Gypsy

Chapter Twenty Seven

Creature 1403. I had been labelled before, names such as Mudblood and Gypsy filth, such names stung but they were not something I considered identifying. Creature 1403. It might as well have been stamped onto my body, instead of that disgusting brand. I was slightly curious if the number referred to the number of so called 'creatures' that they had labelled before, or if it was randomly picked. Somehow I knew it was the former, which meant that there were 1402 innocent humanoid-like people such as myself who had been forced into this category. That makes 1402 reasons to kill Riddle, and 1402 people who would help me achieve this goal.

I had underestimated the changes that Riddle would be able to make in the world. After we had returned from the Ministry, I had promptly ignored both my evil overlords and made a point to subtly find out all I could about this current world. It had been three days since the branding, and I had been granted free reign over the Manor, but only the Manor. I could see the forests that surrounded the property through the windows, and knew all I needed was a split second of complacency from the staff and my captors and I could be free and hidden within their dark alcoves. But so far I was given no such chances, so I waited, and took the time to understand my new world.

As far as I could understand, from speaking to the branded staff and researching books in the opulent Malfoy Manor Library, Riddle had risen to power in the last four years. I had discovered a book in the library, written by some sycophant no doubt, which told me in great and obsessive detail how the 'Great Lord Voldemort' had captured the hearts of half-bloods and pure-bloods alike. He had started small, which I was surprised at, by attaining a middle level job at the Ministry after completing Hogwarts with a perfect score. From there he slowly climbed the ranks of bureaucratic hell, until he was a underling to the previous Minister of Magic. All the while he was edging himself forward he was gaining a reputation as powerful wizard, so powerful that he was sent a request to 'help' with the Grindlewald situation in Europe. There are varying accounts on the battle that took place in Nurmengard, all that could be agreed upon was that Riddle won that fight and returned victorious with the Elder Wand. After that it was a simple progression to get elected as Minister of Magic, and from there he started his reforms. There was little objection at first to the slight changes, he had declared that all Muggle-born children were to be taken from their Muggle families once they were identified and placed with Magical families. It seemed that most people agreed that this was a prudent and necessary step forward, to protect magic from the Muggle families who might take advantage of such power. Stupid. He then pushed forward a law that required the identification of such Muggle-born children, something that made them easily identifiable. So began the branding. Once that became the norm, people forgot that they should even consider branding people a gross violation of their rights, he moved on to magical 'creatures' next. Many of them were already required to register their existence with the Ministry before Riddle was even Minster of Magic, so it was a simple thing for him to implement a classification for such humanoids. Which is why I am now Creature 1403. As far as I could tell he had managed to classify the giants, Veelas and a few herds of Centaurs, I assumed I was the only Nymph.

Once I had gained all the information I could from the Library, I began paying attention to the staff. It seemed that most of them were Muggle-born witches and wizards. I had spotted a Veela yesterday however, she was exactly what I would have expected, tall and beautiful with deep red hair and a air of superiority about her. The only reason I really noticed her however, was the brand on her neck, a vicious looking 'V' graced her throat. When she saw me her entire demeanour changed, instead of looking past me, like she did the Muggle-born staff, she froze for a moment and stared. She shook herself from the stupor when heavy footsteps came down the hallway and Malfoy appeared, he took one look at me and her and a stricken look cast over his face. I immediately knew that this Veela was a 'personal friend' of his. Instead of feeling anger, I felt pity for her. Veela had become nothing more than play-things for Purebloods, I could relate. She had hurried away before I could speak to her, but I knew instinctively she would seek me out. And I was right, I had been sitting in the Library again after a fun day of refusing to speak to Malfoy, when she suddenly appeared in the chair across from me.