping in front of me, the black mass guided me towards the farther reaches of the town.

Snape stopped in front of a large house. It fit the professor's attitude: dark, brooding, and yet a mystery to all who ventured to seek it. He opened the front door, which slowly creaked with misuse, and led me into a dwelling darker than his dungeons. With a simple wave of his wand, candle light emanated from every corner in the house. It was a very well furnished abode, however, you could tell no one had not inhabited this place in a very long time, as cobwebs showed over the fireplace and the bookshelves. Books lined shelves, the furniture sat in front of a large fireplace, but it still felt…empty.

"Now can you tell me why I'm here?"

"You are here so I can train you. You have been marked with the Death Mark, and have the ability of talk to minds, along with reading them. You will learn how to use them to your advantage." He swept his wand around, making the dust and cobwebs fly into oblivion.

"So you're saying I'm a tool?"

"In a way, yes."

"Great." I snorted. "I'm Dumbledore's tool and Voldemort's whore. Well don't I feel useful." He shuddered only a little as I said Voldemort's name. "Where will I be sleeping?"

"Up the stairs, third door on the left."

"Am I free to go? Or is there something that you need to tell me before I leave?" He gave me another sneer and waved his hand at me. I turned, leaving him to his cleaning. Hopefully, however long I had to stay here, I wouldn't have to use any of Fred and George's tricks.