Long have I suffered, but never have I endured suffering such as this…

Rumours spread wide throughout Hogwart's grounds. Whispers turned a student from eagerly grinning to momentarily horrified. They grew to such a caliber that the vast landscape of the castle became deserted- even on the most picturesque day.

The source of the speculation went unkown, for the rumours were soon too rampant to perform any damage control.

And despite these claims and wild reports, I stepped foot outside. The student body may be occupied with tales of demons and monsters circling the castle, but in my service to the Dark Lord I had already encountered much worse.

Furthermore, the potion's cabinet was in dire need of supplies and with Poppy and Voldemort both demanding complicated substances, I could see no other option.

Besides Dumbledore and perhaps the fearless Boy-Who-Wouldn't-Die, I remained the only being willing to walk the grounds.

And what a mistake that was.