Disclaimer: The only thing that truly belongs to me are the things concerning one Mina Machino. All other character belong to J.K. Rowling.
This is the first of several Chapters, I hope. Please comment and review. Thank you.
What rotten luck. I was born into one of the families that served Voldemort, but I saw what he really was. I had been forced into his service when I was little, but now my bonds were almost all gone. I have always tried to find ways to get out of his grasp, as I was doing at this moment. The driver had just initiated the fly gear of the car he was using to take me away. Under the cover of night, I was leaving the place I had called home my whole life. I was being taken from my home in the Muggle world to my god-father's house in the Wizarding world. I sighed and the driver glanced at me, again, and I just shook my head as I looked out the window, thinking about the last few days.
"Miss Machino?" the wizard at the door asked as I opened it. I knew he was a Death Eater from first glance, but I was still slightly impressed by his courtesy for a moment.
"Can I help you?" I asked him.
"The Dark Lord has ordered that you be taken to live with your god-father." he answered.
"Who is he?" I asked, curious. My parents had talked about my god-father, but they never actually mentioned his name. Of course, if Voldemort wanted me to live with him he must be 'trustworthy'.
"That is information that you will not obtain until your arrival."
"Very well, guess I don't have much choice..."
"The Dark Lord has ordered it."
"Yeah, whatever. My parents wanted me to go anyways." I said, with the courtesy they would give a Muggle-born. He nodded and disappeared, although I knew he'd be back. I knew too much for them to let me live on my own, especially not since it was common knowledge that I would betray Voldemort in a heartbeat if not for the ransom he had against me. They would give me just long enough to clean up the house before dragging me away to somewhere new.
Now, three days after that meeting, I was heading to the house of my god-father. With any luck, he'd be expecting me. I doubted it though. Instead of worrying about it though, I turned my thoughts to wondering who he was. Obviously, if the Dark Lord approved, he must be a Death Eater, and quite possibly one of the inner circle.
"Machino, we're here." the driver said, roughly. I sighed and grabbed the small bag that contained all of my belongings. As I got out, I looked around. The driver led me to the door of the very last house on the road. I also noticed that, despite my earlier thinking, we were actually in another Muggle town. There was a light on, perhaps in the sitting room, it seems he was expecting them after all. "Hopefully my godfather won't send me back to that gods awful girls' school." I thought as the driver knocked on the door. A man with a hooked nose and black, gelled hair answered.
"Yes?" he asked, his voice cold and dry.
"The Machino girl, your goddaughter, as ordered by the Dark Lord." the driver replied. My godfather looked at me, and appeared somewhat disappointed. I sighed, I was actually slightly disappointed myself, although I didn't recognize the man. Not too surprising though, my parents rarely had anyone other the Malfoy's at the house.
"Very well." my godfather said, stepping aside so I could walk in. I stepped around him and walked right into a small sitting room. The two men stayed at the door, discussing things I wasn't supposed to know, and I looked at the books lining the walls. I was going through, reading the titles, when my godfather turned to me. "And what exactly are you looking at?" he asked, his voice making the hair on the back of my neck stand up.
"A fine collections of Potions books presently, but before it was a sad few Charms books." I answered, turning to look at him. A look of surprise crossed his face, but he quickly schooled his expression.
"Yes, anyways," he said, handing me an envelope, "you will, from now on, be attending Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardy." I looked at him with an eyebrow raised, not moving to accept the envelope. "The Dark Lord seems to think you are untrustworthy and that I need to keep an eye on you."
"Of course, because people still doubt Potter when he says Voldemort's back and he wouldn't want me ruining his secrecy." I said, rolling my eyes.
"Show me your arm." I held out my left arm and he looked at the mark that had been tattooed on it. "Why do you speak so disrespectfully of the Dark Lord if he has allowed you into his service?" His eyes seemed to pierce through me as he asked this question. Horrible memories started to come alive and I quickly closed my mind as I met my godfather's gaze.
"Because he is a power hungry, murderous tyrant, and he's going to destroy everyone and everything if he's not stopped." I answered cooly, deciding that if he could get into my mind, then honesty was definitely the best policy. I barely caught the surprise in his eye, it was mixed with something else that I couldn't recognized, before he schooled himself.
"Don't let anyone else hear you talk like that." he replied, motioning for me to follow him. We walked up a hidden staircase behind the bookshelf and he showed me to a room. "This is where you will stay during your breaks. I trust you can take care of yourself?"
"Of course, I'm not a child."
"Very well." he put the envelope that I had not taken into my hand and walked off. I went into my new room and sat down on a chair. It was small, and looked like it hadn't been used in years, but I didn't care. I pulled out my wand and, with a few flicks of the wrist, had the room cleared of dust and cobwebs. I also made the bed after removing some sheets, pillows, and a blanket from my bag before I laid down on it. It had been a long day, and I was tired.
The next morning, after getting dressed, I went downstairs and found the kitchen. I made breakfast for myself and my godfather and was setting the small dining room table when he walked in. He was surprised, again, and suspicious.
"Good morning." I said, not sounding quite as cheerful as I had hoped.
"Morning." he replied, suspicion giving his voice an edge.
"I made breakfast, without touching my stash of poisons, and I couldn't hardly touch yours considering I don't know where they are." I had made eggs, toast, and bacon and sat down to dish out my own first once it became evident he wasn't going to. After watching me for a few moments he decided to sit down and join me. After we finished eating, he watched as I cleared the table and washed everything without using any magic. I went back to my room when I had finished and sat, reading a book until I heard a knock at the front door. I crept out of my room and down the stairs to the hidden door. I listened as my godfather greeted someone and invited them in.
"Morning sir, this is a surprise." my godfather said.
"Yes, I suppose I might've sent a warning." the stranger replied.
"You came to ask about her?" the voices were moving closer as they moved further into the sitting room and sat down.
"Yes, indeed. Will you be taking her to get her books?"
"Most likely."
"And she is well?"
"She...made breakfast." my godfather told the other man, uncertainty in his voice.
"Very odd indeed." the other replied, laughter in his voice. He continued, though, in a serious tone. "Severus, is she...?
"Yes, but she's not thrilled about it."
"I see..." the other man seemed lost in thought for a moment before he spoke again. "Does she know anyone?"
"Would you like to speak with her?" there was a pause, much like a hesitation, as my godfather's question caught the other man off guard.
"I suppose."
"You can come out into the open, girl." I jumped at the command, having just decided to turn tail and run back up the stairs. I opened the door and stepped into the sitting room.
"Yes, sir?" I asked, slightly frightened.
"Professor Dumbledore, this is my ward, Mina Machino. Mina, the Headmaster has some questions for you." I nodded and looked at Dumbledore. I couldn't believe I was talking to the Headmaster already, but then, most Wizarding schools don't have transfer students. Dumbledore smiled and gestured for me to have a seat, which I did.
"Miss Machino, do you know many other wizards?" he asked, his voice kind.
"Yes, sir. I have known the Malfoys my whole life, and Bellatrix." I glanced at my godfather through the corner of my eye. How much was he going to let me say? After all, Dumbledore is supposed to be the enemy and Severus was one of Voldemort's most trusted.
"I see, and how old are you?"
"Fifteen, sir."
"And, what would you say your strengths are?"
"I'm decent on a broom and have a knack for potions. I can whip up a poison or antidote better that most people. I have a tendency to read Potions books for fun, and have therefore managed to learn many advanced potions." I glanced at my godfather again, noting that his expression had not changed. "I'm also rather good at spells, especially curses, hexes, and jinxes."
"A talented young witch, I see." he sounded pleased and impressed. I turned and looked up the stairs as I heard something fall, then, instinctively, ran up them before anyone else had time to move. I found a rather disgruntled little man with beady little eyes scurrying about, knocking things over in what appeared to be my godfather's personal study. I stunned him, then walked back downstairs.
"What was the problem?" my godfather asked.
"A rat." I answered, nonchantly. I noticed that Dumbledore had gotten up to leave.
"Well, take care Severus, Miss Machino. I will see you in a few day's time?" Dumbledore said.
"Yes, sir." Severus replied. Dumbledore smiled and nodded, turning on the spot and disappearing.
"The rat?" Severus asked.
"In your study, now stunned." I answered quietly. He muttered something and disappeared up the stairs. I followed, going to my room. I pulled my broom out of my bag and put the bag on over my shoulder. I quietly opened the window and jumped out, getting on my broom before I fell. I flew to the Leaky Cauldron and went to Diagon Alley to purchase my books. I went to Olivander's first, the old wand maker looking up when I walked in.
"Can I help you?" he asked.
"I hope so, Mr. Ollivander." I answered. I pulled three wands out of my bag, one of them broken. "My wand broke when my mother threw me out of the way to protect me the night her and my father were killed." I told him, fighting to keep the tears back as I remembered that night. That was my mother's first and last motherly act. "I was hoping you could fix it, or help me with something else."
"Let me see." he held out his hand for the wands and I gave them to him. "10 ½ inch Holly with Unicorn hair, yes, I remember when I first handed you this wand young lady." he said as he held the broken pieces. "Unfortunately, I cannot fix this wand." he picked up one of the other two. "Ah, 10 ½ inch Maple with Unicorn hair. Your mother's?" I nodded, "Yes, it was. It appears the wand recognized your mother's dying wish to protect you, as it is now yours." he handed me my mother's wand and picked up my father's. I was amazed at how warm it felt, and wondered why I hadn't noticed it before. I looked up in shock as I realized Mr. Olivander was holding out my father's wand.
"Sir?"
"This one recognizes you as well." he told me, "It is curious that one witch or wizard should have two wands recognize them when they are not the ones who defeated the previous owners." I smiled and hugged the old wand maker.
"Thank you for your help Mr. Ollivander, sir." I said as I gratefully took my father's wand, as well as the broken pieces of my own.
"Take this, to keep the extra safe." he handed me a box, which I gratefully accepted. I carefully placed my father's wand in the box, then put the box and my broken wand into my bag. I pressed a galleon into the wand maker's hand.
"Thank you." I said again as I walked out the door. I went and got the rest of my supplies and books before leaving Diagon Alley and flying back to my godfather's house. I flew straight to my widow and carefully climbed in, shutting the window just as my godfather cleared his throat.
"And where have you been?" he asked. I could tell that he was mad and slowly turned to look at him.
"In Diagon Alley." I answered, "Getting school supplies."
"Getting school supplies?" he repeated. He was suspicious, so I pulled the packages with my books and supplies out of my bag and showed him.
"I could have been back sooner, but I stopped at Ollivander's as well."
"What for?" I held out the broken pieces of my wand, then showed him my mother's wand, which was in a holster on my thigh. "When did you break your wand?"
"It broke the night my parents were killed. My mother had pushed me out of the way to protect me."
"I see..." it was obvious he still didn't trust me, but I was used to that. "What books did you get?"
"Everything except my Potions book, considering I already have that one."
"Very well then, don't leave again without my express permission."
"Yes, sir."
"And, you will call me Professor Snape upon arrival at Hogwarts." he told me, turning to leave.
"Yes sir, Professor...wait, Snape? As in the Death Eater Voldemort has stationed at the school?" The puzzle pieces started falling into place. Why was I so slow? I saw Dumbledore here, I knew my godfather was a Death Eater, and I should have realized, by Dumbledore's visit, that he was a teacher.
"Yes, that is me."
"I can't believe this!" I exclaimed, "Of all the rotten luck!"
"Excuse me?"
"My godfather is none other than Severus Snape, double agent who is trust by few! I'm stuck! I'm totally hosed unless Potter is all he's cracked up to be, and I don't mean a mad man." By this point I had forgotten he was still in the room, until he cleared his throat again anyways.
"How is it you know about that?" he asked.
"I already said I've known the Malfoys and Bellatrix my whole life, not that Bellatrix was around much."
"So the Malfoys told you?"
"Hardley. My parents would have their 'adult' talks with Lucius and Narcissa, and Draco and I would eavesdrop." I told him, "Of course, that's probably a part of why I got stuck in this ruddy spot."
"You make it sound as if you were forced into an undesirable position." he said, curiosity barely noticeable in his voice.
"That's because I was, and still am." I sighed, then thought of something else. "When will we be going to the school?"
"Tomorrow, since you got your things already."
"Yes, sir." He walked out, closing the door behind him, and I changed clothes and laid down on my bed. "Why me?" I asked myself as I drifted off to sleep.
