"Come closer, dear child, come into the light and let me see what I have made."

I looked up in horror at this man I was expected to call 'father'. A man who was responsible for terrorising the entire wizarding world and had cruelly tortured and killed Muggles just because of their blood.

And I couldn't understand why he looked so... inhuman. It was beyond terrifying just being in the same room as this person, let alone having to move closer to be inspected by him.

I stood frozen on the spot, hardly daring to even breathe.

"Come on, child, don't be shy," Voldemort grinned, baring a horrific set of terrifying teeth. He reached out a long fingered white hand and I couldn't help but flinch as he stepped towards me and touched my face.

"Pandora," he breathed, his face softening as his hand stroked my cheek almost lovingly.

I thought I was going to throw up.

"You didn't tell me, Severus," Voldemort continued, still staring down adoringly at me but addressing my uncle in a soft, dangerous voice, "that she looks so remarkably like her mother."

"Forgive me, master," Snape coughed, and I dared glance up to where he was standing. "But I felt it imperative that you should see for yourself."

Draco was stood to the left of him, his face a sickly white as he witnessed the father daughter union. On the other side of Draco stood his mother, looking almost tearful as she looked straight ahead - not seeming to really be focusing on anything other than trying not to cry.

Basically everyone bar Bellatrix looked horrifically uncomfortable to be in the presence of this man.

Voldemort finally dropped his hand from my cheek, much to my utter relief.

"This is wonderful, of course," Voldemort said, stepping back and turning to look at the rest of the room. "And I understand I have young Draco here to thank for finding her; my child, my heir, my blood."

Draco immediately shrank back at the mention of his name. I noticed his mother's eyes widen in alarm as she place a protective hand on his arm.

"It is most fortunate, Draco, after your abysmal attempts of ridding the world of Dumbledore. A man, who - it turns out - tried to hide my own child away from me and make her believe she was nothing but a disgusting Muggle!"

"I- I'm not a Muggle?" I asked tentatively, looking towards Snape questioningly who seemed to be purposefully avoiding my eyes.

"Ahhh... she speaks!" Voldemort said softly, his red eyes glinting down at me with a look of fascination, "a beautiful voice for a beautiful witch."

"But I can't do magic," I stated, daring to meet my father's eyes now.

He laughed, a frightening dangerous laugh that chilled me to my very bones.

"Not a witch?! Of course you are, Astrid. Have you ever even tried? I think you'll be pleasantly surprised." He paused, snapping his head to the back of the room giving his hands a quick, sharp clap. "WORMTAIL! Bring in the prisoner."

Prisoner? I glanced towards Draco - who seemed to refuse to look me in the eye. It made me feel oddly alone.

I was horrified when an old, weakened looking man came hobbling into the room shackled in chains. A rangy rat like man was pulling him along with a piece of rope, as the poor, chained man tripped and stumbled towards the centre of the large room where Voldemort and I stood.

"Ah, Ollivander, so wonderful of you to join us," Voldemort smiled, greeting him warmly like an old friend - not like someone who was cruelly chained up and looked as though he had been starved and beaten.

When Ollivander didn't respond, Voldemort gave a loud tut, drew his wand and pointed it in the old man's direction. "Where are your manners?"

I gave a loud cry as the poor old man started screaming and convulsing at our feet. The sight filled me with a stone cold terror, as though someone had just tipped a bucket of ice cold water over me.

"Help him!" I screamed, trying to kneel down towards him, but his body was jerking and shaking so much that I couldn't get near to him. I looked up desperately for aid, but nobody seemed to want to come over and help. Snape, Draco and his mother just stayed rooted to the spot, staring fixedly at a point straight ahead. Bellatrix was cackling, and my father just looked bored. I couldn't understand it.

And then just like that, Ollivander's body stilled and the screaming ceased. The old man was panting terribly though, as he curled up into a ball.

"What happened to him?" I asked desperately, frowning up at Voldemort for answers.

"Magic," he simply said, pocketing his wand. "Something I am going to teach you about as soon as this old fool remembers his manners and learns to address me properly. I'll have him make you up a wand as soon as he regains his nerve endings. In the meantime - Wormtail, give her your wand."

"M-my wand, master?" He squeaked, sounding as much of a rat as he looked.

"Now! Do not keep my daughter waiting!"

Wormtail scurried forwards at once, thrusting his wand in my hand.

I shakily stood up from where I was still crouched next to poor old Ollivander, looking down at the stick in my hand, curling my fingers curiously around it.

"Now wave it," Voldemort ordered softly, his face looking almost hungrily at the wand which was shaking in my trembled grasp.

I felt stupid, as though I had been asked to participate in a child's role play game. But Voldemort was looking at me expectantly, and I could almost feel the held breaths of the others.

So I waved it.

Crash!

Wormtail, who had happened to be standing in my vision, had gone flying across the room and smashing through the window, out into the night air.

There was a complete shift in atmosphere as Voldemort gave a hearty, delighted roar of laughter, Bellatrix squeaked and clapped her hands gleefully, and Snape, Draco and his mother all looked at me in complete horrified shock.

"My daughter, ladies and gentleman!" Voldemort cheered to the room, looking at me with a glistening pride.

My chest heaving up and down, I raised my hand holding the wand and was shocked to discover sparks flying erratically out the end of it. My heart raced and I felt a strange electric feeling prickle over the surface of my skin.

I just did magic.

I was a witch.

"Okay, down to business!" Voldemort gave an efficient double clap, twirling round to address everybody. "Narcissa, I know you will make every effort to make my daughter feel very welcome in your home. I expect you to offer her one of the best rooms, kitted out with appropriate attire," he eyed my jeans and t-shirt disdainfully, as Draco's mother gave an assuring nod.

"And Severus," He continued, turning his attention to my uncle, "we share something very precious now, and so I fully expect you to teach my daughter - your niece, the best of your magical knowledge, seeing as she was, after all, denied the right to attend Hogwarts."

Snape gave a curt nod, and I felt a small flicker of relief. I was afraid for a while that Voldemort himself was going to teach me.

"And Draco, Draco," Voldemort tutted, turning his attention on the terrified looking white-blond Slytherin, "it is to my understanding that you have formed a- ah... bond with my precious child?"

Draco's grey eyes widened fearfully as they darted towards me and then back to my father. "I care about her more than anything," I heard him whisper shakily.

My heart twisted with a mixture of love and fear. I was afraid of Draco laying his heart on the line to this dangerous man.

"Very good, very good," Voldemort nodded, his tone silky soft and dangerous, "a supporter of my daughter is a supporter of me. May it stay that way."

The implied threat was loud and clear. I hated the way this man was talking about me - especially to Draco. He was treating me like some sort of possession.

"And Bellatrix,"

My heart sank.

"Yes - oh lord, oh master - how can I serve you, your truly magnificence?" She said, bowing deeply before him.

She lifted her head, her sunken eyes looking keenly up at him, ready to please.

He surveyed her for a moment, as if in deep consideration.

"You will be my eyes and ears, watching over my daughter. If anything happens to her, then on your head be it."

Bellatrix nodded, straightening up and stepping over to me, placing an arm across my shoulders, pulling me fiercely into her side.

"I will watch her like a hawk, your highness, just like she was my very own."

I swallowed, feeling utterly terrified.

I didn't have a good feeling about any of this.