"You dont need hope anymore" the dark lord's eyes were a cold shade of red, but glowing so alive, "Hope needs you."

and with that, the pale flesh of my right arm burned, branded, and upon its scathed surface appeared the dark mark. I stared at it, my eyes burning with the lingering pain, and my lips curling into a subtle, though elated smile. I was a Death Eater. I had been contemplating what that meant for months, years even. To eat death is to over power it, to devour it, to garner nourishment from the ending of life. Loss of life would be the fuel my body would thrive on, from which I drew my strength and my happiness. One must eat to remain alive. I would eat death to live.

It was what I wanted.

I feel to my knees, they hit the stone floor with a little too much force, and I was sure they'd be bruised in the morning. But what did that matter? I was not even sure where I would be when the sun rised again. And I was certain it would never rise the same. Once kneeling before him, I pressed my lips to the hem of his robe and slowly cralwed away, backwards, careful not to stumble over my own long black robes.

I reclaimed my place in the circle, and watched my master, looking unusually benevolent as he regarded us through his scarlet eyes.

"My newest recruits, I welcome you. You are one of the first five groups to join my ranks. Whatever your motivation, whatever factors added into your final decision, whatever path has lead you to this moment, I ask you to forget it all. Your old life is over, and your new one commences tonight. You are reborn as my Death Eaters."

He stopped speaking, and looked at our masked faces, not fooled by the thin black fabric, knowing our identiies by the small holes cut for our eyes. He need not speak out names to prove this, but only give us a peircing glance. My body was shaking, but I tried to steady it. I was not sure why I was unable to stand completely still. It was not the eerie cold of the dungeon in the Malfoy Manor that made me shake, but the excitement coarsing through my veins with the same speed and purpose as the blood it shared its company with.

"My three newest members, please step forward" The Dark Lord's demanded softly. I, and my two companions, stepped away from the circle, one step nearer to where he stood in the center. He opened his thin, nearly white lips, and spoke again, "I have a mission for you three tonight. It will require an absence of mercy and an abundance of ambition. Are you prepared to show your allegiance to your new master?"

"Yes, my lord" we spoke in unison.

"Very well, then listen closely to my instructions..."

TEN YEARS EARLIER

August 31st

Dear Diary,

My name is Bellatrix Black. And tomorrow I leave home for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardy. Mum says for the first time I'll be seeing the flaws in the Wizarding World. Apparently, she says, the headmaster allows in muggle-borns. mudbloods. and blood traitors. the poor. the weak. the friendless. the talentless. the ignoble.

but she also says I'll be sorted into Slytherin, and its the most cleansed of the four houses, of the filth that she promises will be lining the hallways.

so I asked her, in the inquisitive voice of a niave child she informed me, "How can I distinguish the mudbloods from the purebloods? Are they easily identifiable?"

"No, Bella." she looked torn between amusement and disdain, "They walk freely and unobtrusivley among us."

"Does that mean I may have even met a mudblood before?" I asked, slightly aghast at the notion.

"No Bella." she answered again, her amused expression giving way to one that portrayed impatience, "I've made sure you've been exposed to only the sons and daughters of noble and pure wizarding families."

"Why is the headmaster so foolish?" I asked, suddenly confused as to why anyone would allow such people to mix among people like myself if they knew what my family knew.

"Maybe you should ask him when you arrive." My mother smirked, and left me alone with my thoughts.

I plan to ask him. I want to see if I am missing an important peice of the puzzle, for the picture I see now is punctured with empty spaces. I would ask my sisters. Andy or Cissy, but they are only 10 and 8, so they know nothing about anything yet.

I'll write tomorrow, about my first day. For now, the sky is dark and sparkling with stars. I think I'd like to make a wish and get some sleep.

Love,

Bella.

PS: My wish is that I become a Slytherin tomorrow. But dont tell anyone, or it may not come true. I did not know whether I could intrust that knowledge into you, but the saying goes "Do not tell anyone your wish" but you are not a person. You are an object. So I can tell you anything. And I shall.

September 1st

Dear Diary,

Today was a day filled with so many new sites and faces, I can barely contain all the memories inside myself. So I am here to pour some of them into you by the light of my wand under the covers of my bed while my new roommates sleep peacefully. Do they not understand the signficance of today? Our lives have just begun and all they can do is dream? I do not understand.

there are a vast many things I do not understand about today.

I stared at people at platform 9 and 3/4, trying to see if there were any telling signs about the purity of there blood. I am no fool, I know we cannot see each others blood, and I know even if we could, its not as if there would actually be flecks of mud in the veins of muggle-borns, but I was curious to meet one, and didnt know how to find one. I couldnt simply ask if their parents were a witch and a wizard, could I? I felt as if that would be a bit too rude, even for me.

But then I decided, why not?

I found a train compartment and setteled there, waiting for someone to join me. A boy about my age slide open the door and sat down, looking nervously at me as if waiting for approval or dismissal.

"What's your name?" I asked him, curiously

"Amos Diggory." He replied in the high pitched voice of an 11 year old boy.

"Are you muggle-born?" I inquired, tilting my head to the side while waiting for his answer

"No." He furrowed his brow, "why?"

"Have you ever met one?"

"No, why?"

"Me either." I paused to think, "Are they like us?"

"They can do magic, so yes." he answered, looking uncomfortable until the train compartment opened again to reveal a familiar face.

"Lucius!" I exclaimed, delighted. He was a second year slytherin with a pointed chin, gray eyes and white blonde hair that fell softly around his sharp features, "Join us, wont you?"

"I'll bring a couple others with me, if you dont mind." he said curtly and motioned for two other second year boys to squeeze into our now full train compartment. When the door shut, an uneasy silence fell over us for a moment before Lucius resumed speaking, "I was pleased when I visited your manor last week and was reminded you would be attending Hogwarts with us this year, Bella. I can only hope you'll be in the Slytherin house like your parents, and myself of course, and Roddy Lestrange, to my left, as well as Gregory Goyle to my right."

"Slytherin?" Amos looked apprehensive, "Dark wizards come from Slytherin."

"Great wizards come from Slytherin, daft boy." Lucius retorted cooly, "Where do you think you'll end up?"

"Ravenclaw." Amos replied haughtily, "Just like my parents. They work at the Ministry, you know."

"Cheers." Lucius replied without cheer, then added to Lestrange and Goyle, "Imagine being in Hufflepuff? I think I'd leave, wouldnt you?"

His friends chorteled, and I offered him a midly amused smile. The train ride lasted hours. Amos didn't talk very much. He seemed put off by our reverence for Slytherin, and we were disinterested in an aspiring Ravenclaw.

The first years were seperated from the rest of students once the train slowed to a stop at the Hogsmead station. It was thankfully a calm night, for we sailed across a black lake on boats to the castle! On boats! The lakes surface was mirror black. I could see my smooth white skin reflected in its dark waters, and the vauge outline of my eyes and lips, and my long dark hair that swirled around me in the slight breeze.

The sorting seemed to create anxiety in most of the students waiting before the hat, listening without really hearing as it sang its traditional song describing the four houses.

I was the fourth name, and when I heard it read off the parchment and echoeing throughout the great hall, I proudly stepped forward, walking before the long tables who watched my journey to the stool. The hat had barely fallen over my eyes before it shouted "SLYTHERIN" in a booming, deep, and resonating voice.

I sat beside Lucius at the slytherin table, which was decorated with banners of green and silver.

"Congratulations, Bella." He grinned at me, "You're the first new Slytherin of the year. I couldn't be happier that its you. We have quite the year ahead of us, dont we Slytherins?"

His question was met with quiet agreement as most of the table continued to watched the sorting. When it was over we had a feast to surmount all other feasts. And I was lead up to my new chambers with the other 5 or 6 first year Slytherin girls by a square jawed prefect. Then we exchanged named and climbed into bed. Now here I am, and once again I am forced to abandon you for sleep.

I will write again to tell you what I discover as the year unfolds.

Love,

Bella.