Year Two: The Chamber of Secrets

September first is back again and Marie is ready for her second year. Secrets continue to pile up, the homework gets harder and she's finally able to play a real game of Quidditch. But there's hissing within the dungeon walls, whispering to her...

Chapter One- Secrets Spill

It was a warm, sunny day on July thirty-first. Marie was out in the yard, laying down in the grass in order to soak up a sun spot. The wind blew softly, straining to lift her thick black curly hair and she wrinkled her nose in slight discomfort. If she didn't move then she wasn't uncomfortable in the heat, content with soaking up the warmth. It was better to be outside than in. She had completed all of her homework and finished her reading quota for the week, now the rest of the day was hers to enjoy.

Not to mention that Captain Tess was visiting which was equivalent to a girl trip to Diagon Alley. She smiled softly as her shocking green eyes closed. She loved it when the captain came to see them. She meant the world to Remus and herself, and they never seemed to see her as often as they would like due to school, work and her own job. She was a high ranking official in the Ministry of Magic and she dealt with directing the Aurors and deciding methods of attacks during the times of war. The Head of Defense to be exact. So, her school nickname of being the "captain" stuck with her even to work. Thankfully, those times have cooled down since Marie has been alive.

Voices escalated from inside the small house and she sighed. Tess and Remus were arguing about something, or in the captain's words "discussing vehemently". Which was just another way of saying arguing or debating. They were a close match and the outcome could be a surprise, but it all just depended on the topic.

Marie sighed again and rolled onto her stomach, resting her chin on her arms. Summer was wonderful and all, but she wished that the school year would hurry up and arrive. September first seemed all too far away. She missed her best girl friends Millicent Bulstrode, more commonly known as Millie, and Pansy Parkinson, a snooty girl with an attitude to boot. Even the arrogant, but somewhat decent, Draco Malfoy she seemed to miss. Draco's entourage was starting to grow on her too. Vincent Crabbe, Gregory Goyle and Blaise Zabini, all Slytherins in her year. She especially missed Quidditch practiced with Marcus Flint, Montague, Bole, Derrick, Higgs, Pucey, and Bletchly. This year she would be able to play a game if they needed her.

What was common knowledge at school was a dead locked secret at home. Her guardian and caretaker, Remus Lupin, had no idea that she was in Slytherin. According to him, she was in Gryffindor and that's how she planned to keep it for as long as she could. She saw no need to burden him with her true House when he was so proud of Gryffindor. Though it was starting to take a toll. She hated to have to watch her every word or school story.

There was the swing of the screen door and the captain called out.

"Marie! Are you ready to go?" She smiled and got to her feet, rushing to meet her. Barreling past her she raised her voice as she dashed through the hall.

"Just need to grab my bag!" It only took a moment for her to pull her miniature backpack from under her bed and to snag her cloak from its hook by the door. Tess smiled and pulled a few strands of grass from her wild black hair.

"Gosh, your hair is still such a character," she laughed. "That's why I love it." Marie smiled as she ruffled her hair and steered her out the door.

"Be sure to bring her back, Tess!" instructed Remus from the doorway. The woman looked over her shoulder and stuck out her tongue.

"I'll bring her back when I'm good and ready!" Remus only laughed before Apparating off to work. Tess gave a short bark of a laugh in victory.

"Now that he's out of the picture, let's go eat! I'm starving!" She gave her a once over and grumbled, "And you're so skinny. Merlin's beard I'm going to have to fatten you up!" Marie giggled as she took her hand and they vanished with a sharp 'crack!'.

Diagon Alley was bustling with life as usual, the streets overfilling with shops and cart vendors. People's voices resounded until they were almost deafening many of them smiling and talking to others they were hardly familiar with. Tess insisted that Marie chose where to eat since it was her birthday after all, and it was the one day a year that a person could do whatever he or she wanted (legally, of course. She was still underaged).

Catti's Cooking Cauldron is where she designated their meal and they stole the last available outside table. Tess had commented on how being crammed inside was too stuffy and everyone and their mother could hear your conversation. "Perfect place if you're a snoopy ol' hag," she had said. "Which will be me when I'm older, so no comments."

"So, enlighten me," she said, crossing one leg over the other. She didn't wear dresses like most witches did, she stuck to slacks, dress vests and professional blouses. So much easier to move in, in her opinion.

Her blue eyes were sparking with interest. Marie gave her a funny look as she reached for a pretzel wand that was apart of the appetizer basket. She sighed dramatically, letting her head loll back.

"About your first year! I want to hear all about it! Remus is such a bore with details, you know. Absolutely dreadful." She placed her chin on her hand and waited.

Marie swallowed uncomfortably. Should she tell the captain about her House? She longed to tell someone and maybe Tess would accept it. She wasn't the type of person to be prejudiced, but Slytherin was always such a touchy subject.

"Well-" Before she could even start, a voice called her name. Or her last name rather.

"Rogue!"

Draco Malfoy, in all of his Slytherin glory, ran up to her table to gain her attention. Tess raised an eyebrow in humor as he talked rapidly to Marie, trying to convey his excitement for something. The girl smiled and nodded in response, and just when he was going to start speaking again he was coolly interrupted.

"Draco." All eyes rose up to see Lucius Malfoy standing over them, elaborate walking cane in hand. "You know better than to interrupt someone while they're talking, and then to not introduce yourself," he chided. The blonde boy stood up straight and faced Tess, whose eyebrow remained raised.

"My apologies, ma'am. I am Draco Malfoy." He held out his hand which Tess shook, smiling.

"Charmed. I'm Tess Andrews and it's very nice to meet you, Draco," said Tess. She got to her feet in order to properly shake Lucius' gloved hand. "Very nice to see you again, Lucius."

"Likewise."

"Excuse me," spoke up Draco. "May I borrow Marie for a few minutes?" Tess laughed as she sat back down in her chair.

"Feel free. I'll be here, eating by my lonely self," she teased, twirling a pretzel like a baton. Marie laughed as Draco grabbed her hand and tore down the street. Stopping a few shops down at the Quidditch store, to point at whatever was in the display case.

"Have a seat," offered the captain. When Lucius looked slightly disgusted at the common chair, she laughed again and waved a pretzel wand.

"Come on, you know you want to try a wand." She gave a victory grin as he reluctantly sat. The moment his son returned he would be gone. Until then, he chose a pretzel wand.

"That's the racing broom my father's going to buy me," bragged Draco. "Now that I'm a second year I can finally join the House team." Marie looked at the elegant racing broom in the Quidditch shop display case, squinting to see past the sun light's glare. It was really a work of art. Very sleek, excellent craftsmanship and perfect for flying in any weather condition. The Nimbus Two Thousand and One. Her eyes traveled down until they reached the price tag. She gasped and pulled back.

"Oh, Draco, it's terribly expensive!" she told him, almost horrified by the number. To ask for that many Galleons was absolutely ridiculous, in her opinion. He quirked a fair eyebrow in question, confused by her panic.

"Nothing is ever too expensive for a Malfoy," he explained. That much was common knowledge to him. His family has never had to think twice about the prices or their influxes while they shopped. Nothing was too good for them.

"Well, I don't think they'll profit much outside of professional Quidditch players," she commented. "Not until they lower the price anyway." Draco simply shrugged and took her hand, walking away from the shop.

"Whatever you say, Rogue." Her lips pursed in question as she looked down at her hand that he was holding. He did that a lot when they were at school too, she remembered. It wasn't that she minded, it was just different. She had half a mind to ask him why, but he had led her back to the captain and Mr. Malfoy.

"And so they return," said Tess as Mr. Malfoy was already on his feet.

"We must be on our way, Draco," instructed Lucius. Draco nodded and bid the two ladies adieu, polite as ever and he soon left with his father.

"Well, that was interesting," smirked Tess. Twirling her dainty spoon in her cup of tea she had ordered, she noticed Marie looking back at the boy.

"He was showing me the new Nimbus Two Thousand and One. Apparently, his dad's going to buy him one or something," she said. The waitress came by and took their order, then left them alone again. Marie bit her lip, mentally debating with herself. Should she tell the captain or shouldn't she?

Tess furrowed her brow and leaned forward in her seat. "What's eatin' you, kid? You're never this quiet when we go out to eat." Her green eyes darted and she swallowed with difficulty.

"Can you keep a...secret, Tess?" she asked softly. The witch flicked her wand, casting a muffle charm around their table.

"Do you want to tell me here or should we take our food to go? We can talk for however long you want to at my place," she said, voice concerned. Marie nodded.

"If you don't mind, captain." It took half of a second for the Head of Defense to signal the waitress over and have their food contained and ready to go. The younger girl held her hand as they disappeared again. She could tell Tess anything, couldn't she?

REVIEW! It's kind of short, but I wanted to get it out before I left for today, so I hope you enjoy it!