Fly, little ballerina

2. Hogwarts

A/N: please ignore 'Tom Marvolo Riddle' in the other mission report – it's meant to say 'Thomas Slytherin'. BTW, the character portraying Mila in 'character introductions' is just inspiration for those who struggle to visualise people - feel free not to use them.

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Wednesday 30th August 1995 – 6 days later: Moscow, Russia

Mila had woken up especially early, wracked with nerves at the upcoming mission. This was her first year long mission in a long time and she was confused as to why she was being allowed to leave for so long.

She sat on her bed for couple minutes, deciding to look at the digital clock mounted on her bedside table next to her bed, only to realise it was 4 a.m.. Great, just great. Mila spent a couple minutes lying down, trying to see whether she could fall back to sleep until it became obvious she wasn't going to get anymore shut eye.

Trudging into the room she called a 'bathroom', she looked into the mirror on the wall. I look disgusting, she thought to herself. She stood still for a couple minutes, not knowing what to do as it sunk in; it was her last day here for a long time. Although she was desperate to leave this place and experience something new, she didn't want to go to school. She didn't want to have to make friends, do homework and study for tests and exams, especially while spying on people and making escape plans. It was just tiring. All these thoughts clouded her mind, only stressing her more.

Mila turned back to face her decrepit bed and spotted her ballet things on a chair besides her bed, practically waiting for her to grab. She smiled softly, changing into her red leotard and a pair of tracksuits to cover the tights and leg warmers on her legs. She made her way out, but not before grabbing her red point shoes and slipping on some basic black trainers.

It was a quick walk to the ballet studio. Her rapid thoughts distracting her from the slight pain between her legs from a recent mandatory disciplinary action. Dreykov had had her assigned to 'mandatory disciplinary action' to ensure she understood the extent of the pain she would receive, should she ever betray the red room like her sisters. Swiftly, Mila readied herself, turned on the music and started the familiar dance routine she had practiced since she was little.

As she danced, she incorporated many difficult moves her teacher, Madame B., had made sure she learnt. Both the pain in her toes and the blood slowly seeping into the point shoes were unnoticeable.

After what felt like minutes to Mila, the lights in the hallway had turned up, notifying her that it was 7 a.m., the time at which all lower level spies and agents were awoken. Deciding 3 hours of dance was enough, she gathered her things and made her way back to her bedroom. Only, as she arrived at her room she noticed one of her handlers standing in front of her door. "Генерал хочет видеть вас. В вашей миссии произошли некоторые изменения. Я доложу через 10 минут, будьте готовы".

["The general wants to see you. There have been some changes to your mission. I shall report back in 10 minutes, be ready."]

Wondering what was so urgent, she quickly threw a hoodie over her simple outfit and made her way to her handler, who then led her to Dreykov. She hoped the discussion would be short but knowing Dreykov, this was likely important and thus not going to be short.

He didn't stand as she entered his office, not even a glance. So, Mila just stood in front of his desk feeling like a fish out of water. He grunted as he looked up at her, as though contemplating whether to tell her something. "Произошло изменение миссии. Вы будете использовать не новое имя, Мила Романов, а свое настоящее - Мила Поттер." He started in Russian.