Last updated on January 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.
Stalemate
"James! Mariannah!" Remus ran towards the two as he saw them enter the Great Hall.
Remus shook James' hand before facing Mariannah. The girl squealed in delight as Remus lifted her up and twirled her around. "Wow! You look absolutely stunning, my dear!" said Remus as he put Mariannah down. "Hard to believe you're just ten years old." Mariannah blushed. "Stop it! You're flattering me," she said as she playfully took a jab Remus' shoulder
"Well, it's true," said Remus. "Anyway," continued Mariannah. "Have you seen, Severus?"
Remus looked at James questioningly. James shrugged his shoulders. "I tried everything, Remus. She's still as much in love with him as she was two years ago."
"Honestly, Mariannah. What do you see in him?" asked Remus. "I mean, he's been trying to get us expelled since our first year in Hogwarts. He's conniving. He's mean. He's a greasy -" Mariannah quickly slapped her hand on Remus' mouth. "I'd stop right there if I were you."
"OK! Fine!" Remus said after she removed her hand from his mouth.
"James! How are you?" said a familiar male voice behind Mariannah.
"Watch out Sirius! Mariannah's still furious at you," warned James. Sirius barely avoided Mariannah as she turned around to give him a left hook. Sirius quickly went behind James and Remus. "Hang on now! I did say I was sorry!" explained Sirius.
"Sorry? You almost killed him with your dumb prank!" shouted Mariannah as she tried to reach him through the human barricade that was James and Remus. During their sixth year, Sirius tricked Severus into following Remus into the Whomping Willow. Remus had already transformed into a werewolf when that happened. Severus would have died if James had not pulled him out in time. "Calm down now," said James.
"Hmph!" said Mariannah as she backed away and straightened out her clothes. "Just be glad that I promised the Headmaster that I won't hurt you with magic."
"For that I am truly grateful!" said Sirius.
"Well then, since I see that most of the Marauders are here, I might as well leave you and look for Severus." With that she turned around and entered the Great Hall.
"She still isn't..." began Sirius. "Yes, she still is," answered James. "In fact, she was a bit worried last summer."
"What do you mean?" asked Remus.
"Well, she only received three or four owls from him this time."
"That's a big drop from the fifty-something owls last summer," said Peter, who had just joined the rest of the Marauders in their talk.
"Hang on now. Here he comes," said Remus as he spotted Severus. Severus stopped in front of the Marauders for a while. He looked at James as if asking a question. "She's in the Great Hall, looking for you." Severus nodded and went into the hall.
Severus looked around until he saw the familiar face of his love. Mariannah had been talking to one of the Slytherins when she sensed him. She looked up as Severus was walking towards her. "There you are!" said Mariannah.
"Hello, my dear," said Severus as he kissed Mariannah.
"What happened to you last summer?" asked Mariannah. "I was very worried. You didn't owl me as much as before."
"I'm sorry, Mariannah. I was busy last summer." Severus paused as he looked for a place where they could talk unbothered. "I met someone."
"No, it has nothing to do with our relationship," said Severus as he noticed Mariannah's reaction. "I mean it will have something to do with our relationship. Mariannah, I met this man." Severus was whispering now.
"His name is Lucius Malfoy. He came over to my house and asked if I wanted to join Lord Voldemort's cause."
"What?" hissed Mariannah in surprise. "Mariannah, listen. It's not what you think! All this talk that he's evil and all. That's only the Ministry's propaganda. His goals are actually very noble! It actually protects the wizardry from dying out. It's hard to explain. It's best if you could be there."
"What do you get out of joining him?" asked Mariannah.
"Knowledge, my dear," said Severus. "The chance to be better than what I am right now in Hogwarts. He's been around the world and has learned from a lot of great wizards. By being with him, I can be a Potions Master in a few years instead of decades!"
"So, you're a part of them now?"
"Not yet. We're still recruiting. Mariannah, it's a chance of a lifetime! What do you say?"
Mariannah looked at Severus, trying to figure out what to say. "You want me to join?"
"Think of it! Remember everything we always talked about? Everything we wanted? Enough knowledge and experience to become the best of the best. It's all there!"
Mariannah paused a bit before answering, "All right. Give me time to think."
The next day, Mariannah decided to inform to the Headmaster about the news she received. She told Professor Dumbledore about Severus joining Voldemort's side. But Severus was not alone. All the seventh year Slytherins were also invited and had already accepted the invitation. Professor Dumbledore had been gravely silent as Mariannah gave her report.
"Professor Dumbledore, Severus has also invited me to join them," said Mariannah. "I believe it's best that I do."
The old wizard regarded the young girl carefully. "What are you saying, my child?"
"Just think, sir! With me inside we may be able to get important information that could save lives. We can see up close how Voldemort works, how he plans his attacks. We may be able to find his weaknesses. We can't afford to miss this!" explained Mariannah.
Professor Dumbledore nodded. "Well said, my dear. But I won't allow it." The headmaster signaled the girl to stop from saying anything else. "You are ten years old. You are not yet ready to face Voldemort. You still lack the training."
"With all due respect, sir," began Mariannah. "We have been training for the past two years. You've already seen how much I've learned. Besides, we might never have this chance again. Please, professor! I know I can do this!"
There was an uneasy silence as Professor Dumbledore sat deep in thought. "If I don't allow you to go, you will still push through with this plan, won't you?" Mariannah nodded. The old headmaster sighed.
"Then I might as well allow you to go then."
"Thank you, sir," said Mariannah. "I won't let you down."
"Oh, I know you won't, my dear," said Professor Dumbledore. "Just promise me that you will be careful." Mariannah nodded. "Good. Now then," continued the Headmaster. "Let us talk about how we should go about your mission."
Several weeks had passed since the time Mariannah first reported to Professor Dumbledore about Voldemort's new recruits. Mariannah paced around the girl's bathroom. She was nervous. Severus had informed her that they were to sneak out of the school tonight. The time had come. She would be meeting Voldemort for the first time and will be initiated into his circle along with the other Slytherin seventh years. She had been recounting the plan over and over again in her head when a sharp rap on the door startled her.
"Mariannah, let's go. It's time," said Severus. The girl took one last look at the mirror. It's now or never.
Mariannah followed him and the other students as they slipped out of the school and towards the Quidditch field. Once there, Severus took out a goblet engraved with a skull with a snake protruding from its mouth. Mariannah looked questioningly to Severus. "A portkey," he explained. "Given by Mr. Malfoy." Severus motioned to everyone to touch the goblet. Moments later they were transported to an unknown location.
Mariannah looked around, trying to discern where they were. She noticed that everyone wore the some attire as she did. All of them were wearing cloaks, their faces covered by hoods. "Are you ready, dearest?" Severus asked. He had mistaken Mariannah's curiosity with nervousness. "Ah, yes. Just trying to tame the butterflies in my stomach," said Mariannah.
"Welcome!" Mariannah looked to the front to see where the voice was coming from. "It pleases me to know how you have decided to join me in our quest for perfection and power. Tonight, you will affirm your loyalty by accepting the dark mark. Come forward my children and accept your destiny."
One by one, the recruits came forward to accept the dark mark on their left forearm. The new death eaters screamed in agony as the mark was burned into their skin. Mariannah stopped herself from wincing as Severus received his mark. Then it was Mariannah's turn.
As Mariannah came forward, she saw the man whom she had now known to be Voldemort. "Kneel before me and hold out your left arm, my dear. Receive the mark that will bind you to me." Mariannah did as she was told, her right hand opening and closing, ready for the inevitable. Mariannah felt a slight stinging on her forearm but it quickly disappeared.
"What - YOU!" screamed Voldemort. Mariannah's wand fell from her right sleeve into her hand. In the blink of an eye, she had stood up and pointed her wand towards Voldemort, the tip barely an inch away from under his chin. Her hood had fallen back to reveal herself to the Dark Lord. At the same time, Voldemort had whipped out his wand and had pointed it near Mariannah's neck.
"Avada -" Voldemort stopped before he could finish the curse. With a thought, Mariannah had warned him that he would die too if he ever finished the curse. Both were glaring at each other neither blinking, nor moving. Their breathing calm and calculated.
None of the death eaters and new recruits moved as well.
To be continued...