A Marauder's Guide to Falling Forever
PART FOUR
Written by alliegrl
Chapter Sixteen
Things became a blur. Her head was spinning fast and the lights and sounds around her whizzed past without conscious awareness. Voices were speaking somewhere in the distance; some angry shouts and a few subtle whispers floated in and out of her ear without comprehension. Marlene could only look at the large boar's head that hung slightly off center above the fireplace mantle in Tom's living room.
"Marlene?" Lily's voice, sweet and gentle. "Marlene? Hello?"
Marlene lifted her chin to stare upwards at the girl towering over her. "Lily? When did you get here?"
"I've been here for an hour." Lily bit her lip and shifted her glance sideways to look at someone. Marlene followed her gaze. Sirius was standing in the doorway that separated the living room from the hall. He was fixated on her, arms crossed against his chest and a heavy set brow indicated that he was concerned.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" she asked, toneless.
His face relaxed as though he hadn't realized that he held any tension there, and then he glided into the room to sit in the empty space beside her. "Well, I mean –" he trailed off.
"What?"
"Are you okay? You don't look like you're okay," he asked quietly. His eyes were focused on someone behind Marlene and she turned to look. Tom was watching them with a hawkish glare. It was apparent that Sirius did not wish for him to overhear.
"I'm fine," she replied, though she didn't know if it were true or not. She felt very numb. "Maybe a little shocked, that's all."
Marlene was the Keeper of the Hall of Prophecies. The Keeper. Marlene. A large lump seemed to settle at the back of her throat and she swallowed loudly. She had only been sitting with the information for a few hours but somehow it didn't feel overly unexpected. It was an absurd thought, she knew that. But she couldn't explain to herself why it felt that way. Of course she kept her mouth shut to the others, especially Tom. He was having a mild tantrum over the entire ordeal.
"I don't get why you were even there in the first place?" She snapped out of another trance to overhear Sirius speaking sternly to Tom. He had wandered over to the couch, no doubt to yell at them some more. "Isn't it a little late to be at the Ministry anyways? How do we know that you aren't a threat here?"
"Me? A threat?" Tom balked, outraged. Marlene threw her hand sideways to clench onto Sirius's as a warning. He didn't need to go picking any fights. "You have the audacity to come in here, to my home, after all that you've put Marlene through, and accuse me of something?"
"Stop!" Marlene commanded loudly, and the entire room obeyed.
It was the first time that she felt fully conscious and she surveyed the room. Tom and Sirius were closest, with Lily and Alice not far off to the side where she was standing, both wide eyed and anxious. James and Frank were in the corner talking with Dumbledore, grim expressions painted their faces.
"This night has been strange," she admitted. "I'm not even sure what is going on right now and all you can do is yell at one another? Just stop. Tom – Sirius has not been a bad influence on me, believe it or not but I'm the one that broke into the Ministry and I forced Sirius to come with me –"
Sirius interrupted, no doubt to contest her, "Marlene –"
"Shut up, Sirius," she snapped at him, drawing her hand away. "And don't think you're getting off so easily. Just because Tom was at the Ministry tonight doesn't mean that he's some sort of spy or something. Don't you think it's a bit much to accuse him of something like that?"
"We can't be too careful, Marlene," Sirius grumbled.
"You can't condemn everyone. Not everyone is untrustworthy," she said icily, referring to Remus. Sirius didn't respond.
"What I'd like to know is how the hell you managed to come by that key," Tom barked. Marlene flinched. She hadn't told him about the piece of paper with the strange engraving. The same engraving that now rested visibly on her left forearm. Her eyes dipped down to look at it again, and her finger unconsciously traced over it.
"Tom, if I may." Dumbledore had stepped from the corner of the room and swept closer. His thumb and forefinger stroked his beard thoughtfully as his eyes passed between the occupants in front of him. "Marlene has been working on a special project for me this past year – "
"Of course you're to blame for this," Tom interrupted him. "These kids are still kids, Dumbledore. You had no business recruiting them for your ridiculous little vigilante organization."
"We are not children – " Sirius started but Dumbledore held up a hand to silence him. Marlene was surprised to see that Sirius obeyed immediately.
"Tom, I understand that they are quite younger than you and I, but do not be fooled to believe that they are still children. They have been swept up in this war for just as long as you and I, and unfortunately the scars run quite deep for all of us." His gaze rested on Marlene, and she shivered. "I know that Molly and Dave were close friends of yours – "
"Molly and Dave have nothing to do with this," he spat angrily. "They were adults making their choice and they got themselves killed. I'll be damned if I sit back and watch their daughter do the same." He turned his attention to Marlene. "I need you to give me the key, Marlene. You are not a Departmental Mysteries employee and I don't want to see you rot in Azkaban for the crimes you've committed tonight. Just give me the key and be done with this nonsense."
"Do you really believe that my parents died for nothing?" Her brows deepened. "I'm an adult too, in case you're forgetting. I'm making my choice. I'm choosing to follow my parents in an attempt to bring justice to the world. They didn't die in vain. They died trying to ensure that I had a life to continue to live for. That we all do."
"You lot are going to get yourselves killed – "
"Then I die," she said with exasperation. "If I die, I die. But I'm not going to sit around and wait for the Ministry to defeat him. We are all doomed if we do that. You can join us or you can sit by and watch from the sidelines, I don't care. But I'm not going to let you make me feel bad for this decision anymore. Especially not after tonight. I made the right choice, I truly believe that."
Tom was silent. "This is not a life your parents would have wanted for you Marlene."
"But they're not here are they? And whether they would have approved of my decision to join the Order and fight Voldemort is irrelevant. I'm not going to let ghosts control my future, Tom. I don't think you should either."
Something must have resonated with him because his face relaxed somewhat and sadness appeared. "You're just like them. They had the same passion. I promised them that I would protect you if something should ever happen to them, but I see now that I'm not going to be able to change your mind, am I?"
"No." She shook her head. "I've made my choice."
He gave a curt nod of his head. "Alright then." Then he turned his attention back to Dumbledore. "So what was this project you've had her doing? Because if she's putting herself in danger then I want to know why."
"I have reason to believe that Voldemort is very interested in the Department of Mysteries. I don't think I need to explain why he might take an interest to you, I'm sure that your vast knowledge of what goes on inside the walls could lead you to surmise just as much?"
"Yes," he nodded. "I could see why he might be interested.
Dumbledore continued, "So then as you are now aware there is a specific prophecy that pertains to him, and that it is imperative that he never find out the details of what is inside."
"Prophecies aren't a guarantee of becoming reality. But I gather that you likely know that already." Tom looked to Marlene, brow raised in accusation.
"But what if this one is?" Dumbledore asked him. "What if this one, that reigns hope for his downfall, what if it will come true? We need to protect it at all costs. Surely you can agree with that?"
"I suppose so," Tom muttered.
"At my request Marlene has been trying to get your cooperation with the Order. I would have very much liked the opportunity to work with you on this matter, Tom. But you have been very resistant to joining us. I admire your loyalty to the Ministry. Molly and Dave spoke very highly of you, and I believe that you would be a huge asset to the Order. However, when Marlene was unsuccessful I employed her to find other means of getting answers to some questions. One of which to ease my mind that Voldemort should have difficulties gaining access to this prophecy."
"And I hope that you are assured now that it is extremely difficult for him to obtain it," he replied. "Since you now know that only he himself, and the chosen one who remains unknown can access it." Then he paused. "And Marlene."
"Yes." His eyes were hard. "Tom, Voldemort has many influences on the inside of the Ministry."
To Marlene's surprise Tom nodded. "Yes. I've suspected as much."
"You have?" she interrupted, shocked.
His eyes flashed. "I might be resistant to vigilante activity, but I'm not naive, Marlene."
Then Dumbledore spoke again, "Do you have any reason to believe that your department might be infiltrated."
"No." Tom sounded positive, certain. "No, I feel confident that my team are loyal to the Ministry.
"Very well, then I believe the only other real pressing question remains to be asked. Tom, do you have any theories on why Marlene was able to access the prophecy this evening? Surely Marlene has not always been the keeper. I am very curious to hear your thoughts on the matter."
"I'd love to know the answer to that myself," he grumbled. He appeared to contemplate something. Likely the inner battle of whether to betray some top secret Ministry information. Eventually he sighed. "The keeper has been missing for a few months now. Actually, right around the time that you came by the Ministry asking questions," he said directly to Marlene. "He came into work in a bit of a frenzy, jumping at everything. And then he just stopped showing up for work. The Hall locked up and we weren't able to get in. I stopped by his house a few times but he wasn't home. It appeared that he left in a hurry. What I don't understand though is how you came to hold the key."
"I met a woman. Cassandra. She told me all about the Hall and the keeper and then –" Marlene hesitated. She hadn't told anyone the next information yet, not even Dumbledore. "And Cassandra told me that tonight I'd know what to do. I just – I just did – somehow."
She explained about the cabinet, how she had seen it at her house and then again at the Order meeting. She and Sirius had gone back to find it and how it had led them into the Ministry.
"Cassandra?" Tom's brows pinched together in concentration. "Vblatsky?"
"Yes that's right," she confirmed.
"Cassandra is the Keeper's brother. Of course that's how she knows all of that information. That still doesn't explain why keeper would up and leave his position and leave it for you."
Marlene bit down hard enough on her lip to incite pain. "I think they meant for you to have it," she admitted shamefully. "Someone broke into your house. The first night I came to see you. They dropped a piece of paper with this drawing on it," she pointed to her arm, "and then I touched it and it disappeared. I think it was an accident that I intercepted it. Whoever broke in was likely looking for you."
"It was probably Hephias," he muttered under his breath, then loudly clarified, "The Keeper. Or the previous Keeper I suppose."
Cassandra must have seen it coming. She would have warned her brother of the prophecy, that him keeping the key to the department would cause him danger. Maybe she knew that Marlene was destined to intercept the key, when it had been meant for Tom all along. Or maybe it had been meant for her. She'd never know because Cassandra was nowhere to be found. Neither was Hephias, apparently.
Her mind drifted to the second prophecy. She tried to recall the exact details of it.
"Thrice will seek what belongs to the fourth, and all shall fail while the true heir succeeds. Four lives taken in vain it shall not, for great sacrifice will protect this secret until its destiny may be fulfilled."
And slowly the pieces seemed to come together. The prophecy must be regarding the Dark Lords prophecy. The true heir must either mean the Dark Lord himself, or the one meant to bring his downfall. That meant that –
"Someone is going to try to steal it," she said quickly. She felt all eyes on her and she realized that she was going to have to make the choice whether to burden them with the second prophecy.
"Three people actually. And the prophecy is going to be fulfilled. I just don't know which way it's going to go."
"So what, are you somehow a seer now?" Sirius spoke for the first time since he was silenced by Albus.
"No," Marlene said. "Cassandra told me. I didn't understand it until now."
"Well she's wrong," Tom said. "One person, let alone three aren't going to be able to get the chance to try to take it. The only people allowed down there are Ministry officials."
"You already said that you suspect there are spies in the Ministry," Sirius reminded him. "And don't forget that Marlene and I were able to bypass security – "
"Not in my department," he insisted with anger. "I trust my coworkers implicitly. And for how the two of you managed to sneak your way in there. Don't expect that to happen again."
"But what if you're wrong? What if someone is working for Voldemort? Biding their time until they have the opportunity to try to steal it?" Marlene argued.
"Then they're going to get a huge dose of madness. Anyone that tries to take one off the shelf that shouldn't will go mad, remember? Pretty nasty really. And anyone that works in the department knows better than to touch them. Especially after last year when it happened to Augustus. We all got quite the nasty look at what happens when one does."
"Wait a minute," Marlene said quickly. Tom had mentioned this earlier, hadn't he? "Augustus touched one?"
"Yes, he accidentally bumped into the shelf and one fell to the ground. He caught it with his hands and went absolutely batty. He had to be sent to St. Mungos. He spent months there. Hasn't quite been right in the head ever since, I'm afraid."
"Rookwood...Rookwood..." she mulled it over out loud. She kept hearing that name, and every time it felt like she was missing some sort of important detail about it. His smiling face popped into her memory from the time she had visited Tom at the Ministry so many months ago. There was something familiar about his face...
"The spell damage unit!" she exclaimed loudly. "He was in the spell damage unit."
"Yes, that's right," he confirmed, looking perplexed. "I'm not sure why that's so exciting to you though."
"Because I was working in that unit when he was admitted," she said. "I saw him. I remember that vividly now."
She had been assisting Martha. His gnawed fingertips from where he had been devouring them in the corner, violent and mad. He had come in from the Ministry she said, some accident at work. But had it really been an accident?
"Do you think it was really an accident?" Marlene started pondering the possibilities. "What if he was the first attempt? What if he meant to touch it, not knowing that it was going to backfire?"
"I don't think Augustus is a spy Marlene – "
"But what if he is? What if Voldemort already knows that the prophecy exists and he sent Rookwood to get it?"
"I still don't think –"
"And what if he's learned now that the only way he can access it is either Voldemort has to take it, or the Keeper. If he knew that information then he would know that the Keeper would have to be coerced into taking it for him. So what if that's why Hephias disappeared? He knew that Rookwood was coming for him. He knew that the only way to keep the prophecy safe would be to disappear so that he could never have the opportunity to attempt it."
Everyone was silent. It all felt very crazy, yet somehow Marlene was certain it was true.
"Cassandra would have seen it coming. She would have warned him, and then he would have ran," she added when she was greeted with silence. "And she would have foreseen that I'd end up with the key somehow. Which is why –"
She stopped. She had nearly revealed the second prophecy.
"Why what?" James probed her. She had forgotten he and Lily were in the room.
"Which is why we need to find Hephias and figure that out. We need to find him fast, because if Augustus is a spy then Voldemort already knows about the prophecy and will be looking for him."
Then a second thought occurred to her. "Wait. Why are you guys here?" She was looking between Lily and James, and Frank and Alice. They hadn't been involved before so she was confused why all of a sudden they were privy to this information.
"Initially I did not wish to divulge the details of the prophecy until I knew for absolute certain with whom it was pertaining to. But given the circumstances..." Dumbledore trailed off, his eyes passing grimly between the four extra bodies in the room. "I suspect that either Harry or Neville is the child it speaks of. Of course we have no way of knowing for certain which one at the moment..."
"Born at the end of the seventh month," Marlene repeated the words of the prophecy. Both Harry and Neville were born at the end of July. Apparently Lily and James, and Alice and Frank had been filled in on this information. Their ashen, devastated faces came into clearer focus. She felt the wave of nausea overtake her like the ocean tide.
Then the room was silent.
