A/N: Welcome to chapter 5! I hope you are all enjoying how this story is going so far, and not to worry because the Avengers will soon be involved in Mariana's life! I would also like to take this time to thank those who have liked and commented on The Fighter and her Snake so far! It really brings me so much joy to see people enjoying my story :) - Seraphic
Originally, I thought that the Malfoys had the best household in the Wizarding World, since they were always boasting about it. Clearly, they were blind and I was wrong because Theodore practically lived in a small castle!
The grounds were impeccable, with a small patio containing a seating area with views that stretched out into the far countryside. The castle interior was just as grand, showcasing many art pieces, golden accents and dark, cosy furniture throughout.
Currently, Theodore and I were in his private study, which was bigger than the Dursley's living room and kitchen combined. It could have even been mistaken for a library. Tipsy had brought Chamomile tea and an assortment of pastries for us to eat, which I was grateful for.
This morning was very eventful and it left me feeling sick with hunger and stress.
I was just about to take a bite out of the sweet croissant I'd chosen when persistent rapping on the window beside us interrupts me.
"I'll get it," Theodore says and I watch as he places his fine china teacup back onto his saucer and he rises from his armchair to let the owl in.
The owl quickly flies across the room and I reach to catch the envelopes that fall from its talons. Theodore waits until the owl is out of the study before he closes the window.
I go to open the envelope addressed to me, but I am beaten to it, for the envelope begins to act like a howler, floating in the air and opening itself. I tense as I hear the recording of somebody clearing their throat.
"Dear Miss Potter,
The Ministry has received intelligence that at 11:13 this morning, you performed both the Memory Charm and the Stunning spell outside of term time and far from your place of residence. As a clear violation of the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery, your wand shall be destroyed and you are hereby expelled from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Hoping you are well,
Mafalda Hopkirk
The Improper Use of Magic Office, The Ministry of Magic."
I swallowed thickly as the letter rips itself up. Theodore watches as his own does the same.
"Mari..."
"I don't care," I say quickly, and it's the truth. I don't care that I'm expelled from Hogwarts, or that my wand is going to be destroyed. In fact, I feel relieved that I won't be going back to the castle in Scotland filled with people who hurt me worse than the Dursley's ever did. As for the lack of a wand, I could easily get past that.
What I did care about, however, was the fact that Theodore had placed himself in the same boat. He too had been expelled and his wand would shortly be destroyed as well.
"What do we do now then?" Theodore asks and I turn to face him, my eyes glistening.
"I'm sorry, I haven't thought that far ahead yet. I feel awful that I've gotten you into this as well," I sigh. Theodore shakes his head, cupping my cheeks with his hands.
"Silly girl, I told you that I didn't care what would happen to me and guess what? I still don't. I only care that you're here. I promise you, Mariana that we will get through this together."
"I don't want to be here, Theo." I murmur quietly and the boy quickly recoils from me, a hurt expression on his face. My eyes widen in realization.
"No, I don't mean it like that!" I quickly try to fix my mistake. "I meant that I didn't want to be in Wizarding Britain!" I watch as relief floods Theodore's face.
"Oh," he mumbled.
"I hate being the Girl-Who-Lived," I continue, "I always have. It's refreshing that somebody actually wants to know me, not the Wizarding World's Saviour."
"And it's refreshing to know that Mariana Potter doesn't think that all Slytherins are bad, despite Draco and You-Know-Who being our main representatives." Theodore gives me a small smile before he takes my left hand and leads me back to the table we were having tea at.
He sits next to me this time, rather than across like before, and our hands don't falter from each other's. I pick my teacup up with my right hand and take a sip as Theo takes a bite out of the Pain au Chocolat he retrieved from the silver platter in front of us.
"May I call you Theo from now on? If that's okay?" I ask the mousy-haired boy after I swallow my tea. He chuckles, "Only if you allow me to call you Mari."
"Mari's fine," I smile before taking a bite of my croissant after my stomach protests about the lack of food. It seemed like a lifetime ago I had eaten that small piece of buttered toast.
"So, if you don't want to be in Wizarding Britain, where shall we go?" Theodore asks and I hesitate. Most purebloods don't like muggles, but Theo wasn't like the other Purebloods and I wanted nothing more than to find my muggle father now that I know he's alive. I have a godmother to find too...
"I want to find my father, first and foremost. I need to know if he wants me in my life. For all I know, he could be under the impression that I'm dead." At least, that's what I was hoping. I wasn't sure what I would do at a rejection after all of this betrayal, but I had survived and I would survive again if meeting Anthony Stark turns south.
"Then that's what we'll do. Why don't we go back to Gringrotts and ask them to do a tracking spell? They should be able to find him then."
I sigh, "Gringrotts it is then."
Theo and I stood in the fireplace in the livingroom after we had finished drinking our tea and devouring the left over pastries. I was guilty in eating two more after my croissant, but Theo hadn't judged me. He had eaten another Pain au Chocolat after his first one.
We hold hands as Theodore yells out Diagon Alley and throws the floo powder in his hand. Bright green flames surround us and I close my eyes to avoid any soot getting into them.
When the flames die down, we take a step outside of the fireplace and into Diagon Alley. It's busy, as to be expected around lunch time. However, I couldn't for the life of me remember a time that Diagon Alley wasn't busy.
"Okay, so Gringrotts shouldn't take too long-"
Suddenly, cracks can be heard all around us, interrupting Theodore and I flinch when I see about eight different people circling us with their wands outstretched.
"STUPEFY!"
I'm immediately reminded of the aftermath of last year's World Quidditch Cup, but I don't dwell on the memory. Instead, I practically force Theo down towards the ground with me in order to prevent us from getting hit. I would never forgive myself if he got hurt.
This is why I didn't want to be in Wizarding Britain, they never give you a chance to explain!
Suddenly, everything is twisting around us again and I nearly pass out from the dizziness.
When the world stops moving, all I can hear are the sounds of a city.
Where are we?
