Oubliette

I pictured prisons with old stone bricked walls and dirt floors. Rank with feces and fear. Never did I picture moving staircases or a warden with twinkling eyes. I did expect the greasy haired guard with the sharp tongue. Although he's as much a prisoner as I am.

He called me "poppet."

I thought it was an expression of his particular brand of cruelty. Now I know better.

I was sent to him to learn. If only my puppeteer knew. Maybe he would have thought twice before he sent me.

He asked me "Why are you here?"

I answered. "They said it was for the best." He stared at me for a long time.

"I will call you poppet." Stupefaction was replaced by anger. I ran after him as I was about to touch him he hexed me.

"Oh, you're upset." A bored tone drifted towards my ears. "I can feel your anger. You want to hurt me. Good." His tone turned from bored to silk. "Remember this feeling, experience its power." It was my first lesson.

My first days were spent getting angry and reacting without thought. This behavior was hexed out of me. I thought he enjoyed inflicting pain. What am I supposed to "learn" through this?

He told me the Manor was at my disposal. When I tried to go outside I was forcibly thrown back. I demanded an explanation. He shook his head slowly and walked away.

Fuming silently I paced the castle and found the library. On the table were quills, ink, parchment and a list of books. The titles ranged from curses to magical control. It was then I realized my "instruction" didn't start until early afternoon. I threw myself into learning everything I could.

I forgot an important lesson with my first victory. He was quick to remind me. We were dueling. I discovered his pattern and I began using his hexes against him; when he faulted I countered with a Crucio. I added power to the curse until he whimpered his concession. Walking toward dinner the floor fell beneath me. I heard "Accio wand".

On day 4 of my captivity I recognized my true prison. It was ironic that it took being thrown into a real one to see it. I realized I allowed others to control me. My life, if I could call it that, was led by the Dursleys, by Hogwarts, by my own fear, and my own ignorance.

Each had its claim and I spent my life so far trying to satisfy them. Never realizing I was a puppet with many handlers. Funny, when somebody handed me a scissors I almost used it to cut his throat, preferring to stay within my own gilded prison.

When I finally saw what he was offering was the day I began to think.

My escape was graduation day because it was the day he called me Harry.