Disclaimer: The world of magic might be ours, but Harry Potter belongs to JK.

Thank you for the reviews: Whiskey in the Impala- to clarify the story is completed and written up on my computer but I have decided to post them up on this website in instalments (gives me a chance to make ammendments if reviewers want to make suggestions- hint hint reviewers!)

Jadzania- wie gehts:) I've always been fascinated about post Hogwarts Tom Riddle too- glad you liked the first few chapters. Thank you for the lovely review. deises Kapitel ist fur dich! Hope I got that right- has been a long time since I studied Deutsch!

To all my readers, please review, your input is invaluable and will help greatly with my next fanfic. We've got 100 hits- celebration time! But whats that... only four reviews? Please review readers! Sorry there's no Voldemort in this one but he'll reappear soon. Thank you for letting me share this story with you all, K. Chambers.

Chapter Four- A Union of Sorts

"He's leaving us," Marla said hoarsely, as Abraxas brought her drink over to her armchair. She took it appreciatively and sipped it, fighting the urge to splutter as she realised what she had expected to be wine was Witter's Fire-whisky. Her mind reeled at her conversation just moments ago with the Dark Lord and she was left with an increasingly sharp sting of abandonment. She'd asked Abraxas to stay with her for a short while. It may have been late but tense and unsure, Marla needed to relieve the pressure on her mind and make sense of what was happening. Abraxas sat on the window seat in front of her. It was pitch black outside and the reflection of the flames from the fire danced on the glass behind him. He brought his foot up onto the seat and leaned on that knee, absentmindedly swirling the contents of his own glass.

"Where's he going?" he asked slowly, frowning.

Marla shrugged. "You don't seem surprised, Abraxas." Abraxas shook his head.

"I'm not;" he said frankly, "The Dark Lord wants action and progress- he won't stick around when there's a lull on the front line. Do you know where he's going?" Marla shrugged as she brought her drink to her lips and drained her drink. Abraxas summoned the crystal decanter over and got up to refill her glass.

"Did he say who we answer to without him?" he asked her, but Marla thought he already knew the answer. She didn't reply, instead deciding to finish her drink and examine the fine crystal glass in her hands. As she glanced down, she noticed her hands were shaking. Abraxas watched her.

"So we answer to you," he said eventually. He sighed and refilled his own drink.

"You don't," Marla said, remembering her master's words. "You answer to him like me. He said something about you knowing about force or being a general and that we aren't to tell anyone until he does." Going over the conversation in her head, her mind skipped to the Dark Lord's last words- There is treachery among the Death Eaters

"Abraxas, he thinks there's a spy or something among the Death Eaters."

Abraxas nodded. "There is- well I think so too anyway- keep this silent... but what do you think of Lowman?"

Marla didn't understand what he meant. "He's arrogant, but do you really think he has it in him to be a traitor? Are you sure Abraxas?"

Abraxas smiled and his eyes flashed. "There's something about him... his motives... his background... it doesn't quite fit."

"What do you mean his background?"

"We didn't know him at school but he sought us out a couple of years ago. He had a relatively high ranking job at the Ministry for someone of his age and he's clever. I just don't believe he would want to jeopardise that for our cause. He's well-connected with the Enforcement Department and though he gives us valuable information, I think he's waiting for a big scoop to get him a name for himself at the Ministry. I don't trust anyone who plays both sides."

Marla got up and walked over to the window. As she refilled her glass, Abraxas moved his leg and, their shoulders brushing slightly, she sat beside him. "I don't know anything about building an army," she said, avoiding his eye. Abraxas shrugged.

"I doubt it'll be important. The Dark Lord will have a reason for wanting you in this position." He drained his glass and put it down. "Hope you're prepared for the resistance you're going to face from the others because of this." He smiled and his eyes shone as he taunted her.

Marla laughed wearily. "Lets not get ahead of ourselves," she said, "I don't want to be thinking about how to get those apes to answer to me right now."

She got up and walked the length of the room, stopping at the mirror above her dresser. She began to comb her hair, whilst scanning the table top for something to tie it back with. Glancing in the mirror, she caught Abraxas's eye as he watched her. Something flashed behind his eyes and his expression quickly changed. Abraxas got up and brought the decanter and his glass over to the sideboard. Marla's breaths became shallow as she watched him.

"I'm going to go," he said to her disappointment as she walked over to him. Marla frowned at him and shook the decanter playfully in the air.

"It's still half full, Abraxas," she said light-heartedly, "Stay, enjoy... please?" She grinned at him and saw his resolve melt away slightly. "Oh please, Abraxas," she implored, "I don't want to be alone."

Marla looked up at him and registered his strange expression. She took a step closer, her breathing quickening as his scent enveloped her. She opened her mouth to speak but no sound came out. For the first time since she had met him, Marla was hesitating. Abraxas watched her; she felt a previously unmatched intimacy grow between them under his unfathomable expression. Pulse racing, the decanter slipped from Marla's fingers and with the sound of glass hitting rug, Abraxas pushed her against the wall and kissed her hard.

Marla felt a release of tension in Abraxas's arms and allowed him explore her body with his eager hands. She ran her fingers through his blonde hair as she kissed him back ardently. His lips moved from her mouth to her ear, her jaw, her neck, biting her. Gripping her thighs, he pulled her up onto his narrow hips and as she wrapped her legs firmly around him, he carried her over to the fireplace.

ooo

The flames in the fireplace were still high but Marla's heart rate was quickly slowing to its normal rate. She lay naked in Abraxas's arms, warm from the fire. His eyes were closed and he breathed deeply. Marla could tell his mind was spinning. After all, hers was. Their moment of passion had left her breathless and completely satisfied. The tension of the past week had melted away and the electric union of their bodies left Marla's worries slowly ebbing away. Ecstasy replaced anxiety and tension- relief by the name of Abraxas Malfoy.

She turned to him and ran an adoring hand over his smooth chest. At her touch Abraxas flinched and pushing her away slightly, he stood up and his eyes scanned the room for his clothes. Marla looked up at him in horror, suddenly realising her naked and vulnerable state.

As he fastened his trousers, Marla, mortified, got up and donned her night robe. She felt tears stinging behind her eyes and a lump the size of her fist constricting her throat. Just moments ago she was entwined in the arms of a man she admired but now the icy rejection chilled her. Choking back a sob she forcefully tied her robe around her middle. "Abraxas?"

It hurt her to see the look of regret on his face as he turned around to face her. He was across the room from her with her great bed separating them but in the firelight, she saw discomfort in his eyes- an eagerness to leave. He glanced down at himself and she followed his eyes to his naked torso and his belted trousers. He rubbed his neck, uneasy, and looked at her sorrowfully.

"No one can know." He said tersely, then left.

Sorry it was so short! Chapter Five is ready to go up soon!

If you are one of my readers who are following this story but haven't yet reviewed, please do! I would absolutely adore a review at the end of each chapter! I respond to each review personally and am forever grateful for all of them. Please don't be a lurker, reading my fic and not throwing in your judgemental comments! Reviews make me write and make me happy!

I'd love to hear what you think of my writing so here are some topics I'd like your opinions on:

1) Marla's character- what do you think of her now and how do you think she'll develop?

2) Abraxas's character- what do you think of him and who do you prefer, Abraxas or Marla?

3) Voldemort and Marla together? Repulsive notion or great plotline?

4) My writing style and the tone of this story? Am I canon enough for you hardcore fans (like myself) and what should I work on?