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I wasn't allowed out the room I was in for several days, with an ensuite being conveniently attached to the room I was in. I suspected it was once the master bedroom, with the large but empty wardrobe and lavish furnishings, and it's own private bathroom. I was glad to find that the house still had running water despite being supposedly abandoned.

Once a day, Wormtail would open the door a fraction and shove in a small jug of water and some food. Not much of the latter, but enough that I wasn't about to starve to death. Not that it mattered – I didn't have any weight to lose from living on the streets for most of my life. Food had been more plentiful with Mr Bryce – I swallowed the lump forming in my throat – but not abundant.

About a week or so later, Wormtail collected me, leading me roughly out to the main room where the fire was still burning. The snake was curled on the mat some like twisted dog, and the high backed chair was in the same place. Wormtail handed me a thick envelope, which was sealed with a piece of already broken wax. I turned it over to see my name imprinted on the front in cursive writing that I struggled to read. Curiously, the letter had no stamp. Slowly I opened it, and took out the first piece of paper, reading it slowly.

Dear Amy Potter,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on the first of September. We await your return owl.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry

The second page was the mentioned list; listing items I'd never even heard of. I looked up from the thick paper, towards the high-backed chair where Wormtail's' master sat. "What's this?" I asked of him.

"It's your acceptance form to the Wizarding School here in Britain. You are a witch, Amy Potter, and you will go to Hogwarts." He stated it as an order, and I shifted uncomfortably. Going to a school, getting away from here would be a good thing, right? But this had to be some kind of joke, witches weren't real, and I told him as much.

He laughed coldly, before raising the thin stick I'd seen the night before – could it really be a wand? He levitated the snake sitting on the rug, which hissed, annoyed, before it was set back down on the rug.

And this man was telling me I could do these things? Being a witch would be pretty awesome, I thought, but the men in front of me had killed Mr Bryce with their wands. And they had made that pain happen. Was that was magic was? I didn't want that, but I kept quiet.

"But how am I getting this stuff?" I waved the list of equipment that I held.

"One of my followers has a son going this year as well. He will take you to gather your equipment."

"When?" I squeaked, staring at the chair, disbelievingly.

"Tomorrow. For now, we need to be able to track you, to ensure you stay here. You will be of much use to us, Amy Potter. Now, Wormtail…"

Wormtail grabbed me, pushing me forward. He pushed up my left sleeve, and blindfolded me again, before the snake – Nagini – coiled around my torso, trapping my arms as efficiently as any bindings. A small, cold hand took my arm, and shivers traversed my spine. A searing pain, not dissimilar to last nights began, although only on my left arm. The smell of burning flesh began to fill the air and I passed out.

When I woke again, I was in my room, with a throbbing on my left arm. Pulling up my sleeve I examined it. Burned into my skin was a black skull, with a snake twisting through it. I assumed it was burned, from what I recalled of the night before, however it looked very much like a tattoo. I fell out of the bed in my hurry to get up, and walked to the door, about to bang on it when it swung open. Wormtail stood in the doorway.

"He wants to see you." He muttered to me. I stormed past him, towards the high-backed chair where he still sat.

"Amy." He addressed me coolly, and I stopped, more hesitant now. "I assume you want to know what I did to your arm."

I glared at the back of the chair. "I know what you did, I can see it, can't I? I want to know why!"

"Why, Amy? I did it so we don't lose you. You see, it is the Dark Mark. It marks you as mine." His voice was mocking, but with no more warmth in it than previously. "You see, through this mark, we know where you are, and we can summon you. It is an honour that you were given such."

"Honour?" I spluttered. "I am not yours, and I never will be!"

"We will see about that, Amy Potter." His voice was contemptuous. I turned to walk away, but Wormtail stopped me, standing in my path.

"And, Amy? You are strictly forbidden to tell anyone about that, or us. Though I hardly believe you'd show anyone that mark, as it would result in immediate and dire consequences from the Headmaster of Hogwarts. If you do, though, we will know, and you will be severely punished."

"Is that all?" I asked venomously. I had never hated anyone more. I had never really hated anyone at all, but that was irrelevant.

"And your escort will be coming in an hour's time."

I stalked back to my room.