J K Rowling created the name and character of Marvolo.  Any references to wands, magic, and any magic type things are her creations, not mine.  I only wrote the story, gave the man a last name and a life.  Please don't sue!!!

But do review!!!  (ha ha!)

Chapter 1

Failure

            Marvolo Drew was having trouble breathing.  He felt light headed and nauseous.  With each step he took he felt even worse.  He stopped, now in front of an entryway and stared at the forbidding house that lay just beyond it.  He shook his head and turned around, preparing to levee but stopped again once he had taken several steps.  He thought of the tiny baby girl that was most likely sleeping in her bassinet, being rocked by her mother.  So peaceful, so happy.  Didn't she deserve to be that way forever?  Was it fair to make her hate?  To make her loathe beings she had never met simply because they weren't like her?  Marvolo took a deep breath and once again faced the house.  Without any further hesitation he walked down the entry path and knocked on the door.  He could do this.  He had to.

            "Enter."  Came a voice from inside.  Standing as tall as he could, Marvolo opened the door and disappeared into the house. 

            The house was cold and dark.  Inside, there was an old table in the corner of a room just of the entryway.  On the table was a lit candle that was the only source of light, the curtains were closed.  At the table sat a woman, writing on a scroll of some kind.  Had the woman been younger ad led a more peaceful life, she would have been lovely.  Her once black, long flowing hair was nearly all gray.  Her eyes, which had yet to leave her writing, were also gray, a mysterious faded form of silver, which had no trouble becoming angry and full of hate.  She was thin and fairly tall; she wore black sweeping robes.  Finally, she glanced up from her writing, but only for an instant.  She now continued to write.

            "Afternoon my son.  It was a girl then?"  It had been a question, but one the woman all ready knew the answer to. 

            "Yes."  Marvolo answered.  The woman nodded.

            "I knew it was to be so.  What do you call her?"          

            "Elizabeth.  Elizabeth Lynn Drew."  The woman shook her head, still writing.

            "Such a common name."

            "Jacob is a common name as well."  Marvolo said gently.

            "Your father insisted on that name.  It was against my wishes.  My own father was furious."

            "I know.  You've told me many times.  What are you writ..."

            "Did you just come to tell me the news of your common named child or was there another purpose?   I know that Lynn would never permit you to resume your training so soon after the child's birth."  Here, Marvolo cleared his throat.

            "I have other news."

            "About?"

            "About... my training."  He cleared his throat again.  "Mother... I won't be participating in the ritual ever again."  Now, the woman stopped writing.  She looked up at her son, her face an emotionless mask.

            "I beg your pardon?"  She asked in a flat tone.

            "I won't be doing the ritual again."  Marvolo repeated, his nauseous feeling getting stronger.  The woman placed the quill down on the table and stood.  She took a step forward her eyes threatening to glow with anger, but then they calmed.  She nodded.

            "Very well Marvolo.  Good day my son."  The woman turned and prepared to sit and continue her writing.  Marvolo was beyond shock.  His eyes were wide and his mouth dangling open.  Then he realized that she didn't believe him.  She thought he was saying a foolish thing and would soon come back to his senses.  She did not understand.

            "You do not understand Mother."  Marvolo told the woman who by now was again seated, but had yet to resume her writing.  She picked up her quill. 

            "I understand perfectly.  Your wife has insisted that you stop the ritual and has convinced you they are not good for you.  You have humored her, perhaps even believing that she was correct.  Go home.  In a few days you will realize how foolish you acted and will return."  Marvolo shook her head. 

            "No Mother.  I won't.  Not ever.  I now realize that the ritual is not necessary.  No muggle has ever harmed me and I see no reason to harm them.  I knew dozens of muggle-born students at Hogwarts and many of them were more talented then me.  I've felt this way for a long time.  Lynn helped me to see this truth.  I've known for so long, but feared to tell you.  But I can't be afraid any longer.  Not with Elizabeth here.  Not with her counting on me to tell her about like.  I can't tell her all these evil things you have planted in my mind.  My daughter will grow up loving muggles and judging them for who they are, not what they are."  Cassandra Drew could take no more.  She slammed her quill on the table and rose so quickly from her chair that she knocked it over. 

            "You weak minded fool!"  She spat.  "You were always weak.  Jacob would never have allowed some muggle-loving woman..."

            "I am not Jacob!"        

            "No you are not!  Your brother never would have done this!  He believed in the ritual as do you..."

            "As I did.  Not do Mother." 

            "How can you be so selfish!?!  You know your brother is dead.  You know that you and your daughter are the ones left.  It is you who must finish learning all of the Dark way of our honorable ancestor: Salazar Slytherin so that his work will not go unknown.  You must learn everything so that you can carry it out as I have.  Then you must teach it to your daughter so that she..."

            "No!  I will teach Elizabeth nothing of the Dark Arts or of Salazar.  She will not even know we are of his bloodline."  Cassandra went pale.  Her eyes were now blazing with an intense surge of fury.

            "No!!!  You cannot!  When it was discovered that my mother could have no other children my farther knew I was the only one to carry on the ritual of Salazar.  He was so ashamed that a girl was the only hope the message of Salazar had to be delivered.  He always said I would fail.  He always told me I couldn't possibly carry on the ritual.  I swore on his grave that I would prove him wrong.  I swore I would not fail!!!  That I would be just as powerful as he was, and as his father before him, and his before him and all the way back to Salazar himself.  I swore this, and I will not fail!!!"  Marvolo felt a sudden wave of guilt flood over him.

            "I'm sorry Mother."  He said, now calm and trying to keep his voice steady.  He still could not back down, no matter how guilty he felt.  "You did not fail.  I was the one.  It is me who will fail.  I am breaking the tradition.  I will be the one to fail."

            "You are my son and I raised you.  If you really are the pathetic idiot you are acting like, I did fail!"

            "If that is how you feel then I am sorry.  Because I will not participate in the ritual ever again.  I will free Elizabeth from the curse of Salazar and…"

            "How dare you!!!  Salazar is our honorable ancestor.  It is because of him that we exist."

            "There is no honor in him Mother, nor will there be any in me if I continue this against my beliefs.  I'm sorry.  Good bye Mother."  With that, Marvolo turned and walked out of the house, letting the door slam behind him.  

            "Nooooooooo!"  Cassandra moaned falling to her knees.  Tear that had not come for years upon years fell from her eyes.  Her head sank to her lap and she sobbed.  Then she lifted her head, her face fixed in a look of pure evil and determination.   

            "I am sorry my son, but I cannot fail.  And I won't.  I put this on the graves of my husband, Gregory Drew, and my late son, Jacob Drew: I WILL NOT FAIL."  Her thin lips formed a smile.