Last updated on February 14, 2003
Except for Mariannah who is obviously my own creation, all the other characters here belong to J.K. Rowling.
This chapter was revised! :-) Please check out the news on "Author's Notes & News updated every now and then" (which is usually the last chapter of this story).
I'd like to thank the Harry Potter Lexicon () for all the invaluable resource, which helped me make this fan-fic. I'd also like to thank John Williams for creating such an excellent score for the Harry Potter movies. They were fuel for my imagination as well. Finally, thanks to all the other song artists and fan-fic authors. Without them, this story wouldn't materialize at all.
The Race
Mariannah thought it best to just look at Severus from a distance as he studied for his O.W.L.s. She picked up a book and opened it to the middle. She hardly read a few words when she closed it again and sighed. She had been reading... no... scanning through all the books that were ever used from the first to fifth years. She already knew the books by heart and was getting quite bored.
She had been feeling the same way three weeks ago. At that time she wanted to go flying. She had asked James if she could borrow his broom. James flatly refused, telling her that she could always use one of the school brooms instead. Mariannah had reasoned that such brooms weren't fast enough. Yet James had held his ground. As a joke, James suggested that she make her own broom. It was a suggestion Mariannah took seriously.
She had asked Hagrid to help her get some twigs and branches from a particular tree. Hagrid was only too happy to oblige, especially since he was hoping to learn about broomstick making and maybe make one for himself. After a week, Mariannah had finished her broom and christened it Lightning. Hagrid accompanied her to the Quidditch field so she can give the broom a test flight.
Mariannah caught everyone's attention the moment she flew at the broom's top speed. The sudden boom of thunder on a clear and cloudless day made all the students and teachers spill out onto the field and look towards the sky. What they found astounded them. Here was a girl streaking through the sky at an incredible speed. Remus and Sirius were busy comforting a very shocked and confused James. "Why can't I keep my mouth shut? Why do I keep giving her these ideas? Mother is going to kill me!" moaned James.
When she landed, Hagrid was only too excited and mentioned to Mariannah that he couldn't wait to start making his own broom. But before he could stop her, Mariannah softly said "Obliviate", leaving Hagrid only the memory that he helped build the remarkable broom though he can't remember how. Mariannah wanted her broom to be unique. Well, not exactly. Mariannah had a premonition that no one would want to race with her while she had Lightning. So she made another broom along with Lightning. Now, all she needed to do was give the broom to the only person she wanted to race with.
Mariannah snapped out of her reverie when she heard Severus slam his book shut. "I'm going out for a walk," he said to a fellow Slytherin. Severus was already out of the common room by the time Mariannah caught up with him. "Severus!" she called out. Severus froze in mid-step. Mariannah approached him cautiously.
"I was hoping to ask a favor from you." She hesitated a bit. "Well?" snarled Severus. Mariannah took a deep breath before blurting out, "Will you race with me?" There was an uneasy silence before Severus turned around to face the girl. "Why would I want to race with you?"
"Because I know you will." Mariannah looked deep into Severus' eyes. Severus looked like he was just about ready to strangle her. "For your information, Mariannah," growled Severus, emphasizing her name in a very dangerous tone. "I will not now nor will I ever race with you. If you haven't noticed yet, your broom has a particularly unfair advantage of out-flying every godforsaken broomstick in this school!"
"That's why I'm giving you a replica of my broom," said Mariannah. Severus could not believe this. Won't she ever stop? He closed his eyes and shook his head in frustration. Then opened his eyes and looked icily at the girl before him. "Why me?" he asked.
"Because there's no one else I want to race with," answered Mariannah.
Severus was stunned. Out of so many students, why me? he thought. He stared at Mariannah for a few moments. "No." With that, Severus turned to continue his walk. "Severus Snape! If you don't race with me now, I'll just keep on pestering you!" Severus once again stopped. He clenched his fists and turned to face Mariannah. Mariannah had the look of triumph in her eyes. "So might as well do it now and get it over with."
"I can't bloody believe this!" hissed Severus. He felt like his head was about to explode. Oh by Merlin's beard! Let me have a heart attack now so I can have some peace! He closed his eyes, his breathing hard and labored as he fought to control the urge to strike her down with an unforgivable curse. "Please?" He heard Mariannah's voice, soft and pleading. Severus felt her move closer. He caught a whiff of Mariannah's cologne. A wonderfully heady scent, he thought. He opened his eyes again to find Mariannah looking at him forlornly. "Just this once?"
Severus was taken aback when he looked into her eyes. There was something there. Severus thought that Mariannah was so uncomfortably close to him. He asked himself why he felt his heart beat faster. Maybe I am having a heart attack. Severus took a deep breath. "Fine! But just this once!" he snarled, as he tried to regain his composure.
Mariannah broke into a big smile. "Accio Lightning! Accio Thunder!" Two brooms came flying towards Mariannah. She caught them, one on each hand. "Here," she said as she handed one of the brooms to her reluctant racing partner. Severus took it and read off the handle, "Thunder." He weighed the broom in his hands. "Very light. Hard to believe you made this by yourself. Very good for an eight year old." Mariannah just shook her head in amusement. "Come on! I know you want to get this over with as soon as possible," she exclaimed. She grabbed Severus' hand and dragged him hurriedly towards the field.
Severus was wondering why he hadn't tried to wrench his hand away from the girl. He just let Mariannah pull him all the way to the spot where they were to start the race. Soon enough, they were at the edge of the school grounds. "So," started Severus, his hand still a prisoner in Mariannah's clutch. "How do you suggest we go about this race?"
"Twenty laps around the perimeter of the school grounds should do it. We start and end at this spot."
"Twenty laps?" growled Severus. Mariannah looked at him and explained. "Come on! You've seen how fast my broom can go. This race will be over in a few minutes." Severus thought about it for a few moments before nodding his head. "Now," he said. "Can I have my hand back?" The moment Mariannah let go of Severus' hand, both racers got on their brooms.
"On my mark," said Mariannah. Severus was now concentrating on getting off the ground the moment she gave the signal. But Mariannah had something else in mind. "By the way, Severus..." Severus turned his head to the girl only to be surprised by a deep, kiss. It actually left him breathless. Mariannah broke off the kiss and smiled at the stunned Slytherin. "Go." It took Severus several moments to recover. By then, Mariannah had covered most of the first lap already.
Severus didn't feel furious. In fact, he felt... giddy. The moment he jumped off the ground, Mariannah heard the boom of the broom. Seconds later, he was right beside her. "That wasn't fair!" yelled Severus, making a failed attempt to sound furious. Mariannah just laughed. "Who said it was supposed to be?" she yelled back. With that, she leaned forward to gain more speed. A second boom was heard. Soon the air was filled with the constant rumble of thunder.
All the teachers and students were out in the field, curious as to where the sounds were coming from. They soon found the two racers flying at incredible speeds. The Marauders were cheering for Mariannah to win. James voice was the loudest by far.
It was soon obvious that the race was no longer dependent on the brooms but on the riders' skill. The top speed of both brooms was the same, leaving the two always neck and neck through the entire course. Towards the last lap, Mariannah had another premonition that Severus was going to win this race. That was when she heard a strange voice in her head, low and malevolent. It didn't seem to come from one of the guardians. You don't want to lose! You can't lose! You know what needs to be done. Mariannah raised her wand arm and aimed her open palm towards her opponent. "Eiecto virgae!" She had aimed a hurling hex at Severus' broom.
The broom lurched and threw off Severus. He was falling from a hundred feet in the air. But Severus still had his wits about. "Accio Thunder!" About a few feet off the ground, he caught the broom as it swept past him. Without missing a beat, he flew up into the air at an incredible speed. Then his face blanched. He was now trying to stop the broom. But it was too late. In his haste to catch up, he had collided with Mariannah.
The force of the collision knocked Mariannah off her broom. Now she was falling. It took a few moments for the shock to wear off, but it was a moment too late. The last she remembered was seeing Severus rushing towards her and a flash of white light when she hit the ground.
Mariannah woke up in the hospital ward. It took some time for her vision to adjust. When it did, she saw Severus by her bedside, holding on to her hand. Mariannah looked at her hand then at Severus. She could have sworn that his expression was a mixture of concern and relief. Then again, it must have been the bloody headache that was making her see things. She looked around her before closing her eyes again. "Where's James?"
"He's in class," answered Severus. Mariannah opened her eyes again and looked at her companion. "Class? How long have I been out?" She had sworn they went flying on a Saturday.
"Three days."
There was an uncomfortable silence after that. Severus wanted to ask her something, but Professor Dumbledore had just entered the room. Professor Dumbledore asked Severus if he could have a moment with Mariannah in private. Severus nodded. He let go of Mariannah's hand and went out of the room. Professor Dumbledore sat by Mariannah's bedside. He was obviously disappointed at his student. The usual sparkle was lacking in his eyes. Mariannah couldn't look at him at all. Instead, she looked at the table beside her. His voice was stern when he spoke. "A hurling hex, Mariannah? Did you want to win so badly that you were willing to hurt someone to achieve your goal?" Mariannah was silent. Then she felt a familiar prodding in her thoughts. Realizing what was happening, she immediately locked down her thoughts. The headmaster shook his head in dismay.
"It was most fortunate that Mr. Snape was able to call his broom in time. But he had sped up so fast, he had no time to avoid you. He did try to save you, my dear." Mariannah looked at the headmaster in surprise. "Yes. But he couldn't turn fast enough. The Marauders were ready to tear him limb from limb if I hadn't intervened. Mr. Snape carried you here amidst the protestations of your brother." Professor Dumbledore paused a bit to smile. "Amazing how that boy can still be so in control of himself after all that happened." Mariannah was now staring back at the table. She felt the headmaster's hand smoothing down her hair in an effort to comfort her. "At least you are not seriously hurt. Your right shoulder will take some time to heal though. You dislocated it in the fall."
Yes, at least I'm not dead. Her thoughts turned to the voice she heard inside her head. She knew it wasn't one of the Guardians. It was something else. Then a sudden realization overcame her. She can only sense five guardians now. She looked at the headmaster once again. Her thoughts suddenly open for inspection, Professor Dumbledore suddenly became serious again. "You've lost a guardian."
"If you have lost a guardian, then that means you have lost a talent as well." Mariannah reflected upon herself. What did she lose? Charms. Curses. Telepathy. Precognition. Potions. Transfiguration. "Professor, I can't transfigure anymore."
Professor Dumbledore thought about this. "It seems that the guardians have given you an advantage much like the proverbial cat's nine lives. When faced with death, one guardian disappears."
Mariannah let out a deep sigh. She had failed her mentor. She felt the prodding again and promptly locked down her thoughts once more. The headmaster laid his hands on hers. "Well, at least you are all right. That is what's most important. Just try to be more careful next time, yes?" Professor Dumbledore was smiling but his eyes did not sparkle. Mariannah just nodded her head. Professor Dumbledore patted her cheek then stood up. "Now, I think someone else would like to talk to you."
Professor Dumbledore walked out the room and closed the door behind him. Severus had been waiting by the door all this time. "Mr. Snape," began the old man. "I want you to take extra care of Ms. Potter. She is your charge after all while she is in the Slytherin house. Make sure she doesn't try to go kill herself again just to get what she wants." Severus nodded and went back into the room.
Severus sat next to Mariannah's bed. Mariannah avoided his eyes. She suddenly felt guilty about what she had done and didn't know how to make up for it. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have hexed your broom." She was ready for a tirade of cutting words.
"Why did you do it?" Mariannah looked into Severus' eyes, very much surprised at what he said. More so, she was surprised how he said it. His voice was calm, soft. None of the usual sharpness. Not the Severus she knew. Even his facial expression didn't show any trace of hostility. His eyes had a look of sadness. "I - I didn't want you to win," she stammered. Silence.
"I was going to let you win actually." Mariannah felt her breath catch in her throat. She just stared at him in confusion, not knowing what was going on. I must have bumped my head really bad. Severus held her hands and looked straight into her eyes. "Promise me you'll never do that again. Promise me you'll be more careful. Promise me." His voice was pleading now. Severus? Pleading? Mariannah tried to read his mind, but only felt her head ache more. If she wanted to find out what he wanted to say, she'll have to take a more direct approach. She took a deep breath. "Severus, something is troubling you. What is it?"
Severus opened his mouth to say something. Then closed it again. He didn't know how to say it. He didn't know how to tell her how he felt his heart stop when he saw her falling. How he rushed down praying to the gods that she was still all right. He wanted to tell her how he really felt when he was rushing her to the infirmary. But he didn't know how to say it. So he did the only thing he could do.
He kissed her.
To be continued...
- Eiecto virgae
- It's supposed to be something like "I eject you from your broom." Drop me a line if you can come up with a better latin translation. ;-)