A/N: This chapter is a bit longer than I usually write, however I found the contents of it too important to split. Also, just a quick note to clear up any questions about the timeline. The story begins in the year 2014, and like most of her schoolmates, Mariana was born in the year 2000 rather than 1981. This is so it can make sense with the MCU plots. Anyway, I hope you enjoy Chapter Two of TFAHS as it is probably one of the most important chapters in the book. - Seraphic :)
My day started off as usual. Make my bed, brush my hair and change into one of Aunt Petunia's old dresses before I go down to make breakfast for the family.
Dudley had insisted on bacon, eggs and toast today. I was silent as I cooked the food, speaking only when spoken to. When each plate was filled with an acceptable amount of grub, I waitress on the family and pour each of them their desired beverage.
I was then allowed to have breakfast myself, the meal consisting of a small, lightly buttered piece of toast and a glass of water. I did the dishes afterwards and then went back to my bedroom until I was needed to cook dinner, as Uncle Vernon usually took Aunt Petunia and Dudley out for lunch.
I was not given any other chores today, since I was under punishment for not cleaning the windows satisfactory yesterday. The Dursley's expected me to stay in my bedroom, making as little noise as possible. However, this acted in my favour because I would be able to escape to Gringrotts without any questions. It was doubtful that they would come upstairs to check on me during the day as well, so they would be ignorant towards my absense.
Patting down my hair, I make sure my dress is presentable and put on my dirty sneakers. I decided to use the portkey early, as I didn't have a watch to tell the time and I didn't want to be late.
"Nott…" I mumble quietly, and suddenly everything is spinning.
"Ah, Miss Potter." A silky voice greets me after about half an hour of standing outside of Gringrotts. I quickly turn around to see Lucius Malfoy, his son and another boy.
This must be Theodore Nott, I think to myself as I observe the thin, yet tall stranger in front of me.
His high cheekbones complement his short, mousy brown curls and full pink lips, but its his eyes that strike me the most. They are the most beautiful shade of blue, glistening like a clear ocean. But they are full of many mixed emotions, some of which I feel myself.
"Potter." Draco Malfoy's voice interrupts my gaze and I quickly turn to the pureblood pair.
"It's a pleasure to meet you again, Mr. Malfoy." I stretch out my hand for him to shake, this time hoping he doesn't use his cane again to view the scar that Dumbledore placed on me.
Mr. Malfoy eyes me coldly before looking to the Nott Heir. "Are you sure that they asked for her?"
I frown, retracting my hand. Clearly, the man wasn't fond of being polite.
"Are you questioning my intelligence, Uncle?" glowered Theodore and I frown at the amount of warning present in his tone. Mr Malfoy stares at him for several moments before clearing his throat. "Come along, Miss Potter."
I watch as the two teenagers follow the elder Malfoy inside Gringrotts and thickly swallow the lump that had grown in my throat. What have I gotten myself into?
"I wish to see my account manager." Theodore demands once he and the two Malfoys come to a stand in front of the Goblin at the front desk.
"And has Mr. Nott brought what we have requested?"
"She's here." he answered, glancing at my form which was several feet away from them. I couldn't help but avoid eye contact, looking down at my filthy shoes. Compared to the three of them, they were dressed like royalty, whereas I…
I sighed, wishing I hadn't come now. There was an awful pit at the bottom of my stomach, as if warning me that something that would go terribly wrong.
"Sharpclaw shall be with you shortly." said the Goblin before he disappeared to retrieve his colleague. I took a deep breath, my nerves growing. I'm not sure I can do this.
"Miss Potter, you look rather pale." commented Mr. Malfoy and I slowly look up to meet three pairs of eyes, only one of them holding the slightest bit of concern for me.
"I'm fine." I mumble and watch as Theodore opens his mouth to say something, only to be interrupted by a snotty voice.
"Heir Nott, I see you brought what we've requested. However, you needn't bring any extras with you." Sharpclaw taunts as he eyes the Malfoy pair. I bite my lip to avoid laughing as shock quickly replaces the bored, disapproved look they both usually wear.
"Oh well, no harm done I suppose." sighs Sharpclaw before he shoots us a wicked grin. "If you could all follow me, we shall get started." He then totters off in the direction he came in with the four of us following him down the long, golden hallways.
"Take a seat, Heir Nott. Miss Potter." The goblin orders as he sits down behind a lavish, silver desk that matches the rest of the dark, cosy room's furniture.
I slowly sit down on one of the majestic chairs, my fingertips lightly trailing across the roses that had been engraved into the metal arm rests.
When the both of us have gotten comfortable, Sharpclaw pulls out two blank pieces of parchment and slides one towards each of us. I look at it with confusion, ignoring Mr. Malfoy's disapproving tut from the corner of the room.
"The Nott household is one of the four sacred twenty-eight families that have a particular blood curse," said Sharpclaw as he eyed us both. "They are only destined for one significant other in their lives. That is to say, they can only fall in love once."
"And what has this got to do with me?" I interrupt.
"Potter, I know you're in Gryffindor, but surely you can't be this dense." Draco snorted. I turn around and glare at him, though it did nothing to deter the smirk on his face.
I was not dense as to what Sharpclaw was implying, but to be accused of stupidity grated on my nerves. All it did was remind me that I had been gullible, that I had been Dumbledore's victim from the very beginning and I was sick of the reminders of betrayal every time I breathed.
"I'm not an idiot, I know exactly what is being implied." I hiss before returning my attention to the goblin behind me. "But what makes you so certain that it's me?"
"Well, the fact my nephew has been hiding your initials on his wrist the last three months is one way to tell." drawled Mr. Malfoy and I look at Theodore, who was busy glaring at his uncle.
Clearly, he hadn't wanted me to find out this way.
Sharpclaw sighs and I turn to find him picking up some spectacles that had been left on the desk. He begins cleaning them with his uniform jacket.
"Heir Nott sent me a letter several days prior to this meeting, asking for my advice. I suggested a blood test to make sure, since there's a possibility somebody else could bare a similar initials to you, Miss Potter." explains Sharpclaw and I turn my attention to the boy who was sat beside me once more. My green eyes meet his gorgeous blue and I flush before nervously asking to see the marking on his wrist.
Theodore was quiet for a moment, before he slowly pulled up the left sleeve of his suit to showcase the initials M. D. S. on the inside of his wrist.
I couldn't help but feel saddened as I observed the beautiful cursive, crimson letters inked onto his skin. My last name didn't start with an S.
"I know what you're thinking, but your middle name is Dahlia, correct?" he asked. I bite my lip before nodding.
"How do you know that?" I wonder and Theodore smirks in response, "I'm more observant than you think."
I shake my head in disbelief. This boy.
"I'm positive that it's you, Mariana." Theodore frowns as he reads the doubt on my face. I open my mouth to argue, only to stop dead.
"Oh, please! Her parents aren't even her parents!" Hermione's words haunt me, but I come to the conclusion that I just might be Theodore's soulmate. If you remove my last name, the rest of my initials do match up with the letters on his wrist.
I turn to Sharpclaw with a sense of wariness, "How exactly do blood tests work in the wizarding world?" I ask.
"I forgot that you live with muggles." Draco sneers, and Theodore shoots him a cold stare that would send a puppy running with it's tail tucked.
"Gentlemen," Sharpclaw warns and the two break eye contact. I take a deep breath, my nerves growing more fierce by the minute, only for a hand to place itself around my bony wrist in a comforting manner.
I didn't need to look at Theodore to know it was him.
"Miss Potter, we only require you to pour a few drops of your blood onto this parchment here in order to receive the results."
"Okay…" I trail off, wondering if I should make a break for it. I didn't particularly fancy injuring myself. As if reading my thoughts, Sharpclaw attempts to console me.
"The wound will heal once we've gotten what we need."
Mr Malfoy clears his throat, "If the pain really concerns you Miss Potter, I can place a numbing charm on your hand."
I shake my head, "No. That's okay, sir."
"Sharpclaw has already suggested that I do one too," said Theodore. "So, I can go first if you'd prefer."
I turn to look at the Slytherin beside me, my teeth gnawing on my lower lip thanks to nerves. "Would that be okay?"
"It's no problem." Theodore answers with a charming smile. I feel my cheeks warm at the sight of it.
Theodore Nott may be a Slytherin, but so far he was much more courteous than the blonde ferret and his father, who stood behind us.
"Alright then Heir Nott, you'll go first." Sharpclaw grinned wickedly before he rummaged around one of the drawers in the desk. He pulls out a silver, ruby encrusted dagger and my face pales at the sight of it.
The memories of that night bombard my mind and for a moment, I am stuck in them. Until the tightening of Theodore's grip around my wrist brings me out of it.
I can't let this continue to effect me, I frown. It would be a long road to recovery, and right now I didn't even want to be in the same room as the weapon. But I already said that I would do the blood test and I wasn't one to go back on my word.
I am silent as the goblin passes the dagger to the mousy haired boy beside me and I continue to gnaw on my lower lip as he does what the goblin had previously explained.
Once he is finished, Theodore offers the dagger back to Sharpclaw, who cleans it. However, I was too entranced by the blood that had dropped onto the parchment dissolving and slowly being replaced by ink to notice him offering it to me.
"Miss Potter," Sharpclaw huffs and I quickly apologize to him, taking the weapon out of his grasp. I repeat Theodore's actions with a wince, pain flooding me as I watch the blood dissolve onto my own piece of blank parchment.
Blood Test For:
Mariana Dahlia Stark
14 Years Old, July 31st 2000
Mother: Lily Jay Stark nee Evans (deceased)
Father: Anthony Edward Stark
Godfathers: James Fleamont Potter (deceased), Sirius Orion Black
Godmothers: Pepper Potts, Alice Longbottom nee Fortescue (critically ill)
Godbrothers: Neville Frank Longbottom
Aunts: Petunia Augusta Dursley nee Evans (Maternal)
Uncles: Vernon Dursley (Through Marriage to Miss Petunia Evans)
Cousins: Dudley Dursley (Maternal)
Grandparents: Howard Stark (Paternal, deceased), Maria Stark (Paternal, deceased), Rosella Evans (Maternal, deceased), David Evans (Maternal, deceased)
Soulmate: Theodore Nott Jr.
Legal Guardian: Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore
Inheritances:
The Most Ancient and Noble House of Nott (soulmate) – Vault 316
The Most Ancient and Noble House of Potter (Given at James' Potter's death) – Vault 228
The Most Ancient and Noble House of Peverell (Given at James' Potter's death) – Vault 56
Stark Industries (Father)
Spells, Blocks Enchantments:
Intelligence Block – broken, placement by A.P.W.B.D
Trust Enchantment – broken, placed by A.P.W.B.D, H.J.G, S.O.B, R.J.L, A.M
Imperious Curse – active, placed by S.O.B.
I felt like I was going to be sick. I faintly placed the parchment down onto Sharpclaw's desk. I was too shocked, too dizzy to even think about being somebody's soulmate.
My parents… well, my father wasn't actually my father. Hermione was half right, I suppose. Or was she half wrong?
Suddenly, I heard from a deep growl beside me. Theodore had my results in his hand, clearly unhappy. "I can't believe they did this to you, how dare they." he seethes.
I shrink in my seat, embarrassment replacing my shock. I had known about the Imperius Curse, but as for the other enchantments…
"Miss Potter- Or Stark, should I say, how exactly are you still alive? These sort of enchantments are fatal if applied too strongly, and I wouldn't put it past the casters in doing so to you." said Mr. Malfoy after he read the parchment given to him by his nephew.
I shrugged in response, words getting stuck in my throat. What exactly am I supposed to say?
"And here I was thinking Mariana Potter was Dumbledore's golden girl, and yet it was actually all forced." Draco frowned. He had read the results after his father.
"They had me fooled, and to be honest, this is not the worst of it." I breathed. The three of them looked at me shocked.
"Miss Stark, what could possibly be worse than this?" asked Mr. Malfoy, handing me back my results which I took gratefully. It was the one bit of truth in my life.
"I think you already know, sir."
"Perhaps, we should talk about this somewhere else…" trailed Draco. I nodded in agreement, watching as Theodore stood up from his chair and offered me his hand. I hesitantly take it and he gently pulls me from my seat.
"Thank you for your service today, Sharpclaw. I'll be taking both results with me." he said and the goblin watches as we all go to leave his office.
"May your enemies bow at your feet," said Draco and I watch as Sharpclaw dips his head in return.
"And may your gold be ever-flowing, Gentlemen and Lady."
