Chapter 2
Karen had been in a daze since Harry's torture had started and now she was walking along a corridor with her Head of House to the Headmaster's office so she could admit to joining the Dark Lord. What would happen once Dumbledore knew? What would happen to her? As she recovered her senses, she began to panic. He wouldn't send her to Azkaban would he?
Professor Snape had taken Harry to the Hospital Wing before he took her to the Headmaster's office. She wasn't sure what she would say. 'Oh yeah, I was just manipulated, it wasn't my fault you know.' Yeah right, like he would fall for that. She sighed.
Karen had never been to Dumbledore's office before. Snape faced a stone gargoyle and spoke aloud to it. "Ice Mice." The gargoyle moved out of the way, revealing the stairs behind it. Snape lead the way, his cloak billowing behind him. Why must he be so dramatic? she thought to herself.
Snape knocked on the door and Dumbledore's voice called out, "Come in!" Snape pushed opened the door, waiting for Karen before he too went in.
Dumbledore was seated behind his desk. He surveyed them for a moment before asking, "Severus, may I ask why you've brought Miss Shan here?"
"Headmaster, I was just at a meeting. The Dark Lord called us and she and Potter were there. The Dark Lord offered Shan the Inner Circle and she accepted! I had to expose myself to bring them back here!" He shot Karen a look as though it were entirely her fault.
"So you're telling me that she has accepted the Dark Mark?"
"Yes!"
Dumbledore closed his eyes for a moment before opening them again. "Is this true Miss Shan?"
Karen reluctantly nodded.
"Is Mr. Potter alright?" He said, addressing Karen.
"Y-yes, Professor. He's in the Hospital Wing now."
"Good. Now, Karen. What happened?" Dumbledore asked.
"What do you mean, Professor?"
"Why did you join Voldemort?"
Karen chewed on her lip, "Well I don't know exactly. I couldn't stop myself. I could hear his voice in my head and I couldn't help but obey it."
"Imperius curse?"
"Yes," she nodded, "it was that for sure. I didn't want to! I swear!"
"It's okay, I believe you. No need to shout. There's nothing we can do about it tonight. Go back to your dormitories. I will speak with you tomorrow."
She looked at him confused. She was sure that he'd inform the Ministry right away, have her thrown in Azkaban. "Professor?"
"Go on."
She turned and pushed the door open and walked out, hurrying down the stairs. She let out a sigh of relief. She was sure she'd be in major trouble, but she had gotten off so easily. Why?
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Snape paced across the length of Dumbledore's office, deep in thought. "Severus, do sit down."
"I don't understand Albus! Why would the Dark Lord force Shan to join him when he knew that she would turn away from him? When he knew that she'd never come when he called to her?"
Dumbledore sighed. "Severus, a teenager's mind is a complex thing. They think that the world is coming to an end if something goes wrong. They will make rash decisions to keep themselves in their own comfort zone, no matter the consequences. Stress, guilt, and secrets can drive them to anything."
"How do you know that?" he snapped.
"I was a teenager once, just as you were."
Snape sighed, "You can't be serious, Albus! You're basing your predictions on things of the past?"
"Voldemort is counting on Karen's emotional instability. He knows that she won't be able to hold it in for long. If any of Voldemort's followers have enough faith in their children, they'll instruct them to drive Karen mad about 'betraying the Dark Lord' and such. That in itself could drive her to violence. I've seen it many times, especially in your house, Severus. Perfectly happy children taunted by their own house members. Rage builds up inside them over the years and who do they turn to? Voldemort."
Snape avoided Albus' eyes. He had once been happy. By his third year, he had hated almost everyone at the school. His only relief had been his studies. They had helped him forget about the taunting, especially from Potter and Black. His House had never been quite as bad as the Gryffindors. He was accepted by his own House, and that had been it. They had barely even talked him. He shook his head.
"Still, there's no proof that the Dark Lord is counting on her to be driven to violence. It's a bit risky isn't it?"
"No, no it isn't. There are definately those, even in her own House that will be more than happy to make her life hell. He has nothing to lose if she doesn't. She can't give up any information of any sort. He's in a no loss situation."
"Okay, well I guess that makes sense. What are we supposed to do about it?"
"Nothing. Just watch her."
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The next day at breakfast, Malfoy and his IQ-less friends were the first to speak to her. "Shan! How did things go last night? You didn't go wandering where you shouldn't, did you?" He said, Crabbe and Goyle laughing stupidly behind him.
She walked away from them, pretending she didn't care, but she did. How did they find out? When she sat down a strange owl flew down from the rafters dropping a letter on her empty plate. Puzzled, she opened it quickly. It read;
Dear Miss Karen Shan,
I regret to inform you of your Uncle and legal guardian, Thomas Fletcher's, death. He died near 1:30 this morning at 27 Klissinger Place. You will be excused from school on the 17th of October from 4:00 to 5:00 for his funeral. Transportation provided by the Ministry of Magic.
Your new guardian has not yet been appointed. Until then you are a ward of the Ministry of Magic and under the Department of Child and Guardian's care until further notice.
Signed,
Cornelius Fudge, Minister of Magic
Darius Leser, Morgue Official
Artemis Cunningham, Head of Department of Child and Guardian
Karen stared at the letter, finding it hard to breath. Sure, she had never been extremely close to her uncle, but she had never wished death upon him. She got up from the table and ran out of the Hall, Malfoy's laughter chasing after her.
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Disclaimer: See chapter one.