The Fifth Marauder
Chapter 6: Choice of fates:
Jack left reluctantly the infirmary. He didn't trust the stranger yet. His short explanations weren't sufficient and he was determined to ask more later.
And he will get answers.
Now, he couldn't wait behind the doors and decided to look for Daniel.
He found him sitting with Frasier and Hammond in the debriefing room. The Doctor was speaking and had the two men's attention, so that they didn't notice his presence by the door.
"…came crying two nights ago without any apparent reasons and now she faints! I believe it to be the most sensible decision to make."
"You should at least give her a chance to explain herself. There must be something else!"
"I will indeed talk to Major Carter, Dr. Jackson. But I agree with Dr. Frasier. If she can't assume her work anymore; she will be temporarily remove from her functions."
"WHAT?!?" Jack couldn't believe his ears. They weren't going to fire Carter; or make her take early retirement, were they?
Three heads turned at once to face him and an annoyed General beckoned him to take a seat.
"Now, Colonel, thank you for joining us in the middle of a conversation you obviously are misunderstanding."
"Huh…well…sorry about that…but what about Carter?"
"Major Carter has shown alarming signs of tiredness and moral weakness. She has been working for now four years with Sg1, Colonel, and she might need a break. Forcing soldiers to work when they are not well had never lead to anything else than breaking them down. And we can't afford to lose Major Carter."
********
Good. They weren't firing her. But they were obviously thinking that Sam couldn't cope with the job anymore; which was almost as frustrating because so far from the truth. He felt like yelling at them. Yelling that she was stronger than any officer he knew. Such 'vacation' couldn't threaten a possible future promotion, could it?
It would leave her time to deal with her current problems, but…
No. They couldn't take her away from him. Not now. Her memories could place her in danger and she was nowhere safer than with the other Sg1 members.
Hahaha.
Right.
Fighting the Goa'ulds wasn't exactly the safest job ever…
He sighed.
"I agree with Daniel, then. At least, ask her if she wants to. Please do not force her! She doesn't deserve to feel rejected from the program."
"I wasn't planning too. I'll talk to her."
Jack didn't know if Sam would tell Hammond about her memories. He somehow doubted it. But 'a break' meant several months. And she wouldn't leave the base for so long, would she? Not with the Goa'uld threat.
She wouldn't leave them?
Wouldn't leave him.
********
A witch. She was a witch.
Her memories were still a blur pattern of sounds, colors and scents, but now all were familiar and images would soon pop up as she related them to words.
Hogwarts. A castle with dozens of towers. A vast hall filled with students. An enchanted ceiling imitating the sky. And sitting on a golden chair, lifting a silver cup, was Dumbledore.
"I remember you."
He smiled at her. Not his usual kind and polite smile, but a true smile coming from his heart.
"I can see Hogwarts. The castle. The lake. A forest."
"And I believe you will progressively remember everything now."
"Tell me about my years there."
"Ah." He laughed softly. "Those are good memories."
********
"You were living with your family in America but your mother wanted her daughter and only child with magical inheritance to attend the very school she had been to."
"My mother was a witch?"
"And a very talented one. Her request was soon accepted. Between the four houses of Hogwarts; Gryffondor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff; you were to be in-"
"Gryffondor."
"Indeed. You were a particularly clever student. Prefect along with Ms. Evans and you could certainly have had her title of Head Girl if it had not been for a certain habit of yours at breaking rules and collecting detentions…"
Sam grinned somehow knowing that it was true.
"Oh, and you were a skilled quidditch player too!"
Now, this was awakening something deep inside her. The wind in her face. The speed. The height. A ball. A small golden ball to reach…
"Quidditch?"
"The most famous wizard sport. You played for five years on the team, as seeker, while Mr. Potter was chaser I believe."
"James…"
James Potter. Lily's murderer telling them he had killed James.
"How close was I to James?"
"Ah, well, if Ms. Lily Evans was your best friend, she would not monopolize you. A certain four boys were your closest friends, and…" He opened his half-closed eyes "all five of you were know as the Marauders."
********
The Marauders. Her heart was suddenly beating like mad. Yes. She was a Marauder, the fifth Marauder along with James, with…with…oh, come on! She could see their faces! A tall black-hair boy with sparkling dark eyes, a sandy-brown hair one with soft hazel brown eyes and a chubby small boy; a mischievous grin on their face and a kind twinkle in their eyes. Their names-
"Prongs, Padfoot, Moony and Wormtail!"
"Better known as Mr. James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew. You five have been the greatest pranksters Hogwarts has ever know even if others unfortunately tried to follow your path. (AN: Think Weasley twins ;p)
For the teachers' sake and my own, I hope you were the worst we'll have to face."
"I don't think anyone will believe I was a prankster, Professor." She could just see Jack's priceless expression when she'll tell him about her mischievous childhood…
"Albus, Samantha, Albus. I am not your professor anymore. After your graduation you became an Auror, protector of our community, achieving your apprenticeship in height months when others would need several years. Two years later you were in charge of your own team. And then… on the 31st October, the Potters were murdered and your memory erased."
He raised a hand to keep her silent.
"There are so many things you have to know and I will only tell you what I am sure of. But the truth is only hold by you. And by no other in this world."
********
"Lily and James's house was attacked by Voldemort. We assumed that he tried to kill the young Harry their son but that his curse was somehow reflected. Voldemort was defeated and the house in ruins. You were harmed Samantha. Mentally and physically harmed."
"Voldemort." This name. The black cloaked man and his evil laugh. Voldemort. His very name made her dizzy.
"You wouldn't come back to your senses and we thought we had also lost you."
She finally understood. She had loosen her mind.
"What did you do to me?"
"I was working on advanced memory charms for the ministry. We cast one on you. It was an extreme choice but your father and I would have done anything.
"So my father knew."
"You were to forget everything concerning Lily and James until we could find a way to help you. But you also forgot your magical abilities and Hogwarts.
And then…then a new possibility was given to us Samantha. To you. We fooled the ministry and everyone else. We fooled you. We decided to give you a new life Samantha."
********
"We gave you new memories; new opportunities. Voldemort was defeated and more than anybody else you deserved happiness. This… this was your chance. I am sorry. So sorry. For you and for another." Whose long ordeal might end soon thanks to you.
Sam did not understand his last words. Fear grew inside her as she asked:
"Did you also give me my knowledge as a scientist? Does everything I know really comes from me?"
"Oh, Merlin yes, Samantha. We gave you a muggle life but you alone decided what to make of it.
When you were still at Hogwarts, your father would make you study muggle subjects during the holidays and you soon excelled in Math and Science; enjoying them as much as your other Hogwarts classes. You would take correspondence courses in astrophysics, advanced physics along with your Auror training, and have always said that you would go to College and leave the Aurorship once Voldemort defeated.
You had such an exhausting life-style! Never understood nor approved by anybody!
But you had a dream, Samantha. You wanted to have the only profession the wizarding world does not provide. You have always wanted to see the stars. To be an astronaut. And it was your chance to grant your wish.
Yes, yes. You did not attend your two first years of College but your knowledge permitted you to easily enter it and achieve the goals you had set for yourself."
Relief flowed through her. Her work was hers. Her knowledge was her own. At least on this point they had not fooled her.
She should be angry. Angry at Dumbledore. Angry at her father. Yet she was not.
"I forgive you." Her tone was calm.
If only she knew what Albus was going to reveal to her in the following days she might not have accord her pardon so easily…
********
He wanted to say how sorry he was; how sorry he was to have destroyed Sirius life when they had chosen to send her away; how sorry he was that Harry had had to live with the Dursleys ever since when she could have replaced his mother. Sorry that her disappearance from their world had caused so many tears to others. But how could they have known at the time? How the world would have been if she had not been part of Sg1?
The past could not be changed and they had to face the future.
And Albus swore no one but her would decide of her future.
********
"If I had done Lily's mourning fifteen years ago, my heart might still be in one piece today instead of two. I can't remember being an Auror yet and I can't picture having another life than the one I have. So don't blame yourself. I don't. I rather own you a lot."
He suddenly took both her hands in his.
"Then stay to this life Samantha. Don't remember. Stay away from the magical world. Its problems are not yours anymore."
She stood, startled, for a moment.
He must be joking. Why would he say this to her? Why now?
"You…you can't be serious! I've just learnt I was a witch for Christ's sake! Even if I don't really know what it consist of yet! I want to have what was taken from me back! I want to have what I've lost back!"
Albus stared at her.
"So be it."
He sighed.
"Voldemort is back."
As expected, the impact of the revelation hit her straight in the face.
"How…how come…"
"He tried to kill Harry last year. Fortunately he failed but got his body back."
"Harry…he is at Hogwarts, right? He is safe?"
"He is. I am strong, Samantha. Yet I am old and I will not always be able to protect Harry or my other students. Voldemort must be rapidly thwarted."
"And Lily and James avenged."
"Samantha-"
"Voldemort." Tears of rage were now forming in her eyes. "Voldemort is going to pay. I will not let their sacrifices meaningless, Albus! Even if I have to fight him myself!"
"Meaningless Samantha? Harry survived! And the wizarding world has known 15 years of peace."
"Every night…every bloody night I would see him kill Lily and all I can do is watch. I need to do something, Albus, Professor! I want to help you. I want to meet Harry! To see Sirius, Remus and Peter! I WANT TO FIGHT VOLDEMORT FOR LILY AND JAMES!
********
"And are you ready to leave Sg1 for this Samantha? Would you concentrate on another threat than the Goa'ulds? Fighting Voldemort will take months, years maybe! Are you ready to sacrifice your work for this cause?"
This left her speechless. She had spoken with a passion her anger stimulated, but rationalism was soon getting back. How on earth could she leave Sg1? He was right. You couldn't just leave the army and come back when you felt like it. It would mean ask for early retirement or convince Hammond to keep a place for her.
And what if the Goa'uld were to attack? What if they needed her? What if something happened to Jack, Daniel, Teal'c or her father?
She was lost in thoughts and only noticed Hammond entering the room, followed by Jack, Daniel and Frasier when Albus stood to greet them.
"Can I have a word with Major Carter, Professor Dumbledore?"
"Of course, General. Ah, Daniel, would you escort me please?"
"Huh…yeah, sure."
Sam was soon alone with Hammond.
********
Daniel had left but Jack had not. He was still in front of Albus open door, waiting to be let in.
"How can I help you, Jack?"
"What did you tell Carter 'Albus'?
He smiled; this detached smile that was irritating him…
"I told her the more I could. The rest she will have to find by herself."
"Which means?"
A pause. A smile. Stay calm Jack, stay calm.
He watched as the Professor turned his back to him, head lowered, his hands resting on the table in front of him.
Good job, Jack. Be patient a bit more and he's going to spill everything you want to-
"I am hungry."
Huh?
"I haven't eaten since breakfast and I am hungry."
"Oh. Well, I can take you to- Hey! Don't change the subject!"
"I am not Jack but I find it easier to talk around a good dinner."
Was he making fun of him? He just didn't feel like arguing at the moment.
"Follow me then. The food of the cafeteria is far from bad here."
"Do they have pastries?"
"Yeah, loads of them. Just don't eat the blue and green ones…"
They ate at a table in a quiet corner. The cafeteria was almost deserted anyway. It was only 6PM and the soldiers were used to come in around 7PM.
Jack was glad of the intimacy and not only because of what they were going to discuss (hopefully…).
WAS HE REALLY GOING TO EAT ALL OF THIS?!?
The old weirdo wearing what looked like a dress to him had taken a full plate of everything! Two of meat, one of fish, macaroni & cheese (AN: I LOVE them!! *sniff* Why can't they make it in France?!? *smile full of hope* Could anyone tell me the recipe? Shouldn't be too hard to cook…), spaghettis and meatball, and five different desserts…
Jack suddenly didn't feel hungry anymore…(^-^!)
"They want her to take a stoppage." Because of you.
Albus swallowed and put his fork down very slowly.
"Ah, do they? For how long?"
"I have no idea. Five weeks? Five months?" He answered sarcastically.
The old man stared at him for a moment and then proceeded to eat again.
"What would you think of her if she accepted?"
"I- well, I know or rather I don't know how far goes this memory stuff but I- I wouldn't understand. I know Carter enough to say that she'll take the good and rational decision. And she can't possibly live us! Not now! We need her here! Not you! Us!"
"What if I did?"
Silence.
"What would you need her for?"
"You like her, don't you?"
WHAT?!?
"I appreciate and consider as faithful friends all the members of my unit, thank you very much." He snapped. Had…had Carter told him something? He couldn't be THAT obvious?!?
"If she decided to leave you should tell her. You wanted to know Jack? I'll tell you. We are not fighting aliens but what we intend to do is as dangerous. We are fighting the Potters' and many others' murderer. A powerful enemy who know how to induce fear to others. A killer who only seeks power; who is as cunning as he is evil. We defeated him once and we need Samantha to do it again.
"Sure! And you'll wipe her memory again once you're done with her!"
More for him than Jack he whispered:
"She doesn't blame me."
"She never blames anybody!" He took his head in his hands and sighed (AN: sorry; they seem to do that a lot…).
"Your criminal is only a human. And a human can be defeated."
"You are more right than you think." The colonel was far cleverer than he knew of! Albus really liked him…
It is indeed my point Jack. Voldemort has his body back: he can be killed. Definitely.
"If Samantha decided to come with me, her task maybe even more perilous than her missions with Sg1. Realize that she could not come back. If you like her, tell her. Tell her you'll wait for her to come back. Tell her to live for you. Tell her you understand her choice. Lie or ask her if you really don't.
Ah, I've told you enough. My food is getting cold."
********
'Tell her to live for you.'
Oh, no, he hadn't tried to frighten the muggle; but if he had any feelings for Samantha he had the right to know the risks she would bring on herself.
Stoppage.
Hum…sometimes he wondered if fate was really not directing their lives. Samantha would certainly follow him in those conditions. She really hadn't changed. She used to like being an Auror but that was not what she wanted to do.
Astronaut. Who would have thought she would become one in a certain way? It was because of Voldemort that she had finally become an Auror and postponed her dreams. And now…she had to leave everything again.
'I WANT TO FIGHT VOLDEMORT FOR LILY AND JAMES!'
This was quite concerning… He could just hope she would eventually get over her sorrow as Sirius had done when he had let Pettigrew live.
"Well Samantha, I hope you will also soon tell me that it is for Harry you want to fight."
********
"You didn't think that the sleeping pills and your sinking morale would stay unnoticed, Major?"
Sam looked guiltily at her hands.
"General…I know it will sound pitiful for an excuse but some…err…old events concerning my personal like have just taken an unexpected turn and I-"
"A break."
A break?
"Pardon?"
"Dr. Frasier and I think you should interrupt your work for a certain time in order to deal with…huh…your problems."
"How long? How long do you give me?"
"How long do you need?"
Pinch me, I'm dreaming. Oh yeah, she was. HE was asking HER to take a BREAK of the duration SHE wanted EXACTLY at the moment she needed one?
She definitely had a guardian angel!
"We are not trying to keep you away or anything Major. But you deserve your break."
"Are we speaking in days or weeks?"
"Months if you need them. With the single condition that you'll be back here at once if we were to need you; you could be contacted at any moment if we need to consult you. Therefore, you will be given an emitter and a transmitter you'll have to keep with you 24/7."
Perfect!! It took her less than half a second to decide she would tempt her good luck as its maximum. The worst he could do was to tell her no, anyway. Strange. She felt really bold at once. She felt- well, 'maraudish'…
"General, I really don't want a stoppage but I'll need to accept your offer."
"How long?"
Here we go…
"Ten months."
Hammond's jaw dropped.10…10…TEN MONTHS?!? This was ridiculous! How could she…He eventually regained his composure.
"All right then, Major. You have ten months starting at dawn. Enjoy your time and come back in great form."
It took Sam several minutes to react after he had left.
He…he…he had accepted. She had ten months. He hadn't even asked her any questions. Okay, he thought she was under a severe depression; but this wasn't supposed to be enough!
She didn't care right now. She was…excited.
She jumped out of the bed and ran through the corridors to Albus room only stopping once to ask Daniel to show her the way; not even noticing the murderous look he had thrown her or his yells of frustration about being Mr. Professor's personal slave in this base…
********
Albus was reading a large book with a dusty leather cover when Sam burst in. He didn't take his eyes from the text waiting for her to catch her breath.
"So, how long do you have Samantha?"
She had suddenly a weird impression of déjà-vu… Ah, that was something she finally remembered about Dumbledore. This strange feeling that he could read other people's mind. How could he possibly know?!?
She sighed. Never mind.
"Ten months."
He raised his eyes and smiled.
"Perfect. We will leave tomorrow morning. Don't take too much with you. We're traveling light."
She glanced around and frowned when she saw the room full with Albus's things. Clothes, china, paintings?!? And so many candies… She was more than disappointed to see only a small black attaché-case in a corner…How was he going to transport all his stuff in THIS? Was he sending them? Throwing them away?
Anyway.
"Were are we going?"
"At Hogwarts of course!"
Hogwarts! She was going to see Hogwarts again!
"Now, go and get some sleep. Oh, and Samantha, the Colonel has been asking for you."
********
"Enter. Carter? Do you need something?"
"Huh…No. You have been asking for me sir?"
"Well, no. Who told you that?"
"Al- never mind. I was going to come anyway. To tell you that…that…I am leaving."
"You…you are?!?"
"I've started to remember sir and there is a lot more than I expected. I need to go."
"When are you coming back?"
"Ten months."
"Of course Carter. When are you coming back?
"Ten months…Jack."
She was serious.
"Hammond-gave-you-TEN-months?!?"
"I know! I couldn't believe it myself! But I'll have an emitter and transmitter with me all the time!"
"You're a big girl Carter. You make your choices. But I don't have to understand.
Tell me what could possibly be more important to you than the Stargate! For crying out loud Carter! This gate is your life!"
She smiled sadly.
"I am not running away sir. I'll be back and maybe when I'll understand all this myself I'll tell you. But I can't possibly continue effectively my missions when I'm a stranger to myself. I'll be leaving tomorrow morning. I'll contact the base as often as possible to ask news about Sg1 and tell you all I'm alright. Good night sir."
If you like her, tell her. Tell her you'll wait for her to come back. Tell her to live for you. Tell her you understand her choice. Lie or ask her if you really don't.
He impulsively grabbed her wrist before she could leave the room and turned her around so she was facing him, surprise written on her face.
"Come back Carter. Come back to me. And in one piece."
She kissed him.
A sweet chaste kiss on the lips, which meant far more than anything she could have told him. A kiss that expressed all her feelings for him.
"I will."
********
In his office, Hammond was angrily shouting at someone on the phone and no soldier would have been foolish enough to disturb him…
"TEN MONTHS! She has asked me ten months!"
'She did? Did you give them to her?'
"Well you told me to! I would have never done such a thing for anybody else! Do you know how much we- I risk in this business?!?"
'I owe you, George.'
"Oh yes, you do Jacob! Believe me you do."
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Author's Note:
I am finally updating!! I am so sorry it took me so long! At least I give you a longer chapter than the previous one!
I've spent 3 weeks at a summer camp "Exploration" at Yale University, Connecticut. IT WAS SOOOOOO COOL!!
I had such a great time… *sniff*
I put this on the web straight away because of the delay and I'll put the corrected version as soon as I get it. I won't change chapter 5 to its corrected version because I'm lazy and there is only something like 2 faults (Hahaha… *self satisfaction*).
There is not a lot of action in this chapter… Tell me if this kind of text is less interesting…well, I guess so; but I really think this chapter had to be written to give my fic its complexity.
Sam couldn't simply remember everything straight away and leave!!!
No really! Would you possibly have liked something like:
"Oh my God! I am a witch! How could I have forgotten that! Peter you rat I'll kill you! C'mon Albus let's kill Voldy and clear Sirius!
George, I'm leaving"
"Major you can't!"
"I must General."
"Okay, bye!"
"Jack baby wait for me! Hogwarts here I am!"
Hum Hum. no comment ^-^!
Thank you to LMiC2001, MoonFairy, Europa and Mara Cath for reviewing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And special thanks to Elwen for pushing me to write this chapter more quickly!
Please DO SO!!!!
To answer MoonFairy (Thank you soooo much for your long review; it REALLY pleased me! *little heart*), is Harry going to live definitively with Sam?
Hum…I really don't know…He was going to go and visit her in the US anyway; but I wasn't thinking about that… I think he would like it more if he were living with Sirius. He is a teenage boy now! He needs more a father than a mother! And he only has a few more years at Hogwarts anyway! And Sam will not be able to tell him what she is doing (or is she? Hahaha *spoiler, spoiler*) and will be often away from home…
Now MoonFairy, Snape? A crush on Sam? Europa, a relationship with Sirius?
Come on guys stop making good guesses or I'm REALLY going to let you write the story!! (*laughs*) No really, am I THAT obvious?? Anyway, I was indeed planning to do one of those two ideas from the beginning and I don't think I'll change my plans now (I AM NOT TELLING YOU!) but I would like you through the reviews to tell me what you like the best !! I might follow your good pieces of advices…
Finally, a few spoilers for you, my patient readers:
- Next chapter's title will certainly be: "Journey to Hogwarts"
- There will definitely be a Quidditch match later…but Harry will not be the one playing…
- Sirius and Remus testing Jack?!?
Sweet Dreams!
This fic is dedicated to my best friend Lara.
I dedicate this chapter to my friend Leah from Explo! Thank you for reading my story and keeping in touch with me!
Jaina.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters I use but if you feel like paying me, it's fine to me…;^p