Mend My Shattered Soul

Rating: PG-13

Summery: Companion piece to Shadows-A brief insight to Ron's instructor. Gives hints and subtle spoilers if you can catch them!

Disclaimer: Anything that you recognize, I don't own.

A/N For some reason I just got intrigued with Mark and wanted to expand his character…let me know if you like him or not, because if feedback is positive I'll probably be working him into Shadows more, and perhaps continuing this.

"It's done," the man who was really no more than a boy stated solemnly.

"I am sorry," was the much elder man's response. The boy of nineteen meet the eyes of that whom he was speaking to. The old man didn't need to further in his apologies, or even explain them; he knew what was implied with the said regret.

"You have no reason to be Professor."

"Mark," Albus Dumbledore said in a rarely heard strained voice, "you do not have to pretend like it does not affect you." When he made no attempt to respond Dumbledore gestured to the available chairs in his office, "please do sit Mark."

With hidden irritation Mark complied to his mentors request; he didn't want to sit and have a heart-to-heart, he wanted to go somewhere and get wasted out of his mind…that sounded much more appealing. "I'm fine," he thickly emphasized, "I am not some child that you have to protect and give therapeutic remedies to all their problems. I will handle it on my own."

Dumbledore sighed heavily as he sat in his desk habitually cleaning his glasses. "You always have."

Mark projected an undeserved glare in his former headmaster's general direction before hurriedly quitting the room. If Dumbledore wanted to preach a sermon he could bloody well do it without him in attendance.

Within ten minutes Mark had made his way off of Hogwarts grounds and found the solace that he had been seeking in Dumbledore's office. He sat slumped over the bar and felt utterly miserable for once in his life. He used to always be in a good humor, now it was becoming a rare occurrence to find the ability to give off a natural smile.

Out of a newly developed habit Mark's eyes surveyed the room with an ever-present suspicion. He looked around the room and noticed a larger party sitting towards the back engaging in carefree drinking games. He saw two large men attempting to out drink each other and watched with something close to amusement as their friends loudly cheered on their pledged support.

Finally satisfied with his view of the main sections of the room Mark took notice of the fact that the bars on both sides of him were empty. It was a cynically pathetic picture come to think of it; he had no friends. He was a goddamn spy. A status that he bitterly recalled giving up all those who he cared about, and in return, cared for him as well.

They didn't care anymore…at least they didn't know to. He was dead. Dead to his former friends, dead to society. Hell, he was beginning to become dead to himself; if such a thing were possible.

Exactly one person knew who he was and that he was, in fact, still in perfect health. Well, physical health anyway; he wasn't sure if he could claim as such for his current mental health.

He had been so sure that it would be this cool thing. It was every fantasy that he had as a child come true. Except, it wasn't. It wasn't this huge adventure that you bragged about it anyone within hearing range, it wasn't a dream come to life. It just…was.

In the short time that he had held this job it had quickly overtaken Mark's life. He had became the job, or the job had became him…he wasn't quite sure anymore. All he knew was that there was literally no separation between him and his chosen career path. He wasn't quite sure how he felt about that given fact as of yet.

Hearing a slight noise beside him Mark immediately turned his head to check out the situation. The situation turned out to be a girl. A very attractive girl who just happened to now be sitting beside him.

This very alluring female however, did not notice him in the least. She looked (if it were possible) more depressed than he. A people-watcher by nature Mark discreetly stared at the girl, scenarios running through his mind of what would have led her to end her night sitting alone at a bar looking so sad.

She turned her head slightly and her deep blue eyes widened as she saw him for the first time. She mistook his wonderings as irritation and quickly muttered, "sorry to impose or whatever."

She stood to leave and Mark found himself calling, "wait." It was said in a soft gentle tone but somehow was still easily perceived as command, rather than a request from a stranger.

"Look," she said in a cold tone, "just because I'm a female alone in a bar that does not mean that you are going to come anywhere near to getting laid tonight. You better hope that you're hand doesn't have other plans because that is as close as you're going to get to being fucked."

To the surprise of both participants in the conversation Mark began to laugh. Her defensive nature and harsh words somehow struck him as extremely humorous. With each bellow of laughter Mark could see her eyes narrowing a little more in rage.

"Asshole," she spat as she raised her hand to slap him; that should stop his incessant laughter.

However, before she could do anything Mark's reflexes kicked in and he instinctively caught her wrist in midair. "Sit," he said while sobering up, "I swear that I'm not some perverted rapist. I just want to buy you a drink."

He wasn't normally the type to 'buy a girl a drink' but he'd had a fucked up week, she had feministic spunk, and he would really like to hear someone else's sob tale…it would be a refreshing break from his own.

She bit her lip in contemplation as Mark waited patiently for her to accept his offer. Finally against her common sense she sat back on the stool, "whiskey, any kind."

Mark let out a low whistle, "whiskey?" He questioned mildly impressed, "I've never known a girl to go for hard liquor, well at least not straight for it anyway."

"Are you going to get the drink or not," she said in a tone that clearly showed her lack of amusement towards his speculations.

Mark shrugged and signaled the bar tender over, it wasn't his problem if she wanted to get trashed. As he thought about it, that was his whole reason for coming here too. He shrugged and handed the lady her drink; misery loves company.

"So, what's driving you to alcoholism?" Mark asked bluntly.

"None of your business," she retorted coldly.

"Ah," he said in a wise tone, "guy problems I see. Did he cheat on you and break your poor little heart?"

"Hardly," she snorted. "You know what, I wish that were my problem, it would make things a hell of a lot simpler."

Now that sparked his interest, it wasn't a guy, it was something else, something worse. Never one to take the hint to let a subject die he pursued, "well now, what could be more depressing than 'boy troubles?' How about…one of your friends stole your favorite lipstick?"

She slammed her now empty glass down on the counter in aggravation. "No," she hissed, "you cannot even begin to comprehend my problems so I suggest you just leave it alone." Mark shrugged and ordered another round for them, he wasn't very well going to let her get drunk alone, that would just be bad manners.

As she started on her second drink of the night she gave her companion a coy look, two could play the game that he was starting. "Well, I know why I'm here, but the question remains, why are you here?"

"I thought you'd already established that," he said with a smile, "to get laid. Although, according to you I should just go home, because apparently my hand is my best shot."

She started to smile, but quickly caught herself. She would not be amused by any of his lame attempts to get with her. "That's what you were hoping for," she said with her usually present wit, "but I don't think that is the reason why you came. So, let me see, why would a guy like you come to a bar, and sit alone rather than with company such as in the corner." She turned an entertained eye to the group of rowdy men who were still very much engaged in their drinking game.

She clicked her tongue and gave the appearance of being in deep thought. "I'm going to say that you did something horribly stupid to your girlfriend and she kicked you out."

"And why," Mark said, "do you presume that I did something horribly stupid? Perhaps, she cheated on me and I'm here wallowing in a mixture of self-pity, memories, and alcohol."

"Well that's simple," she replied smoothly, "girls may cheat, but we don't get caught."

He smiled, enjoying their banter, "how silly of me to forget such a thing. I suppose that I should just bow out now as your superior female mind is no match for my pathetically low male existence."

She laughed lightly as their conversation was turning in a direction away from her problems. "You're strange, you know that?"

"Well, I do hope that you're intentions for staying weren't to get laid yourself because comments like that will get you nowhere."

She shook her head and took another drink, "don't worry yourself, if I wanted to get some I rest in the assurance that I would have no problem in that area."

"Cocky aren't you," he said in amusement.

"Comes with the territory," she said with a shrug.

"So," Mark said slowly, "do you have a name, or would you prefer for me to address you as 'arrogant depressed female'?"

Her smile disappeared and she stumbled out of her seat, "I have to go…thanks for the drink."

"No name huh?"

"I don't believe in given bar specifics. Call me whatever you want to, not like it matters to me. Later." She turned and left and he did nothing to stop her. She was interesting, but not worth the effort that it required to think of reasons to get her to stay.

With a sigh he turned back to nurse his own drink; he would have to find another way to amuse himself now.

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A/N If people like this I may continue Mark's past as a short side story…about five chapters or so. If not then let me know and I'll just leave it alone. But it if you did read the story, clues are there, do what you want with them. And if you read the latest chapter of Shadows then some things should start coming together for you. Review please!!!!