Author's Note: This story will eventually follow Books 1-6, but with a twist. Yes, the Golden Trio and company will eventually be part of this story, but not in the way that you may think. Marie is an original character of my own creation. This story will give you a different look on Purebloods and Slytherins in general. While some of them are bad, many of them are misunderstood. Purebloods, while living in an old fashioned and often archaic patriarchal system, believe in honor, duty, chivalry, and being cultured with manners, at least in this story. Lines between what they've been taught and what they believe are going to be blurred and many will question who they are and what is right. I ask that you proceed with an open mind and sit back and enjoy the ride.

(Disclaimer: I own or claim none of J.K. Rowling's work or characters, the only character that I claim is Marie.)

Wishes

Chapter 1

We are often warned to "be careful what you wish for". It is a warning unheeded and disregarded as people ignorantly wish for things that more often time than not should never happen. Most times we don't think before we act, nor do we question our actions until they are too little too late. But in times of desperation our instincts take over and the act of survival kicks in. It is these times that wishes hold the most power and meaning, the most magic.

Marie sat back under the shelter of her shaded seat. The large oak tree she leaned against was tall, with limbs that she had spent countless hours climbing in her youth. At her matured age of twenty-one, she didn't have time for such things, but she still came to sit under her refuge to think and remember.

With a sigh, pushing away thoughts of days long gone by, she looked out at the crowded yard. Laughter and conversations drowned out the music playing in the background. She grinned to herself seeing everyone together once again. The annual family picnic was today and this year it was at her parent's home. Marie watched as cousins ran around chasing one another and aunts and uncles talked animatedly. She saw her grandparents and great-relatives speaking quietly under one of the umbrella covered tables.

A shadow fell across her vision as someone stepped in front of her. Looking up she smiled into the laughing face of her older brother Nate. Grinning he held out his hand to help her up.

"Come on Midget," he chuckled, "you can't hide away all day. Besides you can't leave me out here all alone fending off the 'old buzzards' harping on me."

Giving her brother a rueful smile, she nodded her head and followed him out into the masses. As they walked towards "the old buzzards" as they had dubbed a particularly nagging group of 'aunts' as children, Marie observed her brother. He looked so much like their father, with his lean build. His wavy brown hair and laughing green eyes matched his carefree personality. He towered over her and had since he had sprouted up to six feet- two inches in his sophomore year in high school. He being three years her senior had always been over protective of her and their twin younger siblings Josh and Jane.

Scanning the crowd she found her wayward younger brother and sister in a crowd of older teens laughing and talking by the pool. Josh and Jane had been a surprise born almost five years after Marie. Both had the lean build of their father as Nate did. But their coloring was that of their mother. With their raven locks and blue-gray eyes, they had the innate ability to cause trouble where ever they went.

Laughing quietly to herself, causing Nate to raise an eyebrow in question, she shook her head and they continued their way. Marie had always thought of herself as a blend of both of her parents, with her mother's petite, yet curvy figure, as well as her raven hair, but with her father's light green eyes.

As they reached the table, Marie noticed that the sun was beginning it's decent in the sky and that the air was cooling a bit. A slight relief to the almost stifling heat that had beat upon them all day.

Conversations swam around her as she took it all in. She had been away at school for months and had only recently completed her Junior Year in college. While away she missed this, her family and home. Marie laughed loudly as she was drawn back into the conversation that her brother and her 'aunt' Millie were having about his lack of serious relationship, thus drawing the attention of the table to herself. Mentally cursing herself she saw her brother snickering at her unfortunate mistake.

Half listening to what was being said to her Marie began getting restless. It was nothing new. She would often get restless when things were about to happen. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up just as the sun kissed the horizon and an unsettling wind picked up. A hush ran over the party goers as faint popping noises could be heard. Loud cracks began sounding in the distance and screams of terror broke out in the falling dusk. Flashes of unnatural light were flashing as unfamiliar words were being yelled. Nate glanced towards they people suddenly panicking, his family realizing that something was amiss.

"Take cover and make your way to the club house," he instructed realizing that they were alone at the table, the other occupants having fled into the growing dark. "I'm going to look for the others, but stay safe." He urged as he pushed Marie towards the wooded path by their house.

Marie fought the sudden panic bubbling within herself and ran toward her family to help, not knowing what enemy she would be facing. Feral growling broke out behind her and she was thrown to the ground by and unknown foe.

"What do we have here?" rumbled a raspy, almost inhumane voice.

Turning to face her captor, meeting amber flashing eyes and an animalistic grin, she knew that she was in trouble. Her heart stopped as this beast out of a horror movie dragged her by her throat towards the millet. She was dragged around the ragged bodies of her fallen family and friends, slaughtered within minutes.

Forced to kneel with the rest of her family, she could hear the screams of unseen, but familiar voices in the dark. Tears burned her eyes and she prayed for help, for a miracle. Not understanding that this was really happening until she was shocked out of her stupor as she was struck across her face by a man dressed in a terrifying mask. He stepped closer and she could feel his breath on her face as he gripped her chin, bruising the delicate ivory skin.

Her father and brothers struggled against their captors and harsh laughter broke out with in the circle that had now formed around them. Silence wrung out in the night, muffled whimpers and screams were followed be harsh words or cruel laughter. They were going to be the only ones left, surrounded by these terrifying beings that seemed to have come straight out of nightmares. An eerie green blazing symbol burned in the night sky over her house. The ominous symbol was not familiar to them, but Marie felt revolted, angered, and terrified by it. Her eyes flashed and hardened as she took in all that had happened. Within a half an hour her family was wiped out, save her immediate family.

Her pulse was pounding in her veins as it ran like molten lava. Her anger built as they began taunting them. The man who had found her dragged her away from her family as they began torturing them. Taunting her, telling her that it was her fault, the masked men relished in their pain. Tears burned in her eyes as she watched her father fall after trying to save his wife and children. Her mother writhed in agony after a flash of light sped towards her. Her brothers fought, but they too fell still and so she, her mother and her sister were left.

Her captor leered at her and she realized their intent she fought with everything that she had as she watched them as they advanced on her mother and sister. Make it stop, please make it stop! I wish that I could go back and change it; to make a difference. Marie closed her eyes as the fury within her built; a blinding light began to build as the masked men stepped away from her. The now familiar popping and cracking sounds were once more ringing out in the night. She opened her eyes and looked down at her hands seeing bright blue-white light burning from her palms and expanding. She felt a tugging on her navel as an unfamiliar force seemed to be pulling her within herself. Her captor by then had released her and fled.

"NO!" an angry male voice bellowed as he lunged at her and vanished with her into nothing.

Marie was falling, but she wasn't alone, one of the men had somehow gone with her. Swirling lights and voice were all around her. She was speeding towards something, but she couldn't make it out. Laughter ran out and cheerful voices as well, hope bubbled within herself, thinking that she was waking from a nightmare, Marie struggled towards the sound.

WHOOSH!

She landed hard on a stone floor and there was a hush around her. Something impacted on her heavily and began choking her.

"Filthy Mudblood! It's your fault, your doing. You will pay and my master will reward me!" the harsh voice of her attacker rang out.

Shouts sounded out, echoing in what she gathered was a hall of sorts. Filled with four tables of children began rising to their feet. The adults rushed towards them, when suddenly her anger bubbled again and her attacker was thrown from her by and unforeseen force. The light from her hands threw the man back ten feet and he landed on his back. He rushed her and knocked her to the ground and the struggle ensued. Marie fought physically with everything that she had until he began strangling her again and her vision began to gray. He was once again thrown from her as she threw her hands at him.

She stood shakily and sneered and the man. When he went to stand she threw her hands in a violent flick towards him as he slammed into the ground once more. Looking down at her hands in shock, dawning realization filtered through the fog.

"You can stay where you are for now." She spoke quietly but firmly. Marching over towards the fallen man she scowled down at him as tears poured down her face.

"Why?!" she shouted. "Why did you show up? Why did you kill them? Answer me, asshole, Why?" she roared.

Wiping furiously at the tears streaming down her flushed cheeks, she hardened her gaze. "What were you saying to them when they were screaming?"

Noticing that the man stared back defiantly, she kicked him hard in the ribs. He doubled over clutching his side. Someone went to pull her away but she waved them off and they were gently pushed aside by the power she suddenly discovered.

"Not so tough now are you? Your master you say? You're nothing but a lackey, a servant, a lapdog if you will." She taunted, watching the man tense and clench his jaw.

"Still have nothing to say? Well I have something to say to you," she was cut off by a sudden movement and what appeared to be a wooded stick pointed between her eyes.

Her body tense but she opened her hand and willed this seemingly dangerous tool to go to her. In a flash she found the stick in her possession and he howled in rage. Grinding it in her hand she envisioned it turning to sawdust closing her eyes and she felt the gritty texture falling through her fingertips and being blown away into nothing.

Silence rang out in the Hall as the student of Hogwarts witnessed a young girl, appearing no older than fourteen, and the obvious Death Eater appear out of nowhere, seemingly falling from the enchanted ceiling. They watched as this unarmed girl faced a Full grown Death Eater and bring him to his knees with her raw power and magic. The undertones of their very public conversation left little doubt that she was the victim of one of their latest attacks. Many feared for her, but soon many feared her. Her untamed and untrained magic was powerful and dangerous. They watched in shock as the Death Eater's wand slowly disappeared from her hand, like grains of sand falling through an hourglass, into nothing.

"Let's test a little theory, shall we," she began unsteadily, "Stand up," she commanded, and the man did so, but appeared to be battling with himself to fight her. "Sit!' she shouted, as she watched his legs give out and he landed on his bottom hard on the stone floor. There were some snorts of amusement in the hall, other watched in fear, some in pity. The varying reactions of those around her could be felt.

The doors of the Hall burst open and Marie whirled in a defensive move that caused many present to blink. Official looking men rushed forward but she held her hand up and them met and unseen force holding them back.

"Child," as soft voice rang out.

Marie turned and met the softly twinkling eyes of a man with long white hair and an even longer white beard. She studied him quietly as he stepped forward to meet her protective barrier. With a sigh the barrier lifted and she looked around her. She was met by eyes holding varying emotions and looks regarding her. The man placed a hand on her shoulder and she winced as he touched a particularly tended bruise that had undoubtedly formed. The officials stepped towards the girl taking in her appearance and that of the Death Eater and immediately began speaking in hushed tones to one another and to the man they called Dumbledore.

Marie swayed on her feet, her exhaustion finally catching up to her. Strong arms caught her before she hit the ground. She looked up into the deep brown eyes of a boy in dark robes with a green and silver crest, as a scuffle broke out shortly after. He swung her up into his arms as the darkness took her. She could hear muffled voices calling out in accents.

"Let her go snake, your kind have done enough already!-"

"Stupid Gryff, you know nothing!-"

"I cannot allow you to take the girl, I am quite adamant, as a student of this school and my ward, I simply will not allow it!"

"See here Albus, that girl needs to-"

The voices were drowned out by quiet murmuring close by. The voices blended together, lulling her. In the arms of the brown eyed boy, she felt safe and allowed herself to drift off into the dark, knowing that even if for a moment it was all right.