***

Wormtail wondered how the carrier looked. No one had really told him how she looked, but he remembered someone saying that every time she returned, she had black locks.

"The Lord awaits. He is very pleased that you have brought her. He wishes to see her immediately."

Malfoy gestured towards his automobile where two men, dressed in dark robes, pulled from the back of the car, what seemed to Wormtail, a stretcher with someone on it. The girl, Wormtail noticed, was wearing a drabbed chemise with rips and holes. Her arms and legs were strapped to the contraption with rusted chains. He saw bruises on her pale flesh. She was quite disheveled, but that wasn't what bothered Wormtail the most. He noticed the black muzzle they had placed over her mouth.

"That's the carrier?" asked Wormtail as Malfoy moved to let the stretcher inside.

"Of course. Only the best for the carrier."

"If she is as strong as they say, why is she so easily restrained?"

Malfoy eyed Wormtail in a menacing fashion. "She is not complete. That is why she does not have all her power. But, trust me. The straps aren't the only thing binding her onto the bed."

Finally, he saw her eyes. They sparkled under the filth upon her face. Their greenness was so familiar to Wormtail, but he could not remember now from where. Their emptiness and Wormtail's memory made him feel ashamed for the first time in a long time.

***

Harry woke. It was some time after midnight. He had dreamt something unpleasant, again, but now, he could not remember exactly what the dream was about. He rubbed his eyes and snatched his glasses onto his face. He could see little in the dark, but he could see Ron upon his bed. Harry made his way toward the kitchen for a drink of water. There, unexpectedly, he found Milvia seated upon one of Mrs. Weasley's hand-knitted throws. She was looking at the hearth to her left.

"Milvia," Harry whispered, "why are you awake?"

"Oh, hello Harry. I can't sleep. I can't sleep for much time. I keep having nightmares."

"Really. I also can't sleep very well. What are your dreams about?"

"Stupid, really. Sometimes I see this creature, but it isn't very clear, It is almost like I can't see the whole, but part of it. It's large and dark, but I'm afraid of it because it is very powerful." She paused and shock her head, "But, lately, I've been dreaming something I fear, but I can't remember. It's quite strange. Don't you think?

"A creature, hmm. Is it something you've seen before?"

"No, how could I've seen such a thing. It was something not ordinarily seen. That, I can assure you. Anyway, why are you up, if I may ask?"

"Oh me, well, I wasn't having sweets dreams, either. I also have a awful nightmare that I can't seem to remember. I'm here for a small drink of water."

"Well, I do hope my potion works. I haven't slept in days." She pointed at a small caldron in the fire. "It's suppose to clear your mind and heart. Very powerful stuff, if I do say so myself. Took me charm to convince Mrs. Figg in buying me the root of Mara and the powder made of the eastern alcove kelp."

"Is it safe, though?"

"Yes, of course it is, but you mustn't take too much. Just a taste or you'll fall ill and even then you may never wake again if you take too much."

"You can die!"

"No, you don't die. You just can't wake. Dreams will become your life and everyone will know that you are gone from this world forever. Of course, I would offer you some, but you will only say no to me."

"Why do you say that?"

"I don't know. I just figured you wouldn't want to test your luck and all."

"I suppose you are correct. Careful, then. Just a taste, you said?"

"Don't worry, Harry." She took the caldron and poured the liquid into a long flask. With a long spoon, she took some of the violet liquid into her mouth. She smiled and quickly bottled the flask as she hid her equipment into her trunk. "Why do you look so. . ." she stopped as her eyes closed. She was falling fast, but Harry was able to help her onto the furniture.

"What was that, Harry? What did she drink?" Hermione whispered from the landing of the staircase.

Harry shook his head. "I don't know. I really don't know." He picked up her wand and placed next to his for safe keeping. "Why are you up?"

"Well, I heard her wake. She was having a nightmare of sorts and I heard her when she opened the door. We shouldn't leave her here." She looked down upon Milvia who slept quite peacefully. "They'll find her in the morning." She took out her wand and said something in a whisper. Suddenly, Milvia's body floated upstairs towards Ginny's room. There, Harry made sure that she was put into place.

"You should have stopped her."

"What?"

"Maybe she made a mistake when she was preparing the potion."

"Come on, Hermione, wouldn't she be more careful than that?"

"Well, she didn't planned out very well the affects of her creation, did she now."

"That's quite enough, Hermione. I'm too tired to argue. Go to bed."

And with that, he left Hermione. As he sat upon his sheets, he noticed that on the bed stand was a pitcher filled with water which he hadn't noticed when he had snatched his glasses. As he drank, he wondered why Milvia had thought that he would have said no into taking the potion. He now thought that he should have prodded her into giving him some to sleep well at least this night.

***

Wormtail opened the doors for the gentlemen. They placed the carrier in the middle of the room. Malfoy quickly ordered his men to wait for him outside at the automobile.

"Here she is, my Lord."

The chair that faced the hearth did not stir. "Bring her to me. Let her free from the bonds that chain her."

Malfoy took out his wand. He said something that Wormtail could not hear for he was far too afraid. The chains fell on the marble floor. She did not stir.

"Get up." Harshly Malfoy's words fell. Slowly, the carrier rose. She stood, not knowing where to go.

"Come, my dear. Do not fear. I mean no harm."

She walked towards the Lord. She stood in front of him with her eyes away. Voldemort stood.

"Come, my child. There is much to teach you. Your mind, like fresh soil, is ripe for it to sprout the roots of knowledge of what you are and what we must do to defeat what is wrong."

Deftly, Voldamort removed the muzzle. Wormtail was shocked that a human could now resemble so closely the pigmentation of his master. Her small mouth, was the only flesh with some color.