"Nothing afeard of what thyself didst make,

Strange images of death"

'Macbeth', W. Shakespeare


Death-Mark'd Love

'Miss Asteria?'

Selene smiled and walked into the office.

'Roger Kilmore, Head of Department,' the man said, his lips quirking into a crooked smile.

He was a man in his forties, with sharp black eyes, and a thin moustache.

'How do you do?' Selene said politely, sitting in the chair which Roger pulled out for her.

'Very well, thank you. I understand you wish to apply for a position as secretary?'

'Yes, sir,' Selene said, swallowing nervously as she smoothed her new robes over her knees.

Roger Kilmore glanced at her knees, and it lingered there.

'Sir?' Selene said clearly, the heat creeping up her neck.

He smiled and looked up at her unapologetically.

'I see you got Outstandings in all of your NEWTs.'

'Yes, sir. And Dux of my graduating year,' Selene said, her voice becoming steely.

Roger smiled, and Selene could see it was condescending.

'Dux out of the females of your year, no doubt?' he drawled.

'No,' Selene said firmly, her hands beginning to shake. 'Dux of the entire year. Males included. I also won the School Duelling competition that year- including both males and females,' she snapped.

'Ah, well, Duelling won't help you here,' Roger said lightly. 'After all, you're not applying for Auror training, but to be secretary to the Aurors.'

Selene's eyes widened at the indignity of his comment and it took all her strength to refrain from bursting out of the office immediately.

'Have you ever had a secretarial position?'

'No,' Selene said through gritted teeth.

'So you have no prior knowledge of what is expected?'

'I imagine it shouldn't be anything too hard, compared to achieving Outstandings in each of my NEWTs,' she said acidly.

Rpger smiled placidly.

'Yes, yes,' he said, disinterestedly. 'Well, in that case we'll have to get back to you. We really do want a girl who has had some experience in the field.'

Selene stared at him, incredulous at the thought that- despite everything she had achieved- she was being rejected from simple job as a secretary.

'I look forward to hearing from you,' she said insincerely, standing up and extending a hand.

Roger looked at her, and Selene shifted uncomfortably under his gaze.

'You must understand,' he said softly. 'We are the most important department, and I am Head. I am second only to the Minister himself. Naturally, it is of the utmost importance that I hire the perfect girl for the job.'

Selene wished that she could have duelled him then and there, but then decided that he would probably win.

'Naturally,' she said through her teeth.

'Hm,' he smiled, continuing to gaze into her face. 'Expect to hear from our current secretary in three days' time.'

Selene went to leave, but then paused.

'You already have a secretary?'

'Oh yes, but she's pregnant and just won't do. We can't have her being all forgetful and slow-witted, spending half her mornings in the bathroom. She will resign by the end of the week.'

--

'Men,' Selene seethed, 'are such bastards. I wish… Oh I wish I could hang them all! What's the use in them?'

'Come, now, you're taking a very bad example,' Malkin said calmly. 'Look at Florean.'

'You are so lucky to have found him,' Selene said sincerely, sipping her cocktail. 'I have a feeling I'll end up an old maid. After today, however, I'm not so sure that's a bad thing. Anything is better than being married to someone like that Roger prat.'

Malkin sighed.

'I suppose.'

'I mean… honestly! I was the Dux of our year, and he thinks I can't handle a job as secretary?'

Malkin shot Selene a knowing look.

'What?' Selene snapped.

'Well… do you think you could? Those Aurors would without a doubt be hitting on you at every opportunity, perhaps try to frisk you up a bit when no one's looking… could you really stand that?'

'I shouldn't have to stand it!' Selene said indignantly. 'It's wrong!'

'On the other hand,' Malkin shrugged. 'Perhaps that Roger just wants whoever will suck his cock.'

'Malkin!' Selene hissed, looking embarrassed.

'Believe me,' Malkin said drily. 'You become very desnsitised after a while of it. Oh, and expect them to curse around you at every opportunity.'

Selene sighed.

'Lovely. A job as a Healer's looking quite appealing now.'

'Well, you'd have to study for a few years before you could become a Healer… and then you would still have a lower-paid position than the male healers, who will all have the better specialisations.'

Selene groaned.

'There's no winning.'

'Unfortunately not,' Malkin said grimly. 'Another drink?'

'I think so.'

--

'Huh.'

'What?'

'I got the job.'

Selene was being a mannequin for Malkin's final piece for her fashion portfolio.

'You did?' Malkin smiled. 'That's great!'

'I'm not so sure,' Selene said apprehensively. 'I don't want to be taken advantage of.'

'Well, you have your wandless magic, not to mention your brilliant Duelling skills to save you should you ever get stuck,' Malkin reminded Selene.

'True… so I should take it?'

'I'd give it a go, yes. That means you can find your own place soon. You know, I hear tell that the apartment next door is going to be free, soon. It'll be just like school!'

'Malkin,' Selene said plainly. 'You're married. It'll hardly be like school.'

'We'll be neighbours, and that's better than nothing!' Malkin said hopefully.

Selene smiled.

'Okay, well you keep an ear out for that apartment, and I'll try avoiding sexual exploitation in the meantime.'


'Riddle? Where are you?'

Tom looked up from where he was filing away paperwork.

'Here, sir,' he said.

'I want you to make a visit for me. I've got an appointment and can't do it myself- you'll have to shut up shop, today. She's a very valued customer of ours- a Miss Hepzibah Smith. Now, she has a certain article which I want- goblin-made armour. Ask her how much she's willing to sell it for.'

Tom nodded.

'Very well, sir.'

'Here's the address. She's expecting us at four.'

Tom glanced at the clock.

'That's in five minutes, sir.'

Borgin nodded.

'Yes, so what are you waiting for?'

Tom sighed, summoned his suit jacket went outside and disapparated. He apparated in front of a small, but luxurious town house. Clearing his throat, he pressed the doorbell.

'It's Borgin, it's Borgin! Hokey, answer the door!'

Tom sighed patiently as he heard the patter of the House Elf's feet coming towards the front door. He wondered how long the enquiry would make, and wondered if he might be lucky enough to get off work early. He knew he could shut up the store in three minutes flat.

'You're not Mr Borgin,' Hokey squeaked as she opened the door.

Tom cleared his throat.

'No, I'm his assistant. Mr Borgin was too busy to come today.'

'What's the delay, Hokey?'

Hokey squeaked incoherently and Tom's eyes widened when he saw a grotesque woman, dressed in frilly magenta, and what appeared to be an entire palette of makeup on her face.

'Oh, my, and who are you my dear?' she said, blushing heavily under her makeup as she approached Tom.

'My name is Tom Riddle,' he said cordially. 'I've been sent by Mr Bogin to enquire after a certain piece of goblin-made armour.'

Hepzibah stared at him for a moment, and then let out a girly giggle.

'Oh, oh, they're so handsome these days, Hokey,' she tittered, letting Tom into the house. 'I'm certain they were never this handsome in my day.'

Tom cleared his throat and followed Hepzibah into a huge room that was cluttered with antiques. His eyes widened as he realised how much value there was in that sole room.

'Please, take a seat,' Hepzibah said, pointing to the opposite armchair. 'Will you have tea?'

'Yes, please,' Tom said, his mind calculating.

'Hokey, please bring out my cupcakes and some tea,' Hepzibah ordered. 'Now, Mr Riddle, isn't it?'

'Oh please, Ma'am, call me Tom,' he smiled.

'Oh… Tom,' Hepzibah whispered, blushing again. 'You work for that store?'

'Yes, Ma'am.'

'And how long have you worked there for?'

'Since I finished school last year. About eight months now, if you will.'

'Ah. And how did you like school?'

'Very well, thank you,' he smiled, causing her to blush again. 'I got Outstandings in all my NEWTs and was Head Boy.'

'Oh my!' Hepzibah breathed. 'Handsome and clever! Tell me, Tom, do you have a lady companion?'

Tom's lips twitched as he thought of what Selene's expression would be like if she was watching the exchange.

'No, Ma'am, I'm afraid I don't.'

'Now how can that be!' Hepzibah cried. 'A young man such as yourself…. I say, the girls of today are quite mad.'

Tom bowed his head.

'I must admit, I find the girls of my generation to be quite tiresome.'

'Oh, oh,' Hepzibah said, looking flustered, but pleased all the same. 'I say, where is that elf of mine? Hokey!'

Hokey rushed into the room, balancing a tea set in one arm, and the goblin armour in the other.

'Ah, yes. Now, this is the goblin armour you're after?'

'I believe so, yes, ma'am.'

Hepzibah nodded.

'You tell your Mr Borgin that I won't take a knut less than a thousand galleons. Now, enough of that- you really must try my cupcakes!'

--

Had he not been certain that Hepzibah owned items which could be of extreme value to him, Tom had been bored to the extent that he wanted to kill her just to shut her up.

He arrived at Borgin and Bourke's to find Bourke rushing out, asking him to lock up. Tom sighed and went to the key cabinet. He heard the chime to the door tinkling and came back into the room to see a man, dressed expensively.

'Ah, you, boy. The name's Black, Regulus Black. Now listen here- the engagement of my nephew Alphard Black has been called off and I need to return their wedding present. I'm a regular customer here so I see no reason as to why I shouldn't get a full refund.'

Tom blinked.

'The wedding's been calld off?' he repeated, strangely pleased.

'Yes, the girl died. Now, if you don't mind, I need to be off so I'd like a refund on this please.'

Tom stared at Regulus blankly.

'Boy, do you hear me?'

Tom glanced numbly at Regulus.

'D…dead?' he whispered. 'She's… d…dead?'

He felt a wave of nausea overcoming him. Selene couldn't be dead- not like that. Not so young, and not without him being there. It was all wrong.

'Yes,' Regulus said irritably. 'Now, my refund please- if you don't mind.'

Tom felt both his anger at the death of Selene, and at the man's attitude grating on his nerves. Without thinking, he whipped out his wand-

'Avada Kedavra.'

--

He disposed of the body in an instant. Without wasting a second thought, he apparated back to the orphanage.

'Tom!' Sister Jackie said, looking both surprised and scared. 'What are you doing here?'

'Selene,' he whispered, his heart pounding in his chest. 'What happened to her?'

Sister Jackie frowned.

'I don't know. She moved out of the orphanage last month to start her new job.'

Tom wanted to kill Sister Jackie for being just as useless, but simply ran to the nearby field. He had no idea where to go next. The only option he felt he had was to go to the Black house, but he had no desire to speak to Alphard Black. He was sure Alphard must have had something to do with her death.

He suddenly remembered hearing something about Florean Fortescue marrying Malkin Lefevre, and apparated to the nearest Wizarding Address Directory.

--

Malkin let out a gasp of shock when she opened the door to find Tom.

'What…what do you want,' she whispered, fingering her wand in her apron.

'Is it true?' he whispered, his eyes fixing on hers intensely. 'Is she dead?'

'How did you find my address?' Malkin snapped.

Tom gripped her by the shoulders and Malkin whimpered.

'Is she dead?' he repeated slowly.

'Is who dead?'

'Selene!' he said, feeling something ripping unpleasantly in his chest.

Malkin blinked.

'Who told you that?' she whispered. 'I just saw her ten minutes ago. She lives next door. Unless…. Oh no…'

Malkin went to run to the next apartment, but Tom held her back.

'Never mind. I was misinformed. If you saw her ten minutes ago, then she's alive,' he said grimly.

Malkin watched Tom suspiciously.

'Who told you she was dead?'

'I work at Borgin and Bourke's,' he said simply. 'A customer said that he wanted to return a wedding present for Black and Selene's wedding because 'the girl' had died.'

Malkin's eyes became wide.

'Oh no….' she whispered. 'How sad.'

Tom raised his eyebrows incredulously.

'But…'

Malkin suddenly laughed a little.

'Oh, Alphard was engaged to some other girl. Not Selene. She hasn't seen him for a while.'

Tom's eyes widened with comprehension.

'Oh,' he said stiffly. 'We had a lot of people buying engagement presents, and I assumed…'

'No,' Malkin said.

Tom nodded.

'Well, that's all I wanted to know. Good evening.'

And with that, Tom disapparated. Malkin exhaled slowly, and looked towards Selene's door. She wasn't sure if she should tell her or not that Tom had come looking for her.

'Better not. She's finally sorting herself out, and knowing he might care won't help her. I'll tell her about the failed engagement tomorrow,' she said to herself, locking her front door behind her.


'Miss Asteria, kindly explain to me what this is?'

Selene looked up from the pile of documents she was trying to sort, flustered, to see Roger holding a cup of coffee.'

'Coffee, sir,' she said.

'No, it's more like cat's piss. Don't you know how to make a cup of coffee? They didn't teach you that when studying for your NEWTs?'

Selene tried not to tear up at being spoken to in such a manner.

She cleared her throat quickly.

'No, sir,' she said coolly. 'I'm afraid there wasn't time for a coffee-making course with all the theory and practical knowledge we were expected to learn.'

'Fucking useless. Unless you learn how to make a decent cup of coffee by tomorrow, don't come to work again,' he snapped at her, roughly seizing the papers from her desk and slamming his office door behind him.

Selene made a face at the door and then glanced at the clock longingly.

'Oh dear. A few days into your job and you're already casting such glances at the clock,' an amused voice came behind her.

Selene glanced up dully at Sean, who had been accepted into Auror training.

'Hello, Sean,' she said disapprovingly. 'Don't you have training to be attending?'

'No,' he said airly. 'Shouldn't you be sucking off Roger in his office?'

'You're disgusting,' Selene hissed. 'I don't know why Alphard was ever friends with you.'

'Ah, well, we're not quite anymore. He and I didn't see eye to eye on a certain matter,' Sean said, his tone hardening. 'Though I heard he was engaged to another bird. Not you, in other words.'

'Yes,' Selene sniped. 'He is.'

'No, was,' Sean corrected, sitting on the edge of her desk and fiddling with her papers. 'You see, she died.'

Selene's eyes widened.

'What? How?'

Sean smiled non-telllingly.

'Why, now, I can't see how that's any of your business. Now, I'd like you to fix me a coffee to go.'

Selene glared at him.

'The coffee percolator is over there. You can make a coffee yourself. I'm Roger's secretary, not yours.'

Sean raised an eyebrow.

'Would you like me to inform Roger that you refuse to make his star protégé a coffee?'

'He'd probably tell you it's for the better and that my coffee's cat-piss anyway,' Selene muttered haughtily, reluctantly getting up to make a coffee.

Sean leant against the wall.

'That's pretty sad, you know,' Selene continued. 'To think that you're the best of this year's batch of aurors. I could have you twisting on the ground in the blink of an eye.'

Sean glared at Selene, who grimaced and handed him his mug.

'There you go, protégé,' she said acidly. 'Now, if you'll excuse me, it's five o'clock, and my working day is over.'

--

Selene walked through Diagon Alley, feeling exhausted. Working in the Auror's office was more demeaning and frustrating than she ever could have imagined it would be. She felt ready to cry, from how terrible her day had been, and the prospect of merely going home to an empty apartment- Florean and Malkin were going on a date- made her feel even worse.

She glanced at her watch, and wondered if Tom had finished working for the day. She decided to go see- just in case.

Adopting the same disguise she had the last time she saw him, she went to Borgin and Bourke's. He was a reading a book, and sitting at the counter when she walked in.

'Here to return your engagement present?' he enquired, sounding bored.

Selene frowned.

'I never bought an engagement from here,' she said.

'Oh, that's right,' Tom nodded.

'But why would I return the engagement present?' Selene frowned curiously.

'Didn't you hear? The girl died?'

Selene's eyes widened. No matter how many nights she had spent wishing that she could be allowed another chance with Alphard- she would never have ever wished death upon his fiancée.

'That's terrible. Do you know how?' she breathed.

Tom shook his head, looking bored.

'Oh,' Selene said, looking down.

'You called me 'Tom', the last time you were here,' Tom said suspiciously, getting up from his chair and walking over to her.

'I've heard of you,' Selene lied. 'I've heard from friends that you're a very powerful wizard.'

Tom raised an eyebrow.

'Is that so?'

Selene nodded.

'Yes.'

Tom observed her.

'What did you see in the mirror?'

Selene looked up, startled.

'Oh, I haven't looked in it yet,' she said truthfully.

'Afraid to know our weakness, are we?' Tom drawled.

Selene shivered.

'I haven't found the right moment,' she admitted.

Tom cleared his throat and looked up at her. Selene looked into his face and realised that he had only grown handsomer since leaving school- his hair was longer, and face gaunter.

She looked away quickly.

'I wonder… what else have from your friends?'

'That your name is Lord Voldemort,' Selene said, hoping that he had indeed told his friends of this name.'

Tom raised an eyebrow.

'And what is your stance on blood purity?'

Selene so wished she could agree with Tom- that she agree with his idealogies and be accepted by him. But, just like her job at the auror's office, there was no way she could agree.'

'I am for purity, being a pureblood myself,' she murmured. 'I believe this business of accepting mudbloods into Hogwarts is horrendous.'

Tom's lips quirked into an approving smile.

'And what of your duelling skills.'

'I am one of the best,' Selene said confidently.

She saw him raising his wand, out of the corner of her eye, and in an instant, she deflected his curse. It rebounded, smashing one of the cabinets.

Tom looked at her, his eyes wide.

'Very good,' he murmured in approval. 'What is your name?'

'Chrysanthia Dellafort,' Selene said, thinking up the first name that came to her mind.

'Hmm,' Tom said, his eyes scrutinising her. 'Chrysantihia,' he continued. 'I would like to invite you to join my group. It is an elite group- we are called the 'Death Eaters'.'

Selene was suddenly struck by the realisation that leading such a double life was not at all what she had intended to do when she came to visit Tom.

'Oh, you are very kind and do me great honour, but I must decline this offer.'

Tom's features became ugly in an instant.

'Decline?' he whispered, approaching her menacingly. 'No one declines an offer to work for Lord Voldemort!'

Selene suddenly realised that she might be in very real danger by remaining. Tom did not know who she was and, whatever little mercy he had spared her in the past, she was sure this would not extend to a complete stranger.

Stupefy!

She did it so quickly, that he did not have the chance to deflect it. He fell to the ground, and Selene bit her lip, feeling guilty.

'I'm so sorry, Tom,' she whispered, leaning down and kissing his forehead. 'I just wanted to say hello. You know I could never join your little purity club... and I don't think you'd want me, anyway.'

She sighed and stepped over him as she left the shop.


'Alphard, please! Open the door!'

There was no response, and Walburga and her mother exchanged exasperated glances.

'What to do?' Mrs Black sighed. 'He won't open the door.'

'We could use force,' Walburga muttered.

'Walburga, that is not at all becoming!' Mrs Black chastised.

Walburga poured out two cups of tea.

'Mother,' she hesitated, 'what actually happened to Ariadne? I don't believe a girl as healthy and happy as she- of her young age- could just without any known medical cause.'

Mrs Black looked at Walburga gravely.

'If I tell you, you are on no accounts to tell anyone else. The only people who know are myself, Alphard, and Ariadne's parents- your Aunt and Uncle.'

Walburga nodded.

'I promise, mother,' she said dutifully.

'It seems that Ariadne was seeing a muggle boy,' Mrs Black said grimly.

Walburga gasped.

'No! But she was so clever, and sweet and…'

'Foolish. To tell you the truth, I am glad such filth is not to continue our bloodline.'

Walburga nodded emphatically.

'Alas, the foolish girl was having an affair with a muggle boy. From his accounts, he tricked her by sending her a letter asking to meet and 'discuss' what had happened between them, because he could not understand why she had ended it with him.'

'Oh, so she ended it?' Walburga said.

'Yes,' Mrs Black said. 'Her sole redeeming factor in this family. Apparently she did indeed love our Alphard, and wanted to rid herself of the muggle fool.'

'So what happened?'

'The silly girl met the muggle boy.'

Walburga paled.

'Mother?'

Mrs Black dabbed at her eyes.

'Oh, it's so terrible. He… he asked her to go for a walk with him and then- right in front of a playground full of children- he stabbed her. They say it was in his jealous rage. By the time Healers had arrived, she was cold.'

'That muggle deceiver!' Walburga seethed. 'He should be killed!'

'Oh, worry not about that. Your uncle has already seen to that,' Mrs Black said grimly.

Walburga wiped her eyes quickly.

'The poor, foolish girl. Never trust a muggle.'

Mrs Black patted Walburga's hand.

'At least I know I did thorough job in raising you, my child,' she said wearily. 'As for poor Ariadne, nothing can save her from muggles now. She learnt her lesson far too late.'


Happy New Year! See, I told you I would update before New Year's Eve.

Next chapter-

'He hesitated before knocking on her door, but then realised that he was leaving. After her death-scare, he felt that he had to see her just the once before leaving for Albania.'

So another year is gone. How about we give this year a huge send off with many, many reviews?

Love, Anya