I left for his house the next day. There was no denying that I was excited, that when I though of my job it sent adrenaline rushing through my veins. Slughorn would feel the pain as I had when I had lost Nessa. He would know what it was like to lose someone he loved.

Looking back, I am ashamed. It was like an intoxication, the Bella had said. Once I had killed, I wasn't able to stop. I preferred it that way, it made this all the more easier. I had revered Slughorn for his knowledge and wisdom. Now I would watch him fall.

I put all thoughts of Nessa out of my mind. Her memory would have interfered with the job I was going to complete.

Blasting open the front door, I put a shield around the house. No one would get in, but more importantly, no one would get out.

"Slughorn!" I called, "It's time to come out and play!"

His house elf came at me from behind a chair, hands raised with a sort of blue fire leaking out. It attempted to direct it at me. I laughed. "Avada Kedavra!" It fell.

"Thought that was going to work, did you, Professor?" I chuckled sardonically. Something inside me was horrified a the sight of the dead house elf, but that part was hidden and nearly nonexistent.

I heard a child giggling upstairs. Grinning,I followed the sound.

A little girl was was walking back and forth through a wall, behind which, I assumed was her assigned hiding place. No doubt the house elf had tucked her inside, and when it had come at me, the girl had found it more than easy to leave and start this game. I scooped her up in my arms, and covered her mouth with my hand. Her blue eyes stared back at me in innocence and confusion as she hugged her teddy bear close. It was all I could to not let her free. "Professor," I sang out, jiggling the child to a more comfortable position, "I have your kid... and if you want to ever see her again, you'd better-"

In an instant, two parents appeared outside the door I had entered through. "Petrif-"

I quickly pointed my wand at the girl's head. "Don't." They stopped in theirtracks, and stared. I guess they were reconsidering how safe their system really was. "Expelliarmus." There wands flew into my waiting hands.

"Why are youhere?" Slughorn asked desperately, stalling for time.

"You know why."

"I willnever join you."

"Is that your final answer?"

"Yes."

I directed my wand at the woman, and silenced her startled scream, "Avada Kedavra!"

"MARY!"hecried, and knelt at her side, weeping. I smiled uncertainly and shot the Dark Mark into the sky. He looked back up at me with burning eyes. "Murderer. I will NEVER join you, or your-" he inserted several rather colorfulwords, "master."

I shrugged the arm that was holding the kid. "Funny.I think you will."

"NotShelly, not Shelly..."

I uncupped her mouth, thinking the sound of her voicemight serve to persuade him,"Daddy!" she held out her arms for him, and heweakly returned her gesture, seeming tobe trying to grasp her and pull her into his arms. "Why's he here?I want you! Where's Selma? Why's Mommy on the floor?I-" I stopped her.

"Will you reconsider?"

"I..." he seemed to struggle with himself, twitching violently on the floor, casting nervous glances from Mary to Shelly to me. "I..."

"Three..." I held my wand up... "Two..." I pointed it at her, "One..."

"Alright!" he shouted. "Alright! I'll join! I'll do whatever your god-forsaken-"

"Too late." I smiled evilly.

"Go to-" he swore and tried to launch himself at me. I kicked him away easily.

"Avada Ked- Avada- Avada Kedav-" I stopped. I knew I couldn't do it. I put the girl down.

She ran, shrieking with joy, to her father, he stood up and swung her into his arms. I handed him the wands. "Go." I said, my voice trembling. "You died tonight. No one need to know otherwise." I took one last look at Shelly. She reminded me of...

Slughorn ran, levitiating his wife's body, and carrying his child. He looked back at me once, and I could see that hecould see clearly the monster I'd become, and was remembering me as a child.

"I'm sorry." I whispered, lighting hishouse on fire.