The next day I didn't attend any of the classes. I know the professors wouldn't mind. They know of my.. special predicament and I'm sure Dumbledore told those concerned about the recent events I got involved in.

The Black Lake is so silent today, like a perfect mirror, reflecting the cloudless sky. I lean on the big tree next to the Lake and let myself fall down on the grass. Everyone else is in class so I have the place all to myself.

Mudblood.

"Yeah… I am a mudblood. Should I be ashamed of myself? Live to the expectations of this?"

Katherine feels her fingers gently moving across the letters.

I often lie to myself about what happened then, just to keep on living.

The orphanage was just a scam, a cover. Voldemort has done more things than any other person than himself know of.

Every single children of that forsaken place had one parent able to manipulate magic and a muggle parent, earning themselves their birthright title of "mudblood".

Death Eaters were sent to many families who had such childrens, some less known than others. Their sole mission? To murder anyone who would dare to search for the child after being kidnapped and bring the children to that manor they called The Orphanage.

One of the first gifts they gave us there was this unremovable scar. It's magically binding to let us know for our entire lives that we stand at the bottom of the hierarchy. That we deserve nothing more and nothing less than being slaves.

The Caretakers were all muggles. We weren't worthy of a wizard's attention. They were all under the Imperius Curse. They had a bit of free will. That's why I still have a few happy memories of the place. However, they were not, under any circumstances, let us leave the premises of the building. And, as we soon found out, we were never going to be adopted. We were told our parents had abandoned us, that they hated us and that we should be grateful to them, our benefactors.

A few weeks after we got "recruited" they started giving us potions. They told us their preemptive medicines for some kind of disease outbreak. But that went on and on for years. Some got sick and others seemed to lose control of their magic as they died horrible deaths. Many turned against each other and killed with their bare hands.

And I? I developed this ability. The ability to tap into one's train of thought and in certain cases even manipulate it. Who we are if not the sum of our memories? Temper with that and you temper with one-self. Just like they tempered with my life bringing these horrible memories and making me who I am now. I'm still confused about that myself. Who I am that is.

I kept my "quality" hidden from our observers. They only came once or twice a week to test us and leave more potion batches to the Caretakers. Sometimes they even casted unknown spells on us. When I showed my memories to the Order they said they couldn't identify the spells. I don't know if to believe them or not, but I couldn't find anything remotely related in any book I could get my hands on in the last few years.

Apparently, Voldemort decided at some point that The Orphanage experiment designated to build himself an army of talented slaves had failed. So he gave the order to do what they always do with things they find useless. Termination.

"It's time to take out the trash," was said as they left the doors wide open and sent the dark angels in.

Enough Dementors to kill us all. Adults and childrens, boys and girls, caretakers or not. That's when Dumbledore's Order came to the rescue. Like true angels of light, they used patronuses to push back the hooded figures.

I was not aware others have also been saved from the remains. That scar of his is unmistakably the same as mine. I wonder if he recognized me. I don't remember him at all from those days and he must've changed his name as well.

Perhaps I should invite him to my birthday next week and get more information out of him.

And that kiss.. I wish I could kiss him aga…

Just as I was thinking the unthinkable, something drew my attention. A black wolf-like dog seemed to be stalking me. Since there was no one around I decided to take my leave and avoid a direct confrontation with the creature. However, I had the odd feeling that dog had more to it than one would believe at first sight. My Legilimens told me he had human-like thoughts. Only that I couldn't reach them, not from that distance anyway.

As I walked away I heard a howling behind.

I took my wand out, expecting the worst. Familiar masked figures presented themselves from behind the trees. I don't know how they got past all the security and Dementors due to the Azkaban escape, but they somehow have.

They did not attack me, so I tried to slowly back away, towards the castle. They had, however, other plans.

I felt my scar burn like it hasn't in a long long time. I dropped my wand to the ground and fell to my knees. One of them closed in and took off his mask.

I don't know his name but I remember him oh so well. He was the leader of the Death Eaters who were in charge of The Orphanage. And the symbol on our neck had of course other useful purposes as well. Such as keeping us in check. Looks like the Order wasn't able to remove all the enchantments after all.

The huge black dog tried to attack one of them, but was soon kicked so hard I could hear ribs breaking and thrown into the cold water of the lake.

Maybe Dumbledore wasn't right to claim so easily that I will be safe here.

"Miss White. Long time no see. Missed me?"

I find the strength to spit on his robe, disgusted.

"Cute"

He uses his arm to slap me so hard I thought I would faint. He then used magic to make me stand on my feet and grabbed my jaw with his gloved hand.

"You shall bring yourself and Mr. Davies here next week when the students and most of staff will be leaving to Hogsmead. If you fail to do so, I don't think we have to explain the consequences to you, now do we?"

Hearing only half of his first thought made me want to vomit. What a repulsive human being.

"MOREOVER"

He said, lifting me from the ground.. suffocating me.

"You shall bring along your new little friend, Harry Potter"

"Did I make myself understood? DID I NOW?"

"Yhess"

With that he threw me on the ground like a piece of garbage. Just as they had appeared they were now gone as I finished choking up with my own saliva.

by Cardinal

Please review and add to alerts :) - this is a co-authored fiction and we'd love to hear your input, suggestions and reviews, be them negative or positive make the constructive :D.