I made my way across the school grounds, dashing past the frozen lake, which glinted like chunk of diamond in the afternoon sun. It was a week after I had returned from my disasterous trip to my childhood home, and I was running late for my favourite subject; Transfiguration. I waded through the sparkling, ankle deep snow, the cold seeping in through my smart leather shoes. My robe fluttered like the wings of a resting butterfly, it’s ends soaked through, but I didn’t care. I was not going to miss any more lessons. Glancing at my watch, I realised the time. Merlins beard! I thought in shock. It’s almost one thirty! Surely I’ll be late now. Anxiously, I ran toward the looming shape of the school. I had almost made it to the grand entry when a gravely voice spoke behind me. “Well, well, well.” I spun and saw a chiseled face with furrowed eyebrows and a muscular neck glaring back at me with two beady eyes. Yelping, I tripped back into a flower bed, dirt smearing my cloak as frozen roses crumpled underneath my weight, their crushed, frosted petals drifting out from underneath my cowering frame. The boy’s laugh was like steel grating against ice. He looked far older than me, maybe in his sixth or seventh year, with a strong build and rippling biceps bulging from his black Slytherin robes. Two equally intimidating students flanked him, their thick wands looking like tiny twigs in their large, calloused hands. They advanced toward me. “Leave me alone,” I demanded, my voice filled with filled with fake confidence. I had met enough bullies to know what this boy wanted, and I wasn’t going to give him the satifaction of seeing me crumple at his hands. He just smirked and continued prowling around me, like a panther stalking it’s prey. “What do you even want?” I tried again. This time, he lunged at me, but I sidestepped and shoved him away onto the ground. His two comrades yelled and ran after me, but I darted away out of their grasp. I sprinted through the undergrowth, trampling the snow underfoot. Eventually, they cornered me, devilish grins on their faces as I shrunk into the shadow of ancient oak. Their leader joined them. His face was livid. Specks of brilliant white dusted his clothes, standing out against the dark colours of his robe and he sported a nasty purple bruise from his head smacking against the ground. “Oh, you’re gonna get it now,” he growled, raising a balled up fist. He swung it toward me. At the last second, a scream was torn from my mouth, echoing across the pure white valleys. The shadows seemed to bend to my will, shielding me from the blow. They curled themselvs around the boy like coils of rope and lifted him into the fridged air. He thrashed and cried, but they tightened around him, blocking his desperate wails. As his friends wathched in horror, helpless, he rose higher into the sky. Just then, a gust of wind ripped him from the tendrils grasp. He tumbled to the ground with a sickening thud before scrambling to his feet. With one last glance of terror, he and his friends retreated toward the castle. As they left, the tension drained out of me and I reached for the tree trunk for support. What had just happened? Suddenly, a shrill voice sliced through my thoughts. “Miss Black?” There was Professor McGonigall, her expression more serious than usual, her emerald green robes swirling I gulped. “Meet me in Professor Dumbledore’s office.” she said. Her voice was grim. “Now.”

For a while, everything seemed to go back to the way it was before, settling in to a picture of somewhat normality. I would tease Ivan and Selena about their not-so secret crush on each other as their faces would turn the colour of Sirius’s scarlet sludge bombs back at home. Our lessons became more harrowing and lengthy, but we barely noticed. Christmas preperations had the whole school on the edge of their seats, counting the days until the big day. In our little spare time, the three of us would play in the snow, watching and laughing as the specks of white twirled and hovered in the cool air before gently floating down and settling into the blanket of snow beneath our feet. On a few sparse occasions, we would visit Hogsmeade and sit by the warmth of the crackling fire as we sipped our frothing mugs of butterbear. Yet every night I lay, swaddled in my thick blanket, a million thoughts rushing through my head. I knew that this couldn’t last. Something had to happen. Little did I know that that ‘something’ would come much sooner than I ever anticapate…

I shot up in bed. My whole body was dreched in a cold sweat, and I was trembling. My dark, matted hair wafted around my pale face, reminding me of the streams of dark magic in my dream. I gulped and took a shaky breath. I had to calm down. This was to much for me to handle. I looked around. It was early morning and my fellow Hufflepuffs where still snoring softly in their beds. To my right, the rays of the rising sun streamed through the elegant window, bathing the room in a rosey light. Despite the peaceful scene, my eyes were still wide with fear, and I could barely stand. Slowly, I made my way toward the wardrobe by my bed, leaning on things for support, and slipped into some clothes before going down the stairs. I emerged in the common room. The hearth was empty aside from a few coals and charred chunks of wood. A cold wind blew in from an open window. I sunk into a cosy armchair and read my book, determined to forget my disturbing dream. The hours slouched by, and with each one I felt slightly better, my nightmare fading like dying embers, until I was almost back to normal. Eventually, I lifted myself of the seat and walked out of the common room, through the winding corridors and down the ornate staircases, until I came to the grand wooden doors of the Great Hall. Taking a deep breath, I swung the doors open to reveal the four house tables all layed out for breakfast. There was a whole buffet in the corner piled high with all sorts of wizarding treats, as well as muggle food such as toast and cereal. Most of the school was already there. A group of Slytherin girl huddled together, whispering and giggling. The Ravenclaws were already focused on tommorows lessons, discussing opinions in low tones and pouring over their text books. One of the Gryffindors had started a food fight and I ducked as a sizzling strip of bacon whizzed over my head. I made my way through the crowds, dodging flying bits of food, until I noticed my two friends sitting at the far end of the room. Selena beckoned to me, and I squeezed past a group of excited first years before sitting down next to Ivan. He glanced at me. “You all right? You look terrible.” he commented, taking in my waxy complection and the bags under my eyes. “Yeah,” I answered as I poured myself some Pumkin Pops that exploded in chunks of pumkin as they fell into the bowl. “Just a bit tired.” He nodded and went back to spreading Scream Cheese on his toast, which shrieked with every stroke of his knife. I sighed and sat back in my chair. It was fine. My dream wasn’t real. I had friends who cared and that was all that mattered.

I lay in my bed, curled up under the covers and reading by the light of a torch. I tried to enjoy the book, but my mind kept straying, forming thoughts and putting them together like the pieces of a puzzle, yet I couldn’t quite see the bigger picture. I tried to figure out what message my brain was trying to send me, but my thoughts were clouded with exhaustion. Eventually, my brain had had enough. I put down my book and nestled into the silken sheets. Sleep came easily, washing over me like the tide on a beach. Soon, my eyes closed and I sunk into a restless sleep.

Darkness engulfed me. I was standing in a pool of shadows, blackness the only thing I could see. Whispering voices hissed all around me, speaking messages I could not understand. All of a sudden, a flickering image appeared infront of me. It showed Magnus, but he was twisted beyond recognision. His face was paler than usual. His startling blue eyes were bloodshot and his skin was a startling landscape of cuts and . He reached out a shaking hand, as if begging me to help him, before disappearing. It was replaced by a picture of Selena, curled up in a shaking ball and sobbing, tears falling from her red- rimmed eyes. There was a flash of light and she too dissolved into the void, her cry of pain still ringing in my ears. Next was Ivan. He had his wand raised bravely, but his face was bruised and battered, with curse marks riddling his shredded clothes. I clenched my fists as I saw the people I loved most diminished and helpless, tortured by pain and fear. Finally, it was my turn. I was wrapped in silver chains, which curled around my body like snakes. My eyes were pure black. Tendrils of darkness extended from my fingertips. All my friends had backed away from me, fear reflecting in their eyes. I stumbled back in horror, a scream building in my throat, but my voice wouldn’t work. It was like being stuck in your own conscience, unable to move or speak, watching the world go by, yet not being able to do anything about it. Suddenly, whatever had been holding me up gave way beneath me and I found myself tumbling into the abyss. As I plunged into the dark, I finally let loose a wail of terror. Then I melted into the shadows.

Hours passed by. I sat, staring out at the peaceful vallies and rocky countryside as they drifted by, but my mind had wandered elsewere. My eyes were glazed and unfocused as I sank deeper into my ponderings. Though it may seem silly, part of me was still set on that dream. Something bothered me about it, and though I tried to push the thought away, it was still there, at the back of my memories, obscuring my other thoughts with it’s overwhelming sense of fear and confusion. As I struggled with my mind, I thought about what the voice said. All you have to do is follow along with my plan. What plan? And why would he want me, of all people, to help him? I groaned. Everything was so confusing. Just then, a voice rang out across the train. Next stop- Hogsmead Station. I sighed and heaved my heavy trunk out of the compartment just as the train slowed to a halt. As I stepped out into the cool air, I heaved a sigh of relief. It was over. I was back. I made my way through the village. People were bustling around, buying Christmas decorations and gifts. There wasn’t any snow yet, but the air was icy and the leaves were stiff with frost. Shivering, I pulled my cloak around me, but the chill seeped right through the thin fabric. I sped up, longing for the warmth of the crackling fires in the Hufflepuff common room. Soon, I reached the huge, gilded iron gates of Hogwarts Castle. I flicked my wand and they swung open. I dashed down the winding path and up the stone steps, past two stone hogs guarding the oaken double doors. I had just made it to the top of the steps when Ivan and Selena burst out of nowhere. Selena enveloped me in a huge hug, squeezing my ribs and constricting my breathing. Finally, she released me and I gasped for breath, wheezing in air through my desperate windpipes. Immediately, a stream of questions flowed out of her mouth. “Are you okay? Why are you late? What happened? “. She talked so quickly I could barely keep up. Finally, she stopped to take a breath. Her face was flushed. “Selena, I’m fine,” I replied. “Really, there’s no need to worry. I’m just tired, okay.” She stepped back, still looking worried, but said nothing more. Then I turned to Ivan. He gave me a small smile. “It’s good to see you again Bella,” he said. We hugged. “The house elves have baked some delicious cookies for us in the Gryffindor common room,” Selena told us. “We had better hurry, or the others will eat them all!” We followed her inside. Just as I was about to shut the door, I saw something out of the corner of my eye. It was Magnus. He smiled and nodded at me before disappearing into the undergrowth. I stared at the spot he had been for a few moments. Then I turned and ran after my two friends.

I woke to the sound of birds chirping. I was coated in a thin curtain of glittering dewdrops which dampened my clothes and made me shiver in the cool morning breeze. Slowly, my eyelids fluttered open and sunlight flooded my vision. Eventually, the blinding light faded and I realised that I was sprawled on the hard, wooden floor of the train station. My trunk lay disgarded by one of the seats and the ground was slicked with rainwater. Just then, a screeching noise pierced the air. I spun around and saw a train barreling toward the station, it’s wheels grating against the rusted tracks. It squeled to a stop just as a droplet of rain dripped onto the top of my head. Before I knew it, the rain was pouring down, drenching me in a sheet of freezing water. I hurriedly grabbed my trunk and hauled it aboard the old, weathered train. I slumped down onto one of the padded seats, which were much comfier than the benches at the train station. I stared out the window. The rain had dispersed almost as quickly as it had come.The grassy landscape was smothered in a kind of subtle tranquility, the kind you normally got after a summer storm, like the rain had washed away all the worlds troubles for one, peaceful moment. As I gazed out beyond the rolling hills, framed by a cotton- candy sky, I thought of the dream I’d had last night, and if it meant what I thought it did. Oh, don’t be silly, the rational part of myself chided. It’s just a nightmare. Still, something stirred in the back of my mind, and I couldn’t help but think that something was about to go very wrong…

The walk back felt longer than last time. With each step, the urge to curl up into a ball and cry grew inside me, but I trudged on. After what felt like hours, I arrived at the train station. It was empty, the only inhabitants being a pair of barn owls roosting on the roof. They screeched at me, but I was to tired to care. I just slumped down onto one of the hard seats and buried my face in hands. I felt tears roll down my face, but this time I didn’t try to stop them. Why did my life have to be so unfair? I wished that I had never come here. Before I knew it, exhaustion took over me and I felt myself slipping away into the folds of sleep. Of course, my dreams were anything but soothing.

I dreamt that I was back in Hogwarts, yet this time there was something different about the usually merry place. It was cold and empty. Not a single torch was lit. Everything was silent and still. Deathly still. I felt panic rise up inside me and had to remind myself that it was just a nightmare. It wasn’t real. Just then, an icy voice rang out across the abandoned halls. “Welcome, Belladona Black.” A finger of fear traced it’s way down my spine, sendind a shudder through my body. I knew that voice. I had heard it many times before when our parents hosted Death Eater meetings at our house. “Ah, yes,” said the voice. “I’ve been expecting you.” I swung my head around, trying to spot where the voice was coming from. “Wh-what do you w-want?” I asked, my voice shaking. My mind was whirling, but I tried to be brave. I had to face him. “Oh, it’s simple. All you have to do is follow along with my plan,” he hissed. I clenched my fists. “I’d never do anything for you,” I spat. I was trying to sound confident, but inside I was quivering. What would he do to me? “Very well,” the voice responded. Just then, black smoke billowed up out of nowwhere, engulfing me. I ran for the exit, not caring if it was just a dream. I had to get out of here. I tried to open the door, but it was locked. Desperately, I pounded against the wood, but the door wouldn’t budge. I was now almost fully wrapped in black smoke, only my head poking out of it’s murderous folds. I screamed and kicked, but it was no use. As my head went under, I felt my lungs begin to burst. Dark spots danced infront of my eyes, blocking out what little vision I had left. The last thing I heard was malicious laughter echoing across the chamber before consciousness abandoned me.

A cool wind blew. My cloak billowed out behind me like ghost in the night. Everything was submerged in darkness, but I could just make out the shapes of tall buildings stretching up towards the heavens like great pillars holding up the sky. Squinting, I noticed the bright red phone-box Ivan and I had sped past on our motorcycles, and there was the alleyway we had first met. It was strange how almost nothing had changed in nearly a year. I walked on, old memories rising up with each step. The statue by which me and my sisters used to play. Our favourite tree to climb. It was painful to recall the events of my old life, but I kept moving, trying to push away the thoughts that were swirling in my mind. Finally, I arrived at my childhood home, or what was left of it. It had been reduced to a mound of ash and rubble and the smell of smoke still lingered in the air. I saw looming metal pillars rising up from the remains of the house, standing there tall and strong. Looks like they’re all ready trying to rebuild it I thought. Just then, a glint of gold caught my eye. Curious, I kneeled down and started digging through the ruins. Soon, I came across an old photo. The frame was cracked and covered in grime, but I still managed to distinguish what it was. It was of my family. They were all wearing fancy clothes, my mother and sisters dressed in glittering gowns and my father in a black tuxedo. As I peered closer at the picture, I saw that I had been scratched out of the picture. When I studied other remains of the fire, I noticed that I had been cut out of every, single family picture. This realization was a huge blow. I knew that they wouldn’t take kindly to my disappearance or the fact that I had failed to live up to the Black family name, but I didn’t think they would completely erase me from family history. Fresh tears began to fall as I remembered all the happy memories from when I was a child, now turned dark and ugly, poisoned by this discovery, like when you spill a bottle of ink on a book you were writing and you watch as everything turns to darkness. Suddenly, I heard a voice behind me. “Well, well, well. Look who decided to return.” I spun around to see Bellatrix and Narcissa standing there with their arms crossed. “Bella?” I said, my voice shaking. “Cissy?”

“It’s Miss Black and Mrs Malfoy to you,” spat Bellatrix.

“Mrs Malfoy?” I said, very confused. That’s when I noticed the sparkling diamond ring on Narcissa’s finger.

“Well, future Mrs Malfoy. Me and Lucious engaged now,” announced a very excited Narcissa and Bellatrix shot her a glare.

“You and Lucious are engaged?” I gasped. “But you’re only eighteen!”

“That’s old enough!” she snapped back. “Now why are you here? I doubt you came to hear about wedding arrangements.”

“I heard about the fire,” I replied. “Bellatrix sent me a letter.”

“As if,” scoffed my twin sister. “You left us without a second thought, all because of some stupid argument.”

“Yeah, I bet you don’t even care,” agreed Narcissa.

Just then, I noticed that one of my siblings were missing. “Wait, where’s Andromeda?” I questioned.

“She left us for that mudblood Ted Tonks,” answered Bellatrix, her voice bitter with hatred. “Now leave!”

“But-’’.

  “No buts, just go.”

I looked at her, my eyes filled with sorrow and sadness. Then, with a heavy heart I stood up and slowly trudged back to the train station.

A week after I received the letter informing me of my parent’s sudden death, I was ready to leave. Selena, Ivan and a handful of other friends had gathered at the gates to bid me fair- well, although I had told them that it was only for a few days and that they didn’t have to come. I hugged them each in turn. When it was Ivan’s turn, he asked “Are you sure you don’t want me to come with you?”. He said it with a note of worry in his voice, as if disaster could strike at any moment. “I’ve said this once and I will say it again: I must face my family alone, even if it is the last thing I want to do,” I replied.

“Alright, if you’re sure,” he said.

“I’m sure,” I assured him.

We hugged and I turned to my friends. “Well, bye for now,” I said. “I’ll miss you all very much.” Then, with those words, I turned and swung the gates open before walking out into the darkness. After my departure, I headed straight to Hogsmead station. I knew that the Hogwarts Express usually travelled there from station nine and three quarters, but I also knew that there were plenty of other trains that went in and out of the station. Maybe one of them led to my town. I scanned the signs, trying to find out where each train was going, but to no avail. “How am I going to get out of here?” I mumbled to myself. “I mean, I don’t even know which train to take.” Just then, I noticed a stack of papers sitting in the empty ticket booth. I stretched out my hand to snatch the papers, but pulled it back again. I couldn’t just take them. That would be stealing. No, it wouldn’t be, said a voice in my head. You’re only borrowing them, not stealing. Besides, you need these papers to get back home. I stopped to think, then grabbed the papers and skimmed through them. Sure enough, there was a train that lead to the station right outside my town that should arrive in five minutes. I quickly re-positioned the papers so there was no evidence of me being there, before plonking myself down on a bench and waiting. Soon, a small, emerald green steam train pulled into the platform. It had peeling paint and cracked windows. Steam billowed up from the smokestack. I slid the door to one of the compartments open and sat down on the seat. Inside the train was no better than outside. The walls were covered with scratches and stains, plus it stank as if a skunk had died in the room. I wrinkled my nose in disgust and tried to block out the horridness of it all. Suddenly, I lurched forward in my seat. The train must have started moving, I thought. I looked out the window at the beautiful countryside and thought This is it. I’m going back. I’m going home.

The rest of the year went by in a flash. I spent most of my time studying for next year, when I was supposed to do my OWLs. Me and Selena had become fast friends, usually going down to the Black Lake with Ivan in our spare time. Selena had a slight crush on Ivan and I knew that Ivan fancied her as well. I had once tried to convince Ivan to ask Selena out, but he denied that he even had feelings for her. When he told me that, I simply threw back my head and laughed. All and all, I had a pretty good year, but one day, everything changed. That day, everything started out normal. I woke up and headed down to the Great Hall for breakfast, before rushing off to my lessons. When I got back though, there was a letter lying on my bed. Strange I thought. Post never arrives this late. It must be important. Curious, I picked up the letter and read who it was from. My eyes widened as I found out who the sender was. Bellatrix. It was from Bellatrix. Excitement surging through me like a tidal wave, I tore open the envelope, but as I read the words, my face well and I began to cry. No, it can’t be I told myself. Selena, who often visited me in my dorm, stepped into the room and noticed me hunched over on my bed, sobbing. “What’s wrong Bella?” she asked, a concerned expression on her face. “I-it’s my parents,” I replied, my voice shaking. “There was a fire at our house a-and they’re g-gone.”

“Oh Bella, I’m so sorry,” she said, wrapping her arms around me. “I lost my grandmother last year so I know how it feels. It’s hard, but eventually you just have to move on.” I tried to take her words in, but my mind was racing. It was exactly like my dream. This had to mean something, but what? “I need to go,” I said and dashed out of the room. I heard Selena calling my name, but I ignored her and rushed straight to the headmaster’s office. When I arrived at the stone gargoyle, I cried “Cockroach Clusters!”. The gargoyle didn’t budge. The password must have changed I thought. In desperation, I began shouting out all the possible passwords I could think of. “Chocolate Frogs! Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans! Liquorice Wands!”. At last, the gargoyle slid out of the way to reveal the spiral staircase. I ran up it, tripping several times. When I got to the top, I swung the door open. Professor Dumbledore was sitting at his desk, writing a book. I managed to glimpse the front cover. It was titled The Twelve Uses of Dragon Blood. “Professor, I need to speak to you about something,” I stated. He looked up from his book and beckoned me over to sit with him. I obliged and took my seat in front of his desk. When I was comfortable, he asked “My dear girl, whatever is wrong?”. I told him about my dream and the letter from Bellatrix. By the time I had finished, tears were streaming down my face. “I-I know I should stay and study for my OWLs, but I feel that I must return home now that this tragic event has taken place,” I finished. The thought of facing my siblings made my heart sink, but I knew I had to. “I understand how hard the death of a family member can be. I myself have felt the same way you did when I lost my sister, Ariana,” he said. “So, you may leave to go and visit your remaining family, though whether you return to Hogwarts or not is optional.” I thanked the Professor for everything then ran off to pack my bags for the journey ahead.