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.
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 First Turning Point
Voldemort had commanded Mariannah to kneel and proceeded to brand her with the dark mark. But as the mark began to take shape it suddenly disappeared. He immediately realized whom he was facing.
"What - YOU!" screamed Voldemort. Voldemort whipped out his wand and pointed it near Mariannah's neck. Mariannah had been just as fast, her wand almost touching just under his chin.
Voldemort was about to inflict the Killing Curse when Mariannah's thoughts came to him. Do you realize I can kill you with a thought the moment you finish that curse? Voldemort stopped and glared at the girl before him. Mariannah mentally made a sigh of relief when she realized the Dark Lord had bought her bluff.
"Ah," said Mariannah. "I see that even the Dark Lord knows when to heed fair warning."
"I have killed your kind before," sneered Voldemort.
"Apparently not as effectively as you hoped," said Mariannah. Out of the corner of her eye, Mariannah saw a rustle of robes. "Tell your death eaters to put away their wands."
"Master -"
"Do as she says, Lucius. All of you," said Voldemort softly. "Even your magic combined will not be enough to destroy a Gryffindor Guardian."
"So, my dear," began Voldemort. "Which of the six are you?"
"All of them," she lied.
"Oh? Care to explain how that came about?" sneered Voldemort.
"My pleasure," said Mariannah, smiling wickedly at the Dark Lord. "Though I believe, it would be more relaxing if we aren't pointing wands at each other. Would you agree to a temporary truce, Voldemort?"
Voldemort eyed the girl in front of him for a moment before nodding in agreement. They both put their wands away. Mariannah told Voldemort everything he needed to know and everything she only wanted him to know. She never noticed the surprise evident on Severus' face as he listened to his love's story.
Mariannah soon wrapped up her tale. "Now I come to you -"
"To kill me?" interrupted the Dark Lord.
"Far from that. I came here to ask you to train me," said Mariannah, still looking straight into his eyes. "Dumbledore may be an efficient teacher but I find his methods slow and... lacking. I feel like I'm being held back. I was hoping that you would broaden my knowledge."
"You put it so eloquently, my dear," sneered Voldemort. "But then, you are a Gryffindor Guardian."
"That I am," said Mariannah. "But imagine the possibilities, Voldemort. A Guardian as your ally?" She raised an eyebrow as she said this.
Voldemort smiled. "You have a point. But I will need proof of your loyalties first." The Dark Lord signaled to one of his Death Eaters. Immediately, two people were led into the circle. "Mudbloods." Mariannah looked at them. Her heart was beating fast, yet she fought hard to keep a stoic expression, especially in her eyes.
"Crucio." Voldemort pointed at one of them with his wand. His victim writhed in agony. Mariannah felt like vomiting as she heard the crack of bones. The screams were unbearable. I have to stand my ground. No emotion. No emotion. After a minute, Voldemort decided he had enough fun. "Avada Kedavra!" A flash of green light and the victim crumpled to the ground, eyes wide open, mouth frozen in mid-scream.
"Your turn, Guardian." Mariannah eyed the next victim. A female. Might be in her early thirties. A quick read of the mind told Mariannah that the woman had a daughter in Hogwarts, a first year Ravenclaw. Mariannah fought the urge to say no. She had to do this. Mariannah raised her wand as she sent a thought to the woman. I'm sorry. "Crucio," she whispered. The woman screamed. But it was a scream unlike no other. It chilled everyone to the bone. Voldemort noticed how the woman's body seemed to implode into herself. In a few seconds the screaming had stopped. Mariannah lowered her wand as she watched the woman fall to the ground. It was like every bone in the woman's body was crushed. Blood flowed freely.
Voldemort cackled. "I am impressed. None of my death eaters are able to kill with a Cruciatus curse. Yet here you are, your first kill in just a few seconds. No hesitation at all. Very well. I shall continue your training. You will be a wonderful addition to my Death Eaters."
At this Mariannah turned toward the Dark Lord. She locked her gaze with his. Voldemort could see the fierce determination in her eyes. "I refuse to be your lackey. As I said, I wish to be your ally, not your servant." Voldemort glared at Mariannah, his face slowly being taken over by his fury. "How dare you talk back at me?" he hissed. "Know well who you are talking to, woman!"
"And know well who YOU are talking to, Voldemort," said Mariannah, her voice matching the Dark Lord's malevolence. Voldemort's nostrils flared as he breathed heavily from his anger. In a moment, a low laugh formed from his throat until he threw his head back in maniacal laughter. He looked again at Mariannah, grinning dangerously at her. "You are brave, Guardian. What is your name again?"
"Mariannah."
"Very well, Mariannah. I shall train you. You are one of us now. From now on, you may address me as 'my lord'."
"Only if you address me as 'my lady'." Voldemort glared again at her. Mariannah smiled. "Are you implying that you are my equal?" asked Voldemort. "We are allies, are we not? I refuse to be beneath you as much as you refuse to be beneath me. Why else do you think the Dark Mark won't burn into my skin?"
"Well said. Then stand beside me then... ally." Mariannah walked up to him and stood on his right. Voldemort gathered all the death eaters, old and new, around him as he began his meeting. All through this, Mariannah noticed Severus glaring at her from time to time. Each time she felt her breath catch in her throat. She would rather face Voldemort than Severus' anger any time.
Once back on Hogwarts' grounds, Severus quickly walked towards the castle. He strode so quickly that Mariannah had to run after him.
"Severus, please listen to me," Mariannah said as she grabbed Severus's arm.
"Let go off me!" Severus screamed in a rage. He pushed Mariannah away from him, making her fall to the ground. "How can you do this to me? I thought you trusted me? Why didn't you tell me who you are? What you are? I thought we trusted each other? Did you know that this would happen? That I would soon lead you to... to..." Severus couldn't bring himself to say the name. Instead he ended up saying, "You used me!"
Mariannah stood up and faced Severus. Her eyes were dark with anger. "I never used you, Severus Snape!" she hissed. "I loved you! I **love** you!"
"Then why hide this from me?" whispered Severus dangerously.
"Do you think Voldemort would let me set foot in that meeting the moment he found out I was a Guardian? If he knew beforehand that a Guardian was still alive, I wouldn't be here talking to you right now! Did you want that to happen? Tell me, did you have to kill someone just to be accepted in his circle? Did you do what I did just to prove your loyalties to him? If he had known before that you had a Guardian for a girlfriend, your proof of loyalty might have been to kill me. Will you be able to stand that? Will you kill me to be a death eater, Severus Snape?"
Severus went pale at her words. She was right. The Dark Lord would have made him kill her because she was a Guardian. If he didn't, the Dark Lord will kill him instead.
"Severus, please understand," whispered Mariannah, her voice now pleading.
Severus expression slowly softened. "I'm sorry," said Severus. "I am so sorry. I was a fool to think you would betray my trust."
Mariannah winced at his last sentence but Severus didn't seem to notice it. "I would never betray you, Severus," Mariannah whispered. "I would do everything to protect you." Mariannah knew she would never be able to tell him that she was Dumbledore's spy. Yet she also knew that her last words were far from being a lie.
To be continued...