Chapter One

She awakes on a cold stone floor. Her limbs hurt. It's quite a sombre room she finds herself in. She's confused about the location. Still, there is enough light to make out her surroundings. She stirs, trying to sit up.

"Get up!" a male voice hisses from behind her. Once again a hand grips her arm and pulls her up roughly. She almost falls down again. The same voice hisses once more: "Walk!"

She's pushed towards a doorway. Stepping forward, she blinks a few times, sorting out her thoughts in the process. Her mind finally clear, she observes the room she's in. It reminds her of a grand ballroom, found only in old mansions. The few carved details she can see in this near-darkness are beautiful, she notices. Next, she concentrates on the double doors in front of her. One is slightly opened; she slips through the opening, urged by the unknown people behind her. She is too curious to try and find an exit. She knows she needn't worry – she can take care of herself.

The next room is as grand as the last. This one appears to be a dining room, as the long table to her right indicates. Around it, many figures clad in black are seated. She notices the few odd and puzzled looks that are sent her way. At the head sits an inhuman looking man. He has a snake's features. She steps closer to the table. She feels the magic buzzing in the air.

"You have got to be kidding me," she murmurs, exasperated, when she senses it. She stops walking when she's near the man at the head of the table.

"What is all that mumbling supposed to mean, muggle?" The snake-like man spats. His tone implies he isn't all too happy to be speaking to her, "You won't speak unless ordered to."

She raises her eyebrows, "Muggle?"

"Non-magical creature," someone unidentified quietly explains, behind her.

"Oh," she smiles, "non-magical? Sure, whatever you like to think."

The man narrows his eyes. She almost expects him to reprimand her like a naughty schoolgirl for speaking out of turn. When he lifts his wand, her eyes widen for a moment; surprised.

Before he can word the spell, his wand flies out of his hand. Furious, he gets up – his robes floating along – and watches his followers. Most of them try to hide in their seats.

"Who dares to disarm me?" His voice is ice cold, as are his red eyes. Still observing the table, he stretches out his right hand in the direction of his fallen wand. The wood flies back to its owner.

He notices the girl smiling mockingly. "What?" he hisses, annoyed with not knowing something this lowly muggle obviously does.

"Well, I find it mildly amusing that you are accusing your dear followers of something they didn't do."

"So you are a witch with wandless powers, are you?" he sneers, finally guessing what is going on.

"Do you have any idea who I am?"

"You're an evil wizard?" she suggests, shrugging mockingly.

Furious, he raises his wand again, "Crucio!"

The spell doesn't reach her. It bounces off an invisible wall in front of her and dissipates. Her eyes are closed tightly in concentration, her body is tensed. When she opens them again, she's met with a furious glare.

"Who and what are you?" He demands, rage flaming in his red eyes. His followers don't dare to move.

"I'm a witch," she states, "though obviously not alike your kind," she then adds, frowning pensively at his wand. Thoughts about who these people might be travel through her mind.

"Impossible. Speak the truth!"

"I am speaking the truth. My name is Sasha Louhi, and you are?" Her voice is relaxed as opposed to the strange man's fury – no one would suspect her turmoil and confusion about these people, safely concealed in her mind.

He ignores her question, "That's-"

"Quite possible, my Lord, if I may?" a man's deep voice speaks. He is seated at the 'lord's' left side. As he raises his head to speak, his black, shoulder length hair falls back, revealing sharp features and a prominent, roman nose. This must be one of his more loyal followers, she deduces, as he isn't reprimanded for interrupting the leader.

"Continue."

"Yes, my Lord. In Finnish myth there is a witch who can do wandless, wordless magic. Her name is Louhi."

She nods, "Indeed. She's an ancestor of mine." At her answer the black-haired man glances at her for a short moment, before turning back to his master, waiting for his reaction to this information.

With new interest the leader appraises her, "Are you aware of the war we are currently in?"

"I am not. I've been living among muggles, as you call them, for many years now. I assume you wish to recruit me?"

"Perhaps. Severus," he turns to the black-haired man, "you will inform her of the current situation, as well as introduce her to that old fool as a new student. If she doesn't agree with us, kill her." The leader speaks as though she isn't standing in the same room.

"And I shall just agree with everything?" Sasha wonders out loud, "I'll just let him," she nods to Severus, "kill me if I don't agree?"

"It has been decided," the leader speaks, finally, "Dismissed."

All of them get up while their leader vanishes before she has a chance to object.

Severus approaches her, "Come," he simply orders, before continuing on his way to the exit.

"Why should I?"

The man glares at her, "Considering you don't even know what I will tell you, I suggest you at least hear me out before making a decision you may later on regret. You may be able to deflect his curse, but, I assure you, blocking ten or twenty of those will not be as easy."

[To be continued]