*****Disclaimer*****Despite all our efforts, neither of us can say we're
J.K. Rowling, so we both know we don't own these characters, nor do we
claim too. Poo.
And thanks to all you guys who reviewed what we've had so far! Very encouraging, and we really appreciate it!
Katie stared into Marcus' dark eyes. She wanted to wipe that smug smirk off his face. She felt anger welling up inside of her and thought frantically of a way out.
A secret-keeper... she mused silently. She'd go tell Dumbledore and he'd hide her and her family. No Deatheater could find and hurt them. She found herself smirking slightly and only set her face straight when she saw Marcus' puzzled look.
"What are you thinking, Bell?" He asked, dropping his arms from the wall. He certainly did not like that smirk. He took a step back and looked at her warily. What on earth could she be smirking about? Katie shook her head and sighed.
"Fine, Flint. I'll do what you want me to do," she muttered. But she was secretly thinking of how to get back to Hogwarts as soon as possible to speak with Dumbledore. Marcus' brain was working triple overtime to figure out that smirk. Suddenly it clicked in his head. "Oh, I see Katie," he laughed. "I had actually thought of this beforehand. I knew you were a smart witch." He smiled at her but she did not return it.
He's bluffing. He doesn't know what my plan is. Katie kept her chin up and her eyes steely.
"You want to find a secret-keeper," he smiled, shattering her momentary hope. Damn! It was like he could read her mind. "But, keep in mind Katie Bell, if you get a secret keeper, I'll just have to kill off your friends until I find that secret-keeper."
Katie glared at him. Now he was threatening to kill her friends. No one was safe from Marcus Flint. She had no choice but to go along with the plan. She walked towards Marcus and he thought for a moment she was going to hit him again. Instead she passed him and laid down on the couch behind him.
"What do you want from me, Marcus?" She asked, putting a pillow over her face. If she started to cry, she was not going to allow him to see it. Marcus moved towards the couch and lifted her feet to sit where they had been. He let them fall onto his lap and he smiled to himself. It was as if they were friends, sitting in this position.
"It's like this, Katie," he said. They didn't even realize that they had slipped into using first names. "We need a spy at Hogwarts. You're friends with people who could have important information for us. So, you need to tell me that information, understand?"
She was silent for a long time, the pillow still over her face. "The Deatheaters want to get into Hogwarts?" She asked finally.
"That's the idea, yes. And we want to get rid of Dumbledore," he explained. It was surprisingly easy to talk to her about these evil plans. She didn't look at him as if he was going to kill her, or as if he was going to steal her soul at any moment. She didn't look at him at all, actually.
"He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named wants to go to Hogwarts, kill my friends and my Headmaster?" She sounded a bit agitated now. "So either way, my friends die?" She sat up and threw the pillow at Marcus. Marcus caught the pillow and threw it behind the couch.
"Bell, you don't really have a choice. Either your family dies, or your friends. And, hey, maybe we can even make a deal and you can pick some friends to spare?" He added hopefully. She laid back down on the couch and bit her lip to keep from crying. He waited silently while she tried to keep from crying. Eventually, though, the tears came and she hid her face in her hands. Marcus turned his face away from her. He didn't want her to cry, really. This would be so much easier if she just went along without argument.
It's all a part of the breaking process, though, he thought quickly. He had to break her, then build her back up so that she'd do what he wanted her to.
She didn't cry long and before long she sat up again to meet Marcus' eyes. "Fine. What do I do?"
Marcus smiled at her and patted her shoulder, "Atta, girl!"
She did not return his smile, stood up and crossed the room to look out the window. He still sat on the couch, pleased with his work. She still had a bit of a stubbornness about her, but he was confident that he'd get rid of that in time.
"Just be sure to report anything interesting about Dumbledore to me. Trips he may be taking, special guests to the castle, and so on. Anything you think may be beneficial to the Dark Lord," Marcus explained.
Katie continued to look out the window. The grounds of Marcus' estate were quite breathtaking. If they had been meeting under different circumstances, she'd ask to go for a walk so she could enjoy the scenery. Katie turned to meet Marcus' eyes again and nodded.
"Of course, not that you had much of a choice, Bell," he smiled wickedly. She closed the distance between them quickly and slapped him smartly across the face.
"Take me back to the village. Now."
*****
Marcus had returned Katie back to Hogsmead with the warning that both her friends and family were in danger if she decided to run to the Headmaster. He was proud of Miss Bell. He had threatened to take everything away from her and she rose to the challenge to save them.
Like any good Gryffindor, he thought wryly.
He was making himself at home when he felt his dark mark burning. The Dark Lord was calling them. It was now Marcus' time to shine.
He apparated to the old Riddle House where Voldemort was still taking up residence. Marcus walked into the meeting hall and readjusted the white mask over his face. All around him, wizards were apparating in, all dressed in the same dark robes and white masks. Marcus hoped that the Dark Lord would choose some followers to go out on an assignment. Hopefully Bellatrix had put in a good word for him and Voldemort would realize how helpful Marcus could be.
"Hello, Flint," he heard a female voice behind him.
"Hello, Mrs. Lestrange," he said formally. Even without seeing her face, he knew that it was her. Azkaban had also left her voice a bit hallow.
"How did things with the Bell girl go?" Bellatrix lifted her mask and Marcus followed suit. It was much easier to talk without the mask on.
"She'll do what we say," he smiled victoriously. Bellatrix's eyes lit up momentarily and she smiled.
"I'll inform the Dark Lord, Marcus. He's going to be very pleased with you." She left him to go into the next room where Marcus guessed Voldemort was waiting. He put his mask back in place and chatted idly with some of his fellow Deatheaters. A few moments later, the door to the next room opened and Bellatrix appeared in the doorway.
"Flint," she said, then turned to go back into the room. Marcus followed quickly and closed the door behind him.
Lord Voldemort was sitting in a chair facing the fire. Nagini was curled up near his feet much like a cat would do. The crackling of the fire was the only noise for a while. Marcus didn't know if he should speak first. He was getting ready to say something when Voldemort stood up and faced him.
Marcus lowered his eyes out of respect. Well, respect and fear. Only a fool wouldn't fear Lord Voldemort.
"Marcus Flint," Voldemort said, in his hiss-like voice, "I remember your parents."
Marcus didn't know what to say, so he stayed silent with his eyes lowered.
"Yes, they were very loyal. I trust you're following in their footsteps?"
"Yes, My Lord. I'm completely loyal to you," Marcus answered. Voldemort motioned for him to come closer and Marcus wordlessly obliged him.
"Bella here tells me you've done something very beneficial, Marcus."
Marcus smiled and raised his eyes. "Yes, My Lord. I believe I have."
"A spy? At Hogwarts?" Voldemort's snake-like eyes shone brightly in the firelight.
"A Gryffindor spy, My Lord," Marcus beamed at his master. Voldemort laughed, a high pitched sound that made Marcus flinch a bit. "Well done, my boy. Well done. I can't tell you how proud I am." Voldemort returned to his seat while Bellatrix brought him some tea. Bellatrix smiled at Marcus and offered him a cup. Marcus refused and walked closer to the Dark Lord.
"I'm curious as to this secret, Marcus. What does she want to protect so much?" Voldemort sipped his tea.
Marcus quickly debated on whether or not to tell Voldemort. His loyalty won out and he smiled while he answered.
"Her mudblood of a step-mother."
"Natalie Bell? A mudblood?" Voldemort looked a bit surprised. Then he laughed again. "Well, that is interesting isn't it?"
There was a pause in which Marcus considered returning to the next room, assuming his meeting with his master was finished. He was just turning for the door when Voldemort's voice stopped him.
"Tell me, Marcus, have you gone on assignment yet?"
And thanks to all you guys who reviewed what we've had so far! Very encouraging, and we really appreciate it!
Katie stared into Marcus' dark eyes. She wanted to wipe that smug smirk off his face. She felt anger welling up inside of her and thought frantically of a way out.
A secret-keeper... she mused silently. She'd go tell Dumbledore and he'd hide her and her family. No Deatheater could find and hurt them. She found herself smirking slightly and only set her face straight when she saw Marcus' puzzled look.
"What are you thinking, Bell?" He asked, dropping his arms from the wall. He certainly did not like that smirk. He took a step back and looked at her warily. What on earth could she be smirking about? Katie shook her head and sighed.
"Fine, Flint. I'll do what you want me to do," she muttered. But she was secretly thinking of how to get back to Hogwarts as soon as possible to speak with Dumbledore. Marcus' brain was working triple overtime to figure out that smirk. Suddenly it clicked in his head. "Oh, I see Katie," he laughed. "I had actually thought of this beforehand. I knew you were a smart witch." He smiled at her but she did not return it.
He's bluffing. He doesn't know what my plan is. Katie kept her chin up and her eyes steely.
"You want to find a secret-keeper," he smiled, shattering her momentary hope. Damn! It was like he could read her mind. "But, keep in mind Katie Bell, if you get a secret keeper, I'll just have to kill off your friends until I find that secret-keeper."
Katie glared at him. Now he was threatening to kill her friends. No one was safe from Marcus Flint. She had no choice but to go along with the plan. She walked towards Marcus and he thought for a moment she was going to hit him again. Instead she passed him and laid down on the couch behind him.
"What do you want from me, Marcus?" She asked, putting a pillow over her face. If she started to cry, she was not going to allow him to see it. Marcus moved towards the couch and lifted her feet to sit where they had been. He let them fall onto his lap and he smiled to himself. It was as if they were friends, sitting in this position.
"It's like this, Katie," he said. They didn't even realize that they had slipped into using first names. "We need a spy at Hogwarts. You're friends with people who could have important information for us. So, you need to tell me that information, understand?"
She was silent for a long time, the pillow still over her face. "The Deatheaters want to get into Hogwarts?" She asked finally.
"That's the idea, yes. And we want to get rid of Dumbledore," he explained. It was surprisingly easy to talk to her about these evil plans. She didn't look at him as if he was going to kill her, or as if he was going to steal her soul at any moment. She didn't look at him at all, actually.
"He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named wants to go to Hogwarts, kill my friends and my Headmaster?" She sounded a bit agitated now. "So either way, my friends die?" She sat up and threw the pillow at Marcus. Marcus caught the pillow and threw it behind the couch.
"Bell, you don't really have a choice. Either your family dies, or your friends. And, hey, maybe we can even make a deal and you can pick some friends to spare?" He added hopefully. She laid back down on the couch and bit her lip to keep from crying. He waited silently while she tried to keep from crying. Eventually, though, the tears came and she hid her face in her hands. Marcus turned his face away from her. He didn't want her to cry, really. This would be so much easier if she just went along without argument.
It's all a part of the breaking process, though, he thought quickly. He had to break her, then build her back up so that she'd do what he wanted her to.
She didn't cry long and before long she sat up again to meet Marcus' eyes. "Fine. What do I do?"
Marcus smiled at her and patted her shoulder, "Atta, girl!"
She did not return his smile, stood up and crossed the room to look out the window. He still sat on the couch, pleased with his work. She still had a bit of a stubbornness about her, but he was confident that he'd get rid of that in time.
"Just be sure to report anything interesting about Dumbledore to me. Trips he may be taking, special guests to the castle, and so on. Anything you think may be beneficial to the Dark Lord," Marcus explained.
Katie continued to look out the window. The grounds of Marcus' estate were quite breathtaking. If they had been meeting under different circumstances, she'd ask to go for a walk so she could enjoy the scenery. Katie turned to meet Marcus' eyes again and nodded.
"Of course, not that you had much of a choice, Bell," he smiled wickedly. She closed the distance between them quickly and slapped him smartly across the face.
"Take me back to the village. Now."
*****
Marcus had returned Katie back to Hogsmead with the warning that both her friends and family were in danger if she decided to run to the Headmaster. He was proud of Miss Bell. He had threatened to take everything away from her and she rose to the challenge to save them.
Like any good Gryffindor, he thought wryly.
He was making himself at home when he felt his dark mark burning. The Dark Lord was calling them. It was now Marcus' time to shine.
He apparated to the old Riddle House where Voldemort was still taking up residence. Marcus walked into the meeting hall and readjusted the white mask over his face. All around him, wizards were apparating in, all dressed in the same dark robes and white masks. Marcus hoped that the Dark Lord would choose some followers to go out on an assignment. Hopefully Bellatrix had put in a good word for him and Voldemort would realize how helpful Marcus could be.
"Hello, Flint," he heard a female voice behind him.
"Hello, Mrs. Lestrange," he said formally. Even without seeing her face, he knew that it was her. Azkaban had also left her voice a bit hallow.
"How did things with the Bell girl go?" Bellatrix lifted her mask and Marcus followed suit. It was much easier to talk without the mask on.
"She'll do what we say," he smiled victoriously. Bellatrix's eyes lit up momentarily and she smiled.
"I'll inform the Dark Lord, Marcus. He's going to be very pleased with you." She left him to go into the next room where Marcus guessed Voldemort was waiting. He put his mask back in place and chatted idly with some of his fellow Deatheaters. A few moments later, the door to the next room opened and Bellatrix appeared in the doorway.
"Flint," she said, then turned to go back into the room. Marcus followed quickly and closed the door behind him.
Lord Voldemort was sitting in a chair facing the fire. Nagini was curled up near his feet much like a cat would do. The crackling of the fire was the only noise for a while. Marcus didn't know if he should speak first. He was getting ready to say something when Voldemort stood up and faced him.
Marcus lowered his eyes out of respect. Well, respect and fear. Only a fool wouldn't fear Lord Voldemort.
"Marcus Flint," Voldemort said, in his hiss-like voice, "I remember your parents."
Marcus didn't know what to say, so he stayed silent with his eyes lowered.
"Yes, they were very loyal. I trust you're following in their footsteps?"
"Yes, My Lord. I'm completely loyal to you," Marcus answered. Voldemort motioned for him to come closer and Marcus wordlessly obliged him.
"Bella here tells me you've done something very beneficial, Marcus."
Marcus smiled and raised his eyes. "Yes, My Lord. I believe I have."
"A spy? At Hogwarts?" Voldemort's snake-like eyes shone brightly in the firelight.
"A Gryffindor spy, My Lord," Marcus beamed at his master. Voldemort laughed, a high pitched sound that made Marcus flinch a bit. "Well done, my boy. Well done. I can't tell you how proud I am." Voldemort returned to his seat while Bellatrix brought him some tea. Bellatrix smiled at Marcus and offered him a cup. Marcus refused and walked closer to the Dark Lord.
"I'm curious as to this secret, Marcus. What does she want to protect so much?" Voldemort sipped his tea.
Marcus quickly debated on whether or not to tell Voldemort. His loyalty won out and he smiled while he answered.
"Her mudblood of a step-mother."
"Natalie Bell? A mudblood?" Voldemort looked a bit surprised. Then he laughed again. "Well, that is interesting isn't it?"
There was a pause in which Marcus considered returning to the next room, assuming his meeting with his master was finished. He was just turning for the door when Voldemort's voice stopped him.
"Tell me, Marcus, have you gone on assignment yet?"