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

Here's Chapter Six- early as usual, because I'm so grateful to my regular readers! Thank you Wolfgirl24-7 for your message- hope you stick with the story. Also, thank you to my beta readers Whiskey in the Impala and H. Merrill for their unwavering support and harsh criticism! Enjoy Chapter Six! Please remember to review!

Chapter Six- Cause and Consequences

Marla paced across the bedchamber, fuming. Abraxas, with his mathematical mind and calculated actions, was still higher in Voldemort's favour than herself.

Does he really deserve to be? Abraxas... he shouldn't know more than I know- not when it comes to the Dark Lord- he's trying to usurp my place after what happened with us...

The thought flitted through her mind and she disregarded it quickly. She had given up a lot to be with Lord Voldemort- to stand by his side and help him achieve his dreams. She'd not turned up for work for a few weeks now, and she darkly suspected, that though Borgin would be convinced with any excuse she gave on her return, she would not frequent the old shop as she once had. She had left her home, bringing only a few necessary possessions with her to the Manor. She wasn't earning anymore; she wasn't independently living anymore; she had given up everything she knew to be at Tom's side once again- only to be second to Abraxas Malfoy. She paused by the window and peered out over the gardens. She had lost her old friend once- she intended to keep herself rooted by his side, whatever the cost may be.

ooo

Tom sighed and looked out of her grimy window. "I need to know where they are, Marla. I want you to help me find them," he said slowly. He handed her back the empty mug of tea and she moved to the sink and dropped it with a CLANG onto a growing pile of dirty dishes. She sat back down onto the sagging armchair and lit up a cigarette.

"I could tell you where to start, Tom" she said regretfully, "but something that has been missing for so long is nearly impossible to locate." She watched as Tom turned to her, anger apparent in his expression.

"Impossible?" he muttered to himself, and Marla could see he hated being so powerless.

"I didn't say impossible, Tom," she said, smiling, "nearly impossible, I said. There's a difference." She saw Tom look up at her expectantly. "Something that's impossible to find- well no one has a chance of finding..." she watched as Tom smiled, apparently anticipating her next words. "Something that's nearly impossible to find, on the other hand, happens to be my speciality." She motioned to the sofa and Tom sat down, his hands resting on his knees as he listened to her. "I'll try my best, Tom, but I need to know, what do you want with the Cave Scrolls?"

"I think they hold something I could use," Tom corrected her. "I've heard stories... soldiers from the Middle East used to tell stories about hidden scrolls, stolen from libraries, hidden to keep secrets safe-"

"I know Tom, but why do you want to go to the trouble to find one of these hidden... they might as well be library books?"

"Think Marla, they were hidden for a reason. Imagine you lived in the Kidron Valley- a small isolated community-" he put emphasis on 'isolated', "and suddenly an army of Romans are invading your lands and exploiting your resources. Imagine it, Marla, what would those people want to protect so much, they hid any written proof of it."

Marla frowned, deep in thought. "If you are talking about magic..."

Tom's eyes widened- "Of course I'm talking about magic! It all fits- an isolated community, the secrets, hiding their knowledge... imagine what it could mean for us to unearth the magical secrets of an ancient lost generation of witches and wizards!"

Marla was uneasy by his eagerness. "Tom," she said slowly, "I think you are getting ahead of yourself. We don't know if they still exist or what's written in them. They might be anything- lists of weapons, religious texts being kept safe, an ancient sheep tally- we don't know, Tom, if they still even exist."

Tom suddenly smiled at her words and a maniacal look reached his eyes. "I do." He said simply. "A few years ago, 1947 I think, a Bedouin shepherd was murdered after claiming he had found a whole bunch of scrolls in a hidden cave. The locals said demons killed him."

Marla leaned towards Tom, intrigued. "Let me guess," she said, "green light and he was dead?" Tom sat back and gave her a winning smile.

"Isn't it almost too convenient?" he asked, grinning.

"Valley of what, did you say?"

Tom smirked- "Kidron Valley," he said getting up and donning his travelling cloak, "Broomsticks or Floo?"

Marla fastened her own travelling cloak, broomstick already under one arm. "I'm not going to dignify that question with an answer," she replied tersely, and they left under cover of darkness.

ooo

There was a knock at the door.

Marla hesitated before asking loudly, "Who is it?" The door creaked open and Abraxas walked in slowly, closing the door behind him. Marla sat in the window seat and motioned for him to sit down. He perched on the edge of her bed, facing her, for once seeming unsure of himself.

"Yes?" Marla asked, pointedly.

Abraxas studied her. "I came to apologise," he said brusquely, "for letting what happened affect our work. The assignment was ours to do together and I..."

"You made it quite clear you didn't want to work with me at all." Marla finished for him. She folded her arms and noticed he looked oddly blank, as though he was forcing himself to do something he didn't want to do. "The Dark Lord put you up to this?" she sneered.

"No." Abraxas said quickly, "Just me."

Sighing, she leaned back against the window. "I don't know what your problem was, Malfoy." She said, glaring at him. He recoiled slightly.

"You wouldn't understand." He said gruffly, and began to pace. "It's not a normal job, this- what we do- it'll just get more dangerous. The Dark Lord won't be able to protect us all the time. You have to be clever- you have to be shrewd-"

"-what has that got to do with anything? With me?" Marla demanded, anger growing, but Abraxas's eyes flashed. She gave him a moment and he continued.

"I've spent a long time establishing my place here, Marla." He said quietly, "I can't be seen to have weaknesses or attachments. Neither can you." He paused, then drew out two cigarettes, lighting one for Marla too. She took it hesitantly. "It looks like everything is fine now- but sooner or later there will be dispute within our ranks. It happened at Hogwarts, it's happened with Lowman before, its happened with friends who are now no longer with us... for a reason!" He studied Marla. "When you sign up to a cause like ours, you have to be selfish. It goes with the territory. You make one alliance with the Dark Lord because he can lead us to greatness... to the power and magic and potential we've always been told to repress. That's it Marla. On all other counts, you have to be selfish."

Marla nodded in understanding. They finished their cigarettes in silence. Marla made Abraxas and herself a drink from the side table and he sat, looking visibly more comfortable than before.

"You've no other responsibilities then Abraxas?" Marla asked, watching him drain his glass. He shook his head and she understood that he had given up much more than she had for the Dark Lord. She had given up a job and a flat- Abraxas had given up a life.

She sat down next to him on the bed. He flinched at her close proximity and moved to get up. She stood with him, pulling herself close to him as he pushed her away by her arms, a look of exasperation on his face. "Marla, what are you doing?" he asked, staring at her in disbelief, still clutching her at arms length. She reached out a hand to his face and the other to his waist, pulling herself in. "I'm being selfish," she whispered before kissing him deeply.

She felt his resolve melt as he hesitated. They broke apart and he looked at her, sad acceptance in his eyes. She led him to the bed and climbed on top of him as he lay down, enjoying the renewed sense of power he had instilled in her. Her kisses trailed down his torso as she undressed him, and he closed his eyes in complete submission.

That's it for Chapter Six- reviews are pleaded for! How do you feel the story is developing? Thank you for sticking with Marla and her journey- see you in Chapter Seven!